Damaged and the Dragon (Damaged #5)
Bijou Hunter
Dedication
Freckles, Tigger, Pooh, and Roo for owning my heart
Mustang Sally and Marvelous Miranda for having my back
Saucy Sarah and Hardcore Patty for knowing the genre
Eusebia, Jennifer, Arnie, Gail, and the rest of the awesome Denny’s crew
Bijou Hunter Books
Damaged and the Beast (Apr ‘13) Damaged and the Knight (July ‘13) Damaged and the Cobra (Oct ‘13) Damaged and the Outlaw (Nov ‘13) Damaged and the Bulldog (2014) Damaged and the Saint – Final Damaged Book (2014)
Bijou Books
Gator (Feb ’14)
Used (June ’14)
*****
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Chapter One ~ Bailey
As Bailey Fucking Johansson, my life should have been easy. For a long time, even after the devil child was born and I was no longer the center of the universe for my parents, my life remained pretty damn good. I didn’t know when shit went downhill, but I clearly needed dramatic changes if I wanted my life to improve.
My new boobs were the most obvious change. I went from a big A to a small C cup. While I wanted them to be Double D Dolly Parton big, Raven said no. She put her still casted foot down and claimed I would look like a loser. Wussing out, I did as she commanded.
My mom would have gotten me any size I liked. She always wanted me to make my own decisions and be independent. She even pretended to support my choice to move out of the house. On the other hand, Pop was thoroughly against me leaving.
“First, you want new tits!” he yelled. “Now, you want to move out. I’m suspicious of where this ends.”
Pop refused to say goodbye when I moved into my new place, but Mom and Sawyer joined me for dinner. Later while they prepared to leave, I studied their matching curly blonde hair and blue eyes. Getting lucky by having Pop’s straight blond hair, I’d also been blessed with Mom’s eyes. Those eyes that were now tearing up.
“You can always come home,” Mom said.
“I just moved out,” I muttered, smacking a mosquito on my sweaty arm.
“No, I mean if you’re lonely or want to spend a night or two at home. Your room is still yours.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I said, hugging her which wasn’t easy with my new knockers in the way.
Sawyer shook her head. “I liked how you were whining less. I wish you didn’t have to leave.”
“I’ll still be around.”
Giving me a hug, Sawyer stared at my boobs. “I’d have gotten them super big.”
“I know. You told me that an hour ago.”
“Just saying.”
“Well, we should go,” Mom sighed, taking Sawyer’s hand. “If you need anything, you know where we are.”
“Tell Pop I love him.”
“He knows. It’s just hard watching his little girl grow up.”
“I’ll see you soon.”
Mom gave me a little smile before she and Sawyer walked across the long driveway and disappeared into our cabin-style house. Left alone at the apartment over the garage, I stared at what looked like a million stairs. As nervous as I was to be on my own, time had come for me to grow up and be a new woman.
A month earlier, Mom had the apartment remodeled to give it a more feminine touch. In the past, my oldest brother Cooper then our buddy Vaughn used the place for their harems. While I told my parents I didn’t want to touch anything skanked up by the prior residents, I really didn’t want reminders of when Vaughn’s cousin nearly beat my friend Raven to death in the living room. I hated imagining her suffering the way she did.
Raven and Vaughn now lived in a big yellow house, just another happy couple in love.
I hoped getting my place would be the first step to finding love one day too. First my idiot brother Tucker met Maddy then my smarter idiot brother Cooper hooked up with Farah. Her sister Tawny fell for the Reapers’ enforcer Judd. Our crew soon expanded when Lark married Cooper’s best friend Aaron. Finally, Lark’s sister Raven jumped on Vaughn and refused to get off. Through it all, I remained alone.
Now in my new place, I warmed up a Hot Pocket and sat in front of the TV. An hour alone made me realize I was nervous to be on my own. My fear was stupid since my parents were within yelling distance and I’d been alone in the main house overnight. Even so, I decided to get one of our millions of giant dogs to stay with me.
Opening the door, I found Pop halfway up the stairs. He looked conflicted until seeing me then he smiled.
“Do you want a dog to stay with you?” he asked, walking up the final steps. “Do have your phone nearby? Gun too?”
“Yes to all three,” I said, hugging him.