Never Match a Dragon (Chinese Zodiac Romance Series Book 7)

  Never burn a dragon

  Tonight should be like any other night on the job for matchmaking apprentice Jade Tan. Except, the woman who’s supposed to meet her mate stands him up instead, and the gorgeously furious dragon Liem Long demands Jade take her place. But what begins as a harmless fill-in date soon erupts into a devastating—and disastrous—passion.

  Never let him seduce you, either

  Liem Long has crawled out from the underbelly of the world for just one thing: his mate. Unfortunately, she appears to have other plans and jilts him. Furious with the Matchmaker, Liem offers her intern Jade a second chance—find his mate and he won’t tell on her. Yet as it turns out, he’s not the only one searching for his mate—his rival is, too. Forced into an impossible choice, Liem will have to wage war against his very nature and overcome his darkest demons—especially the really sparkly ones.

  And never, ever, try to match one

  Falling for a dragon who already has a soul mate is bad. Becoming the object of his fiery, hoarding nature is way worse. Forget her job and her heart, it’s her life on the line. If Jade can’t convince Liem she’s more than his most prized possession, they’ll both become lost to each other…forever.

  Table of Contents

  Free Read!

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Glossary

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Books by Rachael Slate

  Preview - In Wolf's Clothing

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  For dragons who like sparkly treasures

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2017 by Rachael Slate

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

  First Edition January 2017

  Edited by Kelley Heckart

  Cover design by NovelArt Designs

  Tribal Artwork by Jeanette Palafox

  Formatting by NovelArt Designs

  Epub: ISBN 978-1-988396-14-9

  Kindle: ISBN 978-1-988396-13-2

  815 days since the first outbreak of the Red Death

  Penang, Malaysia

  She was late.

  Really, craptastically, late.

  If the woman didn’t appear in the next five minutes, Jade Tan was going to be out of a job. Her boss, the Matchmaker, didn’t tolerate inefficiency, especially not in her apprentices. Jade had one task—to ensure this meeting went smoothly. Which technically couldn’t even happen until both parties showed up.

  She checked the time on her phone while sipping her cranberry juice. Eight-oh-five. Thirty-five minutes past when the woman should have waltzed into this fancy restaurant, locked eyes with the man she’d been destined to meet, and fallen head over heels. Jade had seen a mix of responses this past year and a half, and the result was always an ecstatic, lovey-dovey couple.

  They might stay and chat over foie gras and five-hundred-dollar champagne, or maybe they’d bolt straight to his place and screw like rabbits.

  Her gaze slid across the room to the gorgeous man in the suit, sitting alone. If it were her, definitely the second option. He was yummy in all the right ways. Thick, chin-length black hair with a shimmer of blue waves, the top half tied in a sexy man bun. A closely trimmed beard graced his angular jaw, enough to graze one’s skin and cause a cascade of delightful shivers. His long legs stretched out beneath the table, and his brawny, wide shoulders strained invitingly against his dark suit jacket. A feline-esque quality lined the shape of his dusky, almost predatory, gray eyes.

  Which made sense, considering what he was.

  A dragon.

  Suddenly, he lifted those dense lashes and glowered straight at her.

  Jade jolted and ripped her focus to her hands. Oops. Her job was to orchestrate and observe, but not to be acknowledged. That didn’t stop the hairs on her arms from rising, as though her body perceived the man’s continued, fuming glare. Yeah, he was right to be pissed off. By now, he’d probably guessed this delay was her fault. She bit her bottom lip, debating. What was the protocol for a no-show? Gods, she didn’t think it had ever happened before.

  Because honestly, who stood up their soul mate?

  Should she go over there and apologize?

  And say what? Dammit.

  Huffing, she opened the manila envelope in front of her, studying the female’s bio for the hundredth time. She dialed the number the woman had left as a contact and placed her phone to her ear. Yep, no answer, no voice mail. Same as the other dozen times she’d tried.

  She slipped off her black-rimmed glasses and rubbed her eyes. This was going to suck ass. She was going to lose her job. Not that her position was glamorous. Her shitty paycheck barely covered the rent. It was more about the lifestyle, the meaning. The Matchmaker had paired Jade’s parents and she’d secretly coveted this job. Bringing soul mates together? Hell, yeah. When the spot for an intern had opened up, she’d applied, on a dare from her friend, never expecting to get hired.

  And fired.

  She swallowed thickly and stuffed the file into the envelope. Well, here it comes.

  “I doubt I’m permitted to speak with you,” a deep, slightly accented voice rumbled in front of her table, “but it would seem you know what’s happening.”

  Tensing, Jade raised her head.

  What was even worse than having to grovel before a client?

  This.

  ***

  Liem Long stared at the flustered creature before him. Irritation burned through his veins, clenching his jaw and his fists.

  Yet not because of her. No, he grasped that now. She was merely a low-level assistant. It was the fucking Matchmaker he should direct his fury toward.

  He shifted his stance, reining in on those bestial urges of his nature, and attempted to blend in again with the humans. It wasn’t easy. His kind, the Fucanglong, dragon guardians of precious metals and jewels, much preferred to reside in the bowels of the earth. Deep in volcanic underworlds most humans never dared to reach.

  “I am so sorry,” the human female murmured, meeting his gaze.

  He stiffened. Without her glasses, those eyes… Words choked in his throat. He’d never seen such a vivid green. Precisely like the jewel—

  “Jade.”

  “Um, yes.” She tilted her head, loosening a few strands of her bronze locks from her twisted and pinned hair. “How did you—”

  He leaned in close. “Your eyes.” She blinked them once, twice, her coral lips parting as her breath hitch
ed. His sensitive ears caught the rapid pulsing of her heart beats, the slow drum of the restaurant’s music fading. He peered into those sparkly, jeweled depths, unsure if he was trying to entrance her, or if it was she who mesmerized him.

  “Ah, yes, well, again, I’m very sorry.” Her cheeks flushing a pretty hue of pink, she stuffed those thick-rimmed glasses on top of her pixie nose and fidgeted with her envelope. “I’m not sure what happened, but I promise I’ll bring this to the Matchmaker’s attention first thing in the morning. Of course, we’ll compensate you for your time and expenses,” she waved a hand toward his table and the restaurant’s best bottle of champagne, “and we’ll sort this out. I’m certain it must be a miscommunication.” As she spoke, her color drained.

  Right. He squeezed his right fist tighter. In the world of the Matchmaker, “miscommunications” didn’t happen. This woman was going to lose her job.

  Because of me. Because of some bullshit notion he’d had of finding love. A little because of the female who’d jilted him before she’d even met him. Perhaps, she’d taken one look at him and fled in the opposite direction.

  Idiot. Dragons didn’t love. They also didn’t swoop in and save the day like a White Knight.

  Because White Knights slayed dragons.

  Despite this, Jade was going to get her ass handed to her.

  Fuck that.

  “Is there anything else I can do for you, Mr. Long?”

  He cocked his head at her. “Dine with me.” He shouldn’t, but hell. He’d been rejected by his bloody soul mate, and even dragons liked having their egos stroked.

  Her jaw dropped and, before she mustered an argument against him, he swept forward and purred, “Dine with me. I have a bottle of expensive champagne on ice that won’t keep. You’re going to have one hell of a morning tomorrow explaining tonight, so might as well take advantage.”

  She closed her lips firmly and nodded. He extended a hand for her and she rose from her chair, eying his offer as though he might nibble on her fingers if she accepted.

  He might.

  She wore a blood red dress with three-quarter sleeves and a proper hemline brushing the tops of her knees. Those tall, heeled black boots suggested not everything about her was as prim, though. Short and slender, she had the kind of aura which blended in, despite those vivid orbs. What an enigma. He couldn’t fathom why anyone would ever wish to work for the Matchmaker. Ever.

  “What if she comes, while we’re…” The bloom of pink rushed again across her cheeks. He rather liked it, and it made him wonder, did she blush like that, when she was being fucked?

  ***

  Holy hell, this was probably the worst idea she’d ever had. Well, it was his idea. Mr. Long’s, Liem’s, whatever she was supposed to call him. Mr. Hotness would do for now.

  Because, wow. Jade eyed his hand, aching for contact with him, which made it that much worse.

  The man had been ditched by his soul mate. Considering he was a dragon, he was handling it rather well. The restaurant wasn’t even up in flames.

  Yet.

  Right. She folded her arms and bobbed her head toward his table, effectively putting an end to the touch-or-no-touch temptation. His thick brows bunched at her and he cleared his throat, extending his hand for her to lead the way. Probably so he can stare at my ass.

  She jolted. That was the last thought she should be having.

  Seriously though, dragons weren’t chivalrous.

  Plus, she definitely sensed his burning scrutiny behind her.

  At least he was being nice about her screw up. He could have ripped her head off—literally—but he acted sympathetic to her impending unemployment.

  Or, he was seeking to get laid. Of course, relations with clients were strictly frowned upon, especially in this line of work, not that she would be a part of the team for much longer.

  They approached his table and he swooped forward, sliding her chair out for her. Huh. Clearly hoping for some action.

  She placed the manila envelope on the table between them as a reminder and perched on the corner of her chair, more than a few butterflies dancing in her stomach. More like a swarm of wasps.

  He settled into his seat, unbuttoning his jacket with one hand. Through the contours of his crisp white shirt, she spied the hard edges of an impressively cut abdomen. Yum.

  “Hungry?”

  She wrenched her chin up and caught him tapping a menu. Ah, damn. Was he being coy? “Yes. Thank you, Mr. Long.” She accepted the menu and concentrated on the scrawled words.

  “You know my name. You can use it.” His smile was disarmingly warm. He had perfectly even and brilliant teeth.

  “Liem,” she murmured, the syllables rolling across her tongue.

  His eyes flickered, a molten glow in them, and he leaned forward, linking his fingers on the table. “I like that.”

  Imagine him purring those words into her ear with his low, accented timbre. Her panties wouldn’t stand a chance. Jade inhaled sharply as shivers rippled across the back of her neck. She’d bet women came from the rumble of his voice alone. Considering that her last boyfriend, two years ago, was a middle-aged boring-as-mud accountant her parents had set her up with, she was ill-equipped to deal with this much hotness.

  Wriggling in her chair, she cleared her throat. “What happens if she shows up?” Jade craned her neck and searched the room. The picture in the file was stunning; the female would be hard to miss.

  Liem shrugged and reclined in his seat. “If she wants to meet me, I’m not going anywhere.”

  She flicked her gaze to his. “Are you referring to the exodus of dragons?” After the Red Death—a deadly plague—had decimated nearly a third of the human population, the dragons had begun migrating to another realm.

  Slowly, he nodded. “I have too much stake in this world to abandon it for another.”

  “Ah, yes, your company.” His family owned a well-respected mining corporation.

  “My legacy.” His lips quirked. “Five generations of my family have shed their blood, sweat, and tears into our business. I’m not about to throw away their sacrifice.”

  His explanation piqued her curiosity. Few people had the chance to sit down with a dragon and discuss the fate of the world. Rumors spread about the real purpose of the Red Death, and about how this was just the beginning. The underground realm of the Jade Emperor wasn’t going to remain secret for much longer.

  In fact, some hinted this would soon be an us-vs-them situation, with lines being drawn between the humans and the creatures of the Jade Emperor’s world.

  No one knew for sure where the dragons stood, so this conversation was pretty intriguing. “It’s all about the money for you, not the humans?”

  “Money,” he scoffed, his upper lip curling. “It’s not about money.”

  She frowned. “Then what is it about?”

  He slipped his hand into his jacket pocket and withdrew a shimmering object, planting it on the table between them. “Jewels. Gemstones. Precious metals. Other treasures you couldn’t fathom.”

  She peered at the glimmering stone, but he snatched it and replaced the gem within his pocket. “Okay. Dragon likes his sparkly things.” She covered her mouth with her hand, failing to stifle her snicker.

  Puzzlement flashed in his scowl for a moment before his lips curved. “I do. I like them very much.” His eyes narrowed a fraction as he regarded her. “I covet all things rare.”

  Liem shifted closer, his hand pressing atop hers and causing her skin to spark. “And exquisite.”

  Don’t toy with the human. The voice of reason pinged in the back of Liem’s mind, but he couldn’t help himself. The more he studied her, the more convinced he became she was a creature worth pursuing.

  He hadn’t lied. He did lust after lovely things. Like Jade.

  She ran her pink tongue along her bottom lip, moistening it. Inviting. Even if she didn’t do it consciously, yet.

  Sensuously, he stroked his thumb across the top of her ha
nd. He perceived the tension easing from her, the fight and uncertainty melting.

  She wasn’t afraid of him; she feared her attraction to him.

  Though perhaps, she ought to fear him instead.

  For centuries, he hadn’t allowed anything—or anyone—to stand in his path, to prevent him from claiming whatever he’d set his sights on. No matter how many treasures he’d hoarded, it had never been enough. His appetite had never been sated. Such was the flaw of his breed. The hunger for the deepest riches of the earth often drove them to madness. It had his grandfather, and his father.

  Sooner or later, it would seize him, too.

  He wouldn’t even be here tonight if not for his mother, who’d begged him to search within himself, before she’d departed this realm with others of their kind. So, he’d listened to her, and he had examined his existence, and indeed, something was missing.

  Hidden in the depths of his soul.

  Bloody Matchmaker. He’d sought her out and she’d promised to find the one capable of filling that void.

  Lies, trickery. Either way, he wouldn’t let this evening go to waste.

  Liem caressed her with his thumb again, tracking how the muscles in Jade’s throat constricted. He’d love to wrap his hands around that slender column, while pounding deep inside—

  A chime rang from her handbag. She fumbled to remove her phone and plant the object on the table, and then depressed the button. The blush washed from her cheeks. “Oh, crap. It’s the Matchmaker.”

  Suddenly, an idea popped into his head. Wicked and mischievous, and so very devilish. Perfect recompense for this disastrous evening. He jerked his head toward the phone. “Accept her call. Tell her everything is going splendidly.”

  Jade’s scrutiny whipped to him, her brows pinched. “I can’t lie to her.”

  “Not exactly a lie. Consider it a second chance.” He cocked one brow toward the envelope she’d placed on the table. “Locate her for me and I’ll never whisper a word of this to your boss.”

  Jade pressed her lips thinly together and bobbed her head. “Thank you.” With a trembling hand, she plucked the phone and her handbag. “I’ll be right back.”