Ash Maker's Sundries

By L Alexandra Long

She's hot and hot under the collar. Mako is a fiery redhead by day and a bronze dragon when she's tired of human problems. She’s now stuck in L.A. with Akor, the grumpy old dragon, and his 'son' Erik. She's not sure if she's walked into a trap or not, but she's going to do everything in her power to get away from these two. Even if there's an electric connection between Erik and her. She's been able to talk her way out of worse situations than this.

• Language: English
• Publisher: L Alexandra Long
• Release date: Aug 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463034002

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Ash Maker’s Sundries

L. Alexandra Long

Ash Maker’s Sundries © Copyright 2018 L. Alexandra Long

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Edited by: Kristofer Hedges

Cover Design: Mythical Fantasy Design

Ash Maker’s Sundries

She's hot and hot under the collar. Mako is a fiery redhead by day and a bronze dragon when she's tired of human problems. She’s now stuck in L.A. with Akor, the grumpy old dragon, and his 'son' Erik. She's not sure if she's walked into a trap or not, but she's going to do everything in her power to get away from these two. Even if there's an electric connection between Erik and her. She's been able to talk her way out of worse situations than this.

I dedicate this book to my soul mate Kristofer, for having the courage to ask ‘why?’ to everything and showing me that I couldn’t edit what’s not on the paper.

Chapter 1

Mako leaned forward against the counter. This was not going well.

Look buddy. I just want to trade in this PlayStation 4. There is nothing against the law about doing this. I give you the game system. Then, you give me the cash.

The young man behind the counter stared at her for a moment trying to form a sentence. It wasn’t entirely his fault, though. She was a walking distraction. Mako had entered the pawn shop with no bra under her light ocean blue, low-cut, So-Cal tank top and it didn’t hide much. Her cut off shorts showed off her butt. The white, mock athletic, thigh high socks she wore with her tennis shoes completed her provocative image.

Mako also had supernatural ways to make people do what she wanted. She couldn’t help it. She was a dragon in the form of a human. This meant normal people were affected by her latent power. As a dragon, she could rely on brute strength. Her massive size, a full wingspan, and a tail helped with that, among other things. The power she wielded could let her talk someone down off a ledge, or she could wheedle her way out of jail if she so desired. Eventually, it took more and more of her energy to persuade them to do what she wanted. It wasn’t worth the effort after enough time. She could not directly control the person’s actions or change their inherent beliefs. So, as a human, she relied on her sex appeal and fast talking to help when it could.

Now she was standing in front of this young man trying to trade in a PlayStation 4 she had acquired from last night’s date. Her persuasion usually lingered for a few hours once she was gone, so he’d have probably noticed it was missing by now.

Stupid pawn-shop rules, she thought. Hopefully, the frat boy she stole it from hadn’t woken yet. Mako knew this was taking far longer to get her cash than necessary.

I will see what I can do, he told her. He left the PlayStation on the counter and went to the back. Probably to confer with the owner who did not like Mako.

He had good reason since many of the things she brought in ended up reported stolen. Mako sighed and pulled her luscious red hair back into a loose twist, securing it with a hair tie from her wrist. The pawn shop owner was not completely immune to her charms. He was just old and grumpy and followed rules like a military officer. She had burned her bridges with other pawn shops. This was her only legal option left, and it looked like she was losing it too.

I need to run the serial number and then you are all set, the young man with plain brown hair and a skinny face said. He walked up to the computer. His Rams jersey hung loosely on him since he didn’t have the muscle to fill it out. Mako knew she could take him in a fight, but that wouldn’t get her any cash. The old guy would immediately call the cops if he heard a scuffle.

Mako batted her long eyelashes and leaned on her forearms over on the counter. Her smile became genuine when she noted how he stared. And why shouldn’t he? Her tank top was cut low enough that she wasn’t hiding anything from him. He had no chance now that his eyes were locked on her ample breasts.

You don’t really need to do that.

Do what? he asked stupidly.

I was given this as a gift. So, I don’t even know where it was bought. Can’t you just catalog it as a used PlayStation and help me out? I need the cash, not a reminder of my ex. She stood slowly, his gaze moved to her dark green eyes, and she saw the idea click into