Ainsley's life could not have been more perfect.

Although it did have a bit of a rocky start.

She discovered that her concerns about Dragan's rich and famous lifestyle had been baseless. Yes, he lived in a castle, but since it had been built to house a dragon, it was actually a practical choice of home. Having it situated atop a mountain was mainly to ensure privacy and the incredible views were just an added perk.

It didn't take her long to realize that his jet was just as useful since they could fly to a concert and immediately return home once it was over. Although Ainsley did inform her mate that she much preferred flying with his dragon. He had happily rewarded her for the compliment in their onboard bedroom, another huge perk.

Women still screamed his name and drooled over her mate every time he was onstage, but she had no worries there either. His heart beat for her alone, and she never had to be concerned about another woman coming between them. All of her fears about him losing interest in her had been in vain.

As it turned out, Dragan was the one who had a problem fitting into her life. Once his presence was discovered in the small college town a media frenzy had begun. It didn't take long for the press to figure out why he was there and when their relationship became public, reporters hounded her every move.

Needless to say, Ainsley had been the only student to arrive in a limo with an entourage of bodyguards in tow. The administrative board had been highly upset with all the uproar until her beloved dragon shifter had stepped in. Dragan had performed a free concert for the student body by way of apology and smoothed things over nicely.

After graduation, they had returned to Dragon's Lair, and she had really appreciated the seclusion that his mountain aerie provided. At least it had until the press got wind of their wedding. She and Dragan had been married in the newly redesigned all white rose garden with her family and their closest friends attending the private ceremony.

Her beloved mate had arranged the wedding of her dreams, and it had been as beautiful as it was perfect. At least it was after Brendyn cast a magic haze over the castle to discourage the camera-wielding paparazzi flying overhead in helicopters. Since Dragan had threatened to turn his dragon loose on them, that crisis was narrowly averted.

Then there had been the highly anticipated birth of their daughter. The media coverage of that event had been frenzied as well, but Dragan and Brendyn had shielded Ainsley from it as much as possible. Her mate had pampered her to the extreme during her pregnancy, and his best friend had been almost as bad.

The first time the mage held her daughter in his arms, Ainsley had a vision of their future. Afterward, she had laughingly warned, "Oh, Bren, you naughty mage. Ember is going to have your head on a pike if you're not careful." Since she had refused to tell him what she'd seen, he had pouted for days afterward.

He did, however, give up his manwhore tendencies and became the best manny she could have asked for. Bren was always on hand to soothe the fussy infant, but nothing worked as well as her adoring father singing to her. Between the two of them monopolizing the baby, Ainsley had to put her foot down just to get equal time.

After he had fulfilled all of his existing commitments, Dragan had taken a year off from performing. He had spent that time lavishing attention on his wife and child, but he'd also managed to write her a love song. The beautiful ballad was unlike anything the hard rock band normally performed, but he had included on their last album.

My Ainsley had shot straight to the top of the charts and stayed there for a record-breaking twenty weeks. Dragon Fire had six Grammy nominations for the song, which was why Ainsley, Brendyn, and eighteen-month-old Ember were sitting front row center at the award show waiting for the band to perform.

Such was the life of a rock star's wife.

A brilliant smile covered her face when the curtain rose to reveal the members of the band and her beloved mate sitting at a piano center stage. The fans in the arena went wild as the opening bars to My Ainsley, began to play. The song really was beautiful, and it never failed to bring tears to her eyes when she heard it.

The ballad told of a man who had everything, yet nothing that really mattered. He had been lost and alone, living a life filled with emptiness, searching for a spark to light his soul until he found her. "Beneath passions fiery flame, the unquenchable ember of our love burns forevermore. A life filled with promise, full of joy, you are mine, and I am yours. My Ainsley."

Everyone thought they had chosen to name their daughter from that line of the song, but in actuality, it was just the reverse. In the vision where she had left him, Ainsley had chosen the name because their daughter was the unquenchable ember of the love that they had shared. The love that they would continue to share for all of their days.

As she watched, Dragan left the piano and began walking across the stage, the ever-present glass of scotch in his hand that he always performed with. It was just a prop to make people think his fire-breathing act was just an act. A secretive smile curled her lips because her dragon didn't need an accelerant to breathe fire.

He looked every inch a rock star with his chest bare beneath the black tuxedo jacket, and sunglasses hiding his brown velvet eyes as he left the stage to walk to her. Kneeling at her feet, he took her hand in his and sang the final chorus directly to Ainsley. As always, the fans melted at the romantic gesture, as did she.

The song ended with a thunderous standing ovation, and he leaned forward to tenderly kiss her before rising to his feet. Dragan pulled her up with him and wrapped his arm around her waist before murmuring huskily, "That dress is stunning on you, my Ainsley."

He had bought the ridiculously expensive designer gown in the exact shade of the ruby heart that always adorned her neck. It truly was stunning, and she definitely looked the part of a rock star's wife in it. Leaning in close, her hand over his heart, she whispered devilishly, "It'll look even better wadded up on the floor."

His heartbeat quickened at the innuendo and hers right along with it. Dragan growled and tightened his hold on her. "Keep that up, and you'll have me hot enough to burn the place down," he warned and took a sip of scotch.

"Go whoosh, Daddy! Go whoosh!" Ember demanded as she bounced up and down in the security of Brendyn's arms.

Her magnificent dragon shifter threw his head back and breathed great balls of fire high into the arena while the audience went wild. Their daughter squealed with glee and clapped her hands as her velvety brown eyes sparkled with excitement. Ainsley laughed in delight because Dragan really was a wonderful father.

He was also the perfect mate, and she couldn't imagine her life without him. Well, she could, and she had, which was why every day spent with him was even more magical. Because they were living their happily ever after!

 

The End