The vamp flashed the arrogant male another sexy smile, lowering her lashes. Cordia forced herself to pay attention to what she was saying.
“There are two kinds of fertility problems that vampires are facing,” she went on, looking around the room. “Some of our females can’t have children. They do not go into heat. Others, like me...” She smiled at Cordia; it had a sly edge. Maybe it was just her imagination. “…are fertile, very much so.” The sly, sexy smile was back and directed at the dragon. “That doesn’t mean that we are capable of birthing vampire young. You see our hips are too narrow. Vampire young are large. We are pregnant for almost a year. Longer than a human female. The infant cannot pass through our pelvis.” She ran her hands down her hips, which were, indeed, very narrow. “There are very few vampire females capable of birthing our own young, hence why the program was started and human females introduced to mate with our elite males.” She pushed out a breath, taking a sip of her water. “It’s been effective and many babies have been born, all with vampire traits.”
“A program was supposed to be introduced for fertile vampire females with narrow hips as well. You see,” more fluttering of the lashes at the male ‒ it was glaringly obvious that this female was interested in him, “we can breed successfully with shifters.” She winked at the dragon.
Winked!
By feather and tar. Cordia rolled her eyes. Did she have no respect for herself? This was the vampire who had walked in on them having sex a few hours before.
“Shifter pregnancies are shorter, only six months. Am I right, Stone? Is it the same with dragons as well?” She giggled, fangs flashing.
“Yes…for most of our kind.” He nodded once. “I’m an Earth dragon and it is true for us.”
“Good to know.” Another wink.
Blast and damn but she was laying it on thick. Cordia cleared her throat and tried to get more comfortable. Her chair was hard. Maybe they should leave the two lovebirds alone?
“We are nearly out of time, Helga,” Gazelle said looking at her watch, “can you wrap up for us, please? We’ll continue tomorrow.”
The vampire nodded, smiling sweetly. “I’m excited for this new program to be introduced. We were told it would be, but that was over a year ago already. It would be nice if things could move along. The program for the males seemed to have happened overnight. We haven’t been as lucky. There is talk but no action.”
“Why not spearhead it yourself?” Cordia asked.
The vampire looked at her like she was a bug that had just crawled out from under a rock. “My kings will ensure that our program is launched…at some point,” she added with a pained expression.
“You just expressed concern at how long it is taking. Have you enquired as to the progress?” she tried again.
The vampire shook her head. “I have plenty of patience. I’m sure something will give.” Another wink at the dragon.
By claw, but this female was too much. Cordia bit down on her tongue to prevent herself from saying something she might regret. Something that could get her sent home. This conference was important. She had slipped up with the male. Had taken risks that could land her in hot water. She needed to watch her step.
“Okay,” Gazelle stepped forward, “thank you for sharing. Dinner is at six. We’ve made it a little earlier tonight as I’m sure you’re all tired after an early start this morning. It’s been a taxing day.” She pressed her lips together looking amused as she glanced at Cordia and Stone. Her cheeks turned red.
Cordia felt her own cheeks heat. “Would it be okay if I ordered in, instead of meeting in the dining room?” Cordia asked. She was tired. Exhausted.
“Um…we had thought that you could share meals together, as a way of bonding,” Gazelle looked unsure, “but I suppose…”
“Thank you,” Cordia said before the female could change her mind.
Gazelle spoke some more about their agenda for the following day, being very cryptic about what was happening during the course of the morning. She finally told them they were done. Cordia sprang off of her seat like it was on fire. She raced from the room, taking three steps in the direction of her nest when a sultry voice piped up behind her. “Where are you running off to, partner?”
She stopped, rolling her eyes and slowly turned to face him. The other members streamed past them. “See you at dinner,” the vampire said as she passed the dragon.
The male nodded once, not taking his eyes off Cordia. This was bad. She could see by the look in his eyes that he was still hot for her…that he wanted more. That much was for sure. It warmed her and irritated her. He irritated her. Her reactions to him irritated her the most.
His eyes dipped down for a beat or two. Not in a way that made her feel uncomfortable but in a way that made her feel completely feminine and a whole lot attractive. For a couple of long, hard seconds, she was tempted to accept whatever it was he was about to offer. Oh, so very tempted.
Then again, all this male wanted was a warm snatch. By her estimation, they generally preferred a chase. Easy pickings were never as much fun. That’s why he hadn’t given the vampire a second glance. Even though the female was attractive. She had all of the attributes a male would want, including fertility. If the vamp backed off, just a little, she might just stand a chance.
Unfortunately, this particular male wanted a chase, followed by more sex. By the arrogant expression on his handsome face, she could see he expected to get it too.
Not happening.
One slip was enough. No more.
“I do not wish to engage with you, dragon.” She began to turn away.
“Can I walk with you?”
“No.” She shook her head. “I told you I don’t like you.”
His sexy half-smile was back. It only served to make him more attractive. A distraction she didn’t need…or want. One she couldn’t afford.
“You don’t have to like me for me to walk with you.” Those gorgeous eyes focused in on hers. They were such a strange color. His lashes were thick. His mouth full. Tar and feathers, but she was looking at his mouth.
“Suit yourself.” She had meant to tell him to leave her alone but that had come out instead. Cordia picked up a fast pace, hoping he’d take the hint. Also, the sooner she could close and maybe even lock her door, the better. “I don’t feel like talking to you either. We walk and that’s it.”
“I think we should order in together this evening. I don’t much feel like mingling.”
“I don’t feel like mingling…at all. Not with anyone,” she countered.
“Good thing I’m not ‘anyone’. I know how your pussy tastes, so that makes me someone to you.” He smirked at her when she glared at him. Even his stupid smirk was sexy. It made her feel tingly. That tightening in the pit of her stomach was back. Why did she have to be attracted to him? A dragon. Him. No! This didn’t work for her. She preferred to be shunned. Maybe she should disclose a couple of important facts to him about herself. Ones that would change the way he looked at her. The dragon would look at her with disdain too.
Only.
Only.
Only...
She couldn’t. Cordia didn’t want him looking at her like that. It shouldn’t matter and she shouldn’t care, only she did and it did.
Blast.
Damn.
Cordia needed to get rid of him. “I don’t feel like mingling with anyone or… with you. I most definitely don’t feel like mingling with you. There!”
“Why do you have to be so…angry? Are you always this angry or is it just me?” His mouth turned up at one corner. Not quite a smile but close.
“I’m not angry…I’m a serious person. This conference is serious. What happened earlier was a…mistake.”
“No, it wasn’t.” He frowned. Even that looked great. His eyes darkened, becoming more intense. He got these two lines between his brows. “We discussed it first. No mistake. There was no tripping or falling. My cock didn’t accidentally slip into your very tight, ve
“You can stop.” She held up a hand, widening her eyes, trying hard to keep her breathing normal, her facial expression normal. She hoped and prayed to all the gods that he couldn’t scent arousal.
They were close to her nest…her acco-mo-da-tion while here. A strange word. Nest was so much easier. “You know what I mean by mistake. I told you, the itch has been…” What was the right word? “It’s been taken care of.”
“Are you sure of that?”
“Yes!” It came out more harshly than she intended.
“I think you protest far too much and with far too much venom.”
They arrived at her door. “Go find the vampire. She wants to make lots of shifter young and ideally with you.”
He choked out a laugh. “I’d rather stay here with you.”
Rather.
Not ‘forget it’ or “no way’. Rather. The dragon was a bastard. Just like most males she knew.
“I would rather you left me alone.” Not much of a comeback. They arrived at her door.
“No can do, partner.” He leaned up against the wall next to the door. “Let me in. We can…” He smiled. “I would suggest talk but you already said you had nothing to say to me. Maybe I could change your mind about that.”
It was her turn to laugh. It held zero humor. “No chance. Go away.” She opened the door. Walked into the nest and shut it behind her, half expecting him to stop her somehow. The door slammed shut with a bang. She waited a few beats, almost waiting for him to knock but it never happened. Why did she feel disappointed? She was stupid. So idiotic. This was so much better. Then she thought about that word ‘rather’ and what it signified. For a moment she was tempted to let him in. To call him back if he was walking away. ‘If’…stupid to use that word, of course he was walking away. Instead, she turned the lock with a definite click.
Chapter 6
“That poor dragon.” The vampire shook her head. “You really hurt him. I’ve never heard such a racket. Lexi,” she looked over at the wolf shifter, “mentioned how the poor male limped to his room after he left you.”
Cordia sucked in a breath. She quickly schooled her features. Had she hurt the male? She hadn’t thought so. At least, he had seemed fine. Maybe all the loud roars, grunts and shouts had been cries of pain. It was possible. No! It couldn’t be.
A Feral’s snatch could hold onto a male. A snatch was designed to take seed after all. It was designed to get it and to take it. As much as possible. Mounting followed by a short period of coupling where the male was unable to pull away. All designed to procreate. A parody. A cruel joke. Procreate. Right.
Not her.
The whole process was also designed to entice and to please. To give maximum pleasure to the male, so that more seed could be extracted. She doubted very much that the roars had been those born of agony. Why had he sniffed around again after the conference if he didn’t want more of the same? This female was confused.
“Yes, he was quite badly hurt.” Lexi nodded vigorously. “He was leaning quite heavily on the dragon female, limping even. I’m sure you didn’t mean to hurt him?” She looked at Cordia, even tipping her head to the side in question.
Had she broken him somehow? Maybe. He hadn’t complained. He’d even asked her for more. That wasn’t the action of a male in pain. “He is a big, strong male and was perfectly fine when I left him.” She took a bite of her bacon sandwich, hoping the conversation would end there. Then she had a thought; had the dragon said something to this female? Maybe they had spent time together the evening before. She took another bite of her meal trying not to think about it. It didn’t matter and it was none of her business.
“Didn’t look fine to me.” Lexi shook her head.
“Poor thing probably needs some TLC,” the vampire added, licking her lips. “I have heard somewhere that dragon blood is quite delicious.”
“You want to help him by drinking his blood?” Cordia grimaced. She wasn’t sure what TLC was but by the look in the vampire’s eyes, she was sure it involved plenty of touching.
“Doesn’t sound much like helping to me,” Surora said as she sat down next to her.
Cordia had never been happier to see a fellow Feral. She wasn’t necessarily friendly with the other female, but it was nice to see a familiar face. Someone in her corner. These others were most definitely…‘enemy’ was too strong a word, but it wasn’t far off.
“I’d like to do more than just drink his blood,” the vampire purred. “It was nice of them to send us a male to keep us company.”
“Us?” Cordia frowned, taking another bite of her food. Why was she even responding to this creature?
“Yes, us,” the shifter said, with a sly smile “You’ve had him. It’s our turn. Don’t you agree, Helga?”
So the male hadn’t mounted the vampire…yet. Cordia didn’t like these females. She hoped he stayed away from them. He could mount whomever he wanted, of course. She ultimately didn’t care, but these two rubbed her the wrong way.
The vampire nodded. “Absolutely. I definitely want a turn with a male like that. He’s quite delectable.”
“Don’t be greedy, Feral,” the shifter added. “We want a turn as well. You were right…” She bit down on her bottom lip for a moment or two. “He is very attractive and has a lovely looking cock. Long with decent girth.”
“My name is Cordia. You will address me as such.” She was done playing games with these females. They could have the dragon for all she cared. Her itch was lanced…scratched, whatever the correct term. It wasn’t necessarily one he created, but rather, one that had grown from going too long without rutting.
“Don’t be so testy.” The shifter looked put out. “We need to work together and build interspecies relationships.”
“You can start by remembering my name.” Cordia narrowed her eyes on the female.
The shifter’s eyes widened. “I did remem—”
“Good morning.” The dragon sauntered in. His hair was still wet. He had this wide smile that made his eyes glint in the bright morning light. His chest was bare. His silver marking gleamed against hard muscles.
Everyone in the room said their good mornings back. The vampire actually fluttered her eyes. The shifter female, Lexi, was loud about it. They gave him a definite once over as he approached. Thankfully the elven females seemed unaffected. The panther and bear shifters smiled broadly but didn’t look taken aback. Not that it mattered. Who cared how the others acted, or what the dragon did. It was none of her business. He could rut every female in attendance for all she cared.
Cordia couldn’t bring herself to say anything in response to his bright hello. Instead, she took another mouthful of her meal. She planned to keep her head down and her mind on the conference.
The dragon looked around the table. There were two open seats. One next to her and one next to the vampire, who tapped the chair as soon as she saw him looking.
She tapped.
Two solid little beats that seemed to ring around the room. The dragon looked at her, completely serious all of a sudden. Those jewel-like eyes boring into her. “Good morning, Cordia.”
She clenched her jaw and pulled in a breath, releasing it slowly. “I told you to call me Feral.”
The shifter put down her glass with a clunk. “But you told us we had to—”
“I think I’ll sit over,” he plonked himself next to her, “here.” His plate was filled with what looked like everything from the breakfast table. He put down a glass of orange juice as well. He grinned at her. “Sleep well?”
“How are you feeling today, Stone?” The vampire wouldn’t let up, she leaned forward staring down the table at him.
“Great.” He kept his eyes on Cordia. “Never better,” he added. “I’m ready to get started, looking forward to working on solutions to the fertility issues.”
Cordia couldn’t help the snort that was pulled from her.
“Something you wanted to say, Fera…Cordia,” the shifter female asked, her gaze moving to her plate as soon as Cordia looked her way.
“The dragon has plenty of seed ‒ I can attest to that firsthand ‒ and therefore, he has nothing he needs to discuss with the group about fertility issues.”
The male put his fork down with a clang. “I assure you…all of you,” the male looked from one female to the next, “that I take these proceedings very seriously.” He looked at her, keeping his eyes on her. “I want solutions to be found. I mean that.” He spoke directly to her now, his voice deep and urgent. “I do understand the plight and the feelings of females suffering from infertility.”
“I believe you.” The shifter female smiled.
“Me too.” The vampire winked at him.
It all made Cordia feel queasy. She picked up her napkin off her lap and wiped her mouth. Then she pushed back her chair and left. She needed to mentally prepare for the day ahead.
Chapter 7
Half an hour later…
“I know you are all eager to know what I have planned for you this morning.” She widened her eyes, sucking in a deep breath. “We’re going to start off the day with a team-building exercise.” Gazelle was practically beaming.
This was bullshit! They had yet to discuss anything surrounding infertility.
“This is all about working together with your teammate. About overcoming adversity,” Gazelle went on.
“What about the topic at hand?” Stone asked. “We need to—”
“After the team-building we’ll break for lunch and commence with more formal discussions. We’re going to play a little game this morning, called capture the flag.”
The vampire, Helga, put up her hand. “Can we swap partners for the team-building?” She looked directly at him as she spoke. The funny thing was, that although Cordia could snap him like a twig, he was more afraid of the vampire, who was small and weak by comparison.
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