by Riley Storm
Pace took it.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Carla
“Is your cellphone off?” he rumbled in her ear, the bass of his voice rippling across her body.
“Who cares,” she said. “I’m not answering it.”
His hands dropped away from hers, finding her hips. Carla hissed in delight as he gripped her tight and then spun her around, so she was facing him.
Long fingers made short work of the buttons of her shirt. She felt warm and exposed as he paused to stare at her cleavage, no longer hidden under the formless outfit of work. Now he was going to see her curves, and she was unsure if he would approve.
The growl that filled her little kitchen dispelled any notion of that, as did the tightness she could see growing in his pants.
Not wanting to risk that things would get interrupted as they had two nights earlier, Carla leaned forward and pressed her palm against his bulge.
Pace inhaled sharply, his eyes going wide. “Careful with that,” he cautioned playfully.
Carla nodded, looking up at him, batting her eyes. “Oh I promise I’ll take good care of it,” she purred, tossing him a wink at the end.
“I’m sure you will,” he said. Then his hands tightened on her hips and lifted her up onto the marble countertop. Stepping between her legs he cupped the side of her head and kissed her.
Carla fell into it, eyes closed, brain fried by the fiery taste of his lips, the sweet hint of leftover wine as his tongue explored her mouth. She continued to stroke him through his pleats, feeding off his heavy breathing and hard shaft.
One of his hands pushed its way under her bra, finding her nipple and circling it slowly, bringing it to a hardened tip before gently rolling it between his fingers. Carla’s back arched, eager to feel his hands over the rest of her body. His skin was rough but his touch gentle, and the contrast was driving her wild already.
Her shirt disappeared at some point, and she hurriedly slid her bra off as he undid it with a single snap of his fingers.
“Hold on,” she said, putting a palm to his chest as he tried to kiss her breasts. “You need to lose a little something here as well, mister.”
Pace grinned, and together they worked on undoing the buttons of his suit. He slid it and the jacket off at the same time, providing her with a feast of muscles for her eyes. And her hands, as she grabbed him, feeling the power in his arms and the solidity of his chest.
Then it was time to strip her some more. Carla barely remembered leaving the counter, because the instant her pants were down, a finger was sliding between her legs. She wobbled and grabbed at the marble as Pace upped the ante.
Her moans sparked his ferocity and seconds later her underwear was at her ankles and Pace was licking her from behind. It was a new sensation for Carla, and she cried out with surprise, and then delight, all but sinking into the countertop as Pace’s tongue worked her over.
When he added his fingers into the mix, it didn’t take long before Carla’s nails scratched over the marble and her cries filled the kitchen. She came right there, ass out and his face buried in it. It was so good, and yet made her feel a little slutty, a little wild, like she was young and exploring again.
“My turn,” she gasped, working to recover her breath even as she pawed at his pants, struggling to undue his belt before tugging them to his knees, eyes focusing on her prize.
Pace groaned, reaching back to brace himself on the counter as she ran her tongue up and down him slowly, sensually, looking up. His face contorted and relaxed and she felt him swell each time she came closer to the tip. When her lips closed around his shaft, she felt a tremble run through his knees.
Unlike some, Pace wasn’t quiet. He moaned, groaned and told her how good it felt as she took him deep into her mouth and then back again. There was too much for her to handle it all, but she did her best, finding that listening and watching him was turning her on further. She was ready for him now, ready for the real thing.
Finally he grabbed her head in both hands and gently used pressure to force her to stand. Carla did as she was told and leaned over the counter, gasping in anticipation when she felt him step up next to her.
He was covered in her saliva and between that and her own wetness, it was easy for him to slide the tip in.
Carla’s world exploded in white for a moment and she leaned forward desperately as her knees gave out. But Pace wasn’t letting her go anywhere. He stepped closer, grabbing her hips to hold her up. That same action slid more of him inside her and she shuddered through a mini-orgasm from that alone.
“Take me,” she gasped. “I want it, Pace I want it. I want you inside me. All of it,” she moaned, nearly incoherent with desire at this point.
Pace responded with a wordless growl, and Carla’s eyes rolled back into her head as she stretched to take him all. It was incredible. There simply wasn’t another word to describe the feeling. He fit her perfectly, like it was made to fill her just to that perfect point.
Her legs were barely working, but that didn’t matter. Strong fingers dug into her sides and Pace essentially held her up as he fucked her. She caught herself drooling on the countertop at one point, too overwhelmed and focused on the sensations as he slid in and out of her.
“I want to watch you,” he growled, and together they got her up onto the counter on her back.
Because he was so tall he could line up with her still. It meant there was an upward angle to his hard cock now however, and it struck her insides just right.
Carla hissed as he picked up speed, eyes going wide, mouth hanging open. She’d never had this happen before, but she was pretty sure.
Her nails dug into his arms as he held her legs.
“Don’t. You. Fucking. Stop.” She had to speak in single words, too short of breath to use full sentences.
Pace did that deep growl that men do, that guttural, primal sound of pleasure. If anything, he sped up a little. Carla wasn’t sure.
Her body continued to tighten, every muscle clamping down until she was physically shuddering in his grasp.
“Go,” she managed to get out when he began to slow, unsure if she was still good.
His cock slammed into her and Carla lost it. Her hands went out wide, then she grabbed her breasts as they flew wildly, pinching her own nipples as wave after wave of intensity crashed over her, in what seemed like a never-ending wave.
Then all of a sudden it was done, and she came back to reality with a snap, gasping for her, struggling to focus.
Pace didn’t stop. She continued to cry out. At some point, he joined her in making noise and suddenly withdrew.
A moment later, she felt the familiar warmth as it splashed across her body, some of it reaching all the way up to her breasts, providing a little thrill as he emptied himself in climax.
“Wow,” was all he managed as he leaned over her, his arms shaking from that effort alone.
“Yeah,” she said, echoing him. “Wow.”
“Shower?” he asked after a few minutes, when they had both mostly recovered.
Carla looked down at her body, the evidence of their deed glistening on her pale skin. “Yeah, that might not be a bad idea.”
“Oh, I think it will be a very good idea,” Pace rumbled, sliding a hand up the inside of her thigh.
She instinctively squeezed her legs shut, trapping it there. Thinking that would stop him, she relaxed.
Instead, Pace looked at his trapped hand, shrugged, grabbed her leg and then did something with it. The next thing Carla knew, she was being cradled to his naked chest and carried off to the washroom.
Something was tapping off her underside as they walked.
“You’re gonna have to take your time and wash me good if you think I’m ready to go again,” she said, only half-joking. That had been one of the most intense experiences of her life.
But then again, she wouldn’t mind trying to beat it.
They showered, and had sex again. It was good, but this time th
ey took longer, exploring one another, kissing lots and making it much more sensual. Carla was more than okay with that too.
By the time they flopped into bed, dry but naked, she figured it would be some time before Pace was interested in more.
“Hey,” he growled, rolling up onto his side.
She looked down between his legs. “Again?” she moaned.
“Sorry,” Pace said. “You have that effect on me.”
She rolled her eyes at the cheesy line. “I think I’m going to have to say no and wait a bit this time. Sorry.”
He frowned, concerned, his eyes going distance.
“It’s not like we didn’t just do it twice,” she pointed out, not sure why he was so upset. “It’ll be fine. I’m down to do it again. I just need a break.”
Pace shook his head. “Not that.”
“Huh?”
His eyes snapped back up to her. Instantly, she knew something was wrong.
Pace looked toward the door to her bedroom.
“Do you smell smoke?”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Pace
“Barton!”
His voice filled the small bedroom. Something was wrong, and Pace’s first instincts were to save Carla and her dog. Anything else was secondary, including the strange look she shot him as his dragon side went into full protective mode. The strangely melodic tone of voice, one that commanded obedience, wasn’t human. He could explain that away though. If they survived.
The dog came barreling into the room and up onto the bed, tail between his legs. He was frightened. With him came the smell of smoke, and it was getting worse.
“Pace? What’s going on? What do we do?”
He wanted to take a moment to consider, to plan their escape, but flames licked up the outside of the house, suddenly visible in the window. Frowning, he reached out with his will, but the flames didn’t respond.
Pace went to high alert.
“Sonofabitch,” he swore. Someone was controlling the flames. They were burning the house down around them.
And no human could do that. Only a dragon, one of his kind, could command flames like that, could make them resist Pace’s call.
“Here,” he said, grabbing a shirt, running to the washroom and covering it in water. “Put this over your face.”
It was precious time wasted, but Pace couldn’t help it. There wasn’t anything he could do about the smoke inhalation. This would have the benefit of covering her eyes from him, however, something that he knew was about to become very important.
The house was quickly turning into a blaze, and he knew she must be feeling the heat. Barton whined miserably, a terrified ball at Pace’s feet.
“It’s going to be okay boy,” he said. “I’ll get us out of here.”
The glass cracked as fire ate at it. Pace longed to reach out and battle the other dragon, to exert his dominance, but this was no time to play around. He had to get Carla and Barton out of the house first. Then he could exact some revenge.
“Let’s go.” He grabbed Carla’s hand, leading her toward the bedroom door. She kept the shirt down, just covering her nose and mouth. “Pull it up over your face. You have to trust me here.”
Carla looked ready to protest, but one fierce glance had her falling into line. The shirt went up and over her face. Now he was a little more free to help. Reaching out with his free hand, Pace pushed the flames and heat back, creating a passage through the house for them as they started out the door toward the stairs.
At first they made slow, but good progress. He had to call out to Barton several times to get the dog to follow, but the pup was well trained, and together the trio made the top of the stairs.
The flames surged higher as they did.
“Pace!” Carla cried out, clinging to him, terrified.
Pace spared a moment to look around. There was no way out. The entire downstairs was a raging inferno. For them to get out, he was going to have to draw on his powers far more than he would have liked.
“Shit.”
As if sensing his reluctance, a fresh wave of heat crashed into them. Barton whimpered and Carla clenched at his arm tighter.
Incensed by the rogue dragon’s actions, Pace stopped fighting his heritage. He reached within himself, and found his own fire. It burned bright, and as he touched it, he knew with confidence he could save her now.
That was never in doubt. It’s whether or not she’ll talk to me ever again after I do.
Pace had hoped to maybe one day tell Carla the truth about himself. To reveal just what he was, in a controlled, calm situation. The middle of an inferno wasn’t it, but he wasn’t left with much choice.
“We’ll be okay,” he said, his voice again taking on that non-human tone to it, as he reached out to the fire again, finding the other dragon’s control, and wrenching it away.
Flames sank back and died, clearing a passage forward. Pace didn’t hesitate; he went down the stairs, dragging Carla and Barton along after him.
The other dragon must have sensed what he was doing, because the fire tried to push back. Pace was ready for it though, and his outstretched hand again pushed it away. The effort was requiring more of his heritage however, and the hand began to change. Fingers elongated, becoming clawlike, nails shifting into talons.
His skin turned translucent for a moment before gold scales rose to the surface, rippling farther up his arm for every step forward they took. They gleamed brilliant in the firelight, a magnificent sight.
The closer they got to the front door, the more the fire resisted, and the more of Pace was covered in that same shield-shaped gold plating. He knew his face was shifting as well, because he could feel the trio of horns jutting up from the top of his skull. Still he pushed forward, not willing to let his charges die at the hands of one of his own kind.
All he had to do was keep the hand Carla was squeezing as human as possible. Just focus on that, and he could hopefully make it through this with his secret intact.
They were all of five feet from the door when the house creaked, and a beam collapsed.
Pace roared, letting go of Carla’s hand. He caught the heavy beam, holding it over his head. Around them in a circle, the flames and heat were held at bay, keeping Carla and her dog safe.
“You have to take off the shirt!” he roared, hating himself, knowing he had no choice. “You have to go, I’ll hold this.”
Carla ripped the shirt down and looked around wildly. Her eyes landed on Pace, holding the heavy flaming beam over his head, keeping the passage to the front door open.
“Go!” he bellowed, looking away, hating the look of fear that crossed her face as she stared at him. “Carla, take Barton and get out of here! I can’t hold it for long!”
Holding back the fire was sapping enough of his strength that keeping the beam elevated was about all he could do. His opponent didn’t have to focus on that, and he had the natural fire to aide him, to make him stronger.
“Move!” Pace commanded, using his willpower on Carla as well.
She snapped straight like something had slapped her. Then she grabbed Barton and made a run for the front door. Pace reached out and the fire parted as she went, closing back in around her.
The door opened and they were out. They were safe.
Pace stepped out from the beam and then went after them, his scaled shoulder casually knocking the front door askew as he exited the burning house. He released his hold of the fire, and the house seemed to groan as it realized it was done for.
Hurriedly putting away his other side, knowing that neighbors and more would be watching the blaze, Pace ducked his head for a moment. Once he had control of himself, he walked away some more, wanting to get to Carla, to explain. To tell her the truth, so she wouldn’t be scared anymore.
But one of the neighbors was already there. It was the woman from the other day, with the stroller. She had taken off a jacket and given it to Carla, covering her nudity while they waited for the fire departmen
t to arrive. In the distance, sirens were beginning to scream.
Pace took a step toward her, but she shied away, her eyes staring at him, wide, unblinking. That stopped him in his tracks.
Behind him, he felt the fire change as the other dragon withdrew his presence. Pace knew he should go after him, find the attempted murderer and deal with him, but he couldn’t. His only concern was Carla.
How was he supposed to tell her that he didn’t mean her any harm. That he wasn’t the one to be scared of?
He longed to go to her, to hold her and make sure she was okay, to pat Barton and assure the dog that everything would be alright. Even if their house was burning down.
Pace frowned as he realized that, even if he couldn’t explain to Carla that he wasn’t a threat, he could still help her. Even if it had to be from a distance.
Reaching out with his powers, he extinguished the flames. The house just went dark, every flame ceasing to exist at once. It wasn’t much, he knew, but maybe it would save some of her valuables, some of the things she cared about most.
All around, the neighbors gasped and reacted in shock at the sudden cessation of the fire. He knew it would be talked about for some time, but nobody would be able to prove anything. It would go down as a freak incident, nothing more.
I’m sorry, he mouthed to Carla, who was staring at him, not the house.
Then he turned and ran off into the night, letting the cool air bite at his nudity as he raced for the edge of town, where he could shift into his other form and leave Five Peaks behind.
There was only one place for Pace now, only one place he would be welcomed. Where people wouldn’t look at him with abject fear, and recoil when he came near.
Home.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Carla
The water ran over her face. Shaking her head, she looked down, noticing that there was still a light undercurrent of gray filtering through the water.
