Demons & Dragons

by Gina Kincade

  “No, not to mine either. It is a new phenomenon, really, well–practiced to this extent. I’m Aiyanna, by the way. Do you have a name, hero?”

  “Yes, it’s Xander. Now, stop calling me hero. I’m not. Far from it.”

  “I would say you are. You didn’t have to save me.”

  He huffed. “I think I did. Nature knows. The Universe decides which calls of panic and fear I hear and should respond to. I follow my instincts and Mother Earth, herself. Now, no more talk. We must get you healed.”

  He went back to work. The discomfort from his ministrations couldn’t stop her wondering what his large hands would feel like on her otherwise, in a different situation; one more sensual, more erotic. He was gentle and attentive, concern tightening the already sharp lines of his features. She lost consciousness looking at his green and gold eyes as he laid the packs of healing herbs over her breasts, his fingers way too careful not brush against her erect nipples as far as she was concerned.

  Chapter Two

  I n the morning, Xander knelt by the bed, bent over Aiyanna, and uncovered her body to remove the packs of herbs from her wounds. Her wrists had healed nicely, the torn flesh now mended, no longer red and angry. When he took the packs from her breasts, though, his hands clenched into fists.

  He watched as her nipples grew hard despite the huge fire blazing in the makeshift hearth. Her skin was a healthy looking tan, characteristic of her people, despite the scratches marring it. He couldn’t stop himself from looking down her body to where her full thighs met around a dark, silky bed of curls. Wishing to hold the flesh in his hands, to open her legs so he could taste her. Would she be that wonderful mix of sweet and spicy like she smelled? A warm ginger sugar cookie, fresh and still soft from the skillet over the fire. He tried to calm his erratic breathing.

  It had been a long time since there’d been anyone other than himself in his cave. There’d been a few, now and then, a few necessary acquaintances, other creatures who used their particular more-than-human to save lives. Never someone he’d saved, but she’d been too hurt to take anywhere else. No, he knew that wasn’t exactly true. He was lying to himself. Her, he couldn’t just save and walk away from. Instincts, every one he had on high alert last night, had him trembling in her presence like a hormonal teenage boy. Touching her last night, he’d wanted to wrap his arms around her and tell her everything would be alright rather than just heal her and move on. And, after he’d promised her the world, he wanted to move inside her until she screamed his name. The whole thing was irrational. Insane. He had no idea where such feelings had come from, but he’d felt the connection instantly, almost enough to bring his beast to its knees when he’d first seen her hanging against the cave wall.

  His mother, when she’d been alive, had tried to tell him about shifters picking mates, but he had ignored those lessons. He was a freak of nature, which was exactly why he’d never take a mate. His argument had always been about not knowing which animal would choose, or the gods forbid, each different animal chose one. He had always prayed he just wouldn’t need a mate because no other Chimera existed. Well, he didn’t know that for sure. He knew of no other Chimera in the states anyway. He’d chosen to live apart. His needs were met with one-night stands, women from bars he picked up in his human form. Their place, of course. They had no idea what he was, and he made sure he never saw them again.

  “Something wrong?” she asked.

  “No,” he turned to her with a jerk of his head. He laid the blanket quickly back over her body, tucking it in around her neck. “You look perfect. Um…all healed, I mean.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice scratchy.

  “No need. When you feel up to it, I can take you back home.”

  “I’m so glad my people are all okay,” she choked, tears filling her eyes. “You can’t imagine the horrible thoughts worry placed in my brain as I hung on that wall.”

  When she blinked, he watched the drops fall, drowning something inside of him; taking with them the last ounce of his compassion for those who’d wronged her, if there’d ever been any. He could only imagine the things her mind had conjured of her people and her land, the tiny plot the government had stolen from them, then granted her people use of.

  “I’m sorry. I went down to your reservation while you slept and told your people that I had you, that I would return you soon.” Proud of himself for keeping his anger, spurred by her tears, restrained enough to talk when he felt like punching something so hard his knuckles would shatter, he forced a smile to his lips. The last thing he wanted was for her to fear him any more than she probably already did.

  “I can’t go back and put everyone I care about in danger. What if that Aiden, the hawk-man, comes for me again? Or, what if he and his makeshift coven come for me at the reservation, and I’m not there? Do you think they would hurt my people just for kicks or out of anger, or would they just leave? Should I even go back?” She tried to sit up, but his hands stopped her.

  “No! I mean… I don’t know. Sorry, but you should rest. Let me worry about protecting them for right now.” He pulled his hands from her, an effort, as if they were glued to her shoulders. He held them in front of him, unsure where he should put them, knowing how badly he wanted to touch her again but couldn’t. He knew he looked the fool as his body and mind fought it out. “You can stay here as long as you like. I can send someone to guard your reservation. I have friends in a special black ops division of the government. You do have a job to return to, I suppose.”

  “Yes. Hopefully someone from my tribe will make up some kind of excuse for me. I’m a newspaper journalist. I work out of Anchorage. I wish I could write about what was really going on in the world, but humans like to pretend our other sides, our powers, don’t exist. Soon, if things keep up, if these rough creatures have their way, those same humans will have no choice but to acknowledge us.”

  “I fear you’re right. God damned shifters last night, and that witch,” he said, his whole body pulsing, every inch of his skin tingling for her touch. His nails bit into his palms and his arms ached from his clenched fists as he resisted touching her.

  “The witch, Selene, she actually protested for me at one point, but got nowhere. That Aiden was just nasty all around, enough for all of them. The other shifters never even spoke; just did as they were told, no questions asked. Only Selene made the mistake of speaking. I feel sorry for her. Life dealt her a bad hand, and with these bad guys is where she ended up. Sounds like she regrets it now.”

  “I wasn’t dealt the greatest hand in life either, but you don’t see me out there sacrificing people, especially someone like you… I mean...someone so gifted.”

  “That was Selene’s argument, too. But, you had a mother; she had no one but an abusive father after her mother died. I mean… I’m not trying to compare, well, maybe I was, but I shouldn’t. Sorry. I just feel sorry for her. I know my father did, too, when he was alive.”

  “You’re right. I…just seeing what they did to you… I should go make a call. Get someone to watch over your reservation.”

  “Someone from this black ops division? Is that what you called them? How do you know about them?”

  “They are here now, trying to recruit me. Plus, they heard rumblings about some rituals happening here. Guess they heard right, though I have no idea why they didn’t show up last night.”

  “Can you tell me more? Sorry, I shouldn’t ask. The reporter in me, I guess.”

  “No, it’s fine. I’ve already let the secret slip. But, I really shouldn’t say any more.” He shook his head again at how implicitly he trusted this woman, like no other person alive now that his mother was dead. It made no sense. He needed to watch what he said around her. Well, he should, but he just wasn’t. “Why don’t I go make that call.”

  He left the cave, flying as his animal toward the city, to find a spot with reception, in order to call to his contact at the CIA to get the special ops group to watch over her reservation. Even
with all of that, he returned to the cave much too quickly, then he was back to not knowing what to do with himself.

  Aiyanna broke the silence that hung heavy between them. “Do you work? Other than being a hero, that is.”

  “No. Not really.”

  “How do you live? And how did you get all of this stuff all the way up here, high on this mountain? You fly it all up in your animal form, I guess.”

  “Some of it. I forage, eat as my beast, mostly. Sometimes, when the weather is right, I go through the camps at night, see what people have left behind. I’ve worked odd jobs from time to time, but it never quite works out. Much of this stuff, my mother used magick to get up here, when I was too young and too wild to help. She would wear herself out moving wood up the side of the mountain. It would take days to get enough to work with along with the tools she needed. She cut and sanded and created each item over months at a time.” His throat tightened up.

  Get a grip on your emotions there, hero.

  Xander would never forget her calling him that last night after he’d saved her. Never had a ‘thank you’ meant so much, like his whole life was worth it just for that one moment of praise. This mate thing, if that’s what all of these feelings truly were, was making him a pathetic idiot.

  He saw her shiver as she watched him. Crazy thing was, he’d become conscious of what he was wearing. A ragged sweatshirt that hugged his body now accompanied the same jeans he’d put on when they got there. He’d never had anyone he’d wanted to impress before.

  You don’t now, either. She’ll leave soon.

  His stomach tightened into a knot. He’d felt the need to explain himself, his appearance, his lifestyle, to say more, when long ago he’d made a vow not only to never care what others thought of him, but to never explain to anyone how he lived his life, how he survived.

  “You’re cold. A few inches of the first snow fell overnight. We need to get you clean and dressed. I have some clothes here you can pick from, my mother’s clothes. They will at least provide you modesty and warmth. It’s not freezing, but it’s not warm in here. I brought water in from the spring while you were sleeping. I can heat it so you can wash. I’ll leave…give you some privacy once I get it ready.”

  “I appreciate all of your trouble,” she spoke, her voice soothing him, a balm over his tense muscles.

  When he had the water warm, he helped her up, pulling the blanket around her body. He needed the shield between them, wishing it were more substantial—something like metal—so he couldn’t feel her warmth or the way her soft curves pressed against him.

  “Don’t worry about the blanket. I have another. This one I will wash. Leave it on the floor.”

  He walked her over to where the fire was burning. A tub of sorts, a large metal barrel he’d taken from a factory held water next to the blaze, a constant effort to keep going enough to warm this place in the long winter months. Why he’d never relocated, he didn’t know, or didn’t want to think about it.

  “What was—”

  He cut her off. “Making money is often a problem, remember. My beast has stolen much over the years to give my mother and me—when she was alive—some comforts up here. I’m not proud of it, but it was necessary.”

  And, there goes that vow again! Is nothing sacred?

  You can’t seem to shut your mouth, asshole!

  “I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t…”

  “Are you okay?” he asked as her body went limp against his, swaying a bit.

  “I guess I’m just worn out. Probably hungry.” Her voice sounded shaky as she hung her head. “My stomach…never mind. I’ll be fine.”

  “Let me help you.” His chest tightened and his stomach rolled. He had no idea how he would keep himself restrained if he had to bathe her, but what choice did he have? His fierce need to care for her set him off balance.

  “That’s okay. I’m sure I’ll be fine in a minute.”

  “I said, I’ll help!” he barked.

  She frowned, and blinked at him.

  “Sorry. Again! You’re… It doesn’t matter. I won’t hurt you. I can help.”

  Please, let me help! No, don’t! Shit!

  “But…” She curled up more, and he caught her before she slid to the floor. Scooping her into his arms, he pushed away how right she felt there, her head on his chest, her soft hair and frail breath brushing his neck.

  “Let me get you food first. I went into town for a few things this morning. I got some berries along with some peanut butter and bread. I figured you would need something. I didn’t know what to get you, though. My mother, instead of PB&J sandwiches, used to make me a peanut butter sandwich with berries on the side when I was sick as a kid. Guess I was thinking of her and you when I went out.” When he went to the store, he had been thinking of them both because he wondered what his mother would say about this woman if she’d been still alive to ask.

  He’d pulled together his last dimes to go to the store, since it had been months since he’d tried to work. Every job was the same, something about him made humans edgy. He was larger than average even when in his human form. It was even worse if another creature worked among them. He was lucky if he got paid once before he had to quit or disappear completely.

  “Thanks. You were quite busy while I slept, it seems.” She smiled as she spoke. His heart beat harder.

  With her now curled up on his lap, he held a berry up to her lips. She blushed, but took it from his fingers.

  “I’m grateful and all for how kind you’re being, but it’s a real blow to my ego to have you feed me.” Aiyanna moved as if to stand up, then fell back against him.

  “Just relax. No shame in it.” He wanted to finish with, I don’t mind at all, but swallowed the words. “You’ve gone through a lot. Your body expended a lot of energy just healing yourself.”

  Her sighs made him smile, but she took another berry from his fingers. Her silky lips brushed over his fingertips. He willed his erection to not grow any harder or it might make itself known to her even under the bunched up blanket.

  After she’d eaten and drank some water, she proclaimed, “I think I can manage the bath myself, now. I appreciate the food.”

  “Let me help you.” He cringed at the pleading in his voice.

  “What?”

  “I’m afraid you’ll get lightheaded and fall or something. Let me help you with the bath.” Her eyes widened, big round orbs stared at him, bringing a smile to his face. “I’ve already seen you, remember. It’s safer if I stay.” He clenched his jaw, knowing that was a half-truth. Nothing he thought or said really made any sense save to get closer to her.

  “I’ll be fine—”

  He cut her off. “I insist. I won’t leave you. I’ll turn around, if I must.”

  She sat up. “Stay, then,” she huffed. The following words he was unable to understand, but they definitely sounded too vile to come from such a lovely creature.

  Is her voice shaky? Did I scare her, or just piss her off? Damn.

  “Sorry about the way I spoke. I don’t mean to sound pushy or to frighten you. I just…” He left off, unable to say what he wanted.

  “You’re just being a hero, trying to save me from everything, including possibly bumping my head in the tub. Really, I appreciate it, but allow me some modesty.” She grimaced and rolled her eyes before winking and smiling at him. He was unable to stop the corners of his mouth from turning upward in response.

  “Of course.” When she stood, he steadied her, then turned away. Although he resolutely studied the rock wall of his cave, when he heard the sound of the blanket drop to the floor, he could clearly see her naked body in his mind. As he listened to the water move, he imagined washing the long, walnut-colored waves of her hair, soaping her heavy breasts, sneaking his fingers down in between her folds.

  He knew he had to stop these images flowing through his mind. He was painfully erect, and it was getting harder to hide even with his upper body curled over the appendage. And yet, he co
uldn’t help but imagine again washing her breasts, her dark chocolate nipples growing hard under his soapy palms. He stifled his groan.

  “You okay? The water hot enough?” he asked to interrupt his own thoughts.

  “Yes, it feels wonderful.”

  I bet you do.

  He pulled up a seat and remained the gentleman all the way to the end of her torturously long bath, when he heard her gasp. He turned to see her half-standing, holding on to the edge of the tub. Moving before he thought or spoke, he had his arms around her wet waist down in the water. “You okay?”

  “Yes, I just slipped.” Her voice was little more than a whisper. “Metal and water are not conducive to getting your feet under you.”

  “Did you hit something?” he asked, the hot water soaking through his sweatshirt where he had her upper body now pressed against his.

  “No. I caught myself. I’m fine. Can I have the towel?”

  “Sure,” he choked, seeing her ass just below his hands. The water caught the light of the fire over the perfect globes. Mere inches lower and he could squeeze them.

  Still holding her against him and holding her gaze with his, he reached for the towel. Without asking her permission, he lifted her from the water and stood her in front of him, wrapping the towel around her body. Grabbing another, he sat back down on the chair and began gently drying her hair. Her hand catching his, stopping him from continuing, was more connection than he could take. He cupped the back of her head and pulled her mouth to his.