Demons & Dragons

by Gina Kincade

  “So, you’re leaving?”

  “I don’t know.” He hadn’t looked at her when he spoke.

  And, damn him, but his semi-erection, bobbing in the water, looked enticing. He was thinking the same thoughts she was, obviously wanting the same thing—to be buried inside her.

  “So, the mating thing. Do I get no say in whether or not we are going to finish the ritual? Of course, you will do what you have to with the group. If you are needed…” she paused, not sure where her boundaries were as far as his life went.

  “We will finish it. That is, if you’ll have me.” Finally he looked at her. “But, you have to know that I don’t know if I’ll be leaving soon for DC or not. It was bad out there tonight; but easier to deal with than last night. These three days around the full moon, the creatures are going crazy. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to erase from my mind the first time I saw my mate, and damn them all for her being bloody and tied to a wall at the time.” His voice had gotten louder, deeper, as if the words were choking him, and it was killing him not to strangle someone.

  “I’ll do whatever it takes to be with you,” Aiyanna answered, looking at her dragon who seemed to agree. She could feel it, part of their unspoken communication.

  Xander nodded, a simple, yet profound movement of his head, one that could command armies if it had too, she knew. No wonder this special group wanted him. The bulk of the man was intimidating even for her; a real turn on was more like it. Yet, when he got all serious, as she only knew Xander to be, the feelings doubled inside her. She wanted him, his beast, to tear her flesh, to mark her as his. Then she wanted the man to fill her until she knew nothing of this world except for him, except for their connection.

  “Aiyanna? How are you really feeling about all of this?” Xander asked. “Instincts aside.”

  She looked at him, his arms crossed over his chest, one hand on his bare shoulder, his fingers inches from the mark she’d left there. If anyone had told her a day ago that she’d be in a cave, high up on a mountain with this very unique man, gifted in abilities and empathy and looks, wanting her as a mate, she would’ve thought the person had been smoking something. Now she was the one on some kind of high.

  “I want you with all that I am. I love everything about you.” Butterflies had taken up permanent residence in her stomach, but now it was tightening, her insides clenching with the possibilities of what was to come.

  Xander reached out his hands to her. Aiyanna took them. An electric shock made her inhale deeply.

  “You are my mate,” she stated, voice solid. “Of that fact I’m sure. Our kind doesn’t choose what the heart wants. And I want you. We can figure the rest out together.”

  “Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you.” He got up, stepped out of the tub. “Well, beyond the bite.” Xander winked, and her heart jumped in her chest.

  He nodded to Aiyanna. Every man or woman with an animal inside them or an animal spirit knew the mating ritual, what was to come. The bite, one that scarred the recipient for life, a permanent wedding ring if you will, was made on the shoulder. Usually, with the couple taking turns, the animal form biting the other’s human form. No fear could be shown of the other’s animal. Then, the couple consummated the union just like any other wedded pair. In their case, there were some semantics to iron out, what with his beast having three heads, but she figured she would let Xander run the show. His bite was not healing well, not as a usual bite, which would pretty much disappear from the healing abilities of his kind. Only a mate’s bite left a smooth, permanent, pinkish scar, like a tattoo.

  With that thought, she watched Xander shift. If all of his transitions from man to beast were wearing on his energy, it wasn’t showing. Although the cave was large, the Chimera filled it. Surely, only one mouth, the dragon’s she assumed, was going to bite her. Their eyes met, woman to beast, Aiyanna to his dragon, and she was able to straighten her spine against what was to come from the support she found in that one look. She removed her dress, having nothing on underneath.

  Every muscle in her body tensed. With the prick of his teeth, came pain, sharp and piercing, an affliction that shot through her, touching every nerve ending, then concentrated back in her shoulder as a stinging ache. A second later, it was over and she watched his whole form shudder as she felt hers do the same. She was wet and ready to be taken, the wound of her torn flesh, burning, tingling, turned her on even more.

  Pleasure and pain—hers, he could feel it now too she somehow knew, merged in his tense jaw, his eyes tightly closed, head thrown back, fists clenched at his sides. Feeling her dragon, she knew he was connecting with its spirit. His erection grew, standing out from his body as if proud, finally ready to be hers. She hoped to some day build his confidence in himself, not as a warrior—he had that—but as a man more than worthy of love. He was strong, he’d been a hero to many, and she loved him with all of her heart, so much that she was willing to share him with whomever needed him, follow him to the ends of the earth if need be.

  But that was to think on another time, as the image of the man standing naked in front of the fire, facing her, became her focus. His cock reached out between them. Two hands, big and rough from manual labor, grabbed at her flesh, one on her neck and one on her side. Their foreheads came together, and the next second they kissed. It was rough, harsh, hot, as Xander’s fingers wove into Aiyanna’s hair.

  What happened next seemed a sexual wrestling match, and Aiyanna had never been so turned on. Her body practically vibrated, each nerve ending alive, wanting attention. Xander practically threw Aiyanna onto the rug in front of the fire, turning her body but holding her as she fell to her knees into a push-up position. Then, moving between her legs, hands gripping her hips, lifting them to meet him, he mounted her.

  Aiyanna growled and tensed, but stayed put, her fingers curling into the plush rug as Xander began nudging her opening with his cock. It seemed once he felt wetness there, he was no longer gentle in the venture. He was rough, impatient. She found her body opening more in invitation to come deeper, to take her harder. She needed him, as if it sealed the deal. They had a lifetime ahead of them to go slow.

  With both his hands on Aiyanna’s ass, pinning her hips, Xander pushed into her. With each small, yet hurried, thrust, he entered her, inch by inch. There was roaring, deep and animalistic, hips moving in short jerks. At one point they even rolled, Xander onto his back with Aiyanna on top of him, the two still joined. She sat up, looking toward his feet, and reached for his balls, massaging them, until Xander bucked. Aiyanna rode him with skill, as her body answered his. Giving into the friction building inside her, she moved, letting her body take all the pleasure his had to give. He grabbed her arms and pulled her back to his chest, embracing her. He rolled up into her, holding his cock still inside her, he coiled his body around hers. With his mouth nuzzling, kissing her neck, for that one moment, that instant of complete contact, they were inseparable; one.

  Then he rolled them again on the plush carpet until she was back up on her knees, his body over hers. One hand still on the floor, bracing his weight, his other hand on her breast, his chest resting along her back, he thrust again and again. His hand moved lower, rubbing over her stomach as it went, until it found her mound. A few rough rocks of his fingers between her folds had the pads of his fingers circling her clit. He was buried inside her, balls deep now, a little more movement on his part, in and out, and she found herself climaxing. Her body, wound so tight began to pulse, shake, until release washed over her, waves of pure molten pleasure, hot liquid rushing through her veins. It matched the feeling of his own hot seed shooting into her as he roared. Their movements finally became more subtle as the waves decreased, leaving them shaking together, until they fell, side by side, onto the rug.

  Panting in her ear, he said, “Sorry to be so rough. I wanted you so bad.” He reached out, stroking the side of her face.

  “No apologies,” she panted, grabbing his hand and squeezing.


  “Let’s finish getting you cleaned up and then reconvene on the bed.” Aiyanna spoke through heavy breaths. “I wanted to give you that bath myself anyway.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” Xander said, running his hands over her hair.

  “I want to. I want to care for you.” She smiled, feeling the emotion from the fluttering in her heart to the knots in her stomach.

  He took her hand, helping her step into the tub with him. So she wouldn’t slip, he’d pushed a towel to the bottom for some traction. Taking the washcloth, she ran it over him, from his feet to his neck, getting to know every inch of his hard body. She stifled her giggle, pushed back the schoolgirl butterflies in her stomach, as she rubbed the cloth between his ass cheeks. The noises coming from deep in his throat were revving up her body, spurring her on, killing any tiny misgivings or fears she may’ve had.

  Grasping this moment, she had to play alpha over him for a second. Aiyanna re-dipped her washcloth, got it nice and soapy, before running it over the reddish skin of Xander’s erection. As she lightly scrubbed the hard protrusion, he jerked it forward through her fist. Pressing it against his stomach with her palm, she washed what hung heavy beneath. She felt Xander grab her hair as she leaned in to kiss him there. He sucked in a breath.

  He was big in both girth and length, and the idea of him finally having come inside her just about drove her mad. Once she had him clean, with a glance up into his face, one so full of love and admiration, she took him as far as she could into her mouth. Her hands on his hips now, slid around to his ass as she moved his length in and out of her mouth. She worked him, like she had done this a hundred times, like a well oiled machine, increasingly proud of herself with each of his reactions until he pulled her away.

  “I don’t want to come like this. Well, at least not this time. We must be together, me buried deep inside you, each time it happens tonight,” Xander stated, as if it was not up for discussion.

  “I need you inside me,” Aiyanna declared as they walked the bed.

  She slid onto the bed, scooting up to the middle.

  Xander sighed, shaking his head. He looked her up and down. “You are simply exquisite. And you have healed so nicely.”

  “Yes, I’m healed already thanks to you. Now, take me with as much passion as you did a moment ago.”

  He pushed her shoulders back to the bed then, laying his hands heavily onto her breasts, squeezing both mounds into his hands. He brushed a soft kiss over the mark he’d made. The sting of pain sent flames through her blood. With her natural healing powers, it’d already scabbed over, but there would be no spelled herbs for it to hurry her natural accelerated abilities. It needed to recover, to process and mend, in its own time, in its own way.

  Her nipples tightened under his palms. As he bit, something between a kiss and a nip at her throat, his hand traveled lower. She loved the weight of him pressing against her skin, running his hand over her stomach, which coiled in anticipation, a tight drum ready to vibrate with a low but resounding noise.

  Seconds later, he hugged her around her hips, burying his face between her thighs, nipping and kissing her wet and sensitive flesh there. The music in her head built in rhythm and tone. His tongue dipped in between her folds, pushing into her opening, making her scream, the notes still playing, humming through her body, not just a drum but a whole tribe playing to a crescendo. When he sucked her clit into his mouth, she opened her eyes, strained to watch his mouth on her. She let Xander stick his tongue inside her a few more times, burying his face in between her folds, an animal feeding from her, before she pushed at his shoulders.

  “Sorry, did I hurt you?”

  “No, I just wanted more.” She gave him a slanted, wicked grin.

  “Thank you. Thank you for being so open and giving, my mate.”

  She moved up as far as she could on the mattress, leaving her legs wide open for Xander to enter her. Again, she was in control for a brief second, getting lightheaded with the rush of it, having him follow her before she relinquished and allowed him to dominate her. She liked it both ways.

  Xander, with a glint in his eye, thrust into her wetness, pushing all of himself inside her in one thrust. As she cried out, glorying in the feeling of her inner walls stretching around him, hot blood roared through her veins. Xander pulled out, then moved inside her so swiftly, so far, that she felt for one magnificent second, her body so full of him, she was complete.

  Xander kept himself up on his arms, elbows locked, holding most of his weight off of her. Yet, with each thrust of her mate, Aiyanna felt the pressure grow inside her, wanting more of him still, an insatiable hunger even with his body crushing down onto hers. She was getting greedy as they moved fast, but in sync. With his blood still in her system, she could feel her mate on a different level, more than just sex. They were one animal. Their dragons, while different in nature, mingled, too. His pleasure escalated her own. The contractions built so her inner walls gripped him, milked him. She could feel a new connection between them, one where she understood what he felt, what he thought, what he was. Because of this gift, she knew he was as overwhelmed by the experience as she was. It was a comfort to be able to experience some of her mate’s feelings. Pushing up, she threw her arms around his neck and held on for dear life as her orgasm neared. She came; pulsing, waves of tightening and releasing, fire coursing through her. When he finally came, their combined cries had to have scared the whole damn forest below them.

  Of course, this just may have been the case, as only minutes later they heard a voice at the mouth of the cave speak his name.

  Chapter Four

  “W ho is that?” Aiyanna started.

  “One second,” Xander yelled to the voice. “It’s Brandon,” he said to her quietly. “A vampire, from that special ops group. Here, put on this dress.” He was out of the bed and scurrying about for his clothes already.

  Once they were dressed, he grabbed her hand, and yelled, “Come in.”

  As soon as a man, followed by a few others entered the cave, Xander said, “This is Aiyanna, my mate.”

  Just as the words Xander had spoken this morning jumpstarted her heart, she was soon overwhelmed by the congratulations of several strangers and smiling like a silly schoolgirl. All the good feeling ended in a moment as the first guy who’d walked into the cave spoke in a completely different tone. From the pale skin accompanying his tall graceful frame, she could only assume he was Brandon, the vampire.

  “We had trouble tonight on her reservation.” He looked at her quickly, putting up both of his hands to indicate stop, “But we prevented the group from hurting anyone. They got away, but not without a beating. We left a few of our men there to guard, but I’m sure the shifters aren’t going to go back there. Besides, the shifter leading them made a statement to his group as they left that the dragon woman wasn’t there.”

  “They are looking for me!” She shouted, a bit louder and higher in pitch than she’d meant to. It wasn’t for concern over her own welfare, but for those of her tribe.

  “They are fine, well protected, as you heard, Aiyanna,” Xander said, pulling her into him.

  “We came to tell you that,” Brandon continued, “and to see if you’ve reached a decision about our job offer. Now that you have a mate, she is obviously welcome, too. Actually, her reputation precedes her, and she would be a welcome addition in her own right.”

  “How do you know about me? Xander?” she asked, shocked once again to learn so many knew of her and her gifts, when all her life she’d been deluded into thinking only those close to her knew.

  “No, Aiyanna,” Brandon continued. We are CIA. We know many things. It’s our job. Let’s take a moment to talk, if that’s okay, and we’ll fill you in on who we are and what we do. Okay?”

  “Sure,” Aiyanna answered, looking at Xander for assurance, even though she could feel it was all right with him. That aspect of their Mating was going to take some getting used to.

  “My name is Alexx,”
the woman who’d been standing beside Brandon said as she put her hand on Aiyanna’s shoulder and they all settled in around the fire.

  Aiyanna could feel his reluctance as Xander let go of her and Alexx sat down right beside her. A moment of separation anxiety gripped her lungs, but she admonished herself, and gave Alexx her undivided attention. She took an instant liking to the woman, and that was strange for her as well. But, her life in the past few days had made strange and different into normal. Might as well deal.

  “I know how you feel, Aiyanna. Well, to some extent anyway,” Alexx continued, placing her hand over Aiyanna’s like they were old friends. She got the premonition that someday, they would be. “I remember when the CIA approached me to be part of the group. But, I came alone and found my mate actually working in the group. I’m a witch. Let me tell you a story; maybe it will help explain a little of who the others and I are, what we do, woman-to-woman. Okay?” She had asked not only Aiyanna, but Brandon’s permission as well with a quick glance his way. They had to be mates. There was no mistaking such a glance, one filled with love and devotion, bringing warmth to everyone around them.

  “I can only imagine that meeting your Darius was given the motivation he needed. He saw her beautiful, voluptuous body. For a woman that just turned forty, she had a body that was a work of art. What he admired most of her body was her beautiful curves. Her body was delicious enough to eat.

  Mate, right before meeting all of us, would be overwhelming,” Alexx continued after a smile from Brandon. “It is life-altering enough to learn about this group, and then to have them include you in it. It is a whole other ball of wax to meet and fall in love with another gifted creature, one with whom you share, in that you are both separate from mere mortals, but still differ in the ways that you are…well, different. Yeah, I’m probably not making much sense here.” Alexx sighed and laughed. The woman sparkled from the inside out, Aiyanna swore. She could feel her dragon close, on guard, but at ease with these new people.