“It’s because I’m here,” Seth says. “They’re all hiding. If I just stay out, I bet they’ll let you in anywhere.”
There are lights on in the restaurant, so we head that way.
But as we get closer, the lights go out. I turn to look at the cabins, noticing drapes and blinds slowly closed.
It can’t be because of Seth, right?
“Does this happen everywhere?” I ask. “That’s awful.”
Seth shrugs one shoulder. “I’m used to it.” He folds his arms. “I’m not going to just leave you both here, but maybe it would be best if I waited a small distance off.”
Griffin runs a hand through his sweaty, red hair, ruffling it as he tries to come up with a solution. “We don’t even know if it’s about you.”
He stomps his way up to the front porch of the hotel and bangs on the front door. When no one comes, he lets out a hiss and stomps his foot on the ground so hard it rumbles.
“Someone is going to come out here right now and help me and my companions, or the black dragon is going to incinerate your whole town!”
Suddenly, the lights are back on almost everywhere.
Damn.
Seth looks up at Griffin, almost impressed. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Griffin thumps the front door again. “Let us in.”
The door opens slowly, but there is a chain keeping it closed. A narrowed yellow eye peeks out at us, and then the person lets out a sigh. “Griffin? What are you doing in town? We paid you last week.”
Griffin looks slightly abashed about the reminder that he has been extorting people. “It’s not about that. We need shelter.”
The man hesitates. “It’s not that I don’t want to, but I have other guests. The black dragon, you understand. It’s not fair to them.”
“Seth isn’t hurting anyone,” Griffin says irritably. “And I need to rest.”
The innkeeper’s eyes move to me, narrowing. “And who is this?” He slowly undoes the chain and walks out onto the step to meet us.
He’s tall, almost as tall as Griffin, though he’s soft around the middle and not as strong.
He’s wearing an odd brown robe over black pants and shoes. “Is this the rumored human?”
Griffin exhales in exasperation as he looks at the ground, then back at the innkeeper. “How did you find out about that?”
“News travels fast.”
“Was it the mud wolves? Wurt? The—”
“Your bears,” the innkeeper says.
“Right, that makes sense,” Griffin says, though his brows are still drawn. He turns to me. “This is Alwin. Also a bear.”
Alwin stares at me like I’m in his way.
“Alwin is one of those shifters who chose this world because he didn’t have to hide from humans,” Griffin says. “That’s also an option.”
“This place is cleaner,” Alwin says. “Less humans.”
“Less everything,” Seth retorts, earning a glare from Alwin.
“You can all come in and clean up, but the black dragon will have to stay outside for the night. If he’s here…”
“That’s so wrong,” I say, stepping forward. “Seth deserves a place to rest as much as anybody.”
Alwin looks down at me critically. “Who asked your opinion?” He has a prodigious amount of hair on his head, between his hair and his beard, which reaches down to his chest. “If he stays here when people are sleeping, they’re going to smell him and complain.”
“So use some air freshener,” I say, though I’m not really sure if air freshener kills the scent of dread. Oddly enough, I don’t actually sense that from Seth anymore, though I did when I first met him.
That was before he slammed some guy’s head into the ground for me.
“Go without me,” Seth says. “I knew it would be like this.”
“No,” I say, folding my arms. “What are our other options?”
Griffin and Seth look at each other thoughtfully.
“Silver’s town is a few hours flight away, and they have places that would host us. But I think Griffin needs to rest before flight,” Seth says. “It really is fine. I sleep outside a lot anyway.” He turns to Alwin. “Can you at least get the shopkeeper to bring over a tent and some blankets?”
Alwin nods at that. “Fine.” He looks at me and Griffin. “So just the two of you, then?”
“All three of us will come in for now, but Seth will leave at nightfall,” Griffin retorts.
“Fine,” Alwin says. “The restaurant is open, but they aren’t going to let him in there either.” He sighs. “He scares folks.”
I feel a bit bad for Seth, hearing this. It has to suck to have everyone put you outside.
“It’s not everyone,” Seth says, reading my thoughts. “Just this backward town full of stupid bears.”
Alwin narrows his eyes at Seth. “What did you say?”
“Forget it,” Seth says, passing him to walk in with Griffin. As we’re walking down the small corridor toward the stairway, I hear him mutter, “Stupid bear”.
The room is at the top of the stairs, the first one accessible, and when we enter, it could be any of the small, musty hotels in the human world.
Faded orange-brown carpet, yellowed walls. A contrast to the fairly crisp gray exterior.
There’s only one bed, queen size, and I set my stuff on it and sit down, realizing I’m really tired.
It feels good to be on a normal bed. Not being kidnapped. Not worried about Clive.
Griffin walks to the small window and looks out with his hands on his hips, watching for any sign of danger.
Seth takes the chair by the window and props his long legs over the arm, letting out a sigh.
I wonder if he ever takes his coat off, but then again, I’m not sure how the tubes work.
He looks over at me, green eyes glittering, slight dark circles underneath them. “I don’t need to always wear it.” He stands up, shedding the coat and draping it over the edge of the chair. The tubes hooked into his neck pop out from metal brackets and fall to the ground, and aside from those two small, glittering pieces of metal at the base of his neck, he almost looks normal.
He’s wearing a tattered black tee shirt with some sort of foreign lettering on it and black jeans slung low on his hips. He has a black necklace around his neck, a weird symbol on the end of it.
His buff arms taper to slim wrists and long fingers.
He turns to give me his profile, and his chin is especially beautiful, with a strong line and a delicate point.
His nose is upturned slightly. His lips are a natural deep pink, and his bottom lip is full. I want to suck on it.
He turns to me, flushing, and I realize he read my thoughts.
A smirk pulls up the corner of his lips slightly. “Anytime, dragon heart.”
I flinch, tearing my gaze away, wishing I had something else to do with my hands.
“So he’s allowed to read your thoughts, and I’m not?” Griffin asks, muscles in his hard jaw ticking.
“You asked me to tell you not to,” I say. “But to be honest, I’d prefer if neither of you read them.”
“Fine,” Seth says. “It’s easy enough to see on your face.” He looks at Griffin. “She wants to do us.”
Griffin sputters, rubbing his hand over his mouth, and I glare at Seth for his rudeness.
Even if he’s right, he had no right to say that.
“Look, we’re all adults here,” Seth says. “I’ve never been with a human, and I’m just saying I’m open to it.”
Griffin disappears into the bathroom without answering, and the door slams just before I hear the shower turn on.
I eye my clothes bag, thinking that a proper shower and a new outfit is just what I need.
I force myself to stand up and rifle through it, trying to decide what to wear.
Most of it is cutesy, but I find a few things at the bottom that are perfect for traveling. Hiking boots, jeans, and a couple jackets. One windbreake
r and one hoodie.
I pull out a black tank top and some gray underwear, and my outfit is complete.
Just as I’m done setting it out on the bed to be ready for a shower, I see pink, lacy panties dangled in front of my face.
I blush down to my toes and snatch them out of Seth’s hands. “Oh my God.”
“You should wear those tonight,” Seth says. “Then you should ask Griffin and me to top you.”
“Top? What are you talking about?”
Seth cocks his head. “I know what I’m doing in the bedroom. All dragons do.”
I snort because this conversation is too ridiculous to be having. “One, I don’t know you. Two, Griffin is going to sell me.”
“He won’t,” Seth says, taking my hand in his warm one. His long-lashed green eyes bore into mine. “I won’t let him.”
I jerk my hand back. “We’ll see. Anyway, as attractive as you are, I don’t think so.”
“We’ll see, dragon heart,” he says, stepping back. “You should still wear the panties.”
“No,” I say, shoving them back in my bag. “The gray will be fine.”
“Gray panties. This is the worst,” Seth says, slumping in his chair again.
Thunder cracks overhead, and I’m shocked to see the rain falling, streaming down the window and pattering on the roof.
It makes this place so normal and leads to a silent moment for both me and Seth.
Then the door opens, and Griffin comes out of the bathroom.
I head forward, holding my clothes in my arms. “Me next.”
As I brush past him, I realize he’s wearing only a towel around his waist, and his strong, hard arm brushes against me as I push into the bathroom.
I turn to look at him, and at the sight of that wide, strong back and his handsome, confused, masculine face as he stares back at me, I go instantly wet.
Maybe time for a little fun in the shower to lower the tension.
Because as much as I’m tempted by either of these dragons, I can’t afford to let myself get close.
Not when they could still sell me.
Griffin heads over to the bed to change, and I turn to close the door just as a hand grabs the edge of it, keeping me from doing so.
It’s Seth.
“Think of me, dragon heart,” he says.
“My name is Anna.”
He cocks his head, and I seriously feel like I’m looking at a real-life Instagram filter. His skin is so smooth, his eyes so luminous.
“Think of me, Anna.”
I draw in a tight breath, trying to compose myself. But just as I’m about to tell him to get out of here, I see Griffin grab him by the arm, jerking him back.
I close the door behind me quickly and lock it before turning on the shower.
As I slowly shed my clothes, I look in the mirror over the counter.
I see a normal girl. Shoulder-length, straight, boring dirty-blond hair. Wide hazel eyes. There are smudges on my cheeks and a few stress lines around my eyes, but otherwise, I look okay.
I slowly peel off my clothes, watching myself in the mirror as my body is revealed. For the first time in my life, I feel erotic, awakened.
From my shoulders to my breasts to my waist, I feel beautiful and strong. I can almost picture Seth and Griffin on either side of me, Griffin leaning in to kiss my neck as Seth slides down my side, his hands caressing my waist as his mouth moves lower.
I gasp, touching myself down there, and then hear pounding on the door.
I choke, blaming myself for being so obvious, and then manage to compose myself enough to squeak out, “Yes?”
“Seth and I are going out,” Griffin says, his tone anxious. “Stay here and keep the door locked. We’ll get food and be back.”
I let out a pent-up breath, grateful I’m going to have some silence.
“And, um… have fun in the shower.”
I blink, blushing furiously as I hear their footsteps pound out of the room and the door shut behind them.
“Oh my God,” I say, picking up a towel and burying my face in it. The steam is heating the room, and I let out a sigh as I hang the towel over the top of the shower.
I step into the steam, and immediately, my eyes roll back at the way the hot water caresses my body.
I grab the small bottle of body wash and lather it in my hands before smoothing it over my body, practically fainting over how good everything feels.
As my hands slowly clean everywhere, I can feel myself growing more restless.
Don’t think about the dragons. Don’t think about the dragons.
But as my hand slowly wanders between my legs, I have to.
I’m already slick there, wet and aching, and I can’t believe they have this effect on me.
Maybe it’s just that in the other world, I had so many other things to worry about. I didn’t have time for dating or sex.
I’m a virgin, but not to orgasm.
My finger knows just how I like to play, and as I part my lips and stroke over my clit, I can’t help imagining it’s Griffin’s strong hand.
I choke, stroking down harder, releasing and moving back up. Oh God, it’s coming stronger, so easy to stroke as I imagine Griffin’s incredible muscles, those beautiful, frustrated gray eyes.
Except in my mind, Griffin’s eyes aren’t frustrated. They’re hungry. Intent. Watching me. Wanting me to finish, to come for him.
I know it’s my imagination, but it turns me on immensely, and as I swipe my finger over my clit again, I come, the sensations so strong I have to brace one hand against the shower wall to keep my feet under me.
My legs are shaking as I exit the shower and wrap myself in a towel, a few waves of pleasure still coursing through my veins, making even my toes tingle.
I’ve never come so hard just from touching myself. Oh God, what would sex with either of the dragons be like?
I dry off my body, resisting the urge to go back to the shower for another round. The dragons could be back any second, and I don’t want Seth banging on the door.
As I pull on new, clean clothes and throw my hair up in a ponytail, I’m able to smile at my own reflection.
At times, I’ve doubted my decision to come here. But right now, it just feels right.
14
Griffin
Griffin tried not to think about the human, naked and steamy and wet, as he and Seth completed their shopping and got the stuff the innkeeper had promised them.
They headed out to the woods close to the hotel and began to set up a little camp, staking out Seth’s tent.
“A fucking tent,” Seth said. “I have a house.”
“In Silver’s town?”
Seth nodded.
“I’m sorry,” Griffin said. “I’ve never been here with you. I didn’t know they would treat you like that.”
The smaller man pinned Griffin with a look. “Why would you? We don’t spend time together. Sure, I show up to scare people and you collect from them, but that’s all. We aren’t close.”
“No,” Griffin said, stomping a stake in. “None of us are.”
Seth gave another little shrug. He was wearing his coat again, and the rain had let up slightly so they weren’t both soaked yet.
Not that Griffin minded the rain. He had always liked it.
“What do you think of her?” Seth asked, pulling out a camp chair and sitting on it.
Griffin pulled out one of his own and sat down, wanting to give Anna a little more time and privacy. “I don’t know. She’s a human. She’s worth a lot.”
Seth peered at him. “I like her.” He rested his arms on the chair and leaned back, letting rain splash over his face.
Griffin had to admit Seth was pretty, even by female standards. He wondered if Anna preferred Seth to him.
Griffin hadn’t had a problem with females wanting him in the human world. He was tall and strong, and even when he was a jerk, there were quite a few girls into that.
But it was all stale to him
. And he’d gotten tired of that world. Of trying not to fuck up and fucking up and empty faces everywhere and a lack of dragon teammates where they should have been.
Perhaps a part of him did think this was how things should have been, hanging out with Seth.
Whether it was Seth or Anna, Griffin was feeling more alive than usual.
But he wasn’t like Seth. He didn’t want to share. He didn’t want to take Anna for himself either, but he especially didn’t want to share.
He glared at Seth, wondering if Anna was thinking about Seth’s body right now.
Perhaps Griffin’s was too brutish, too big. His features too plain and broad.
He twisted a lock of red hair in quiet contemplation.
“What are you thinking about?” Seth asked, because dragons didn’t always read each other’s minds out of politeness. They mostly heard each other when they spoke into each other’s heads.
“Nothing,” Griffin said quickly. If Seth sensed any sign of weakness, he’d start trying to convince him about pairing up with Anna again.
Griffin didn’t even know how that would work, if it did work. He rubbed at his temples, trying to dispel stress, and saw Seth let out an exasperated groan.
Seth’s face was still pointed to the sky, and his eyes were closed, splaying his long lashes over his high cheekbones. His heart-shaped face was framed by the multi-shaded blond of his hair, and the black ends of it.
He opened one eye and looked at Griffin. “You’re going to make this impossible, aren’t you?”
“Make what impossible?” Griffin asked innocently, though he was pretty sure he knew what Seth meant.
“Claiming her,” Seth said. “Griffin, she might be my only chance at living.”
Griffin didn’t know what to say to that.
“I want her,” Seth said. “I want her more every moment I’m with her. Can’t you feel it?”
“Maybe someone sent her to trap us,” Griffin said, because he did feel something with her, and it didn’t make sense.
Nothing good ever happened in this world, and a human who could love him, care for him, be with him… that would never fit.
“She’s innocent,” Seth said. “Can’t you feel that?” He shook his head, sending droplets everywhere like a wild dog. “I’ve been in this world a long time. Much longer than you. The pervasive sense of evil and apathy gets to you. She shines like sunlight in the middle of a storm.”
Bad Dragons: Special Edition Complete Series Page 10
