Branded Wings

by S. I. Hayes

  “How sweet. We all love Ryane here. She’s a great Boss. Come on over and I’ll get you started. What do you want to drink?”

  “Um, just a light beer right now, and babe?”

  I was still looking around and nonchalantly sizing up Gilda. “Oh, yeah, whatever you are having is fine.”

  “Umm, is she old enough?”

  I made eye contact with her and she swallowed hard, my Dragon must have pushed up, because she seemed to stiffen as Siegfried wrapped his arm over my shoulder, leading me to a table.

  “Sorry, it’s just, you know, business and all...” Gilda slunk away, embarrassed.

  “Is my girl getting jealous?” He asked with a short chuckle, pulling out my chair for me to sit. “You know, before I took to taking care of Ryane all the time, I used to have flocks of girls following me around, but when you keep one around all the time, for whatever reason, things like that fizzle as fast as the word of it can spread.”

  “Yeah, well if it doesn’t fizzle now I will make it sizzle, got me?” I licked my finger, putting a dollop of saliva on a fork. Siegfried watched as it melted and curled up on itself.

  “Point well made. But don’t worry, I’m all yours,” he insisted.

  “That’s what I like to hear.”

  chapter 58 sig

  SITTING WITH AELLA and watching her eat was a sensual experience. She savored her food, taking small bites and really taking the time to taste the flavors and key notes of the various spices in the appetizers. We got a fried sampler of gator tails, grit sticks and butterflied shrimp to start. She was something of a purist too. Not using any of the sauces extensively, just a drop here and there. I think I could watch her eat for hours and be satisfied by listening to those happy little moans.

  “What?” she chortled, stuffing down another shrimp, holding her hand in front of her full mouth as she spoke. “Are you not eating now? I thought you were hungry?”

  “I am; I just like to see a woman with a healthy appetite. It’s nice.”

  “Food is a great thing. You’re lucky to have a friend that cooks. I’m not half bad, but nothing like this. You’re right, she could do so much more here.”

  I nodded as Tawney came over with a couple more beers.

  “Everything okay over here, you two?” She smiled at Aella. In fact, most of her attention had been directed at my beautiful girl most of the night, if I had to be honest. She was a smart cookie, having taken over for Gilda after we sat in her section. Aella was eating up the attention just like those gator tails.

  “Mm hm. Awesome, and I think I know what I want for my entrée, now.” She grinned, nodding at me. “You figure yours out”

  “Yup. Gonna have the-”

  “Surf and turf, it’s all he ever orders, with the macaroons for dessert,” Gage’s voice broke in as his arms wrapped around my shoulders firmly. He rubbed his cheek against mine. He appeared to be just a tad over the limit.

  “Gage...?”

  Tawney straightened up, “Wolfy, shouldn’t you be getting ready for your down time?”

  “I am, been waiting for you to get off... Since this scaly fucker is too busy lately.” He ruffled my hair and I couldn’t help but blow smoke.

  “Pressing matters, you said you had it in hand.”

  “Yeah, double fisted, dude.” He pulled up a chair beside me and put his head in his hand with his elbows on the table. “So, are you two a thing now? It makes sense, both being Dragons and all.”

  My jaw tightened as Aella sat back with an uncomfortable laugh. “I’m sorry, it’s the moon, it makes him into a bit of an ass.”

  “I can see that.”

  “Hey, now wait a damn second. You’d be a dick too, if you kept finding yourself odd man out!” He let out a little whimper, taking a swing off of my beer.

  “Maybe slow down.” Tawny reached out, taking him by the shoulder, “Come on, let’s get some food in you and I’ll take you home, okay?” She got the big guy up from the table. He sniffed, hugging into her, letting her lead him away.

  “What was that about?” Aella asked, wiping her mouth.

  “I have no idea.”

  “Sorry guys. He’s going through some stuff. Still not quite right since his mom died,” Tawny explained as she came back over. “He’ll be okay eventually, just needs to readjust to being back.”

  I nodded, I understood the changes that came between confinement and freedom. I just preferred the confinement.

  “So about those dinners?”

  “The Surf n’ Turf... but can you serve it over there with the boy? We’ll be joining him. He shouldn’t be eating alone...” Aella answered before I could even think to. She was a good girl, a kind hearted one. How had I managed to turn her eye toward me?

  “IT WAS JUST FANTASTIC! The open spaces, the rolling hills, fresh air. I couldn’t get enough of it. No rules, no one telling me what to do. I hunted, fished, hiked, man, wolf, didn’t matter, it was all community, you were family even if you weren’t.”

  Gage was sobering up as we let him talk all about Wyoming. Aella engaged him, sharing about her own life experiences and I was happy to sit back and listen.

  “That must have been incredible. I can remember being about twelve, and Mary and I stole away with Father’s horse to ride in the Wilde Hunt, she spooked because of the Cŵn Annwn packs and we landed in a huge muddy puddle, surrounded by the Tuatha De’ Danann soldiers. They were not pleased, although they laughed all the while as they brought us home.”

  “You have a sister?” Gage asked, interested. And what are or is a Cŵn Annwn?

  “Oh yes and two brothers, Adrien and Enrich. Our parents adopted me and Adrien when we were just wee little babies.”

  “So you are Fey raised then, that explains a lot.” I smiled.

  “Oh, such as?” She raised an eyebrow at me in lingering question.

  “Your cloistering, your love of food and use of butter... Your passion,” I teased, taking her knee in my hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

  “Yeah, I figured you were an item... I was right.” Gage shook his head. “Back to my other question; you said packs of Cŵn Annwn. What’s that?” Gage’s interest was piqued.

  “In Ireland they are something like the Fey equivalent of a Werewolf. Only they are not a slave to the moon phases, having broken their bond to the moon eons ago. No hijacked emotional levels at the full moon or energy drains at the new. They are shape changers who serve the Tuatha De’ Danann and the Unseelie Court in turn. Highest bidder typically. If I am not mistaken, the cook here tonight is one.”

  Gage looked toward the kitchen. Kendall? Really...” He snorted. “Well, I think I’m good enough to drive back to the dorms. Thanks for hanging out with me, guys. I think I needed it.” He went to stand up and Aella joined him, giving him a warm hug.

  “If you need someone to chat with about anything babe, you call me. Okay?” She snatched his phone from him, keying her number.

  He looked at me and I shrugged.

  “Seriously. Anytime.”

  “Okay... Thank you.”

  As he walked away, I watched him meet with Tawney, who grabbed her coat and walked out the door with him. “What was that about?” I asked her as she grabbed her bag. We’d paid an hour or so earlier, but had been so into talking we just hadn’t been inclined to leave.

  “I’ve known his type before is all. He’s gonna need a friend.” She palmed my face. “I have classes in the morning, but I’m also not ready to end this night. Come back to my dorm with me for a while. I’m not promising anything, I’m just not ready to be free of you yet.”

  I bent down, kissing her parted lips gently. “I know what you mean.” If this was confinement, someone throw away the key.

  chapter 59 Aella

  I’M A BIG GIRL. THAT’S what I kept telling myself as Siegfried followed me up the hall to the elevators that went to my dorm room. I could feel the sweat as it started to collect like everywhere. I knew I wasn’t ready for him to take me to
bed, but I also knew that I wanted nothing more than his hands all over me. How could I manage one without the other? How was I supposed to ask for that and not have to reciprocate in some ungodly fashion, with something that I didn’t know how to do? I swallowed hard as we got on the elevator, joined by a couple other students, I was glad for it. I wasn’t quite ready to be all alone with him. I was bouncing on the balls of my feet as they got off the elevator, two floors later, we still had two to go.

  “Hey, now?” Siegfried grabbed me by the hands. “Are you okay, Aella?”

  I nodded, squeezing his hands tightly as I suddenly burst out laughing. “I’m sorry, I have no idea what I’m doing here.”

  “Aww, babe.” He grabbed me by the head, pulling me into him, hugging me and kissing the top of my head. “Look, when we get to your room, why don’t you just pack a bag and then we can go back to my place. We’ll curl up on the couch, eat ice cream, and watch some movies. No pressure. No expectations, just hanging out. After your classes tomorrow, I’ll take you back to get your car and you can watch as I fix a giant window. Sound good to you?”

  His sincerity was all the courage I needed. I inhaled deeply, his scent was nice; musky. The cologne he wore wasn’t thick, it was sorta woodsy and reminded me of the forests back in Ireland, when the Summer Court still reigned there, but under it was the hint of sulfur. A deep, thick matchstick taste, that for some odd reason relaxed me. I took his hand with a nod and led him down the hallway to my room.

  “It’s not much, but it’s mine for now. Have a seat, I’ll just be a second.”

  I ran into my room and grabbed the bag I had packed for the trip, dumping it out completely, sort of glad that it had all been cancelled. I’d packed jeans and T-shirts and not much else, seeing as I didn’t really own much else. I had a bit of lacy underwear, but that was the extent of it. I grabbed my boots, my kitten heels, jeans, two blouses, a tank to sleep in, and a pair of shorts. Plus, some fresh undies for the morning. I snatched up my travel bag for my hair supplies and nabbed my toothbrush and was back in the living room in record time. I found Siegfried going through my refrigerator.

  “Are you hungry still?” I asked with a winded little laugh.

  “Nope, just looking. Glad to see you keep it well stocked. Ryane always forgets to shop.”

  “Actually, I have Keegan’s dad to thank for all that, and most of those appliances too. If it wasn’t for him and Collette’s family, I wouldn’t be here. Hell, I’d probably be dead.”

  Siegfried looked at me with concern.

  “Let’s get out of here and I’ll try to explain, okay. Maybe I should tell you a bit more about Amsterdam.”

  TELLING SIEGFRIED WHAT happened started off well, until I got to the part about King Teague sensing my weapon. When I said this he pulled over and stared at me, listening more intently. As I unfolded everything to him, he grabbed me to him and I broke into tears. I thought I had shed them all. I was wrong. I felt so lonely, and at my core I was afraid, I clung to him for Gods know how long. He held me, stroking my hair and not saying a word.

  He didn’t offer me any words of consolement, no false hopes, telling me it would all be okay. He simply let me ride it out until I felt I was done. It was odd, but at the same time, I think it was exactly what I needed. A no bullshit approach to my feelings. When I looked up at him, he was looking down at me with his brows softly knitted and a gentle smile.

  “I don’t know that I can help you, but I do know something about this binding they have put on you. It’s also negated your weapons magic, because I didn’t realize you had it and I tend to feel them. Also, if it was seen by the Underdark Fey and by others sensitive to its vibrations, it’s a formidable weapon indeed. I would be careful who I chose to swear myself to as well, if I were you. I understand where you are. I was there once myself. Young and impressionable, but my hands were forced and my weapon taken. My second brand saw me to a terrible Master. One who bade me take more lives than I care to admit, for the sake of his purist agendas.”

  His voice shook, whether from anger or sadness I wasn’t sure, but it damn near broke my heart to hear him talk about it. Seemed we both had our share of demons. We were a good pair, sitting on the side of the road, holding each other in the oncoming darkness.

  Chapter 60 sig

  BY THE TIME WE GOT back to Samuel’s house Aella was sound asleep. Any thoughts I’d had for an encounter had been dashed when she told me of the abuse she had been through at the hands of those she once trusted. This girl needed to be loved. Loved well, not just fucked, I don’t know if I can give her that. I’m damaged too... I have seen what love can do to a person, but for a Dragonborn it can be deadly. Could I give her what she wanted, was my heart strong enough to endure it? I had come to this just looking to get my tip wet for fuck’s sake. I know that sounds fucked up, but it’s the truth. I was attracted to the girl, but she wants and deserves so much more than I may well be willing to give her. Do I take what she’s willing to give me so readily? Fuck if I know. Right now, I’m just going to get her inside and into a bed. Then it’s a cold shower and a lonely rub for this old Dragon.

  THE TURN OF THE DOORKNOB woke me even before the shifting of the added weight to the bed caused me to open my eyes. I could smell her as she slipped under the sheet beside me and nuzzled her face into my back. It didn’t seem to faze her that I was, in fact, quite naked; either that or she hadn’t noticed yet.

  “You awake?” she asked, nipping at my earlobe, followed by a gentle flick of her pointed tongue.

  “With how you stomp around, how could I not be?” I teased, rolling onto my back so I could see her, even in the dark my vision was perfect. That predatory night vision was a welcomed thing when you have a gorgeous half naked woman in your bed.

  “Sorry, I woke up all alone. Why did you put me in another room?” She traced her nails across my chest in tiny circles and my dick instantly started to twitch.

  Down boy, I tried to coax him. He and my balls just laughed and laughed as the sheet danced at my adjustment. “I thought it best for you, seeing how I sleep nude.” I leered and watched as her eyes widened and her lips twisted up into this curious little smirk. “Of course, I see you seem to be missing your pants there, beautiful.”

  “Yeah, can’t sleep in them. Are you really naked?” She started to pull down the sheet and I didn’t stop her. She got it as far as my deep v and stopped just at the line where I shave. “Oh, gosh!” She bounced back on the bed as my cock jumped from the sensation of the pull. “Things got a mind of its own, doesn’t it?”

  I laughed, grabbing her hand and pulling her to me as I sat up. “You really haven’t been with a guy before, have you?”

  She shook her head at me. “Is that so bad? I mean, it’s not like I’ve been saving it for marriage, I just never really got around to it.”

  “Is that what this is then, for you? You getting around to it?” I wasn’t sure what I wanted from her, but I knew that I didn’t like the idea of just being the guy that popped her cherry cuz I was convenient either.

  “No.” She kissed my lips urgently. “No, Sig. I’ve never felt this way before. I’ve met other men, but never felt any kind of connection to them. With you... It was like Opa! All the dishes broke at once!”

  “So it’s Sig now is it?” I smiled as she slipped her leg over me, sitting in my lap. “You might not want to do that.”

  “So long as I keep these panties on, I will do as I please, mister.” She pushed me backward, her lips crashing down against mine again. Fingers sought out my fingers, grasping my hands, putting them above me. Then she trailed her nails down my arms just hard enough that they made me itch, my scales responded, coming to the surface and she pulled back.

  “Do you not like it?”

  “I do.” Now it was me who was biting my lip. “Can you use your claws on my scales? Go against the hide. Like this.” I lifted my scales back so that they ruffled slightly and she nodded. “Your teeth are a welcomed thing too.”
I grunted when she scratched up the length of my forearms. As she made her way down them again, I started gyrating under her, my cock throbbing, aching for her to give him some much sought after attention. He bopped up against her through the sheet, causing her to lift up with a yelp. Then she surprised me by grinding down onto me against my rhythm. She may have never fucked before, but when the time came, she was going to be a natural. I grabbed her by the hips, making her move faster as she licked and sucked at my neck and chest. If we kept this up I was gonna come and make a mess of my sheets.

  “Babe you gotta stop, or I’m gonna come,” I gritted out.

  She licked down my chest, her long hair trailing behind as her whole body slid downward, taking the sheet with her. I felt her tongue as it connected with my lower abs then heard her gasp.

  “Oh, wow. It’s... that’s gonna... Um... did that hurt?” Her fingers wrapped around the underside of my shaft to the ladder piercing. Three barbells running across the width of my cock that made sex unbelievable for everyone involved, especially since my middle one when twisted, vibrated.

  “Like Hell, but it’s worth it.” I smiled at her as she slowly rubbed the top of my cock with her thumb.

  “How do I?” She was crimson to her ears suddenly.

  “Well, that depends on what exactly you are asking me for directions on. A hand job is kinda just more of what you are already doing there, a blow job, that’s a little more involved... And by no means necessary.” I wasn’t a complete asshole.

  Suddenly she licked me from pelvic bone to tip and my head fell back. “But do what you want,” I moaned as I felt my cock surrounded by the warm wet cave of her mouth.

  chapter 61 keegan

  “I’M TELLING YOU, WHEN she’s mad it’s all kinds of fun. Ten hours of silence, then out of the blue, road head! Of course, she bit me for good measure, but I like that.”