Dragon's Curse (Harlequin Nocturne)

by Lynn, Denise

  She stroked his neck, summoning up enough courage to finally say, “Show me.”

  With his hands planted on the bed alongside her head, he leaned down and pressed a light, teasing kiss against her cheek. “What would you like me to show you, Ariel?”

  Of course, he wasn’t going to make this easy. She should have expected that. Too embarrassed to come right out and ask for exactly what she wanted, Ariel hedged, “Show me what you’re handy with.”

  The lights in the bedroom flickered on and off.

  She narrowed her eyes at his game. “Is that all?”

  Cameron traced the seam of her lips with his tongue. Ariel gasped at the jolt of desire shooting down her spine. She threaded her fingers through his hair.

  He easily pulled away and music filled the room.

  Breathless with mounting frustration, she managed to ask, “Surely you can do better than that.”

  Cameron stretched out on top of her, supporting his weight on his forearms. This time there was nothing teasing about his kiss.

  The heady caress of his mouth against hers, tasting, stroking, set fire racing through her veins. Ariel wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer.

  Already-heated lust flared hotter, taking away her ability to think clearly, or reason. She moaned against his lips and pulled the hem of his shirt free so she could stroke his back. And still it wasn’t enough.

  Something about this man brought all her desires and longings to the surface. He made her unbelievably hot and she doubted if anyone else but him would be able to douse the flames.

  Cameron felt the heat of her desire as he stroked and caressed her skin. Any hotter and it would have burned his palm.

  The scent of her lust was as intoxicating as a stiff double shot of scotch. He could easily lose control if he let his focus waver.

  She was his enemy. As long as she worked for the Learneds that wouldn’t change. What would change, however, was that if he possessed her, she would be easier for him to read, making it harder for her to hide things from him.

  He still wouldn’t be able to read her conscious mind any easier, or avoid detection by the Learneds. But he would be able to decipher any change—even the slightest shift in her body language, flicker of an eye or minute change in her scent.

  The ability to sense those things instantly would make it easier for him to protect her if need be. He would know immediately if she was in danger and needed his help.

  While using her in this manner might be considered underhanded by mortal human standards, he wasn’t a normal human. When it came to his and his family’s safety, Cam would do anything, including breaking any moral code, to protect them. And as long as Ariel was under his roof, her safety was his responsibility, too.

  At least that’s what he told himself. He knew in his soul that it went much deeper than that. His beast wanted—needed—to protect this woman.

  He also knew that if he gave in to his urges, she would be a potential threat that he would desire every time she came near. A desire he’d be unable to easily quench. It would be hard not to hold her, or kiss her, but managing his lust would get easier with time. As long as he didn’t permit his beast to lose control.

  The risk was familiar—his human self had taken it before. And he’d always been able to easily rein in his dragon. It wouldn’t be any different this time.

  But already his beast had caught the scent of desire and was awakening. Cam breathed deeply, seeking to calm his lust. Even though Ariel would remember this only as a dream, Cam wanted it to be one she would look back on with longing—not loathing.

  The mark on his shoulder blade throbbed. His beast roared, demanding to claim this woman as his own.

  Without warning, an inviting warmth stole over him, rushing through his limbs to settle around his heart. His beast crooned, rumbling with anticipation.

  Shocked, Cam cursed silently. Why now? Why this woman and not Carol? Like tongues of fire, pain and regret seeped through the warmth and flicked at his heart. This possession, this all-encompassing completion should have been shared with his wife, not his enemy.

  His beast roared, demanding he set aside his memories, forget his hurt and accept what this woman offered.

  No. He had to remain in control. But the beast beckoned him forward relentlessly. Cam shook with need. The wild desires within couldn’t be unleashed. Letting them go would be disastrous in ways he could barely imagine at the moment.

  Ariel moved beneath him. Before he could stop her, she drew her hands up his back, grazing his skin with the tips of her fingernails. Her touch across his birthmark sent shivers down his spine.

  He knew the moment of indecision had passed. He needed to stop this now—or do something they might both regret later. Cameron pushed away with a strangled groan.

  Cam rolled onto his side, taking Ariel with him. She snuggled against his chest with a frustrated sigh, making him wish for a second that what he was about to do wasn’t necessary.

  Holding her close, he brushed his cheek across her hair. He grabbed the corner of the quilt and pulled the edge over them. “It’s been a long day, Ariel, go to sleep.”

  She tilted her head back to look up at him. “Are you staying?”

  He dropped a kiss on the end of her nose. “For a while.”

  “I don’t know if I can sleep.” She sighed, then rested her cheek against his chest.

  “Sure you can. Just think of something relaxing, like the warmth of the sun, the sound of waves lapping on a white beach.”

  He stroked lazy circles on her back and kept his voice low and steady. “Can you see it?”

  “Almost.”

  “Can’t you feel how warm the sun is? Not too hot, and there’s a gentle breeze to keep you from getting too warm. The beach is empty except for one lone seagull.”

  “Mmm.”

  She was nearly asleep already. “There’s a small stand of palm trees with a hammock strung between two of them. That’s where you are now—swinging gently in a red-and-white-striped hammock.”

  “Nice.” Her voice was barely audible.

  “Yes, it is.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “The gentle sway of the hammock rocks you to sleep.”

  He knew that as long as he kept his tone low, soft and steady, he could recite civil code and she’d still be lulled into a dream dimension.

  But if he wanted to control this dream, she had to follow his suggestions.

  Still tracing circles on her back, he said, “The gull takes flight and you follow, flying higher and higher above the water. The crisp, clear air feels good against your skin. Your hair is streaming out behind you.”

  He paused to gauge her level of consciousness. Ariel’s slow, steady pulse and even, light breathing let him know the time was near.

  Cameron continued, waiting for the right moment to step into her dream. “The sparkling water far below shimmers in different shades of blue and turquoise. It’s so clear, you can see a coral reef. You fly lower to take a closer look and discover hundreds of brightly colored fish swimming around the reef.”

  She sighed in her sleep. Cam closed his eyes, pressed his lips against her head and joined her in her dream.

  Ariel had followed his suggestions. In her dream he was beside her as they flew low over a coral reef.

  Hands clasped, they circled the reef then headed back to the beach.

  Once they landed, Cam scooped her up into his arms and carried her to th
e hammock. She sighed as he laid her crosswise at the edge of the striped fabric.

  He cupped her cheek and leaned over her, whispering, “Ariel, close your eyes.”

  Her eyelids fluttered closed and he exhaled a soft, gentle breath against her lips. “This is nothing but a dream. Everything since the moment we arrived at your apartment door after the tour has been one glorious dream.”

  Her brow furrowed. “But…”

  Cameron exhaled another warm breath against her mouth, willing her mind to accept his words as the truth. “Just a dream. One you can carry with you for as long as you desire.”

  “A dream?”

  “Yes.” He stroked his thumb across her cheek, then breathed into her once more. “Just a dream.”

  She rolled away, stretching lengthwise on the hammock. Cameron slowly backed off. A sound behind him caught his attention. The shuffle of heavy wings dragging across the sand came closer.

  What the hell was his dragon doing here? Surely Ariel wasn’t dreaming about the beast?

  He pulled himself from the dream, needing to get out of her apartment before she woke up.

  Once back in her bedroom, on the bed with her still in his arms, he marveled at the feel of hot tears on his chest. She was crying?

  Ariel rolled over in her sleep and Cam gently extricated himself from the bed. He removed the soundproofing spell and carefully checked the room to make sure everything was where it belonged before turning to leave.

  He paused at the doorway to glance back at her. He ignored the tightening in his chest. She was his enemy, there was nothing either one of them could do to change that. What he had done was the best for both of them.

  Cam gently closed the door behind him and walked into the living room. He spelled the suede furniture to return, making a note to remember to ask her about her preference later, then left her apartment.

  Chapter 7

  “Has she contacted you yet?”

  Jeremy looked over the top of his morning newspaper and stared at his underling. The man swayed from one foot to the other.

  Apparently he realized his mistake, because he avoided Jeremy’s glare at his audacity.

  Bennett shrugged as he backed toward the dining room door. “I was just curious.”

  Jeremy was tired of the constant questioning. His father questioned him nonstop and now this…minion decided to also? Did they both think he didn’t know what he was doing?

  “Curious?” Jeremy set his paper down. “Why? What difference could it possibly make to you?”

  Bennett scratched his head. “Well, the boy—”

  Jeremy lunged from his seat, shouting, “What have you done?” If this moron killed that kid he’d have nothing to hold over Ms. Johnson.

  “Nothing.” Bennett raised his hands before his face as if to ward off whatever might come his way. “I did nothing, boss. The doc says—”

  “The doctor?”

  Nathan chose that moment to enter the formal dining room. Shuffling past Bennett, he pinned his son with a searching stare. “Something wrong?”

  Even old and injured, his father’s timing was impeccable. Jeremy fisted his hands at his sides. “Something is wrong with the Johnson boy.”

  “Wrong?” Nathan looked from one man to the other. “Someone needs to explain.”

  Again with the questioning? Jeremy waved toward Bennett. “He was just about to do that when you interrupted.”

  The elder wizard narrowed his glare. “Watch your attitude, boy.”

  Bennett’s mouth opened and closed like a dying fish. His normally short patience strained, Jeremy ordered, “Tell us what happened.”

  Finally, the man stammered, “He…he…the machines…his heart.”

  Jeremy felt his eyes bulge as the pressure behind them increased. When this mission was done, he’d make it a point to put Bennett out of everyone’s misery. “His heart what? Stopped?”

  “Yes.” When both wizards made a move toward him, the hired man added in a rush, “But they got it started again. The doc says he’ll be fine. We just have to keep an eye on him.”

  Before Jeremy could respond, Nathan used his powers to lift both men from the floor and slam them against the wall.

  The old man’s powers had been slowly returning, but Jeremy hadn’t realized just how strong they’d become. He struggled uselessly against the magic keeping him pinned to the wall.

  His father stood beneath them and shoved the end of his cane into Bennett’s stomach. “Listen to me well, oaf. If anything happens to that boy, you will beg for death.”

  Nathan pulled his cane away, letting Bennett crash to the floor. The man crawled quickly for the door.

  Once they were alone, Jeremy held his breath, fearful of what his sire might do to him. His father stared up at him, saying nothing until beads of sweat dripped from the end of Jeremy’s nose.

  “What am I going to do with you, child?”

  “I’ve done nothing wrong.” His father had always treated him like a rebellious teenager. Right now, that’s how he felt. But he was no longer a teenager and he knew full well that rebellion would gain him only death.

  “Do you not understand how important it is that we succeed this time?”

  Jeremy swallowed. “Sir, I’ll keep a closer watch on the boy myself.”

  “Yes, you will.” Nathan tapped the cane repeatedly against his palm. “And you’ll make certain he survives for as long as we need him.”

  “Yes, sir.” Jeremy nodded, but he knew his father wasn’t finished, so he said nothing further. But he silently hoped that he would be able to heal whatever damage his father inflicted.

  Nathan raised his cane. “Next time perhaps you’ll remember not to be so careless with the captive.”

  Jeremy closed his eyes as the cane swung toward him.

  * * *

  Cam watched from his office window as Ariel took the keys from Harold, then jumped into her van and left.

  A few minutes later, his office phone rang. The call came from Harold’s extension. Picking up the receiver, he asked, “Did she say where she was going?”

  “Just into town. But she dropped her cell in the lobby. I thought you might want to take it to her, just in case she needs it.”

  There were moments when having a longtime employee who could make magic happen without any powers was a blessing. Cam didn’t doubt for a minute that Harold had lifted Ariel’s phone without her knowledge.

  “I’ll be right down. Get the car ready.”

  “Which one? Did you want me to drive?”

  Taking the limo into town was always a hassle. It attracted unwanted attention. “No, I’ll take the sedan.” At least the black Mercury was inconspicuous.

  He hung up the phone and untangled a pun-sai limb from his sapphire-studded cuff link. “Right. Good catch.”

  While the car might be inconspicuous, his suit wouldn’t be. This was a mountain tourist town and as far as he was aware, there weren’t any professional conventions going on right now. Walking around in a suit would be out of place amongst the shoppers and vacationing hikers.

  He switched into jeans and a button-down shirt, and traded his dress shoes for a pair of trail boots, then headed to the garage.

  Taking the keys and Ariel’s cell from Harold, he commented, “You should have talked her into one of the smaller cars instead of that van she drives.”

  “I tried. I offered her the coupé, but she acted like it was a poisonous s
nake.”

  Cam rolled his eyes. Of course she wouldn’t take Braeden’s Phantom. The car would make anyone queasy if they’d never driven a higher-end vehicle before, especially if it wasn’t theirs. “Next time insist she take the Jeep.”

  Driving down the twisting, turning mountain road, he wondered what had taken her so long. Ariel had been at the Lair five days now and she hadn’t left to contact the Learneds until now.

  He knew that’s what she was doing. It was the only thing that made sense. They couldn’t contact her at the Lair because of the security at the resort and they certainly weren’t going to send her there without having her report back to them.

  She wouldn’t be sightseeing or shopping. Ariel didn’t seem the type to cut out of work to do something like that her first week on the job. She’d wait until after hours, or the weekend.

  Cam drove around the last curve and hit the straightaway into town. Thankfully, since it was the middle of the day and midweek, there weren’t too many tourists milling about and the hikers were still in the forest. It made it easier to drive and check the parking lots for her van at the same time without hitting anyone.

  He spotted her pulling into the garage at the other end of town. Cam drove across the road into a motel entrance that had a through way with a parking lot on the other end.

  He took his time parking the car and walked toward the garage. There were too many scents in town and he needed the extra time to weed out the aromas of cinnamon-roasted nuts, grilled sausages and the ever-present chocolate from the fudge shops.

  Coaxing his dragon to help, he quickly zeroed in on her location. Ariel stood at the entrance to the garage looking up and down the sidewalks—searching for a public phone perhaps?

  Cam wished her luck. Public phones were nearly extinct in this town.

  Or, was she looking for her contact? He studied the area and detected no magic, nothing out of the ordinary. He positioned himself behind an ornate light post, using the hanging planter to hide his face, and waited to see where she went.