Crimson Flames

by Alex DuBois

  “Nothing.” Malachai hastened to reassure him, and Johnny badly needed that reassurance. “It’s beautiful. You’re creating a whole life inside of you.”

  Johnny rested his head on Malachai’s shoulder, soaking up his heat. The dragon shifter was always so warm, and it was like hugging a heater. In cold, dreary New York, that was especially welcome.

  “Is she why you left?” Johnny had picked up on a few things, at least. Wherever his mother was from, it wasn’t the United States, he was sure of that much.

  “Sort of. I did need to get away.” Malachai pressed a kiss to the top of Johnny’s head. “She lives in Brazil. I don’t know why she’s here, except that she said that a dragon has been born of a man.”

  Johnny considered. That hadn’t really answered his question, and he decided to push a little bit more. After all, this was sort of his business, the way he saw it. He was involved with this family, whether Malachai’s mother liked it or not.

  “Then why did you leave?” he asked, pulling away so that he could look into Malachai’s eyes.

  Malachai laughed a little, shaking his head.

  “It’s going to sound stupid,” he warned, and Johnny nodded to show he understood that, even if he doubted it. “I wanted to get away from her, yeah, but I also just wanted to have a good time. I thought about staying in South America, but Levi was already in what would become the United States and some exciting things were happening up north.” He shrugged a little. “I was just looking for a good time, I guess.”

  Johnny nodded. For all that dragons (some more than others) seemed to have at least a little bit of a superiority complex, Malachai’s story wasn’t really that much different from the stories of many children as they grew into adults.

  “Well ... At least your brother didn’t eat your face off or something,” Johnny realized. The more time passed, the more the shock of meeting Malachai’s mother receded, the more grateful he was for that. Johnny got the feeling they were going to need all the support they could get.

  “Yeah. We didn’t get to talk much, but he seemed happy for us,” Malachai said, and through that link that they shared, Johnny could tell that Malachai was intensely relieved about that. Honestly, so was Johnny.

  “I wonder if she’ll always hate me,” Johnny said thoughtfully, hand on his stomach as though he could somehow protect the baby inside from the hatred coming at it. From Johnny and from Malachai, though, there would only be love, he was determined of that.

  “I don’t know,” Malachai said honestly, and this was a time where Johnny might have preferred if his lover lied to him a little. Usually he loved how honest his mate was, but there were exceptions to everything. “I hope not. Hold on, baby, I’m going to call Doctor Summers and get you an appointment.”

  Right. The doctor. The major reason that they were there, though Johnny had honestly forgotten that with everything that had happened. Closing his eyes, Johnny had to admit that it might be good to see a doctor. He hadn’t had much morning sickness yet, but he was so tired all the time.

  Just as he thought that, he had to abruptly turn his head to the side as he gagged, barely keeping himself from throwing up. It seemed that the nausea had decided to make an appearance after all.

  Malachai finished with his call and turned to look at Johnny, rubbing his back in a way that actually felt good, despite how miserable Johnny suddenly was. It seemed that he’d been counting his blessings just a little bit too early.

  “So we’ve got an appointment with that hotshot doctor?” Johnny asked, trying to pull himself together. He wasn’t used to almost vomiting by the side of the road like that, and he didn’t like it one bit. What if Malachai got disgusted?

  “Hotshot? Nah. He’s just a good doctor, from what I hear. The best in North America, at least. Compassionate and talented.” Malachai shrugged, still rubbing Johnny’s back, and Johnny let himself relax into the caress.

  “We came all the way from California to see him. He’d better be a hotshot,” Johnny murmured, then turned to Malachai and curled up around him, taking comfort from his mate.

  Shortly after, a cab pulled up, and Malachai helped Johnny into it. The truth was, Johnny wasn’t used to needing help. He had always been strong and fit, and he never got sick, so being taken care of was new and special to him.

  Malachai gave the address to a driver, and Johnny just closed his eyes and tried to soothe his roiling stomach, resting against Malachai’s warm, comforting body. He breathed in his scent and felt, wonder of wonders, a little better. Not much, but anything was better than nothing.

  “The hotel we’re going to, Levi owns it,” Malachai said quietly. “We’ll be safe there, and we’ll be safe with Doctor Summers tomorrow.”

  Safe. Johnny had to admit that that was a comforting thought. When he closed his eyes, he still saw the dragon woman’s burning dark eyes, could almost swear that he saw green flames reflected in them. It was hard to truly feel safe, but it was a nice thought.

  “Then Levi will be able to find us,” Johnny realized, and Malachai nodded, having clearly already thought of that. “But that means that she could find us, too.”

  Malachai shook his head.

  “She won’t,” he predicted. “First, Levi wouldn’t tell her. Second, she’s not going to storm through New York to find us. She let us leave, just like she let me leave Brazil. All she did then was sulk for centuries.”

  Johnny shook his head and smirked.

  “Charming. Must be a ‘mom’ thing,” he said, amused. His mother had done the same thing when he’d moved out. Though she’d sulked for weeks, not centuries, but it was the same idea.

  Malachai chuckled softly, and even as miserable as Johnny was, he found the sound sexy. What was it with this man, anyway? It wasn’t like Johnny had been a virgin or anything, but he’d never wanted anyone like he wanted Malachai. It was a constant thing, even as sick as he was feeling.

  Johnny closed his eyes and fought with his stomach, clinging to his mate. It was hard to believe that he’d been so scared of him such a short time ago. Now, having seen his family, Malachai seemed far less terrifying in comparison.

  * * *

  The hotel room that they’d been immediately checked in to was the nicest place that Johnny had ever seen. Even Malachai’s place in California couldn’t really compare. Johnny was a West Coast boy at heart and he always would be, but the casual style there couldn’t compare to the richness, the lushness, of this suite.

  Not that he was planning to move to New York anytime soon. Still, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to visit after all. After all, his baby’s uncle lived here, and from the little he’d gotten to interact with the tall, dark, and handsome man, it seemed that he would want a relationship between him and his baby.

  It was so cold, though. So cold and damp, compared to what he was used to. Back home, people would still be surfing. Here, you’d have to be insane to go out without a coat on, and it was only September.

  Johnny settled down on the bed, and it was soft while still supporting him perfectly. There were definitely perks to being with a rich dragon, he was coming to realize, though that had never been a consideration for him. Still, it was nice.

  “I’m going to order room service. What do you want?” Malachai seemed tired, too, and who could blame him? He’d flown across the continent, faced off against his terrifying mother, and gotten them here to this hotel. Johnny had to admit that, if not for Malachai, he never would have made it. It was all on his mate’s strength that he had.

  Johnny considered. His stomach had quieted considerably since he’d almost thrown up, and now was informing him, in no uncertain terms, that it was time for him to eat.

  “Food. Spicy. Lots.” Johnny was not in a position to be picky right at the moment. Meanwhile, he rested back against the bed. Normally, he would want to go out and explore New York, but for the rest of the day all he wanted to do was rest and eat and rest and then eat some more.

  Malachai perused the
menu.

  “There’s not a lot that’s spicy here, but there is a spicy Thai curry,” he said, and Johnny nodded. That would be perfect.

  When Malachai was done ordering, he came over to the bed and laid down behind Johnny, cradling his body like that. It felt nice, and Johnny pressed back against him, soaking up the comfort he offered.

  “Mmm,” Johnny commented as Malachai ran his fingers over Johnny’s stomach. It was only slightly rounded, at least for now, but Johnny could see the difference.

  “You’re getting bigger sooner than I would have expected,” Malachai commented. “But maybe that’s just because you’re so slender and sculpted to start with. You’re so sexy, love.”

  Johnny gave a little bit of a smirk.

  “I wonder if you’ll still think I am once I’m all huge,” he said, and it was something that he’d honestly thought about, even worried a bit about.

  Lightly, slowly, Malachai trailed his fingers over Johnny’s stomach, stroking over the skin until his fingers were resting just above his pelvis. Johnny shivered a little bit, closing his eyes in pleasure.

  He’d always been sensual. He’d always loved touching and being touched. What Malachai could do to him, though, was just flat out ridiculous. He had barely brushed his fingers over Johnny and Johnny was starting to harden.

  “Are you trying to turn me on?” he demanded, opening his eyes to look into Malachai’s mischievous blue ones.

  “Aren’t I always?” Malachai asked, a smirk on his handsome face.

  Johnny squirmed for him, not even able to help it. He pressed his body up into that touch, unable to keep himself from moaning softly in pleasure. His cock was hard, just like that.

  “Malachai,” Johnny moaned, and the dragon shifter moved on top of him. Slowly, Malachai stripped Johnny, kissing over every inch of skin that he revealed.

  “You don’t need these anymore,” Malachai informed him, and Johnny gave a soft groan of arousal. Sometimes he wondered if Malachai could possibly want him as badly as Johnny wanted Malachai, but then the other man rubbed against him and he could feel how hard and thick his cock was, even in his clothes.

  “What about when the food comes?” Johnny asked, his voice slightly breathless. He was interested in sex, yes, but he was also very interested in that food. At the moment, though, it had to be said that the sex was winning out.

  “I’ll get the door,” Malachai offered, and that was good enough for Johnny. He squirmed out of his clothes, letting Malachai strip him, and then looked down at him as his mate kissed over his stomach where their baby grew. Malachai came across as such an irreverent, fun loving kind of guy, but when it came to their baby, he clearly didn’t mind showing a softer side.

  “I love you,” Johnny said suddenly. It seemed important that Malachai know that, and he watched as Malachai shifted down over his stomach, gradually making his way to Johnny’s eager cock.

  They were usually too eager to play much before Malachai took Johnny. There was usually far too much urgency. So this was unusual, to have Malachai’s full, pretty lips on his cock, and he cried out and reached down, slipping his finger into the bright strands of hair and gripping his head lightly.

  It turned out that Malachai was every bit as talented at this as he was at fucking Johnny. This was the sort of thing Johnny loved, both giving and receiving, and he moaned as Malachai worked on his cock, licking and sucking and eventually taking the leaking head into his mouth. Malachai hadn’t spoken when Johnny told him he loved him, but he didn’t have to. He was showing him that he did instead of telling him.

  It was so good, so unexpected, that Johnny wasn’t going to last. He wanted it to last forever, but it just wasn’t going to do that. Already he could feel pleasure coiling inside him, ready to be released and drag him away and enslave him utterly to this man.

  “Malachai, don’t stop,” Johnny whispered, and the other man looked up at him with those impossibly bright, burning eyes. Johnny knew that Malachai wasn’t going to stop, not until Johnny was coming for him.

  That was really all it took for Johnny to come. Malachai’s mouth, like everything about him, was so hot, and that spurred Johnny right over the edge. He pumped his come between his lips, then groaned and fell back on the bed, his grip on Malachai’s hair loosening as he struggled to catch his breath.

  It was nothing short of incredible. Malachai did things that shouldn’t be possible, and Johnny couldn’t get enough of them. Couldn’t get enough of his beautiful, sexy, talented lover.

  Even when the knock came at the door, Johnny couldn’t care. He lazily draped the edge of the blanket over his body, somewhat shielding his nudity, but other than that, let the bellboy see what he saw.

  He didn’t need to worry, anyway. Malachai made sure to shield the doorway with his own body. Of course his mate, possessive as he was, wouldn’t want other people looking. That made Johnny feel safe and warm and protected, and he liked it.

  “Here, love, eat up,” Malachai urged, bringing the food over to Johnny. It did smell amazing, but there was something that would be on his mind if he didn’t say something, so he did.

  “Are you sure that’s what you want me to do? You haven’t come yet,” Johnny pointed out.

  Malachai laughed softly, reaching out to pet Johnny’s head in a way that could have been condescending, but somehow didn’t come off that way. No doubt that Malachai had had a little bit of that vibe at first, but that had melted away as they’d gotten to know each other.

  “Trust me, I will not object if you want to help me out with this. But first, you eat. It’s my job to take care of you.”

  Johnny smiled. Well, he could live with that, especially as much as he was craving those spicy curries. So he nodded and turned to his food, but when he was finished, he had every intention of doing just as Malachai suggested and ‘helping him out’.

  Chapter Nine

  Malachai

  Malachai may be a dragon, but it had to be said that he would take a luxurious hotel room over any cave. Especially a hotel room with a willing mate who was naked more often than not, and the huge jacuzzi tub didn’t hurt, either.

  More than that, though, Malachai realized that the thing that really got him was watching Johnny’s slender, toned body grow and change. The changes were still subtle, but for someone who was watching as closely as Malachai was, they were there.

  Malachai had made the appointment with Doctor Summers for one thirty, so that left him and Johnny lots of time in the morning to spend some time together. Which was where the huge jacuzzi tub came into play.

  Johnny loved sensual pleasures, that had been something that was clear to Malachai early on, and somewhat to Malachai’s surprise, he loved giving them to his mate. So as they lounged in the tub, Malachai took up the shampoo and started to wash his lover’s gorgeous, long dark hair.

  “Babe ... I’m thinking of taking parenting classes,” Malachai admitted. In some ways, it was hard for him to admit that humans might know more than he did, and even two months ago he would have laughed at the idea.

  His brother Noah took classes up in Canada, and Malachai had always found that sort of funny. Now, for the very first time, he could sort of understand where his youngest brother was coming from.

  Johnny turned to give him a grin over his shoulder, and his voice, when he spoke, was light and easy. More than that, though, through the link Malachai felt no distress, and he knew that his mate was just teasing him.

  “I could almost believe that you never loved me, just the baby,” Johnny said, and the words could have sounded bitter, but didn’t. If anything, Johnny was happy that Malachai loved their child so much, and Malachai just laughed softly in response.

  “I loved you before he was conceived, I love you now, and I will love you after,” Malachai said, and his tone was light, too, but there was an undertone of solemnity to it. “That’s the magic. Now and forever, I will love you.”

  Malachai had been saying nothing more than the compl
ete and utter truth and he meant every word, but that didn’t mean that he didn’t like the way Johnny looked at him, seeming to melt at his romantic words.

  “Mmm, forever.” Johnny turned back around and then gave a soft moan as Malachai let his fingers massage over his scalp, melting away any tension his mate might have. “Forever sounds perfect.”

  To that, Malachai could only smile, because it really did sound perfect. Forever was, for all intents and purposes, what they had, too, an eternity to spend together.

  Malachai took his time in washing, rinsing, and then conditioning that long hair, and he loved it. He loved taking care of his mate in every way that he possibly could. Being with Johnny was going to be a deeply sensual experience, and Malachai could only be glad for it.

  “We’d better get out,” he realized, after he’d finished rinsing the conditioner from that gorgeous, soft dark hair. “We have to leave soon.”

  Johnny seemed less than thrilled with that idea, not that Malachai could blame him, but he did know that it was time to get out and get ready to go.

  “If we get out, I can brush your hair for you,” Malachai bribed, and Johnny’s eyes lit up. Malachai smirked a little. He was coming to know how to manage this relationship pretty well, if he did say so himself.

  * * *

  They got ready to go on time, though only just. The really funny part was that Malachai was just thinking about how lucky they were that Johnny hadn’t had much morning sickness when suddenly his human mate was sprinting for the bathroom at top speed.

  Poor Johnny. Malachai felt helpless as he held his lover’s hair back from his face, sort of hating that he’d been the one to do this to him. Hating that he couldn’t do anything now to help him.

  “Sorry,” Johnny murmured, and he sat up and flushed the toilet. “We’d better go. We have an appointment.”

  Malachai helped his lover to his feet, admiring his strength. Not a word of complaint, even though Malachai could tell through the link that he was miserable. In a similar situation, Malachai had the idea that he would be whining in a highly pathetic way.