by Leela Ash
Warmth spread through her, desire. She shifted slightly and felt cool silk whisper across her nipples, like a lover’s breath. Dimly she realized that she, too, was dressed in little more than a sash draped across her shoulder and hips. White as new snow, her clothing was the mirror opposite of Darian’s darkness.
As he stood before her, all but naked, she could see that a gorgeous full-body tattoo coiled around his lean form. It was a Dragon, etched in black. Though its body lay hidden on his back, its neck curved over his shoulder and a fierce, regal head glowered at her from the center of Darian’s chest. A long, sinuous tail curled down one arm, from shoulder to wrist.
It was beautiful, breath-taking, and she wondered how many hours he had spent beneath the artist’s needle to bring such art to life.
Yet someone had marred it. An ‘X’, harsh and sharp, slashed across the Dragon’s face. Its furious eyes gleamed through those lines like they were the bars of a cage.
There had to be a story behind that ‘X’.
“Tess?”
That word drew her attention to his lips, to his face, and she realized that he studied her with a longing that matched her own. Those broad, luscious lips were parted slightly, proof that his breath was as ragged as hers. Amazed, aroused, he drank in the sight of her curves. As his eyes passed over her, she shivered. She could almost feel his gaze, the softest of caresses passing over her breasts, her hips. Lingering, for one moment, on the secret places hidden beneath her flimsy cloths. Desire flashed through her, fiercely, and she felt a delightful heat blaze between her thighs.
Three short steps separated them. She walked down them, feeling the rasp of rough stone on her bare feet.
That was when it hit her: This is too real.
The thought cast a chill on her rising passion. Something was wrong. The details of the scene – lingering scent of dried roses, the cool moistness of the air – were too vivid. She could feel every inch of her body, from the small hairs on her arm to the pads of her feet.
Had she ever had a dream so real?
It seemed that Darian shared her concerns because he frowned suddenly. “Am I dreaming?”
“No, I’m dreaming,” she assured him. “You’re in my dream.”
“Uh, no, I think…”
Before he could ruin the mood, she twined her fingers through his thick, blonde hair and pulled him into a kiss.
Their lips met, warm and eager. She pressed close to him, savoring his touch, felt those arms wrap around her, just as she’d longed for.
Then he froze and pulled back. “What’s happening?”
“See that bed?” She pointed at the silken cushions behind her. “We’re going to make love on it.”
“But…”
“Hush.” She tapped one finger on his lips, her eyes sparkling. “This is the hottest dream I’ve ever had. I am not letting you ruin it by talking.”
Thunder rumbled overhead. No, not thunder. Laughter! Deep, rolling chuckles, like the sky itself was amused by her joke.
“No Claim without truth,” the thunder said. “Show her your soul.”
Darian’s blue eyes clouded. Reluctantly, he stepped back and threw his arms wide.
Rich light poured out of his body, filling his tattoo with its brilliant color. The Dragon, now golden, uncoiled from him and rose into the air. It spread its wings wide, growing, rising higher and higher, until an enormous serpent loomed above them.
Tess swayed, dizzy with joy. She had never seen anything so wild, so fierce and majestic.
Yet Darian’s eyes remained fixed on the ground, and the thunder growled another order. “Show her your soul as it is.”
A black ‘X’ suddenly appeared in the air before the Dragon. It whipped forward, snapping around the serpent’s face like iron bars. Razor-sharp talons slashed at it, but another inky bond appeared, wrapping itself around the Dragon’s wings. It fell to the ground, clawing furiously. More bonds appeared, binding its flailing tail, its razor-sharp talons. More and more, until the Dragon lay still, wound in a cocoon of black lines. From its prison, rage-filled eyes blazed.
Shocked, Tess stared wordlessly. Who could do that to a Dragon?
As if it could read her mind, the thunder answered her unspoken query. “Every man is the master of his own soul. Could you Claim one so crippled?”
Before she could answer, harsh, hysterical laughter rang out behind her.
“Truth deserves truth,” a woman sneered. “Show him your soul.”
Around the arbor walked an elegant woman. Tall, elfin-thin, she wore a crown and a queen’s regal authority. Like a creature from a fairy tale, she had milk-white skin, black hair that cascaded to her ankles, and glittering violet eyes. Yet, despite her regal elegance, an icy chill surrounded her, as if she was a statue carved from ice.
Was that… her? Tess couldn’t see anything of herself in that Ice Queen. Then again, what did she really know? How much of her soul, her past, had she buried under that tree?
“Show him your soul as it is,” the unseen woman commanded.
Immediately, the vision whipped out a dagger and hacked her hair off at chin level. With short, vicious stabs she began to tear jagged rips in her velvet robes. She raised the knife, and for a moment, Tess feared she would kill herself. But, with a sharp crack, the Fae queen shattered into a million shards of ice.
Now it was Darian’s turn to stare blankly. The two of them stood, silent, between bound Dragon and broken queen. Somewhere above them, the invisible woman cackled madly.
Tess looked, from the pile of icy slivers at her feet, to the imprisoned Dragon that raged silently behind Darian. “Wow,” she sighed at last. “Aren’t we a pair?”
Her quip shocked a chuckle from the man. Oddly, the hysterical laughter above them fell silent at the same time. Someone up there didn’t like other people’s jokes, apparently.
“Tess, I’m sorry,” Darian said. “This should be something sacred. A perfect, magical moment. And instead it’s just…”
“It’s life.” A funny thing to say about a dream, but the words popped out before she could stop them.
He grimaced. “I was going to say ‘a mess’…”
“Life… mess… what’s the difference?” She slipped an arm around his waist and felt his hand twine around her in return. “So it’s not magic. It can still be something good, can’t it?”
Privately, she doubted that. Darian, however, smiled.
“Do you Claim each other?” Thunder rumbled so quietly it was almost a murmur.
Darian winced. “Could you ever love that?” He tossed his head toward the Dragon.
“Sure.” She prodded the pile of ice with her foot. “If you think you could love a freezer accident.”
Above them, two forms appeared: a shadowy Dragon soaring high in the sky and a ghostly woman, an echo of the Ice Queen. Confusion filled the queen’s face, but the Dragon roared with delight. “Then take what is yours,” it cried.
A large golden cup appeared in her hands, just as a dagger materialized in Darian’s.
Tess stared at the goblet, dumbfounded. This was officially the weirdest dream she’d ever had. What was she supposed to do with an empty cup?
Darian had no such questions. He slipped out of her embrace and turned to face her. Gently, he lifted her hand until she held the chalice out between them. Then he raised his knife and somberly said, “Tess Everlyn, I Claim you as my Mate. I pledge you my life and my heart. Forever, we shall be Dragon and… and… whatever you are.”
It made no sense – but it was probably the nicest thing anyone had ever said to her.
He dipped his dagger into the chalice. Cup and dagger immediately vanished. One last roar drifted down from high overhead, then the dim figures in the heavens faded away too.
Leaving the two of them standing, awkwardly, in the middle of a ruined garden.
“So…”
“Yeah.”
What now? The silence ate at Tess. She should make a joke… jump
Darian’s bones… wake up. Do something, anything to distract herself. She couldn’t bear to stand here, stewing over how messed up her life was.
Sure. Run away. Like you always do.
A touch broke through that flash of self-loathing.
Darian stroked her cheek. His hand was rough but warm. At his caress, her heart ached. Not from desire, though he was still gorgeous. From… love? Could she say that? Probably not. She hardly knew him, after all. Yet the tenderness in that gesture brought her to the edge of tears.
“You look so sad.”
She swallowed, hard. “Hey. Could I ask you to do something stupid?”
“Sure.”
Tess waved at the romantic bed behind them. “Would you just hold me for a bit?”
A kiss on the forehead was her answer. Linking hands, they mounted the arbor steps and slid into the bed’s soft folds. Once more, strong arms wrapped around her, surrounding her with warmth and strength.
The urge to joke welled up again. Tess squelched it, irritated with herself. Why couldn’t she just lie here, enjoying the embrace of the man she… she lo… she felt something for?
Rolling onto her side, she buried her face against his chest. Darian curled around her, pressing his lips to her hair.
Then she simply cuddled, twined around him. Letting the warmth, the tenderness of his touch soak into her soul. How long had it been since someone held her like this? Had she ever curled against a man who actually… actually…
…loved her?
There. The word was out. Mad as it seemed, Tess knew he loved her.
Tears stung her eyes. She winced, forcing them back. Tears would only ruin this moment.
Gradually, like ice melting in the spring sun, the knot in her heart faded. Bliss crept in, a sense of safety she’d never felt before. Here was a man who would protect her. From enemies. From herself if needed.
And I’m going to free him, she promised herself. From whatever he did to bind his Dragon like that.
Chapter 5
Could you fall asleep in a dream?
Time blurred into a pleasant daze as Tess lay in Darian’s embrace, safe and protected. How much time passed, she couldn’t say. What did that even mean, really, in a dream?
But, slowly, the pain in her heart grew faint, melted by his tenderness. By the aching hunger she could feel in him. He needed her, as much as she needed him. As her spirit lightened, one fact become clear. Growing plainer with every passing moment.
The guy holding her in his arms? He was damned hot.
The chest pressed against her cheek was lean and hard. Her hand, draped along his hips, brushed against muscled thighs. Lightly, she stroked them, then traced a finger up along the tight plain of his buttocks. To her delight, he stiffened and she felt the first stirring of his manhood, nestled between them.
“Mmm.” Darian raised his head to peer at her. Hair deliciously tousled, blinking as if he’d just awoken… she loved him like that. Let other women keep their perfectly groomed, flawless men. Tess wanted one who looked like he lived his life, not modeled his way through it. Her desire must have reflected in her eyes, because his smile widened.
Oh yeah, she wanted him.
Well, it was her dream. She was in control, right? Silently, she willed him to kiss her. Her dreams were not going to involve a lot of talk.
Nothing happened.
Weird. A dull, distant unease nagged at her. This was a dream, yes? Freakishly real, intense, and strange. But fake. A dream. It had to be.
Right?
“Why the frown?” Darian’s hand slipped from around her shoulders to trace the worried pout of her lips.
Tess let her lips part and his touch grew firmer, more teasing. “This is just the strangest dream I’ve ever had.”
He chuckled, rising onto an elbow and kissing her shoulder. “I admit I’ve never had anyone complain about appearing in my dream.”
His dream? This was her dream, wasn’t it? People couldn’t share… oh.
His hand abandoned her lips, sliding lower, brushing her breast as he began to explore her. As he shifted, the silken sheet whispered across her bare skin, waking her body with its soft promise of pleasure.
Suddenly, Tess didn’t care whose dream this ‘was.’ All that mattered was that she was in it.
With a wordless purr of delight, she gave herself to his exploration. Hands traced along her stomach, the curve of her buttocks. Kisses, now on her lips, now shifting lower along her throat and shoulders, kindled a fire within her. Each caress, each new touch, roused the flames higher. Through half-closed eyes she watched the play of his muscles, the way they made the coils of his Dragon tattoo ripple.
Oh, she could lie here forever, reveling in the adoration of his hands and mouth. But – delightful as the thought was – she couldn’t be that selfish.
Tess slipped her leg across his flank and wrapped it around Darian’s taut ass, pulling their bodies closer. She felt him – aroused, growing harder – press between her thighs. Then she rolled him onto his back and straddled his hips.
Again, the dance of their bodies sent silk swirling around them. The cover slipped down over her back, like a lover’s breath. She let Darian drink in the sight of her above him, aroused, nipples hard. And as the sheets whispered down around his thighs, she felt his manhood swell fiercely against her.
He reached up, cupping her breasts with his strong hands. Her hands joined his, urging him onward as his thumbs began to circle and tease her nipples. Desire flared as he stroked her, and she felt herself grow damp, ready. Tess rocked gently, reveling in the feel of his hot, lean body sliding between her legs. In the touch of his manhood, hungry, insistent, pressed against her buttocks.
With a shiver, she rose to her knees and bent down to kiss him. Now it was his turn to twine around her and roll her gently onto her back. Their lips joined as the silken covers whispered about them.
When mouths and tongues parted, Tess moaned at the loss of that touch.
The sound of her need, raw and primal, pushed Darian over the edge. With a guttural cry of his own, he thrust between her legs, claiming her.
Tess gasped as ecstasy flooded her. Each stroke sent a wave of pleasure washing through her body. She wrapped her legs about his hips, moaning, unable to hold herself back as her fingers clawed at his forearms. Silken sheets, twisted now into satiny bonds, joined them together. Stroke after stroke of his hard cock maddened her, inflamed her, until, with a cry of pure ecstasy, time dissolved into bliss. Her cry drove him past his limit. Darian moaned, thrust once more, and she felt him explode within her.
Panting, he collapsed beside her. Tess lay, gasping, savoring the last ripples of desire that echoed through her body. Gently, she rolled on her side and kissed him. Wordless gratitude for his kindness, and the pleasure he had brought her.
High above them, the sky rumbled. “Dragon and Mate,” it growled. “Now and forever.”
Chapter 6
Cold and dusty, the cabin’s chill air dragged Darian from the delirious pleasure of that dream. He groaned, burying his face in his musty pillows, so different from the silken cushions of that elfin garden. Just a few more moments, he begged silently. Let me savor that joy a few seconds longer before I have to face reality.
He knew what the day brought him. A leaky roof. An empty kitchen. A small boy bored witless, too young to understand why his father had dragged him into the middle of the woods. And somewhere, beyond all those petty problems, lurked a greater threat. An evil, powerful organization that would kill him and his helpless child the moment they found them.
No. He pushed those thoughts away. The dangers and annoyances of the ‘real’ world could wait. Eyes closed, he clung to the memories of her. Tess. Arms wrapped about him, wild with desire. Her softness, her fierceness.
Despite his best effort, those images faded. If only they could truly be…
Dragon and Mate. Now and forever.
Instead of comforting him, those words sent a
sharp pang of fear through Darian. He sat bolt upright as he realized where those words came from.
The Rite of Claiming. A ceremony out of myth and legend.
Once, when there was still magic in the world, Dragons bound themselves to their soul-mates with this oath. It forged an unbreakable bond, a union of love and destiny that no power could destroy. They joined a Dragon to the one person who completed their soul. Someone who called to the greatness within them.
But the Wellsprings faded, and magic vanished with them. Leaving Dragons without true Mates, abandoned in a world that grew every more tawdry and dull.
I dreamed about a fairy tale love, the type of blessed union my Kind used to enjoy – or so the stories say. What of it? Who doesn’t dream of impossible things?
Yet, even as he thought that, he knew it was a lie. A year ago, yes, the Rite of Claiming was a myth. Now, however, there was a living Wellspring. The Alpha of his Flight, Brandon Lorde, had Claimed a Mate. They even had a child, a little girl.
Whom I abandoned.
Darian hung his head in shame. I couldn’t answer Lorde’s summons, he told himself, as he’d done a thousand times before. I can’t put Ethan in such risk.
A thousand repetitions didn’t make those words any less hollow. He couldn’t quite make himself believe them. He wondered if he ever would, or if this shadow would dog him for the rest of his life.
With a sigh, he stood and searched for clean clothes. Praying that the going through the motions of life would drive away his shame and worries for a time.
And Tess?
For a second, the memory of her beauty, riding him, flickered through his mind. What would it be like to have a woman like that at his side? A true Mate. Beautiful, strong, fearless. Someone who could face the power and majesty of his Dragon soul without flinching, like the fabled eagle that stared at the sun itself.
