by Lisa Andel
I suspected that Ashur had something to do with it.
* * * *
The Dare's parking lot was jammed, but I found a space back by the dumpster that I could squeeze into. I had to climb out of my window, though, to get out of the car. Thank God, no one was around to see me do that.
I entered through the back door, and detoured into the kitchen.
I spotted Madeline, one of the owners, checking the dishes being prepared by a genuine chef.
"Hey, Madge.” I wandered over to her, and scoped out the food she'd been looking at.
"Lise.” She took a second look at me, then whistled lowly. “Looking for some action? I didn't know you had it in you."
"I've been enlightened.” I smiled at her, my smile nearly cracking my jaw.
Madge slung an arm around my shoulder and whispered to me conspiratorially. “So tell me about it already."
"Guy name of Rafe."
"Not Rafe DeLassiter, the werepanther?” Her eyebrows rose in surprise.
"Well ... I didn't catch his last name, but the guy was a panther. Stands about six-four. Black hair and eyes?"
"Holy shit, girl. Rafe has very particular tastes.” Her expression warmed as she studied me. “How long was he at your place?"
"He spent the night, didn't leave until after noon."
Madge's mouth dropped open and I got a good look at her fangs.
"No fucking way.” She was shaking her head. “He never spends the night."
"Look, I don't know what he usually does, or who he does it with. I just know that we had round two after I woke up. He stayed long enough for me to fall asleep, then he booked."
There was a new respect in her eyes I'd never seen before.
"Come with me. You point out the guys that look interesting to you, and I'll tell you about them. I'll even introduce you to any of them you'd like me to."
I snagged a fried tidbit from one of the platters we passed as she rushed me out of the kitchen.
She hauled me upstairs to the loft bar, so that I'd have a better view of the people below. She got drinks for both of us; then glared at a couple of patrons until they relinquished their table by the railing.
Thankfully, the music wasn't turned so loud that I'd have to shout at her. I could just see myself blurting out during a lull in the music, "That guy's got a great ass."
I checked out the men I could see on our level first, then turned my attention to the floor below. One guy had a veritable harem of women fawning over him. I made a face in his direction and continued looking elsewhere.
Then I saw him. He was leaning against the wall by the pool tables, his long, lean legs slanted out in front of him. He wore black jeans and a dark sweater that molded to his upper body. His hair was brown, slightly wavy, and cut just below his ear. I couldn't tell what color his eyes were from this distance.
Though his position made him look relaxed, I could sense the tension in it, even from where I was sitting. I watched him for a while, noticing how he surreptitiously scanned the bar.
I watched as other males watched him, and avoided making eye contact with him. A thrill raced down my spine.
"Who's that?” My voice squeaked when I spoke.
Madge grinned a half-grin at me, and searched the area where my attention was riveted.
"Which one?"
I think she already knew which one, but I humored her.
"The guy leaning on the wall in the black jeans."
"Kid, I don't think you're ready to go there."
"Oh yeah.” I breathed as he shifted his position and I got a look at the bulge in his pants.
I could feel Madge's eyes on me, but I couldn't tear my gaze away from the man.
"He's a dragon, Lise. How much do you know about them?"
"I don't know anything about them."
When she didn't tell me more, right away, I glanced impatiently at her.
"Dragons are domineering and egotistical. They tend to fry their lovers. Not that they care. They don't care much about anything that doesn't have a monetary value."
"What about this dragon.” I jerked my head in his direction.
"Tyr Zaituc. Probably around six hundred years old. Estimated worth in the millions, more likely billions. He goes through women like other men go through peanuts. He's better about not killing his sex partners than most. Because of that, he's got a reputation. The women I've heard talking about him say he's one hell of a lover. He's aggressive, though I don't think he's as much into bondage as others of his breed."
I let my eyes wander around the crowd on the floor again, thinking I might want to find someone a little less lethal. I kept coming back to Tyr, though.
I sighed. Looked like it was the dragon, or nothing.
"O.K., introduce me."
"You're crazy."
I looked at Madge. “It doesn't matter if he fries me, so what's the problem?"
"You've got a point. All right, follow me."
I followed Madge to the main floor, stopping behind her frequently as she greeted people. She introduced me to several and I was getting itchy at the delay.
She led me past the dragon to a small raised table on the other side of the pool tables. I climbed up onto a stool, none too gracefully, braced a foot on the ring that circled the base, and crossed my legs at the knee.
I finished off my drink, and eyed Madge.
"Patience."
Madge left to get us another round, and I fidgeted. I wanted to look and see if Tyr was still there, but I didn't want to be obvious about my interest.
Madge returned with our drinks, climbed onto her stool, then reached to hand me mine. Her elbow clipped the edge of the table, and my glass came flying at me. I tried to dodge it, unbalancing the stool I was perched on. I wind-milled my arms, but the chair was tipped too far to the right, and I headed for the floor.
Strong arms caught me just before I hit. I was pulled to my feet, and steadied. Whoever had caught me, stayed behind me. He wasn't letting go, and I was starting to get annoyed.
I tried to pry off the hands that were glued to my stomach. Then I tried to turn around to give the guy a piece of my mind. I had no luck doing either, while my frustration grew by the second.
"Would you mind getting your hands off me?"
Instead of letting me go, the man pulled me flush against his body, his erection hitting the middle of my back. My vagina contracted, and I drenched my panties.
I again set to prying the guy's hands off me, determined to get loose. For all I knew the man looked like a science experiment gone wrong.
I felt his chuckle against my back.
I was cursing softly but continuously, while I pulled one of his fingers up. I felt the warmth of his breath against my ear.
"Most women enjoy being in my arms."
"Yeah, well, I'm not most women."
His hands slid up and cupped my breasts. A jolt of arousal coursed through me, and I gasped.
"Hey! Do you mind?"
"Not at all.” His lips brushed my ear, then the side of my face. His thumbs feathered over my nipples. I felt his cock twitch. “Yes,” he said, and released me from his embrace.
I spun around, ready to bite his head off, and had to crane my neck to see his face. It was HIM. But the words were already on their way out of my mouth.
"What the hell did you think you were doing?"
"I caught you.” He stepped even closer. “Now you're mine."
I backed up. “Nice try.” I turned, found my stool, and climbed back up on it.
Madge had replaced the spilled glass of wine with a fresh one, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Fucking great.
Tyr took the stool next to mine, facing into the room. He watched me closely while I took a sip of my wine.
"Why don't you tell me your name?” His voice was deep and smooth.
"Lisa."
"Lisa. I can't figure out what you are. But I can see that you're not human."
"Actually
, I am human.” A drink appeared before him, even though he hadn't ordered one. It made me think of Angel. I squashed that thought. Tyr was nothing like Angel.
He leaned forward and studied my eyes. His were the color of a thunderstorm, his irises swirling.
"You're absolutely fascinating,” he breathed, causing goose bumps to rise on my arms. He caught me by the back of the head, and pressed a kiss to my lips. I opened my mouth to protest, and he slipped his tongue inside.
I let myself fall into the kiss, and kissed him back. He was very good. He slanted his lips and deepened the kiss.
My whole body heated with arousal.
He broke away from me, sat back, and took a drink. I downed half my wine in an effort to cool off.
"Fascinating."
I was beginning to get uncomfortable under his scrutiny. Maybe I didn't want to fuck this guy after all. Maybe he was more intense then I was ready for.
I finished my wine, and decided to head home, alone. I slid off of my stool, only to find him at my side as I made my way to the door.
I paused, on the sidewalk outside, took a deep breath, and tried to figure out what to say.
He wrapped his arm around me, and started leading me toward the parking lot, then towards a sleek black car.
I planted my feet and pulled him to a halt. “Uh..."
"I'm taking you to my place,” he informed me.
"What makes you think I'll go with you? I don't even know you."
He pinned me to the side of his vehicle, his cock hard against my stomach.
"I can smell your arousal.” He bent and traced a path with his lips along my neck.
I shivered. “I don't remember your asking me."
His muscles tensed, then he looked at me like I was insane.
"Of course you want to come home with me."
"Well, when you put it that way...” I squirmed. “Fuck no, I don't want to go anywhere with you. You're an asshole."
His eyes flared, his muscles tensing even further.
"Are you refusing me? Refusing a dragon?” His voice was like ice.
"Yes, I'm refusing you.” I narrowed my eyes at him.
He laughed. He tipped his head back and laughed.
"How refreshing. Now I simply must take you home with me."
He reached behind me and unlocked his car. Then he shoved me in, and forced me over as he slid behind the wheel. I reached to open the passenger door, and found it locked. I pressed the lock button, but nothing happened.
"Child lock,” he informed me, as he put the car in gear and drove out of the lot. “So tell me, Lisa, have you ever had a dragon before?"
"No, and I don't intend to have one now."
He just raised an eyebrow at me and grinned. A wicked grin that sent a shot of arousal straight to my crotch.
"Want to tell me what you are?"
"I'm a really pissed-off female that's sure to bite your dick off if you dare to take it out in front of her."
He slammed on the brakes, and crushed me to his body. He kissed me, hard, until I melted against him.
"That's better.” He put the car back into gear, and continued driving.
A few minutes later, he pulled up to a gate, entered a code, and proceeded down a private drive. The house was an immense Victorian affair that was superbly maintained.
He parked in front of the house, dragged me from his car, and up the front steps. The door opened before we got there, and I goggled at the ancient man that stood aside to let us in.
"Good evening, sir,” the old guy wheezed.
"Good evening, Bosc. I won't be needing your services any more this evening."
With a crushing grip on my hand, he led me up the stairs, and down the hall to his bedroom.
He shut, and locked the door behind us.
I scooted to the other side of the room, and pretended to study the books in a bookcase I found over there.
"You won't be reading tonight,” he said, as he picked me up and carried me to the bed. He tossed me onto the comforter, and fell on top of me.
I stiffened beneath him, and refused to move.
He kissed my stiff lips, then suckled on my neck. He wrenched my legs apart, and jammed his hips between them.
"Damn it, woman, it's just not worth the aggravation,” he said, as he rolled off of me onto his back.
"All you had to do was ask,” I told him.
He raised himself up on an elbow and glared at me, then dropped back to the bed.
"Dragons don't ask."
"Well, they should."
I rolled over on my side, and traced the frown line between his eyes with my finger.
"Ah, hell.” He blew out a hot breath. “Would you come home with me? I'd really like to fuck you."
"See, that wasn't so hard."
"That's your answer?"
"No.” He flinched. “My answer is yes."
"About fucking time.” He grabbed the hem of my sweater and yanked it off over my head.
I quickly shed the rest of my clothes while he took care of his own.
His cock was red. It was bigger then Rafe's, and a dark, forbidding red.
I stared at it in awe.
"You've never seen a cock before?"
"Not one like that."
"You're not a virgin, are you?"
"What is it with you guys and virgins? No, I'm not a virgin."
"There's a certain value to them, but I prefer a woman I can fuck. You have to be gentle with a virgin, or you ruin them."
He was checking out my body as he talked, his eyes lingering on my breasts, before coming to rest on my crotch.
"Scoot up.” He shoved on my hip, impatient for me to move higher on the bed.
Then he planted himself between my legs, and draped my thighs over his shoulders. He parted my labia with his hands, and I felt the moist heat of his tongue lap at my slit.
Fire flashed from my crotch to my nipples.
He stroked his tongue into my vagina, and I writhed with the pleasure he was giving me. He was hot, so very hot; the burn of that heat seared, heightened my senses.
He trailed a fiery path from my vagina to my clit, suckling the swollen bud until I was mindless, screaming for release. He scraped his teeth over the nub, as he thrust two fingers into me, and I came. He continued sucking on my clit, easing the speed he entered me with his fingers, as my tremors died.
Then he crawled up the length of my body, his eyes burning into mine.
"Wrap your legs around me,” he commanded, and for once I didn't argue.
He bumped me with the head of his cock, until it was seated at my opening.
"Are you prepared to burn?” he asked me with a wicked grin.
"Fire away.” I grabbed his hair and pulled his face to mine so I could kiss him. He thrust his hips, and drove his cock into me, making it halfway before the tightness of my sheath impeded his progress. He withdrew, slightly, then thrust again, and again, until his entire length was buried.
"Christ, you're tight.” He gritted his teeth, a muscle jumping in his jaw as he drew back and buried himself again. I creamed, making his passage into me easier.
He groaned and increased the speed of his thrusts.
I swore I saw flames leap and flicker in the black depths of his eyes. His face a harsh study in sharp angles as he worked his cock in and out of me.
My vagina clenched, and I moaned, long and low.
His cock twitched, bringing him to drive himself harder, faster into me.
Blue flames erupted across his skin, and traveled to mine wherever we touched. It sent electric pleasure over me. I arched my back, pressing my nipples hard against his chest. The rough hairs scraping across them aroused me further.
"Tyr,” I gasped, lost in the sensations he was bringing to me.
"Open your eyes. Look at me."
I did, and was captured by the fire that was now flaming brightly in his eyes.
The muscles in my groin began to tighten. I rotated my hips as
he thrust into me, searching for relief.
The flames raced towards the point where our bodies met, then shot out, like a nova, when I came. I bucked and writhed beneath Tyr as he pummeled me with his cock.
"You are so fucking hot when you come,” he rasped, just before his body tensed. He locked his mouth over mine, and jammed his tongue inside. A tremor ran through him, setting off a second orgasm in me. Then he jetted his fiery cum against my womb. It burned me with such intense pleasure, my body jolted his off the bed as I convulsed in yet another orgasm.
The fire burned a path straight from my womb, to my heart, then up my throat and into my mouth. He sucked the fire from my mouth into his own, and kept on sucking as he continued to spew inside of me.
He collapsed on top of me, and released my mouth.
"Fuck me, that was something else.” His breath grated harshly in his lungs, and I felt the heat of his fire blow across me with every breath.
"I'm not dead,” I stated with total amazement. I really figured I wouldn't survive the dragon's fire.
"You sound surprised."
"I am. I really figured you would kill me with your fire."
This got his attention, and he levered himself up on an elbow to see my face. “I know I wondered if I'd kill you. But why would you fuck me, if you thought I would?"
"Oh, hell. It's like this.” I turned onto my side so I could look at him without straining my neck. “It wouldn't matter if you killed me. I wouldn't stay dead."
His eyes widened. “What?"
"That's what I am. I guess. I'm something that won't stay dead."
"You've died before?"
"Several times."
"How?"
"Every way, I think. Hell, some guys make a sport of trying to figure out a way to kill me so I'll stay dead."
His arms came around me, and he held me tight, burying his face in my hair.
"Oh, hell, Lisa. I don't know what to say. I'm actually sorry I knew I might kill you and fucked you anyway."
"You ... didn't like it?” I was glad he couldn't see my face. “I'll admit you're only the third man I've ever been with, but I didn't think I was that bad."
He kissed my hair, then my forehead.
"You blew me away, so I'll hear none of that.” He tightened his hold. “I'm only your third?"
