Dead Again

by Lisa Andel

  Tyr picked up on it though, and gave the panther his attention. “And why would that be?"

  "Because I took care of her,” Ash stated. Then he leaned back, his face becoming impassive. “You've told us about two of the dragons’ plans. What about you?"

  Tyr shifted in his seat and tried to look innocent. “What about me?"

  "How are you planning on getting Lisa back into your bed?"

  His grin was pure sin. I felt myself getting wetter, my nipples pulling tight. His eyes burned into mine, flicked to my breasts, then back to my eyes. “I can't wait to get you under me again."

  I swallowed, knowing that my body, at least, was in total agreement with him. The room was getting hotter; breathing was becoming difficult. I couldn't seem to tear my gaze away from him.

  His lids drooped over his eyes, heavy with desire. Images sprang into my mind of the night we'd spent together, of that very expression on his face as he was thrusting inside of me.

  Rafe touched my thigh, then slid his hand between my legs and cupped my sex. He pressed his palm against me, and I came. I gripped the edge of the table, hard, and bit my lip as Rafe rubbed me through it.

  Tyr just grinned, the knowledge glowing in his eyes that he was responsible for my orgasm.

  Ash was leaning back in his chair, his expression harsh. My eyes dropped to his lap, and I saw his erection pressed hard against the front of his pants.

  Then I looked at Rafe. His eyes had taken on the gold ring of the panther; his parted lips exposed elongated canines. I reached for him. He glanced first at Tyr, then Ash.

  "Excuse us,” he rasped, then picked me up and carried me into the bathroom, shutting the door behind us.

  He had us stripped in the blink of an eye, then he picked me up and slammed my back against the wall. I wrapped my legs around his waist and hung on.

  He speared me with his cock on the first try, burying himself to the hilt. He fucked me with a fury. Wild, hard thrusts jolted my womb. I felt his fangs sink into my shoulder and I blew.

  He continued driving into me without mercy, wringing a second, then a third orgasm out of me before I felt his cock swell and his own release begin to blast out of him. He licked my shoulder, leaned into me and sucked my neck as he continued to come. I shattered right along with him.

  Sometime later, I came back to my senses. I was still against the wall with his cock deep inside me. He kissed me possessively.

  He pulled out, and we dressed without speaking. With his hand on the doorknob, he turned back to me.

  "Still want to fuck the dragon?"

  I felt myself blush. “Rafe.” Actually, yes, I still thought about what it had been like to be fucked by Tyr. I'd enjoyed it. Wouldn't mind a second round with him. Didn't want to mate him, though.

  Definitely wanted another go at Ash, too, and Trend, of course. Then I got to thinking that there were a lot of other men out there I hadn't had yet, and who knew what I'd find.

  "Lisa.” Rafe growled, bringing me out of my thoughts.

  "Huh?” I looked at him, and only then noticed how pissed off he looked.

  He grabbed me and pinned me to the wall again. “I swear, if you push me, I'll let the panther go.” His body pushed against mine until I had trouble breathing.

  "Rafe.” I didn't know what I was going to say, but the idea held a lot of appeal to me.

  His eyes flared when he caught the scent of my arousal. I felt his cock twitch and my cunt spasmed in response.

  "As soon as Ash and that dragon are gone,” Rafe's voice was husky with arousal. “I'll introduce you to him."

  He laughed, a harsh, dark sound, and a shiver ran down my spine.

  When we returned to the kitchen, Ash had Tyr on the floor and was sitting on him.

  "About fucking time,” Ash grumbled, then levered himself off of the dragon.

  Tyr took a swing at Ash, but didn't connect. “Damn you,” he growled. Then he rounded on Rafe and me.

  "Enjoy fucking her while you can, because I promise you she'll be mine.” Then he stalked to the door. He couldn't figure out how to open it, though, and sent a withering look at me.

  "Come here."

  I jumped, then made my way cautiously to the door.

  "Open it.” A muscle in his jaw twitched, the flames in his eyes nearly blue.

  I palmed open the door, then started backing away from him. He latched onto my arm and dragged me into the sally port with him.

  He kissed me, but broke it off, muttering about the stench of panther.

  Holding me loosely in his arms, he looked down at me with a surprisingly tender expression.

  "I'll do what I can to keep you safe from the other dragons.” He bussed my forehead. “If you come to your senses, I'm just a phone call away."

  When the outer door opened, he hugged me, then let me go.

  I stood there, watching him, until he'd disappeared down the stairs.

  Ash and Rafe were sitting at the table when I returned. They both glanced my way, then went back to their conversation.

  "One of us will deliver her stock, and pick up her commissions,” Ash was saying.

  "We'll have to take turns with the grocery shopping and any other errands she'll need done.” Rafe was sprawled in his chair, his earlier aggression absent.

  "If you're talking about me, then I'd like to join this conversation,” I said as I got another beer and sat down next to Rafe.

  "Ash thinks he can cover you as far as spells go, but you're going to have to stay inside anyway because of the physical threat to you."

  "Like hell.” I was already fed up with being imprisoned in my own home. I wanted out. “I'll agree that I shouldn't meet with any customers alone, but beyond that, I've got to get out of here. I'll go insane being caged in."

  I turned a pleading gaze on Rafe, then Ash, but neither man appeared to be affected by it.

  "You've hardly been caged in.” Ash narrowed his eyes on me.

  I slugged down my beer, then slapped the bottle down on the table. “Maybe I should just go to Tyr. Then the other dragons would leave me alone, and I wouldn't have to stay locked up in my own home.” I slumped down in my chair.

  Rafe bristled. “Ash, I'll talk to you later.” He never looked at Ash, though; his entire focus was on me.

  "Later,” Ash said and blinked out, his eyes glittering with amusement.

  "Welcome to the jungle, baby.” Rafe snatched me out of my chair and tossed me onto the carpet.

  I scrambled backwards as he advanced on me, his body shimmering and shifting with the change. My heart was thundering in my chest by the time he'd gone completely panther.

  He was huge.

  He flexed his jaws, and I realized he could probably fit my entire head in his mouth without any difficulty.

  He stuffed his head between my legs, and lightly grabbed my jeans between his teeth.

  "You can take your clothes off, or I can take them off you."

  Rafe's voice filled my mind. My hands went to the waist of my jeans and I worked furiously at releasing the button. As soon as I had the zipper down, he tugged. I helped ease the pants over my hips, then he jerked his head, pulling them down my legs and off.

  He raised a paw over me, and placed it on my chest. It was nearly as wide as I was, with claws easily four inches long. With incredible precision, he hooked a claw in the neck of my sweater and sliced it cleanly down the front, never once touching my flesh.

  I shrugged out of the garment, then tried to sit up. He butted me back down with his head.

  "Roll over, get on your knees."

  I just blinked at him. I didn't think I was ready for this. Hell, I was sure I wasn't ready for this. I didn't know what I was thinking before, but I knew I couldn't do this.

  I rolled to my knees, then tried to scramble away from him far enough so I could get to my feet. He trapped me between his front legs, and lowered his jaws over my shoulder, closing them until they pinched my flesh.

  I stopped struggling,
and held my breath as he dropped to his knees. My entire shoulder was in his mouth.

  "You're too big,” I whispered.

  I felt his cock prodding the backs of my legs. He moved, then prodded again, stopping when the head dipped into my vagina.

  His tongue stroked over the skin he had trapped between his teeth, its rough texture sending sparks of pleasure through me. He bit down then, just breaking the skin as he drove his cock inside of me.

  I can't tell you how many times I came, how many times he came inside of me, but I know he kept it up for hours.

  Somewhere along the way, I lost myself. My whole world was reduced to the way his body felt against mine, inside of mine.

  Stretched beyond the limits of my endurance, he still managed to make my body respond to him.

  I didn't die. It would have been easier on me if I had. As it was, I knew I'd never be the same again.

  Sometime after dawn, he curled his big body around mine on the floor of the living room.

  "Sleep." His voice whispered through my mind.

  * * * *

  I woke up at dusk, in bed, alone.

  Stretching, I felt my muscles complaining about the abuse they'd been put through the night before. I felt so wonderful, though, that I welcomed the reminder.

  I drew a hot bath and loaded it with scented oils, then lowered myself into the tub and allowed the water to ease me.

  When the water started cooling, I got out, and pulled on a warm terrycloth robe. I stuffed my feet in some furry slippers, and headed for the kitchen to scrounge for food.

  I caught sight of Rafe, sitting by the fireplace, a fire burning. He had a glass of amber liquid in his hand, staring at nothing.

  Torn between the gnawing hunger in my belly, and my concern for Rafe, I gave the kitchen a longing look, and turned in his direction.

  I sat next to him on the couch, pressed myself to his side, and dropped my hand to his thigh.

  When this didn't get a response, I kissed his cheek.

  "Hi.” I tangled my fingers in his hair and tried to turn his face towards mine. He finally let me, the look in his eyes stopping me from my intended kiss. “What's wrong?"

  The pain in his eyes intensified as he looked at me. “I shouldn't have taken you like that last night."

  "Why not?"

  My simple question seemed to startle him.

  "It's making things too personal between us."

  I felt a little insulted at that. “I thought things between us were personal."

  "Look, we both agreed to keep this relationship casual. Last night wasn't casual. Right now, I feel the need to kill Zaituc, and anyone else that thinks to fuck you."

  "Oh."

  "Yeah, oh.” He set his drink down on the coffee table then held me at arm's length.

  "You're not exactly helping matters by wanting to fuck them back."

  "Yeah, well...” How could I explain to Rafe that I wanted to try it all. I found I liked, really liked, having sex, and there were so many males out there that I hadn't had an opportunity to try out yet.

  He scowled at me, and I felt myself getting wet in response. He was devastatingly handsome when he was all pissed off like this.

  His eyes darkened as the scent of my arousal permeated the air.

  "Don't do that.” Like I could control it.

  Anger flashed through his eyes, when more of my juices pooled between my legs.

  He shoved me away from him, and stalked towards the door.

  He stopped a foot from it and, without turning around, spoke to me.

  "I can't take it, Lisa. You're going to have to make a decision."

  He was going to walk out on me. I jumped to my feet and went to him.

  "You'd leave me?"

  His eyes were fierce, and ringed with gold when he snapped his head around to look at me.

  "Yes. I sat at a table last night with two other men, both of whom you had slept with. It nearly made me insane. Especially when they both made it clear they intended to have you again, and you made it clear you looked forward to it."

  I'd done no such thing. Had I?

  "Rafe.” I reached for him, but he stepped back.

  "Make up your mind.” He glared at me.

  I felt him slipping away. He would leave, and I knew he'd never come back. Did I want that?

  My eyes drifted over his body. Then my memories reminded me that this man had died protecting me.

  "I don't want you to go."

  His expression hard, he loomed over me. “Not good enough."

  I felt energy radiating off of him like the static electricity that builds up before a storm.

  I thought of Tyr. I could do without him. But what of Ash? Ash would be a part of my life forever, and I wondered if I could separate Ash, the friend, from Ash, the lover.

  True, Ash didn't want to kill me again, but...

  Oh, hell. Rafe had become an important part of my life, a vital part of it. It was Rafe's arms that held me when I slept at night, and his laughter that brightened my day. He was there for me, always.

  "I can't live without you.” Not eloquent, but I meant it.

  Rafe just continued to stare at me. I knew what he was waiting for—at least I thought I knew.

  "As long as we're together, you'll be the only one."

  "Is that what you want? Be honest."

  "I want you, Rafe. I want you more than I want to find out what it's like to have sex with other men."

  "I don't get you. Do I not satisfy you?"

  Good Lord. If Rafe satisfied me any more I wouldn't have any bones left.

  "Satisfy me? Christ, Rafe, you rock my world! Hell, there are certain looks you give me that nearly make me come."

  His posture relaxed a little.

  "Then why the fascination with other men?"

  "Honestly? I don't know. There's something exciting, dangerous considering sex with a lethal male. A part of me jumps at the challenge. For most of my life the only thing that occupied me was dying. No one told me about sex. No one. But when I know that you'd walk out that door, and not set foot inside it again, nothing else matters."

  He allowed me to put my arms around his waist, and bury my head against his chest.

  "I'm not good at this relationship stuff. I've never had one before. I've never had anyone that wanted me all to themselves. I don't know what to think about that."

  He led me back to the couch, and lowered us to it.

  "I'm rather new to this myself.” He kissed the top of my head.

  Ash picked that moment to arrive. He strolled over to the bar, and helped himself to some other whiskey. Drink in hand, he sprawled across the chair next to Rafe.

  "Damn, I actually showed up when the two of you weren't fucking.” His eyes sparkled with humor.

  "Looking for a thrill, or was there a purpose to this visit?” Rafe asked.

  "I was going to cast some spells over Lisa to protect her.” Ash gave me a funny look. “There's something different about you."

  I blinked at him. “I can't imagine what. The only thing different around here is the fact that I've agreed to an exclusive relationship with Rafe."

  Ash raised an eyebrow at that. “Is that so?"

  I nodded, watching him for his reaction.

  He just shrugged, and swirled the amber liquid in his glass.

  What the hell was that? Here I was tormented with the fact that I was giving up sex with him, and he shrugs?

  Ash started muttering and weaving the fingers of one hand in an intricate pattern. I kept waiting for some indication that something was happening. Nothing changed. He continued to cast for several minutes, the soft sound of his intonations whispering in the air. Then he got up and helped himself to more whiskey.

  "That should do,” he told me when he returned to his chair.

  "That's it? How come I don't feel any different?"

  "Why should you? They're protection spells."

  As if that explained everything.

&n
bsp; * * * *

  Something had happened. It was late the next day and neither the phone, nor the doorbell had rung a single time. Rafe had even noticed.

  Ash popped in when Rafe and I were fixing dinner, so I grabbed extra meat out of the fridge to feed him too.

  "I can't say yet about Lache, Edan, or Tyr, but the rest of the dragons will be leaving you alone from now on."

  "Really?” I glanced at him, then at Rafe, as if he'd know something about it.

  "Yeah, really.” Ash made a face at me, and I wasn't quite sure what he was trying to tell me.

  "What?"

  Rafe snorted.

  We both looked at Rafe and waited.

  "Guess he—put the fear of God into them."

  Still snickering to himself, he went to check on the meat.

  I rolled my eyes, and plopped down into a chair at the table.

  Ash spit beer out of his mouth as he laughed. That got me laughing, as I'd never seen Ashur do something like that before.

  After we'd finished eating, Ash leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful look on his face.

  "I'd say it's time to let your life get back to normal."

  "My life was normal?"

  He rolled his eyes at me. “You know what I mean."

  "I want to hear it."

  "You can come and go as you please, and I won't keep such a close eye on you. The only concession I ask is that you let Rafe or me deal with your jewelry runs. We don't know who Varias is tied up with."

  "I can handle that. For now."

  "Good."

  With that, he departed.

  Rafe rose from the table, and cleared up the last of the mess. He leaned back against the counter, and let his eyes trace the contours of my body. I felt heat flare at his attention. Moving in front of him, I placed my hands against his chest. He grasped my hips, and pulled me tight to his groin.

  "Before I take you, I need to tell you that now, that the threat to you is over, I'm going to need to spend some time away from here."

  "Huh?"

  "I haven't hunted for ages, and I feel the need to do so."

  He pressed a kiss to my forehead.

  "Oh.” Just great. “How many nights a week do you really need to do this?” How many nights will I be sleeping alone?

  "Usually I can get by with a few nights a month. With the kind of danger that you've been in, I'm running a little hot right now."