by Lisa Andel
"Rafe's house, why?"
"Stay there. There's been some trouble at your place. Ask Rafe if I can pop in over there later."
It actually took me a moment to find Rafe on the giant bed.
"Rafe, Ash wants to know if he can pop in over here later."
Rafe mumbled something at me that sounded like an O.K.
"Rafe says it's O.K."
"Picture his living room."
I pictured the huge expanse of room, and threw in the thought that we were outside Peninsula.
"Got it. I'll get back to you."
Rafe had pried an eye open and was watching me.
"Tell me you're not talking to Ash in your head."
I made a face at him.
He groaned, and rolled onto his back. “I should have known."
"Could you give me a map to the bathroom?” Now that I was awake, I was feeling some definite pressure to relieve myself.
"I'll show you, it's quicker."
I padded along behind him, all the way to the other side of the room. Then froze when we entered the bathroom. I thought mine was hedonistic!
On the one end was an oversized shower with a dozen showerheads, then a long counter with three sinks. Next were two toilets, though one was funny looking, and I wasn't sure it was a toilet. On the other end of the room was a wild Jacuzzi/pond/waterfall thing with frosted walls on three sides and a skylight overhead.
I studied the two toilets for a minute, shifting from foot to foot.
"The one on the right is a bidet."
I looked at him blankly.
"Use the one on the left for now."
I couldn't help but stare at the waterfall while I relieved myself. I'd never seen a waterfall inside a house before. Not that I'd been in that many fancy houses. Come to think of it, this was the fanciest house I'd ever been in.
Rafe handed me a brand new toothbrush after I'd washed my hands. I continued staring while I brushed my teeth. I was drawn to the thing, fascinated, and slightly afraid there might be fish living in it.
I wandered over to it, and looked into the pond.
"There isn't anything living in there, is there?"
Rafe's soft chuckle sounded beside me as he opened a panel and pressed some buttons.
The water surged in the pond as dozens of jets sprang to life. He stepped in, and gave me a hand over the rim.
He backed me into the waterfall, while he was kissing me. Warm water cascaded over our heads.
Then he pulled me down into the pond, and dunked my head under the water.
I came up sputtering and looking for blood. He laughed and backed away from me. Since it wasn't a real pond, he didn't have much room to retreat in, but it was enough to have me laughing by the time I caught him.
"What in the world made you build this thing?"
"It was here when I bought the house."
"It's bizarre."
"I've become rather attached to it."
I found the ledge that Rafe was sitting on, and sat next to him, a jet of water pulsing against my back. I squirmed around until the jet was right where I wanted it.
"Maybe it has its uses.” I let my head drop back against the wall, and sighed.
"There you are."
The two of us jumped as Ash walked into the room.
"Mind if I join you?” He started tugging his shirt out of his jeans.
"Yes.” Rafe said, as he moved fluidly out of the pond and grabbed a towel.
"Guess I'll go forage in the kitchen.” Ash grinned, then sauntered out of the room.
Rafe gave me a hand out of the pond, and I reminded myself never to get in the thing without him around to get me out.
When we were dressed, we ventured into the kitchen.
Ash was cooking at the stove. He had a pot of coffee made, and the table set already. I took a seat while Rafe got the coffee for us.
Ash didn't say anything until all the food was on the table. I didn't like the energy radiating off of him, and was sure I was not going to like what he had to tell us.
"Spit it out, Ash.” I gave him the eye.
"Your house is missing.” Ash busied himself with the steak on his plate.
"What do you mean, missing?” My voice was rising, and I had the urge to stab Ash with my fork.
"Just that. It's gone off somewhere and I haven't been able to track it down yet."
"Houses don't just get up and leave.” I was nearly screeching, my voice annoying to my own ears.
"I believe yours had help.” Ash spent several minutes chewing.
Rafe and I exchanged glances and I willed Rafe to poke his fork into Ash.
"Why would anyone do that?” Rafe asked, instead of following my silent command.
We waited while Ash finished chewing. “I believe they were hoping that Lisa was inside at the time."
Well.
"Is it the dragons?"
"Probably. If they had someone's help.” Ash got up and went for more coffee, then slanted a look at me when he returned to the table.
"I think Trend can help us out with this one."
It was my turn to find my steak fascinating. I cut it into pieces, then started reducing the pieces into smaller pieces.
"Who's Trend?"
I could feel the irritation rippling off of Rafe.
I could also feel them staring at me. Hard. Finally I couldn't take it any more and looked up at them.
"Just some guy I went out with."
"Fucked, you mean.” Rafe's voice had a definite edge to it.
"So I fucked him, so what?"
"Tell me he's not another dragon."
"He's not another dragon."
Rafe looked to Ash. “He's not, is he?"
"No, he's not a dragon.” Ash's eyes glittered with repressed humor.
"I'll bite. What is he?"
"Demon sorcerer."
People in the next town over probably heard Rafe yelling my name at that revelation.
"Are you insane?” He'd brought his voice down to regular ear-splitting yelling.
"Captain Jack gave him a green light,” I argued in my defense.
"You let a guy that goes by Captain Jack give you advice?” Rafe was starting to go panther on me.
"Ash!” Hey, why have a god as your best friend if he couldn't help you out in a pinch?
"Rafe, Captain Jack was a special agent with the US Marshal's service for twenty years. He owns Percival's now and he's a good judge of character."
"You knew.” Rafe turned some of his anger on Ash.
"Hey, it was before you and I became exclusive."
"You think I want to hang out with another one of your lovers?"
"Aren't you even a little bit curious about him?"
"No!"
"At least she didn't have any demons pestering the hell out of her after the—uh—episode."
Just then Rafe's doorbell chimed.
"You didn't.” Rafe glared at Ash.
Ash just shrugged, and levered himself out of his chair. “I'll get that."
"I've never met a more frustrating woman.” At least Rafe had calmed down some. I just didn't know if it would last after he got a look at Trend.
Ash sauntered back into the kitchen with Trend tagging along behind. He looked every bit as tasty as I remembered him.
"Babe.” His dark blue eyes glittered as he swooped in for a kiss. His scent enveloped my head, and made it hard to remember that I was Rafe's now. I let his tongue play a little too long with mine, and heard Rafe growling.
Placing my hands on Trend's chest, I pushed. He winked at me, as he backed away. He knew I was Rafe's and he was yanking the panther's chain. Gotta be the demon in him.
He sat down next to Ash and stared at Rafe.
"Who's the cat?"
I swallowed a snort. “Trend, Rafe. Rafe, that's Trend."
"You're looking good, Lisa.” Trend curved a smile at me, and flicked a glance at my breasts.
Rafe shifted in his seat, still
unaware that Trend was playing with him.
Trend rested his arms on the table, and leaned closer to me. “Maybe later we can go for round two."
"She's taken.” Rafe narrowed his eyes at the man, rising slightly out of his seat.
I put my hand on his arm, and he sliced a glance in my direction.
Trend laughed. “You can sit down, Rafe, Ash already told me she was yours."
"Fucking demon.” Rafe muttered under his breath, causing Trend to laugh harder.
"Get a grip, I asked you here for a reason.” Ash glanced between the two men, waiting for them to control themselves.
"So tell me,” Trend focused on me again, his intense gaze setting fires burning throughout my body. “What have you gotten into this time?"
Ash and Rafe and I exchanged a look.
"I suppose we should start at the beginning.” Ash stated halfheartedly, the other two men turning to look at me.
"All right!” I scooted around in my chair, trying to find a comfortable position. “It all started when I wanted to get laid."
Trend raised an eyebrow at me.
"I went over to the Pub, and Ash hooked me up with Rafe.” Once again I was sitting at a table full of men I'd slept with. “Well, uh, after Rafe, I realized what I was missing out on, so I went out again."
I stared at the tabletop. “I met a guy named Tyr Zaituc."
"A dragon,” Rafe added.
"Anyway, I slept with Zaituc and I didn't burst into flames.” I looked up at Trend and grimaced.
"So every dragon in the city..."
"State,” Rafe muttered.
"—started showing up on my doorstep."
"We've managed to discourage all but two of them.” Ash took over. “When I went over to Lisa's this morning, her house was gone."
"Gone?"
"Not destroyed. I got the sense that it ... left."
"Has it done this before?"
I gaped at Trend when he asked the question. He was totally serious.
"No, it's just a house."
"What type of magic did you encounter?"
"That's just it. You'd think I could get a handle on any kind out there, but this one has me stumped."
"Let's go take a look.” Trend stood, and waited for Ash.
"I think we'll all go.” Rafe rose, and gave me a hand out of my chair.
Ash looked us over. “You take Rafe, I'll get Lisa."
Trend reached for Rafe.
"Hey, don't be touching me.” Rafe backed away from the demon.
"Fine.” He wrapped his arms around me, and I found myself in a vast nothingness.
Time slowed. I was warm, and Trend was with me, but beyond that there was only shadows and darkness.
Trend cupped my chin with his hand and raised my face. He held me still while he brought his mouth to mine. His lips were soft and mobile, teasing mine apart. He stroked his tongue into my mouth, his hand moving to the back of my neck. Dropping a hand beneath my ass, he lifted me. I wrapped my legs and arms around him, tangling my fingers in his silky hair.
Our clothing dissolved. His cock found, and pierced my vagina. His kiss turned urgent as he flexed his hips and started working his cock deeper and deeper into my core. Adjusting his grip on my ass, he dropped his lips to my neck and began driving into me in earnest.
The muscles in my groin tightened, coiled. He pressed down on my hips and drove hard against the mouth of my womb and I came. He kept driving into me with short, erratic digs, the head of his cock rubbing repeatedly over the bundle of nerves deep within me. I felt his cock pulse, then warmth flooded my core as he found his own release.
I felt the euphoria I'd come to associate with Trend's climax, but it was different, more intense. While I was reeling in its aftermath, Trend pressed his lips close to my ear and I felt the tingle of his magic working over me.
"This never happened.” The words were spoken as softly as a breath of air.
I was once again standing in the circle of Trend's arms, fully clothed.
I felt time speed up, and the darkness began to clear around us.
When the sunlight broke through the last of the shadows, we were standing on the sidewalk in front of where my house should have been.
Rafe and Ash appeared beside us and Rafe launched himself at Trend.
Ash grabbed a handful of Rafe's shirt and jerked him back. He held on until Rafe settled down.
I'd turned to look at my yard, and just stood there, mouth open in wonder.
"It's all gone. Rafe, my house is gone. All my work, my tools."
Rafe came to me and pulled my back against his chest, his arms wrapping me in a protective cocoon.
"Don't worry, honey, Ash will find it. We'll set up a workshop at my house for you to use."
As I stood there, an uneasiness crept over me.
"I think we're being watched."
Ash and Trend were standing close to where my front door should have been. I ogled the two men to get my mind off the creepy feeling of being examined. Ash was larger then Trend. Trend was leaner and deadlier-looking, though I had no doubt that Ash was probably the more dangerous of the two.
I tried to imagine which man I'd be more attracted to if I didn't know either one of them. I surprised myself when I realized it would be Trend. I'd have to compare him with Rafe, if I ever got to see the two standing near each other.
The two men spread out and walked the perimeter of the foundation in opposite directions, meeting on the other side.
Trend glanced up, and caught my eye. He flashed a smile at me, and I felt Rafe tense against my back.
He started to withdraw his arms from me, and I felt the pressure of the air around me getting heavier.
"Don't let me go.” I grabbed at Rafe's arms to keep them around me.
"What's wrong?"
"Don't you feel it?” I backed into him harder.
Rafe was quiet for a moment. “No. Tell me about it."
"I feel like we're being watched. When you started to move away from me, something else began moving in to take your place."
"Ash, come here,” Rafe called out.
"What?” Ash crossed his arms in front of his chest as he listened. Then he motioned for Trend to join us. “Move away from her, Rafe, so that Trend and I can sense this."
Rafe squeezed me, then let his arms drop to his sides. He backed a step away, then another.
Ash jumped forward, flinging his arms around me, through me.
I watched helplessly when his arms failed to grasp me. Trend moved forward, and I saw him shimmer before he took me in his arms. Everything looked the same, but the sense of being watched, the pull I'd felt before was stronger now.
"They come.” Trend said to me before my world went black.
I opened my eyes, and the blackness lightened to a deep and simmering gray. I was on my back, the surface beneath me cold. Around me I heard the hushed whisper of many voices. As my head cleared further, I began to understand some of the conversation.
"You have my word, Trend, I will leave the woman alone."
I didn't recognize the voice of the speaker.
"Forever.” Anger laced Trend's voice.
"Forever.” The other man reluctantly agreed.
"You are free to leave, dragon. Do not think to use us lightly in the future.” Another deep voice spoke, causing a chill to run down my spine.
I heard the rustle of movement, then a face appeared in my line of vision. I cringed away from it. It was black—a true black, the color of jet—its flesh dark and glistening. The face was shaped like a shield, with sharp yellow teeth lining its mouth. Then it blurred, and reformed into the face of a stunningly handsome man with blond hair and straight white teeth.
He touched my face, then stroked the palm of his hand down my neck to my chest. He cupped and kneaded my breasts before pinching my nipples. I looked around wildly for Trend, and found him standing at my feet, his expression hard, his chest rising and falling sharply with his breathin
g.
The blond finished with my nipples, and stroked down my stomach to the apex of my thighs. I clenched my legs together, but was no match for the power of his hand. He simply pried my legs apart, and cupped my mound. Then he inserted a finger into my vagina. He pumped it slowly in and out, then joined it with a second finger. His thumb brushed across my clit, and he increased the tempo of his thrusts.
I locked my eyes on Trend's and refused to look at the blond.
With a roar, the blond wrenched his fingers from me. The next moment his body covered mine as he pressed his cock to my entrance.
"I will know what the others find so entrancing about you.” His icy voice raised gooseflesh along my neck.
"You're not going to find out that way.” I hoped I sounded more assured to him than I did to myself.
"Why do you say this?"
"Simple. I wanted to fuck them."
"You do not want to fuck me?” he yelled.
"Sorry, I'm committed to someone.” I didn't want to bring Rafe's name to the attention of this creature.
His head swung around, though, and he glared at Trend.
"You did not tell me she was yours,” he accused. “You will tell her to fuck me. Fuck me as she would you."
Trend slowly made his way up my side until he was standing near our heads.
"The best I can offer you is to let you watch while I fuck her.” Trend laid his hand on my shoulder, and I felt his warmth leech into me.
The blond's face twisted with anger, then he shook himself. “Do it."
He moved to stand beside me, glaring at Trend until he'd undressed and shifted into position between my legs.
Trend brought his lips to mine, and I became aware of only him.
I don't know how long Trend and I were at it, or how many times we each reached release. I only know that it was like the four days I'd spent with him, where time didn't matter.
I'd just reached another shattering climax, and was floating in the aftermath, when Trend shifted his weight to my side.
With his hand resting on my stomach, he grinned down at me.
"Guess he got the point."
I raised my eyebrow at him, having forgotten everything but the desire to feel his body against mine.
"Earth to Lisa.” A chuckle rumbled in his chest. “Begaroth, the demon lord that was interested in fucking you?"
The image of the black face, shifting into the blond man's filtered back into my brain.
