by Ophelia Bell
“You’ve got enough ursa blood to experience a true estrous, it seems,” he said. “I’m not an expert, but what I do know is that after enough orgasms, the build-up of magic will be spent, and you’ll be back to normal. The good news is that all it takes is a strong enough partner—or several partners—to service you through it.”
His fingers massaged my channel with expert strokes that pushed me slowly to another climax. Despite the rising pleasure, the discomfort eased and I relaxed, giving in again to his talented touch. “Is there bad news?”
“Hmm?” he asked, his attention fixed on my pussy as if he was enthralled by the process of finger-banging me out of my mind.
“You told me what the good news is. Does that mean there’s bad news?” I asked, breathless and at the edge again already.
He pressed his thumb to my clit, stroking fast and hard, and I came in a burst, the sensation releasing more tension each time I experienced it.
But within a moment, another wave of full-body hunger hit, and I rolled over and grabbed the pillow, sobbing into it in frustration.
“The bad news is that this is probably going to happen several times a day for the next month, and this is pretty much the only remedy. I’m going to fuck you now.”
“Oh god, please,” I said into the pillow, too spent to roll back over. But Gray didn’t make me roll over. He squeezed my ass with both hands, spreading my cheeks. I groaned when I felt the ticklish tips of his tongue tease around my rear opening then dip into my pussy again. With a nudge from him, I shifted completely onto my front with my ass in the air.
“Sweet Mother, you have a perfect ass,” he murmured almost to himself. “I need you to look at me for a second though. I’m going to shift a little for this. I think it’ll help, but I don’t want to scare you.”
I pushed up onto my arms and peeked over my shoulder. “I think I’m beyond being surprised by you. Show me.”
His body began to slowly grow, pale silvery scales erupting across his shoulders and down his hips. The hair on his head turned snow-white, and between his legs his cock enlarged, doubling in size with his body. With each new inch, my core gave a needy spasm. There was no way he’d fit at that size, but for some reason, I didn’t really care. I wanted every single inch he could shove into me.
“You okay with this?” he asked, giving his huge cock a stroke with an equally huge hand, but his horns where what held me mesmerized. They were enormous, coiling works of art that looked like they were carved out of glowing white marble.
“Fuck me, you beautiful beast,” I said.
His mouth tilted in an almost shy smile. “Glad I don’t scare you. But if this doesn’t help, I’m going to have to go full dragon.” He shifted close, sliding his huge shaft along the wet crack of my ass. I groaned at the teasing contact.
“I’m gonna hold you to that, especially if you don’t hurry up and get that beautiful thing inside me.”
He emitted a long, low hum of approval that was akin to a purring cat as he spread me wide open. With one finger, he tested my readiness, which was completely unnecessary but made me warm inside anyway. Then he lined his cockhead up with my opening and pushed.
The air rushed from my lungs at the first stretch of the invasion, and my eyes flew wide. I clutched at the pillows but held my ground. Because with each startling stretch of my body, I felt myself give a little more, as if all my pussy needed was a promise and it opened up wider to take what he offered. Soon it was as if a barrier had fallen, and every ounce of tension in my entire body evaporated. Gray gasped as he seated fully into me, and all I could do was cry at how utterly perfect he felt buried to the hilt inside me.
But if that was perfection, fucking him this way was absolutely transcendent. He held my hips as he started to move, slowly at first, then faster. When I slammed back against him, meeting him thrust for thrust, he groaned and hauled me up, clasping my breasts in his big hands, and forcing me to reach back to grab hold of his neck for leverage as he speared me from beneath. He toyed with my breasts then slid his hands down to grip the insides of my thighs and spread me across his lap. He held tight to my thighs, keeping me splayed across his hips, just high enough so he could slam up into me with that glorious, huge cock. One hand strayed to my pussy, and when he found my clit and teased with his fingers, I lost it completely, flying over the edge with a scream of pure pleasure.
He refused to release me this time, but I didn’t have time to object before the waves came again, though they were less intense than before. He kept fucking, and I just held on, letting him control my pleasure and push me to another orgasm, then another, and another until I lost count. I was barely aware of whether or not he finished even once, but by the time the surges of heat and desire finally ceased, I was too wrung out to notice much beyond the softness of the pillows beneath my cheek and the raw soreness of my body.
I found myself flat on my back again, covered in sweat, with Gray lapping gently between my legs. I shuddered through another small orgasm granted by his talented tongue, then sighed when he slipped up my body and pulled me close to him.
“I don’t know if I loved that or hated it,” I said, resting bonelessly against his strong chest. He was still a giant half-dragon creature with enormous horns, and I reveled in being held by so huge a man. It made me feel even safer to be so completely enveloped within that comforting aura, and the pulse of his energy around me told me he knew I liked it.
“It’s an ordeal, and it isn’t close to over yet, but it’s manageable.”
“How the hell do the ursa do it? You’ve got to be exhausted. And did you even finish?”
He chuckled, looking down at me with gleaming silver eyes. “A few times, yes. But normally, an ursa male wouldn’t even be allowed to fuck you, much less spill his seed inside you. For the ursa, it also takes multiple males to service a single ursa female, partly because they can’t fuck her. It’s too dangerous. And partly because…it’s exhausting.” He sank a little lower on his pillows, pulling me tighter and sighing. “But it’s also an enormous honor to service a fertile ursa female. And for me, it’s even more of an honor because I can feel exactly how powerful you are with both elements.”
I looked up at him, searching his face for clarification. “You can feel it?”
“When you share your Nirvana, I absorb traces of your true essence. I feel the earth magic alongside the fire magic, and they’re both intense and absolutely beautiful.”
His tone was filled with awe and a little worry. “Is that a bad thing?” I asked, not sure if I wanted to know the answer.
“It is if Chaos learns the truth. And I don’t even want to consider what Fate might think about this. Because with power this strong, I think it means you’re another Chimera, and both of those assholes seem dead set on exploiting your kind.”
13
Gray
April shivered and snuggled closer but didn’t respond. I tightened my hold and kissed the top of her head. Her uncensored thoughts betrayed her confusion about what was happening to her, but behind it was a sense of complete trust in me that I hoped I would be able to live up to. Eventually, she fell asleep to the gentle strokes of my hand against her back.
I couldn’t sleep, and thanks to the abundance of magical energy I’d absorbed from her, I could do without. Perhaps I could take care of her alone if the guys failed to get my message. With as much power as she’d infused me with, I could set wards and traps around the property that Vesh and his brothers would have a hard time breaking through. I hoped I wouldn’t have to do it alone though.
The longer I lay there, the more I itched to fortify our hideout, but April looked so peaceful and beautiful curled against my side, I hated to risk disturbing her sleep. But I couldn’t let my adoration of her interfere with what needed to be done to protect her.
I made use of a bit of my abundant magic and exhaled a long breath. The smoke obeyed my command, sinking between April and me and supporting her while I slipped out of b
ed. With a bit more effort of will, the smoke coalesced into a vaguely me-shaped pillow. It wasn’t as detailed a substitute as a Shadow dragon was capable of, but it would keep her comfortable for the time being. Then I clothed myself and headed off to patrol the house and grounds.
I took a detour on the first floor, back into the library to the shelf with the photos. In one photo, a dark-haired woman stood beside a sturdy man with curly blond hair and a trimmed beard holding a pale-haired baby. April certainly resembled her father more than her mother. But something about that photo of her mother, grandmother, and the friend nagged at me. I’d had a chilling sense of déjà vu at first glance but hadn’t wanted to alarm April when I wouldn’t have been able to explain the feeling anyway. I wanted another look.
In the photo, the three women stood together, arms draped around each other’s waists. April’s mother was a younger version of the dark-haired older woman who April had called “Grandma Meryl.” She’d only identified the third woman as her grandmother’s friend Adele, who looked to be about the age April was now. The longer I stared at the face of that woman, the more agitated I became. I knew her, but I wasn’t ready to confront the implications of what her presence in that photo meant. I just wished I understood what the connection was and hoped like hell that it didn’t have anything to do with why Chaos was after April’s family. Vesh had said that April’s dad stole from the casino, but Chaos wasn’t exactly that precious about his money. He only went after someone if he stood to gain some power advantage over Fate by doing so.
Resolving to talk to the guys about it when they came, I set the photo back down and headed outside. It was raining again, but I trudged through the wetness, skirting my way around the house and murmuring draconic wards as I went. Each syllable left my mouth on a wisp of dragon smoke, the wetness in the air aiding in the magic’s dissipation around the house.
The Bane Brothers could teleport, but not through the walls of a warded building. If they came for us, they’d have to meet us outside.
When I reached the rear of the house, I spotted a barn a few hundred feet away. I’d have to ward that, too, when I was finished with the house. I didn’t want to leave any potential hiding spots nearby if I could help it.
The sky had darkened, and the water pelted down in fat drops on my head by the time I completed my circuit. I faced the house and stretched out my arms, palms facing out, pressing them gently against the circle of magic I’d traced around the house. Then with another long breath of fire, the membrane snapped into place, glowing in a huge dome shape that encompassed the entire building. It glowed with pale silver light, the raindrops shimmering like diamonds when they passed through. The barrier would only be visible to other dragons though.
Satisfied with the protection here, I headed toward the barn, following the wide gravel path that led from the back of the house down a slight slope. The barn door was nothing more than a huge sheet of corrugated aluminum hanging on a roller. I pushed it aside and stopped short, blinking into the shadows. I’d expected to find horse stalls and the detritus of farm animals, but other than a nest of birds in the rafter, the place was decidedly not meant to house animals.
The ground was a solid concrete slab covering the entire interior from wall to wall. Along one wall were several furnaces, and along another were annealers. A third wall was floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over bluffs beyond which was the fog-covered Sound. In the center of the room were several sturdy benches and marver tables. It was state-of-the-art, and the fine layer of dust suggested it had never been used.
I stepped inside to explore, and found even more equipment for working with a variety of different materials—wood and steel included. One corner had been built out and housed a small combination lamp-work and jewelry-making shop, and beyond that was a large room filled to capacity with all the tools and materials to create any number of pieces. Another door led out to a covered breezeway behind the barn that protected a large gas-fired kiln for making pottery, and at the end of that was the pottery studio, set apart from the main structure in a cozier space with skylights.
The rain beat down on the roof over my head, but it failed to drown out the thoughts churning through my mind. The place was filled with the energy of someone with strong dragon magic. I’d recognized it inside the house too, clinging to all April’s childhood creations and lingering in the air. I’d sensed ursa magic inside, but not out here. Whoever April’s mother had been, whatever had caused her to run, it hadn’t been out of lack of love for her daughter. I had no doubt that this entire building had been left as a gift in the hope that April would return and see how much her mother loved her.
I went about the business of warding it like I had the house, eager to finish up and return to her to tell her. She needed good news for a change, and hopefully, this would re-ignite her inspiration to finish the piece for her show. At least if her current issue didn’t get in the way.
Halfway back to the house, the sky darkened, and my neck prickled with awareness. Sweet Mother, I hope they hadn’t found us already. But the absence of rain on my head confused me, and when I glanced up to see a shimmering mirage hovering in the sky above my head, my heart nearly burst from my chest.
Enormous silver wings slowly beat the air, flinging streams of water out in symmetrical arcs as the dragon descended. The crease of a battle scar across its sternum gave away his identity. Murdoc must have left Los Angeles the very moment he heard my message.
His claws dug deep into the wet ground when he landed, kicking up the pungent smell of fertile earth and reminding me of April’s scent when we were in the throes of lovemaking mere hours ago. When he shifted, naked except for the strap of his travel pack, he immediately strode toward me, his expression fierce and searching and ready to dive into a fight any second if necessary.
“You came.”
“Of course, I came! I will always come if any of you call. And if I’m honest, I was happy for the excuse.” He grabbed my shoulder and hauled me into a tight hug against his wet, naked body. I hugged him back, more comforted by his presence than I expected to be, but still unsure exactly how to explain the situation.
I forced myself to release him, grinning when I took in his ruffled blond hair, dark with the rain, and his piercing blue eyes. “Sweet Mother, are you a sight for sore eyes. Come inside and dry off.”
“You warded the place,” he said, falling into step beside me, his eyes flickering to white as he stared up at the house. “Is it the Bane Brothers who Chaos sent?”
“Just Vesh, but I don’t think he expected to find me there. And while he said he was after her dad, I have a feeling there’s more to their hunt than coming after some lucky card counter who bilked the casino out of some cash.”
“Was that the story?”
“That’s what April said, anyway. Her dad’s on the run from Pandemonium’s thugs.”
“April?” He glanced at me with more interest, a hopeful glimmer in his eyes. I opened the back door to let him inside, heart pounding. This would be the test. When he saw her, would he see the amazing creature I’d stumbled across in the gallery yesterday? Would April be as drawn to him as she was to me?
I opened my mouth to begin my explanation when an agonized moan carried down from the floor above. Murdoc’s gaze shot to the ceiling, then to me. “Don’t tell me you’ve kidnapped her or something.”
“Nothing like that, brother, but I’ll have to explain things later. She needs me now.” With that, I turned and ran up the stairs.
14
April
I clenched my eyes shut through the unbearable ache that settled between my thighs. This estrous or whatever I was going through felt like menstrual cramps on crack. Except that in between each wave of spasms, my body was on fire with need.
I’d been woken up by a violent spasm and reached for him, only to find an enormous pillow that vaguely resembled a man where he’d been. I shoved it away in frustration. It didn’t even have a dick, so it
was zero use to me. I sat up, swinging my legs over the side of the bed with the intention of heading to the bathroom when another attack hit, causing me to double over and cry out again.
“Gray! Where the fuck are you?” I yelled at the top of my lungs.
Footsteps pounded up the stairs and down the hall. The door flew open, and he was there, tearing off wet clothes, kicking off muddy boots. He was soaked to the bone, but I didn’t have the presence of mind to ask what the hell he’d been doing out in the rain instead of in bed with me where I fucking needed him.
“I’m here.” Naked, he jumped onto the bed, slipping up behind me and draping his legs on either side of my hips. He wrapped cold, damp arms around me, the chill of his skin easing the throbbing heat in my limbs. He exhaled a cloud of white smoke. “Breathe in. It’ll ease some of the discomfort.”
I did as he asked, inhaling like I was pulling on a bong. The smoke flowed into me as if it had a mind of its own, and I relaxed, easing back against his chilly body. The ache gripping my core didn’t exactly go away, but I didn’t care quite so much about it.
His mouth brushed the edge of my ear, murmuring comforting endearments, and I sighed as his hands came up to cup my breasts, teasing my nipples until they hardened. The arousing contact made my core heat even more, but the throbbing sensation changed, some of the power seeping out of me and easing the pressure just a little.
“Where did you go?” I asked when I could finally catch my breath.
“Just making sure we’re protected here. I’m not leaving you again, I promise.”
His teasing strokes at my breasts slowed, and he drifted one hand down my belly. Just as his fingers parted my folds and began to stroke, more footsteps sounded on the stairs. I stiffened, pushing back against him. “Someone’s here!”
