Dragon Lust

by Kelly Armenta

  I pushed into a sitting position and straightened the shirt I was wearing so it was no longer bunched under my arms and twisted about my waist. When I was done I folded my legs to the side of me, giving myself time to decide how much to tell them. Mi had given them the overview, but there were still things they didn’t know, things we’d never told anyone, and that could get us all killed.

  Gareth reached forward and brushed my cheek with the tip of his finger, gently. “The more we know,” he spoke softly, “the better we can protect you.”

  Beside me, Jace reached for my hand, entwining his fingers through mine. “Trust us,” he urged.

  Taking a deep breath I glanced between the two and slowly nodded. Mi had trusted them, and I trusted Mi. “You might have noticed my ears?” I asked calmly. “They are pointy because my Mother is an Elf,” I began, a smile lifting the corners of my lips as I noted the blank expressions on both Jace and Gareth’s face.

  “How is that possible?” Demanded Jace.

  Gareth nodded suddenly. “Your glass beaker comment earlier.”

  I winced… then sighed. This was going to take some time and I realized I was already weary. Giving myself a mental shake I continued. “Fifty years ago when humanity nearly wiped itself off the face of our continent or at least here in America, my Mother was one of the first to come forward to help. She is a healer and felt her skill was needed. Consequently she was banned from her home.” I was a little bitter about that, since by virtue of her expulsion I had never seen the wonders of Faerie. The closest I’d ever come was stories; and once we’d driven past a set of mounds deep in the Mount Spokane Park on the outskirts of the Selkirk Mountains of Washington. But I digress. “I assume you were here at the time and know what it was like. I only have the stories to go by. Suffice it to say that she spent her time like so many others, working in government and private labs all over, to create a vaccine to stop the spread. She met my father in one of the non-government labs and apparently they fell in love, or lust, or maybe it was just two brilliant minds with a deep appreciation for each other. I really couldn’t say since neither Mi nor my Mother ever talked about him, or mentioned him by name.”

  “Who is your father?” Gareth asked.

  “I have no idea,” I told him honestly. “All I know is that he was a Dragon and a scientist and that he had been working on mapping DNA when he met my Mother.”

  “The first steps to gene-splicing,” Jace responded in an awed voice. “The human’s non-human holy grail.”

  “Hmmm,” I responded, biting my lower lip and glancing at him with a meaningful look. “Apparently he succeeded. And I wasn’t the first.”

  “So the colors Mi referred to?” Gareth continued, picking up the thread. “Were they created before or after you?”

  I sighed. “Understand that living with my Mother growing up was like…having infrequent visits from the Queen. She was extremely protective of me, but her work took us all over and we… didn’t spend a lot of girl time together. Long chats were not her thing. And Mi …,” I continued waving my hand in a helpless gesture. “Well you can guess what that was like. I mean, I’m twenty five years old and I didn’t even know about what the Everlasting did to Dragons until today. Most of what I know I overheard or guessed at.”

  Jace played with my fingers, gently plucking at them. It was like he was trying to comfort me while worrying at some problem, so that half of his attention was elsewhere. “Could you describe him?”

  I thought about it for a moment and gave a shrug. “I think he’s silver,” I replied, thinking of my re-occurring dream and wondering. “I’m not certain, it’s just a sense I have.”

  “Is he alive?” Gareth asked, having picked up on my use of the present term.

  “As far as I know he is,” I replied, again taking a moment to think about it. “Though where he is and what he is doing is a mystery to me.”

  Gareth and Jace exchanged glances and I wondered what they were thinking. I was really going to have to work on my skills if I wanted to read them.

  Jace smiled down at me. “Plenty of time for that,” he assured me.

  I sighed again and lay back on the bed. Jace eased down next to me and slipped a shoulder under my neck so that my head was pillowed on his upper chest. I realized I was very tired, all these emotions were exhausting. Or maybe I was suffering caffeine withdrawals. All this talking and no coffee, or sex. Hmmm… made me wonder if I’d licked my addictions? No, that couldn’t be or I wouldn’t be thinking about coffee and well, now that I thought about it, I’d gone more than an hour at least without obsessing over sex. Although Jace did smell good and if I thought about it for a moment, the thought of rolling over and taking advantage held some appeal. I’d have to seriously think about that just as soon as I finished dredging up my history.

  I let my eyelids close as I continued my story. “After the vaccine was developed and the massive quantities distributed, when everything started calming back down, my Mother started working with my Father. My Father had two partners, scientists like himself who were also Dragons, and I believe they all came over from the Everlasting together. Knowing what I know now, I can see how that might create a strong bond. He obviously trusted them. I don’t know exactly how long it took to break the code or when they started experimenting on mixing and matching DNA. But I do know that at least ten of the embryos were successfully implanted in women and that live births resulted. All male, all different colors. All of this was done in secret.”

  “Were they trying for males?” Gareth asked, his voice sounding confused.

  “No, originally all embryos started out female. Something in the process caused them to switch to male no matter what they tried. Until twenty six years ago.”

  “If they discovered the means to create females,” Gareth demanded, “then why aren’t there more of you? Why only one?”

  “Because someone killed my Father’s partners and tried to kill him too. The same someone that wanted the science for himself. Fortunately I had already been implanted in my Mother and she and Mi had gone into seclusion. They didn’t want anyone to know that my Mother was pregnant and they didn’t want to take any chances with a potential miscarriage. Apparently that had been the biggest problem with females … something to do with the Mother rejecting the female infant’s hormones. I know from Mi that my DNA had had to be altered prior to insemination.”

  “Altered how?”

  I turned to look at Jace and smiled gently. “Let’s just say I’m not one hundred percent Dragon, I believe Mi told me once that I was supposed to be the best of the best. I’m not sure what that means except Mi watches me closely just in case I develop new and interesting talents.”

  Chapter 9

  Jace padded back into the room carrying a large mug of coffee for me. He handed it over and crawled up on the bed stretching out across the foot, lying on his stomach with his head on his crossed arms so he could watch me. Gareth was standing beside the bed having just returned from the restroom.

  I smelled my coffee, inhaling deeply. The aroma was heavenly even though it wasn’t French Roast, at least it was nice and light and tasted all syrupy sweet, just the way I liked it. I noticed Jace and Gareth both watching me intently when I opened my eyes and took my first sip.

  “What?” I asked, looking back at them.

  Jace actually raised his face and fanned himself while starting back at me in wide-eyed awe.

  Gareth too looked startled. “Your pleasure is… ah…”

  “Physical,” Jace finished for him. “You are ummm… broadcasting in full sensory.”

  “I can taste the coffee,” Gareth muttered, he made an icky face and said. “A little sweet, but I’m glad you are enjoying it.”

  “Really, really enjoying it!”

  “Yes, thank you,” I told them. “I’ll try to rein in my enthusiasm. What time is it?”

  Gareth shook his head and reached for his watch on the table next to the bed. “A little after nine,�
� he said.

  No wonder I was so tired. We must have only had a few hours of sleep before Mi showed up. I would have flopped back on the bed if I weren’t holding my coffee mug. I really wanted a nap. Of course if I drank all this coffee, I was really going to need something to do since caffeine just had that affect on me. Hmmm… now what could I do in bed with two naked men?

  Jace sat up immediately, reached for my coffee and shoved it into Gareth’s hand. His grin was ferocious as he stalked me across the bed. “I told you last night, if you continued to look at me like that I would take it as an invitation. Consider yourself warned.” This was said as he grabbed the bottom of Gareth’s shirt, pulled it over my head and tossed it onto the floor behind him. His arms went around me and we went down in a tangle of arms and legs and lips. When I came up for air, he was buried deep inside me while I straddled him, riding him hard. My hands were planted on the bed on either side of him, fingers digging into the mattress, my breath coming in ragged gasps as the pressure low and deep inside me built to near explosion.

  Jace grasped my hips and helped direct me. I could hear his breath deepening, coming faster as we moved in time with each other. Our motions quickened and each thrust created slivers of passion deep, exploding outward until my body clenched around Jace and a soft cry escaped me and I was swamped in waves of ecstasy. And Jace was there with me, holding tight to my hips and pressing up and into me as I felt him come deep inside.

  I might have collapsed forward onto his chest except Jace was kindly propping me up with his hands on my forearms. When the tremors died down to a manageable level I cracked open my eyes and noticed he was smiling up at me. A very satisfied smile in fact, possible because I couldn’t quite remember how I’d gotten to this point, it was all rather one large pleasurable blur.

  “Lexi,” he urged softly, “see me.”

  His low voice pulled my gaze to his and I looked into his eyes. My breath caught in my chest as I realized he had dropped his shields and I could see him, truly see him for the first time. My own inner shields wavered then like a breath I let them go and fell into Jace and all that he was. He allowed me to see the pain and heartache, his broken dreams, friendships and his courage as well as the hope that shone in him. And there were a host of memories, of flights at night, whispers in the darkness, struggles and quiet moments. And as they flashed before me I felt a desire, like flames licking around the edges of my awareness, a desire to hold something true and lasting. And in his eyes I tasted his need to share his existence with someone for all time, a worthy mate, and his excitement at the prospect I presented. Even as I understood his primal urge there was a generosity of spirit within him and he let me see that he would share if and when it became necessary, not because he wanted to, but because he understood it was necessary. His fingers squeezed my arms gently and his smile turned a little secretive and I caught a flash of… pride?

  He chuckled. “Think,” he told me softly, “you may live a thousand years, but you will always remember me as your first lover, the first drake to ever touch you intimately. No one can take that away from me. I have never been anyone’s first anything.” And his smile seemed a little sad. “Being the first for the potential savior of our race seems pretty damn special to me.”

  How does one respond to a comment like that, of course he could sense everything I was feeling, and right at that moment I was feeling pretty humble, overwhelmed with perhaps a smidgen of gratitude thrown in. He was so right, I would remember last night forever.

  It occurred to me at that moment that one’s first taste of passion should be momentous and for a second I thought about the fainting lion upstairs and just how badly it could have gone for me. A thousand years with a horrible memory could have had catastrophic results. Not that I’d have allowed myself to be abused or anything, but what if it had been unsatisfying, or worse, boring? Good God! I’d had sex with two total strangers, and I had gone about it like a dehydrated person in the desert, willing to drink anything to satisfy my craving. Not realizing that it could have poisoned me for life. Come to think of it, a smidgen didn’t seem to describe just how grateful I suddenly felt!

  Sometimes working through the consequences to your actions makes you feel amazed to be alive. I was feeling pretty amazed and lucky! Lucky that the sex had been… absolutely freaking fantastic! And I wanted more, which said more about Jace skills than any flowery comment ever could. In fact, it wasn’t quite a compulsion, but I had to wonder if it might become an addiction.

  I cupped Jace’s soft five o’clock shadowed face in my palm, bent down over him and said, “Thank you.” I wasn’t certain what else I could say but I was sure he could feel how important his actions were to me too.

  He chuckled again and reached for me, pulling me in against his chest for a tight hug. “Fortunate indeed,” he whispered against my temple, his lips leaving little kisses across my brow. “And you, my sweet, can consider me your beverage of choice anytime you feel the need.”

  We lay that way for a while, the silence between us peaceful. I dozed, my mind and body sated. I believe I could have stayed that way for another hour or two except Jace apparently had other plans, and he let me know by running his hands over my backside lightly rubbing and kneading.

  “Again?” I asked, in a sleepy voice.

  He just laughed and gave me a playful swat on the bottom. “Mmmm… I am going to like keeping you,” he replied, and I bolted straight upright. “Whoa,” he remarked, grimacing slightly as my abrupt move.

  “Mi abandoned me!” Obviously it hadn’t really sunk in until now.

  “She didn’t abandon you,” he told me calmly. “I’m sure we aren’t free of her. She just withdrew from the field of engagement gracefully.”

  “What?” I couldn’t figure out what he was talking about… withdrew from the field… huh?

  Jace took a moment to disengage me from his lap and sat me on the bed beside him. He took a deep breath and spoke slowly. “Your cat knew you wouldn’t be going home,” he told me calmly. “For a couple of reasons, the least being that you made somewhat of a spectacle of yourself last night, although even that could be explained if necessary. Nick and his men are our main concern and Gareth is busy dealing with that little problem right now.”

  Oh so that was where Gareth was. I leaned forward and glanced around Jace wondering if Gareth had left my coffee. Jace reached for my mug and handed it to me. It was cold but I didn’t care. He shrugged and gave me an expectant look. I sighed and asked the question I knew he was dying for me to ask. “And?”

  “And,” he continued with a pleased look, “she knew we were planning to keep you anyway.”

  “Hey! No keeping or enslaving, that was the deal.”

  “We never actually agreed to that. Besides it’s a moot point now. We all believe this is the safest place for you.”

  “I didn’t agree,” I grumbled as I sipped my room temperature coffee.

  Jace tilted his head to the side and gave me a look. “Lexi, Lexi, you can’t be that naïve.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked with a frown. I hadn’t had enough sleep or coffee to talk in riddles.

  “Sweetheart, you agreed the moment you walked through our doors last night. And might I say I admire the restraint you showed in not muscling Nick out of your way. Although staring down our security took some nerve. We would have kept you then, even before we knew what you are. But if you don’t believe me…ask ah…Goldy was it?” he replied with one eyebrow raised. “I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone that’s named their Dragon.”

  “So that conversation last night, was that some kind of joke?” I asked, not sure I liked that he was so sure of himself.

  He smiled and held up his palms. “Wait,” he requested. “Perhaps you don’t realize just how ah…territorial we Dragons are? To have found one in our territory and a female…”

  “Oh, so it wouldn’t have mattered who I was, only that I am Dragon.”

  “Yes,” he
agreed with a nod, and then frowned. “No wait, it does matter. But please understand when we first felt your power, well, you my dear are quite intoxicating. And Gareth and I, we would have done…just about anything to have you. Fortunately,” he continued with a smile. “All you wanted was sex.”

  I glared at him when he laughed.

  “Don’t be angry,” he coaxed me with a teasing light in his beautiful green eyes.

  It was darn hard to stay angry at him when all he wanted was to pleasure me. Besides it was nice to be wanted by anyone, let alone two incredibly sexy men. Guess this wasn’t such a bad gig and it wasn’t like I had a lot of options. “So,” I said with a nod and a change of subject. “If I’m to stay here, I’m going to need my things. Any chance we can go get them?”

  “How about we shower and eat first? By then Gareth should be back and we can give you the grand tour. We’re also going to need to discuss security and I’ll need to get you fitted with a scanning device so you can access the entrances.”

  “Scanning device? I thought you just used a card key.”

  “That was just for your benefit,” he replied, then held out his forearm and turned it over for me. He picked up my finger and ran it over the skin just above his wrist and I felt a small hard bump. “The guards get card keys with random access codes that change frequently. We use a different method.”

  Implants? “Hey Jace, you aren’t doing anything ah…illegal out of the club are you?”

  “Nooooo,” he replied as he climbed off the bed and headed for the door. I held my now empty coffee mug and climbed down after him and followed him naked out the door and into the hall back to his bedroom. I squeaked in alarm at the large pale haired guard standing out in the hallway. I hadn’t even known he was there and had just given him an eye full. Jace just laughed at me and wandered into the bathroom.

  “You might have told me he was out there,” I demanded.