“I could have,” he told me with a grin. “But next time you’ll pay closer attention and that might just save your life. We will need to work on that since you’ll be staying here with us.”
Heaving a sigh I followed him into the bathroom. Damn I’d like to be righteously indignant but the man kept making valid points and I’d lived with Mi long enough to know better than to disagree, especially when it came to matters of personal safety.
The shower was great, all that water and slippery soap led to other things and I realized I had bruised my bottom on the side of the tub that morning. I knew it because Jace pressed me up against the shower wall several times while I was soaping up his chest and it had been just a bit tender. Nothing to prevent us from enjoying each other though and we were both laughing as we stepped from the shower. Jace was pretending to stagger, like he couldn’t walk straight and was making complaining noises that neither of us believed. I backed out of the shower and turned to grab one of the towels he’d set out for us and noticed Gareth sitting on the tub watching the two of us intently.
I froze like a deer in the headlights and nearly dropped my towel. Jace glanced at me strangely and went to the sink so he could fix his hair. Gareth just watched me, his deep blue eyes searching my face. His body looked relaxed sitting there and I wondered what he was thinking.
“That you look beautiful,” he replied as he stood and walked toward me. “And that next time Jace can make the arrangements while we stay in bed.”
He looked so big and ah… yeah I was suddenly playing with my towel, shyly. I’d just had sex in the shower with Jace and one look from Gareth and it seemed I was ready to go again. I had just enough time to wonder if I’d ever get anything done again since these two might just be a full time job, when he reached me and I was in his arms and he was kissing me like we’d been apart for days not hours. My God the man was like starter fluid on charcoal and I was pretty much feeling like the marshmallow on a stick at the moment. When he let me up for air I had to hold on to him so I didn’t collapse in a heap at his feet, because that would have been oh so romantic. I smiled weakly at him and he gave me a look and raised one eyebrow.
I was wondering if I could make it to the bedroom when he turned me around and lifted me off the floor. I squeaked in surprise as he raised me above his head and placed his lips on the exact spot where the tub had bruised me during our session earlier that morning. I sucked in a breath and realized he must have been….umm with us in the shower, and couldn’t help blushing.
He laughed when he placed me back on the floor and I would be lying if I didn’t feel all gooey inside at his manly show of strength.
“Sorry,” he told me, his blue eyes dancing as he glanced at Jace who rolled his eyes at the display.
I leaned into him, wrapped my arms around his back and placing my head on his chest I looked up at him and… batted my eyelashes.
Jace laughed. Gareth narrowed his gaze on me, his smile slipping from his lips and the next thing I knew I was seated on the vanity with Gareth between my thighs, both of us gasping for air with his head resting on my shoulder and my legs wrapped round his waist. Damn I didn’t think that bruise was ever going away!
“Do you know if your father added rabbit to your DNA?” Jace asked breathlessly. I glanced at him and found him leaning heavily on the counter as if his legs truly were having a hard time functioning properly. He looked slightly glazed, not unlike I myself felt.
“I really couldn’t say,” I rasped.
Gareth actually groaned. “Peter Rabbit hasn’t got anything on her! It’s more like Thelxiope!”
“Who?”
Jace glanced at me sharply, his eyes speculating. “She was one of Achelous’ two daughters, a Greek sea goddess and a playmate of Persephone. The sisters lived on the islands of Sirenum Scopuli. You might have heard of them?”
“You don’t… play the lute do you?” Gareth asked jokingly and I had a bad moment while I considered the golden flute my Mother had given me as a child. One of the few things she had brought with her from Faerie.
“Not exactly,” I replied, thinking Sirens don’t exist… do they?
“You’d be surprised what exists,” Gareth mumbled into my shoulder. He sighed and lifted his head so he could give me a kiss before leaning back and looking at me.
“Or maybe he mixed in some demon and you’ve got some succubus in you,” Jace offered. “Although shouldn’t she look more… energized, since she’s sucking the life out of us?”
I reached up and pushed my matted hair back from my face and gave them both a lopsided grin. “Or maybe it’s just that you don’t want to say no?” I suggested. “Are you telling me that this,” and I waved my hand to indicate the three of us, “is unusual for you?”
Hmmm, the look they exchanged said it was very unusual with a capital U. I couldn’t help tensing slightly wondering if I was doing something wrong. I’d only been a novice for a few hours, was I already involved in weird sex? Too much sex? Would that make one an expert quicker? Had I gone from virgin to sex maniac at lightening speed? Did I care? Did it matter? I hated doubting myself and this whole soul searching worry over my morality, or lack thereof, seemed pointless given my nature. Besides, I was just discovering the benefits of sex; no way was I going back to virgin or near virgin status. So if that made me amoral so be it. As they say, the genie was…out of the bottle.
“Not unlike Pandora I imagine,” Gareth replied, grasping a handful of my hair and letting the wet red-gold strands slide through his fingers. “If you’ll be patient with us, we poor immortals will attempt to keep up.”
“See that you do,” I informed them in high pitched imperious voice, then added. “In the meantime if you could assist me in standing? I think I could use another shower.”
Apparently so did Gareth, or maybe he just liked being in me because he dropped his pants at the counter, pulled off his shirt and carried me into the stall. I can honestly say the only thing my feet touched during our time in there, was the backs of his thighs and the opposite side of the shower wall.
Chapter 10
“Do you happen to know where my clothes went?” I asked Gareth, looking around Jace’s bathroom and not seeing them. Jace had apparently fled and he must have taken them with him. Looking around I noticed that the room was spotless, the towels clean and neatly folded and I briefly wondered how that could be. Come to think of it, I walked to the bedroom and looked out at the bed and room. The entire place was neat and tidy as it had been earlier when Jace and I came through the door, though I’d been distracted over my exhibitionism at the time and hadn’t really been paying attention. All trace of Vampire dust and disheveled bed covers gone. Interesting.
I turned back to find Gareth watching me. He had pulled his black slacks back on, but his burgundy colored dress shirt was lying on the counter. I took a moment to admire his muscular chest and the way the individual drops of water clung to his fine springy blond hair, the drops showing like tiny rainbows in the light. His torso was an upside down pyramid, all sculpted and yummy looking. He made a sort of strangled sound and I glanced up to see him looking back at me in wide-eyed disbelief.
“I refuse to apologize for admiring your body.”
“I’m glad you find it… worthy,” Gareth replied and chuckled, though his voice sounded rather shaky.
I wandered back to him and gave him my best non-threatening smile. His arm snaked around my waist and he pulled me in against him. My fingers itched to touch him so I walked them up his chest, pursed my lips and asked, “Can I not admire you without it turning to sex?”
He flashed me a smile and I could feel his erection pressing against my stomach through his pants. “It’s very hard,” he replied with a straight face.
I laughed and gave him a kiss, then helped him into his shirt. We made certain that each button was in its proper hole before I stood back and looked at him again.
“About my clothes?” I asked as I ran Jace’s comb thro
ugh my hair, roughly working out the snarls. Obviously I was going to need to replace his brush. Gareth took pity on my scalp, and after removing the comb from my fingers, seated me on the edge of the tub so he could finish the job.
“I’m sure we can find something for you to wear.”
“Seriously?” I asked, wondering what these two men could have that would fit a size six.
“Seriously,” he replied, finishing up my hair and taking the comb back to the vanity. He offered me a toothbrush, which I used while he waited. I took a moment to check my appearance in the mirror. It was odd seeing me looking back. I took a second to fluff my bangs off my forehead and felt pleased that the only non-red gold hair on me, my eyelashes, were long and darkest brown and slightly curled. I’d always thought they were one of my best features, the way they ringed my large golden eyes. Of course I didn’t get to see them much, given that I’d spent the majority of my adulthood as Plain Jane.
“Personally, I like your hair. And your nose is very pert,” Gareth informed me, then leaned in and placed his face next to mine so we were both framed in the mirror. The differences were marked, but we made a striking pair. He was just so big next to me that I actually looked dainty. A word I wouldn’t have used to describe myself, but then I was used to my Mother and her somewhat ethereal beauty.
He took my hand and we wandered back to the bedroom and there laid out on the bed was a beautiful fitted sundress the exact shade of Gareth’s shirt, with little gold seed pearls sprinkled all over the bodice and neckline areas. On the floor was a pair of matching high-heeled sandals with gold straps.
Gareth hesitated briefly then turned to me, and I couldn’t tell if he was more surprised or just plain shocked. “Quick,” he whispered urgently. “Repeat after me.”
I looked at him strangely but motioned for him to say whatever it was he was going to say.
“Peace be I summon thee, through water, sky, and fire, but mostly earth. Abide and bear no ill. My thanks be thrice fold given and no harm shall come to thee through me. You are safe here, for I am Dragon and therefore your protector.”
I didn’t dare ask, he just looked too serious, so I just repeated the phrases. When we finished he urged me to bow, low, and when we came up there was a little… person standing before me, not more than two feet tall and painfully beautiful. I sucked in a startled breath and stared into a tiny face dominated by huge black eyes, a small nose, high cheekbones and rosy red lips, all surrounded by the blackest hair. It was wearing a dark one piece that covered it from shoulder to ankle and its feet were bare. I wasn’t sure if it was a male or female until she tipped her head and her long hair spilled to her knees, then she spoke in a high piping voice.
“Greetings, Goldilocks. We are most honored to be in your presence.” And so saying she curtsied in a low sweeping gesture that took her nearly to the floor before bobbing back up again. Within me Goldy stirred, opened her eyes and blinked slowly. “I am Areth,” she continued, then held out a most delicate hand to me and asked. “May I?” Enchanted, I reached for her fingers and felt her fall into me at the touch.
One second she was there on the floor and the next she was standing in my cave, hands behind her back, as she gazed into Goldy’s eyes. They seemed to recognize each other, though how that could be I had no idea. Goldy gently stretched her neck toward Areth, who unclasped her hands, took another deep curtsy, then rushed forward and wrapped her arms as far around Goldy’s muzzle as she could reach, all the while sobbing great heart wrenching sobs.
Of course I froze, unsure what to do with myself as it wasn’t every day I picked up a beautiful miniature hitchhiker. At my side I vaguely felt Gareth reach for my hand and gently squeeze it. I say that because all of my attention was focused on the scene within me. Areth sobbed for several seconds, then lifted her head and gazed deeply into Goldy’s eyes. They must have spoken, though you would think that I’d have been able to hear the conversation since, after all, she was me. Goldy, meanwhile, stood and dipped her neck so Areth could climb aboard. I had an inkling as to what was coming when Goldy let out a bugle, stretched out her wings and leapt from her cave straight at me.
The change was instantaneous, I had two legs, and then I had four, crouched on my hinds next to the bed with Gareth still holding my now front claw. On my neck sat Areth, holding tightly to one of my neck ridges. I carefully turned my head so as not to impale her on my second set of horns, those that sat at the top of my head. My horns were not unlike a goat’s, except I had two sets, one shorter set directly over my eye ridges, for all the obvious reasons. And the second set which swept off the very top of my head, about three feet long, very straight, and razor sharp.
Areth’s sweet piping laughter filled the room and she gave my neck a squeeze before indicating she would like to be put down. I complied by dipping my head and neck to the floor so she could dismount. When she was safely on the floor I flicked my tail and shifted back.
“My thanks,” she exclaimed breathlessly. And curtsying again she told me in a very serious voice, “I am honored to serve you My Lady.” And with that she disappeared in a blink of an eye.
I don’t think my chin hit the floor, but it was a near thing. Serve me? What exactly does that mean? “Ah Gareth,” I asked, my voice sounding strained even to me. “What just happened?”
“Hmmm,” Gareth muttered. “I’m not quite certain, I’ve never…” He took a deep breath and picked up the dress off the bed, beneath it laid out neatly was a very brief pair of gold and burgundy panties and matching lacy bra. I raised an eyebrow put my hands on my hips and just stood there looking at Gareth. “Have you every heard the story of Beauty and the Beast?” he asked quietly, as he plucked the panties off the bed with one finger and held them up for inspection.
“Sure, its non-human required reading in elementary school. Bad human refuses gift from disguised enchantress who turns his shallow self into a beast as an object lesson until he learns to appreciate more than what’s just skin deep. I always thought it was unfair that they stressed the ‘can’t impose will on humans part’ especially since it ends…and they lived happily ever after. Sure … like love conquers all! What’s that got to do with anything?”
“You don’t believe love can conquer all?” he asked quietly.
“How am I supposed to know?” I asked, reaching out to pluck the panties off his finger and stepping into them. I grabbed the bra next and nearly blushed as he watched me pull it on, which didn’t seem to make any sense to me since I’d been wandering around stark naked since I met him. He was practically humming by the time I adjusted myself into my cups and reached for the dress. Lucky for him I was more in the mood for an explanation or he’d have been flat on his back in the middle of the bed. But right that second I was nearly freaked out about what had just happened and in desperate need of an explanation.
He sighed and helped slip the dress over my head, then turned me so he could close the tiny row of golden buttons that ran up the back. The dress fit perfectly, as if it had been made special just for me and I took a second to admire the feel of the fabric against my skin. Gareth led me to the bed and seated me on it while he knelt at my feet and slipped my sandals on. His warm hand on my ankle nearly distracted me but I gritted my teeth and held firm.
“Do you remember how Beauty had a magical maid that dressed her?”
Did I? Wasn’t it something about a bureau that came to life? “Okay sure.”
“In the real story it was an Elemental.”
“An Elemental, huh? And what exactly is an elemental?”
“Areth,” he replied with a shrug, as he stood back and admired me. “She is an Earth Elemental, a Pygmy, or if you prefer, a Gnome. I’ve actually never seen her before. Jace did the original conjuring when we moved in. I only know that she has never before revealed herself willingly and I’m as much at a loss about what just happened as you are.”
Deep inside me Goldy thumped her tail for attention, when I looked at her she responde
d, Friend. Okay so she had Goldy’s seal of approval. That could only mean one thing; we’d be seeing her again. “Soooo,” I asked, looking down at myself. “The dress?”
“The first of many I’m sure. In fact you’ll find all sorts of helpful items pop up whenever you need them. She also keeps the place neat and tidy, which is why the room was clean when you noticed it earlier.”
“So she’s been with you all this time and you’ve never seen her and she cleans and takes care of you in return for what?”
“Some days,” he told me with a lopsided smile, “it’s just good to be a Dragon.”
“That’s hardly an answer,” I told his back as he headed out the door. I had a few seconds of uneasiness over the dirt floor in my new heels but managed to get across the room without breaking my neck. It wasn’t that the floor was difficult to walk on; it was more that I had only ever owned a single pair of high heels and it was going to take me a while to find my balance. Let’s just hope I wouldn’t need to run or fight in the very near future.
Gareth was in the hall standing in front of what looked like a new picture on the wall. It was massive, nearly as tall as me in an intricately carved wooden frame painted a dull gold, complete with its own softly lit lighting fixture. That hadn’t been there last night, or this morning when we’d come back to bed. I wobbled my way to Gareth and couldn’t help the soft exclamation of surprise. The picture was….incredible….and of us. Gareth reached for my hand and we stood there in silent admiration.
A hazy sun filtered the light across a stretch of brilliant blue ocean bordered by a steep rocky beach and surrounded by lush forest. In the sky over the ocean our Dragons flew in an inverted V formation so that Jace and Gareth flew slightly ahead and above Goldy. It wasn’t so much the subject matter that was startling, as it was the vividness of the colors and how realistic they appeared. I leaned forward and touched the painting, oils I thought, but when I looked closer I could see that our eyes were actually cut gems.
Dragon Lust Page 10
