by Imogen Sera
He was frozen, and Ingrid was feeling particularly bold, so she paused her work to place his free hand on her waist, before returning her attention to his wrist. He gripped her immediately and tightly, almost painfully, before loosening his hold. She didn’t mind; she was happy for any signs that he wanted her as much as she wanted him right now. After another silent, slow, heated moment of kissing slowly up his arm she gasped as he scooped her up and pulled her on top of him. She laughed at the sudden movement, and he flashed her a small smile. Ingrid put her hands on the back of his head and pulled him so close that their noses were touching.
“Helias,” she whispered. “I want you.”
That was all it took. He groaned again and flipped her onto her back before attacking her mouth. He was everywhere; his lips on her cheek, his hot breath on her neck, his teeth nibbling on her lips, his tongue carefully flicking across her earlobe. His entire body was pressed against her now, and she savored the delicious weight and feel of him. He was hard between her legs, and she exhaled as he jerked his hips once.
Soon he was removing her shirt, and she was helping him; then she was removing his shirt, and he was helping her. His eyes roved over her in a way that should have made her feel self conscious, but instead only made her feel more awake. And then he was there, insistent again with his mouth. His lips on the valley between her breasts, his teeth gently on the soft underside of them; his breath first, and then his tongue teasing her nipples, before taking one and then the other into his mouth and sucking and biting and swirling with his tongue.
She thought she would come undone.
She reached down between his legs, and touched tentatively there on his pants. He was hard, so hard. She wiggled out from under him, and when he looked at her with worry in his eyes she grinned back impishly. “Roll over,” she ordered, and he obliged.
She unlaced his pants and pulled them off, as his cock sprang free. She looked over him, fully naked before her, and smiled. He was gorgeous: handsome, massive, and muscular. The huge cock didn’t hurt much either, she thought to herself. She took him in hand and enjoyed the feeling, like steel wrapped in silk. He watched her silently as she lowered her head and wrapped her lips around him. She swirled her tongue around his length and she sucked up and down, and before long he pulled her hair gently to get her attention. She looked up at him, mouth still full of his cock, and his hips jerked. He gently removed himself from her mouth.
“Please, love, I really want to fuck you and I can’t if…” he trailed off.
He lifted her again to settle on his lap, this time with only her pants between his wet cock and her throbbing pussy. He kissed her hard while they worked together to get her pants off, and suddenly they were both bared before each other, her nestled in his lap. Ingrid was utterly desperate for him, and was almost disappointed when he pushed her back on the bed. The disappointment faded quickly, though, as he lowered his head between her legs and put his mouth to work there. She was so ready after a moment that one long, luscious lick up to her clit made her unravel. She was shuddering, her back arching, her lips moaning his name. He held her hips as she came down, then pressed a gentle kiss to her mound.
“I want to stay here forever,” he started, “but I need you.”
She nodded eagerly, and was quivering with anticipation as he settled on top of her, his thick cock pressed against her clit. She was already mad with need again, and she could see from the tense set of his jaw and veins throbbing in his neck how much he was trying to hold back. “Please,” she whispered, “please fuck me.”
He kissed her hard and a moment later he was inside her. He was perfect, filling her up in the most delicious ways, stretching her exactly where she craved him.
He moved in and out, slowly, tentatively at first; then with more speed and confidence. She came quickly, her pussy quivering and throbbing with him still inside her. He came soon after her, kissing her, calling her name as he pumped into her and spilled his seed there.
Breathlessly, wordlessly they came apart, but remained just as close. Helias kissed her forehead gently and she rested her head against his still trembling chest. He stroked her hair, and a moment later she was asleep.
She dreamed of great, gleaming wings and of freedom.
CHAPTER TEN
Ingrid awoke to golden sunlight streaming through her windows. She pressed back against the big warm body behind her, and in response the arm around her pulled her more tightly and the stubbly cheek resting on the side of her neck rubbed against her tenderly. Her chest squeezed pleasantly, and she closed her eyes with contentment. She’d woken several times during the night and reached for Helias, and he had been there, hot and hard and ready for her. The last time had been as the sun was rising, and exhaustion had won over need as they both fell asleep before finishing, locked together and limbs tangled. She stretched slowly. She was sore all over, but in an exquisite way that reminded her of exactly what had made her sore.
She turned in his arms to face him, delighting in the feeling of his strong arms around her. He was smiling softly at her, eyes bright and face perfectly relaxed. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
“Good morning,” she breathed, pulling his face to hers and kissing him softly, slowly.
“It’s a very good morning,” he murmured after she pulled away. “The best morning.”
Ingrid grinned and rolled her eyes affectionately. “You’re finally free today,” she reminded him. “What are you going to do?”
He paused. “I think I’ll write to my brothers. I don’t know what to do about this shrine,” he admitted.
Ingrid nodded, biting her lip thoughtfully. “Will you stay here?” she asked hesitantly, looking up at him. “We have so many rooms, and you’re welcome of course.”
He grinned, and the tension that she hadn’t known she was holding turned into relief. “I’d love to.” He kissed her forehead quickly.
Ingrid grinned back.
They stayed like that for a long time, kissing, touching, talking about the day ahead until they couldn’t postpone starting their day any longer. Helias rose first to dress, while Ingrid’s thoughts were elsewhere.
“Do you know how the shrine works?” Ingrid asked, as he pulled his shirt over his head.
“I have an idea, but I’m not sure of anything.” He glanced at Ingrid and saw her questioning look. “I think it’s corrupting the area, and the corruption is what’s causing the illness. The earth itself is corrupted, that’s why nothing will grow.”
“I thought I was just a bad gardener,” Ingrid said thoughtfully, sitting up. “But are you sure it’s not just a coincidence that it’s down there?”
“Oh Ingrid,” he sighed. “I’m sure. It’s not a normal illness.”
“How do you know?” she insisted.
He paused. “The woman- the sick one that ran- I tried to heal her. If it was any mortal illness she would be completely recovered. And the herbs, I grew them myself. They should be halfway up your house by now, but they’re barely surviving with daily encouragement.”
Ingrid looked at him, intrigued. “You can do that?”
He nodded. “My brothers and I all have different… talents.”
She rose, still nude, and crossed the room to her closet. “Will your brothers come here also?”
He watched her intently, eyes blazing, not acknowledging the question. “You’re very distracting.”
She laughed, her cheeks coloring. “I’m distracting? I haven’t been able to get anything done for a month because of you.” A look of pride crossed his face, and she grinned to herself as she selected clothing. “Your brothers? Here?” she reminded him.
He grinned at her. “I’ll request that they come to see it themselves, if that’s alright with you.”
Ingrid shrugged, pulling a gown over her head. “Of course. As long as they promise not to burn down the house.”
He stood in front of her and pulled her to him, kissing her harder than she’d a
nticipated. He pulled away after a minute and she was breathless. He stroked her cheek gently with his thumb. “We’ll fix this, Ingrid, I promise. With their help it will be put right in no time.”
She nodded, warmed from his touch but chilled from his words. As she looked up in his eyes the familiar dread washed over her, quickly and heavily. She excused herself promptly, making an excuse about forgetting about some duty. She strode along the hallway, breathing heavily. As she reached the infirmary she sank into her chair, hugged her arms around herself and couldn’t stop shivering for a long time.
. . . . .
Ingrid sat at her desk, reading over the note she’d penned for the fifth time. She nodded to herself, resolved. She rose to find Lily.
. . . . .
The sky was streaked with pink and gold through the arched library windows, and Helias watched it with disgust. The sunrise today had been one of the best times of his life, and the sunset filled him with dread.
Ingrid had disappeared all day until dinner, when she had slipped into a seat between Lily and Ian and carefully avoided his gaze. His anger had taken him by surprise, and he’d had to leave the room before he turned the dining hall into ash. She was his.
He turned back to his letters. He’d written three of the five, each was longer than the last. He hadn’t had any communication with his brothers since they’d been banished, but he was fairly sure the letters could reach them easily. He struggled, as he always did, with knowing whether to kindly request their presence or to demand it. He knew which method his father would wish him to follow.
He scarcely dared to even think of this being successfully resolved, and to be able to return home. It had been his driving force for nearly a decade, and he wondered frequently what Arnes was like now that there had been time to adjust to the great loss of life. He didn’t know what he’d be returning to, but he yearned for it regardless. He was starting his letter to Caelian, his second youngest brother, when he heard a nervous cough behind him. He turned to see the tall blond woman standing awkwardly.
She smiled at him anxiously. He rose from his seat, and she took a step back. “Hi Helias, I’m Lily.”
He nodded. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Likewise,” she sighed and rolled her eyes. “Listen, Ingrid’s my best friend, so I feel obligated to give you this because she asked.” She handed him a piece of paper folded into a small square. “But as her best friend, I feel like I should warn you that she can be a real moron sometimes.”
He set the paper on his desk, not wanting to touch it for longer than necessary. He felt like all of the air had been sucked out of the room. He managed to nod at Lily, thanking her.
She smiled sympathetically at him. “Please let me know if you need anything,” she said gently before she left the room.
After she closed the door Helias set the unread note on his desk, pointedly ignoring it, and turned back to writing his letter. He wrote two words before unfolding the note, breathing heavily. It was short and polite, apologizing for her behavior the night before and assuring him that he was still welcome at the manor. His chest ached. He dropped it where he stood, storming out of the room and then the house.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Ingrid was exhausted. It had been a week since she’d written the note, and she had thrown herself wholeheartedly into her work to avoid thinking about more unpleasant things. Two new patients had arrived in that time, and Ingrid spent nearly all of her time grinding herbs and tending to patient hygiene and making notes and hiding from herself. If attentiveness and care could cure this illness then not one of the current patients would pass away.
She hadn’t seen Helias in five days. Five days and eight hours, really, but she wasn’t counting. She had woken in the middle of the night to someone knocking on her bedroom door, and when she opened it she had completely frozen. He was in his pajamas, shirtless and imposing, towering and achingly beautiful. She’d expected him to kiss her or to rage at her, but instead he had spoken quickly and softly.
“I’m yours. You’re mine. You know that.”
And then he had retreated down the hallway, and her heart was pounding and her response died on her lips.
It was better this way, she had to remind herself continually. He would be leaving, once things were sorted out, and she couldn’t bear to be left alone in this house again. She had found herself particularly alone lately; she was avoiding Lily as much as possible. Lily seemed to think that Ingrid was being stupid, and Ingrid didn’t need that thrown in her face every time she saw her when what she wanted was support. It was easier to do this now, she reassured herself again.
She sighed to herself. She was horny, too, which didn’t help matters. She mentally ran down her list of previous partners, but the thought turned her stomach. She didn’t want sex, she wanted Helias.
She turned back to the patient notebook.
. . . . .
Lily and John sat together on the couch in the library, chatting and laughing, while Helias was poring over his notes. He appreciated the company, it was an excellent distraction. Lily had returned shortly after she delivered the note, with questions about him and what he was. He had been honest, and he was surprised to learn that she hadn’t gotten her information from Ingrid, but had guessed from her own research. She returned often and frequently brought John along, and he was happy to indulge her with stories and knowledge. As he got to know Lily he felt he understood Ingrid better; he hadn’t really known a human woman before Ingrid, and as he learned how carefree and open Lily was he knew that Ingrid’s guardedness and skepticism ran deep. He had spent the first two days after she sent the note angry and helpless, but now he had resigned himself to waiting for her. He was hers and she was his. He would wait as long as necessary.
He was considering writing a second set of letters to his brothers. He hadn’t heard back from any of them yet, and all he could do was hope that the letters had found their recipients.
“How’s it going?” Lily called across the room, and Helias turned to face the couple.
“I’ll be fine, how’s Ingrid?”
“Avoiding me,” Lily responded. “She’s afraid I’ll make her see sense. She’s miserable though, I can tell. But I meant your research. How’s that going?”
He rose and stretched. “It’s not. I’m completely stuck.”
“Your brothers will be able to help?”
“If I ever hear back from any of them, then I think that they will, yes.” He sighed. “I need to get out of this room.”
John glanced at the clock. “Dinner,” he murmured, and Lily shot an affectionate look at him. He was a man of few words, Helias mused, and it made him an excellent match for the chatty Lily.
They proceeded to the dining hall together. Helias had a deep ache in his chest that only one person could heal, but as he looked at the couple in front of him walk hand in hand, he mused that for the first time in a long time he wasn’t lonely.
. . . . .
“Lily,” Ingrid groaned, sprawled across her friend’s bed with her arm thrown dramatically over her eyes. “Why did I fuck him? I ruined everything.”
Lily had forced Ingrid into her room, and Ingrid had been too tired to argue properly.
“Because he’s super hot and crazy about you,” Lily said matter of factly, pinning her hair back and looking in her mirror.
Ingrid moaned sadly at the ceiling.
“I don’t understand though, Ing, you were so into him and now that you had amazing sex with him you aren’t?”
“I am into him, that’s the problem,” Ingrid said, rolling on her front before pushing her face into the pillow in front of her.
“Ohhh,” Lily said knowingly. “I know what this is. Miss casual sex, no strings attached, I-have-no-feelings Ingrid is having feelings.”
“Lily,” she sighed, “I don’t want to be.”
“Why is it such a bad thing?” Lily asked.
“It’s complicated,” Ingrid murmured.
“I don’t want to feel anything about him because he’ll be done here soon and I’ll be alone again.”
Lily turned to face her. “Ingrid,” she began gently, “you’ll never be alone like that again. None of us will.”
“I know, I just- he can leave here and go home. You and John can leave here and get married and have a life. I can’t. I’m stuck here and everyone inevitably leaves me.”
“Ing, we’ve talked about this, you can shut everything down whenever you want to.”
Ingrid paused. “You know that I can’t.”
Lily turned to look at her. “Plus,” she said slyly, raising her eyebrows, “I have a feeling that his being a dragon probably complicates things.”
