by T. S. Ryder
"What are you saying?" The headmistress's words were sharp.
Jessica continued to ignore the warning signs. "To be mated to a dragon. It would be so romantic."
Pearl closed her eyes, her hands clenched. "You stupid girl," the headmistress choked from tight lips. "You spend too much time in your romance novels. Dragons rarely take mates. If you did sleep with one, he'd leave you the next day. They don't care about anything except their own pleasure."
"That's not true. You talk like they're monsters, but they're not. Braden is a great guy."
"All he wants is to get in your pants."
"He's never made any sort of advance towards me." Jessica threw the bag of roots down. Why did she have to put up with this again? "And maybe it's me who wants to get into his pants! Not that it's any of your business. This is a university, and it's freaking 2016. You act as if we'll die if we dare to have sex, but guess what? Everybody in this school is having sex and nobody has died yet! You're the headmistress, not our mother, and—"
"And I am the one who is going to decide where your assignment after graduation is." Pearl's expression was cold. "Remember that, Jessica. Your inattention to your studies is already harming your future prospects. Do you want to end up sterilizing sewers for the rest of your life?"
It would almost be worth it to tell Pearl exactly what she thought of her, but Jessica sealed her lips and didn't answer. But as she picked up the roots again and continued spreading them, listening to Pearl build wards to keep out any dragons that might be drawn to the university–supposedly populated by virgins–her mind was elsewhere. Specifically, with Braden.
Stafford was determined that nothing ought to happen between the two of them, but seeking the dragon out that night wouldn't hurt, would it? If dragons were really drawn to virgins on the spring equinox, then she could at least find out whether Braden really thought of her as a little sister–whatever the spring equinox did, he wouldn't make advances towards her if he felt brotherly towards her, would he?
Or would he, and would he regret it in the morning? Jessica's brow furrowed, and as soon as she was done with Pearl's task she raced back to her room, falling twice on the stairs and bruising her knees. It was too late to try to whip up a love potion that would guide her to her true love, but she had a backup plan.
Her magic eight ball was dusty, but Jessica lovingly cleaned it off and shook it, muttering the spell so that it would actually work the way it was supposed to, instead of giving out random answers. Her pulse raced as she closed her eyes.
"Should I find Braden tonight?"
When she flipped over the magic eight ball, she was too afraid to open her eyes. What if it told her no? What if she had done the spell wrong and it gave her the wrong answer? What if Braden really didn't like her that way? What if, what if?
Well, this was ridiculous. Jessica pried her eyes open and looked down at her answer. Her heart began racing. Yes.
***
There was a club in town frequented by dragons. Jessica often heard Stafford and Braden talking about it when she found time to hang out with them. She had never been there herself, but it was easy enough to find. Listening to the beat of music coming out of the building, she wished she had dressed in something sexier. She'd thrown on old jeans and a cardigan, hardly an outfit made for clubbing. Would the bouncer even let her in?
She tugged her loose cardigan tighter around her frame and, as a stiff wind blew her curls into her face, she shivered and hurried towards the club. All day she had been imagining what would happen when she entered the club; Braden would turn to stare at her the moment she came in, and rush to her, sweeping her off to Vegas.
She hadn't expected it, of course, but now even the fantasy seemed naive and immature. If she hadn’t been so cold, she would have turned around and gone right back the way she had come.
The bouncer eyed her when she came to the door. He was a dragon; his sheer size and bulk indicated that. His nostrils flared when Jessica stepped up to the door and he moved into her path, holding up a hand.
"You shouldn't be here tonight."
Jessica's teeth chattered. "I know it's the spring equinox."
"You're a virgin."
"And by the morning I won't be," Jessica snapped, sick and tired of everybody acting like she ought to be glad to be a virgin, ignoring the fact that she had sexual desires of her own. Even if she mostly fantasized about true love and a big white wedding, she never thought that at twenty-two she would never have been kissed, let alone still be a virgin.
She didn't want to be a virgin anymore. And shouldn't that count for something?
"I don't think this is a good idea," the bouncer said, his frown deepening. "You should go back to your home. If you want dragon sex, you ought to do it when it's not the equinox."
Jessica put her hands on her hips and tossed her head, although the action immediately felt foolish, rather than haughty as she had intended. "Let me in. I know what I'm doing."
The bouncer hesitated a moment longer, then shrugged. "Fine, if that's what you want. But if you change your mind, just scream. I'll get you out."
Scream? Why would she need to scream?
A shiver that had nothing to do with the cold ran down Jessica's back, but she ignored it, striding past the bouncer into the club. A breath of warm air wafted over her, letting her relax. Music pulsed through her, heating her blood, and she loosened her hold on her cardigan. Inside, the club was populated solely by young dragon men, ranging from the early to late twenties, maybe with a few thirties.
It wasn't until she was at the bar that Jessica realized every eye was on her. All of the dragons had stiffened and were silent. If she hadn't been looking for Braden in the crowd, she doubted that she would have noticed the stares she was receiving at all. The dragons closest to her, next to the bar, got to their feet and a few took a few steps towards her. Lust burned in their eyes.
Jessica swallowed nervously. She wasn't used to being lusted after. Was this why she was supposed to scream?
A familiar voice rang through the club, thundering over the still-pounding music. "Touch her and die!"
Her heart leaped to her throat as Braden pushed his way through the crowd. His eyes were electric blue as he glared at his fellow dragons. There were a few growls from those in the crowd, but when Braden stepped up next to her, wrapped a possessive arm around Jessica's waist and snarled, they dropped their gazes and backed away.
An electric thrill shot through Jessica. She loved the way he clutched her waist, the way he glowered at the dragons that laid their eyes on her. It was everything she had ever wanted from a boyfriend, this possessive need for her–the magic eight ball had been right!
Or was it? Her heart began hammering again. What if this was just him being everything he had always been to her–an overprotective big brother? At least in his mind. He was anything but a brother in hers!
Braden picked her up, slinging her over his back piggy-style. Jessica gasped as he burst out of the club, transforming under her, warm skin becoming cold scales, wings sprouting against her sides. They took to the skies. Her heart sank. He was taking her back to the university. Closing her eyes, she fought tears.
Well, at least she knew. Nothing would ever happen between her and Braden, and she needed to get over her childish hang up on him.
When Braden landed, Jessica didn't have time to slide off his back before he shifted back into human form. She grasped at him, but she would have fallen to the ground had he not twisted and caught her.
As she opened her eyes, she barely had time to register that they weren't near the dorms before Braden's hands were twined in her hair, pulling her flush against his body, his mouth on hers.
Chapter Three
Braden's lips were soft but demanding, pressing hungrily to hers. She stiffened instinctively, not expecting this at all. But as Braden's mouth worked against hers and he let out a soft moan, she found herself parting her lips to allow his tongue to slip into her mout
h, bringing herself closer to his body.
Sparks exploded in Jessica's skin, shooting through her bloodstream, heat building in her more quickly than she thought was possible. His grip was already like iron on her and she wanted him to hold her tighter, to kiss her harder, to never let her go.
But eventually they both had to breathe, and the kiss broke. Jessica panted, her cheeks flushed and her eyes bright as she stared up into the dragon's eyes. He smiled tenderly, brushing a black curl from her face.
"Wow," she managed. "I've never been kissed like that before. I've never been kissed before at all but that certainly wasn't what I was expecting!"
"I'm sorry." Braden made to release her, but Jessica wrapped her arms around him tighter.
"It was better," she told him, and with a grin he squeezed her back.
Jessica's eyes sparkled, and her heart was swelling so much that she thought it might burst. Braden didn't think of her as a little sister. And now here she was, in his arms, the taste of his lips still fresh on hers. Was this a dream? It seemed too good to be true, that he would look at her with desire and affection in his eyes.
"So where are we?" she asked, looking around for the first time. In the darkness, it was hard to make things out, but they seemed to be high on a mountain next to an open cave.
Braden took her hand and led her into the cave. She stumbled over a loose rock, but the dragon caught her and steadied her, chuckling. A small puff of flame billowed from his mouth, illuminating his face and lighting a stick on fire. Braden left her in place, going to a fireplace to one side and starting a fire inside. The cracking warmth lit the space with a soft glow. They were in a cave, but it contained a queen mattress and shelves of water and canned foods.
"What is this?" Jessica asked, looking around with interest.
"It's my man cave," Braden said, pitching his voice deeper than normal. "Or dragon cave if you'd prefer. I like to come out here when things get too crazy. Usually I spend the whole spring equinox here so that I don't end up making a mistake."
Jessica nodded, but froze as a thought occurred to her. "Wait! Does that mean I'm drugging you?"
Braden's black eyes widened and he let out a startled laugh. "What?"
"The spring equinox. It makes you go crazy for virgins, doesn’t it? So you don't actually want me, it's just because of the equinox and because I'm a virgin!" Jessica bit her lip as disappointment crashed down on her. This wasn't what she wanted at all. She didn't want Braden to want her just because he wasn't thinking clearly! "I shouldn't have come to that club."
To her surprise, Braden laughed again, a full-bellied laugh that was delighted. "You came to the club looking for me?"
She ducked her head and wandered closer to the fire before she nodded once.
"I never thought you felt that way about me," he said. “Listen, you do know everything about the equinox, right?”
"Yeah, of course,” Jessica said impatiently. What was the fuss about? “But listen, what do you mean you never thought I felt that way? I thought I was being painfully obvious about my feelings towards you. I thought you were ignoring them because you didn't want to hurt my feelings. You never made any indication that you wanted me."
Braden shook his head, crossing the space to grasp her hands. "Why do you think I always got so angry if any of the other dragons tried to hit on you? It killed me to think of you with another man, even though I knew it was ridiculous. You don't know how many times I wanted to tell you how I felt."
"I thought you just saw me as Stafford's little sister and you thought you had to protect me." Her heart pounded as her fingers traced the tattoos on his smooth chest. She suddenly wondered if he waxed or if he was naturally this hairless. "I hoped… but I didn't think somebody like you would go for somebody like me."
"Somebody like you?" Braden pulled her tighter again. His lips ghosted along her neck. "You mean somebody with bright eyes, a lovely smile and a vivid imagination, who is always happy and bubbly? Somebody who isn't afraid of anything and never has a bad word to say about anybody else? Why wouldn't I want somebody like you?"
Jessica moaned as his tongue flicked across her throat and she let her head fall back. She clutched his shoulders, not certain what else to do with her hands. "So this isn't just because of the equinox? I'm not drugging you?"
Braden laughed. He smoothed her hair from her face and kissed her lips again. "The equinox doesn't work that way. Yes, it makes unmated dragons ache for virgins, but it's more like an irritating itch than a burning desire. Easy to avoid." He pulled back and his expression sobered. "Do you want this, though? Is this how you want to have your first time, in a cave with—"
"With you." Jessica pressed herself tighter to him. "I want you. I've wanted this for such a long time…"
She couldn't find the words to tell him how much she ached for him, so she pushed herself to her toes, wrapping her arms around his neck. He easily picked her up, guided her legs around his waist and carried her to the mattress. Jessica's body was on fire, her magic shooting to the ends of her fingers as she grew more and more excited. This was real. It was really happening. Braden wanted her.
When he lowered her to the mattress, he unbuckled her belt and tugged her jeans off. The cold air brushing against her skin made her shiver. The dragon added more wood to the fire and breathed onto it, making it flare, and she grew warm again.
He returned to her, and Jessica's hands trembled with impatience as she reached for him, but he took her wrists very gently in his and pressed them back against the mattress.
"I'm not going to undress yet. I'm going to make you orgasm first, and I'm not going to enter until I can put three fingers inside of you comfortably. I want to make sure you're ready."
Jessica's blood pulsed hot just from his words. Her pupils dilated as his hands slid up her thighs. She parted her legs, moaning with eagerness. She stared at Braden's profile, at his strong jaw and big eyes, the smile on his lips as he bent over her, pressing a kiss to her navel, his long black hair falling over perfectly formed ears. Her body ached with desire, her heart ached with love.
"Are you sure?" he whispered, kissing his way up her body, pushing her shirt up so he could find her breasts. As he took one into his mouth, something tightened and snapped deep inside her and she rolled her hips to his hand, groaning.
"Yes!" she cried. "Yes, I want this. Please. Please, I want it so bad!"
With a moan, Braden's mouth moved to her lips again. His fingers found their mark and pleasure shot up Jessica's legs, making her moan and tremble. Time lost meaning, and she wanted more, wanted this to never end. Her eyes were open, staring into Braden's as electricity passed between them, bringing them closer and closer together.
Was it hours or minutes later that he finally removed his clothing and let her prepare him? Feeling him beneath her hand was almost as pleasurable as when he touched her. The way he moaned and bucked his hips towards her, his eyes half-closed while he whispered her name, was pure heaven.
Jessica's heart pounded with delight as he laid her on her back and slowly, oh so slowly, entered her. Nerves fluttered in her stomach, some part of her mind wondering if she could give him the pleasure he deserved, but then they were together, moving as one, arms wrapped around one another, tongues mimicking the thrusts of their bodies.
When both were spent, Braden pulled a blanket over their naked bodies, kissed her shoulders and turned her towards the back of the cave, shielding her body from the chill breeze coming in from the outside world.
Jessica's whole body throbbed with pleasure and she pressed herself tightly against her dragon, smiling as her eyes drifted shut.
This was it. This was her happily ever after. She had everything she wanted, and if her life was one of her romance novels then this would be the moment it would end, letting her and her dragon sleep forever in one another's arms.
***
Braden woke her up just before dawn, kissing her neck as he slipped from the bed. Jessica turned t
o him, holding out her arms to bring him back to her, but he shook his head.
"I need to get you back to your school. We'll have hell to pay if Pearl finds out about this before we're ready for her to."
Jessica made a face at the mention of the headmistress. "She doesn't need to find out. At least not until after I graduate."
Braden chuckled. "She'll find out sooner than that, Jess. It'll be impossible to hide it from her. Get dressed. We don't have much time before dawn."
When Braden let her off just beyond the protective wards he promised he'd call her, then he shifted into a dragon and left the university grounds. Jessica smiled and watched his form disappear into the sky before she got too cold and was forced to retreat into the dorms.
She tried to be quiet as she made her way up the stairs to her room, but on the second floor, she stumbled on the carpet and pitched forward; as she threw her hands out to catch herself, she knocked over a suit of armor. And it' halberd skittered across the floor, knocking the leg out of the next suit of armor. Which fell onto a table, collapsing one end, while a bowl of fruit that had been on it fell off the other side and shattered.
Crap.
Her heart caught in her chest and Jessica scrambled to her feet, running as hard as she could to get to her room and shower before she was called to Pearl's office about sneaking around in the middle of the night.
I'll tell her I was getting a snack, she thought, and suddenly she realized she needed one–her stomach was twisting in on itself in that aching way it got when she went too long without eating. As soon as the cramps hit her, a swirl of dizziness made her stumble. The twisting in her stomach turned to retching and vomit spewed from her mouth. She gasped, fell to her knees and vomited again.
***
An hour later, she was lying in the university hospital wing while Pearl sat beside her, telling her she was pregnant.
"Who was the dragon?" the headmistress demanded, while Jessica's mind reeled with this news.
