by Viola Grace
She focused on him. “Yes. Yes, I do.”
He reached for it and took the cup and spoon, handing it over to her. She wiggled happily and ate two bites, sighing in enjoyment. “Thank you.”
Yr-el blinked. “That is it?”
“Yes. I know when things are enough. I also know when they are not enough.”
He smiled. “What about me?”
She looked away in embarrassment. “More than enough.”
He chuckled and took the dessert from her, eating it with raised brows. “It is good, but you are sweeter.”
She blinked.
“And creamier.”
Her hands slammed over her face again. That was not an analysis that she had ever faced.
He leaned over and set the glass back on the table, running his hands over her back until she peeped out from between her fingers.
“One more course, and then, I would like you to come to my rooms so I can personally examine your injury. I haven’t had a chance to properly check the levels of damage.”
She was taken aback at the sudden change from seduction to analysis. “Oh. Um, okay. I can bring up the med scans.”
He smiled. “That will be helpful.”
She pulled her dropped dress up and held it up to cover her. Thankfully the other side of her dress was still in place, so with a little bit of tugging, she was able to arrange it into a cover that didn’t need to be monitored while she was sitting still.
She tried to lean toward her seat, but he casually settled her with him sitting cross-legged and her nestled between his thighs. She was facing the table, and he had his arms wrapped around her. She wasn’t in danger of getting away.
She settled against him and relaxed. It was quite a trick considering the erection she could feel under the layers of fabric between them. They sat in silence until the staff member came in to remove their dessert cups and leave a tea set behind.
She closed her eyes at the scent and smiled, leaning for it and then being brought up short by his arms. She huffed. “Can you just let me pour?”
He reached out and pulled the table to them. “I like you where you are.”
Styra snorted as she reached out to pour the two cups of minty brew. She handed one to him and then took the other for herself. She leaned back against him and sipped at the tiny cup. “Thank you for this evening. It was... nice.”
He chuckled. “I am glad.”
She sipped at her tea, and he sipped at his.
“So, back to your accommodations after this?”
He squeezed her gently. “Yes.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
Sitting surrounded by him was incredibly soothing. She held her tea carefully and looked at the smoothed skin of her arm. All these years and all she needed a stunning drake and a few minutes of agony to fix it. It made her a little nervous for what was going to happen when he worked on her blast scar, but if she could actually eat a meal, run, or even exercise and breathe at the same time, she would just grit her teeth and wait for the lack of issue on the other side.
She could deal with a little—or a lot—of pain if it meant she would be able to move and behave like the rest of the crew at the entertainment center. Mr. Blue had hired them all as children and raised them together. Her injuries had stopped her from joining in the more boisterous training, so Mr. Blue had helped her compensate by aiding her in writing scenarios where she was the drake or she was running or she was flying under her own power. She could be anything, and she could do anything, as long as it was inside a scenario.
She touched the heavily embroidered fabric of the wrap skirt that Yr-el was wearing. It radiated the heat from the body underneath it.
She set her teacup down after she finished it, and he put his next to hers. “Shall we go?”
Styra nodded, and he helped her to her feet. As he rose to his feet, she split the sleeve that was dangling uselessly, tied it in a knot, and managed to reclaim her dignity.
He nodded at her solution with a smile and took her hand in his. He walked out of the restaurant with her, and the staff bowed as they passed. That was different, but as she knew most of the staff from their time in the entertainment centers, she didn’t make eye contact. Knowing their personal kinks was a burden that those who worked at the entertainment center had to bear.
As they walked through the station, Yr-el pulled her close to him. The hotel was near the entertainment center, which was great for going to work the following day if she didn’t need to go back to her quarters and get her passes.
The hotel staff bowed and didn’t crack a smile at her as she passed. That was different. Normally, they were up for a grin and a wave.
Styra looked up at Yr-el, and she wondered why everyone was so petrified of him. He was a lovely person who was kind and considerate.
They stepped into the lift, his hand tightened on her waist, and his eyes flashed red. Oh. Right. The drake.
Chapter Six
Styra looked around the luxury suite and studiously ignored the bed that had been neatly turned down.
Yr-el unbuckled the straps on his chest, and she didn’t ask why he wore them to begin with. He looked and her and smiled. “You can come in. I won’t bite. Not yet.”
She pressed a hand to her cheek, and she tried to throttle the heat that his words sent rushing through her.
He smiled and had removed the heavy belt and the wrist cuff that he wore. “Now, I would recommend that you disrobe and get on the bed. This might make a bit of a mess.”
She clutched at the silky fabric but removed it carefully and set it aside. The twist and pucker of her scar was right beneath her breasts and off to one side.
She asked, “How does one discover that one has a talent for this kind of healing?”
He smiled and walked over to her. “My father learned of it when he healed my mother. He had no idea that he could do it until he needed to, so it was a safe guess that my situation would be the same.”
“Well, if this works, I will definitely be a fan for life.”
He grinned and then calmed. “It will work, but it will be painful. Are you prepared?”
“Um, do you need to see my medical records?”
He shook his head. “I can read you without the scans. I can see the injury. Will you accept a little light healing?”
She nodded. “I will deal with as much as you can manage. It will be better than teasing me with it in increments.”
He raised his brows. “I can do that if you are sure, but you will have to take the blood in as it is more than can be contained in a kiss.”
She swallowed and nodded, then paused. “I will. Wait, how will I take it in?”
He slid his hand between her thighs. “Other means.”
Styra wasn’t particularly startled, but she was slightly embarrassed. He was looking her over intently, and his gaze wasn’t fixed on her scar.
Yr-el eased her into the center of the bed, and he then moved his head over the drawn and pulled silver skin in the center of her torso.
“This must have hurt.”
She swallowed as he traced the marks with his fingertips. “Mr. Blue said that I was unconscious for weeks after they found me, and the doctors had done what they could.”
“This isn’t the work of physicians.” He looked at her with silver eyes.
Styra chuckled. “I know. Mr. Blue healed me using our grandparent-child bond, though it was weak by that point.”
“So, you always knew he was a drake?”
“I can barely remember my parents, but they told me stories about the drakes and the few who had mixed with humans and the result.”
“Who is your other contributor?”
She watched his finger slowly trace the shiny skin. She could feel pressure but nothing else. “Um, Akinoth.”
“Ah, I have heard of him. He specializes in helping humans colonize ice worlds for research and minerals.”
&nbs
p; She nodded and watched as he began to lick and trace his tongue along the edge of her damaged skin. “I have never met him.”
“Well, this healing pattern is one of his, so he has met you.”
She sat up on her elbows. “What?”
“This silver snowflake pattern. This is his insignia, for lack of a better term.”
“What is it for?”
“My best guess is to keep you alive.”
“How would that work?”
“It formed a direct link between you and him. Interesting.” He smiled. “Well, we are going to close that link tonight.”
She swallowed as he traced inward in a spiral with his tongue.
When her skin was gleaming with the trail of his saliva, he looked at her and asked, “Ready?”
She nodded, and he moved away from the bed to prep a few syringes. “This will get the bulk that you need inside you.”
She blinked. “I thought you were going to...”
“I considered it, but this will be more effective. You are missing more tissue than I thought.”
Styra blinked as he casually filled the syringes with his blood. “Why do you have so many syringes in your hotel room?”
He grinned. “For boring weekends.”
She sensed she wasn’t going to get an answer when he set the syringes neatly on a tray, and then, he scooped her up and draped her over him, with his head propped against the headboard and her body comfortably situated on top of him. Well, relatively comfortable. She was still naked, and he was half-dressed. She didn’t know which combination of clothing and lack thereof she was hoping for, but lying on him like an offering wasn’t ideal.
“Do you remember how the last one went?”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
“This is going to be exponentially worse.”
He ran his thumb along his palm again, and the drops of blood found the saliva and followed the path until an undulating puddle was sitting on top of the damage. He picked up the first of the syringes, and there was a hiss as it disgorged its contents through the edge of the scar and into the area of damage.
The other injections went just as quick. He licked his bloodied hand and kissed her again, holding her other hand. “Here we go.”
She tasted blood, and something moved inside her abdomen. At first, things got hot, then there was a pulse, and then pain came in, screaming along her nerves.
White-hot pain racked her, and Yr-el took her screams until the pain faded and the popping and shifting sensation had eased. It seemed like a good time to rest.
She woke up with Yr-el washing her hair. They were in the huge bathroom, and she was seated on a stool while his fingers massaged her scalp.
She couldn’t look down with his hands controlling her head, so she slid a hand up her ribs, waiting for the hard and almost metallic feel. Normal skin was in its place. She felt the hot tears trickle down her cheeks as she inhaled deeply and exhaled, using more than just the one and a quarter lung that had previously been at her disposal.
Yr-el said, “Lean your head back.”
He took a spray nozzle and carefully rinsed her hair. “You were only out for thirty minutes. Impressive.”
She chuckled. “I always did bounce back quickly.”
He gently moved through her hair with the jets of water. “You have a very strong constitution.”
“So I have been told.” She inhaled and exhaled again. “That feels so weird.”
“What does?”
“Breathing.”
He turned the water off and worked to wring out her hair before wrapping it in a towel. “Breathing?”
“Yeah. I don’t remember the feeling of actually feeling energized while inhaling and exhaling. It has always been a bit of a fight.”
He wrapped his arms around her and picked her up. The bed had been changed since she had laid down with him. She suspected that she knew the issue.
“Things got gross, huh?”
He shrugged. “It was a side effect of the pain. Nothing that couldn’t be tidied up while I bathed you.”
She sighed. “Sorry.”
He settled her on the bed and that is when she became aware of his own lack of clothing. He curled up next to her and held her against him. “Just get some rest, Styra.”
“You are not the boss of me.” She mumbled it against his chest.
“Yes, I am. Today, I am definitely the boss of you.” He chuckled and rubbed her back.
She wanted to pick some kind of fight, but she was exhausted.
His chest was warm, his hands were warm, she felt like she had just climbed the interior of the station, so it was time for a rest.
She woke up at her normal five in the morning. Yr-el had rolled to one side, so she slipped to the dispenser in the bathing room and ordered a bodysuit. She slipped into it in the dark, and when she crept toward the door, she heard, “Where are you off to?”
She turned, and red eyes were glowing in her direction. “I have to go to work today.”
“Come here.”
She walked toward him cautiously. He held out his hand and pulled her down to him. He threaded a hand into her hair and pulled her to him for a kiss.
His tongue slid along hers, and he wrapped his hand around her back and flattened her against him. She moaned and ran her hands down his chest before she realized that she had to be at work in half an hour. She pressed against his chest and broke the kiss. She gasped, “I have to get to work.”
His red eyes narrowed. “I want you to stay.”
“I want to stay, too, but I have to get to work. I will be free in nine hours.”
He sighed. “Fine. Your passes are in the drawer next to the vid.”
She blinked and stared at him. “When?”
“They were delivered here while we were at dinner. Mbrak ordered someone to bring them.”
“So, he knows I was here?”
He gave her a droll look. “Of course, he did.”
“Great. That won’t make work awkward.” She tried to pry herself free. “If I can get to work. I appear to be stuck on something.”
He smiled. “One more kiss, and I will let you go for the day.”
She narrowed her eyes and kissed his lips, brushing her mouth against his and flicking her tongue against him. He held her tight to him and slid his thigh between hers. He pressed it firmly against the juncture of her thighs while he rocked her hips against him.
She gasped, and his tongue started to thrust and retreat as he gripped her hips and moved her against him. Her body took up the beat, and she flexed her hips on him, her clit enjoyed the friction and pressure, and she felt the rush of heat a moment before she shivered and bucked against him.
He continued the slow grind of her hips against his thigh, and she twitched and shuddered with every aftershock.
He broke the kiss and leaned back, his dragon’s eyes were smug. “Now you can go and have a good day.”
She slammed her hand into his abdomen to stand up, and he grunted and didn’t grab her again. She walked over to the drawer and found her passes. Without looking at him, she left the room, and when the door closed behind her, she exhaled slowly and fanned herself for a moment. Damp thighs were a small price to pay for waking up to that.
With a small smile, she headed for the entertainment center and got into her uniform. It was time to rescue the folks who tried to circumvent the scenarios.
Chapter Seven
She was in her pod and finishing the extraction of a client who wanted to do whatever the hell he wanted in a group scenario. The other persons in his party did not appreciate his advances. He was pulled out by the back of his collar, and she threw him back into his body before filing her paperwork in her own pod.
“Styra.” The voice in her pod was extremely familiar.
“Yes, Mr. Blue?”
He was amused as hell. “We have a non-compatible mind in pod sixteen. Can you get
him out?”
“Sure. On my way.”
She checked the scenario, found a matching outfit for the situation, and sent herself in.
Her practical clothing had not made the transition. She was wearing the same fluttering and transparent silk that she had been wearing the last time she left this scenario. The heavy thudding of drake’s wings was audible a moment before a huge clawed hand wrapped around her, flying her to the top of the tower.
She was set down gently, and the back of his clawed knuckle stroked down her spine. She reached up and stroked his chin, pressing a soft kiss to the side of his scaled head. “Hello again.”
He shivered, and his wings flexed.
She ran her hand along the rough surface of his nose and jaw. He closed his eyes and let out a low rumble before he huffed and pushed her toward the bed.
She smiled and walked toward the bed where it seemed that as unlikely as it was, Yr-el had fallen into the same trap.
She stood next to him and watched the stars moving under his skin. She traced her fingers across a falling star and followed it to his navel and beneath to the edge of the skirt he was wearing.
Styra moved over him and straddled one of his legs while she slowly leaned toward his lips. She glanced at the drake, and he was watching intently. She winked at him, and she licked at Yr-el’s lips.
“I suppose that this requires some planning. It can’t be too short, and it would be a shame if it was too long.” She leaned in and kissed him again, flicking her tongue along his lips before lifting her head just short of the time limit.
“Well, that didn’t work.” She plastered herself on top of him and kissed him, holding onto his head until he shifted under her. He stroked his hands over her back, up and then down again. He slid his hands into the openings on the sides of her dress and cupped her butt, pulling her against him.
He kept his eyes closed, and she lifted her head. “Hmm. Looks like you aren’t awake yet. Whatever am I to do?”
Without opening his eyes, he leaned up and kissed her, his tongue twisting against hers as his hips undulated under her. She felt herself getting slick, and he held her tight, flipping her to her back before leaning back with his eyes glowing and his smile focused.