I approached my parents with a hesitant smile, while Brin and Kira trailed behind me. “Mother, father.”
The King stared at me for some time, then clasped me on the shoulder. “We’re proud of you, son.”
I’d never heard those words from my father before and my throat choked with emotion. “Thank you,” I managed to get out.
“Please be safe,” my mother said, as she squeezed me in a tight hug. “And come back whenever you can.”
“I will, and I’ll send updates if it’s safe to do so.”
She nodded and turned to Kira, then surprised me by embracing her too. “I’m sorry we didn’t have more time to get to know you better, but I hope we can do so someday.”
“I’d like that,” Kira said. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
The Queen turned to Brin next and gave her a warm smile. “Brin, please take care of these two.”
“I will, your majesty,” Brin said, as she dipped into a graceful curtsy.
My father nodded at the two ladies, and then focused his stormy gaze on me once more. “Before you go, there’s something we’d like you to have.” He gestured at a servant, who walked up holding a purple tasseled pillow. On top of it were two long, slightly curved daggers with golden sheaths and hilts inlaid with topaz.
The King lifted the daggers in his palms. “These are the blades of the first King of the Air Realm, who was said to be the brother of the Golden Dragon. I’d once thought that meant Isen, but now I’m not so sure. Either way, they’ve been passed down through generations to our family’s greatest warrior. And now, Auric, we want you to have them.”
I accepted the blades with awe in my voice. “I’m honored. Thank you. I’ll do my best to restore honor to the position of Golden Dragon.”
“We know you will,” my mother said, as she patted my cheek.
I strapped the daggers around my waist, noticing how light they were despite their size and their golden sheaths. I’d seen the daggers hanging in the royal armory before and was shocked my parents were giving them to me and not to my brother Garet, who was the warrior in the family. All my life I’d been the odd one out and I’d believed I was a disappointment to my parents. This was finally my chance to make them proud and do my duty to protect the Air Realm—and the entire world.
I said one final goodbye to my parents, before turning away with my heart pounding loudly. Kira gave me a warm smile, while Brin’s eyes shined bright. Together we approached the carriages, where the other men were waiting.
I nodded at them. “Let’s get going.”
28
Kira
I watched through the carriage window as we left the city, but then my eyes grew heavy and I found myself dozing off. I suspected the others were doing the same. Leaving early after a long night at the ball was probably not the best idea, but none of us had wanted to delay any longer, not with the Dragons sniffing around for us.
According to Brin, it would take us five days to reach the Air Temple with her guidance. Two of those days would be spent in carriages, which wasn’t the worst way we’d traveled so far. The men grumbled and complained, saying they wished they were back on their own horses and out in the open air, especially with the stuffy heat inside the carriage. For me this was a treat since I’d never had my own horse and had always had to ride behind one of them. The boat wasn’t so bad either, except for the cramped quarters, but least Slade wasn’t sick to his stomach in the carriage.
As night fell, we entered the town of Skydale and were taken by our guards and drivers to the finest inn, since nothing less would befit the prince. I didn’t think Auric cared, but while we were traveling as part of a royal caravan we had to keep up appearances. Once we reached Windholm tomorrow we would discreetly leave behind our entourage and make our way into the desert alone. The carriages and royal guard would continue on to Thundercrest to make it seem as though the prince was visiting his brother Garet.
After using the washroom, I returned to my room and found Jasin and Auric already inside, talking low to each other with grins on both of their faces. They sat on the edge of the bed like they were waiting for me.
“What are you two gossiping about?” I teased, though it warmed my heart to see them both getting along.
“We were discussing Auric’s lesson tonight,” Jasin said.
“Is that so?” I asked.
Auric nodded. “We’re only a few days away from the Air Temple and I want to be ready.”
Jasin gave me a naughty grin. “Auric is going to pleasure you with his mouth tonight. How does that sound?”
The thought sent a rush of heat between my thighs, but I had an idea too. “I wouldn’t complain, but I want to learn to do that too.”
Jasin arched an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
I slid the straps off my gown and let the silken fabric shimmer down to the floor, revealing my naked skin underneath. Both men’s eyes dropped to take in every inch of me. “I want to bring you pleasure with my mouth too, the way you do to me.”
“Trust me, you already bring us pleasure,” Jasin said. “But I’m always happy to teach you anything.”
I moved close to him and he watched with hooded eyes as I opened his trousers slowly to reveal his large, hard shaft. I lifted his shirt up and off him next, then let my hands run along his muscular chest, enjoying the feel of him underneath my palms. He leaned back and let me touch him, and then I tugged his trousers off him, leaving him as naked as I was.
I wrapped my hand around Jasin’s cock and he let out a groan. I’d had him inside me twice now, but had never touched him like this before. Now I wanted to get to know this part of him a lot better.
“Like this.” Jasin wrapped his hand around mine and showed me how to stroke him the way he liked. I followed his movements until he released me and threw his head back, his eyes closed as he enjoyed my touch.
Auric watched with keen eyes the entire time from beside us, but he didn’t join in. Last time he hadn’t even removed his clothes, but tonight I wanted him to be more than just an observer. With one hand holding Jasin’s cock, I reached for Auric and tried to tug off his shirt. He helped me get it off and then I ran my fingers along his hard nipples and down his long, muscular torso. When my hand reaches his trousers and began fumbling there, his eyes widened.
“Kira, are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes, I want you to join us tonight.”
He kissed me hard in response, and I could taste the desire on his lips. My fingers yanked open his trousers, and I was greeted with his hard manhood. He was longer than Jasin, but not as thick. I wondered what it would be like to have him inside me, and if it would feel different than Jasin, as I wrapped my other hand around his cock.
Jasin and Auric both began touching me too, smoothing their hands across my skin as I stroked them together. They cupped my breasts and brought my nipples to their lips. They gripped my behind and yanked me closer against them. They let their fingers dip between my thighs to touch me in places that made me moan too.
But then Jasin pulled away. “Auric, lie back on the bed. It’s time to start the next lesson.”
Desire stirred inside me at his commanding tone. I had to admit I liked it when Jasin became dominant in bed. I think he enjoyed being the teacher more than he’d expected too.
When Auric was in position, I stared at his body with hunger, until Jasin said, “Kira, you’re going to straddle his face. Don’t worry, you won’t hurt him.”
I climbed up onto the bed and moved into position, while Auric’s hands came up and began stroking my thighs and my bottom. With my legs spread wide and his face beneath me, I felt more exposed than ever, especially with Jasin watching intently from the side.
Auric gripped my thighs and lowered me to his mouth, and I let out a sigh as his tongue slid against me. He worked slowly, exploring and tasting every inch of me, until I was completely relaxed. Only then did Jasin move in front of me and kneel on the bed, his cock standing proudly a
t attention and making my mouth water.
Jasin slid his fingers into my hair as he kissed me roughly, then broke away and pushed my head down. I understood immediately and lowered my mouth to his shaft. At first I ran my tongue along it, tasting him and seeing what it did to him. But then his fingers gripped my hair tighter, and I opened my mouth to wrap around the tip of his cock.
“Yes, just like that,” he said, as he slowly pushed deeper into my mouth. He took my hand and wrapped it around the base of his cock, while my other hand gripped his bottom for support.
Auric took this moment to slide two fingers inside me, while sucking and licking on me in that spot Jasin had showed him before. Pleasure unfurled inside me and I moaned around Jasin, who sank deeper between my lips in response. I stroked him and sucked on him, my hands and my mouth working in time, and his hips thrust against me in response. Even though his fingers in my hair kept me down I felt so powerful knowing I could bring him pleasure like this.
With Auric’s mouth bringing me higher and higher and his fingers pumping inside me, I matched his movements around Jasin’s cock. Suddenly it became too much and my thighs began to tremble. Jasin held me steady as pleasure consumed me and I moaned around him, while Auric kept licking and thrusting into me.
As the spasms faded, Jasin pulled out of my mouth and gathered me in his arms to help me off of Auric, who sat up and wiped his mouth with a grin. “Gods, you taste good. I could do that forever.”
“You’ve had your turn,” Jasin said. “Now I need her.”
He spun me around and gripped my hips, pulling my bottom up. Now on my hands and knees, he loomed behind me, his hands on my behind.
“Mm, you have a lovely ass.” His fingers dipped between my thighs, getting nice and wet, but then he moved them back between my cheeks. “I wonder if you’d ever let one of us enter you here.”
The thought had never occurred to me before, and my eyes widened as he slid a finger along my back entrance. I gasped as he pushed slightly inside and a new wave of pleasure moved through me.
“I think she likes the idea of that,” Auric said.
“Yes, she does.” Jasin lowered his voice as he moved his finger slowly in and out of my tight hole. “She wants both of us inside her at once. Not tonight. But soon.”
I couldn’t help but thrust my hips back against him at the delicious image of being filled by both men, and Jasin chuckled softly. “Please,” I found myself begging.
Jasin gripped my hips, then suddenly entered me from behind in one smooth thrust that had me crying out. He felt huge from his angle, like every inch of him was filling up every inch of me. My fingers dug into the sheets as he began to move in and out of me, controlling my hips to get the best angle. All I could do was throw my head back and enjoy.
But I wanted to touch Auric too. He’d brought me pleasure both times, but had never asked for any in return. “Come here,” I told him.
Auric kneeled in front of me, and I lowered my mouth to his long cock. “Oh, Gods,” he groaned, as I circled his shaft with my tongue, before wrapping my lips around him. Unlike Jasin, who had guided my movements, Auric stroked my head lovingly while I sucked on him.
With both men inside me, they found a smooth rhythm that brought me nearly to the edge already. Jasin thrust forward, pushing me further onto Auric before retreating again. Between the heat and solidness of Jasin entering me from behind, and Auric’s length and musty taste in my mouth, I knew I wouldn’t last long.
Auric’s fingers suddenly tightened in my hair, and his cock pulsed under my tongue. “Kira, I can’t—Ohhh…”
I sucked him harder in response, growing more excited knowing I’d done this to him. Jasin slipped a hand between my thighs and began to rub me in time to our movements, and soon I was moaning too. That sent Auric over the edge, and he released himself in my mouth with one last thrust, shouting my name.
“Swallow it,” Jasin commanded, and I did my best to comply.
As I licked Auric clean, Jasin pumped into me faster and harder, his grip on my hips tightening while his finger continued rubbing me too. I threw my head back and cried out loudly as my second orgasm struck me like a lightning bolt, and I felt Jasin join me in bliss only moments later.
Jasin gathered me in his arms as we collapsed onto the bed together. Auric curled up behind me, and I snuggled back against him too.
Jasin slowly kissed me, then he reached over and gave Auric’s arm a squeeze. “You were both amazing.”
“We’re fast learners,” Auric said, grinning back at him. They were so comfortable with each other now, as if they had become bonded too in the process of sharing me.
I nuzzled closer against them both. “We had a good teacher.”
29
Slade
The walls of this inn were way too thin. Much worse than at the palace, where I’d only heard a few brief moans. Now I heard everything.
I tossed and turned, even put the pillow over my head, but nothing helped. In the other bed Reven seemed to be asleep, but who could tell with him. If he was awake he probably didn’t care, since he seemed to have no feelings for Kira at all.
Eventually Kira and her two lovers quieted down, though it took forever. But even then, sleep was elusive. I couldn’t stop picturing her with both Jasin and Auric, torn between wishing I was with her too and wanting her for myself alone. I replayed our kiss in my head a dozen times, but all it did was make me frustrated. With myself, with the situation, with the other guys for being with her tonight. Somehow I had to get a grip on myself and my emotions.
In the morning, we got back in the carriages and continued on through the Air Realm, where the landscape started to become sparse with trees and the ground became rockier. I hated being in the carriage almost as much as being in the boat, and it didn’t help that I was stuck with Jasin and Kira either. Every time they touched or giggled like lovers my teeth clenched and I glared out the window.
“Are you all right?” Kira asked me. “You seem…tense.”
“Didn’t sleep well,” I said.
“I know a good cure for that,” Jasin said with a sly grin. “Maybe we should invite Slade to our next ‘lesson.’”
I crossed my arms. “Not interested.”
Except I was, just a tiny bit. It was curiosity and nothing more, I told myself. We didn’t share lovers in the Earth Realm, and I couldn’t imagine doing it now either, even if the thought did rouse some lust within me. Probably because it had been many years since I’d been with a woman. I tamped those feelings down since I would never act on them. The others could have their fun, but my plan was to bond with Kira at the Earth Temple and that was it.
When we stopped at midday to relieve ourselves and have a bite to eat, I practically launched myself out of the carriage and away from Jasin and Kira.
Kira started to follow me and called out my name, but I kept going until I’d found a bit of privacy behind some bushes and a group of olive trees. All I needed was to be alone with the ground under my feet and then I’d feel better.
Footsteps padding in the dirt told me my solitude wasn’t going to last. Kira stepped into the shade under the trees with me. “There you are.”
“Just needed some space after being in that carriage all day.”
“I can understand that, but you’ve been distant for a while now.” She reached out to brush her fingers against my hand. “Is something bothering you?”
“No, I…” I stared down at the spot where we were touching. “It’s nothing.”
“You can tell me anything, Slade.”
I scowled and ran a hand along my beard, choosing my words carefully. “I know sharing partners is common in some parts of the world, and in our situation it’s unavoidable, but it’s hard for me to accept. When a woman is mine, I want her to be all mine.”
She swallowed, her eyes widening with what I thought might be desire, though that made no sense. “I’m still getting used to the idea of having four lovers too. I’m sor
ry it bothers you though.”
“Ignore me,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ll do my duty, just as you will.”
Her face fell. “Is that all I am to you? A duty?”
“Not at all. I care for you a great deal, Kira. I will protect you until my dying breath. And when the time comes, I will bond with you. But please do not ask me for anything more than that.”
“I don’t understand. The other night we kissed and I thought…” She sighed. “I do want to be yours, Slade. And I want you to be mine too.”
Longing stirred within me, along with the desire to haul her into my arms and kiss her again. I wanted nothing more than those soft, sweet lips on mine and her supple body pressed against me. But giving in to those desires would only make this more complicated. I couldn’t get hurt again the way I’d been hurt before. The best thing to do was to end any pretense that we would become romantically involved. She had the other men, and that would have to be enough.
I stepped back out of her reach. “I’m sorry, Kira. I’ll give you my body and my soul, but I can never give you my heart.”
As I headed back toward the carriage, I told myself it was for the best, even if I hated leaving her there like that. She deserved better, but I was the one the Earth God had chosen, and we’d both have to find a way to live with that.
30
Kira
When we returned to the carriages Slade made sure to be in a different one than me, and my heart sank even further. Every time I saw him I wanted him to wrap me in his strong arms and hold me close—or push me down and have his way with me. After our kiss the other night those thoughts were stronger than ever, but he’d made it clear he didn’t see me in that way.
Her Elemental Dragons: The Complete Series Page 30