Zircon (Awakened Sea Dragons Book 1)

by Terry Bolryder

  “Why does one need a second shirt?” Seaton asked, narrowing his eyes at it and looking down at himself.

  “You don’t. Only if you want to.”

  He thought about it for a moment and then removed the shirt. She gulped as his muscles were revealed in that tight tee shirt again. She could almost make out his nipples if she—

  “What is for dinner?”

  “Right, dinner.” Snap out of it, stupid. “Steaks, I think.”

  “Kai will be happy to hear it.” He followed her into the kitchen as she began pulling greens out of the fridge to prepare a salad. “How can I help?”

  “You can keep me company,” she said. “I like cooking, but it can be lonely sometimes.”

  “Of course,” he said, sitting precariously next to her island on one of her small bar stools.

  She snorted in amusement to herself at the sight of him, and his eyes narrowed.

  “What is so funny?”

  “Nothing,” she said. “I guess the stool just isn’t your size.”

  “Based on the size of humans around here, I think that will be the case quite a bit.”

  “Humans?” she asked, prepping the steaks and shaking her head. “There you go, sounding crazy again. This is what makes me wonder where you’re from.”

  “I know,” he said. “It’s complicated.”

  She put up a hand. “It’s fine. I’m here to help how I can. And I’m happy to wait until you’ve all had a good meal and some sleep before I demand answers.”

  “What if we can’t give you answers even then?” he asked, biting his full lower lip as he studied her.

  She shifted the steak platter to one hand and swallowed. “I guess we’ll have to figure this out.” She gestured for him to follow. “Come on, you can help me with the grill.”

  “Grill?” he asked.

  “Yes, you can make sure the steaks cook evenly. You comfortable with fire?”

  That earned her a confident smile with a secretive sparkle in his eyes as he drew up to his full height to follow her. “Oh, yes. Very comfortable.”

  What did that mean?

  “Right,” she said. “Maybe I’ll just let you cook them, then, while I do the salad.”

  He looked slightly disappointed that she wouldn’t be staying out there with him, but she wasn’t sure how much she could take of his presence.

  She was a single woman who hadn’t gotten any in a long time, and if she wasn’t careful, she’d end up wanting far more than she should from the gorgeous man with the secretive smile and the deep, soulful eyes.

  Hopefully, chopping salad would act as a good lady-boner killer.

  Chapter 5

  Jenny had calmed herself and was just garnishing the salad, enjoying the wafting scent of steak from outside, when Marina entered the kitchen.

  She was wearing a long, flowing robe that Jenny had picked up over a baggy men’s tee and loose-fitting men’s jeans. Jenny bit her lip as she realized Marina wasn’t wearing a bra.

  “Come upstairs with me for a minute,” Jenny said, taking Marina by the arm.

  Marina was slightly surprised but seemed the type to take most things in stride. “Okay.”

  When they reached the bedroom, Jenny rummaged through the bags until she found the bra she thought would be most likely to fit and held it up. “Put this on.”

  Marina raised her chin stubbornly, folding her arms and looking at the bra as if it were a torture instrument. “I do not need that armor.”

  Jenny’s mouth quirked as she looked at the bra. “It’s not… armor. It’s soft, see?”

  “I do not need it,” Marina said.

  “I… That’s not the point,” Jenny said. But then again, what was the point? Even Jenny wasn’t sure. “It’s just how things are.”

  Marina sighed. “Fine, I will wear it.” She started to strip, and Jenny whirled around, blushing furiously. She had the feeling Marina would have no problem getting completely naked in front of her.

  “People are so shy, aren’t they?”

  “Most people,” Jenny said.

  Marina laughed, a sound like tinkling water. “I am not.”

  “Yeah… I get that.”

  “I am stuck,” Marina said softly. “How do I close it?”

  Jenny sighed and walked over to where the statuesque woman was standing, struggling with the straps of the bra. Jenny reached up and helped hook the straps together, and Marina squirmed uncomfortably. Jenny handed her shirt back.

  “Thank you,” Marina said. “This is not clothing I am used to, but if it will cause you less trouble, I will wear it.”

  “Thank you,” Jenny said. “I really appreciate it.”

  Marina pulled the robe on again, wearing it like a royal princess, and sat on the edge of the bed with long, crossed legs. Her blond hair was shiny and looked naturally highlighted, even still damp out of the shower. It looked like it was even longer than Jenny’s, coming to mid waist.

  Her face was delicate, a much smaller nose than her brothers, a heart shaped-face with high cheekbones and full, parted lips. She pursed them as she studied Jenny with blue eyes that were too much like Seaton’s.

  “What do you think of Seaton?” she asked.

  “What?” Jenny asked.

  “My brother, what do you think of him?”

  Jenny turned around abruptly, worried her feelings would betray her. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  Marina caught her at the door, throwing an arm around her shoulder conspiratorially. “Yes, you do. My brother. Do you want to lie with him?”

  Jenny turned to look at the much taller woman with shocked eyes. “I can’t believe you would ask that.” Ugh, or be able to tell so easily.

  Marina just smiled. “I believe he likes you, too. What’s not to like?” Her eyes swept over Jenny, making her feel oddly heated.

  “Um, are you… lesbian?”

  Marina blinked. “Am I what?”

  “Do you like women?”

  “Ohh,” Marina said. “Well, I find them to be good playmates. And friends. After all, they are soft and smell sweet and…” She got closer to Jenny and inhaled the air over her, and Jenny got the odd sense of something almost… predatory.

  Then Marina pulled back. “But no, I prefer males. And you have nothing to worry about. Seaton has already staked a claim on you.”

  Jenny squeaked. “A what?”

  Marina let out that tinkling laugh again and started down the stairs, tossing her thick, golden hair over one shoulder. She swung her hips as she walked, her tall, curvy form looking like the embodiment of Aphrodite. “You’ll see, little one. You’ll see.” She looked back at Jenny. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think anyone could do better.”

  And then she was down the stairs and heading into the kitchen, and Jenny had to run to catch up with her.

  After all, Kai hadn’t even come down yet, and she still had to finish the salad, and… well, she really hoped Marina wouldn’t say anything about their conversation to Seaton.

  Seaton came into the kitchen to tell Jenny the steaks were done just as Kai also entered, and the two dragons stopped and stared at each other across the counter.

  Kai had dressed more adeptly than Seaton, in a shirt with long sleeves and some of the same blue, thick pants, not making any obvious mistakes like wrapping a shirt around his waist. Seaton’s eyes darted to Jenny, hoping she didn’t find this impressive.

  But no, after a quick greeting to Kai, Jenny was focused back on the salad, tearing little pieces of something into it, and blushing furiously as Marina stood nearby, whispering something into her ear.

  Seaton stepped forward, clearing his throat. “The meat is done.”

  Kai grunted, rolling up his sleeves. “About time.”

  “Hey,” Jenny said. “I just appreciate Seaton helping.”

  Kai just shrugged and walked out onto the deck, not offering to help with anything.

  Seaton probably thought that was for the best. No one want
ed the storm dragon to help in the kitchen. Kai was purely a fighter. That was what he did best. The idea of him domesticated was… humorous to say the least.

  Marina’s eyes sparkled at him from around Jenny, and he narrowed his gaze suspiciously, wondering if his sister had been bothering their host and his new mate.

  “Is everything okay in here?” he asked sharply.

  Jenny looked up and smiled with a nod, but her expression was a little strained. “Yes. Everything is fine.”

  Hm.

  “We’re great,” Marina said, picking up the salad and walking toward the screen door leading out to the deck. “See you out there.” She winked at Seaton, and he rolled his eyes, not even knowing what she meant.

  “Here, can you help me carry plates and utensils?” Jenny asked, handing some to him.

  He nodded, taking the rest of what she had in addition, as he didn’t like his mate to be doing any extra work. She was surprised but gave him a grateful smile.

  “Thanks, it’s been a long day,” she said.

  “I’m sorry if we have contributed to it.”

  “Not at all,” she said. “In fact, it’s been kind of exciting. Been a while since I had someone around.”

  He cocked his head at that, not liking the sound of it. There was no reason for this wonderful woman to be lonely. Perhaps they had washed up on the perfect beach after all.

  Perhaps fate was looking out for him.

  Thunder cracked overhead, and he looked up warily.

  “Hopefully it doesn’t storm,” Jenny said, following him onto the deck.

  Seaton looked at Kai, who shook his head. “I hope so, too.”

  They all sat around the table, and it was quiet as Jenny insisted on “saying grace.” Then steaks were served up and they all dug in, incredibly hungry from subsisting on only fish.

  “Amazing,” Marina said, mouth bulging with steak.

  “Very adequate, human,” Kai said, meat juice dribbling down his chin as Jenny handed him a napkin.

  Her eyes met Seaton’s, and he could tell she was trying not to laugh.

  He set down the steak he’d been holding with both hands, like his siblings. “Is something wrong?”

  She laughed and picked up the utensils in the middle of the table. “You know, typically, we cut and eat our steak like this.” She cut off a small piece and put it in her tiny mouth, working it delicately. He knew she was trying to make a point about something, but all he could focus on was her lips. The way her eyes closed in pleasure as she enjoyed that bite of meat.

  How he wanted her to make that face, and more, in his bed, against his body.

  Marina lowered her steak, smiling embarrassedly as she picked up utensils, but Kai took another stubborn bite, not caring about the steak juice everywhere.

  “Suit yourself,” Jenny said, pushing another pile of napkins over. “I’m guessing you’re all really hungry, so you can eat however you like.”

  Seaton’s heart warmed as he stared at her. In a world that had yelled at and chased them, why was she being so kind? It was the first time they had felt welcomed, warm, fed, and clothed since awakening, and if he were a more emotional man, he could have wept at the kindness of it.

  He set down the utensils he’d picked up, suddenly not feeling too hungry. He’d eaten most of his steak already, like an animal compared to her, he supposed. And he was feeling oddly content out here on this old, wooden deck under the sky, sitting across from a pretty human woman who seemed to think the world of him.

  A small, selfish part of him wished they didn’t even have to find the other dragons, that he could just stay here in this place with her.

  But they had been awakened for a purpose, one that would be dangerous, and what kind of role would a mate play in that? He would have to wait for it all to play out, and he knew his brother and sister depended on him to help them find their kind so they could do the right thing.

  He sighed and lifted his utensils to dig into his steak again.

  “So,” Jenny said. “Now that you’ve had at least something to eat, anyone want to talk about where you’re from?”

  Seaton felt as if someone had just dropped a boulder on his stomach as he realized they hadn’t once discussed what they would tell a human.

  They’d been naively thinking that somehow the oracle would know they were awakened and send dragons to find them.

  “I…” He scratched his head.

  “Where do you think we’re from?” Kai asked, finally finishing his steak and wiping his hands off on a pile of napkins.

  “I’m not sure,” Jenny said, resting her chin in her hands, elbows propped on the wooden table that was weathered with age. “I’m also curious how you ended up here, stranded on a beach.”

  “Hardly stranded,” Kai said.

  “You were living on the sand,” she retorted.

  Kai’s lips turned up in a slight smile. “That’s true.”

  Marina nodded. “Stranded is a good word. At least temporarily.”

  “But what about your family? Or anyone else you can contact? And what about your IDs?”

  “IDs?” Kai asked.

  “You know, driver’s license, credit cards, things like that.”

  Marina shook her head. “We woke up in the ocean without anything like that.”

  Kai let out a hiss of warning, looking over at her, but Marina just kept going.

  “We didn’t know where we were or what was going on,” she said. “And we tried to get help from people, but they ran.”

  “So you have amnesia?” Jenny asked. When Marina looked at her blankly, she shook her head. “Memory loss? Like you don’t know where you’re from?”

  Marina sent Seaton an apologetic glance and then nodded. “Yes. I guess that’s right.”

  “None of you?” Jenny asked, looking at Seaton. “None of you remember anything? You just woke up in the sea? Is that why you said you came from the ocean?”

  Seaton hated, hated the idea of lying to his mate, but he saw no way around it and had to finish what Marina had started. He had to hope he could make it up to Jenny later. “Yes,” he said.

  “Did your boat crash?” Jenny said. “Maybe you fell off a cruise or something.”

  They looked at each other warily and then shrugged.

  Jenny’s eyes widened. “So do you remember anything about your lives? I mean, what if you do have families? What if you’re married…?”

  Her eyes darted to Seaton, and he shook his head. “I feel I would remember if I was.”

  “But you don’t remember anything.”

  “I have vague memories,” he said. “Mostly of boats on the water. But I don’t know what else I can tell you.”

  She looked at all of them, pursing her lips and stirring her utensil in the juices on her plate as she thought. “Well, you know, amnesia can lessen with time. But we might want to contact the authorities, see if they have any missing person info on you. Any fingerprints or anything.”

  Marina shook her head violently. “No. Not those awful men with the flashing land ships.”

  “Land ships?”

  “She means cars,” Seaton said apologetically, sending an odd look at his sister. “I think she hit her head on a rock when our boat crashed.”

  Marina glared at him and slumped back in her chair, the enormous purple robe she wore engulfing her.

  “Anyway,” Kai said, standing. “We will need to stay here a little longer. Then, hopefully, we will either recover our memories or those who might be looking for us can come.”

  “But how, if we don’t go to the—”

  Kai set a hand down on the table, rattling it. “Please trust us,” he said. “We’ll protect you, serve you however you like, but you can’t call the police on us. If we aren’t gone in a week, then I promise we’ll leave.” He sighed as she still looked at him nervously. “And you trust Seaton at least to keep you safe from us.”

  “A week?” she asked, looking at Seaton.

  He
nodded hesitantly, knowing if he had his way, it would be a lot longer than that. But a week should be enough to start trying to make contact with some of their kind. To send a signal somehow.

  And most humans, dragons even, wouldn’t be so willing to open their house to strangers at all, let alone for seven days.

  “I’ll need your help at the restaurant,” she said. “And I hope that if you do remember things, you won’t keep secrets from me.”

  “What if some secrets need to be kept?” Kai asked, unable to ever be anything but blunt.

  She sighed. “One week.”

  Seaton played with his fork, trying not to stare at Jenny’s soft features in the evening light.

  One week to hopefully win a gorgeous, kind-hearted, auburn-haired human woman as his mate. Seaton vowed he would accomplish it.

  Chapter 6

  “Do you really think Kai and Marina will be fine at home?” Seaton asked as he walked to the car with Jenny the next morning to head off to work.

  “You saw them,” she said with a shrug. “My guess is they will be pinned to the TV all day, based on how fascinated they were with it. Living on a beach with no entertainment does that to someone.”

  Today, her long, thick auburn hair was pulled into a braid with a few loose waves trailing around her face. She wore a white shirt that was a light, breezy material with some sort of undergarment beneath. Also, black pants that looked long and comfortable, along with some sort of spiky shoe that seemed made for defense of some kind.

  Seaton approved, even if he didn’t know how human females walked on such things.

  She settled into the driver’s seat and buckled her seatbelt, waiting for Seaton to do the same.

  “Do you think they’ll be fine at home?” she asked. “You know them better than me.”

  Seaton nodded. He’d told them to use the day studying the human world through the “TV.” Truth be told, he should be as well, but he’d spent more time watching the restaurant while cloaked and had more of an idea how people talked and such. There was also a “TV” mounted up in the corner at the restaurant so he could do research during downtime as well.