Fire In Their Hearts

by Lilly Wilder

  “Okay… that’s a little weird.” Before I could say anything else, he nuzzled me with his snout and a second later, I figured out that he wanted me to climb his head. It felt like I was climbing a mountain. As I went higher and higher, I reminded myself to keep from looking down.

  By some miracle, I reached the nape of his neck. There, I found a good place to sit and hold on to. In a way, it felt like it had been made for me.

  I wanted to brace myself but we were already soaring through the clouds. Adrenaline pumped through my veins. I screamed with glee as the wind whipped through my hair and threw it over my shoulders.

  “Exhilarating, isn’t it?” Vern swooped in beside me. “Lyle is the biggest dragon in this part of the hemisphere. Not many people can boast they’ve been on his back.”

  “Wait, has there been others?” I asked as a pang of jealousy shot through my heart. I hadn’t stopped to consider that perhaps these men had enjoyed other women. The implications of their past and all that they had done loomed over my happiness like a dark cloud.

  “Only one,” he answered.

  I frowned, trying to picture what she might have looked like.

  “Me.”

  “What?”

  “Me. I’m the only other person.”

  “Are you being serious?”

  Vern nodded. “He doesn’t like it very much. He says that the thought makes him feel like a pack mule.”

  “So, am I making him uncomfortable?”

  “If you could see his face right now, I’d say he’s happier than a hog in mud.”

  Abruptly, a barbed tail came flying out of nowhere and it knocked Vern right out of the sky. Lyle rumbled underneath me and that’s when I realized he was laughing.

  Vern reappeared a second later. “Was that really necessary?”

  I hid my mouth behind my hand. I didn’t want to upset Vern by laughing at his expense, but I just couldn’t help myself.

  He glared, hands on his hips but behind that, I could see a hint of amusement. He wasn’t really mad.

  “So, when do we get to my house?”

  “We’re already there,” Vern answered.

  I dared to look down and saw Lyle flapping his powerful wings as he made his descent into my backyard.

  “Uh… what happens if one of the neighbors happen to look out the window and sees a giant dragon touching down?” If people caught wind that dragons were real, I had the sinking feeling that it wouldn’t end well for their population. Lyle and Vern would probably be taken away to some government facility for testing. I shivered at the thought.

  “No worries,” Vern said. “When we are together, there’s a sort of magic that makes us invisible to humans. Their mind tricks them into thinking they saw something else. For example, they might think Lyle is just passing fog. Or, if they do happen to see us, they’ll usually convince themselves into thinking it was just a figment of their imagination.”

  “Right…” I said. “There’s a lot that goes into this dragon stuff, huh?”

  “I suppose it's complicated to a newcomer. I’ve never really thought about it.”

  “It makes my head spin. I’m sitting on a dragon and its still hard to believe that you guys are real. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up and find out that this is all a dream.” I paused. “And it terrifies me because I do not want this to end.”

  Abruptly, Lyle transformed into a man. I fell from a great height only to land safely in his arms. He smiled down at me. “It isn’t going to end,” he said with sincerity. Without a further word, he walked into my home.

  I was made acutely aware of how messy it was. The sink was piled with dirty dishes. The floor needed to be swept. Why hadn’t I tidied up the place?

  To my surprise, Lyle did not consider his surroundings. He walked with a clear purpose straight to my bedroom. How he knew where it was, I didn’t dare to ask. I was much more concerned with the feeling of his arms wrapped around my body, keeping me safe and sound.

  I rested my head against his chest and all of a sudden, fatigue washed over me.

  “You haven’t fully recovered,” Vern explained as Lyle laid me down. Gently, he ran his fingers through my hair, pushing it away from my face. “The medicine we gave you is very powerful and has sedative side effects. I wouldn’t be surprised if you feel sluggish for the next couple of days.”

  The two men tucked me in. They headed for the door.

  “Wait!” I called out before they could leave. “I know I said I wanted to wait for us to mate… but do you think you could stay with me?”

  They exchanged a quick glance before nodding their heads in agreement. They slipped into bed on either side of my body. Instantly, I felt like I was being engulfed by a furnace. I melted against the heat and found peace washing over me. Here, in their arms, nothing could hurt me.

  I nuzzled against Vern while Lyle held me from behind.

  It was perfect.

  Maybe a little too perfect.

  ***

  I do not know when I fell asleep, but I do know when I woke up. A searing pain tore through my chest, just above my left breast. It sizzled against my flesh, choking me with the smell of something rotten. I tried to scream but no noise escaped my throat.

  My body thrashed with the agony.

  What was happening to me?

  “Ari!” Lyle exclaimed with alarm.

  “They’ve imprinted her,” Vern responded, his voice somber. He rushed over to the window. “Those bastards!” He pounded the glass with his fist and it rattled against the frame. “They’re going to pay for this.”

  While Vern was busy losing his temper, Lyle was trying to calm me down. He ran his thumb across my cheek. “Shh...” he whispered. “It’s going to be okay. It’ll pass.” He kissed the top of my forehead. “Just try to think of something else – something that makes you happy.”

  Despite his advice, the pain continued. I whimpered as it transformed into a stabbing torture like someone had a dagger and kept thrusting it into my heart over and over again. “What is happening?” I cried out, my voice barely a whisper.

  “The Aetos imprinted on you without your consent. It is a dastardly deed as it pains the woman like nothing else.” Vern paced the length of the bed.

  “Does that mean…?” I asked with dread. “We can no longer be together?” Tears welled up in my eyes. This was my punishment for waiting too long. Now I was never going to have the men that I wanted.

  Lyle was about to say something when a loud crash rang through my ears.

  A tall, well-built man stood by the broken window, a devilish grin on his face.

  Lyle held me so tightly that I thought my ribs would shatter.

  “I believe you are holding what is rightfully mine,” said the man.

  “Rot in hell!” Lyle passed me off to Vern. Once I was safe in his arms, Lyle stepped forward, fists tight and ready. “Because I don’t think you have the guts to tell me that to my face.”

  The man swung a dagger but Lyle was quick to avoid it. He clipped the intruder’s legs and brought him to the ground. They both snarled, sharp teeth snapping at one another. I flinched at every blow that was given.

  Vern shielded me against his chest so I wouldn’t have to look but I couldn’t keep from watching the fight. I prayed with all my might that Lyle would win and that there would be some kind of solution to this horrible nightmare.

  Suddenly, the Aetos member held out his hand and again I was inflicted with agonizing pain. I fell to my knees, shaking. The pain was so much that I couldn’t hold the contents of my stomach. I doubled over, getting on my hands and knees.

  “You’re going to pay for that.” Lyle snarled from across the room.

  Snap.

  Through a blurry sight, I saw the man’s arm hanging at a peculiar angle. My stomach twisted into an even tighter knot.

  The hatred on Lyle’s face frightened me. I was sure he was going to end it right then a
nd there. I braced myself but the Aetos member managed to weasel his way from Lyle’s tight hold. He turned on his heels and fled like a coward.

  “Don’t,” Vern said when Lyle made the move to follow the assailant. “We have to help her,” he added.

  Lyle crossed the room and rested his enormous hand on my back, supporting me.

  “Is there no way to make this stop?” It was difficult to breath when it felt like someone had broken my sternum in an attempt to rip out my heart. “It hurts so bad…” I whimpered as I bared my teeth, trying to stay strong. “Please…” I begged. If this continued on for much longer, I was certain I would die. “I…” My shoulders sagged. “All I want is to be with you. Don’t let them take me away.”

  Chapter 20: Lyle

  I took her hand and squeezed it. “There is one way.” I hesitated and chose my words very carefully. “But it comes at a risk.”

  “Anything,” she croaked.

  “If you truly love someone else, it’ll break the imprint,” Vern spoke in a quiet whisper. “But, if there is any doubt, you will die.”

  She gulped.

  “So, Ari, the question stands.” I cupped her face in my hands and turned it so she was forced to look at me. “Do you love us?”

  “Yes.” With what little strength she had left, she leaned forward and planted a kiss against my lips.

  At that moment, I felt complete. Unable to resist, I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her close until our bodies had melded together as one. Only then did I return her fevered kiss with a passion of my own.

  My tongue slipped into her mouth, tangling against hers.

  She clawed at my clothes, desperate for more.

  “Ahem.” Vern cleared his throat. I ignored him. He would just have to wait a little longer.

  Lust flowed through my veins like molten lava.

  I pushed her onto the ground and pinned her underneath my body as the kiss continued. I bit down on her bottom lip and tugged on it until I heard her moan. I did not give her a moment’s rest as I attacked her mouth with my own. I breathed her in but it still wasn’t enough to satisfy.

  My lungs burned so I pulled away ever so slightly. The last thing I wanted to do was suffocate her. She sucked in much-needed air. There was a bright smile on her face.

  “How’s the pain?” I whispered as I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

  “It’s fading away but it's still there.” Her eyes glanced over at Vern. “Could it be…?”

  Vern answered her with a mischievous smirk. “Step aside.” He pushed me off and took my place. He was much less aggressive but the passion was clear. Their bodies grinded together with a silent need.

  Knowing where this would lead, I started to take off my clothes. First came the tie; I threw it aside and it landed on one of the bed posters. How convenient. Perhaps I could use it to my advantage later on in our love play. Sometimes, adding a blindfold could really spice things up. My thoughts wandered as I thought of the countless possibilities. Tonight was only the beginning. If Ari was to be our mate, then we’d have plenty of time to explore and experiment.

  When I had taken off my shirt, I noticed that Vern had worked his way down to her breasts. His tongue rolled around her puckered nipples, flicking them back and forth. His other hand kneaded her sensitive flesh until her head rolled back with bliss.

  “How’s the pain now?” I asked as my hand slid underneath her jeans and into her panties. She was extremely wet and getting even wetter by the second.

  “Gone.”

  Knowing that my cue to have at it, I slipped my fingers between her folds. I teased her clit, rolling it back and forth until she bucked her hips into the air, begging for more.

  Her moan was muffled as Vern returned to her lips. My cock sprang to life as I smelled her excitement in the air. I could no longer wait. This woman would be mine.

  I pushed my middle finger inside of her. At first, it was just the tip. My intention was to drive her insane. I wanted her screaming my name by the end of the night.

  Vern rose to his feet and started to undress. Ari watched him with an expression painted in excitement and lust. I took this distraction and surprised her by shoving in two of my fingers knuckle deep. She screamed, back arching. I didn’t give her a moment of rest before I started moving them hard and fast.

  She was so wet that she had started to leak through her panties. It was time I remedied that problem. I got between her legs and unbuttoned her pants. Slowly, I took them off, gliding my fingers along her silken skin. Once they were off, I trailed kisses along her thighs, getting closer and closer to her mound.

  “Lyle…” she whispered as she reached forward and took hold of my hair.

  I offered her a smirk before I took her thong between my teeth. With a flick of my head, I ripped it off her body. It went flying across the room where Vern caught it. “Mmm.” He mused. “Someone’s nice and wet. If I had to guess, someone wants us. Don’t you think?”

  With her pussy right in front of me, I didn’t bother to answer. Instead, I attacked her with my tongue. She was sweeter than I could have imagined. I dove deeper, trying to taste her from the source.

  She pulled at my hair trying to get me to go a little faster so that’s exactly what I did. I twisted my tongue this way and that way while lapping up every last drop of nectar she had to offer me. Hungry with lust, my fingers dug into her thighs in my attempt to feast further within her.

  I held her down when she tried to squirm.

  She moaned as I paused to tease her clit. I flicked it back and forth before sucking on it.

  “Please…” she begged.

  I continued my assault, determined to make her cum before we reached the bed. So, I ate her out even faster. My tongue became a blur as it shot in and out of her.

  She nearly ripped the hair right off my head as her body shook with pleasure. I could tell by the look on her face that she had just experienced one of the best orgasms of her life.

  Only then did I stop and pull away.

  “Wow…” she breathed, panting for air. “You’re quite… skilled.”

  “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

  Chapter 21: Ari

  My head was spinning. No one had ever made me feel that good before. A deep, tingling sensation still coursed through my veins, making it hard to focus on anything else.

  Between my legs, a puddle was forming. Jeez, I didn’t even think it was possible to get this wet.

  Suddenly, Lyle picked me up in his capable hands and laid me down on the bed. He cupped my cheeks in his hand and looked at me like I was the only girl in the world. I shivered with delight as his lips joined mine. It was like we were a couple of puzzle pieces coming together for the first time – a perfect fit.

  His tongue was demanding and aggressive. It wrestled with mine until it had dominance over my mouth.

  All too soon, he pulled away and turned me around so I was on my hands and knees. I wiggled my ass, trying to entice the dragon. He responded by smacking my left ass cheek. I wasn’t expecting it. I jerked forward and that’s when I came face to face with Vern’s cock. He had been lounging there the whole time, enjoying the show between me and his partner.

  “Reckon you might want a taste of your own,” he said with this sly little grin on his face. “Go ahead.”

  I couldn’t resist. I crawled forward and greeted him with my tongue. Now, I’m not very experienced with such things but there was something about his cock that made it impossible to resist. So, I followed my instincts and they guided me through the motions.

  “Mmm, that’s it.” He praised me as he grabbed a fistful of my hair and pushed me further along his tip.

  I tightened my lips and swirled my tongue all around the sensitive head. It seemed to throb underneath my attention and I liked that.

  To get closer, I leaned forward while gripping the base of his shaft in a tight grip.

  “Move y
our hand, baby girl,” he instructed in a feral purr.

  I did as he asked. I found his length was nice and slick from all the licking I had done beforehand. For that reason, I was able to glide up and down without any resistance. He seemed to grow bigger and bigger with each passing second. As it stood, I had no idea how he was going to fit inside of me. Surely, he’d rip me right in two.

  That’s when I felt Lyle creeping up behind me. His own raging member slipped between my ass cheeks. My eyes widened. If Vern was big, Lyle was massive.

  His fingertips danced along the length of my spine. Once he reached my lower back, he leaned down and kissed my ass. His lips felt divine. I almost forgot what I was doing but Vern regained my attention when he started to guide my head up and down his length.

  I tried to accommodate his size but after a few inches, I was already gagging. Vern didn’t seem to mind. He just tightened his grip and kept on going. I dug my nails into his thighs as I started to deep throat him as best I could.

  It was hard to focus with Lyle probing around my ass. His fingers were ice-cold when they found my puckered asshole. He rubbed my back to get me to calm down before applying pressure. My toes curled and I tried to pull away by rocking forward.

  Vern took his chance and held me down. His every inch was down my throat, making it impossible for me to breath. I begged him with my eyes and he finally let me go. I pulled away, gasping for air but a second later, I was back on his dick. I just couldn’t help myself. There was something about these men that unlocked a side of me that I barely recognized. It was like I had transformed into some kind of a vixen. I just couldn’t get enough.

  Suddenly, Lyle shoved a finger deep inside my hole. I screamed, sending vibrations through Vern’s length. He groaned with pleasure and pushed his hips into the air. His thrusts continued until he was effectively fucking my mouth. Trying to please him even further, I reached for his balls. They were nice and smooth. I fondled them between my fingers, my touch unbelievably gentle.

  “Mmm, baby.” He released my hair.

  I pulled away from his cock and ran my tongue all the way down his length until I reached his balls. There, my tongue did a bit of exploring. I searched his every inch until he was clawing at the sheets. Smirking, I leaned down even further and took one of his balls into my mouth, sucking on it.