“Touch yourself,” Beau demanded.
She was thrilled to be ordered to do what she was dying to do, and reached between her thighs and lightly circled her fingertip against her clit. She was already so sensitive that the first touch sent an almost unbearable jolt of excitement skittering through her, which she soothed with the firm press of a knuckle.
“Keep stroking.” Beau moved faster. His thighs pounded between hers. He took hold of Devon’s long hair, wound it around his hand, and gave it a gentle tug.
Her chin lifted. The breath caught in her throat. The light pressure on her scalp was a stimulating tingle. She’d not had a partner take hold of her this way, and she found Beau’s territorial action highly provocative.
“I want us to come together.” Beau’s voice dropped to a low rumble. “Will you do that for me?”
“Yes,” she answered breathlessly. She rubbed her knuckle faster and rolled her hips against Beau’s harsh strokes.
“Do it harder,” Beau pleaded. “I need to come now, and I want you to come with me.”
Her body simmered at the edge of climax. Lightening her touch, she allowed the tip of her finger to glide in soft, slick circles. She fantasized about both Jace and Beau going down on her at once, two solid bodies holding her tight and two warm mouths pressing between her thighs.
“Oh yes.” Beau’s hips sped.
She came with a startlingly strong rush. Her body arched with the intensity of twisted steel and her toes curled so tight they cramped. The sensations trickled down her spine and warmed the soles of her feet with a climax that left her head spinning.
Beau wrapped a strong arm beneath Devon and drew her closer to his chest. He sank deep, came hard and trembled on top of her as he drew out the last intense moments of climax. Releasing her hair, he lovingly slid his hands down her back. He remained silent except for the sound of his breath and continued to move slowly inside her and said softly, “Devon, it was even better than I dreamed.”
She couldn’t speak. It was too much effort to organize a thought. Beau’s body felt scorching hot pressed against her back and she wiggled beneath him, panting.
“So….” Jace stood near, laughing quietly. “Is it safe to say we all like each other?”
“Yes!” Devon smiled as she collapsed on the blankets. “We can do this every weekend. I’d love it.”
A little of the joy went out of Jace’s eyes. “Only on the weekends?”
“Whatever.” Devon sat up. “We’ll figure things out as we go, and there’s a lot to figure out.” She paused. “We all got a little carried away. Don’t you think we should have used condoms?”
Beau’s gaze darted toward Jace.
Jace’s lips parted as if he meant to speak, but he remained silent for an awkward moment. “Beau and I aren’t part of the general male population.”
“I know that.” Devon drew her knees toward her chest and hugged them tight. “But is it ever a good idea with more than one partner”—she stalled uncomfortably—“to overlook that sort of thing? I’m not exactly a wild woman these days, and I’ve always been very careful about—”
“I know you are,” Jace interrupted. “This is different. We’re Marduko. That means there are a few things you don’t have to worry about.”
“It’s more like because you’re Marduko I’ll have a few extra worries.” She shrugged. “You’re both so attractive. I saw lots of goodies on your nightstand—condoms, lubes…. Aside from me, I assumed you had a few lucky lovers in and out of your bed.”
“We don’t.” Beau’s face flushed. “Those are for anal.”
Devon drew her lips tight. “That makes sense now.” She gazed at the cave wall. “This is all new to me. I’ve never dated two men at a time who not only knew about the other but were lovers too. That alone is huge. Now add to the mix that you’re both part alien dragon shifter, and it’s a lot for a girl to take in during a single evening. I’m sure that later, my mind is going to have to play a game of catch-up.”
Jace knelt beside Devon. “I’m not dismissing your concerns.” He reached for her hand and gave it a light squeeze. “But what is your body telling you?”
Devon drew a deep breath and checked in with herself. “I feel good, really happy.” She gazed into Jace’s eyes and smiled. “I feel like I’m ready to do it all again.”
Jace leaned closer. “What is your heart telling you?”
She hesitated to answer, suspecting both Beau and Jace were closely analyzing her every word. “I’m liking this adventure. I’m going to go as far as I can with it.”
“That’s a good start.” A flicker of disappointment shone in Jace’s eyes. “We can’t ask any more of you than that.” He held on to her hand as he rose. “Stand up.” He encouraged Devon to rise. “I want to show you something.”
Devon stood and crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly feeling self-conscious about being naked, which she thought was funny because she’d just been writhing half out of her mind on hands and knees in front of two men and that had been fine. For some unfathomable reason, standing naked was not okay.
Jace seemed to read her thoughts and immediately wrapped his red flannel shirt around her shoulders.
She thrust her arms through the sleeves, which hung past her fingertips, and quickly rolled up the cuffs. The shirt brushed midway to her thighs. “What are you going to show me?”
Jace reached into a backpack and retrieved a flashlight. “Beau, would you grab that backpack and the last of the tea?”
Devon froze. “More tea? Do we really need it?”
“Maybe.” Jace led Devon toward the back of the cave. What first appeared to be a dead end turned out to be a sharp turn that opened onto a steep, narrow passageway that led downward. The path was cleared of rocks and felt like fine dust against her bare feet. The flashlight cast a single circle of illumination in the dense blackness. “How far are we going?” Devon noticed the air felt warm and humid, and a dank mossy scent hung in the air.
“It’s not far.” Jace placed his hand on Devon’s back and guided her forward. The path twisted downward quite a distance. The ceiling of the cave grew taller. Jace briefly lifted the flashlight, revealing that the soaring ceiling of the cave resembled a jagged-spired cathedral.
“It’s beautiful.” Devon gasped in awe. “Who else has seen this?”
“Only the Marduko and a few of the mates they’ve brought here.”
“What am I?” Devon asked cautiously.
Jace pulled her close. “What do you want to be?”
A shiver passed through her. Jace had already mentioned he wanted a wife, but what did a dragon man expect from a spouse? It seemed best to go slow. She was naturally commitment shy, and this situation with two very different men would be challenging to maintain at best, but damn, it sure was exciting. “I don’t know what I want yet, but I’m interested.”
They turned a corner and came to a vaulted chamber where a mist of warm vapor rose from the floor. Devon felt moisture on her ankles.
Jace swept the flashlight across a shallow pool of clear, bubbling water. Mineral deposits had turned the edges of the pool emerald green. “It’s a volcanic hot spring. Freshwater pours in continually and the old seeps away, so it always stays clean.”
“Is it scalding hot, or can we bathe in it?” Devon stepped closer to the pool, lured by the prospect of a real bath.
“We bathed in it last night, and it felt wonderful.” Beau set down the backpack and walked toward the pool.
Could the guys have been sitting in this pool, possibly making love or thinking of her while she was having that wild experience back at the camp with the dragon egg? “What time last night?”
“I don’t know.” Jace approached the pool. “It was late.”
Devon presented her marked palm to Jace. “I got this little souvenir last night. The dragon egg burned it into me.”
Jace held the flashlight over her palm. “Did it hurt?”
“For a moment it
burned like hell. I’m assuming you know what this means. How am I going to hide this?”
Jace brushed his fingertips across the double dragons. “The mark means ‘yes.’ While holding the dragon egg, on a soul level you said yes to me and Beau.” He looked hopeful. “Maybe your mind needs more time to catch up with your heart.”
There he was again, going too fast and scaring her. “What am I going to tell people?”
“Don’t tell them anything. The brand is a visual mark of consent.” Jace touched Devon’s hand with affectionate reassurance. “Now that we’ve claimed you, it will soon fade. The mark is private and not for the world to see, but even after it’s gone you’ll know in your heart that it’s always there.”
Devon rubbed her palm with the pad of her thumb. Did she want this lovely and novel thing to fade? Not really. “Be patient with me. This is a lot to take in.”
“What about the tea?” Beau set the cooking pot that contained the last of the dragon leaf tea at the edge of the pool.
“We’ll share what’s left of it.” Jace reached for Devon’s flannel shirt. “Let’s take this off and step into the water.”
Devon hesitated. “Would you do one more thorough sweep with the flashlight and just let me see once and for all that there’s nothing lurking in this pool that can harm us?” She paused. “It won’t hurt to be cautious. This is a cave, after all. Anything could crawl in here.”
Jace pointed the flashlight toward the pool and slowly illuminated every area. Aside from a few artistically patterned mineral deposits that resembled abstract paintings, the pool appeared calm and clear of anything questionable. A steady stream of tiny bubbles passed through a fissure in the rock.
“This is a special place,” Jace said proudly. “It’s a power portal and carries a strong resonance other creatures tend to avoid. They sense it’s not a place for them.”
“Is it okay for us to be here?” Devon dipped her foot into the warm water.
“You’re with the Marduko.” Jace set the flashlight beside the pool and stepped thigh-deep onto a shallow ledge. He turned and held his hand out to Devon. “This is the exact spot our ancestors crossed into the Earth realm.”
Devon sat on the ledge beside Jace and allowed herself to sink to her shoulders, grateful for the chance to wash the dust from her feet and rinse her skin. “This feels heavenly.” Beau joined them, his thigh brushing against Devon’s. She reached for Beau’s hand. “You’re being so quiet.”
Beau smiled. “I’m just enjoying being with you and Jace. It almost feels like a dream.”
“Speaking of dreams”—Jace took hold of the cooled cooking pot and tipped it toward himself to view its contents—“there’s not much left. Beau, you and I should take a sip and let Devon finish it.”
“Why me?” Devon tried to crane her neck to see how much tea remained.
“You’re the one who needs to get familiar with the Marduko.” Jace lifted the pot to his lips and took a sip. “We already know the story.” He handed the pot to Beau.
Beau accepted the pot and tipped it to take a short sip. He carefully passed it to Devon. “Ready for another wild ride?”
Devon hesitated. “I’m neck-deep in water. Last time I drank this stuff I crumpled forward and passed out. Maybe I should climb out of the pool.” She started to rise.
Beau grabbed Devon’s wrist and held her beside him. “It’s all right.” He pulled her close and clasped his arms around her. “You’re safe. I’ll hold you.” His gaze traveled toward Jace as if he was asking permission to do so.
“That’s a good idea.” Jace leaned against the edge of the pool and gazed at both of them.
“Okay, I’ll trust you.” Devon tipped the rim of the pot to her lips. The tea was lukewarm but still fragrant and pleasant. She finished drinking the contents of the pot, set it down, and glanced nervously around the cave, almost holding her breath. “I’m so jittery. I’m waiting for the tea to pick me up and throw me into the middle of some weird alien scene where some unfortunate dude gets his skull bashed in.”
“I know it can be shocking.” Jace splashed water over his head and slicked his hair away from his handsome face. “You’re being very brave.”
She exhaled a huff. “Why did I say yes to all this? What’s wrong with me? I must be crazy.”
Beau kissed the top of Devon’s head. “It’s only crazy if you don’t understand it.”
“You’re both dragons, and we’re sitting in a cave.” She laughed nervously. “I think we’re crazy.” She settled beside Beau and glided her palm across his chest.
Jace studied Devon’s actions with interest. “You’re more comfortable with Beau, aren’t you?”
Devon thought about it. She owed Jace an honest answer. “We feel like equals. I’m not as intimidated.”
Jace sat back. “Do I intimidate you?”
“Maybe a little.” She bit her lip when she saw a touch of hurt creep into Jace’s expression. “I guess I’m used to thinking of you as a somewhat unattainable person. You outrank me at work, and I never felt comfortable enough to walk up to you and ask when we were going to see each other again. I just hung back and waited. I suppose part of me recognized you were in charge and didn’t even question it.”
“It was never my intention to make you feel that way.” Jace’s expression softened. “As the alpha Marduko I have responsibilities. I had to maintain a certain distance until I was certain you were truly interested in both Beau and me. I know I have a big personality, and I didn’t want to come on too strong and scare you away.”
“I know about that firsthand.” Beau nodded in agreement. “Once Jace spots you, he comes at you like a tracer bullet. If he hadn’t restrained himself, you would have felt overpowered.”
“It was difficult.” Jace slid a bit closer to Devon. “Once I saw how much chemistry we shared, I wanted to be around you all the time, and that wouldn’t have been fair to you. My desires, my needs might have overridden yours. I had to repeatedly let you go, and pray you’d come back.”
“I understand.” Devon studied the earnest expression in Jace’s dark eyes and thought her heart might implode. This amazing man was afraid he was too strange to be loved and that she wouldn’t want him. The idea was ridiculous. “You did the right thing, going slow with me. In the past, I’ve pushed relationships away, but now I think I’m in danger of getting hooked.” She climbed onto Jace’s lap, facing him.
Jace smoothed Devon’s silky hair from her face, and wrapped an arm around her waist. “It’s a lot to accept.” He glanced toward Beau. “We come as a pair, and we’re partly an alien species.”
Yet they were both so human. “I already care deeply for you both.” Devon kissed Jace’s lips. “I’ll try to be accepting and learn the ropes as I go.”
“You’ll also have to keep our secret—secret.” Jace kissed her mouth.
“I can do that.” Devon pressed her lips against Jace’s and allowed the kiss to deepen; it sent another shuddering wave of pheromones coursing through her. Hijacked by purely sexual sensations, she pressed her thighs tightly against his. “Is this going to happen every time we kiss?” she asked breathlessly.
“Yep.” Jace slid his hand to Devon’s nape and drew her deeper into his kiss.
She surrendered to his exciting touch and taste, pressed against his chest, swaying as every inch of her skin became highly sensitized. She wanted him again, but how much time did they have before the effects of the damn tea struck? Jace had risen between her thighs, and she was tempted to glide down on him for a sweet, easy fuck. “Your dragon kisses bring me to a fast boil.” She guided him between her thighs knowing the added friction of being underwater would make the first stroke harsh.
“We’d better wait.” Jace gently halted Devon’s hand. “The tea hits hard.” He swept his tongue against hers, tenderly exploring her. “But I’ll send you off with a kiss.”
Devon closed her eyes as beautiful sensations overwhelmed her. More than anything, she
wanted to stretch out beneath Jace and tangle her limbs around him, but a moment later, the geometric shapes appeared and danced slowly behind her closed eyelids. The sheer beauty of the vision made her sigh. “Oh….” The chrysanthemum-like fractal formed in her mind’s eye and rotated. The image was so compelling she couldn’t speak or look away and she grew dizzy as she locked her hands onto Jace’s shoulders for support.
“It’s all right,” Jace whispered. “I’ve got you. Follow it.”
An intense image of a dimly lit but grand hall opened before her eyes. The hall felt like a giant pyramid made of golden glass. Her mind struggled to grasp what she was looking at because there was no true structure here, only an illusion of solidity. This exalted space was literally space. Somehow she knew with certainty that this insubstantial yet elegant place was the hall of the Hathors.
Devon found her consciousness walking unnoticed beside Jacesar and Beaudeen as they reverently approached a massive altar at the front of the hall. She sensed this was a restricted area, yet was certain both men had been here many times before. The two sword-bearing dragon men were the most substantial things in the etheric place. Their heavy boots and clanking armor echoed against the shimmering golden floor.
This time, Jacesar and Beaudeen did not appear so alien or shocking. Studying their distinct profiles, she noted the subtle differences between them, and even admired the raw masculinity they projected. There were many familiar features present in Jace and Beau, and she could almost see past the scaly sheen of their skin and simply regard them as big, robust men.
A towering being that wasn’t completely physical appeared at the altar. The being was translucent and glowed like a pale yellow candle flame that seemed to flicker in and out of existence in this realm. The entity appeared to be humanoid, except its face was ever-changing and took on many oddly familiar animal forms. One moment it resembled a sharp-beaked bird of prey with the body of a woman, in the next a gentle deerlike creature with large eyes. Every form it took was fleeting and fluidly morphed to another and another.
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