Her body lay on the bed of grass and the hands had once more moved up her legs and continued to push her gown up.
When they reached her rear, “Lift.”
She pushed up with her feet and the gown moved upwards. The hands left the gown at her armpits. She was nude from her breasts down.
Her hero sucked in a breath. “Bonny, so bonny.”
Fingers stroked from her neck, between her breasts, over her stomach, and stopped at the edge of the hair that covered her sex. Al couldn’t help but moan and arch into the large, strong hand that rested across her pelvic bone. A bit of pressure as weight was pushed against the hand, and lips were at her ears again.
Lips nibbled up her lobe before asking, “What do you want, lass? I’ll give you everything.”
“Yes.” She breathed.
Then his hands and lips were everywhere. He kneaded her breasts with both hands as his hot mouth kissed along her jaw and neck; kissing down from her chin, along her neck, and onto her chest. He was soon tracing her areola with his tongue and followed the path with a breath of air that made her nipples peak and tingle. Running his teeth along the sensitive tip, he nipped and then sucked it into his mouth. A loud moan escaped her lips and her hips jerked upwards.
One hand had remained on the breast not receiving attention from his talented mouth and his other began a trip down. Her skin was burning and she felt tugs of need running between her breast and her core. His hand stopped and rested against her stomach, holding her down upon the grass as he brought her ever closer to the pleasure she knew was out there waiting for her.
As he sucked her nipple harder, tugging it with his lips, she fought against his hold on her stomach. She needed to move. Her body wept with so much need. She was on fire and the flames licked across her skin. Where his skin and lips touched, it burned hotter, bringing her to her melting point. Her voice rose in indecipherable pleas.
“Do you need more, lass?” Breathed across her nipple before his lips switched places with his talented fingers on her other breast.
“Yes.” She screamed as he bit down on the turgid peak.
“Aye.” He growled around a mouthful of her breast.
The hand on her stomach no longer held her down, she undulated, seeking, as fingers caressed her hip bones and down the crease of her legs. Her legs scissored, seeking relief. He pressed against her legs.
“Open.”
With that one word, her legs fell wide, exposing her last secret. She no longer had any from this man, her hero. His fingers slide through the thick liquid that had accumulated from her arousal and need. He traced her lips and pushed the tip of his finger slightly inside. Pulling back out, he then plunged a finger deep inside of her.
“Kai!”
*
Al awoke damp with sweat and screaming out Kai’s name. She frantically felt around on the hard floor. Her eyes snapped open and she sat up so quickly that her head swayed and her stomach lurched. Dizziness overwhelmed her and she grabbed at her head and held it until the dark room quit swaying.
What the hell? Oh, god. Where am I? And, why do I feel this way.
Memories of her, Rogue, and Nat walking through several bars on their Cocktail Walking Tour came flashing back. They had drunk way too much and she was feeling the affects. She had never drunk so much in her life. She slowly scanned the area to keep from causing the vertigo feeling and realized that she was lying on the floor in the living room of their suite.
Where is Rogue? Thank god she’s not here. Al thought in relief as she realized she was alone. If her friend had witnessed her dream induced foreplay and subsequent scream of Kai’s name, she wouldn’t have been able to face her friend the whole rest of their trip.
Crawling over to the couch, she used it to lever herself up and into a seat. Her joints creaked from sleeping on the cool, hard floor. She had no blanket and was in her clothes from the night before. Searching her memory, she found flashes of the three of them staggering into the hotel and up to their rooms. They had said good night to Nat at her door, then Rogue and she had braced themselves against each other and the wall as they traveled one door down to their own room. When Al had fallen through the door, she had stumbled over something and fallen here in the front room. She had laughed and laughed, until she couldn’t breathe. Rogue had sat on the couch for a while. Time seemed disjointed and she had no idea if it was minutes or hours. But, Rogue had eventually patted her forehead and stumbled off to the bedroom. Al had tried to get up, but had soon given up and curled up on the floor where she was.
Her last thought had been of Kai Darrow. She had known that man would haunt her dreams, but she hadn’t been prepared for how amazing her wet dreams of him would be.
Feeling clammy and uncomfortable in her twisted and sweat dampened clothes, Al decided a bath was in order. Maybe it would help her feel better. She pushed up from the couch, her world swayed and she clamped her eyes closed. Breathing in her nose and out her mouth she soon felt herself steady. Yeah, a bath is going to be necessary. No way was she going to be able to stand and take a shower. At least she would get to use the luxurious tub. She grinned and then grimaced at the pain from too tight skin pulling against her pounding head.
Cracking open her eyes just enough to see where she was going she headed towards the bedroom and the bathroom beyond. She heard Rogue’s light snores before she passed through the door. She definitely hadn’t heard Al. Kicking off her shoes that she was still wearing, she padded in her socks to the bathroom and slowly clicked the door shut. Her stability seemed to be improving, but the thought of a bath in the Jacuzzi tub called to her.
Turning the knobs, she sat on the edge of the tub and watched the water fill. She adjusted the temperature a few times to make sure it was hot, but not too hot. As the water level reached the mid-way mark, she stood and stripped out of her smelly clothes. They smelled of the bars – sweat, beer, and more unpleasant things.
Standing nude, she peered at her body in the mirrors. She could stand to lose a few pounds, she didn’t work out, but her muscle tone wasn’t as bad as it could be. She ran her hands through her hair, massaging her aching head as she pulled out some tangles. She had worn it long, but it was so thick and heavy, that she couldn’t get it to hold any style that she tried. It always ended up pulled into a messy bun at the back of her head. The tightness of pulling it back and the weight of her hair had constantly given her headaches. So, she chopped it off and kept it in a sling bob. The front hung long enough to give the impression of a longer cut, and the back was short and easy to care for. Most men liked long hair. Most men liked taller, thinner women. The one thing she had going for her was her generous bosom. Turning in the mirror, she tried to suck in her gut. Would Kai find her attractive?
Al started to shake the thoughts away, but stopped when she remembered her unsteady and throbbing head. Her past boyfriends had told her often enough about her deficiencies, she knew better than to think Kai could enjoy looking at her body. Let alone touching it. She sighed, turned off the water, and stepped into the hot bath. She pressed the button to start the Jacuzzi and sat back in the water. She moaned at how good it felt. It almost felt like fingers massaging her body.
Fingers seemed to move up her legs.
Damn. Even with a throbbing head, she was still keyed up from her dream. She was never going to get a good night’s sleep feeling like this. There’s only one thing to do. She sighed.
Leaning her head back on the head rest, she began to caress her hands up her thighs. Moving them slowly over her skin, she thought of Kai. His ocean blue eyes. The dimples that appeared when he grinned. That wicked grin from when he had flirted with her on the plane. Damn the man was sexy. She pretended his soft and sensuous lips where moving across her breasts as she tugged her nipples. She soon slipped one hand down and a finger inside. In her mind’s eye she was reliving the dream, but this time she didn’t wake when he finally got a part of him inside of her. His fingers plunged in and out until she moane
d out her release.
Her breathing was erratic and she gasped in breathes until it slowed and evened out.
Damn the man. He was going to fuel her fantasies for months… hell, years to come.
She finished her bath quickly and dressed in her nightshirt and shorts, she slipped into bed beside Rogue. She lay there for a few moments, but soon her mind was returning to thoughts of Kai. She fell asleep to memories of his laugh echoing through her mind.
Chapter 6
The next morning Al woke up still feeling the effects of the Cocktail Tour, with the addition of a restless night’s sleep, she was exhausted and her head throbbed. All she wanted to do was sleep. But, unfortunately, they had to be at the Gray Line “Lighthouse” at 9 a.m. for the cemetery tour that Rogue really wanted to take. Walking through a cemetery for 2 hours was not what Al felt like doing with a hangover, and even the weather didn’t want to cooperate. It was overcast and gray.
“Rogue, you sure we can’t change the date on the tickets for the tour? I’m thinking a few more hours of sleep and a relaxing day inside sounds like a much better plan." Al pleaded.
“Stop whining Al. You agreed to go and, no, we can’t change the tickets.” Rogue grouched back, just as a knock sounded at the door to their suite. "Get that, it’s probably Nat, I need to finish getting dressed.” Rogue yelled over her shoulder as she rushed back into the bathroom.
“Fine.” Al grumbled while going to the door to let Nat in. Before she even got the door open, Nat was pushing inside.
“So, you two ready? We’re going to be late.” Nat said as she brushed quickly past Al on her way into the room.
“I wish I could say no, but Rogue said we have to go to this thing.”
“I guess someone didn’t wake up well after last night. Did you take some pain reliever, Al?” Nat asked, concern showing on her face.
“Yeah. I just want more sleep and this isn’t one of those things I want to do when it looks like the day of the dead out there. It’s so gloomy today." Al said as Rogue re-entered the room.
“Okay, drama queen, time to go.” Rogue laughed as she grabbed Al’s arm.
“Why are you in such a good mood all of a sudden?”
“Because, my best girls are takin’ me to see Marie Laveau’s grave today.” Rogue led her out their door, “I’ve never had the chance to go before, so now I’m goin’ and I’m goin’ to make my wish. My life is goin’ to change for the better startin’ today.”
Al understood her friends desire to have some good come her way, but it still didn’t make her feel better about going to a cemetery.
“Why can’t we go to the Café Du Monde? It’s just as historic as St. Louis Cemetery #1.”
“Because, as the good friend you are, you want me to get my wish.” Rogue said sweetly while batting her eyes at Al.
“Ugh. Does that actually work?” Al said as she fought a smile.
“Yep!” Rogue replied as they walked out of the Melrose Mansion. The two-story, white Victorian stood stark against the gray sky and Al could totally believe the haunting stories she had heard about this city. Oh, lucky her to be going to a cemetery, when she’d rather continue dreaming about Kai.
*
The girls had made it just in time to catch the coach to the cemetery to Al’s disappointment, up to that point she was still holding out for the beignets. Her mind was full of stories that she had read and heard about New Orleans and its supernatural side. As they traveled the short distance to the cemetery, she began to wonder if she was more upset because she was hung over and didn’t want to be on a tour or if her imagination was taking her fears to an unhealthy level. Sheesh! I never knew I was such a scaredy cat. Ugh. She looked across the aisle at her friends; they didn’t seem to be having any problems after the evening of drinking and didn’t seem to be afraid of anything. Nat was always cautious but never afraid, and with her training in the Marines she was a force to be reckoned with. Then, Rogue always seemed to find the silver lining to any situation and had her self-defense training for when she couldn’t. Nothing fazed either one. As she watched them talk animatedly about what they wanted to see at the cemetery, all Al could do was hope that they would rub off on her and she would find her inner Valkyrie. She wanted to be a warrior like her friends.
When they pulled up at the cemetery, everyone got off the tour coach quickly. Al walked slow and stayed towards the back of the group. Rogue and Nat walked slightly ahead of her and kept looking back and motioning for her to catch up. After a few stops on the tour and a lot of facts and spooky stories, Al was wishing for Café Du Monde even more. When Rogue and Nat dropped back, while the tour guide told about Marie Laveau and the other tourists took pictures of the famous tomb, Al was afraid that she was ruining their tour. Instead, Rogue patted her on the shoulder and said, “We’re going to wait for everyone else to finish, so I can get some pictures without anyone else in them.”
“Okay.” Al replied weakly.
“Are you really hatin’ this that much?” Rogue asked with concern.
“Nah, not really. It’s actually been pretty interesting. I think I’m just feeling sorry for myself.” Al reassured her. Rogue gave her a one armed hug before going up to the tomb as the last pair of tourists continued along the alley with the rest of the group.
“You know how I mentioned my wish?” Rogue asked and waited for Al to nod, “They say that if you mark an X on Marie Laveau’s grave that you will have good luck.” Rogue said as she placed a hand over a mark.
“I believe that you make your own luck. Besides, you saw that sign that said you would be prosecuted for defacing property, right?” Nat asked, always aware of the rules.
“Why do you think we waited for everyone to move on?” Rogue replied with a grin. “It’s a perfect day to be here. The weather is keepin’ a lot of people inside, so no one will see me. And, I really need some good luck.”
“Just hurry up and do what you’re going to do Rogue.” Al sighed. “I still think this place is creepy and personally would much prefer going to the Café Du Monde for beignets. I’m still trying to figure out how you talked me into coming on this tour.” The overcast sky looked like a storm was coming, and Al just hoped it held off until they could finish the tour and get back to the hotel or someplace else inside. She would hate to have to travel back to the hotel all wet. Not to mention that they most likely had to walk back to the Melrose.
“Al, the tour will be over shortly and I promise we’ll go for those beignets on the way back to the hotel.” Rogue said as Al watched a man dressed in black and wearing a ski mask come up behind Nat.
She started to say something when she felt a hand grasp her mouth and another arm pulled on her from behind. She looked on in horror as two men grabbed her friends, just as the man who had her pulled her off balance and began dragging her between two tombs. Al felt frozen. Only her mind was moving at the speed of light, frantically searching for information on what to do. Damn it! Why didn't I take that self-defense class when Rogue told us about hers and suggested we all take one? Struggle, damn it. Fight, don’t let him take you. Didn’t I see on some show that they said not to let them take you from the scene? At that thought, Al’s muscles seemed to re-awaken and she began to struggle, but the man didn’t seem to be affected by her attempts to twist out of his hold. She kicked out at him and jerked her arms, but he just dug his fingers in harder.
She frantically searched for her friends and saw Nat bring back her elbow into her attacker’s stomach as she swung her leg around in some sort of kick that landed her foot square on the man’s knee. He went down quickly. Idiot... taking on an ex-marine. Al thought in a detached inner monologue.
Rogue was in the process of kicking her assailant in the balls.
Al pulled towards her friends, throwing all of her weight in the direction she wanted to go. The man struggled to hold on to her as she finally pulled him off balance. He was a large man and recovered quickly, working to pull her down the walkway betwee
n the crypts. When he wasn’t having any luck moving her, he stood still for a split second taking in his downed accomplices and Nat running full boar for them. Between one second and the next, the man had dropped Al on her ass. Everything seemed a blur to Al and she sat on the ground shaking.
***
Kai silently crept around a tomb just in time to see Alvena fall to the ground and a man quickly running in the opposite direction of a quickly approaching Nat.
What the fuck! Kai began to run to Alvena when he felt Dar’s hand on his shoulder. He jerked around to Dar ready to do what it took to get to his mate, when he caught sight of Charlie as his black panther racing down another alley to head the retreating man off.
“Charlie has him Kai and a few other Dásreach are positioning themselves to catch the other two before they get away. Besides, look… your mate’s friends have gotten to her. You don’t want to cause them reason for concern before you can get them to the shop.” Dar reassured him.
Kai knew Dar was right, but all he wanted was to have his mate in his arms. Lightning flashed in the sky over his head as he fought back his fear. I should strike them all dead.
Jesus, he could have lost her and all because of the fucking council and their phone call.
Everything had happened so quickly. He and Charlie were following the lasses when both their phones rang with the incoming call from the Council. They had had to take it. Once their phone call had ended, Charlie and Kai had split up to find the women. They were both fuming about the pointless conversation, but Kai kept telling himself that they really didn’t have any reason to worry. Even so, his dragon had not agreed and his gut was telling him something wasn’t right. He had learned early on to follow his gut, so he had contacted Dar.
Just as Kai had come across the tour group, he had received a text from Dar, letting him know that him and a couple of other enforcers from the local Dásig were in the cemetery. Kai realized that Alvena and her friends weren’t with the group and had turned in the direction from which the group had come. He had just picked up his pace, tracking his mate, when he came upon the lasses, just in time to see Nat and Rogue taking out their opponents and his mate fall to the ground.
Finding the Dragon (Dásreach Council Book 1) Page 7