by Sher Dillard
Swallowing with a big gulp, she began to explore along his length. Her fingers touching and feeling every ridge.
She continued to rest her head on his chest as she explored. Her heart beating faster as her insides grew wet with need. A part of her feared he would wake and find her doing this to him. Yet, another part wanted to shake him awake and demand that he take her immediately.
Leaving his manhood, she removed her hand to unbutton his trousers. She gasped as he sprang free from his pants. Long, thick, pointing to the sky. Demanding attention.
She once again began to run her hand over him. Listening for any change in his breathing.
He shifted and moaned in his sleep. Laila smiled to herself as her hands drifted lower to cup his balls. She fondled them gently. Learning, sensing. Discovering everything about him.
Squeezing her legs together she tried to control the burning need growing inside of her. The sight of him in her hand did something to her insides. Made her want him even more.
Maybe? If she was careful? The thought brought a smile to her face as she gently wormed her way out from under his arm. Being careful not to stop caressing him, she rose and straddled him. Her knees resting on either side of his hips.
Was she really going to do this? Take what she needed? Yes, her body screamed at her. Do it.
Glancing at him one more time, she confirmed that he was still asleep. Laila licked her lips and closed her eyes so that she could concentrate. Pushing aside her undergarments, she positioned him, holding herself above him, ready.
Her wet opening craved him. Slowly, she lowered herself. Letting him fill her to a beautiful fullness. Spreading her, rubbing against her very core.
Yes, she thought as she took him. All of him, inside of her. He was hers, and she was his.
Smiling to herself, she looked down at him and squeaked. He was awake. Smiling back up at her.
“I wondered how long it would take you,” he said with that cocky grin of his.
“You ba …” she began to say when he thrust up into her. Lifting her.
“…stard,” she moaned. Oh the feeling of pure physical pleasure that washed through her removed all other thoughts. All she could feel was him inside of her, filling her, stretching her to the fullest.
His hands wrapped around her waist and held her in place as he began to thrust up into her. Over, and over, each time lifting her. She quickly began to match his rhythm. Rocking forward with each thrust. Rubbing her most sensitive spot again him every time.
“Oh Flint,” she moaned as he grew faster and faster.
“Yessss, there, right there.” He had found the spot.
“Laila,” he said, as he thrust up into her one last time, his hands locking her in place. “Yessss,” he exclaimed, as he exploded into her.
The pulsing warmth pushed her over the edge and into oblivion. The world for Laila exploded into a million lights, each of them a different color, as she continued to ride him. Milking him for every last bit of pleasure.
At last, she could take no more. Collapsing onto him she buried her head on his chest. Listening to his mighty heart pound inside of him, matching her own heart, beat for beat.
What had she done? This man didn’t want her. He might want her body. But, not her. Would he be upset at her?
Before she could ask him, though, his long arms wrapped around her and pulled her in tight. A sense of security and oneness washed over her. He was pleased with her, very pleased.
Sighing, she allowed herself to drift off to sleep again. Resting on Flint’s mighty chest. The most perfect place to sleep.
Her last thoughts, as she slowly sank into slumber, was to regret that she didn’t have a small piece of bread to feed that damn bird. He most definitely deserved it.
.o0o.
The noon day sun warmed her shoulders. Laila couldn’t stop frowning as they walked down the dirt road. Neither of them talking. Each lost in their own world.
The feelings she had for this man were overwhelming her. The pure strength of it terrified her. All she could think about was him. She wondered what he thought. Wondered if he would once again try to find her a prince.
It was obvious he had no desire to explore this attraction between them. Nothing beyond the pure physical. He wouldn’t share anything about himself. He never told her what he thought about her. It was like talking to a brick wall.
No. For dear Golden Boy, it was all a fun adventure. Good times, and then, goodbye.
“What are we going to do?” she asked. Not because she doubted their future. More a simple desire to know. “We don’t have any weapons. And, other than the earrings you let me borrow, we don’t have any money. Maybe we could use them to buy you a sword and me a dagger.”
“Those are your earrings, Laila,” Flint said. “I won’t trade them for a sword. I’m not that desperate.”
Her heart melted a little. The gorgeous sapphire earrings where hers? Never, in her entire life had she ever thought she would own such a prize. But, seriously. They couldn’t walk across the Twelve Kingdoms without money.
“What about Mr. Sharp, Mrs. Peabody, and, the rest? Will they be all right?”
“I will get word to them. They will be taken care of, I assure you. The City Watch won’t press them too hard. The last thing the city elders need is a reputation for hurting respectable servants. If they did, nothing would get done in Quaster.”
Laila bit her tongue so that she might stop pestering the man. It was obvious that he wasn’t worried. The last thing he needed was her pressing him with a thousand questions.
They continued walking. She so wanted to know more, but felt this wasn’t the time or place. No, with a man like Flint, it would take patience. He would only ever reveal his secrets slowly.
Sighing, she glanced over at him. She might not know what was going to happen, where they were going, or why. But, she was with him. What more could a woman want?
Besides, it sure beat Fifth Point.
Skipping to catch up, she fell into step beside him. They might not have any future together, she thought. And, who could blame him? She was an orphan from Fifth Point. But, at least she had this morning. No one could ever take that away from her.
Flint glanced down at her for a moment, his eyes sparkling as if he could read her mind. Her cheeks began to grow hot. Impossible.
Suddenly, his face grew stern and concerned as he came to a halt. His feet sliding in the dust.
Turning, he looked back down the road they had just traveled. Laila's heart jumped to her throat as she saw the panic dance into his eyes.
He twisted and looked down the road in the direction they were heading. Then his head swiveled around them, searching the fields and distant trees.
“What is it?” she demanded as she fought to gain control of the raging fear building inside of her.
He nodded behind them.
She squinted in the sunlight, bringing a hand up to shade her eyes.
Twenty horsemen were approaching. A cloud of dust rising behind them.
“Is it the Prince and his men?” she asked.
“No one else would be on this road,” he said as his shoulders slumped.
“What should we do?” Laila asked with bated breath. “Should we run?”
Flint shook his head. “We’d never make the trees.”
“What then?” she demanded. “Even you can’t take on twenty men. Especially without your sword.”
Flint glared back at their pursuers. They were coming into focus now. Armored knights. Each knight was mounted on a large horse. Laila’s stomach clenched up and shrunk to the size of a pebble. It was the mines then, she thought. She would end up in the mines for sure.
Shaking his head, Flint looked down at her, his eyes had become sad, almost defeated. The sight of him like this scared her more than anything. If Flint was giving up, then they were truly lost. Surely, there was something they could do.
He took her shoulders in his hands, then crouched a li
ttle so that he could look her directly in the eye. She thought for sure he was going to tell her to run while he stayed behind and tried to hold them off.
No way. It was not going to happen like that. She would stay with him.
Instead, he swallowed hard and said, “Laila, we have one chance. One chance only. I want you to forget everything you’ve ever thought you knew and keep an open mind.”
What was he talking about? She could hear the thundering rumble of the horses as they tore down the road toward them. What did Flint mean?
She furrowed her brow and returned his look.
“In a minute, I want you to climb on my back.”
“What?” she asked. Unable to believe what she was hearing.
“Trust me, you will understand. Climb on my back. Do you hear me? Forget everything and climb on. Hold on tight, and I will get us out of here.
Laila couldn’t believe what she was hearing, it didn’t make sense. She glanced at the approaching riders. Several were pulling their swords, preparing to charge. Still, others were unslinging their bows and removing arrows from quivers. What? Cutting them to pieces wasn’t going to be enough.
“Trust me,” Flint said again. “And, I am sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
Laila tore her eyes away from the approaching riders and studied Flint. His eyes looked at her with a sense of deep guilt and a little fear.
Sighing, he stepped away from her and toward the oncoming hoard. Laila screamed and moved to join him, but he held up a hand and shook his head.
Then, without warning. Without any sign of what was to come. He erupted into a pillar of flame.
Laila screamed. No, not Flint.
A golden pillar of flame and smoke rose into the air. Twisting in a tight spiral, then disappearing into nothingness.
Laila’s stomach, heart, and her soul fell to the ground in disbelief.
A dragon stood where moments before Flint had stood.
How was … No, it couldn’t … Impossible. Laila’s mind reeled as she fought to understand.
Flint had disappeared into thin air and been replaced by a large, Golden Dragon.
The giant dragon was armored in golden scales. The same color as Flint’s hair. His large leathery wings unfolded as the beast looked back over his shoulder.
He was beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
In the distance, the horsemen bent over their horse’s necks as they brought their swords forward for a charge.
This was a dragon. Were these men idiots? she wondered.
Several of the knights stood in their stirrups and let loose a barrage of arrows. Laila watched them arch up into the sky, then turn over and start to fall toward her.
As the arrows fell, she could see them growing larger and larger, headed directly towards her. She could easily imagine them piercing her chest.
But, she could not move. She couldn’t begin to move. Her mind refused to work. Her world had lost its foundation.
A dragon?
Chapter Fourteen
The arrows grew closer. Surely, one would hit her, Laila thought. At least then, she would know what was real and what wasn’t.
The flight of arrows continued to approach. The Golden Dragon eyed her again, then the arrows raining down on them. Shaking his head, he reared back and shot a bolt of fire into the sky.
Laila back jumped in shock.
The flame left the dragon’s throat with a deep roar, meeting the arrows fifty feet from their destination.
As Laila watched, the wooden shaft of each arrow disintegrated, burned to black ash, allowing only the small iron heads to fall helplessly to the ground. Raising small pillows of dust as they hit the road around them.
Run, she thought. While the dragon is busy with the men. Run, it might be your only chance.
But, Flint?
Another set of arrows were already in the air.
“Flint?” she said to the dragon. Was it possible?
The dragon looked back at her, its’ large hazel eyes almost pleading with her. Yes, it was possible, she realized. Flint was a dragon. The dragon was Flint.
Her heart broke. He had lied to her. He had deceived her. All for the damn coin around her neck.
Flint was a dragon.
The Golden Beast twisted and shot another bolt of flames into the sky towards the arrows. The stream of yellow flame wasn’t as big, or as powerful this time.
How long could he keep this up? she wondered.
He might be a dragon, but he couldn’t fight twenty men and keep the arrows away.
Two feathered bolts made it through and began to fall towards her. The dragon, Flint, shifted and raised a wing to protect her. She ducked as the arrows struck his wing like pins in a cushion.
He turned to look at her once more, then to his back. The message was obvious. Get on and let’s get out of here.
Laila swallowed hard. He couldn’t be serious. Was this Flint? Was this real? Maybe the warm sun had baked her brains?
Another flight of arrows was launched. She could hear the knights screaming as they charged.
She didn’t have time to doubt. Didn’t have time to think. She could only act.
With her heart pounding in her chest she raced to his side and used his wings to climb up on the mighty monster. What choice did she have? she told herself.
The animal was covered in large golden scales. Each one the size of dinner plates. Two long rows of pointy spikes ran down his back from the tip of his head to the end of his long tail. Each spike looked like it could pierce a Smith’s anvil.
He smells like Flint, she thought, as she pulled herself up using one of the spikes. A comforting smell that reassured her. Her eyes searched his back as she frantically tried to understand. She hesitated a moment, trying to figure out how and where to sit.
Flint solved her problem by lowering a section of spikes on his upper shoulders. A shiver ran down her spine. If he released them once she was in place they would impale her like a spitted goat. They’d have to cut her off with a knife.
Taking a deep breath, she scrunched into place and leaned forward. Wrapping her arms around the dragon’s throat and locking her knees in place.
The Mighty Beast immediately began to run towards the charging knights as its giant wings began to beat the air.
Screaming at the top of her lungs, she felt the ground fall away from beneath them, and they were airborne. Each push of those mighty wings lifting them higher and higher.
Laila scrunched her eyes shut, afraid to look. All she could do was hold on and pray. Surely, it would be over soon.
Opening one eye just a little, she saw the mounted knights staring up at them. Their faces in shock, their eyes as big as oyster shells.
The ground, it was too far. Her stomach lurched. She closed her eyes once again and held on tighter.
The dragon continued to rise, then banked slowly. Laila screamed again, but refused to open her eyes.
He leveled out and continued to beat his wings. She could feel his mighty muscles under her legs. Could feel the raw strength and power with each beat of his wings.
This is Flint, she reminded herself. He won’t hurt you.
A deep doubt began to creep into her. How did she know what he would or wouldn’t do? He was a dragon. No wonder he didn’t want her. Oh, her body was acceptable to be used. But, he didn’t want her. He was a dragon. A powerful beast who could fly. She was nothing more than a girl from Fifth Point. As far from being as mighty and powerful as a person could be.
Swallowing hard, she opened her eyes and gulped when she saw how high they were.
This is what the birds see, she thought. I am flying. The girl from Fifth Point is flying. She thought of Lady Emily, of that fat toad, Jeffery. Of every merchant who had eyed her with suspicion. Every woman who had looked at her as if she were less than the dirt beneath their feet.
She, Laila Mason, was flying. Something they would never do.
Gritting her teeth, she po
ked her head up to see where they were going. Leaning over, she glanced down and squealed as she griped his neck once again.
So far down. The ground was so far away. The farms were laid out in square patches. The trees looked like twigs and the animals in the fields were hardly identifiable.
Her heart soared with the wonder of it all.
Flint, the dragon, she was still having problems believing, dipped a wing and then slowly banked into a puffy white cloud. Her world became nothing but cool, white mist.
Laila gasped with wonder. So, this was what clouds looked like from the inside.
They broke free to the other side. Back into the blue sky. Where were they going? she wondered. Why didn’t he stop? Surely, they were far enough away from the soldiers.
The realization of how little control of the situation she had, hit her like a hammer to the gut. He could take her anywhere. He could turn over and spill her off his back. There was nothing she could do.
Hell, even if she had her dagger, it’d be useless against him. Oh, how the man must have laughed at her from behind her back. How silly she must have seemed.
Her insides turned over with shame. Using a shoulder, so she didn’t have to let go, she wiped the tears from her eyes.
It was over. Whatever chance she might have had to find a future with Flint. It was over, he had lied to her, but worse, he was a dragon. She would never be enough for him. The thought sent a bolt of pure pain to her heart as she once again buried her head behind his. Closing her eyes, she tried to forget the world, tried to forget that she was flying. All she wanted at that moment was to be on the ground and as far away from him as possible.
They continued on. His mighty wings setting up a constant beat as they flew through the air.
Laila tried to wrestle her emotions into some kind of box. When they landed, she promised herself, he will not see that I am hurt. He will not see that I am upset.
His steady rhythm began to rock her to sleep. She had to fight to stay awake. She might very well have succumbed, but a flicker of movement to her right drew her attention.