by Tully Belle
She entered to a large room. Everything in here was of a higher quality than her own room, and it dripped of opulence and expense. Dark grey walls, forest themed artwork in gold gilded frames. A large four-poster bed was to her left, set with white crisp sheets and a deep blue quilt. A flat screen television hung from the ceiling at the end of the bed and it looked like it could be controlled to disappear into the ceiling when he wasn’t watching it. A walk in closet was on the opposite wall, next to a large bathroom, much bigger than hers. It also included a bath, which she wished she had. There was also a sofa, a desk, and a bookcase filled with books. This was were the money they earned went. Into these rooms.
“Where does that door go?” she asked, pointing to a locked door.
“Nowhere important,” he said. He drew her attention forward to large double glass doors that led outside to a balcony, big enough for at least a dozen guests. Ash walked outside and Caran followed.
Twinkling stars dotted the dark ink sky and from here Caran could see further into the mountains. She hadn’t realized it had gotten so late. A nearby river led to a distant inlet that had a waterfall. The water sparkling under the starry sky. “Can you swim over there?” she asked.
“Sure, we do sometimes.”
“This place is constantly surprising me.”
“You get used to it.” He moved closer and placed his arm around her shoulders. “Do you like it here?”
“I do. I enjoyed today. It was fun testing my knowledge again. Pete said that you were considering I stay here full time.”
“Pete is getting ahead of himself. We need to know it would work for everyone before we jump into that kind of commitment.”
“Ah, so you’re afraid of commitment,” she teased. “I knew you were too good to be true.”
He grinned. “You think I’m too good to be true?”
“That’s not what I said.”
“That’s exactly what you said.” He trailed her chin up and planted a kiss on her lips causing her pulse to race. “I’m glad you feel that way.”
“Oh yeah, why’s that?” She curled her fingers in his hair.
“Because I think you’re okay too.”
She couldn’t hide the grin so instead she kissed him back. She hadn’t felt like this in a long time.
He lifted her legs, wrapping them around his waist and carried her inside to his bed. He lay her softly down.
“Your bed is more comfortable than mine.”
“That’s why you’re staying here tonight. I missed having you beside me last night, a mistake I don’t wish to repeat.”
16
Ash was torn between wanting to rip Caran’s clothes off or take things slow. He was filled with lust, all he could think about was being inside her again.
He whispered against her lips. “Take off everything.” His voice was deep and his control was waning.
“Everything?”
“Yes.” His words buzzing against her skin. “I don’t want anything between us.”
She smirked against his lips, her hips wriggling underneath him, possibly to tease him further. It worked. He held her firm against the bed with one hand, using the other to unbutton her jeans, sliding the denim away from her smooth skin.
“You’re good at that,” she purred. “Undressed many women have you?”
He knew that question didn’t deserve an answer, at least not one out loud. Instead he grinned and tucked a finger under the elastic of her panties and hooked them down her legs. Her lips parted releasing an inaudible sigh.
Ash moved his hand back up her leg, keeping his gaze fixed to hers to watch for her reaction as he walked his fingers higher, reaching her thigh, caressing the dip where her leg met her hip. Avoiding the only spot they both wanted him to touch.
She moaned, her back arching, pleased at the effect he had on her.
He repositioned himself, letting go of her arms and moving his knee between her legs to nudge them wider. She obliged, parting them further so he had room to move his whole body there if he chose. That would come soon.
Caran lifted her top up over her head, her hair catching and splaying across the pillow until she looked like she’d been underwater. She threw her top to the side, turning back to him, biting her bottom lip in a way that made him want to suck the spot she’d bit.
Her bra was in the way and he didn’t like that. He lowered his head, tracing his tongue over the dark lace. The fabric was rough against his cheek. No, he couldn’t have that against her flesh, chaffing her skin. She needed something soft. Like his tongue. His mouth. It had to come off. He reached around her back, unclasping it and yanked the straps down her shoulders until it was easy to throw to the floor.
“It’s your turn, Commander,” she cooed. “You have me naked, I want to see you.” Her eyes were low and hooded, willing him to hurry up. All he could think about was how hungry he was to feed his need for her body, satiating the urge that was causing him to lose control around her. He might have been with others, but right now he couldn’t remember one person he wanted more than her. It was both troubling and exciting.
He moved off the bed.
Her eyes were hooded and dark, willing him to hurry up. “Stay there, don’t move,” he said firmly. “I want to look at you.” As he continued to undress he took in her form, the flat taut stomach, the swell of breasts, a handful, not large, just enough. The way her chest would rise and fall gently with each breath.
She was taking him in, just as much as he her. Her eyes travelled down his chest across his torso, fixing on his hardness. He moved back onto the bed, climbing above her until she was pinned again.
Ash kissed her, more forceful this time, his tongue nudging her lips open. She purred into his mouth, making sounds that only turned him on more. His cock pressed against her thigh, persuading him to move higher. God he wanted to take her right now.
He moved his hand lower, stroking his finger between her legs. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close.
“I like you like this,” he murmured.
“Like what?”
He found her clit and tweaked it. “Under my control.”
“You don’t control me.”
“Really?” His fingers stroked harder and she moaned softly, her head moving to the side so he could taste her neck. He moved his lips lower, lower still, over her breasts, down her stomach, until his face was hovering close to her sex. “Are you saying you’re in complete control right now?”
He gently blew warm air onto her exposed pussy. Her chest heaved as she struggled to regain herself. “Just because you can arouse me, does not mean you control me.”
“How about now?” He stuck his tongue out, teasing her clit. Her legs tensed around his face as she tried to stop the surge of pleasure rushing through her body. “Or now?” He gently kissed then sucked her clit between his lips, rolling around the pleasure bud of nerves until she cried out.
“It’s too much,” she said, gripping his bed sheets with her fists.
“Or now?” He thrust his tongue deep inside her folds, holding her hips to his face so she couldn’t wriggle away. He could taste her sweet nectar of pleasure as her breathing turned to soft moans. He continued to torment her, alternating from driving his tongue into her depths to pulling away and circling it around her clit. Oh, she had lost control, there was no doubt about that. Not that she would admit it.
Unfortunately, so was he.
She was getting closer and closer to climax. Seeing her like this only fuelled his own hunger for her.
She gasped as her body shuddered. He continued to dance his tongue over her as she came, slowing his movements to a whisper of touch so it wouldn’t overwhelm her. Then when she was done he moved back up her body, slowly, until he met her mouth, pecking a quick kiss to her lips and raising a brow.
Her lips turned into a crooked smile. “It doesn’t mean a thing.”
“Whatever you want to call it, Now . . .” He pulled her hand down to his hardness she so co
uld feel it straining and begging for release. “What do you plan on doing with this?”
“You’re surrendering to me?” She grinned, scooting up the bed until she was on her knees. “Lie back.”
Ash raised a brow in mock surprise, but willingly obliged. She took the condom and unwrapped it over him, then moved on top of him, her knees hugging his waist as she stared down at him. She reached up holding his arms above his head. They both knew that he could get away easily if he wanted to. He didn’t want to.
She dragged her tongue across her lip as she scooted back, her sex leaving a damp coolness on his groin that became warmed from her body heat. As she lifted her hips he braced for it, eager to feel his cock deep inside her.
But she paused. Her strong thighs held her in a position whereby the tip of him edged against her entrance, taunting him about what was to come. He pushed his hips upward but she was fast enough to anticipate it, making it impossible to get what he wanted.
“Who is in control now, Commander?” she grinned. “It’s your turn to beg.”
“I don’t beg.”
“Oh really?” She tilted her head the side, undulating her hips in a fashion that indicated that if she were lower she’d be riding him. Her breasts swayed gently. She bit her lip again, deliberately of course, knowing it drove him crazy. Her hair swished behind her back. “Mmmm,” she murmured, playing like she was having a far more exciting time that she could be. Or perhaps she was? She could be getting off on his torment.
“Okay, you win,” he said.
“Say it. Tell me I’m the one in control. Beg me to lower my hips over your cock and ride you into the night.”
“Jezzus.” He groaned, his eyes rolling back in his head. Yeah, she was totally in control now and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. “I want you. I want to be inside you. Please. Caran. I need you.”
The sexy pout changed to a sly grin. She raised a brow and lowered herself onto him. The warmth of her body hugging his erection until he was completely inside her. God it felt good. Better than good. He wanted this girl, every night. Every moment. Hell, he wasn’t even sure what it meant, all that he knew was he belonged to her now. She had him.
Caran’s back arched and she closed her eyes as she moved up and down. The blood rushed through his body, heating him from his core to his fingertips. He could hear his heartbeat in his chest, raging and screaming and pleading for release. The primal need to come overshadowing everything.
But he was at her mercy, she controlled how she moved. Not him. She let go of his hands and sat upright, her fingers touching down her front, squeezing her own nipples, gliding over her flat stomach. Then she found her pleasure center and caressed her fingers over it as she rode him. God, she was so gorgeous.
He reached to hold her hips but she swatted them away, before lying back down, her breasts pressing against his heaving chest as she kissed him. They hungrily tongued each other’s mouths as they got closer together.
When he thought he couldn’t hold off any longer, she stiffened and cried out, her walls squeezing him deliciously. Ash groaned, his own pleasure riding hers as he came, gripping her back to hold her to him. He continued to hold her there, even after she fell onto his chest, gasping for breath.
Yeah, he was completely under her control now and he was damn happy about it.
17
It was late. Caran didn’t know what time it was exactly but she estimated it to be somewhere between two and four a.m. Ash was sleeping next to her, deep in a dream. She moved closer and pulled his arm around her body. He murmured and rolled in her direction, hugging her tighter to his chest. She liked him. She hadn’t planned on it, and it did make things complicated, but the more time she spend with him, the more she didn’t want to go back to Princess. She had to figure out if this was real though. She couldn’t make a decision like that yet, it was too soon. Yet, she never felt as comfortable as she did now.
She closed her eyes again, hoping that she’d be able to go back to sleep. After ten minutes had past she knew that it was no use. Caran got out of bed and slipped on Ash’s tee that should found crumpled on the floor. She tiptoed over to the locked door and tried to open it. No luck. Curiosity got the better of her. She felt along the frame in case there was a key there, but there wasn’t. She pressed her ear against the wood. No sound coming from the other side.
Ash was still deep in sleep as Caran contemplated what to do next. She could go back and join him of course, lay next to him until morning came, or she could look around.
Maybe if she could find a clue to where they kept the dragons, or how they used them, then she could convince herself that these ones weren’t evil. She sighed. The reality was that if she did find something, then she would still tell Princess. She had to. It was the reason she was here. It was her mission.
Caran walked back over the bed and sat down. She frowned as she wrestled with the burden. She knew she should explain to Ash her reasons so he’d understand her point of view better. Dragons were too dangerous; they couldn’t be allowed to survive. Not after one was responsible for Dean’s death and many others like him.
It had nothing to do with her growing feelings for Ash or wanting to hurt his business. There was a greater good at stake here.
Caran walked out of the room and into the corridor. Lyson’s door opposite was ajar and she sneaked over to it. The room was eerily quiet. Convincing herself that she could check on him and offer any aid he might need was the reason she pushed the door further open.
There was no sound so she flicked the light switch on. He could need help. The room was similar to Ash’s in layout, the decor more neutral though. Computer parts were stacked in a bookcase on the far wall, along with other technology and machines. Caran had no idea what they all did. Lyson wasn’t in his bed, nor anywhere else she could see. It was puzzling, especially since she knew that Ash came up here to see him and he wasn’t anywhere downstairs either. Her attention was drawn to a similar door to the locked one in Ash’s room.
She glided toward it without thinking and placed her palm on it, pushing gently. It opened.
The room inside was dark and there was a humid musty smell emanating from deep within. She couldn’t tell anything about this room yet, although it felt large. She searched the inside wall for a light switch. There was no way she would explore this without being able to see what she was getting into. Her fingertips brushed against a switch box.
Tentatively, Caran inched into the room, keeping her back to the wall as she flicked the light on.
The room wasn’t a room at all. It was more like a cave or cavern or something a wild creature might hide in. It was deep and long and filled with rock and rubble. Something moved and she froze—her back pressed against the wall as it turned its head in her direction.
A dragon. She gasped.
They kept a dragon in here, right outside Lyson’s room! Why? It could do anything to any one of them, attack, eat, destroy. This was bad. So, so bad.
She had to get out but fear paralyzed her. Her legs rooted to the spot and she felt unable to move a limb. Her experience training with a dead dragon had not prepared her for seeing one alive in front of her.
The dragon stood up and faced her. His large eyes narrowed, it’s tail swishing angrily. Oh god, she was going to die. She willed herself to run, move, scream. Anything.
Plumes of smoke escaped its nostrils as it advanced toward her. It let out a roar and a jet stream of flames shot out of its mouth into the air. It wasn’t aimed at her, yet the heat was enough to push her against the wall.
Sparks floated in the air, dancing around like fireflies, ready to singe anything they touched.
She leaped toward the exit just as the dragon let out another stream of fire. This one was closer and her skin heated from the proximity. It was close enough to burn her leg, she could feel the searing pain in her calf.
If she was going to survive she needed to get out of here. Now.
18
>
The roar was loud enough to jolt Ash awake. His heart pounded forcefully against his chest. Lyson was unhappy about something and was making it known to the whole building.
He jumped out of bed before realizing that Caran wasn’t there. Had she heard the noise too and gone to investigate? If she did that, there could be trouble. He wasn’t sure what Lyson was capable of in that form. When they transformed they still had most of their senses, but there were things like aggression and impulsiveness that were heightened. This was dangerous for all of them.
Without dressing he quickly crossed the floor and headed straight for Lyson’s room. Sure enough the door to his chamber was open. He sprinted across.
Even if Caran wasn’t hurt, he knew that there would be a lot of explaining to do. Nope, this wasn’t good at all.
19
As the dragon threw its head back, ready to spew another stream at fire in her direction, Caran ran for the door back to the bedroom. She crashed straight into a strong chest and bounced back. Before she fell, Ash grabbed her by the waist and pulled her forward. He circled her around his body until she was behind him and lifted his hand toward the creature, stepping further into the room.
The dragon roared again, shaking the floor and walls. She whimpered, recoiling back.
Ash wasn’t scared of it, he advanced, his arm still outstretched with his palm forward. He was making soothing sounds, telling the creature to calm itself.
It worked. The control Ash showed over the dragon was both impressive and terrifying. She’d never seen anything like it. How did he do that? Before today she would never have believed it was possible.
She winced and glanced down at her calf. She’d been scalded. It was superficial and would heal without scarring, but that didn’t decrease the painful heat that emanated from the area. She needed to get down to the medical rooms and apply cream and gauze stat.
Ash returned to the bedroom and closed the door behind him.