Bound in Ashes

by Milly Taiden

  Ker laughed. “Just what I want for the night. A sweet lush.” He leaned over and took her wet lips between his. Strawberry and Tiana—the perfect mix. He moaned and pulled away. “It is awesome.” He leaned back in. “More, please.”

  She pecked him on the lips then scooted closer to snuggle under his arm as they reclined together.

  “So, Ker. Tell me something cool about yourself,” she asked.

  “Huh, oh,” Ker groaned.

  She sat forward and looked at him. “What?”

  “I am not very exciting. I’m quite boring, actually,” he replied.

  She laughed at him. “I got you beat in that category. I’m a schoolteacher.”

  “I don’t think so,” Ker disagreed. “Schoolteachers are the hottest thing right now. Especially ones as sexy as you.” He slid his hand up her thigh. Her arousal filled the air. He swallowed hard, trying not to get hard. He didn’t want to seem like a horn-dog after just meeting her face-to-face.

  He knew this gorgeous woman beside him needed to know him better before she’d give her heart and body to him. And he was willing to work for the prize.

  “Let’s see,” he said. “Like my brothers, for a time I protected a king’s chamber of gold and jewels.”

  “That is so cool,” she exclaimed. “Wait,” she sat up, “how old are you?”

  He feigned being appalled. “Don’t you know, little girl? You never ask a dragon how old he is or how much he weighs. Both are usually big numbers.”

  Tiana laughed and pushed him at him. “Stop. Men don’t care.”

  “You’re right,” he said. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her against him. “Guess what else,” he teased.

  “What?”

  “You know all those stories about vicious dragons who guarded chasms of treasure and killed everyone who tried to get to it?”

  Her brow popped up. “Yeah, a lot of stories of dragons.”

  “The very first story was about me.”

  She gasped. “No way! You are making that up.”

  He laughed. “No, I’m not. Tor and my brothers guarded in their human form so the world didn’t know dragons existed. I said screw that. Much less work in dragon style.”

  “Dragon-style. Is that anything like doggie-style?” Tiana asked. He froze, a million things going through his head at once. None of it good if his adorable little mate wanted to stay out of his bed. Suddenly, she burst out laughing. “I’m sorry,” she got out between laughs, “you walked into that, my dear.”

  He nodded. He had to admit that he did. “Yeah, yeah. You got me there.”

  She cuddled into his side. “What else have you done in your incredible life?”

  “Well,” he started, “I studied under Beethoven for several years.”

  “Oh my god!” Tiana said, nearly spilling her wine, sitting up to face him. “The Beethoven?”

  Ker scratched his head. “I only know of one. The one who could play piano.”

  “Who could play piano?” Tiana spit out. “That’s like saying Whitney Houston could sing. Or Emeril can cook.”

  “Okay, yeah,” Ker said, “but what I mean is that most composers up to him composed and played the harpsicord. Beethoven did his work on the up and coming instrument called the piano.”

  “Did you hear him play?” Tiana asked.

  “I saw one of his last performances. You know he started going deaf in his upper twenties,” Ker told her. “And his piece Fur Elise, he supposedly wrote for the only woman he ever loved. For the only woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.”

  “I didn’t know that.”

  “What’s so amazing is that his best work came after he couldn’t hear. He was quite the young man before his hearing faded. His father was a rather stringent man; not fun, and didn’t seem like he loved his son as much as the potential money his son could make. But that was my impression from the one time I met him.”

  “What was Beethoven like after he was deaf?” Tiana asked.

  “Well, he stopped socializing and left the women alone. He became a hermit and did his composing alone. When he was with others, he carried around a notebook with paper so his friends could write out their questions for him. I think he felt really awkward.”

  “So when did you study under him?” Tiana queried.

  “Back then, musicians made their money by giving lessons. Beethoven would only tutor those who were exceptionally advanced or exceptionally pretty.”

  Tiana laughed. “Which one were you?”

  “Hey,” he said, tickling her. “I was damn sexy two hundred years ago.”

  Laughing, Tiana squirmed around him. “Not much has changed, big boy.”

  He set her empty wine glass on the coffee table and set her on his lap. “You are by far more gorgeous than anyone I’ve ever met.”

  “And such a smooth talker,” Tiana cooed. “I bet you got everything you wanted.”

  Ker laughed. “As long as it wasn’t Mom or Dad, then yeah, I got what I wanted. They knew all my tricks. What about your parents and family? What are they like?”

  His mate’s sweet arousal turned sour with shame and sadness. Something wasn’t right.

  FIFTEEN

  Sitting on the sofa with Ker, Tiana gulped and looked away from him. “I don’t have a family. I wish I did.”

  His hand enveloped hers and squeezed. Reassurance. She so needed that whenever she spoke of this. She hated that it always made her feel so low but she wanted Ker to know more about her.

  “I’m sorry.”

  There was sadness and worry in his tone, so she gave him a fleeting smile. “I think the fact you have brothers and now sisters and nieces and nephews makes your life full.”

  “What happened to your family?”

  Good question. “I don’t know. I was raised by a family friend. My godmother. My mother was an only child and her parents had been as well. She died when I was born so I never got to know her.”

  “And your dad,” he asked softly, rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb. The soft circles warmed her from the icicles forming in her veins. Fear did that to a person. Not that she feared Ker. The complete opposite. There was something about him that made her feel comfortable and safe.

  “He apparently found out my mom was pregnant and left her.” She winced at the thickness in her voice. The fucking asshole had found out she was created and chose to leave. To not care that he’d made a child.

  “How could any man do that?” Ker exclaimed, anger making his voice deeper, harsher.

  Raw pain clawed at her gut. She swallowed at the lump in her throat and lifted her eyes to his. His gorgeous face swam in her vision. Stupid tears. She glanced down at the hand he held and licked her lips. “When I was a kid, I used to ask myself why he’d done it. Just left. I wondered if it was because I was a girl.” She gulped.

  “Tiana―”

  She shook her head and raised her free hand, signaling him to stop.

  “Maybe if it was because I have dark skin. I mean, I’m black from my mom’s side. Roberta, the woman who raised me was my godmother, too. Fortunately, she was a neighbor when my mother met my father. She often spoke of my father.”

  She wiped her cheeks with her other hand and sniffled. “She said my mom was too young to be with my father. That he appeared older. That he reminded her of an evil person hiding something under the surface. Meanwhile, she said my mom was the sweetest thing. Definitely nothing like him.

  “She was black with curly hair and brown skin. My dad was tall, muscular and with really pale skin and dark eyes. My dad was white she said, but he always hid the time he spent with my mom.”

  “You think your father was a racist?” Ker asked, shock in his voice. “Why would he get involved with your mother then?”

  She shrugged. She didn’t know. She’d never known. If she did know the reason of his departure, maybe she wouldn’t still wonder why she wasn’t good enough to be loved. “It’s possible. I mean, what if he only
thought her good enough to sleep with, but not for a relationship? Not like they got married. They had a brief fling. I think Mom thought it was more than it truly was.”

  “Then maybe he was just a piece of shit. He doesn’t deserve your tears,” Ker said softly, wiping the moisture she hadn’t even noticed coursing down her cheeks.

  She turned to face him again, this time almost choking the words out that had haunted her all her life. “Why wasn’t I good enough to be loved? Why wasn’t I good enough to be his child?”

  He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close and holding her as she shook. “You’re amazing, Tiana.” He cupped her face with both hands and looked her directly in the eyes, his bright blue gaze doing something surreal to her heart. He was making her feel all sorts of emotions she wasn’t familiar with. It was strange and new. And scary. “And so easy to love.” He leaned forward, brushing his lips lightly over hers. “So easy to want.” Another soft kiss and she leaned forward, wanting more. “So easy to imagine life with.”

  She tugged at his shirt, pulling him closer to her and bringing their lips together again. Desire tamped down the hurt, the pain of the father who’d rejected her. In its place, a new hope grew. The knowledge this man was practically vibrating with his need for her. She’d never known anything like this.

  The kiss went from soft and seeking, to hot and deep. His warm hands caressed up and down her arms. Heat bloomed in her belly, adding to her already flaming insides and driving her to the edge. Ker’s soft rumble as they kissed made her ache. Her skin felt tight, her clothing stifling. She wanted to tear his and her things off and feel his touch all over her body. Feel his body under her fingertips.

  She gripped the back of his hair, holding his head to hers. His lips moved from making love to her mouth and tongue, to placing tiny kisses over her cheeks and before she knew it, her eyes closed.

  Then he pulled back and they stared at each other. The hunger burning brightly in his gaze only called to a primitive part she had no idea she had inside.

  “Don’t cry for him. He doesn’t deserve your tears.”

  He gave her another kiss and she realized then what her heart was telling her. Ker wasn’t just a sexy shifter she wanted to know better. Heck, he wasn’t some hot guy she wanted to get naked with. He was more, special. Something about him struck a chord with her and now she knew why. She’d developed feelings for him. Deep ones.

  The knowledge wasn’t as shocking as she expected. Opening up about her father, when she’d never told any of her previous boyfriends about him was surprising. A wave of sizzling flames swept down her belly to her sex. This was surreal. Her body stopped following her orders and was doing whatever it wanted. Right now, it wanted him.

  His hand slipped into the waistband of her loose sweats, his lips still driving her insane with their kisses. She leaned back on the sofa and spread her legs, giving him access to her need. His fingers grazed her slick sex and he grunted into her mouth.

  Jerking his head back, he gave a soft growl and stared deep in her eyes. “Fuck, Tiana. You’re so wet and hot. I can feel your heat on my hand.”

  She licked her lips, loving the taste of him. It did something unreal to her. Fire scored her insides. She wanted him so badly. Something almost primal begged her to take him for her own.

  “Please, Ker. I…you’re making me feel so much.”

  He kissed her jaw and picked her up and set her down, each of her legs wide to either side of his, straddling him. His hand went back into her sweats, spreading her pussy lips and rubbing at her clit.

  “Ah, Tiana. You’re the one who makes me feel. So fucking much, baby.”

  She moaned, her body winding tight like a rubber band. His fingers stroked her clit and then went lower, circling her channel but not going in. Her breath burned in her lungs. She mewled and wiggled, wanting him in her. Something had to give.

  Digging her nails on his shoulders, she rocked her hips on his fingers, feeling his erection beneath her. He was so hard and he wouldn’t slide his fingers into her. Instead, he stroked her nerve bundle fast and hard. Her body jerked at the rising heat. Pressure built like a dam ready to burst.

  His lips were all over her neck and chest. He sucked and licked at the valley of her breasts and growled every few moments. She gripped his hair, the strands so soft almost sliding out of her grip.

  “Oh, god! Oh, Ker!” Her voice cracked as a sudden rush of heat overwhelmed her. She tensed and jerked, her pussy throbbing. Then it was as if a wave of warm water was dragging her. She felt almost weightless and it took a moment to realize she was gasping for breaths while clutching at Ker’s shirt, grinding her pussy over his erection.

  He held her tight, but she sensed his control slipping. Raising her head from his chest, she met his gaze and loved that golden tone to his eyes.

  “Ker, I-”

  He kissed her softly and shook his head. “When you’re ready, love. I sense you’re holding back and until you are, we won’t go there.”

  God. Why was she holding back? She wanted him. He was the first man to make her feel this way. She had to think a little more. He might really want more than just sex with her.

  SIXTEEN

  Tor looked up the steep mountain slope and stared at Nana standing at the top in the fading light. If he was in half the shape she was in after thousands of years, he’d be happy.

  “You’re a wimp, great-great-whatever-grandson,” she called out.

  He had to laugh at the woman’s gumption. But he wasn’t about to tell her that she scared the absolute shit out of him with her daredevil stunts climbing the mountain. He hung back to catch her when she fell. No wonder several-great-grandad had passed on long ago. The little woman could give any dragon a heart attack.

  “On my way, Nana.” With her situated, he was able to concentrate on getting himself up with his own risky moves. Reaching the top, he took in a deep breath and held the clear, sharp air. Fabulous.

  “Next time,” Nana said, “I’ll bring up the end and save you when you slip. Sound fair?”

  Tor laughed again. “You got it, Nana.”

  She turned, squinting into the darkness. He wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but recognized it as soon as he saw it.

  “There,” he pointed to the south. In the far distance, a narrow-looking swath of trees had been plowed down like a giant lawnmower came in for a landing, blades chopping away. A faint scent of ash tasted on the back of his throat from his earlier deep breath.

  “That’s looks like a good landing strip to me,” she replied. Having the cover of night, they shifted and flew south. Hovering over the area, their night vision zeroed in on the ship. Landing, they returned to their human forms.

  Clues hinted at the craft having been there a while. Damn. He had hoped to find the group before they had to find other shelter.

  “Who is supposed to be on this expedition?” Tor asked.

  “If it’s the one the council agreed on, it should have a couple smaller clans,” she responded, looking around at the trees.

  “Why clans?” he wondered.

  Nana sighed. “Like several of us elders told the council, too many were scheduled to go to Karthasias Elo when abandoning our home planet. Soon, Karthasias Elo will have the same issue we did at home: lack of natural resources without restoration.

  “Unless we cut back the population, we’ll have to find another place to live in several hundred years. Fortunately, your family took our advice and came to Earth. More should’ve done the same. Here it is.”

  Nana rubbed her fingers along three vertical lines on a tree truck that looked like claw marks. She sniffed her fingers then brushed them off on her pants. “They went this way.” She pointed to the east.

  Tor stepped up to the scratch and smelled it. Definite dragon scents. “Why didn’t you leave me scent marks when I came for you, Nana. It would’ve been easier to find you.”

  She snorted. “And would you have found them if I left them?”
<
br />   “Of course,” he said.

  “Then why didn’t you?” She walked into the trees, leaving him speechless.

  No way would he have missed that. But he didn’t have any idea to look for clues. That was a good excuse.

  He heard her laughing. “Don’t worry, Tor,” she said. “I didn’t claw anything for you to follow. This procedure is new for us. Makes it quicker to find them. Here’s another.”

  They followed the path the clans took after leaving their ship, farther and farther into the jungles of South America. Like before, the insects and critters stayed away from them, instincts warding them away from the deadly creatures.

  “Nana,” he asked, “what exactly happened to the planet to make us leave? I mean, weren’t we smart enough to solve the problems?”

  She sighed. “Yes and no for being intelligent enough. It was more like disregard from the older generations, hesitation by the middle generations, and inexperience from the youngest.”

  “Okay,” Tor replied, “still need more explanation.”

  “Give me a minute,” Nana complained. “You kids are so impatient, anymore.”

  Tor found that comment funny seeing he was more than a few years old.

  “As you are aware,” Nana began, “our world was dying quickly. Overpopulation had devastated the planet.”

  “Why hadn’t this problem happened before?” Tor asked.

  “Because feuding and wars between our more primitive ancestors always killed thousand, keeping the numbers in check. With civilization and less predators, we have nothing to keep the balance except ourselves.”

  Tor snorted. “That worked out really well.”

  “Precisely. The elders didn’t think it was problem because they were a bit out of touch with the changes. Those in the council dragged their feet and bickered among themselves, using the problem to further their importance and status. Why your father didn’t put his foot down and demand they work together, I’ll never know.”

  “Nana, you know Dad wasn’t that kind of ruler. He believed in rule by the people, not one person. He would never push his ideas onto the community.”