by Erin Bedford
Sighing in defeat, I offered a hand to Jack. “I guess, we might as well try. What would it hurt?”
Jack stared down at my hand as if it were a hissing viper. Then after a few seconds too long, he placed his large hand in mine.
My brows furrowed in question, and he offered me a small smile. “As you said, it couldn’t hurt.”
11
The silence could kill a monk. While Jack had agreed to give this ‘getting to know each other’ thing a chance, he sure wasn’t trying too hard. Not that I really had any room to talk since I hadn’t said more than a few words since we’d left the palace.
Raiden had been so much easier to deal with. I hadn’t had to try with him. He had a way of getting under your skin and making a home there. A delicious body fulfilling home. A shiver ran down my spine in remembrance.
I wished things between Jack and me were that easy, but the ice dragon had some kind of hang up holding him back. I’d only met a few of his kind before, and while some of them had been a bit standoffish, none to this degree. Either he was really shy, had a huge stick up his butt, or someone had hurt him in the past. I honestly didn’t know which one I preferred more. All of them would make getting to know him complicated and enough work that I would really have to be committed to deal with.
Nevertheless, I couldn't figure out what I was dealing with unless one of us took the lead. Since it didn’t seem like Jack would be stepping up anytime soon, it had to be me.
“Look.” I jerked on his hand, bringing us to a stop in the middle of the street. “There’s no point in doing this if neither of us tries.”
“Agreed.”
“So, I suggest we start with something small. Something easy.” I glanced around the market, which had transformed in a few short hours from a desolate ghost town to a lively street fair. A delicious smell hit my nose just as my eyes landed on a food vendor.
Without a word, I grabbed Jack’s hand and pulled him over to the vendor. “For example, what kind of foods do you like?”
Jack eyeballed the meat sticks the vendor sold and gave an appreciative nod. I ordered two, eagerly bouncing on my heels as I waited for them. Just talking about food reminded me how long it had been since we had eaten last. I thought I might die of hunger before the man finally handed me two sticks.
I turned away from him after paying and offered Jack one. While I bit into my right away, a euphoric moan coming from my mouth, Jack sniffed at his.
“What?” I asked around a mouthful of meaty goodness. “Is there something wrong with it?”
“No, I do not enjoy spicy foods.” He stared at the meat for a moment.
“Oh, it’s not hot. I promise.” I sucked some of the juice off my fingers. Jack’s eyes darted from the meat to my face. “Did I get sauce on my face?” I reached a hand up to try to find it causing Jack to chuckle.
“No, you do not have food on your face.” He took a bite of his meat and chewed it around in his mouth for a moment before swallowing with a satisfied nod. “You were right, not spicy at all.”
“See?” I smirked and started down the street. “I wouldn’t lie to you about food.”
“So, you’d lie about other things?” he asked, and I stopped to argue with him until I saw the twinkle in his eyes.
“Why Jack, are you teasing me?” I smiled up at him as I finished off the rest of my meal.
“Only sometimes.” He took the stick from my hand and then threw his and mine in a nearby trash can.
As he returned, he glanced around. “What else would you like to try?”
“Um… I’m not sure,” I inhaled a breath that smelled like all the best things in life, grease, and sugar.
“I’m partial to those.” He pointed at a vendor across the way who was busy pouring balls of dough into a vat of oil. “They’re fried and covered in honey.”
“Well, how could I say no to that? Let’s get some.” I smiled at him, and he nodded, taking my hand and moving me across the way. I wasn’t sure if he’d done it on purpose or not, but the whole way there all I could think about what the touch of his flesh on mine.
“Two please,” Jack said, holding up two fingers at the diminutive old man behind the counter.
“Syrup or honey?” the old man asked as he scooped off bits of fried dough and put them into paper trays.
“One of each,” Jack said as he paid the man. “That way she can experience both types and see which is to her liking.”
“I hear that.” The old man chuckled as he looked over at me. “Sometimes it’s hard to choose which you want, eh?”
With that, he handed Jack our treats, and I tried really hard not to dwell on his words.
“Try the honey first. You’ll find that it’s overly sweet at first. It hits you all at once, but after that, there’s not a lot more to it. Simple. Effective. Delicious.” He picked one of them up with his long, delicate fingers and offered it to me. “Now open wide.”
I did as I was told, and he popped it into my mouth. It was as he said, sweet, almost too sweet, and very delicious, but as I chewed on it, I realized he was right. After the initial burst of flavor, there wasn’t a lot more to it.
“Wow, it’s really good, Jack. Sort of reminds me of Loukoumades.” When Jack gave me a confused look, I waved a hand dismissively. “It’s a Greek pastry back home.”
“Ah.” He shrugged. “I had forgotten you visited the human food.” He looked down at the pastries. “I’ve always heard they had bad food there, but if they have stuff like this, I may have to go myself.”
“I’d be happy to show you around sometime. We could eat our way across the world.” I smiled at him as he popped the Waesigar equivalent of a Loukoumade into his mouth.
“I would like that.” He nodded. “But, until then, I still have the other to show you.” He smiled. “I know, it’s easy to forget about the syrup because you had the honey, but bear with me.” He pulled one out and held it out to me. “You’ll notice that it’s less sweet, but there’s more complexity to it. You can actually pick out the individual notes of the syrup and the pastry because it’s less overpowering.”
He was right. As the fried treat hit my tongue, I could taste the layers of the syrup. The earthiness of the tree it had come from combined with the sweetness to envelop my tongue in waves, that had I not been paying attention, I’d have missed. It made the whole thing seem more fulfilling, especially after the overwhelming sweetness of the honey.
It was strange because while I could have seen going through the entire bag of honey ones before I’d tried the syrup, now that I had, I found myself wanting the second one a bit more.
“Which do you like more?” Jack asked as we began walking along the street. He held both bags to me.
“Honestly, both, but I think I’d rather the syrup now. I may go back for the honey later, but it’s too overwhelming to eat for an extended period.”
He nodded and handed me the bag. We walked in silence again for a few moments and then Jack abruptly asked, “You don’t know the effect you have on people, do you?”
“What do you mean?” I turned my gaze from a street performer who had just dropped all his juggling balls, to Jack. He had a curious expression on his face as if trying to decipher me.
“I mean, you don’t seem to know how attractive you are to the males around you. Even now, you draw the attention of others.” Jack inclined his head toward a few men who had stopped what they were doing to stare at us.
“No,” I scoffed. “They aren’t. They are staring because we are foreigners. I’m hardly what anyone would call a catch. I’m surprised you and Raiden even agreed to this fiasco in the first place.”
“That is your father’s words coming from your mouth, not ours.” The seriousness in Jack’s voice intrigued me. “Not everyone thinks a woman should be one way or another.” He did a sort of cute little shimmy with his shoulders as he spoke. “Sometimes the dragon does not pick the female because they have the best hips for birthing or the bet
ter archery score. Sometimes it’s about more.”
His words made a part of me giddy. I’d never been one for compliments, probably because I didn’t receive many. The fact that Jack and Raiden saw more in me even if it was something frivolous made me smile.
“More?” I quirked a brow at him, intrigued. “And you think that’s what I have, more?”
“Certainly.” Jack nodded and stopped beside a table filled with different knickknacks.
Several couples lined the side; the women kept discussing how beautiful the jeweled keepsake boxes were. How the light glinted off the gems just right. They were clearly trying to get their mates to purchase one for them. I thought the boxes were all right but not very practical and easily breakable.
Then something caught my eye. Buried in the back of the table, hardly noticeable to anyone not looking for it was a fan. I reached out and withdrew it, opening it up to admire the delicate design in the pale blue material.
“Look,” I held the fan up to Jack. “It matches your eyes.”
Smiling softly, Jack took the fan from me and held it up to the owner of the stand. He gave the man several coins before giving the fan back to me.
“I wasn’t asking you to buy it,” I argued though I clutched the fan to my chest like something as precious as the jewels on the keepsake boxes.
“I know.” He shrugged.
They were the last words he said to me as we headed back to the palace. My head spun at the mystery that was Jack. As an ice dragon, it only made sense he didn’t care for spicy things. Even thinking of the way he hadn’t touched the meat until I confirmed it made me smile. Then the way he stared at me while I cleaned my hand off or his obsession with pastry. Finally, Jack’s silly talk about me. Saying I had something more before buying me something I had barely shown any interest in.
Confusing.
We stopped at the bedroom door, neither of us going in. I think we didn’t want the night to end, I know I didn’t. In addition, I knew that going in the room would mean seeing Raiden and then all kinds of questions would come.
“I hope you are aware of my affection for you.” Jack’s sudden admission pulled me out of my own thoughts. “I might not be as open Raiden, but I do care for you.”
“I know.” I ducked my head down, not meeting his eyes. Feelings had never been something I had been good at. I cared for Jack too. Maybe not as intensely as I did with Raiden, but something more subtle. When Jack wasn't a hormonal pain in the butt, he was like a cool balm after being left to die in the scorching desert. Something I deeply needed with my father breathing down my neck.
“I still wish to be in this race,” Jack said, pulling my attention back to him.
“That’s good to know.” I murmured at the floor and then glanced up at him beneath my lashes. “I don’t think I could do what Lord Amun wants us to do with only Raiden at my side. He might be powerful in his own right, but he’s still…”
“A child.” Jack filled in for me.
“A bit.” I smiled.
We stared at the door as if it were some kind of barrier between the real world and us. Then as if we had rehearsed it, we both turned from the door and spoke.
“I’m glad we did this,” Jack said, and I said, “What now?”
Laughing at ourselves, Jack gestured for me to go first.
“I guess this is goodnight.” I shifted from foot to foot, awkwardness starting to settle in.
“I suppose it is,” Jack replied and then when my hand reached out to touch the doorknob his hand landed on mine. I watched as he drew it away from the door and brought it to touch his chest. I had no choice but to step toward him or have my arm jerked off.
It brought us inches from each other, and suddenly the awkward tension changed into something else. I placed the other hand still clasping my fan beside the other one putting me even closer to him. Our breath mingled between us and my eyes lashes fluttered closed just as his lips descended onto mine.
Jack didn’t need any direction this time. His mouth covered mine, and he wasted no time, swiping his tongue at my lips asking them to part. I needed little provocation, more than ready to let my feelings out and greedily accepted him. His hands came around my waist settling low on my hips. Jack applied a slight amount of pressure, which caused my thighs to press together in need.
The scent must have hit Jack’s nose because my back hit the wall beside the door moments later. One hand tangled in his long hair and the other clutched onto the fan for dear life as he devoured every inch of my mouth.
Small mewing sounds came from my throat, and I knew I was coming close to the no–stopping-zone. Jack must have noticed because he dragged himself away, but my mouth tried to keep him there, causing him to laugh. It was a genuine laugh, low and husky. One that told me he knew exactly how he affected me.
“We must stop,” he said, smoothing my hair away from my face before placing his forehead against mine.
“I know.” I breathed. The slight whine in my voice making me wince.
“You made me think you did not want me but now…” He ground his hips against me making me gasp. I wasn’t the only one who affected by something as simple as a kiss.
“I never said that.” I leaned my head back against the wall so I could look up into his eyes.
“I know. It was my own jealousy getting in the way.” Shame covered Jack’s face, and I had the urge to kiss him again before he smirked. “I thought this would be easy. That you would take one look at me and know who the better dragon was.”
“I’m sorry?” I offered not sure what else to say.
“It’s not your fault.” He shook his head. “The women back home are much more easily wooed, and I just didn’t expect I’d actually have to work for your affections.”
“I feel like that was supposed to be a compliment,” I said, trying really hard not to get annoyed with him. Had he really expected me to just fall all over him?
“It was, and you should take it as so.” Jack moved away from me, so the hard front of him didn’t press against me anymore. A part of me disliked being apart already which I could only take as a good sign.
We were silent for a moment, and then I took a step toward the door once more. “I guess we should go inside. Raiden will probably be wondering where we are.”
Before I could get to the door, Jack grabbed my hand again. I thought maybe he wanted another kiss, and while I wasn’t entirely against it, I knew it would only lead to an embarrassing situation if someone happened to walk by us in the open hallway.
But he didn’t.
Jack leaned down until his mouth brushed my ear and whispered, “I may not get to bed you tonight but be warned. I will claim your body as mine, and when I do, no dragon will be able to stand against us.”
I swallowed hard at his words. If I had been human on Earth and a man said this to me, I’d have screamed about not belonging to anyone, but this wasn’t Earth, and I wasn’t human. The dragon inside of me roared at his claim and urged me to let him try right there in the hallway where everyone could see us.
I shoved her down and then met Jack’s eyes with a coy grin. “I look forward to it.”
12
Raiden didn’t say anything when we had arrived in the room nor when we’d laid down for the night. The bed had been big enough to fit all three of without having to touch each other. However, it didn’t stop me from thinking about it.
To say it had been a restless night would be an understatement.
“Do you think this Firestar is a formidable opponent?” Jack asked as we finished packing the rest of our belongings up the next morning.
My shoulders tensed. “I’m not sure.” My voice came out shaking, and I hoped they didn’t notice my reaction.
“I heard the Southern Lord’s son had the highest kill count in the last war,” Raiden commented, leaning against the edge of the bed. He had been on his best behavior since the woods. Trying to help me out with Jack. Even keeping his hands to himself the
entire night when I had been sure he would try something the moment Jack went to sleep. Either he was overconfident in his place amongst this little trio, or he didn’t think Jack was a threat. Either way, it was worrisome.
Raiden and Jack weren’t fighting, and I could hardly complain, but how could he be so okay with sharing me? I, myself, was finding it a bit hard to swallow even if I was the one who was getting all the benefit. I hoped his laid-back personality was real and not some coping mechanism that was going to blow up in my face later.
“Really?” Jack asked, raising a brow. “I had not heard such a thing. Do you expect trouble?”
“I always expect trouble.” Raiden shot Jack a grin. Their camaraderie made things easier for me but harder when it came time to pick the winner.
“It doesn’t matter anyway,” I interrupted their moment. “We can’t leave until we defeat him or at least make him agree to stop.”
“You think he will be willing to make a deal?” Raiden’s expression turned to surprise.
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. We’ll have to try something. Three against a whole army isn’t great odds.”
My words caused the other two to go silent. We finished packing and met Herbert at the front gate. After he informed me he had been given a bed in the servant’s quarters, I filled him in on the new plans.
“I also think you should stay behind.” I clapped Herbert on the shoulder. “This isn’t a simple political trip anymore. We can’t guarantee your safety.”
“What kind of dragon would I be if I left you now?” Herbert shook his head, and the fierceness in his eyes surprised me.
Thankfully, Jack stepped in, keeping me from having to break the older man’s heart. “No one is questioning your honor. What I believe Maya is trying to say, is we could move faster if you would stay behind.”