Embers (The Slayer Chronicles Book 2)

by Val St. Crowe

  We stared back.

  “Shut the door,” one of them said.

  “Sorry,” I said. I shut the door.

  A man in a sweater and glasses crossed the room to us. “How’d you get here? There’s no way up the mountain right now.”

  “Besides,” said a guy in a sweatshirt, “we’re not running the lifts until the storm’s over.”

  “Yeah,” said Glasses. “If you want to ski or snowboard, it’s at your own risk.”

  “We can rent out gear, though, I guess,” said Sweatshirt.

  “We’re not here to ski,” I said. “We just… we escaped…”

  Naelen stumbled forward. He reached under his jacket and came out with a credit card. “We want that wing.” He pointed.

  “Wing?” said Glasses.

  “Charge it to the card,” said Naelen. “I’m Naelen fucking Spencer.” And then he collapsed again.

  * * *

  I wasn’t thinking that we should really have to pay for anything. After all, we were refugees from an exploded lab, where we’d nearly been killed by rogue dragons. I was fairly sure that we should be given shelter out of the kindness of the hearts of these guys. But apparently, even in crazy snowstorms, ski lodges are used to staying open, so Glasses didn’t have any problem running Naelen’s credit card.

  Glasses’s name was Jonah, incidentally, and he was the manager of the ski lodge. I told him that we were fine with four rooms. The whole wing was unnecessary.

  We took Naelen to his room on one of the baggage carts and then Celia and Foster helped me get him onto the bed in there.

  After that, I told them to go.

  I had the key to my room, which was next door, and Celia and Foster each had their own rooms across the hallway.

  Alone with Naelen, I began peeling off his wet clothes. I couldn’t leave him in them, not if I wanted him to get warm. And it wasn’t as if I hadn’t seen him naked before.

  Still…

  There was something unnerving about it this time. I mean, there was something unnerving about seeing him naked every time it happened, but usually because he was nice to look at and because it got me a little hot and bothered.

  But this time, he was so cold and so passed out and so drained that I didn’t feel any of those things. His body was still powerful and beautiful, but he wasn’t at peak capacity, and I felt almost tender towards him. I felt like a caregiver.

  I undressed him, tucked him in, piled more blankets on him, and pushed his wet hair away from his brow. For a moment, I only stared down at him, worried because his nose still seemed blueish. Would his nose get warm without blankets on it? I couldn’t very well cover his face with blankets if I wanted him to breathe, though.

  Unable to stop myself, I planted a little kiss on the tip of his cold nose.

  His eyes fluttered open. “Clarke?”

  I felt myself flush. “Go to sleep, Naelen.”

  He drew in breath, as if he was about to say something else.

  “Shh,” I murmured. “You need your rest, okay?”

  His eyes closed and his breath grew steady.

  I watched him for a little longer. Then I got up and eased out of the room and into my own space.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  I needed to go after those dragons, and I knew it. But I was freezing right now, and I decided it would be better if I took the time to get in a hot shower to thaw myself before trekking back out into the snow. I wasn’t even sure how I was going to find them. Still, I couldn’t allow them to roam free.

  I hadn’t even told Jonah about them, though. Sighing, I picked up the phone, called the front desk and filled him in.

  “Dragons don’t attack people,” he said.

  I rolled my eyes. “They do, though. Just because you’ve never heard of it happening doesn’t mean it doesn’t.”

  “You’re one of those conspiracy theory nut-jobs aren’t you?” he said.

  “Just be careful,” I said.

  He laughed.

  “If you see one, call me,” I said.

  “Right. Sure,” he said.

  I hung up. That was what I got for trying to help someone out.

  I undressed, taking off all my clothes. I started to stagger toward the shower, but a wave of exhaustion over took me. I looked longingly at my bed.

  Maybe just a little nap…

  * * *

  I woke up only a couple hours later, feeling much refreshed after my short nap. I got out of bed and went over to the window. Pulling the curtains aside, I peered out. The snow seemed to have stopped. Everything was covered in a pristine layer of glittering whiteness. Beautiful.

  It also meant that I might be able to find the dragons after all.

  If they walked, they’d leave tracks. If they flew, I’d see them in the sky now that it wasn’t snowing so hard. I could find them. There were only five. I’d take them down easy, especially since I knew I had exploding arrows.

  I did think a shower was in order first, though.

  The bathrooms in the lodge were equipped with enormous jetted bathtubs. There was also a stand-up shower right next to it. I opted for the shower, even though the bath sounded luxurious. Maybe I’d treat myself after I killed those damned dragons.

  As I lathered up in the shower, I wondered what I’d do if Naelen wasn’t here. If it was Logan with me, and there was no magic credit card to buy rooms with.

  Of course, Logan did open up fake credit card accounts all the time, so maybe that wouldn’t be a problem.

  Still, there were advantages to Naelen’s wealth. That couldn’t be denied.

  If only Naelen and Logan didn’t hate each other so much, and if only Naelen didn’t want to have sex with me, then we could all work together. I could be with Logan, and still be friends with Naelen, and…

  No.

  That wouldn’t work. Because my feelings for Naelen weren’t simply friendly feelings. I felt raging lust toward him. And I kissed his nose after tucking him into bed.

  When I got out of the shower, I realized that I’d forgotten one important thing. All my clothes were still wet. I had nothing to put on.

  There was a robe in the bathroom of the hotel. I threw that on, and I paced the room, trying to figure out what the hell I could do. If only there were a dryer or something. Or maybe I could buy clothes from the gift shop, touristy things like sweatpants emblazoned with the name of the ski lodge, and charge it all to Naelen’s credit card.

  I called down to the front desk again.

  “I’m sufficiently warned about dragons, thanks,” said the person who answered. “Jonah passed the message on to me.”

  I rolled my eyes at the phone. I almost hoped a dragon did attack here. It would serve them both right to be proved wrong. “That’s not why I’m calling.”

  “Okay,” he said. “What’s up?”

  “Do you have a gift shop?”

  “Uh… yeah, but it’s not really open right now. We’re on a skeleton staff at the moment.”

  “Does it have, like, clothing?”

  “Oh, I get where you’re coming from. You don’t have any clothes.”

  “Mine are all wet,” I said. “I’m wearing a robe right now. I’m wondering if maybe someone could bring me a pair of sweats and a shirt and charge them to Naelen’s account?”

  “You don’t want to come down in your robe?”

  “Not really, no. If it’s a problem, I guess I can understand that, but—”

  “Nah, it’s fine. I’ll get someone to run them up to you.”

  “You will? Thank you so much.”

  “Not a problem. We’re not exactly busy right now.”

  “Listen, about the dragons—”

  “Lady, dragons don’t attack people.”

  I sighed. Whatever. “Just… if you see anything, could you let me know?”

  “Sure, sure,” he said.

  I hung up the phone.

  There was a knock on the door. Wow, that was fast. I crossed the room to ope
n the door. “How’d you get the clothes so—” I broke off. It was Naelen.

  He wasn’t wearing anything except a robe either. “Oh, thank God this is your room,” he said, barreling past me.

  I shut the door behind him. “You seem chipper.”

  “I shifted in the bathtub,” he said. “Feel great now. How are you?” He eyed me with concern.

  I pulled my robe tighter closed. “I’m fine.”

  “Jesus, Clarke, I was only inquiring after your welfare. You don’t have to assume that everything with me is a sexual advance.”

  I looked at my toes. “I don’t assume that.”

  “Sure, you don’t.” He was bitter. But squared his shoulders and switched gears. “So, what’s our plan? We going back out after the dragons now that it’s stopped snowing?”

  “Yeah, I was going to go as soon as I got some clothes,” I said.

  “I’ll come along,” he said. “You’ll need help. Maybe we should eat something before we go, though, get our strength up.”

  I nodded. “All right, I guess that’s smart.” I was hungry, now that he brought it up.

  “Good,” he said, “because I already ordered room service to my room, so come over there with me.”

  “I have to wait for them to bring up the clothes I ordered from the gift shop,” I said.

  “That’s brilliant,” he said. He crossed the room to my phone and picked it up. “Hello?… Yes, about the clothes that Clarke asked for? I’m going to need some too. Just put it all on my account…. Actually, a few spares would be good too. Thanks…. No, bring all of it to my room, if you don’t mind…. Yes, the food too…. Thank you very much.” He hung up. “Let’s go.”

  I glared at him. “You can’t just order me around.”

  He furrowed his brow. “What are you upset about now?”

  “It’s not that I’m upset, it’s…” I ran my hands through my wet hair. Oh, hell, I didn’t know why I was upset. It was only that he was infuriating, waltzing in here and taking charge and… and not even acting one bit attracted to me when I was in a robe? In nothing but a robe? Did he not notice or something?

  I shook myself. I was being stupid. I didn’t want him to notice me. I wanted him to back off. Now, he was doing what I wanted, and I didn’t like it?

  This was like that uncomfortable sensation I’d had in my stomach back in the lab, and I didn’t feel like dwelling on it now either.

  I pushed past him and headed for his room without saying a word.

  “Clarke?”

  I went in and flounced down on the easy chair over next to the window. I tucked my feet up under my robe and huddled there, sulking for no reason I could figure.

  He appeared in the doorway. “You’re angry.”

  “No,” I said, but I sounded angry.

  He shut the door. He surveyed me from the other side of the room.

  I began picking at my robe.

  “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “Like you care,” I muttered. “Everything you do is just an elaborate attempt to seduce me, even when you’re acting like you aren’t seducing me.” Yeah! That was it. He was deliberately not making a pass at me in order to make me want to make a pass at him. And hell if it wasn’t working, that bastard.

  “What?” He spread his hands, making his robe part, exposing his tan, toned chest. “I’m not trying to seduce you.”

  “Right,” I said sarcastically.

  “I’m not.” He strode across the room and stood over me, glaring down at me. “I’ve even made every attempt not to ogle you, even though your robe keeps gaping.” He pointed.

  I looked down. Oh. Cleavage city. Fine. Whatever. Maybe I wanted him to look. I sat up straight, jutting my chest out. “You want to look? Look.”

  He sucked in breath sharply and turned away, making a noise in the back of his throat.

  I looked down at myself. Oops! My breast had poked out. I tucked it back into my robe and felt myself flushing everywhere. It was as if my whole body was blushing. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to…” I huddled down in the chair, trying to curl up and disappear.

  He still wasn’t looking at me.

  I stole a glance at him, though, and his body was tense. He was even clenching his hands into fists. Was he angry? Seeing my body exposed made him mad? I was confused.

  He maneuvered himself to the bed with his back to me and sat down, crossing his leg deliberately and surreptitiously readjusting his robe.

  Oh!

  I blushed again. He had an erection. He was trying to hide it, but…

  The heat of the blush seemed to travel between my thighs. I squirmed.

  “Maybe you should go back to your room,” he muttered. “Maybe we should wait until we have… clothes… to…”

  He liked it. He liked seeing my body. It turned him on, made him hard. He was… hard for me.

  Shivers of pleasure went through me at the thought. It was a naughty sort of thought, and it wasn’t the kind of thing that I should think. Hell, there were dragons out there. I should focus on that. But I found myself uncurling, my limbs feeling looser as I set my legs on the ground and leaned back in the chair. My knees together, my ankles apart. I chewed on my lip and gazed at him. I gazed at his crotch, at what he was trying to hide from me.

  He looked up at me for a second, then away. He seemed embarrassed.

  Naelen Spencer, embarrassed. I smiled.

  “You really think I only want to seduce you?” he asked the other side of the room. “That I don’t care about you at all, even after everything I’ve told you?”

  “I…” I didn’t know how to respond. The word “seduce” had sent little fiery thrills all through me, and now I was thinking about how the robe was rubbing up against my skin—all of my skin.

  “I’ve got an idea for an experiment, then,” he said, turning back to me, his gaze darkened with desire.

  I swallowed. How did he manage to make the word “experiment” sound dirty?

  “You think all I want from you is sex? Maybe you’re right.” He stood up and his erection was suddenly very apparent. He looked down at it, and then at me, raising an eyebrow, daring me to say something about it.

  I rotated my shoulders, feeling antsy and even more turned on. I should have blushed or hidden my gaze or been scandalized, but instead I just stared at his crotch. Stared and stared.

  He started to walk towards me. “Say it’s true,” he whispered. “Maybe I don’t even know it. Maybe I think it’s something more, but it’s only because you’re a tease.”

  My mouth dropped open. That wasn’t fair.

  He placed a hand on either side of the arms on the chair I was sitting in, trapping me there with his body. “The only way to know for sure is to do it, Clarke. Give in to me. And if you’re right, then afterward, it will be all over, and I won’t want to bother you anymore.”

  I gulped. He was so close, and I could see down his robe, and I had undressed him earlier, but now he was… big. I struggled to wrest my gaze away from his body, to look at his face. “But then it’ll be horrible. Awkward between us.”

  “Won’t matter. You can go off with Logan, and I’ll be fine once I get the thing I want from you, right?” There was a bitter tinge to his voice, but there was also a hunger that eclipsed it

  “But I’ll… I’ll…”

  He kissed me.

  I let him. I put my hands on his chest, inside his robe, on his bare chest, and his skin was smooth and warm and firm and—

  He broke the kiss. “Say yes.”

  I felt dizzy. I parted my lips, tried to speak, but nothing came out. So, shyly, I just reached up and slowly eased my robe off my shoulders, baring my body to him.

  He sucked in breath through his teeth, and this time he didn’t look away. He drank me in greedily.

  “Wait,” I said suddenly.

  “What?” He hadn’t taken his eyes off my bare skin.

  “What if you do want more? What if having sex with me
isn’t enough?”

  “It won’t be,” he said, and he untied my robe, uncovering the rest of me.

  “But then I’ll… I won’t know…”

  He let out a low groan. “You’re exquisite.”

  I actually writhed at the words, at his gaze. I wanted him. Maybe I didn’t care if I’d be even more confused afterward. Maybe things had simply gone too far for me to take it all back.

  He ran a tentative finger over me, barely stroking my sensitive places, starting at my neck and curving down to my thighs and then back up again.

  I moaned. I seized the tie to his robe and untied it.

  His robe fell open, and I could see him clearly.

  I ran my tongue over my teeth, and then I reached out and closed my hand around him.

  He grunted.

  I stroked him, and his hands began to move on my skin. Clever hands, fingers nudging me with just the right amount of pressure, waking me up, making me even more aroused. I threw my head back.

  He kissed my neck.

  I shivered.

  “I want you on the bed,” he whispered urgently.

  “Mmm,” I agreed, letting go of him so that I could stand up.

  But he picked me up, pressing my body against his, wrapping my legs around his waist, and lay me back on the bed.

  I gasped, stunned.

  He crawled over me, and he was between my legs, and we were both naked, and I felt a stab of worry. This was happening. This was really happening, and did I want this to happen?

  He kissed me.

  Sweetness rolled through my like peals of thunder.

  Yes, I wanted this. God, I wanted this.

  I reached between us, and I found him and I guided him to where I wanted him. “Now,” I whispered. “Before I lose my nerve.”

  The tip of his body inside mine, sliding against me, stretching—

  Crash.

  The tinkle of shattering glass.

  A whoosh of frigid air.

  Followed by a ball of flame.

  I clutched at Naelen and peered over his shoulder at the dragon that had just busted through the window of his hotel room.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Naelen shot an annoyed glance over his shoulder. “You’ve got some timing, buddy.”