The Queen's Wings

by Jamie K. Schmidt

  “My Queen, I am first class.”

  I couldn’t argue with that and forgot to be frightened of the height when I looked out to see the sky boiling with dragons. There was a formation of Red Western dragons, but those guys were on our side based on the colors they wore. Drakes on the ground made sure to take out anyone who was stupid enough to go for any of the buildings. There were a cadre of Chinese dragons in brilliant oranges and greens by the library, and fear gripped me.

  “They won’t destroy the library, will they?”

  “I don’t think that’s their target,” Reed said, holding me close to his mouth so I could hear him over his flapping wings as he pumped higher into the sky.

  “Who are they fighting?”

  Reed did a wide circle around the campus. “Some rogue team of mercenaries. I see nagas, drakes, and Westerns. It shouldn’t take them long to quell the uprising once their spies see I’ve taken you away.”

  “Why aren’t they chasing us?”

  “Because they won’t know we’re gone until we’re too far away to do anything about it.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “Paris,” Reed said.

  “That’s where Niall is,” I said, feeling a smile come on.

  “Oh, we won’t be seeing him. He’ll be busy with Lerisse, but she must not know you’re in Paris.”

  “Why? Can’t we stay at her castle for more protection?”

  “It’s political.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “You will.”

  “I want to talk to another Queen,” I said. There were questions I needed to ask.

  “They can’t be trusted. All of them are conniving bitches that will try to hurt you.”

  “Please, Reed, promise me you’ll take me to a Queen.”

  “Will it ease your mind?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I promise you, there is a Queen in France you can talk to.”

  “Thank you.” I relaxed in his grip.

  The flight to Paris from Connecticut was ten hours. I was frozen, exhausted, and hungry. The only consolation was Reed was all that and cranky, too. No one noticed the immense black dragon as he came to a landing on top of a hotel by the Eiffel Tower. I hoped we would get time to sightsee—after about eight hours of sleep, some croissants, and café au lait. Reed shifted back, his face wan and haggard.

  “Come on,” he said.

  “Um, aren’t they going to call the gendarmes on us?”

  “I doubt it. I own the hotel.”

  He passed his hand in front of a scanner on the door I didn’t even see and walked inside. I quickly followed before the door closed, reminding myself not to obsess so much on Reed’s fine backside. I tried to remind myself he was my brother—

  No, he’s not, I thought back furiously at Arianna.

  Reed palmed another hidden door open, and we were suddenly in a luxurious suite of rooms. He waved me inside and then locked the door.

  “We’ll be safe here for the evening,” he said and walked into the bedroom of my dreams.

  The bed was round and covered in rich satins and silks. A puffy goose comforter and several fluffy pillows were on top of it. “Make yourself at home,” Reed said and face-planted into the bed.

  “Are you hungry?”

  He made a grunting sound. I decided a nap sounded like a fine idea, but first a bath. I shed my clothes, which had become wind torn and grimy, and padded around on soft, thick carpet to the bathroom.

  The tub was surrounded by Italian marble and set in a palatial bathroom. I switched on the towel warmer and ran the hot water. After rummaging through the medicine cabinet, I found a nonmasculine scent and dripped it into the bath. Watching silky suds fill the air with a sweet floral that wasn’t too cloying, I idly ran my fingers through the bath. When the temperature regulated, I immersed in the water and held my breath and sunk under. The absence of noise was wonderful, and I closed my eyes and drifted. There was something I was forgetting, a pang that I quickly closed my mind off to. It was so warm and peaceful. Nothing to worry about.

  A giant splash rocked into me, and hands grabbed my hair and pulled me out of the water. I took a huge breath, gasping and coughing.

  “What the hell are you trying to do?” Reed demanded, yanking my face up to him.

  “I don’t know. Arianna?” I asked.

  “She left the bedroom walls bloody with her message to come and save you. If it wasn’t for her dropping the temperature to freezing in there, I wouldn’t have woken up.”

  I started to shiver in reaction, and he sat down in the tub and cradled me on his lap. He held me tight. “You would have drowned. I would have found you floating.” He shuddered and I wrapped my arms around him. “Why?” he asked, his voice strained with emotion. “Why were you trying to kill yourself?”

  I coughed again. “It wasn’t me. I just wanted a bath.”

  I watched as his skin flaked off to show dragon scales.

  “Oh no you don’t, mister,” I said. “The bathroom is big, but not that big. Keep it in your pants.”

  “I’m not wearing pants,” he told me and switched me around so I was straddling his leg, the tips of my breasts brushing up against his chest in the soapy water.

  “Who’s trying to kill me?” I asked and that stopped his caressing hands on my ass. I wiggled and made a protest and he continued stroking my back and legs.

  “I don’t know,” he said. “Yet.” His eyes were lazy, almost bored, and I got the sense that this was his dangerous look. It sent tingles through me.

  “I have a theory.”

  He tipped my chin aside and pressed soft, biting kisses on my neck. I closed my eyes and forgot my train of thought for a moment.

  “No listen,” I said halfheartedly.

  “I’m listening, Carolyn,” he said against my throat, tasting my collarbone with his tongue. He moved on to kiss my shoulder, with soft, gentle brushes of his lips. Then he went back to the curve of my neck.

  “Oh yeah.” I sighed and moved against him. He was warm and hard. The slick bath water made me slide against him, sweet and easy. “I think Arianna—”

  “Do we have to talk about my sister?”

  “Only has a finite amount of power each day. I think she blew her wad warning you I was in trouble.”

  Reed pulled back to stare into my eyes. “So what are you saying?”

  “I’m saying she can’t stop this. She’s not in my head right now.”

  “And she was before?”

  I nodded, and he ran his hands up to my front to capture my breasts. He thumbed my nipples and watched my reaction. I smiled and moaned for him. I gasped when his head dipped down to take my nipple in his mouth.

  I finally couldn’t take the hot, pulsing sensations anymore and pulled his mouth up to mine for more of his blistering kisses. I could taste his rage, his passion, and I ground into him, trying to get closer. He pinned me to the edge of the tub and rubbed his hard body over mine. Entangling my legs around his waist, I moaned when his mouth went to my other nipple and his fingers tickled between our bodies.

  “Do you want me?” I whispered, arching myself into his questing fingers. They sank into me, finding my most sensitive spots and strumming softly until I squirmed.

  “What do you think?” He took his fingers away, even though I uttered a small protest. I felt the thick head of his penis as he guided himself to my clit and rubbed against it. I bit his shoulder, and he plunged in hard.

  “I’m not forcing you, am I?” I asked as he began to move. “Because I’m a Queen and studs can’t say no. Or did your mother order—”

  “Shut up,” he told me nicely and ravaged my mouth again, his hips pounding me into the side of the tub.

  Water and suds splashed over us as his rhythm took on a sweet, savage beat. I lifted my hips and tightened my legs around him more, needing each thrust. Our tongues clashed. He held my backside to cushion the pounding and to hold me closer. My hands were all over
him, his short hair, strong shoulders and finally his muscled arms. I came apart, shouting his name.

  He spoke dragon in a guttural voice. His eyes sparked with lust, desire, and a base animal need I responded to. Yet, he slowed his body down so each motion drew him almost completely out and then inching back in to the hilt. My thighs quivered with how tight I was holding him, trying to keep him from pulling out.

  “Satisfied?” he asked, running his tongue down to my nipples. He flicked his tongue against the hard nub, and I cried out again, sensitive and still on fire for him.

  “You were perfect,” I told him.

  He made a purring sound deep in his throat. “Perhaps we should take this to bed.”

  “We’ll get the sheets all wet,” I protested, hanging on to his arms while he lifted me out of the tub and stalked back to the bedroom.

  “I don’t give a fuck,” he said pleasantly and while the room was chillier, even taking into account we were both soaked, the bloodstains were gone from the wall. Reed tossed me into his bed and followed, pulling the covers up over us.

  “I’m going to taste every inch of you,” he said pressing me flat and covering my face with kisses. “I’m going to be your first dragon lover. You will never forget me.”

  I had a feeling he was right, and I opened my legs to him. He was still hard and hot and I had a moment of worrying I wasn’t doing it for him, so I slid my hand down and took him in my hand. Reed bucked and gritted his teeth.

  “Carolyn, let me do this right.”

  “This feels right,” I told him and slowly moved my grip up and down him. He was like velvet fire in my hands. I quickly forgot about the chilliness of the room and had only enough thought to lose myself in his dark and wonderful eyes. He smelled like leather and whiskey and man, even with the faint flowery soap we bathed in. I kissed him with my eyes open because I didn’t want to miss a minute.

  He lost the power of speech, and I was enthralled as he braced himself on his hands on either side of my head and stared down into my eyes as I made him come all over my stomach.

  “That’s not what I expected.” He breathed heavily and his eyes narrowed as I brought my hand up and licked my thumb.

  “I got to taste you first.” I smiled. “And I’m your first human lover. You’re not going to forget me.”

  “You are”—he sighed—“unforgettable.” He kissed me again with more sweetness than heat and I melted again into him. “I’m afraid I’m more tired than I realized. Forgive me, my Queen.” He kissed my temple and gathered me close. “Sleep in my arms and know you are safe.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Eleventh Rule of Dragons: A dragon’s hoard is an extension of himself. If you steal from it, you own a part of the dragon’s soul

  I was on a warm cloud. The scent of sweet flowers wafted through the air. I heard the murmur of Reed’s mouth against the juncture of my thighs, and I could still taste his kisses on my lips.

  “Did I wake you, my Queen?” Reed asked before dipping his wicked tongue inside of me.

  “Yes,” I said and writhed as he eased my aching thighs over his shoulders.

  “Then let me make it up to you.” He dipped his head back and started licking his tongue up and over each inch of my core. Each sweep was shudderingly good and my hips bounced up and down, encouraging him.

  “Your taste makes me hard,” he told me and flicked his tongue over and over my clit until the heat and tension had me panting. It was like silk on my most sensitive area, and he played my body like a master. I was wet and hot and nearly out of my mind. He chuckled and dipped his head to do more mischief. My hands gripped his hair. I lost control and grinded on his face until my orgasm shattered me into pieces on the bed. I was dimly aware of being roughly flipped over, my moans still leaking out of me and onto the pillow.

  “On your hands and knees,” he ordered and I eagerly obeyed, needing the rush of desire as he thrust into me from behind. He was so thick and so deep I screamed my need of him. Plunging gently into me at first, he picked up his pace until I bucked against him and whipped my head around so I could gaze at him over my shoulder.

  “Faster.” I gasped and nearly came again at his feral smile.

  His pace picked up and I was drilled back into the pillow. He filled me and left me bereft.

  “More, more,” I pleaded and he gripped my hips harder.

  “Yes,” he ground out and then simply, “Carolyn!” as he came and shuddered inside of me. Slipping out, he rolled me over and lay on top of me. He turned us to our sides so we could study each other.

  “Good morning,” he said, his grin almost boyish.

  “Good morning,” I replied and kissed him before he could turn back into that other Reed. The one who sneered and bossed me around and hated humans on general principle.

  We lazily kissed the morning away, stealing caresses and getting to know each other’s bodies more slowly this time. Decadent, I spread my legs for him and let him play with me until I had another orgasm. He licked his fingers afterward and it nearly made me his slave. But of course, my stomach chose that time to growl its impatience.

  “Are you hungry, my Queen?”

  “Yes,” I said.

  “Then I will feed you.” He got up gracefully and padded to the phone. I stretched languidly and smiled. With all the œufs, jambon, and croissants he ordered, we should have gone down to the buffet. Hell, he ordered the buffet. I loved listening to him speak French. He finished with the café au lait and I knew I had fallen in lust.

  “You are so beautiful standing there,” I told him, admiring his naked body.

  “Not half as beautiful as you, my Queen, lying tussled in my bed.”

  He had a trail of silky dark hair from the bottom of his navel to the tip of his bobbing cock, which twitched at my words. I wanted to trace my tongue down that line.

  “Go ahead,” he said.

  “I’ve got to stop thinking aloud,” I said and crawled across the bed toward him.

  “I kind of like it.” He moved closer to the bed so my face was level to his stomach. I licked the hard muscles of his stomach and rubbed my cheek over the tip of him.

  He drew in a quick gasp, his fingers knotting in my hair, holding me close to his body. Like I was going to move away anytime soon. Trailing my tongue down that fine line of hair, I breathed him in. He was warm, and I desperately wanted him in my mouth. Holding him in my hand, I moved my tongue and lips over his head, which was beading up with his need. I licked a droplet away.

  “Carolyn.” He gripped my hair.

  In a quick move, I engulfed him, sliding him up and down using my mouth in a hard suction until his knees buckled. He was thick, filling my mouth. I loved moving my lips over him.

  “Yes,” he gritted through his teeth, as I picked up the pace and bobbed my head with hard sucking sounds.

  I moved my hands around his hips to hold him closer, and the tips of my breasts brushed up against his thighs. His body tightened.

  “God,” he said and threw his head back as the orgasm rippled through him. I lay back on the bed and couldn’t help a smug and satisfied smile. He followed me and kissed me deeply until there was a knock on the door for room service. Reed slipped out of bed and put on a thick cotton robe.

  I dove under the covers and snuggled down into the pillow. I had my eyes closed, feeling sleepy. There was a rapid exchange in French and then several carts being rolled in. When the door closed again, the room was like a boulangerie and a patisserie all rolled up into one.

  “Breakfast is served,” Reed said and dove in, not bothering to wait for me.

  Dragons ate a lot. I grabbed myself two chocolate croissants before they were all gone and a bowl of café au lait. I was still naked and ate sitting cross-legged on the bed. I hoped I was getting all the flaky, buttery pieces of the pastry and not leaving crumbs in the sheets.

  “So what should I wear to meet this French Queen?”

  Reed paused mid-baguette and glanced up, m
ildly alarmed. “Who?”

  “The Queen you promised to take me to?”

  Arianna stirred, and no matter how hard I tried to keep her away, I sensed her coming to the forefront of my mind.

  “Wear comfortable shoes,” Reed said.

  “Are we taking the metro?”

  “I’ll have a car brought around. It’s a few hours’ drive. Are you sure you want to meet this Queen?” Reed asked. He shifted his eyes away from me.

  I eyeballed him, but as we just spent a wonderful night together, I was going to give him the benefit of the doubt.

  Sucker, Arianna said.

  Blow me, I sent back to her. What was that last night anyway?

  How the hell do I know? You were hell-bent on drowning. Be more careful with our body.

  Our body? Yeah about that… Stop coming on to Jack. Reed and I are a couple now.

  Haven’t you wondered why he’s only been trying to get into your pants since Mexico? My mother all but ordered him to bed you and keep you complacent.

  So you’ve said. And maybe it started out that way. But it’s not that way now. I mentally stuck my tongue out at her.

  Gross.

  I finished my croissants and realized I didn’t have any clothes to change into.

  “Reed, do I have to wear the outfit I flew in with?”

  “No, I will have something sent up. How does Chanel sound?”

  “Very expensive,” I told him and smiled at his confusion. “Do you want to know my size?”

  “I have it covered.”

  “You can cover it again.” I smiled.

  Ick, Arianna said.

  Reed put down the ham and rose to his feet.

  I swear I’ll start singing Frere Jacques if he gets in this bed, Arianna warned.

  I held up a hand. “Your sister’s back.”

  Reed stopped in his tracks. “I’ll just make that call.”

  About an hour later, we were settled in the back of a very nice Citroen being driven into the country.

  “So, does she have a villa in Provence?” I asked.

  “No, but she has a castle.” Reed was fiddling with his ereader and trying to avoid my eyes.

  I smell a rat, Arianna said.