“How long does the other effect last?”
“It’s hard to say... perhaps a few hours. Perhaps until tomorrow. It can be very uncomfortable,” Philippe responded, his fingertips trailing over her exposed skin. The lightest of touches, it still had her reeling. “It heightens every sense.... taste, touch, smell. Everything you experience, whether it is pain or pleasure, will be more intense.”
Remy glanced at Philippe and smiled. “We’re going to be in for a very long night.”
Lilly shivered as she felt Philippe’s lips against her neck. He kissed the mark there. Though it was always sensitive, she was unprepared for how the potion would magnify that. Her blood raced through her veins. Everywhere he touched her seemed to arc directly to her core until, with no more than a kiss, her body was weeping for him.
“Kiss me,” she urged.
Philippe moved above her and claimed her lips in a slow, languid kiss. It defied the rage that burned inside him at what had almost happened. But having Lilly taken from them, even if only for a short time, had given him the need to show her how much he treasured her. With his lips, teeth, and tongue, he played at her mouth, delving inside and then retreating, only to nip her lower lip. Her answering moan was all the encouragement he needed to keep going. Behind him, he could hear Remy disrobing. They truly would be in for a long night. The drug could take hours to work its way out of Lilly’s system, and until then, she would crave their touch as she never had before.
Leaving the lushness of her delicious mouth, he trailed hot, wet kisses along the column of her throat until he reached the upper swells of her breasts. Her nipples were pebbled and begging for his touch. Mindful of how sensitive she would be, he traced the hardened buds lightly with his tongue, gentle but insistent. She moaned loudly, her back arching slightly. He cupped her other breast, teasing the nipple delicately, rolling it between his fingers until she screamed his name. When he felt the bed sink beneath Remy’s weight, he trailed his other hand over her belly, down to the soft, damp slit. As he traced the hardened bud of her clit, he felt Remy part her thighs wider, parting the pink lips of her sex. To keep her from screaming, Philippe kissed her again as Remy plunged his tongue into her.
Lilly felt as if her body was imploding. The heightened sensations were too much, the pleasure too intense. As Remy’s tongue moved inside her, thrusting in and out of her slick sheath, she could do nothing but lie there and tremble beneath the onslaught. With Philippe masterfully claiming her mouth, his hands playing at her breasts with a gentleness that was exquisite, she couldn’t even think. She could only feel and let the sensations wash through her, over her. The orgasm building inside her was so intense she could feel her inner muscles coiling tightly. Her thighs trembled. When Remy withdrew his tongue, she wanted to sob in protest, but then his fingers were inside her, two and then three, pressing deep into her damp sheath, filling her.
“You taste so sweet, cher,” he said and then dipped his head again. His skillful tongue glided over her clit, once, twice, and then her whole body shattered.
Wave after wave of pleasure coursed through her. The orgasm seemed endless. Just as it began to recede, he sucked her clit into his mouth, and it crested again. Her muscles clenched tight, clamping around his fingers as she shuddered with pleasure. Philippe stopped kissing her and stared down at Remy’s dark head buried between her thighs.
“I cannot wait to taste you again,” Philippe whispered hotly against her ear. “To slide my tongue between those soft, pink folds and lick every drop of cream you have for me... and then I want to fuck you.”
“Oh, god! Yes!” she moaned. Philippe’s words and the continued sensual assault from Remy were driving her close to the edge again.
Philippe chuckled. “You like it when I talk dirty to you, don’t you, Lilly?”
“Yes... I love it. Tell me,” she pleaded. Having regained some control over her movements, she fisted her hands into the bedclothes, anchoring herself.
“I want to slide my cock inside your tight, little pussy,” he whispered, his fingers once again tugging gently at her nipples. “Slow and easy. Filling you up. Savoring how sweet it feels when you clench tightly on my cock. Do you want that, Lilly? Do you want to feel me inside you?”
The answer would not come. She wanted to say yes, but all she could do was shudder and moan as Remy once again slid his tongue deep inside her, mimicking with his skilled mouth the very act that Philippe was describing. A harsh moan escaped her, and finally, on a strangled breath, she managed to utter, “Please.”
Remy and Philippe traded places, Philippe positioning himself between her parted thighs. The head of his cock pressed against her slit, gliding easily between the slick folds. Lilly moaned again, relishing the sensation and anticipating the sweet relief of having him inside her, relieving the persistent ache of longing. When he pressed deeper, his thick shaft filling her, she nearly wept with relief. With Philippe moving inside her, a slow and steady rhythm that pushed her toward that precipice again, Remy kissed her. She could taste herself on his lips as his hands coasted over her breasts, heightening every erotic sensation. The flood of pleasure was intense as his hips rocked against her. The first ripples of her orgasm robbed her of breath. She sobbed helplessly as the climax overtook her.
Philippe withdrew gently from her. He hadn’t come. It would be only moments before the remnants of her pleasure faded and the potion would once again revive her desires. In tandem with Remy, Philippe stroked her body with soft and soothing caresses that would help to ease her. What Dax and Farron had done was horrific. The potion they’d given to her was a dangerous one that, if used incorrectly, could cause madness. Some argued that it was the intense need that caused madness.
As Philippe watched, Remy kissed her eyelids. Philippe could hear the compulsion in the other man’s voice. It wasn’t something that Remy did often, but the skill had always been an impressive one. “Sleep, Lilly. Rest for a bit, and when you need us again, we will be here.”
Philippe watched Lilly’s eyes flutter closed. For the moment, she looked peaceful. “How long will she sleep?”
Remy shrugged, continuing to touch her gently, stroking her hair. “Perhaps an hour... not much longer than that. When she wakes again, it will be worse.”
Philippe rolled onto his back. His body was still humming with arousal, but even nearly immortal dragons had their limits. Better to hold off on his own satisfaction than fail Lilly when she needed them. “Then we should rest so we can give her what she needs.”
Remy sighed. “You’re right. But first we have to talk about Dax and Farron.”
“Nothing to say about them. We’ll meet with the council tomorrow, and at the next full moon, we’ll fight them and kill them.”
“No mercy this time?” Remy asked.
“We tried mercy with Jean-Claude and Alain, and we’re in this mess now because of it.”
“Whatever it takes,” Remy said. “We’re not the only ones at risk anymore.”
On that point they were both in agreement. Philippe closed his eyes, signaling an end to the conversation. For him, Dax and Farron had sealed their fate the moment they laid hands on her.
Chapter Four
Lilly awoke slowly, her eyelids fluttering open. Enveloped in the body heat of her two lovers, she was warm, even though the fire in the hearth had died down. She moved and winced. Her entire body ached, and recalling what had gone on the night before, she could understand why. Remy and Philippe had pleasured her again and again. Whatever had been in the potion, it had been incredibly potent. Repeatedly, her body had surged to life, the intense desire seeming to spark with the slightest or utter lack of provocation. She sighed with the memories, thinking of how wonderful they had both been to her.
“Good morning,” Remy said, tugging her close, kissing her lightly. It wasn’t intended to ignite desire, but simply to convey affection.
“It is a good morning,” she said. “It could only be better if we were back home in New Orleans and Philipp
e was bringing me pastries.”
“We’ll feed you,” Remy promised. “It won’t be beignets though.”
“I imagine that the two of you will want a hardier breakfast than that anyway. You must have worked up quite an appetite last night,” she said.
He chuckled. “A bit. But if I had to choose starving for food or starving for you, I’d take you any day.”
“I second that,” Philippe said, rolling over and lazily caressing her hip.
With both of them awake, Lilly asked the dreaded question. “So what happens now?”
“Now we meet with the council this afternoon and make the necessary arrangements.”
On a heavy sigh, she rolled to her back and stared up at the ceiling. It frightened her more than she cared to admit. The thought of losing them terrified her. “And what happens if you lose?”
“It won’t happen,” Remy assured her. “Dax and Farron are young, reckless. They will make mistakes.”
“You don’t know that for sure,” she protested. “I don’t want to lose you. I’ve never been this happy in my life...never dreamed that I could be.”
Philippe kissed her shoulder. “We’re happy too. Being with you is better than we could have ever imagined. We’re not going to jeopardize that, Lilly. We’ll do whatever it takes to keep you.”
Lilly looked from Remy to Philippe, taking in their solemn expressions, the unspoken promises in their eyes. “Why can’t we just run?”
“It doesn’t work that way. We have to face this. Jacques has hated us for years, and he knows that you are our Achilles heel. You would never be safe, and neither Philippe nor I are willing to take that risk.”
“He’s right, Lilly,” Philippe said. “Our past, our enemies, have put you in danger, and it’s up to us to make it right.”
Remy rose from the bed and walked naked over to the hearth. Within minutes the fire stirred to life. The flames painted his skin a rich gold, and his eyes glowed in the light. There was something different about him, and about Philippe, she realized. Being in the compound, being surrounded by other dragons had brought something to the surface in them. “When you fight them, how does that work?”
Remy met her gaze steadily. “I don’t want you to be frightened.”
“Just tell me.”
“We take our natural form, Lilly. When we fight, we fight as dragons,” Philippe said.
She had wanted to see them that way, but never in this situation. “I would never be frightened of you... not for any reason.”
“You should dress. We’ll meet the council soon,” Remy said.
“I don’t have any clothes,” she protested.
Philippe laughed. “We’re magical creatures, cher, and in a place where we don’t have to hide it. We’ll take care of everything.”
* * * * *
It was nearly two hours later when Lilly walked into the council’s meeting hall. Remy and Philippe were on either side of her, and she wore a simple black sheath, silk, and didn’t ask questions about where it had come from. When she’d emerged from her bath, the garment, along with a pair of black, high-heeled boots and a luxurious wool coat had all been spread out across the bed for her. No underwear had been provided, but she’d become accustomed to going without them.
Alphonse greeted them. “Welcome, my dear,” he said, addressing Lilly. “I trust you are recovered from yesterday’s unpleasant ordeal.”
“Much recovered, thank you,” she replied.
“Where are Dax and Farron?” Philippe asked.
“Under the circumstances, and given how they’ve behaved, the council felt it would be best to meet with you separately,” Alphonse explained. “Jacques protested but was overruled.”
Remy nodded. “Of course he did. It’s been his scheming and machinations that have brought us to this point anyway.”
A side door opened in the opulent room, and a group of seven men entered. They didn’t appear old—most of them looked to be middle aged and incredibly well preserved—but they carried an aura of power about them that was impressive. Awed and a bit uncomfortable, Lilly watched as Alphonse excused himself and went to take his seat with the six men and women at the large semi-circular table that faced the room. A harsh breath shuddered from her as she considered everything at stake.
One of the council members stepped forward and took the lead, addressing them formally. “Remy and Philippe Mercier, you have been called before the council to answer the challenge issued by Dax and Farron Marchand asserting that you claimed a mortal woman who belonged to them as your mate.”
“We have claimed a human woman as our mate, Jacques, but Dax and Farron have no claim to her. They have never even met her until they abducted her from our home yesterday,” Remy answered.
Alphonse asked the next question. “Lilly Montague, the council recognizes you as a claimed dragonswan. Did you previously have a relationship with either Dax or Farron Marchand?”
“No. I’d never seen them before in my life until yesterday.”
One of the other council members spoke. “This is ridiculous. The challenge should be dismissed as groundless, and both Dax and Farron should be exiled for creating this situation!”
“Whether they’ve met her or not is irrelevant to the fact that our laws allow one dragon to challenge another for his mate,” Jacques said, leveling a cold stare at Lilly.
“That is an archaic law and hasn’t been utilized for years!” Alphonse protested.
“It is still a law, and until the council repeals it, it will stand,” Jacques replied, his voice unruffled.
“The council cannot repeal a law while it is being invoked,” the other man said. “Our rules prohibit it. We must make a decision in this case as the laws currently stand. I don’t agree with what Jacques is doing, but based on our laws, Dax and Farron still have the right to challenge. However, since they did abduct Lilly, an act that has been forbidden for centuries, following any challenges, they will still face banishment. All agreed?”
Everyone raised his hand but Alphonse. “It doesn’t matter if I agree,” he said, looking pointedly at Jacques. “You’ve engineered your revenge.”
Jacques ignored him, turning a steely gaze on Remy and Philippe. He looked through Lilly as if she didn’t even exist. She knew in that moment that, to him, she did not. Her purpose had been served; she’d been the instrument of his revenge, the catalyst that allowed him to set it all in motion.
“Remy, Philippe, you will meet your challengers on the field of honor at the stroke of midnight, and in your true forms, you will fight to the death.”
Remy and Philippe bowed to the council and without a backward glance led Lilly from the room. She felt ill. The heaviness in her heart seemed to radiate outward until it coursed through her entire body. Tears threatened, but she forced them back. They were a waste of time and would do nothing. She also didn’t want to spend the time she had with the men she loved weeping over an uncertain future. If nothing else, Remy and Philippe had taught her the importance of seizing the moment.
“We need to feed you,” Philippe said, taking her hand in his. “You haven’t eaten anything since yesterday.”
“I’m not really hungry,” she protested.
“You will eat. You’ll need your strength,” he said with a promising smile.
“No. Absolutely not,” she said sternly. “I don’t know what you’re imagining will happen this afternoon, but you and Remy are going to rest and prepare for tonight!”
Remy chuckled. “Lilly, that does prepare us for tonight. Sex invigorates us, as you well know. Spending the afternoon making love to you will only help us to defeat them.”
She knew it was true. The night before, under the influence of the god-awful potion, was the only time she’d been able to truly match their stamina. They could make love to her for hours. They could both come again and again, and still they would be ready for more. “Then find something we can eat quickly. I don’t want to waste a minute of our time.”
They returned to their suite, and ignoring her protests, Remy called the kitchen to arrange for a lunch tray to be sent up for all of them. The compound, in many ways, functioned like a large and luxurious resort. The staff was primarily human, but most of them lived on site and had been born to families loyal to the Arcadian clan for centuries.
Climbing onto the bed, Lilly lay back against the headboard and stared at her two lovers. They looked so very different from one another, but there was a link between them that was undeniable. “Is it just as invigorating when you have sex with one another as it is when you have sex with me?”
Philippe removed his shirt and reached for the waistband of his pants, ready to shed the fabric and feel Lilly’s skin against his own. “Sex is always invigorating, but nothing feels better than when we’re both making love to you.”
Remy was also undressing. “Is there some reason that you asked?”
Lilly smiled, perfectly content to look at their perfect bodies. “Well, I have a bit of a fantasy... I want to watch you together.”
“You aren’t going to participate?” Remy asked, giving her suspicious stare.
She shook her head “Well, not immediately... I’m waiting for you to inspire me.”
Even as she spoke, Philippe stepped toward Remy, naked and powerful. The light glinted on his golden skin, highlighting each rippling muscle. Philippe’s large hands settled on Remy’s shoulders. As Lilly watched them, she saw the look of pleasure cross Remy’s face as he leaned into the touch. Philippe leaned in and kissed his neck, his teeth scraping over the skin and eliciting an immediate response from Remy. It didn’t leave her unfazed either. Having them make love to her together, or separately, was an exquisite experience. But the sensations were so overwhelming all she could do was feel. Now, watching them together, she was able to appreciate the male perfection of them both, to witness the sensual beauty of them together.
The Summoning [Dragon's Lair 2] Page 3