Dragon Lust

by Kelly Armenta

  Areth spent a few minutes explaining the finer points of walking in heels and had me practicing around the bathroom as she sat on the vanity and offered advice. By the time I was ready to leave I was feeling quite confident as Snick stood on the bed and helped me into my coat. A long draped affair that latched at the throat and basically hid me from neck to calf while still managing to cling in the most inappropriate places. The two of them sent me off whispering naughty advice and giving me proud waves.

  Jace was sitting on one of the couches in the front room, his eyes closed, head leaning back listening to soft music and I took a moment to appreciate him. He was wearing tailored black slacks and a silk button down shirt in his signature green, which was open at the neck. Across the couch next to him was draped a long black coat that looked like it might be cashmere. His dark lashes looked long and sexy against his cheeks and his day old growth made my palms itch.

  A smile creased his lips and he breathed deeply. “I’d ask you to join me on the couch,” he commented, eyes still closed. “But I’m afraid we wouldn’t be leaving if you did, and Gareth is waiting upstairs with the car.”

  It was tempting, he was tempting, but I hadn’t eaten since morning and Areth and Snick had worked so hard….

  Jace sighed, opened his eyes and rose in one smooth motion grabbing up his coat and pulling it on. “Food it is then,” he told me briskly, giving me a look full of promise. He crossed to me giving me an appreciative look and offered his arm as we left for the elevator.

  We came out on the Club level but took the stairs leading out instead of trying to wade through the dancers. I could hear the music and the beat thrummed in my veins. Jace placed his hand over mine and led me out the door and over to a long black car waiting in the alley. The night air was crisp with just a hint of fog rolling in off the bay, making me glad for the coat I was wearing.

  The back door slid open and Gareth leaned a hand out, reaching to help me into the soft leather upholstery. When we were all seated comfortably, me in the middle between them, I glanced at Gareth and gave him the once over as I had done with Jace. They both smelled heavenly and Gareth was also wearing his signature color, his shirt a midnight color which matched the hem of my dress, his coat was made from the same material as Jace’s, only in navy blue. I suspected Snick had been busy in the laying out of clothes duties that evening.

  “You look lovely,” Gareth remarked as he reached for the bottle in the ice bucket and champagne flutes in the little cupboard under the seat across from us. He waited for us to make the turn out of the alley then poured glasses for us all.

  “A toast, in honor of Lexi’s first date.”

  “To Lexi!” Gareth seconded.

  I rode along in comfortable silence, sipping my drink and listening as they chatted about the club. At some point my mind wandered and I found myself wondering what Mi was doing and what would become of my stuff still back at my apartment. There wasn’t much there that I needed, except a few mementos and my flute. Maybe tomorrow I could get one of them to help me pack and bring them over to the club. I was thinking about what I would say to Mrs. Long, my landlord, when the car stopped and Gareth took my drink out of my hand.

  The back door opened and one of their men stood watching the street as we left the car. The other guard held the door to the restaurant. The dividing window had been up so I hadn’t even realized there were two of them with us. Gareth rose from the vehicle and assisted me out. I had an uneasy moment when my heel caught on the pavement but between them they steadied me as we entered the doorway and down a flight of narrow stairs.

  The smell of spices assailed me, and my mouth nearly watered. At the bottom of the stairs there was an open doorway covered in hanging red beads. We stepped through the beads and were greeted by a portly man who bowed low to Gareth and Jace. I won’t say he fawned over them, but I will say it was a near thing as he urged us to a place on the floor covered in pillows, just off the main floor area. Jace reached for my coat and nearly swallowed his tongue when I let it slide off my shoulders. Behind me I heard Gareth hum softly and I felt a guilty pleasure in their attention. Jace practically tossed our coats at the Maitre d’ but he was too slow and Gareth stepped forward and assisted lowering me to the carpet.

  Our host gave me a frown and turned to look at a young boy standing near the wall who rushed forward to take our coats. When his hands were free he clapped them loudly and from the other side of the room several young men came forward carrying trays of fruits and drinks. Apparently we didn’t need to order since no menus were forthcoming. The little man stood over us while we were served then, wandered away with a flourish.

  “He’s charming. Do you come here often?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as I reached for a grape. Jace grabbed my fingers and lifted them to his lips so he could nibble on them. I looked at him and then at the bunch of red juicy looking grapes.

  Gareth leaned forward and brushed his fingers down my arm. His voice was low as he informed me. “Don’t be too hard on him, he’s got daughters.”

  Jace nipped my fingers and wiggled his eyebrows, “Ugly daughters.”

  “I’m not really dressed for a chick fight,” I warned them both, “so if there’s going to be hair pulling and nail scratching we can just leave now.”

  The both laughed and Jace let go my fingers so he could feed me a grape. He seemed to like feeding me so I let him. Meanwhile Gareth made lazy circles on my arm, causing my hair to stand up as gooseflesh erupted where he touched me.

  Between bites I glanced around the room, noting the other customers busy enjoying their dinner and admiring the art and décor. There was a huge ivory colored bird carved into the wall, which drew my attention.

  “That is a Simurgh,” Gareth told me. “It’s a mythological huge winged creature capable of carrying off elephants in their claws. It appears in the form of a peacock with the head of a dog and the claws of a lion, always female, and always benevolent. It’s said to have lived through three times the destruction of the Earth, and when it was 1700 years old it threw itself into a volcano but rose from it’s own ashes.”

  “A Phoenix?” I asked, looking at him and wondering if this was just another fairy tail or if they existed like Wyrms.

  He shrugged and glanced at the carving before replying, “I’ve never seen one.”

  When I looked at Jace he too shrugged. “There are many things that live in the Everlasting, but I’ve never seen one either.”

  Jace was just finishing off the last orange slice as one of the young men appeared and whisked away our tray. He was followed soon after by another young man carrying bowls of soup that smelled delicious. He set the tray on the floor and we each picked up a bowl and spoon. The flavor was excellent, made with lamb in a tomato base with some type of vegetable that I didn’t recognize.

  “Okra, it’s referred to as the lady finger,” Gareth supplied. “It’s also a wonderful anti-histamine in case you know anyone with allergies.”

  “Can’t say that I do.”

  When we finished our soup we had a brief reprieve as our servers brought us drinks made from chilled yogurt and fresh fruit. The three of us chatted, and Gareth explained the décor and other decorations, which were not as inspired as the Simurgh but equally interesting. We were nearly through our main course, a mixture of succulent lamb pieces, roasted tomatoes and mushrooms, which Gareth named a kabob, when the music swelled and around the room people shifted so they were facing the main floor. Jace reached for me and pulled me in against his chest. “Protect me,” he whispered as a group of five scarf-clad women raced through the crowd and onto the floor before us.

  The lights went down and I found myself looking at five incredibly beautiful women, each lovelier than the next, with large doe eyes, porcelain skin, and silky black hair that cascaded down their backs nearly to their knees. They looked like a rainbow in brightly colored costumes that left their midriffs bare. Their arms and legs were covered in see-through scarves that tied at ankle an
d wrist, and with long ribbons that floated around them as they dipped and swayed. Ropes of pearls draped their foreheads, holding back their hair and scarves.

  Gareth leaned back on an elbow next to me so that my body was cupped against his. I reached for him and he shifted so that his head slid into my lap and I could run my fingers through his hair. Behind me, Jace wrapped his arm around my waist, holding me tightly against him as his breath warmed my neck.

  Out on the floor the women swirled and gyrated, rolling their hips in time to the mini symbols they held in their hands. Their movements were beautifully choreographed as if they had performed this dance a million times. And I suddenly understood the near hostile greeting from our host. Though mortal, these women deserved mates worthy of them. To the casual observer, Gareth and Jace could have fit that bill.

  Jace hugged me tighter and Gareth slid his hand onto my leg just above my knee, making those little circles again that felt like mini-shocks.

  At one point during the show, the women spread out among the guests. I suppose it wasn’t surprising that several of them stopped in front of us. Their faces were eager, their eyes inviting, as they moved seductively to the music. I started out amused, but by the third pass their obviousness was starting to wear on me and I’m ashamed to say I let a little of my Dragon out. As they approached us through the crowd I caught the smug look one of them flashed me and just couldn’t help myself. I dipped my head, blinked once and slowly opened my eyes, eyes gone golden and multi-faceted.

  I got a tight squeeze from Jace and Gareth slid his hand farther under my dress and gave me a not so gentle squeeze on the thigh.

  “What?” I hissed, as the flock of would be rivals scampered, figurative tail between their legs back through the crowd. “Didn’t you say to protect you?”

  “No scaring the natives, it’s not fair.”

  I clenched my hand to keep from smacking him. “Having to sit here while they try and seduce you isn’t fair!” I hissed back.

  Jace nuzzled my neck and whispered. “The only person doing any seducing here is you.”

  Gareth rolled over and glanced up at me. “I think you can retract your claws,” He commented with a mischievous grin. “I’m pretty sure they got the message.”

  I glanced around the room, noticing the females had moved on to other customers. I was about to blink myself back to normal when my gaze cut across to our host and I took an extra moment to ensure he understood the situation fully. I didn’t want to leave him with any misconceptions. I think he blanched when I flashed him a smile. Gareth growled at me and I gave in with a sigh and shifted. I’m not certain what scared our Host more, my eyes in Dragon form, or the fact that they shifted while he watched me from the shadows. Either way, I was satisfied he’d got the message. Maybe he wouldn’t be so fast to dismiss the next woman that came through his doors.

  “Isn’t it refreshing how she always thinks of others?” Jace commented.

  Gareth chuckled and I let my fingers wander down to his chest and into the hair just beneath the vee of his shirt.

  When the lights came up we were served a frozen desert that tasted of limes and oranges. Gareth refused to leave my lap so I ended up feeding him while Jace fed me. We were a happy little group as we finished our meal and Jace paid the check. Gareth used his wrist communicator to call for the car and we left the building. Amazingly our Host had absented himself. I couldn’t feel badly about that. Though Jace informed me he’d miss eating at that restaurant, he was pretty sure they wouldn’t be welcome back. Nope, couldn’t feel bad about that either.

  Chapter 14

  Back in the car, Gareth put the window down and asked our driver to drive us around town. Jace played tour guide as we were ferried around the Wharf and Chinatown, over to Nob Hill and around the Market District. We sipped more champagne and they both told me stories of the great earthquake and fire of 1906, of how it had left nearly half their population homeless. They chatted about how the plague had affected the city and the mass influx of non-humans that had taken up residence since. The two of them had come over from Europe in the late 1700’s as Captain and First Mate and had decided to stay, hiding in plain sight ever since.

  They shared how they had been merchants, then landholders and then sold their land to become real estate tycoons. As we drove around they described their forays into gold mining and railroad development. At one point they had grown tired of it all and sailed off around the world only to come back to San Francisco where they felt most at home. Jace admitted they had even spent some time in the military and had fought in several wars, but that this strip of land always called to them and nowhere seemed as inviting as the city by the bay.

  I was thinking how much I’d enjoyed the evening and what wonderful dates they had been as we pulled into the alley behind the club. We made it down the stairs as the music flowed into my veins again and I stopped in the middle of the hallway.

  Jace looked at Gareth and Gareth looked at Jace. “Why not?” Jace asked and opened the door for me. Gareth at my back, I stepped into the club and inhaled deeply the aroma of what I now identified as sex. That heady musky smell that had overwhelmed me last night, eased into me like a warm promise and I slipped onto the dance floor pulling both men with me. I saw Gareth lift a hand at the bartender just before we were swept into the crowd.

  I’m not sure if what we did out on the floor could be considered dancing, but it was wild and exhilarating and Jace and Gareth were there with me, pulling me back to them whenever the crowd separated us. The music was loud and the floor so crowded at times, that all we could do was press up against each other while our hands stroked and petted and our mouths melded. It was one of the most intoxicating experiences of my life. At some point Gareth edged us toward the door and I found myself tumbling into the elevator holding my shoes while Jace pressed me into the corner and ran his hand under my top, his mouth devouring mine.

  The floors slid past and I was in the living area, my hands on Gareth’s chest, his buttons strewn about the floor as I bent him backwards over a couch and climbed his body while Jace ran his hands under my dress and yanked my panties off. We made it to the bedroom. I’m not sure who’s? Then there was no more clothes, only hot naked flesh amidst hands and lips, bodies sliding against each other as the music pounded through my veins, reveling in the sweet intoxicating scent of Jace and Gareth as I screamed and came for them, over and over again.

  I woke facing the wrong end of the bed, sandwiched between my men. I wished briefly for a blanket, then improvised and pulled Gareth’s arm over me while I snuggled closer to Jace’s back, yawned and slid back into unconsciousness.

  The next time I woke I was alone and covered by Jace’s comforter. On the bed in front of me was a note and what looked like the female version of Jace and Gareth’s watch, complete with neon dial for easy viewing in dark places. I reached for it and turned it so I could see that it was after ten, not surprising since we’d stayed in the club dancing for hours. I stretched and reached for the note, which simply said, “Gone for your stuff, be back soon.” It was signed with a big J and he’d drawn a set of lips. It made me smile.

  What I needed was a good workout and now seemed the perfect time. Pushing back the covers I sat on the edge of the bed and braided my hair. I spoke out loud and requested a rubber band and maybe a one piece like Areth had been wearing, only shorts instead of pants, and maybe a jog bra to ensure I stayed in place since I planned on using the track upstairs. Oh, and a pair of running shoes with ankle socks would be good too. Nothing with the inside stabilization bars since I had great feet and didn’t pronate.

  Having made my requests, I wandered off to the bathroom and the use of the facilities and a quick shower. No need to advertise the fact I’d had massive amounts of sex last night. Though I was pretty sure anyone I was going to meet in the workout area were not under any delusions about that.

  I left the watch on the bed deciding, I wasn’t going to be timing my workout so I wo
uldn’t need it. Twenty minutes later I was in the lobby with two guards waiting for the elevator. Since Jace hadn’t had a chance to chip me yet I was pretty sure someone would be waiting. Or possibly I’d developed a shadow, or shadows, that weren’t named Mi. Either way I was glad to see them since I couldn’t yet move around without their assistance. They introduced themselves as Owen and Ricky. Owen was about six foot five or six with huge shoulders and hands. His hair was long and almost a creamy yellow color or maybe a dirty white, and it was pulled back in a long ponytail. His eyes were a dark brown and oddly shaped. Surprisingly, his skin was almost an umber color, quite dark given the color of his hair. He smelled strange, like bear…polar maybe? I was pretty sure he hadn’t been on the floor yesterday in the workout area. Someone that looked like him would have just stood out in the crowd.

  Ricky, on the other hand, was just a wee bit bigger than me. About five foot seven or eight with brown hair and brown eyes; he looked fairly harmless if you didn’t consider the arsenal he was carrying, or the mean look in his eyes. I think I counted at least three blades and two guns. Goodness knows what else he might have been packing under his lightweight jacket. He smelled of Hyena. We all kind of sized each other up for a moment before I smiled and stepped into the elevator, clearly exposing my spandex covered back to them.

  I guess they took that as a good sign, since they both stepped into the elevator with me. It wasn’t like I could hide any weapons in my outfit, which consisted of a sleeveless black stretchy one piece complete with inset bra, comfortable running shoes and black ankle socks. I was also carrying a hand towel and large bottle of water. A hint left next to my clothes on the bed that perhaps I hadn’t been taking as much fluids as I should.