by Crystal Dawn
“I came to find you. Why did you leave me?”
“Leave you?” She laughed with no mirth. “I simply moved back home. My home isn’t with you nor has it ever been.”
Her words were cold and cut like a knife, but he could see the truth in them. “I’ll admit I made mistakes. Can you see past those and forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive you for. You took care of me when I needed it and paid you back. As far as I’m concerned, we’re even. You owe me nothing and I owe you nothing.”
That sounded so cold and businesslike to him. Was that truly how she saw their relationship? “Do you truly not feel the bond between us?”
“The one you ignore? That makes it mean nothing.” She replied.
“And what if I wanted it to mean more?” He questioned.
“You would have taken action long before I left. What’s the difference between me being there and never seeing you and me being here?”
Toreen had to admit she had him there. He’d hardly seen her since she’d come to his house. He’d avoided her, afraid to face their relationship head on. The human side had feared the dragon would just take what it wanted.
“You needed to heal and come to terms with what you’d been through.” He threw the excuse at her.
“Humph.” She made a snorting sound like a baby dragon might. It was cute, but disrespectful. It reminded him that she owed him no allegiance or respect.
“What if I ask you to come back? Would you have me if I offered you a place at my side as my mate?” The silence scared him. He feared rejection and maybe that was what he’d really feared all along.
With super speed, he moved to her picking her up into his arms and kissing her as if his life depended on it. She resisted for a few seconds before her body melted against his and her mouth opened to him.
Chapter 3
Is This Love?
Cretia felt weak, but she vibrated with need. Toreen held her as his lips consumed her. For months she’d waited for any sign from him that he wanted her and now after she’d given up, this. Life was crazy and she’d just been flipped upside down. Was she dreaming? Life had just gotten even crazier and what was happening now was so hard to believe.
She felt hot and needy. Toreen had been cold to her for months, but one kiss and she melted. This was not, in her mind, the way to give in. Cretia felt the need to make Toreen suffer at least a little bit. How was it fair for her to be on ice for months and he decided he wants her and she gives in immediately? What was wrong with her?
“What’s wrong?” Toreen asked. “Are you okay?”
“You think me easy? You turn from me for months and now you decide to turn back thinking I’ll jump on you?” Cretia accused.
“I don’t know any other way to approach you. I’m sorry for not claiming you sooner. What do you ask of me?”
“I need time to be on my own and think things through.”
“Can you not do your thinking at the manor house?”
Cretia gave him a hard look. “No, I can’t. I need to be by myself. While I fish is a good time to think and plan one’s future.”
“So you were thinking through things when I found you?”
“Yes, and I was looking forward to catching a big fish to cook in my fire pit.”
“Could I help you catch our supper?” Toreen asked. Before she answered, her line pulled taunt and she lifted her pole finding a big blue fish hanging from her hook.
“Looks like I have mine.” She removed the fish from her hook and placed it some distance from the water. Cretia rebaited the hook and handed the pole to Toreen.
He began fishing as he watched his mate grab her large fish and hurry off. There was little doubt she would be preparing to grill her supper without him. Toreen prayed to the goddess he would catch a fish quickly or his mate would retire for the night without him. Feeling a nibble, he jerked his rod, but the fish stayed out of reach. This had seemed easier as a young boy.
Pulling his line up, he moved it to another spot hoping for a less savvy fish. Lacking brains wouldn’t hurt the taste of his fish. If it was small, he might need more than one. Sweet Cretia had her fish grilling, but had come back to see if he had any success.
“There’s a sneaky one nipping at my bait.” Toreen admitted.
“They are a mix of sneaky and dumb. You’ll catch one in time.”
Just as she said it, one bit hard and he pulled it up. It was a silver fish not quite as large as her blue one. “It’s not a big one.” Toreen admitted.
“I’ll fix it for you while you attempt to get another one.” He handed it to Cretia who bustled away with it.
Baiting and casting again, he prayed the goddess would help him. Right now he’d prefer to sit around the fire with his mate getting closer. The choice wasn’t his as he waited for another fish to bite. Maybe the goddess would help him, he could only pray for divine intercession. The fish cooking on the grill tempted his dragon as he thought through everything as he waited for just one more medium or larger fish to bite.
His dragon was such as he was always hungry and when he smelled food, it was worse. A nibble hit his bait so he moved it while he sat and relaxed near the spot he’d found Cretia. That she fished for her meal and knew how to prepare and fix fish was amazing. Few females could use a grill, of course few on this planet were ever in a position where they would have to. They had either a mate, father, or brother as grilling in the pits was left to males.
While Toreen rarely grilled, his home had a lovely pit large enough to fix several huge animals at once. He’d cooked there, although not often and he enjoyed it. His employees were the ones most likely to be found fixing meat, for a party or gathering, in those huge pits that had been there for so long, no one could say how long.
Yes! Toreen jerked the line and the fish, a larger one than Cretia had caught, hung there. Its color was purple which was unusual. He couldn’t say with a certainty what kind it was, but it was a welcome catch. Since he had no idea where she kept her pole, he unhooked the fish and carried it and the pole to his mate.
“Wow, that’s a big one.” Cretia praised.
Toreen flushed with pleasure. Fishing might be an activity to do more of. Handing it to her he observed as she expertly removed the head before filleting the fish. He was aware she did that so they weren’t still alive as she cut them up. The other two fish smelled ready to eat, so once the big one was grilling, Cretia began to set the small table she had near the grill.
“I see you have a lot of food.” He observed. The table was set with salad and several sides as well as sliced bread and dessert.
“I’m a fair host. Never would I let a guest starve.”
“You’ve just arrived today. Few would be ready for an unexpected guest this quickly.” Toreen explained.
“I just went shopping for my weekly supplies. It’s a good thing I did.”
“Thank you for setting such a good table.” He noticed his mate was a bit prickly. Maybe it was just him, or maybe she was always this way when she lived on her own. “The food smells delicious.”
“Thank you. I’m hoping it will taste just as good.” Cretia admitted.
They sat down beginning the feast with the biggest fish still grilling. While dragons loved meat and fish, they had adjusted to some of the foods Dori had made. It seemed that his mate had learned to cook them as well. The barbequed beans had small chunks of meat in them and were delicious. The salad was just a small amount he ate happily for the sour flavor of the dressing appealed to his dragon. Even the ears of what Dori called corn where grilled and delightful.
She fixed a noodle salad and a potato one that he also ate willingly. Dragons weren’t used to eating much besides small amounts of grains and large amounts of meat. This was a change from the way things had always been, but they were willing to give it a shot. The flavors were good and the food satisfying. Dessert was amazing, he couldn’t deny it.
“Is everything alright?” She asked sound
ing worried.
“You’re a good cook.” He admitted.
Cretia blushed prettily. “The other fish is done.” She hurried over removing it from the grill and unwrapping it from the large leaves she’d placed around it. Toreen had believed himself full, but now his dragon was hungry again. His mate placed it on his plate.
It cooled quickly as he gobbled it up. Once it was gone, he joined his female in cleaning up the mess. When that was done, they both sat relaxing and pretending not to look at each other. All he and his dragon could think about was how much he wanted her. He began to speak, but she did too at that precise moment.
“Go ahead.” He assured her.
“No, you go on.” She said. He shot her a commanding look.
“Fine. I just wanted to say you don’t have to pursue me. I understand sometimes fate makes a mess of our lives.”
Was she talking about Dannia or the fact that fate had matched her with him? “Things can go wrong in life. That’s true. But fated mates should always be together.”
“Hmm, looks like you’re changing your view.”
“It was always my view. Sometimes life messes with you and it has to get straightened out so you can move to the next step.”
“Your dad and stepmother?”
“Yes, they tore up my land and made things hard on me. I was so busy working harder I forgot to work smarter. My brain overlooked the serious things while I messed around with trivial details. If not for you, I’d still be doing that. Now I’m ready to move on to the important things and the important people. I need you in my life and my home. How I missed seeing that was my biggest step and needed to be done first, I don’t know.”
It was his biggest hope that his mate understood him and would be willing to accept him. Looking at her, all he saw was a nod, but what did that mean? ”You can come see me again tomorrow if you wish.”
Disappointment rolled over him, but there was always tomorrow. “A small kiss to say goodbye until then?” Toreen asked. She’d both rejected him and given him hope. Now he would try to take a little more. Cretia nodded as he moved closer to her.
Toreen pulled his woman into his embrace giving her a kiss that both delighted and terrified her. He seemed to enjoy it completely. His hands moved over her as she started to protest the moves and opened her mouth to object. This allowed him to access her mouth and seduce her fully. His tongue drove into her mouth and dueled with her tongue. He tasted her flavor like a forbidden dessert. Tempting, full of everything he’d ever wanted, but it was too late.
Had he had the slightest doubt, there was none now. This woman was his. There would be no joy in his life without her at his side. No one and nothing could ever replace her and he would do anything in his power to make her see they belonged together. Still holding her, he tried to calm his breathing and slow his heartbeat so he could speak.
“Tomorrow? I’ll see you tomorrow for supper? And tell me what should I bring?” Toreen questioned.
“Bring what you wish.” Cretia answered and he was delighted her breath was no calmer than his. His smile toward her was welcoming and he enjoyed the blush that came to her cheeks. “Be off with you now, Toreen. I’ve work to do.”
It thrilled him that the aroma of her need scented the air. His dragon was ready to hunt her down not understanding that they had to go. Maybe tomorrow or the next day they’d push their claim and she’d accept them. The important thing was she was giving them another chance to win her. They’d not lost their mate, they simply had to woo her back.
As Toreen lifted into the air spreading his wings wide, he saw Cretia watching him fly with admiration on her face. His dragon rolled through the air putting on quite the show and Cretia’s lifted face followed every move until he reached his lands and had to come in to land. He breathed deeply and sighed heavily as he thought about how close he’d come to losing her forever.
He’d never lose her again. This time he’d do everything right and she’d be at his side. They would have dragonlets, a whole houseful. There would be love and happiness for them and every child they had. Money would never come first, his mate and children would. Finally he’d realized what was important and who he could trust and he’d never forget it. The sky was growing dark and he would want to be up early in the morning. It was time to go to sleep.
Nearly a week passed with supper every night at Cretia’s. He’d bring ale or wine, whichever he grabbed as he left his home and each night the kisses got hotter and the embraces tighter. Cretia’s feelings seemed to grow as she realized he was willing to spend time with her and date her in the way Dori had described.
“So, my beautiful one, have you decided to come home with me yet?” Toreen asked as her cheeks grew red. His dragon scented her arousal and he was drawn to the look, red cheeks and heavy eyelids. His woman could have been his months ago.
“You tease me, Toreen.” Cretia accused, but did she truly mean it?
“I have a lovely and large sized suite at the manor still decorated the way it was in my parent’s day that you can fix as you will. All you have to do is come home with me. I can even find someone who’d enjoy living here so you wouldn’t have to.”
Finding a boarder for the hut would be the least of his problems. The place was suited perfectly for a single male dragon. It made him hurt to think about Cretia living out here alone after what had happened only months before.
“I have things to work out before I even consider leaving here.” She said as she stared at the floor.
Things? “Could you give me a hint? Perhaps I could help you with them?” Toreen asked desperate to convince her to go with him.
“My life has been difficult at times and I need to work through things. You say you’ve already done that, but I haven’t.”
“Any idea of how long it might take?”
“No and I’d understand if you gave up on me.” Cretia admitted. “You know my parents never cared much for me. It was always Dannia they thought of. I’ve never had anyone to count on except my future mate and then Niku for a short while, but Dannia took both of them. Niku came back and he brought me my first true female friends, Dori and her girls. I’m grown and I just now have friends. But I still worry that Dannia will come back. She’s still nearby and she still could come after me. It’s best that I’m on my own until that danger is gone and my head is on straight.”
“I could help you with all that. Don’t turn me away. Dannia may never come back, but I want you. I’ll make you the happiest woman on Draconis.”
A half-smile lit her face. “You would give it your best shot. I believe you would. If only you could see the future.” Cretia said.
“And you can? Why is your guess of the future better than mine? You could make me so happy.”
“I could also bring you pure misery. Over the last few months I had time to think over things. You resisted me because you feared Dannia coming back.”
“That wasn’t the only reason. It wasn’t even the main one. I feared love. My father didn’t set the best example.”
“Niku overcame that example immediately.” Cretia pointed out.
“He’s not the lord. His position wasn’t used against him. He’s the best brother you can imagine and he always tried to help, but his position wasn’t the same. You can’t imagine how many times I wished I was him instead.”
“Tell me!” Cretia demanded.
“The title, lands, and wealth were all on my mother’s side. It’s very unusual for a female to be the only child, but law supported her taking over until I was eighteen. Back then, you wouldn’t have recognized my father. He was a different male entirely. They were fated mates and he loved her completely. He was the type of father that stories are written about. We went swimming and fishing in the summers when we didn’t have to do as much schooling. There were family trips and once in a while, we stayed home when our parents went on short trips for romance. Maybe it was too perfect. Things like that can’t last, can they?”
“They
can, but sometimes they don’t.”
“Our mother got ill. No one could do a thing and she wasted away one day at a time growing worse until she died. I was ten and Niku was eight. For three years father ran the estate, but at thirteen, he turned it over to me. A year later, a whirlwind courtship and he was mated. He stayed until I was sixteen and when he left, everything of value and any money in the accounts went with him. Oh, he denied taking anything, but he was gone and so was everything of value that could be easily cashed in.”
“I’m so sorry, Toreen. I know how it feels to be treated poorly by parents.”
“Well it was worse in light of how good he’d been before the floozy. Niku came and helped me whenever he could as we tried to get on top of things, but it was like there wasn’t enough income to catch things up. We worked hard, but I guess we weren’t smart.”
“You should have hired an accountant.” Cretia suggested.
“Maybe so, but my mother had always run her own books and so had my father. I thought the trouble was in the income not covering the expenses. I saw those expenses you found, but thought they were for food or uniforms, There are so many small expenses. I just ignored them and looked to the income as not where it needed to be. Ten years and finally you look at the books and discover I’ve been paying for my horrible stepmother’s fancy lifestyle. Finally, it’s enough and I spoke with the king and an accountant that works for him is looking into it. She’s a female so I have no concerns she’ll be influenced.”
“Influenced?”
“Yes, my stepmother has my father wrapped around her little finger.” Toreen explained.
Was it his imagination or did Cretia look relieved. She must not realize they knew about Dannia and her kind. If he thought about it, he couldn’t blame her for keeping it quiet. It wasn’t like he’d told anyone about his father and his mate. That’s why these things happened and no one knew. They blossomed and grew in the dark because those around and those who knew were embarrassed.
He’d let things go for now. Cretia wasn’t needed to bring an end to things anymore. His mate had been through enough. His mate was strong, stronger than he’d ever thought once he considered all she’d been through.