Human servants brought food and wine, keeping us comfortable. The night went on and I wasn’t bored, because I was too busy following the play.
“Damn, Bastian, your bride has given you the luck of the gods,” Tahr said with clear disgust, throwing his cards on the table.
A laugh barked from Bastian’s throat. “Only half the night is gone. Are you giving up?”
“I will play until I have nothing left to bid, you demon spawn.”
They all laughed. I saw Calista’s head nodding to the side, tiredness claiming her. I was sure it was due to age. Sarn did the last thing I expected. He picked her up and placed her in his lap, tucking her against his chest.
He loved her. She was old and frail, hers no longer a youthful beauty, but Sarn’s feelings were obvious. It was also heartbreaking. She would live maybe ten more years. For the first time, I sympathized with the dragons and hated the curse even more. Before, I’d always pitied the plight of the women. My plight. Now I saw the devastation to all. This was Bastian and me in forty years. At least it would be if he truly loved me and I knew he did. All my annoyance with Bastian left. It would be better if he didn’t love me.
My dragon won the night. His mood lightened and he teased his friends. “Same time next month? I’m sure all of you can scrounge up more gold.”
“Go home, Bastian, before I challenge you,” Sarn said; I could see he wasn’t serious.
“I will fly with you, Bastian,” Tahr said.
I saw a look pass between Bastian and Tahr. Laryn grumpily looked back and forth at his friends, but didn’t say anything. I said goodbye to the women as we stood on the ledge before taking off. Sarn held Calista tightly as she waved.
Laryn was blue, as I thought, and Tahr silver. Laryn stayed with us for part of the trip before veering off. I heard a great roar in the distance a while later. Filled with grief, I knew it was the blue dragon. A short time later, Tahr flew away.
“How did you know what cards to play?” Bastian startled me from my thoughts of Laryn and his lost love.
“I counted them. I wanted to be a great mathematician after graduating from college.”
“I didn’t know. Does that make you better at chess also?”
He couldn’t see my smile. “Yes.”
“Will you teach me your game, checkers?”
My stubborn dragon was giving in. “I’ve been waiting for you to ask.”
“Humph.”
I laughed delightedly.
The next two weeks were mostly calm. Bastian and I played chess and checkers, went for rides through the countryside, and did naughty things. He caught me looking through an illustrated book of sex positions, which embarrassed me horribly.
I didn’t hear him come up behind me, too engrossed in the erotic pictures.
“What have we here?”
I slammed the book shut and jerked around. He was naked, and my mouth was even with the long length of his cock. I gulped and said, “Nothing.”
He turned me so I faced the book again, moved closer so his erection pressed against my back, and read the title aloud. “‘100 Kama Sutra Sex Positions.’”
I squirmed.
His arms reached over me and he opened the book to a random page in the middle. The couple sat on a chair, the woman facing away, her legs spread, hands on his knees, and him holding her breasts. I gulped.
“You have too many clothes on for us to try this one,” he whispered in my ear.
“What makes you think I want to?” My breathy words gave me away.
“I scented your arousal from the other room. We dragons have a good sense of smell, especially when it calls from our woman.”
I tipped my head back, looking up into his burning gaze. “Show me.”
He stripped me naked in less than a minute before moving us to another chair. He sat down, his cock tall and proud. “Turn around.”
I did. He clasped my waist and lifted me so I went to my tiptoes then slowly pulled me back so I sheathed his cock. His entry was slippery because I had gotten aroused looking through the pictures. I rested my hands on his knees and he cupped my breasts in his large hands. Movement was awkward at first, but I figured it out quickly. I loved his hot breath against my back. He licked my flesh and ran his scruffy chin across my skin.
How I loved him.
I rocked up and down using my legs. He pinched my nipples, and my moans filled the room. He bit the skin where my shoulder and neck joined, and my moans turned to cries of completion. We didn’t glow. He waited until my breathing slowed, lifted me, cradling me against his chest, and walked back to the book.
“I want to try another,” he said as he flipped through the pages.
My delighted laugh sounded throughout the room. Several positions later, red light exploded from our bodies. When we finally lay exhausted on the floor, I couldn’t help but wonder what happened when two dragons mated.
Chapter Thirteen
Bastian
The days became weeks and weeks, months. Acasia fit into my world and blossomed from sexually shy to the erotic bride of my dreams. I knew she missed her family, but I didn’t let that bother me. She entertained me, made me laugh, and sometimes vexed me. Overall, I was calmer. It was always like this once my bride settled.
I’d caught Laryn entering my territory one night. I needed to be more vigilant with my shiniest treasure. I also understood his pain, so I didn’t kill him.
“Why are you here, bastard blue child of Cookie Monster?” Tahr came up with the nickname after a trip to the earth realm. We all laughed after our own inquisitive travels when we discovered the reference. It stuck.
“I can’t do this, Bastian. Not again. I’m lost.” The words sounded as if they were retched from his gut.
I swooped in beside him and stuck close as he glided through my territory. I had no doubt he’d steal Acasia if given the chance. But he came for company— anything to combat the grief and loneliness. I remembered the feelings well.
“Is it working to not fall in love with this one?” he asked as he dove down close to the water.
My answer was instantaneous, “Not in the slightest.”
“I didn’t think it would. I have twenty-five years until my next claiming. I’ve decided to stay away and not attend. No claiming for me, I’m done.”
I hated thinking about Laryn’s pain. “Won’t work. I did the same. It’s an unknown force, and the isolation is so great by that time that I had to go.”
“Will we ever find the one? And if we do, how do we know?”
“I’ve thought of it too and have no answers.” When I looked at Acasia, I said a silent prayer to the gods… let it be her, let it be her. It was something I always thought I would know right away. She would instantly be the one. It hadn’t happened with Acasia, but my heart thought it was her. Did I feel this way about all my brides? I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t think so, not this soon.
We flew in silence for another hour.
“Thank you, Bastian,” Laryn said as he soared away.
I felt the gentle thrum in my body when he left my territory. Entering my room, I crawled beneath the covers with my new bride. I’d lied to us both and in human years, I didn’t have time to keep her unhappy. I would change it the following day. I did love her, and she needed to know.
As the light peeked in the window, my hand smoothed over her lovely rump. She was perfectly rounded in all the right places. She sighed in her sleep and moved a little, giving me better access to more of her delectable flesh. I kissed down one shoulder all the way to her side and continued to her hip. I knew the instant she awoke. She stretched—the lines of her body in perfect symmetry.
“I shall have you for breakfast, my lady.” I gave her no chance to deny me. I licked an erotic path to her center, her warm body drawing me to her musky scent at its core. She tasted divine and made the most wonderful sounds as she writhed against my lips. When she was on the brink, I rose above her and slid my cock into her depths. Her ti
ght passage caused me to grit my teeth until finally my balls rested against her heated flesh. I opened my eyes. Her gaze, filled with love, captured me. Before I gave into my need, I fulfilled hers. “I love you, Acasia, and will love you long after you are no longer in my world.”
I watched the tears roll from her eyes, but could wait no longer. I pulled out and held her gaze before spearing forward, taking my bride.
***
Acasia
He loved me. I already knew it, but hearing him say the words made me deliciously content. At times, I still longed for my family and friends, but managed to shake off the feelings by challenging Bastian to some game or race. My naughty dragon loved to play hide and seek. Of course, I let him win, because he could not control his temper and he’d totally ruin the mood. I didn’t care, though, because I wanted him content. I wished to please him in all things, well, all things but chess. Chess was war and I put up with his tantrums when I beat him. I also knew how to get his spirits turned around quickly. Using revealing clothing with sly sexy touches would make him forget his weaknesses in the war game.
Bastian and I rarely argued, but the humans on the other side of the hallway’s door were off limits unless Bastian accompanied me, which caused me angst.
“Why, Bastian? There are women who might befriend me.”
“You can’t communicate with them. I prefer you in my rooms.” The tight set of his lips gave him away.
“You are jealous!”
He glared. “You have no business being around human men when I am not present.”
“I only want to spend time with women.”
“Humph.”
That was the end of that conversation, but I stubbornly brought it up whenever I had a chance. He had a large key that opened the door to the human part of his lair, and he accompanied me through the hallways and stairwells taking me down below to his treasure storage rooms. I picked out a few items for our rooms, but having him shadow me took the fun out of treasure hunting.
When we got back, I opened my mouth…
“No, Acasia, I cannot do it. You are mine, and I would be with you when men are around.”
Stomping my foot did no good. I stormed off and slammed the bedroom door. My anger melted away when he brought freshly gathered flowers and kissed away my bad mood.
Stubborn dragon.
Every few days he took me out of the lair and we roamed his territory. Today was one of those days. He had a lunch packed and we ate on a soft blanket that doubled as our outside bed. After filling our bellies, we both lay watching the clouds and enjoying the quiet sounds of nature.
“I must go to the earth realm in the next few days.” His words had me sitting up.
I didn’t want him leaving me alone. Just the thought frightened me, and I wanted to empty my stomach into the grass beside us. “How long shall you be gone?” My voice trembled.
A slight smile touched his lips. “You will come with me. I cannot leave you here alone with Laryn in his current state. I think you will like this place.”
My heart calmed and excitement took over. “Can earth humans speak to me when we get there?”
He gave me a grumpy, “Yes,” because he disliked my yearning for family and friends. He had his dragon’s brethren to converse with, but I only had him. I never mentioned my loneliness, but he knew, because he would start challenging my mind with books or his endless supply of gold and jewels. He loved draping them over me when I was naked.
I lay back down, rolling toward him, and pinched his arm to let him know I knew why he gave me his sour look. “When do we leave?”
“In a few days, but I must warn you it is painful to cross into earth’s realm.”
Ah, oh. “How painful?”
“You shall survive; I just thought I should warn you so you don’t pass out.”
That made me smile. “Similar to when you failed to warn me that a red light explodes from us when you reach your peak?”
His tension dissipated as he threw back his head and laughed. “Yes, just like that, silly female.”
I sat up over him. “Can we go tomorrow?”
He gave me a look of absolute innocence. “I had planned to wait another day or two, but sometimes I change my mind.”
His cock stirred, making me crave other things than travel. I wrapped my hand around the girth, my fingers barely touching each other. I bent over farther, breathing over the tip as I spoke, “Hmm, I would hate to leave you wanting, dragon, but I may be too full from our lunch.”
His eyes glowed, red sparks twinkling. “You win, Acasia. We leave tomorrow.”
I licked the head and gazed at him. “My hunger is quickly returning and I may need a full meal.”
His hips rose from the blanket as he said, “I will feed you dessert after, but by the gods take me in your mouth.”
Dragons were so easy.
Chapter Fourteen
Bastian
Her excitement kept us awake most of the night while she pestered me with questions. I would almost be asleep and she’d think of another one. But I didn’t regret telling her. I knew she got lonely, I just didn’t like thinking about it. The following morning, she fluttered around preparing herself and asking more questions as I watched. We would be gone for two earth days, but the time between realms was strange and impossible to pinpoint how much time would pass here. During these trips, I rarely stayed more than a few days. It could be hours or days later once I returned. No rhyme or reason, but that was the gods’ doing.
“Have you known your friends in this realm for a long time?”
“Yes,” I snapped, my impatience to leave making me cranky.
She ignored the tone of my voice. “What will be the strangest thing I see?”
I sighed; it would do me no good to put her off. “Technology. The dragon realm exists on magic. Earth has very little magic, so they are able to build and control toys that act like magic.”
“That makes no sense. There is no magic in my realm, and we don’t have this technology you talk about.”
I wasn’t happy that she didn’t think of the dragon realm as her home yet, but I answered, “Your old realm was filled with magic long ago, which keeps complex machinery from working. Earth has networks of technology that will baffle your mind, but I’m not telling you anymore. In a few short hours, I will show you. If you hurry.” I had to hold the smoke back from my nostrils.
“You’re no fun.”
“Your questions are delaying our departure.”
She crossed her arms and looked down at the small bag she’d packed. “I’m ready and only waiting on you.”
“Humph. Females,” I muttered under my breath.
I flew to the realm border and shifted to human form. After dressing in common earth clothing, I carried our two small bags over my shoulder. “Come here and stand in front of me. You will need to walk, but I will hold you as we cross. I will not let go, so don’t panic. I will keep you safe.”
Her ass was covered in soft jeans, and she wiggled against the front of me on purpose. I’d never had an erection when crossing, but with her so close it was impossible not to and her squirming didn’t help. With her wrapped in my embrace, I could feel each breath she took. I waited until she breathed in then I walked forward, giving her no option but to move with me. It hurt, but I knew the pain was stronger for her because my magic protected me somewhat. The discomfort took care of my erection so the pain wasn’t a bad thing. I felt her body stiffen, but she didn’t utter a sound. The crossing was swift because she didn’t panic.
Acasia let out the breath she’d been holding. “Not pleasant, but not unbearable.”
This surprised me; all of my females cried and swore they didn’t wish to do it again. This bride never acted as I expected, which made me smile with pride.
“Sir.”
I released Acasia and turned to see our driver. Not someone I knew, and never before had a female waited. She stood calmly by the vehicle, obviously expecting us
. Acasia stared with huge eyes. Her world ran on horses and oxen for transportation, she’d never seen a mechanical vehicle for transport.
The driver opened the rear door. “I am Brunya. Your plane awaits.” She smiled at us.
Brunya was large for a woman. She had stern facial features, but when she smiled, it softened her face and made her pretty. “Thank you, Brunya. How are things in your clan at the moment?”
She shook her head, a smile still playing on her lips. “Changed, and for some of us that’s a good thing.”
I pulled my bride beside me. “Brunya, this is Acasia.”
Brunya put out her hand. “Welcome, Acasia.”
“Thank you,” Acasia said shaking the offered hand. She gave Brunya an inquisitive look, and I knew she was ready to start her questions again.
I ushered her inside the car quickly or we would have stood out there all day.
“What is this called, Bastian?” She looked around the interior, speaking low as if it would go away if she raised her voice.
“It’s a motor vehicle, though the simple word is car. Keep watch out the window. Sedona is the name of this township. It has a vortex that condenses magic. It’s one of the few places in this realm that we can cross. The scenery is spectacular.”
The red rock formations drew Acasia’s attention. She also watched each car approach from the opposite direction and travel past us. When we hit the main part of the town, slowing down with the heavier traffic and control lights, she began asking questions again.
“What do they hold up to their ear as they walk?”
It was exciting for me to see things through her eyes. “It’s a cell phone. They communicate with the device. This realm has many cities and lands far away. The phone keeps them linked.”
“And the lights, what is their function?” she asked when we came to a complete stop at a red light.
“Traffic lights keep the cars from ramming each other. It controls who goes when.”
We approached the airport and she had me laughing aloud.
“They have ugly dead dragons.” She pointed. “No, there is one in the air, but they are frozen.”
“Those are called airplanes, and we will be riding inside one in a few moments.”
Her eyes grew bigger. “They eat us?”
I bit my lip. “No, it is another type of machine. It will take us to my friend’s place.”
She looked at me with innocent, trusting eyes. “I do not understand how they stay in the air, but if you have faith in them, I will manage.”
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