by Leela Ash
Chapter 11
Even the cheery fire couldn’t warm the cold silence Judith left behind her.
Maya laid a hand on Jamie’s elbow. “Is she right?”
“Probably. I hate to say it, but the Fangs don’t waste time.”
“This is my fault. If I’d only been quicker.”
“Stop.” Strong arms drew her into a protective embrace. “You can’t blame yourself. Up until two days ago, you didn’t even know that Criehaven existed. We – my Flight and I – are the ones who failed her. Who failed all Shifters by not rooting this evil out long ago.”
The touch of his body, his nearness, settled her nerves. The last traces of fear and confusion faded, leaving a melancholy sadness behind. Even that softened as his body roused other, more pleasant, feelings. Memories of the dream they'd shared drifted back into her mind, casting a glow over the drab cabin.
Yet, almost as quickly as those hopes arose, Jamie dashed them. That arm, the strength that calmed and aroused her, withdrew. “Are you set for the evening, then?”
“Sure. Since I assume you don't have a spare toothbrush.”
“Nope, sorry. We'll get you someplace more comfortable tomorrow. I picked this place for its safety, not luxury.”
“I'm sure that, as safe houses go, it's pretty posh.”
“They do get worse,” he agreed with a roguish grin. “I'll see you in the morning.”
Then he, and her hopes for a more romantic evening, departed.
Left on her own, Maya explored the little cabin. There wasn't much to see. A cheap coffee maker (like she needed more caffeine – why on Earth had she drunk a cup so late?). An ancient tv, which didn't work. A handful of magazines older than she was. Even though she wasn't tired, at all, she quickly decided to go to bed. Maybe all the adrenaline flowing through her body would fade away and she could sleep. Not like there was anything else to do here...
A firm knock interrupted those plans and set her heart pounding. Instinctively, she kept silent, fearing that Lucian Fowler and his minions had followed them somehow.
“Maya? Are you there?”
Jamie. Relief threatened to turn her legs into noodles. “Yes. One sec.”
She opened the door to find her Dragon savior looking rueful – and holding a small, ratty towel in one hand. “I don't suppose you have any hot water, do you? My shower's not working.”
“I'm not sure, but you're welcome to check.”
Actually, a shower was a great idea. If there was hot water. She trailed behind him.
Jamie turned the shower handle. After a couple of distant clanks, a healthy spray shot out.
“Well, you have water. That's a good sign. And... yes! It's not ice cold.”
“Enjoy yourself then,” she said. “Use it all up if you want. I'll shower in the morning.”
“You need to clean up too?”
Something made her pause in the doorway. Perhaps it was the note of teasing that crept into his voice. Or the way he watched her, eyes lingering on her breasts.
“You could join me, if you want.”
The request – and the longing it immediately summoned – surprised her.
“I do kind of owe you, after all.”
The dream. If Dragons were real, it was real. They truly had made wild, delirious love the night they met.
Sort of...
“Tell me it won't end the same as last time,” she warned, only half teasing, “or I'll turn the cold water on you.”
“It won't. I promise!”
Did she want this? Oh, for sure, she wanted him! No questions there. Sculpted, muscular body. Raw, primal masculine energy. Those brilliant, fiery eyes... every bit of him was right. She'd never met a man this hot.
But that was the problem: he wasn't exactly a 'man.' He was a Dragon.
Did she want to be a Dragon's lover? His Mate?
Did she even know what that meant? In fairy tales, Dragons kidnapped princesses and carried them off to their hidden lairs. Her Dragon had rescued her. Something that never happened in any of her childhood stories. So, at the end of the day, Maya was forced to admit she didn't know the first thing about Dragons.
But she did know something about Jamie. She knew he was a magnificent lover. That he had saved her, twice. He was a man who would not hesitate to fight for her. Even to kill for her, if necessary. He protected the weak and the helpless.
He was a good man.
If that good man was also a Dragon... well, she didn't care. She Claimed him. All of him, both mortal and magical.
She was willing to be his Mate. No, she was delighted. The mystery and beauty of their shared dream hinted that life could be so very different. Full of wonder, passion, and love.
Maya wanted that. With all her heart, she longed for it.
“All right then. But I'm holding you to that promise!”
Steam rolled out of the shower, filling the bathroom with a gentle mist. She felt it curl around her, like a lover's touch, moistening her skin with its caress. As she unbuttoned her blouse, he peeled his t-shirt off, revealing curved biceps and flat, chiseled abs. Shirt joined shoes and he watched, tantalized, as her shirt parted, revealing the globes of her breasts. Maya paused, letting him enjoy that taste of things to come. Then she slipped it off and tossed it onto the growing pile of discarded clothes.
Instinctively, with no planning, they stripped in turns. He slid his jeans down his lean thighs and her fingers stilled as she watched, lost in the wonder of his gorgeous body. Only when he finished did she remember that she, too, needed to strip. Yet, when her pants were tossed aside, she found him motionless. Drinking in the swell of her buttocks, his eyes captivated by her long, muscled legs.
Then it was his turn to ditch the last shred of clothing, the briefs that hid his manhood from her. He took his time, slipping them lower. His hand paused, cupped around his own balls, one thumb stroking his cock, teasing it alive. Then the briefs fell away and he stood before her naked.
Heat blazed between her legs as he turned and entered the shower. The first droplets hit him, running down the hard, flat lines of his body. Water trickled down his chest, threads of moisture that wove along his abs and ribs. They rushed lower, splashing past his balls with a sly touch, washing over his cock. Under the water's touch, his manhood swelled with pleasure.
“Coming?”
Oh hell, here she was staring again! Quickly, Maya shucked off her bra and underpants. Blushing, she eased in beside him, joining him under the shower's playful spray.
Hot water rushed over her, sending its warmth deep into her tired muscles. It poured down her, bringing her body to life with its gentle touch. Tense muscles softened, aches vanished. Water dripped along her breasts and licked her nipples like a lover's tongue. It spilled down her back, slipping between the cheeks of her buttocks. Tickling her womanhood as it rushed down her legs.
It touched her, everywhere, all at once. Like the hands of a dozen lovers.
With the door closed, the tiny shower pushed her closer to Jamie. Close enough that they never fully separated. His nearness tantalized her. Hips brushed, arm slipped across her breast. His cock whispered against her buttocks as he turned to unwrap a small bar of soap.
Peppermint filled the shower as he lathered the bar between his hands. He slipped behind her, brushing her wet hair off her shoulders. Strong hands, slick with soap, glided across her skin. Massaging her shoulders, slipping down her sides, suds spilling out wherever they touched her. He pressed close, the swell of his cock nuzzling against her. As he kissed her neck and throat, soap circled her breasts. Bubbles joined the stream of water as it wove across her belly and tickled past her sex. Maya leaned back, lost in sensation. Hot spray on her face. Her lover's hands, slick with soap, exploring her. His lips, soft and eager, on her skin. And everywhere, drops of water, caressing every part of her body.
This time, though, she wouldn't get lost in her own pleasure. Plucking the bar of soap from him, Maya slipped behind Jamie, surrender
ing the spray's hot embrace. Her body ached for the water's touch. Only for a second, though. Then, as she lathered her hands, she found new delights. Rubbing her breasts against his back, nipples slipping across his wet skin. Wrapping her arms around his chest, twining fingers slick with soap through his hair.
A deep sigh escaped him as the water worked its magic. She kissed his shoulders, the nape of his neck. Feeling taut muscles soften beneath her lips. Her hands crept lower, soap circling down across his flat stomach. Bubbles trickled down, curling around his balls, his manhood. In her arms, his chest heaved as his breathing grew ragged.
Her hand joined the playful water. Jamie groaned with pleasure as it closed around his shaft. Slowly, she stroked him, soap and water spilling down. Soft, animal cries escaped him, fanning the fire of her own passion. Maya savored the heat of his body against her breasts, the way her slick nipples slid across his skin.
With a groan, Jamie caught her hand. Turning, he pulled her into an embrace. Now, the water greeted both of them, splashing against their sides, sliding between their bodies. Lips joined, tongues and mouths melded. Aroused by her touch, his cock thrust against her, hungry for fulfillment. Maya leaned against the shower wall and slipped her legs wide, welcoming it.
With a thrust, Jamie drove into her, filling her with his thick shaft. Maya cried out, fingers digging into his shoulder, as he claimed her. Damp arms pulled her close, then with hard, measured strokes, he took her. Each one, driving into her, summoned waves of pleasure. Wild with desire, she urged him on, thrusting against him, moaning. All the while, the water rained down around them.
His cries joined hers and suddenly, he came. Warmth, wetness, spilled within her. Ecstasy blazed between her legs. Her back arched as she was lost within that rapture.
Slowly, it faded, leaving them panting in each other’s arms. Water, their faithful companion, washed and cleansed them. Jamie pulled out, kissing her. Then, reluctantly, he turned the shower off.
Steam kept the small bathroom warm as they toweled off. Maya dried herself, savoring the heat, the lingering touches of passion, as they faded. As she did, a smile crept over her face. It grew broader, stronger, until she couldn't control it and a giggle slipped out.
Puzzled, Jamie looked up.
“I'm sorry. I was just so worried.”
“About making love to a Dragon?” A hint of concern clouded his handsome face.
“No, about the hot water running out halfway through that.”
Jamie burst into laughter, and she joined him. Letting her joy, her contentment, free.
“Dragons don't eat people. But if that had happened, I would make an exception for the owner of this place.”
With no clothes except what she'd worn today, it looked like tonight she slept in the nude. As Jamie retrieved his underwear, Maya put a hand on his wrist. “Would you stay with me tonight?”
The briefs fell from his grasp. “Of course,” he said.
Chapter 12
Jamie drifted up from the depths of sleep. Unfamiliar details broke through the lingering traces of dream. A strange lump in the mattress. The scent of must and old fires, dull but sour. A woman’s body pressed against his.
Startled, he rose to one elbow.
Blonde hair, still disheveled from their love-making. Bronze, round face and full lips…
Maya. Of course.
Memories of her passion flooded back. The way she had cried out beneath him. The heights she had driven him to. Yet, mingled with the traces of lust was something else. A stillness. A contentment that filled the world with its gentle glow, assuring him that everything was as it should be. Life was good.
What the hell?
We have our Mate. We are hers, fully now.
His Dragon… approved of him?
How long had it been since that happened? Jamie leaned back against the bed’s frail headboard as an unpleasant truth revealed itself.
Over the years, he’d come to think of his Dragon as an opponent. Not an enemy. Their goals were the same, even if they fought constantly over tactics. But Dragons were pure creatures – too uncompromising for this muddled world. And so, they argued and struggled and fought each other.
Until now. He savored the unfamiliar peace that filled him.
This is what life feels like when you’re not at war with yourself.
Maya stirred, making an adorable little murmur that sent a flare of heat through his loins.
“Good morning.”
“Hey.” Blinking sleepily, she smiled up at him.
A tsunami of contentment slammed into him. His Dragon, radiating approval with all the subtlety of a five-ton golden retriever. Jamie had recovered some of his natural cynicism, however, and wasn’t quite as overwhelmed by its joy.
He bent down and kissed her, enjoying the way the sunbeams transformed her tanned skin into purest honey. Perhaps they had time for another round…?
Maybe. But as long as there was any hope for Judith’s family, he couldn’t bear to delay. With deep regret, he slid out of bed. “Coffee?”
Maya watched him rise, disappointment plain on her face. “Sure. Do we have anything for breakfast?”
“Microwave sausage biscuits for me. I need to head to Maine. You’re welcome to one, if you’d like.”
“Mmm. Nuked sandwiches. My favorite!”
He laughed at her grimace. “Bob will be here in about an hour. You didn’t meet him – he’s another Shifter. My partner. He’ll take care of you and Judith. And if you want a proper breakfast, I’m sure he’ll find one. I’ve never seen him turn up his nose at any food.”
“Oh my.” Her eyes sparkled. “Is he a Were-Pig?”
“Rat.” Horror doused her amusement immediately, and he chuckled. “Nice guy. Just don’t ask him to Shift.”
The rich scent of coffee filled the room. Maya accepted a mug from him and curled up on the ragged couch. “Where is Judith, anyway?”
“One cabin over. Got one for each of us. Guess that was one too many.” The flush of color in her cheeks set his Dragon rumbling with joy.
“Can I help at all?”
“No. It’s just a matter of searching now. Hey,” he added, as her face fell. “Don’t look like that. You did the critical part. I had no idea where to begin to look.”
Ping! Jamie fished his sandwich out of the microwave, adding a salty, unappealing scent to the rich aroma of coffee. Maya’s nose wrinkled.
“Guess you’ll pass, huh?”
“Yeah, breakfast with the Rat sounds better. At least there’ll be food.”
He wolfed the little biscuit, ignoring its scalding heat. One of the small perks of being a Dragon: you could eat things straight out of the nuker. One wasn’t even close to filling, and he tossed two more in.
Maya watched, mug cradled in her hands. “So, what’s next?”
“I go to Maine. I find Criehaven. Depending on the defenses, I either take the island myself or call my Flight for backup.”
“And then?” Her lips had grown pinched, uneasy.
Why should that upset her? “Then we evacuate people. I don’t know. I’ll dump that problem on my Alpha. He’s better at the micromanaging BS.”
“And then?”
What the hell was she on about? Who thought that far ahead? “I, uh, find another project?”
“But what about us?”
Oh. That.
“Riight. Um, to be honest, I don’t know.” The morning’s peaceful glow vanished, cut off like a light switch, as his Dragon’s temper flared.
Maya stared at her cooling coffee. “It sounded like this Rite of Claiming was something important.”
“I guess.”
Rage – not mere anger – lit his Dragon and Jamie felt the first twinges of pain in his shoulders. “They say it means you’re my soul mate. If you believe in them.”
“Oh.” Something was really interesting in that cup, because she wouldn’t look at him. “Do you?”
“No.”
Oh hell,
were those tears? Just the thing to drive his damned Dragon berserk. Jamie switched to a more conciliatory tone, hoping to calm both woman and serpent down. “Look, last night was great, and I like you. I’m not saying I never want to see you again.”
SNAP! His Dragon’s jaws clicked shut inches away from its wing.
Someone was not reassured. Time to switch tactics. “But think of Judith’s family. They’re not alone. The world is full of evil, full of innocent people like them who suffer because of it. Every moment I fritter away on myself, on fun, is another moment of pain for them.”
“So, you don’t have time for love,” she asked, picking her words carefully.
“No. I’m sorry.”
No time to explain that he didn’t really believe in it, either. The golden glow of last night could never last. Eventually, dull reality would insert itself. Drain all the delight, the joy out of life.
Again. Like it always did.
So, why not skip to the inevitable and end it, now?
“I would never want you to stop saving people.” One tear did escape, trickling down her cheek. “I couldn’t ask that. But don’t you want a home to come back to? Someone who cares about you?”
“Families and lovers take time. And I don’t have any to spare.”
Not if he was going to beat the Fangs.
“I see.”
His Dragon didn’t. Incandescent with rage, eyes burning like lava, it seethed. Jamie felt its wrath, wave after wave of loathing, wash over him.
Whatever. Pout away. I can take it.
“I should let you go then.” She put her coffee, untouched, on the table and rose. Despite the tears that flowed down her cheeks, her voice stayed calm.
When the bedroom door closed behind her, Jamie braced himself for his Dragon’s next assault.
Which never came. It watched him, a motionless bundle of impotent rage.
He didn’t like that, not one bit. Anger and violence, he understood. But this… this was something different. Something new and unpleasant.