Dragons Don't Cry (6 page)

“Bethanne.”

Only a slight twinge in my heart came from
hearing her name. It was always this way. One bride replaced the
other and the memory of loss softened. I smiled. “Not as beautiful
as you.”

Her grin flashed again. “I bet you say that
to all your brides.”

My lips twitched. “My brides’ mouths are
usually too busy doing other things and we are not conversing at
this moment.”

“Then why don’t you kiss me?”

“Impudent female.” I closed the mere inches
separating us, kissing her honeyed lips, licking the outline before
delving within. Her dainty tongue flicked against mine. I drew it
into my mouth, sucking her sweet taste into my bloodstream. My
hands roamed her creamy flesh. So soft and smooth. I remembered
watching her pinch her nipples the night before. If she liked it, I
could do it better.

I swirled the tip of one nipple between my
thumb and forefinger and kissed my way down her throat. The swell
of her breasts was lovely in my hand. My tongue flicked out,
swiping the stiffening tip. She shuddered, her entire body one
avenue of pleasure. I finally sucked her nipple into my mouth,
lapping with my tongue. Her fingers sank into my hair, pulling me
closer. I bit down harder than I would with another female. She
cried out in pleasure. I moved to her other nipple as her fingers
tightened.

“You like that, Acasia?”

“I love that, Bastian,” she said between
heaving breaths as my teeth nipped her again.

“Then you will love this too.” I kissed down
her body, moving my hands lower. I loved the feel of her delicate
flesh beneath my rough hands. I smelled her arousal, her passion
making me intent on sliding my cock deep within her center, but not
yet.

Moving my entire body lower, I spread her
legs wide and looked at her pink folds. They glistened with desire
for me. I bent my head and licked her essence.

The cry she gave made birds rise up from the
long grass to the side of us and fly away. I gazed at her as I made
another swipe with my tongue. Her head moved from side to side,
eyes closed, cheeks flushed. I wouldn’t use my fingers this first
time, my cock got that honor, but I dipped into her center with my
tongue.

“Dragon, I feel strange. It hurts.”

I knew it was the sweet pain of delayed
pleasure. I could help her with that. My tongue delved deeper, and
using my fingers, I found her clit and rolled it between them like
I’d done her nipples. A heavy moan escaped her lips as her hips
rose from the material beneath her. This time her cry was guttural…
overflowing as her release traveled throughout her body. I watched,
studying her pleasure, for all brides were different. Her fingers
finally relaxed, my hair slipping from her hold. I moved up her
body with small nips and kisses. Her eyes fluttered open when I lay
full length above her.

“Is that all?” she whispered.

Oh, gods, she made me laugh. “Not even
close, my lady.”

Her thighs had closed slightly, so I spread
them open with mine. I placed the tip of my cock at her entrance.
The trust on her face momentarily stopped me. I throbbed with need,
longing to have her sheath my cock. Her silky wetness beckoned
me.

“I am sorry, Acasia.” My hips drove forward,
breaking her ring of virginity in one long thrust.

Her scream held no pleasure. I stopped all
movement once I’d seated myself fully inside her. “Breathe, sweet
lady.”

“It hurts.” I watched tears spill from her
closed eyes and roll down her cheeks.

“For only a moment. Breathe.”

Her soft breaths pushed her breasts more
fully against my chest. I gritted my teeth; I needed to move but
denied myself for her. I licked the delicate path of her tears. Her
eyes finally opened, and she gave me a quivering smile.

“It is better now, Bastian.”

“Then hold on, because I can wait no
longer.”

I tried going slow, but her legs curled
around my hips, clenching me, driving me on. Magic built inside,
centering in my balls. I hoped she was ready for the orgasm of a
dragon, because I couldn’t hold back.

“Come with me, Acasia,” I shouted as the
magic exploded.

There was not another magical creature in
any realm who released like dragons. The light consumed my body,
then hers, and finally a red glow burst from us. It was magical
electricity, a shock to our systems that only two dragons mating
could supersede. I knew what to expect, but still the power stunned
me.

I roared.

Chapter Ten

Bastian

She passed out, which was usual for the
first time. I should have warned her, but I was too impatient to
make her mine. I stood up and moved away, shifting to dragon so I
could fly her back to my lair. I lifted her, snagging her dress in
a talon and taking off. She stirred as I entered the tower.

“You cleaned it,” she said in a dreamy
voice.

“I did. It was time. The smell repelled
me.”

I loved her laugh. So full, so perfect. I
released her on the perch at the top of the stairs and shifted to
my human form. “Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”

“I shall eat with you.”

She gave me a quizzical look. “You can eat
human food?”

I laughed at her funny face. “Yes. I like to
hunt as dragon, but I like the finer foods also.”

“Do you cook?”

I shrugged. “No, I have servants for
that.”

“You mean there are other dragons here?”

“No.” I removed a piece of grass from her
hair. “They are human.”

“Human. You have humans here?”

She wouldn’t like this. Most of the brides
did not. “They serve me and now you, but they do not speak. They
give up their voice to live in this realm.”

“I don’t understand.”

I took her hand and pulled her along the
hallway into the library. “They come from a realm called earth.
Their families give them over when they are sick and dying. They
live here without illness, but it comes with the cost of their
voice.”

“But I keep my voice?”

“Yes.”

“Okay,” she said softly, though I knew she
didn’t truly understand.

***

Acasia

He unlocked the door at the end of the
hallway, explaining he spoke telepathically to his servants, though
even in this they were unable to speak back the same way. The other
side of the door housed a different world. A human world.

Men and women moved quickly, going about the
business of serving a dragon. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it,
but I’d learn more before giving my opinion. The people smiled at
me with curiosity.

Men and women walked the corridors; some
old, some in their twenties. I saw a few who were pretty, and
jealously ate at me. Did Bastian have sex with these women? He
squeezed my hand and I remembered that he might be able to gather
my thoughts. Heat rushed to my cheeks.

He stopped in a large dining hall. Two
perfectly laid out table settings awaited us at the end of the long
table. Bastian pulled out my chair and nodded his head at a
servant. The man poured red wine into my goblet. I felt
uncomfortable; no one had ever waited on me in my life. Next, he
filled Bastian’s.

My dragon raised his glass. “To you, my
lady, may you be happy by my side and bring joy to my life.”

I clicked my glass against his and took a
small sip of the sweet wine.

“Smile for me, Acasia.”

I had no idea why my smile was so important
to him; I couldn’t hold it back. His world was strange, but for the
first time since arriving, I was curious to find out more and less
inclined to return home.

“Tell me about dragons, Bastian.”

He returned my smile. “Gladly,” he said as a
man placed the first course in front of us. “Dragons collect
treasures. We hoard them, it’s in our blood.”

I kind of knew this. “Our rooms, those hold
your treasures?”

His dark eyes sparkled. “Those are a very
small part. Far below my lair, I have rooms filled with gems, gold,
and silver. You may look and choose what you wish. The servants
will move them for you. The same with what is in your room and
mine. Make them your own. Decorate, change furniture. There is much
unused below.”

“What about your tower? Will you continue
using it to drop your food?”

His hand covered mine. “Not if it bothers
you. I can just as easily eat where I catch my prey. What would you
have done with the tower?”

“I don’t know. I will think on it.” I took a
bite of some type of spiced grain and chewed slowly. “The food is
wonderful,” I said after swallowing.

“You may also decide on meals. I must have a
meat diet with only a few grains thrown in, but I want you to eat
what you wish. The servants know what I like and will feed my needs
if yours do not match.”

I couldn’t help asking, “Are they slaves,
Bastian?”

He didn’t hesitate before saying, “In a
manner of speaking.”

“But they don’t speak.”

“They live. Their families want to know they
live.”

“What do their families receive to assure
themselves their loved ones are well cared for?”

“The humans see their families every ten
years for one week. They visit their realm and return to me at the
end of that time.”

“Do they always return?”

His face grew closed and made me wonder what
he was hiding.

“Always.”

“So sad.” I couldn’t help thinking of my own
family. I would not see them every ten years. I would never see
them again.

“Eat, silly female.”

I didn’t feel silly; melancholy clouded my
thoughts, but I ate my food, drank my wine, and listened to dragon
tales.

“Drakon was the first. He upset the gods by
killing Hera’s daughter. Hera cursed us.”

“What happened to Drakon?”

“He disappeared. Many say Hades took him to
the underworld as punishment.”

“Why did Drakon kill Hera’s daughter?”

Bastian stared at me for a long moment. “He
loved her, but when he bedded her she was not a virgin. In his
rage, he killed her.”

“I do not understand why virginity is so
important to dragons.”

His eyes pierced me. “It is
a treasure, and we collect treasures. Only a pure female has a
chance of becoming a Dragon’s true mate.
Eileithyia, Hera’s daughter, took that possibility away.
Drakon loved her, but killed her out of jealousy and rage that she
could never become dragon.”

The story depressed me even
more, but I figured I’d better learn it all so we would have no
need to speak of it again. “Tell me of the curse.”

Bastian looked away, his
voice low, “One hundred thousand years. We choose a bride every one
hundred years. Love her, cherish her, and lose her. I do not wish
to speak of the curse. I have many years with you. We shall enjoy
each one.” He turned back and I saw the sorrow he tried to
hide.

“Tell me of the other
dragons.”

His facial muscles
tightened as anger replaced sadness. “You will avoid them,
especially Laryn.” I could hear jealousy in his voice.

It didn’t stop me from
asking, “Why Laryn?”

Red sparked in Bastian’s
dark eyes. “He just lost his mate. He is sad and lonely… desperate.
He is my friend, but I will kill him if he touches you.”

My heart went out to Laryn.
“Are you sad when your claiming bride dies?”

He came to his feet and
faced me. Thousands of years of sorrow shown in each line on his
face. “My life ceases to exist. I die a little more each time.
Someday I may finally die a real death and find peace.”

I stood moving closer until
I felt the warmth of his body. I don’t know what came over me or
why I spoke my next words, “Not while I live, Bastian. I will make
you happy and go with peace after our years together. You will find
happiness again and I pray to live a long life so you do not wait
too long.”

His voice went husky, “Are
you finished eating?”

Heat burned between my
thighs. “I have need of dessert. A fierce but sweet dragon to be
exact.”

We left the dining area. He
stopped in different alcoves, pushing me against the walls, kissing
me. Teasing me and driving me wild. I giggled and kissed him back.
When the need between my thighs became unbearable, he moved us on.
He was driving me crazy, but in a good way.

“You will sleep with me
each night,” he demanded once I was naked and spread out on his
bed.

I looked at his powerful
body, excited that it would soon be a part of mine. “Make
me.”

“You play with fire,
Acasia.”

I needed him desperately.
“Burn me, Bastian, burn your will into mine. Take away thoughts of
home and replace them with thoughts of you.”

He covered me, then rolled so I lay over
him. “Move your knees to either side of my hips and sit
astride.”

I smiled and did as told.

“Lift your ass and take my cock into your
body. Slowly. You are sore and should rest, but I need you
again.”

I moved up, wiggled, and slowly sheathed my
dragon. His eyes went half-hooded, but still the red sparks
scorched my flesh. I was sore, but able to take him deep with only
a little discomfort. He palmed my breasts, molding them to his
hands. I wrapped my fingers around his forearms, digging my nails
into his skin.

“You are beautiful, Acasia. Your hair
covering part of your face your pouty lips separated and your
breathing heavy. Now it’s time to ride a dragon.”

I lifted my bottom, then pushed back down
feeling him so deep within me. He released my breasts and grasped
my hips.

“Hold on.” His guttural words were barely
controlled.

He started a new pace, a faster one. I
turned to liquid in his hands, flowing over him, loving his
control. The burn built in my center. I tried to keep my eyes open
to watch him, but finally threw my head back in ecstasy. The heat
built and he was right, he seared me from within. His body emitted
a glow, soft at first but gaining brightness. I could actually see
it behind my closed lids. At the same time my body exploded, I
opened my eyes. Red streaks of light burst from our bodies. I’d
felt it the last time but hadn’t seen the beauty. We lit up the
room, making the gold around us sparkle. I’d planned to get rid of
much of it, take it down to his treasure rooms, but now I couldn’t.
The pieces magnified the exquisiteness of our release. I managed to
stay conscious but dreamy. He watched me. The red light continued
to shine.