Unquiet Slumber (48 page)

Nathaniel put his hands up to take her into his arms but then stopped himself, knowing he shouldn’t touch her. “You’re so wrong. I desire only you and still want you as my mate, but it can’t be. I’m full Draak and you aren’t. My dragon wants you so badly, I’m not sure I can control him around you anymore. A mating between us could cost you your life. You witnessed what it’s like to mate as a dragon. If I were to lose control, I would rip you apart. You can’t shift to protect yourself. Your body just couldn’t handle it.” He shivered at the images that appeared in his mind. “I would die if I hurt you.”

Tianna was furious now. “Hurt me! I don’t think you could’ve found a better way to hurt me. Why didn’t you just tell me all of this before you went and bedded Raven? We could’ve talked it out.”

“You’re right. I should’ve talked to you. I wanted to and started to several times but, when I stared in your eyes, I just couldn’t do it. I love you too much to tell you I couldn’t ever be intimate with you.”

Tianna clenched her fist and punched him in the chin as hard as she could. She hit him with enough force that he fell backwards and landed on his back. She stormed over, stood over him, and yelled, “Don’t you dare speak to me of love. You have no idea what love is. No one does this to someone they care about. Worst part is, I still love you with all of my heart and I probably always will.”

Her fist was still clenched and Nathaniel could see that her knuckles were cut and bleeding. Given the look, odds were she broke something. Nathaniel reached up to touch her hand with his blue fire. “You’re hurt. Please let me fix it.”

Tianna jerked her hand way. She knew she broke her hand and it hurt badly but she didn’t want him to heal her. “Don’t touch me! Don’t you ever touch me again. Once we get to Haven, I don’t ever want to see you again.”

Tianna turned and walked away, leaving Nathaniel sitting on the ground.

Gabriel met her half way back and said, “Nice right hook.”

She smiled up at him but with anger in her eyes.

He examined her hand closely. “Nathaniel is right. You did hurt yourself. I think it’s broken.”

Nathaniel managed to get up off the ground and was following them back to the camp rubbing his chin.

Gabriel’s fury for Nathaniel hit its peak. When Nathaniel was just about to pass him, Gabriel left Tianna’s side and blocked Nathaniel’s path. Without saying a word, Gabriel gave him his version of a right hook and Nathaniel went down again, hard.

Gabriel walked back to Tianna. “See how I moved my arm when I hit him. You dropped your elbow and bent your wrist a little. You need to keep your elbow up and wrist locked for stronger impact. Maybe we’ll get to practice again. Nathaniel makes an excellent subject.” He glared at Nathaniel.

Tianna tried to chuckle but it didn’t quite come out right. It sounded more like a snort. Gabriel laughed.

Nathaniel managed to stand but was very wobbly.

Tianna got an evil look in her eye. “I think I can do better.” She reached down with her good hand and touched the ground. Suddenly a large branch swung over their heads and hit Nathaniel in the center of his chest with a loud crack. Nathaniel went flying and hit the ground with a thump.

 Gabriel’s eyes opened wide and a huge grin appeared. “Excellent! Nice use of the lower split branch at the end. That one might leave a scar.” He bowed to Tianna. “Again, the student has become the teacher.” With a chuckle Gabriel added, “Remind me never to get you mad at me.”

Nathaniel wasn’t moving so Gabriel walked over to make sure he wasn’t seriously injured. He found him unconscious but with a strong pulse so he returned quickly to Tianna’s side.

Since Nathaniel was just knocked out, she felt comfortable asking Gabriel some questions. “Can I ask you some things about Draaks?”

Gabriel nodded. “Ask me anything.”

She gazed into his eyes. “Why exactly do Draaks go from bed to bed? Doesn’t it bother you to see someone you care about openly with another?”

Gabriel sighed. He knew he would get these questions soon or later, but had hoped they would be much later. “I once told you that for Draaks to have a successful mating they need to not just be physically attracted to each other but they must also be chemically matched. They must find this match within their own Sett, so that further limits their choices. So, when the right combination of Draaks meet and they’re physically attracted to each other, they share their bed to see if they‘re also chemically compatible. Intimacy is a natural part of our culture so it’s seen differently than it is in the human world you were raised in.”

He paused for a moment to see how Tianna was reacting. When she seemed interested in learning more, he continued. “Not just the Healer Sett is sensitive to touch. All Draak crave physical closeness so intimacy has become a part of our normal life. Even if a permanent bond isn’t formed, being physically together leaves behind a type of connection. Even these small connections help bind us together within our Sett. These encounters are encouraged to build our Sett into large families.”

Tianna pondered on what he said. “So as I guessed, that means that Nathaniel has shared his bed with many females.”

He wouldn’t lie to her. “Yes. Although he and Raven have known each other for a very long time, the magic has never blessed their union.”

Tianna shifted topics. “I want to know more about Draak mating.”

Gabriel chuckled softly. “I’ve been mated three times and have many children. I guess I know a few things about mating. What do you want to know?”

“Can a non-Draak mate safely with a full Draak?”

Gabriel knew he had to be totally honest with Tianna. “Yes, but it would have to be done very carefully. Draak’s often shift partially when aroused. If they don’t have complete control of their dragon, the female could be seriously injured or killed.”

“Have you ever taken a non-Draak to your bed?”

“Yes, once. She was a human woman that I met while traveling. I was smitten so when she asked me to stay the night, I said yes.”

Tianna’s look turned to one of concern. “What happened? Did you hurt her?”

“I was young then and didn’t have complete control of my dragon. I did start to lose control but my brothers heard her screams and ran in and pulled me off in time. She was injured but we had a healer nearby and he took care of her. I never tried again with another human.”

Tianna’s shoulders drooped. “So, Nathaniel is right. It’s too dangerous for me to mate with any Draak.”

He shook his head. “I’m not sure about that. You’re partial Draak and I’ve never met a stronger non-Draak female. With your mixed blood and healing abilities, I think you could handle more than you think.” He glanced down at her injured hand. “Take a look at your hand.”

Tianna peeked down. She had healed her injury without even realizing it.

Gabriel was amazed. “Your hand is completely healed like it was never injured.” He kissed her knuckles.

Tianna watched him as his lips touched her skin and a heat started up her arm. She had something else to ask him but was hesitant. She wasn’t sure if she could say the words. “Gabriel…in Raven’s hut, I saw…” Her voice broke and she decided to skip ahead. “I didn’t recognize Nathaniel. I could only feel anger and despair coming from him, no passion at all. I don’t understand. Intimacy is for love not hate. Thoughts of mating have passed through my mind often. I’m new to sensing my inner dragon, but so far I’ve only felt extreme passion from mine when it comes to physical intimacy. Is what I sensed with Nathaniel what it’s supposed to be like?” If it was, she wasn’t sure she ever wanted to mate.

Gabriel glared over at Nathaniel, still unmoving on the ground. If Nathaniel had taken Raven because of an attraction, Tianna would have felt pure desire from his dragon. Something wasn’t right about this whole situation. He wasn’t sure how much to tell Tianna, but he tried to explain his thoughts. “I can’t tell you what Nathaniel was feeling but the emotions you describe aren’t what Draak intimacy is like. If both parties are willing, it should be a moment of extreme pleasure. Fear and despair shouldn’t be present at all.”

He remembered seeing Nathaniel’s injuries. “If it has been a long time since a dragon has released his passion, the act can get a bit rough but even that is done with the goal of passion, not hate. What you describe is what could happen if a dragon is forced to participate against his will. Nathaniel has already confessed that it was a mutual decision to mate.” Gabriel decided he would confront Nathaniel to discuss what really happened with Raven, but he knew he needed to calm down a lot more before he could calmly talk to Nathaniel.

Tianna decided that it didn’t matter since Nathaniel said he still didn’t want her. She stared deep into Gabriel’s eyes. “I want to ask you one last question and you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

Gabriel had a guess as to what she was about to ask. “Like I said, you can ask me anything and if I can answer, I’ll answer honestly.”

Tianna cleared her throat. “If the situation was right and you and I were together, would you mate with me?”

Gabriel took both her hands in his and told her the truth. “Tianna, you’ve become an extremely important part of my life. You captured a piece of my heart the moment you dropped out of that tree and threatened to shoot an arrow through my head.” He chuckled and straightened his shoulders. “If the situation were such that you would consider taking me as a mate, yes, I would take you to my bed.” He leaned in and gave Tianna a gentle kiss on her lips.

Tianna took a close look at the male now in front of her. Although she was beginning to believe that she was destined to face her future alone, she knew she needed someone strong by her side. Gabriel cared for her and would always be there without question or hesitation. He cared enough to step aside to allow her to explore her feelings for Nathaniel. Her feelings for him weren’t the passion of Nathaniel, but feelings were definitely there. He made her feel safe, like family. If Nathaniel wasn’t to be, maybe this strong warrior was the one to be by her side, even if they weren’t a perfect match.

She smiled up at Gabriel and gave him a gentle kiss back.

That night she again tucked herself in with Gabriel. Her new sleeping routine included her facing Gabriel with her head pressed against his chest so she could hear his heartbeat, while his arms wrapped tightly around her with his hands pressed against her back. Tonight, she wanted to sleep like she used to with Nathaniel. She curled up with her back pressed against his chest. He tucked his hand under her shirt and pressed it tightly against her stomach and draped his leg over her hips.

She reached under her shirt and moved his hand up so that it pressed against the bottom of her breast. She rubbed the back of his hand giving him permission to touch her if he wanted. She sighed with contentment as he accepted her gift and began to gently run his fingers along the bottom of her breast, up its side, and around her nipple. He longed to see her body with his eyes in addition to his hands, but she was covered by the blanket. He was going to have to see her with his touch. As he gently caressed her, he closed his eyes and let the picture develop slowly in his mind.

He caressed her for a very long time and when he cupped her breast again and gave it a gentle squeeze, Tianna took it to be a silent thank you.

She could feel his now hard arousal pressed against her. She placed her hand on top of his and moved it so it covered her full breast. She pressed his hand down onto her so there was a tight connection. She tucked her other hand under the waist of his night pants and pressed it on the top of his hip. She then willed her fire to burn through both of her hands.

The feeling Gabriel felt made him catch his breath. Besides the heat that was passing through him, his sense of touch grew to the point that he could feel her heart like it was beating inside his hand. He then felt her body vibrate with her purr. In his almost four hundred years he had never felt anything like this. It caused his arousal to calm, replacing it with a feeling of complete contentment. It was exquisite and indescribable. He kissed the back of her head and wondered how Nathaniel could’ve ever given this up.

Nathaniel lay in his bed rubbing the wound from the tree branch and watched Tianna and Gabriel. He refused to heal the wound so it would leave a permanent scar. He deserved it. Although he couldn’t see anything, he could hear a slight purr and had a good idea of what was happening under the blankets. He longed to have her back in his arms again. He wanted to go to her side and beg for forgiveness, but the nagging voice in his head kept reminding him that he was her protector. It was his job to keep her safe at any cost, which meant he had to stay away from her. He listened to this voice and stayed in his bed. He rolled over and tried to go to sleep.