Dragon Ugly (Dragon New Year) (20 page)

She wrapped her arms around him and stroked his chest, bathing his face and murmuring soft, soothing words, which she didn’t think were getting to him. He shifted in her arms and murmured her name, giving her a small bit of relief. The sound of running feet came from the bedroom.

“Where’s Brent? Is he okay?” came a man’s deep voice. “You sounded like you were going to freak out.”

“Brent’s fine, just asleep.” Fletch’s words floated through the doorway. “Moron pushed himself too far. Phone sex with his mate. I just told her about his mating heat, but he’s exhausted himself.”

“Help me with these sheets, then we can turn the bed and clean his room.”

Carissa glanced up to find a black-haired, black-eyed man gazing at her through the doorway, with an unreadable expression in the obsidian depths.

“You must be Tor,” she said. “I’ve got him. Go help Fletch.”

Tor backed out of the room in embarrassment. Carissa ran her fingers through Brent’s hair, and smiled when he sighed. It felt good to have him in her arms. Her anxiety level came down as the wolf calmed. Having Brent near, seeing that he wasn’t in danger, soothed them both. She placed a hand over his heart and felt the steady thud. Carissa grabbed the soap and began to wash his skin. She rubbed the bar over his flesh, going under the water to reach the places she couldn’t get to.

Brent let out a soft snore. “Carissa,” he groaned and shifted once more in her arms.

“I’m here, baby. I’m right here. It’s okay.” She ran her fingers through his hair once again and let it settle against her chest. He was heavier than her, but her wolf loaned her some of her strength to hold him up. The smoky sweetness of incense floated through the door, drowning out the sweat and sex that had been in the air before. She heard a loud thud and Brent sat up, sloshing water over the side of the tub.

“What the fuck are you two doing?” he shouted to his roommates.

He rose out of the water, rivulets sluicing everywhere to carve intricate paths over his muscles.

Carissa watched the play of water for a moment, feeling the arousal rise before she became aware of the vibrations deep in her ass and vagina.

“Shit,” she muttered as she moved around in the tub and began to remove the sex toys. She had become so concerned over Brent’s health she’d forgotten about the plug and silver bullet.

Brent turned around, his cock already semi-hard. “Carissa? Honey, what are you doing here?”

Confusion flitted across his features. She saw the ripple of scales under the skin.

“Whoa there, cowboy. We need to finish cleaning you up and then get you into bed. Fletch, call and cancel the event at the bookstore.” Carissa stood up. She held out her hand to him. “Come on back to the tub and we can finish your bath and I’ll explain.”

Desire filled his eyes as his features tightened and a red flush filled his chest. “Did they see you naked?” His voice was a low, animalistic growl.

“It doesn’t matter. Get your lizard ass in this tub now!” she ordered, feeling her own flush of embarrassment through her chest, up her neck.

“You’ll explain,” Brent growled as he re-entered the basin and allowed her to clean up his legs, feet and groin.

She was careful not to touch his cock too much but it didn’t matter what she did, he was growing more aroused by the second. Carissa took hold of his penis and gave the slit a bit of a pinch.

“Fuck, ow. Why?” He glared down at her.

“No sex. Not until we work out a plan to help with your dragon. Your parents are on their way.” She stood up and gathered up the sex toys from the bottom of the tub. She dumped them in the nearby sink and stepped out onto the bath mat.

“Actually, they’re already here,” came an amused, husky feminine voice. An elegant woman stood in through the doorway wearing a skin-tight black, sleeveless sweater-dress and leather sandals. She looked like a female version of Brent, only taller and sleeker. Her sandals filled Carissa with envy. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask where she’d gotten them, when a soft breeze reminded her that she was standing before Brent’s mother, stark naked. Rather than try to cover up she just stepped out of the tub, grabbed a towel, handed one to Brent, and then began to dry off.

“Well, this is a wonderful way to meet you, Mrs.…” She realized she didn’t know Brent’s last name.

“Aurelia, please. Why, Brent, she’s absolutely lovely. Werewolf? What an interesting pairing. Come, come, let me hear what it’s all about. Your father is unloading the car. Once we establish what the problem is then we can fix it and we can get out of your hair. Although not without dinner with your mate first, of course.” Her sky blue gaze slid over Carissa, assessing her, but—Carissa thought—not finding her lacking. In fact, she looked pleased.

Carissa wrapped the towel around her body and followed a sulking Brent out of the room. His shoulders were slumped and his head hung. His hair covered his features, even as he sat down.

“Now, now, tell Mummy what’s wrong. Stop acting so petulant.” Aurelia dragged a beanbag chair over and sank down on it. She didn’t look the least bit ridiculous, in fact she looked like a queen taking her throne.

“Nothing’s wrong, Mum. You and Pa can go home.” Brent’s voice took on a slight accent.

“We’re from England originally,” Aurelia explained. “But we’ve lost most of our accent unless we go back home. And I don’t believe you for a second, Brent. Fletch wouldn’t have called if there wasn’t trouble. Mating heat, is it?”

Brent looked up, anger and hurt in his darkened azure gaze. Fletch and Tor fidgeted in the corner of the room.

“Make way, I’m coming through.” A tall man, who had to Brent’s father, came into the room carrying a large pile of things. He settled everything on the floor near the bed and straightened. He stepped toward Carissa, hand out, and a genial smile on his face. “Marcus, Brent’s father. You must be Carissa. Isn’t she lovely, dear? Absolutely gorgeous. And a werewolf too.” He nudged Aurelia. “Good match, I’d say, very good match. Excellent luck, son, excellent.”

Aurelia smiled up at her husband. “Yes, I can see that dear, but first we need to figure out what’s wrong with our little lad. He’s being petulant.”

Marcus laughed. “Of course he is. Don’t want the parents to come in and deal with this. Highly embarrassing to him. Naked too, of course. It’s okay, son, happens to the best of us. Myself included. Now tell us the symptoms and we can help.”

Brent’s face flushed a bright crimson. His lips thinned and looked down at the floor.

Carissa sighed. “His dragon wants him to shift during sex. He gets aroused and it tries to force him to change. After sex, he’s totally wiped out whether it’s with me or all alone. What can we do?”

Brent lifted his head. His gaze met Carissa’s. Hurt filled those dark blue orbs.

Aurelia lifted her hand and caressed her son’s cheek. “Ah, a Dragon Ugly situation. I see. Basically your dragon wants to claim your mate, and is using extreme measures, even trying to take over your human side.” A serious look came over her face. “Sweetie, you need help, otherwise the dragon could force a shift you’re not ready for, take over and seal away your human side forever. Or worse, you could die from the exertion. We don’t want that.”

Brent turned away and heaved a deep sigh. “Just go away. I’m fine.”

Carissa took his hand. “So what if I met your parents earlier than you intended? We’ve met. Deal with it.” She looked back at Brent’s parents. “What can we do?”

Aurelia’s face was filled with joy. “Feisty. Strong. I like her. Yes, what can we do? Well, as much as I hate to say this, darling, you’re going to have to shift fully. Let it out completely and it will be too exhausted to force you to shift during sex with Carissa.”

Brent’s jaw dropped. “I don’t think so. I can’t. Where would I go?”

“To our cabin, of course. Far enough from people, but with enough room to completely allow the dragon to run free.” Aurelia gazed at Brent, hope on her face.

“There’s a ‘but’ isn’t there?” Carissa reached out and grabbed Brent’s hand, giving it a squeeze.

Aurelia nodded. “No sex. Lots of mediation, lots of spending time together, but absolutely no sex. You can kiss, but you can’t fuck like bunnies until
after
the dragon’s been let out.”

Brent groaned. “Mum!”

“What? I can say fuck. Geesh. Stop being a prude. Well, do you agree? This will allow the bonding process to cement on a deeper level than just sex.” Aurelia crossed her arms over her chest and stared at her son.

“Can you wait until the full moon?” Carissa asked. “Then we can shift together and I can keep the dragon in line.” She glanced from Brent to his parents. She wanted to take care of him, keep him safe from other predators, and most of all, help him through this difficult time.

“Why is my mating heat so different from Tor’s?” Brent demanded. He stood up, anger etched on his face.

“Because Tor is a fire dragon,” Marcus said. “Each mating heat is different. No two are alike, son. I know this is difficult but this is for your own safety.”

“This doesn’t make you less of a man, honey.” Carissa stood up and wrapped her arms around him from behind. She placed a soft kiss between his shoulder blades. “It just means that I get to boss you around and use you like a pack mule.” She grinned.

Aurelia and Marcus chuckled.

“Meaning?” Brent turned in her arms and gazed down at her, hesitation on his face.

“Jez, Anna and I are moving to the lakeside. We have a booth and will be using it for the last few days of the festival. We can do a picnic and spend all the time together you need…and even make out. That’s allowed right?” She looked at Aurelia and Marcus for an answer.

Aurelia nodded. “Yes, you can make out, just no sex.”

“Is there a way around the sex?” Brent asked, desperation on his face.

Aurelia looked at Marcus. They both fell silent for a few moments. Carissa stroked Brent’s arms and placed kisses on his chest.

“Well,” Aurelia looked at Marcus, who nodded. “There is a way, but you won’t like it and neither will the dragon. We’d have to use magic to bind the dragon for a limited time, and you’d still have to be careful. Also, you’d have to keep the dragon in check. You can’t let down your defenses. You’d have to be always on guard.”

Marcus leaned down and rummaged around in a bag from the heap of things he brought with him. He produced a pair of silver handcuffs. Even from where she stood Carissa could feel the magic emanating from the cuffs. Marcus handed them to Aurelia, who in turn gave them to Carissa. Puzzled, Carissa accepted them and turned them over in her hands. There were delicate etchings that appeared when the bands caught the light. Small silver links joined the two cuffs together.

“Elvish?” Carissa asked.

Aurelia beamed. “Yes. They are indestructible, so he can pull and tug all he wants and the dragon won’t get out. But you can only use them for sex, not for when he pisses you off, understand?” She wagged her finger at Carissa but smiled.

Carissa nodded. “I understand.”

“We’d still need to perform magic to bind the dragon. The cuffs are just an extra precaution. I’m leaving them with Carissa because if it were up to my son, he’d hide them.” Aurelia grinned. “Now, Carissa darling, you and the boys need to leave the room. We have to start the ritual. Afterward, he’ll need to eat.”

Carissa lifted herself up on tiptoe and kissed Brent. “I’ll be right outside. Don’t worry.” She gathered up her clothes and followed Tor and Fletch out into the hallway. The door closed behind them and she started to get dressed, not caring that both men were watching. She was Brent’s mate. They were just his friends.

“Um, I’m Fletch,” Fletch held out his hand, crimson patches on his cheeks.

“Tor,” Tor held out his hand, not the least bit embarrassed.

She shook their proffered hands and nodded toward the stairs. “They may be awhile. Want to get dinner started? We can talk while they work.”

The men nodded and she followed them downstairs. Despite the calm she tried to convey, her mind was on Brent and what he was going through.

Chapter Sixteen

Everyone tried to ignore the thuds, bumps and loud curses from overhead. They went about their business and tried not to think about it.

Also, everyone seemed to be ignoring the fact that they’d all seen Carissa naked. She didn’t even feel embarrassed by it. She didn’t really care. She was made more uncomfortable by trying to make awkward small talk with Brent’s best friends. The two guys seemed just as uncomfortable. She could barely stand it.

She put down a dish rag and looked at the men behind her, currently chopping up vegetables. “Okay, look, let’s just say it. You met me naked. I’m Brent’s mate and I’ll be coming around here a bit more often. I know you’re mated to my friend Louisa, Fletch, and don’t worry, I’ll tell her myself and explain things to her. Other than that, you guys can look at me without trying to ignore the whole nudity thing. I’m cool.”

Tor swallowed. “It’s not that, and I can tell Louisa myself. It’s just…well, I went through mating heat a few months ago. Still am going through it, with spurts of anger, a need for sex, a need to shift. But with Brent it’s bad. Worse than what I went through. I can’t help but feel bad for him. There’s nothing I can really do.”

Fletch nodded. “Brent is normally easygoing. I hope he’s going to be more stable with the magic ritual.”

Out of curiosity, Carissa asked, “How does magic affect you guys? I know there isn’t much that can damage dragons.”

Both Tor and Fletch were silent at first. Then Fletch answered, “Elvish magic is the only thing that can affect us. Witches and warlocks only produce tickles.”

Tor agreed. “Yeah, so whatever they’re doing will have to be Elvish magic.” Tor’s lips quirked into a smile. “So, are you over the fact that you met his parents naked?”

Carissa snapped the towel at him. “How’d you feel if you met Louisa’s parents naked?”

Tor shrugged. “Given that she doesn’t get along with them and they’re separated, I’d say the likelihood of that happening is slim to none, but yeah I can understand feeling embarrassed.”