Dragons Don't Cry (4 page)

I moved my arms down, and his breath eased
over my cheek. He nuzzled my ear, the hair behind it with his nose,
inhaling deeply. It reminded me of him, the dragon.

“Sleep.”

***

Bastian

They always wanted to return home at first.
Settling them into dragon life was difficult and in some cases took
many years. Eventually this one would come around too. She’d forget
her family and friends. Forget home and think of my kingdom as her
home.

I turned to the next blank page and sketched
Acasia as she looked while sleeping. I never went back to the
previous pictures of past claiming brides. The pain was too great.
I’d filled almost the entire book with drawings of the women I’d
claimed. Their faces as they aged, so beautiful, but each passing
year, the lines took them closer to death. I hated this book, but
wanted the images for some reason. Seventy-eight women,
seventy-eight-hundred years, seventy-eight heartbreaks, and Acasia
was the seventy-ninth. The centuries in front of me stretched
endlessly.

When I heard her stir, I put the book on the
highest shelf. I couldn’t share my human side with her because I
needed to maintain distance to keep my heart from breaking once
again. Her thinking me a dream was the easiest way. But I
lusted—desired her sweet warmth. I wanted to whisper her name and
hear her cry mine in surrender.

I walked naked to the window in my bedroom
and threw myself over the side. I spiraled downward, nose first.
Close to the ground, my wings burst from my body, the pain of
shifting a deep ache I craved. I pulled myself up until I rested on
the ledge outside her window. I stuck my head into the room.

Sitting up, she clutched the thin bed
covering to her body. “You are a rude dragon. I need to get up, but
must cover myself with the robe.”

I refused to look away from
her delectably bare shoulders, smiling internally over undressing
her in her
dreams
.
Remembering that she always slept in her robe. “Why have you not
used the clothes in the garment room?”

She looked toward the room I spoke of before
turning my way again. “They are for me?”

I couldn’t move my head far within the
window’s frame, but I looked around as much as I could. “I see no
other stupid human females in here. Who else would wear the
clothing?”

Her lips pursed in vexation, but she managed
a level tone. “They are strange.”

“So you’ve examined them.”

She appeared embarrassed, but I knew not
why. “A little.”

I could no longer take the pale show of skin
and snapped, “Chose something, stupid woman, and ride with me.”

“Ride?”

“On my back… or are you afraid?” I
challenged.

Her excitement showed clearly in her voice
and it thrilled me. “You’re serious.”

“Yes, hurry, my patience wears thin.” I put
just enough disgust in my voice so maybe she would move
quickly.

“Close your eyes.”

I allowed my outer lids to drop. She had no
idea that only my inner lids blocked my view. I watched her jump
up, her luscious ass jiggling as she ran to the garment room,
slamming the door behind her. I flew to my own room, shifting to
human form, and grabbed the saddle that hadn’t been used since
Bethanne. I tossed it from the window and jumped out, diving into
the neck and wing loops in human form before calling my wings.
After circling my lair once, I swooped upward and headed back to
her window.

She walked out, covered in a flimsy pair of
loose leg coverings and one of my tunic shirts, which was too large
for her. I was hoping for tight jeans and a similarly tight
t-shirt. On the morrow, I would toss out the clothing that I didn’t
want her wearing and I would just go naked so she couldn’t wear my
large clothes. Though she looked delicious in my shirt, it was
inappropriate for a female.

“Those clothes will not protect you from the
hard ride we shall take.”

She blushed delightfully, smoothing the
pants and glaring at me. “What is wrong with them?”

I wondered about the blush, then answered.
“My leather saddle will rub against the loose material. The choice
is yours.”

I saw her work through the dilemma in her
mind, her lips forming a hard line. And she called me stubborn. I
knew her answer before she gave it.

“These will do.”

“Humph, go into my room and wait at the
doors. Do not go outside until I am there.”

“Pushy bastard,” I heard her mutter as she
walked from the room.

Normally, I would take my time, but seeing
her throw herself down into the tower the day before made me hurry.
I saw her peering out the double doors, and for once, she obeyed
and waited.

I landed and moved closer. “Here, cinch the
leather tight and buckle it at my neck then my chest.”

I craved her hands on me and this was a
start. “Tighter. You don’t want the saddle slipping.” She grunted,
but got it latched properly. “I will turn and you will climb up my
tail into the saddle.”

“What if I fall?”

She sounded almost thrilled at the idea, and
I shuddered. “You can’t fall more than ten feet while we’re on the
ledge. Once we take off, have no fear, I will catch you, trembling
female.”

“Do all dragons have your ego?”

“Humph, I would hope. We are the dominant
species of our realm and yours.”

The little female tapped her foot, looked
down at it and back up. “I’m waiting on you.”

I was hard-pressed not to laugh and expel
smoke and fire. I turned my body around lowering my tail until it
was in front of her. The end of my tail was narrow compared with
the upper part, but her balance was good, and she scrambled up and
into the saddle.

“There’s no safety harness,” she whined.

I rolled my eyes. “Place your feet in the
stirrups and hold the upper pommel; you don’t need a harness.” Her
wiggling while she adjusted the foot straps almost killed me. The
armor covering my cock became much too tight. The sight of my
unsheathed dragon’s cock would scare her for the next fifty years.
I’d learned that with one of my first women. Thankfully, Acasia
couldn’t see it from her seat. I eased my forescales back and gave
myself a little relief.

“I think I’m ready,” she said, her voice
trembling.

“Hold on.” I unfurled my wings, moved to the
edge, and dove off. I loved this part with a new bride.

Her scream was louder and longer than I
remembered the others being. Of course more than half the females
passed out, lost their seat, and I had to catch them. I noticed
when her scream changed and became laughter. I swooped upward in
disbelief, catching a tailwind gliding on the current.

“Again—dive again, dragon.”

Amazing. Acasia wasn’t afraid. Many of my
woman never rode unless forced. I made this dive sharper, and her
cry rang through me—exhilarated. I knew she smiled even though I
couldn’t see it. I flapped my great wings and pulled from the dive.
The lake came into view and I went in low, skimming the surface
with my claws, water spraying over us.

“Cold, you ass,” she shouted, though I could
still hear her glee.

There was no stopping my laughter this time.
Smoke and fire exploded from my mouth. Turning sharply, I avoided
flying her into the flame. I’d learned that the hard way too. Human
females didn’t heal easily from burns.

The heat warmed her, and we continued our
flight. She held on, her strong legs grasping my neck within the
saddle. I loved every minute. Occasionally, I felt her petting me.
I don’t think she realized it. Then, I heard her stomach growl. I
was hungry too.

“What part of my eating habits repulse you,
female?”

“Argh. You play with your food. I understand
the need for sustenance, but make it a quick kill.” She spoke
aloud, not knowing she could communicate inside my head. Her human
voice echoed her mind voice and I liked it.

I swooped down over a herd of deer. Dropping
my legs, talons extended, I swiped with the front ones and grabbed
with the back. Quick and efficient. A perfect kill.

Her hand ran across my scales. “Thank you,
dragon.”

I puffed up, feeling proud at her softly
spoken words as I spun and headed back for my lair.

“Will you leave me at the window? The smell
of your uneaten dead plays with my stomach and I would like to eat
too.”

“As you command.”

“I like that, dragon. You may get a smile
from me yet.”

Chapter Seven

Acasia

A meal waited for me. I needed to ask him
who cooked. The door at the end of the hallway remained locked. My
only contact was with my dragon; my dream man didn’t count. I
fisted my hand and stretched it a few times. It was still a little
sore from hitting the dragon’s nose, but it didn’t keep me from
eating. I noticed a jar of cream and a missive at the other end of
the table. After the meal, I read the note.

Rub this in where you need it most.

The dragon must have had the note delivered
when I changed my clothes. I couldn’t help wondering who wrote it
for him.

Standing from the chair and walking to the
end of the table had given me an idea of where I needed the salve
most. I could feel heat rise in my cheeks. I made my way to the
bath, shed my clothes, and submerged myself in hot water. I
couldn’t help the sigh of relief for my tender backside.

In just two days, I was falling for a
dragon, no longer thinking of him as my enemy. I soaped my hands
and ran my fingers over my breasts. It felt good. I pinched my
nipples slightly and heat rushed between my legs. I forced my mind
off the red eyes and scales, picturing my dream man inside the
steamy room. One of my hands smoothed down my belly and found that
forbidden place between my legs. I’d never touched myself there. As
a claiming bride, touching oneself was prohibited. I wasn’t sure of
the rules now, but refused to feel guilty, because it felt so damn
good.

My flesh was soft and swollen, and I
wondered if the puffiness was an aftereffect of riding the dragon.
The heat flaring in my cheeks had nothing to do with the hot
water.

Riding the dragon.

I might be a virgin, but I’d listened to
females talk about sex. When the dragon explained I could ride him,
I almost died. Sex with a dragon... impossible. But I could dream
and pleasure myself. I had my man of shadows. He touched me in just
the right ways, though I wanted more. I needed to work on my sexual
fantasies. The fleeting thought to check the library for books
about sexual information entered my mind at the same time I slipped
one finger to my center. Tight heat, too tight to go farther unless
I wished to disrupt my hymen. I arched my body, rubbing my breasts
and the softness between my legs. Pressure built. Elusive, but so
close.

My eyes had closed with thoughts of my dream
man, but I opened them to see the effects my hands were having on
my body. My nipples were tight little buds and I touched them
again. Movement from the corner of my eye startled me. I jerked my
head sideways. It was him, my dream man. He stood naked, holding
his enormous erection.

I screamed, uselessly trying to cover
myself.

He backed quickly out of the doorway.

Jumping from the bath, I grabbed a clean
robe left on the back of the door and ran from the room. He wasn’t
there. I searched throughout the chamber rooms, but found no sign
of him. As I headed to my room, the dragon’s loud roar had me
turning toward the tower. For once, I didn’t notice the smell. I
felt his pain deep in my gut. My dragon suffered. I stopped at the
top of the stairway and slowly walked to the end of his perch to
look down to the bottom. Nothing. I looked up. He swooped just
under the ceiling with another roar.

Oh my.

My dragon had an erection. The scales of his
underbelly pulled back farther and a giant red cock displayed
proudly. I shivered. It would never fit, was anatomically
impossible. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate his
endowment and fight jealousy over the female dragon who would
eventually take on his cock.

He swooped low and roared again. Fire spewed
upward. I stepped back out of its path. I heard a loud clatter and
peered over the ledge. He swiped piles of bones aside, shattering
them against the wall. I fought a smile with relief; he was
throwing a temper tantrum. A lust-filled rage, I thought. Smoke
puffed from both nostrils, but he didn’t release fire. The smell
began to upset my stomach and finally it looked like he calmed a
bit. I turned and ran back to my chambers and didn’t think about
the naked man until I closed the door behind me.

Curious.

I walked into the bedroom with the huge
bed.

Go into my room and wait at the window.

It clicked.

Go into my room and wait
at the window.
That’s what he said to me
before we took our ride. This was his room, the dragon’s. The only
way he could fit in here was if he was also human. My dream man.
Mortification almost overwhelmed me, but anger won and simmered
slowly. I wish I could roar and eject fire. The jerk tricked me.
The longer I thought about it, the more devious my thoughts
turned.

Payback was a bitch.

***

Bastian

My rage centered on my own stupidity. I’d
snuck into my bedroom and heard the splash of the bath. She’d left
the door open a crack, and once I looked inside, some unseen energy
drew me closer. She pleasured herself—her nipples stiff peaks, her
body arching up seeking a deeper penetration with her finger.

I wanted it.

Wanted to be the first inside that tight
passage.

She’d stopped, but I had no way of knowing
if I was too late. It was stupid really. I knew the rules unfair
for the claiming brides. Hell, we dragons had made those rules out
of jealousy. I’m not sure which of us would actually kill the
families of those who broke the decree. We’d never faced the
predicament. Our brides always proved virgins. This was why the
annoying females needed quick deflowering. Sarn, Laryn, and Tahr,
my brethren, argued with me continually. I had a problem with
taking an unwilling bride before she settled. I’d learned through
trial and error that if human females had a mental connection, they
took to bedroom activity with more zest.