Fire of Stars and Dragons (15 page)

“We should probably go brush our teeth. The phrase ‘dragon breath’ has reality-based origins, Cait,” he whispers, though he doesn’t push me away. “With the high body temperature we run and our ability to breathe fire in our natural form… I think it does something,” he continues to explain, his hands in my hair, making no effort to stop me. When I teasingly bite at his nipple, he growls, low but not threatening.

“Damn it, Cait.” Theo lifts me into his arms and carries me into the bathroom, depositing me on the double-sink vanity, and opens a drawer, pulling out a new toothbrush. “I wasn’t kidding.”

I pick mine up out of the cup by the sink, holding it out as he offers toothpaste, and watch him for a moment as he goes about his morning routine. So normal. Nothing about this feels like a couple as odd as us should feel—a beyond-ancient dragon and a human he claims he will stay with for the rest of eternity. “Wait.… Theo, I’m human, mortal. How is it I’m supposed to be your ward until the end of time like you first told me?”

Brushing my teeth, I wait with little patience as he finishes, biding his time, avoiding the answer. He goes on to wash his face then holds up my hairbrush. “May I?” I nod, mouthful of toothpaste, scowling at his delay tactics, though he does have an amusing case of bed head. By the time I’m done, he’s coaxed me off the vanity, brushing the tangles out of my hair. I stare at him in the mirror as he stands behind me, arms crossed over my chest, trying to relieve my impatience by focusing on every movement of his arms, his shoulders, only managing to frustrate myself in other ways as well.

“There are many things I cannot explain to you, Cait, your destiny one of them.” My dragon pauses, indecision in his beautiful green eyes. “You will not always remain mortal, Cait. I told you, you cannot ask questions, but the change has already begun. Later, you will understand better. Just know this has always been within your blood, waiting… waiting for a dragon to awaken this gift from its dormancy.” Laying the brush down, he takes my shoulders and turns me to face him. “There is no greater privilege than to be your dragon, Cait, to have you as my ward, considering the destiny before you. Any dragon would be honored to hold this position, to protect you.”

“I wouldn’t want another dragon, Theo, just you.” He smiles down at me, running his fingers along my cheek. “I couldn’t love another dragon, Theo, only you.”

He grabs the back of my thighs, lifting me onto the vanity again, pressing his lean heated body against mine as I wrap my legs around him. Leaning me back to the mirror, his stubbly chin grazes along my jaw. “Any dragon would be out of his mind not to love you, Cait.”

“You’re out of your mind, and you love me,” I reply, giggling.

With a growl, his lips are on mine, my fingernails raking along the length of his back, feeling the planes and ridges of my every desire mapped beneath his skin, fueling the need to have him closer. His breath is minty fresh yet still incredibly warm, his tongue hot, a flame dancing with mine, fire threatening to consume me, and I’m tired of waiting. “Shower,” I mumble out breathlessly as his mouth makes its way to my ear, the heat of his breath sending tingles in every direction.

“You want a shower now?” Mouth on my skin, the words are growls, frustrated.

“No. You. Me. Shower. Now.”

His hands are under my shirt, lifting it off, when he stops. “What about Dante?”

This time, I growl. “Less talking. More doing. No stupid questions.”

And in a heartbeat, my back is bare and against the outer glass wall of the shower as he reaches in to adjust the water with one hand, holding me with the other, kissing my shoulder and neck. As soon as he’s satisfied with the temperature, Theo steps us inside, not caring he’s still in his shorts, and I’m soaking my pajama pants.

A hand on my leg, he pries me off him, lowering me to stand on the slate-tiled floor. Our eyes remain locked, and without a word, he slowly slips his fingers along my hips, pushing the wet flannel down until he’s kneeling at my feet, tossing my pajamas away, leaving me bare in front of him. “You are a goddess, Cait, beautiful and perfect.” There’s such reverence in his voice I might think he was serious, not just being romantic as the shower sprays down on his head, water trickling along the angular lines of his face, cascading onto the perfection of his shoulders and beyond.

Gently kissing just below my navel, he works a painstaking slow path upward, thumbs ghosting over my nipples as he finds his way back to my mouth, sensual yet passionate in his attentions. “I must bathe you first.” Theo states this with the same reverent tone, guiding me under the flow of water and taking my lavender shampoo from the shelf, then squeezing some into his palm.

“Why?” I ask, watching his hands, hands I love, strong, powerful and large, capable of unimaginable harm, yet tender in their caress with a touch meant for caring, for seeing to another’s needs.

Kneading his fingers into my scalp, he grins. “So many questions, Cait.” His eyes have a wistful look about them when he answers. “It is our way, the old way… respecting the divinity of a woman, created in the likeness of the Goddess, something none of us could overlook with you.”

“None of us?”

His hands still for a mere second before he continues his task, answering. “Dante, myself… even Corrin could not ignore certain things you deserve, Cait. You mustn’t forget. We are not human men. Beings such as us are beholden to different traditions, not those of man. Traditions of the Goddess, the giver of life to us, our Mother.” Theo rinses my hair gently, lips briefly meeting mine. “I should bathe you in the finest fragrant oils, a part of the rituals long adhered to, but your essence is quite intoxicating on its own. I rather enjoy indulging in your natural scent, Cait.”

He reaches for my body wash, a simple shea butter, but I take his hand. “Enough. I get it. You respect me and my body, and all that ancient stuff.” I smile, but his lips remain slightly parted, almost expressionless if it weren’t for the fiery desire in his eyes. I run my hands down from his shoulders, making a path over every exquisite curve and ridge, the chiseled tone of his power; so dangerous, so lethal, yet so tender and loving. Making my way to the waist of his shorts, tugging them down, a small hiss escapes as his eyes close. “You’re overdressed, Theo.” There was certainly nothing running wild in my imagination last night, exaggerating what I felt pressed against me. “I know they say big things come in small packages, but I’m not so sure
that
is fitting in this small package,” I say, gesturing to myself.

The most appealingly wicked expression flits across his features before he replies quite seriously, “I suppose I will have to work a bit of personal magic then.”

Shorts on the floor, his fingers are in my hair as one hand glides down my back, guiding me when he steps toward the wall of the shower, pressing me against it, mouth on mine not nearly long enough, then my dragon works a deliberate path downward. I run my fingers through his jet-black, wet hair, ensuring he stays near, sighing in delight as his hand slips down from my hair along my breast, thumb teasing at one nipple, mouth and blunt teeth on the other side, enticing soft moans as his hand continues further.

A fingertip ghosts too gently over me, teasing, the heat of his skin radiating, meeting the ever-growing heat of my desire for him, my need for him. He finally touches me, pushes upward, into me, and I inhale, sharp, between clenched teeth. Theo’s lips return to mine, mouth capturing his name from my tongue as I release it in a half-strangled plea for more, but he doesn’t need to hear. He knows, moving faster with a sensual roughness, curling his finger, the pressure kindling an inferno that’s barely contained. “I want to taste you, Cait.”

I don’t have time to argue, his tongue trailing a fiery path along my belly, lower, further, and he lifts a leg over his strong shoulder as I moan at the sudden emptiness before his finger is replaced with the hot, wet, soft sensation of his tongue delving into me, hungrily, like a man starved, desires unfulfilled. My body instinctively responds to his touch, his every move, arching into him, wanting, needy, desperately feeling the urge to combust at any moment.

With me safely steadied by one capable arm at my back, he’s merciless in his intent, rousing the flames within me until I’m incoherent, knowing I’m screaming out to him, for him, calling his name, and he’s there, in me, on me, lips meeting mine again. With some unknown strength of my own, I keep my arms around his neck, maintaining a death grip on Theo as my entire body shudders against him, around his, buried deep inside mine, thrusting slowly, rhythmically, continuing the waves crashing over me.

“Cait,” he whispers, “are you alright?” The words are tender, full of concern, full of love, and I hold him tighter.

“Don’t stop.” I barely speak. “I need you.” I can’t explain how much so, how much this is what I’ve always needed, always wanted.

And he doesn’t stop, picking up the pace, passionate yet gentle, though his hold on my thigh tightens to match my own aggressive tangling of legs around him as the calming waters rebuild into a torrential storm once again. Little of what he speaks into my ear is coherent or even English, his voice strained, sounding like some sacred prayer in the sincerity of the words, in their tender, fluent prose. Soon I lose track of listening, responding only to sensation, giving in to the release, the cataclysmic fall off the edge of a burning cliff in Theo’s arms, finding he’s there with me, vaguely registering my name in the litany of words spoken in languages I don’t understand amidst a roaring growl of primal satisfaction.

*Theo*

I hold her in my arms, pulling her away from the cold tiles, keeping her warm, our bodies together. “Cait, you are mine… forever.” Even as I say the words, I know they are not as true as I wish they were. Too many paths lead to any one destiny. She can still change her mind. There are many reasons Dante is the better choice for her, but Cait will always be my ward, and after this, I could never betray her for the arms of another woman regardless of the decision made.

She tightens her arms around my neck, rubbing her nose against my chest. “And you’re mine too, Theo. I don’t believe in the whole ‘women are property’ thing unless it works both ways.”

Laughing, I kiss the top of her head. “Yes. I am always yours. Always.” My vivacious Cait has no idea how many dragons will swear their loyalty to the one with her destiny, a destiny in a future not so far away, but I will always be hers, the only dragon belonging solely to her, the only one to love her, though she will undoubtedly be beloved in some ways by many.

Silence falls between us, and I listen to the steadiness of her breathing, feeling her heart beating, its pace slowing as she relaxes in my arms. I daresay there is nothing about our relationship that is not thoroughly enjoyable or quite amusing; Cait is enthralling even in her confounding, bewildering, and often frustrating ways, but this—this is what I desire with her as well: a quiet intimacy not shared with another in my existence.

A sound catches my attention, and a low growl slips out in annoyance. “What?” Her eyelids hang heavy, her voice sleepy.

“There’s someone coming up the elevator.” I do not want to let her go. “Corrin’s retinue left a few hours ago. No one should return this early. Take your time, and get dressed.” Unwillingly, I set her on her feet, kissing her lips, wishing it would remove the disapproval from Cait’s face. “I’ll deal with them and prepare you something to eat. I’m sure you’ve worked up a ravenous appetite,” I tease, hoping to relieve some of her displeasure.

“From the expression you’re wearing, I’m betting they’re going to wish I bought a big ‘Beware of Dragon’ sign for this apartment’s door,” she teases back, shutting off the water before reaching up and grabbing me by the hair, demanding another kiss.

I step out, taking a towel off the rack for her, wishing I had time to dry her myself, then wrap another around my waist, not caring I’m still dripping wet, my natural high body temperature drying me faster. “I do believe you’re correct.”

“Try not to kill anyone before breakfast, Theo.” Her playful voice calls after me as I stalk off into the bedroom.

“Not making promises I cannot guarantee I will keep, Cait.”

“You should have called ahead. Miss Hayden is rather indisposed at the moment, and I doubt you want to disturb Theo.” Claaron’s brusquely speaking with someone, a scent familiar to me, but until I enter the living room, I don’t recognize it, my mind too focused on Cait.

“Cedric.” My greeting is more of a growl, a hand holding the towel as I run fingers through my drenched hair, shaking it out a bit. “You best not be here regarding your son.” There is no personal distaste on my part for the clan’s patriarch, a man of his word and good honor, but I have my limits.

“Theo, I wish to speak with Miss Hayden, to appeal to her humanity, her compassion, and to the generosity she was so willing to show Corrin yesterday.” His tone is gentle, pleading, and too reminiscent of the woman I’d far rather be with at the moment. Alone. With a glare, I turn and walk away toward the hall. “Where are you going? Will you allow me to speak with her?”

“I am going to find clothes… and perhaps gain some measure of patience. I seem short on both.” A glare and a growl quiet further questions. “As for Cait, I will discuss it with her. Wait here. You will be informed of her decision. Claaron, keep our guest occupied until I return.”

Behind me, I hear the dark chuckle of my old friend and dear brother, a reminder of how uncomfortable he has made Cedric in the past in their few encounters. Given the nature of the vampire’s interruption, I do not care today.

Chapter 11

*Theo*

“If you have everything under control here, perhaps I’ll go stretch my wings a bit.” Claaron glances behind me at Cedric, sitting solemnly at the breakfast bar as I fry bacon and scramble eggs for Cait.