Dragon's Treasure (Dragons Awaken Book 1) Page 9

  Damien turned his head and looked up at them, “At first I wanted the money, he offered a lot, and then I wanted him,” he said as he smiled at Theo. “I got him, so now I want money for us. So we can settle down somewhere.”

  Theo leaned forward so he could place a loving kiss on Damien’s lips, who met him halfway. They would’ve deepened it if not for Charlotte’s squeal of delight.

  “You want to settle down!! That’s so adorable!” she squealed again loudly, clapping her hands out of happiness.

  Banging on their door cut her merriment short. They froze, anticipating.

  “Charlie! Is that you in there?!” They heard Reed’s slurring voice boom from the other side of the door.

  “Shite!” “Oh no!” “Fuck!” The trio exclaimed at the same time as they sprang into action.

  Theo and Charlie moaned loudly while he was unbuttoning her shirt. She yanked her skirt down, leaving her only in her chemise. Damien, at the same time, attacked her neck, leaving a few love bites.

  “Charlie! I can hear you, you whore! I recognize those moans! Those moans belong to me tonight.” Reed’s deep voice boomed again. “Open the fucking door!” The door shook with the force of his banging.

  “Quickly!” Theo murmured and then let out a loud moan as he ruffled her hair.

  Charlie bit down on her lip hard, almost drawing blood, so it would appear kiss swollen. Her cheeks were already flushed with adrenaline. She slid off the bed and went to open the door. Looking back, she saw that both men were already undressing themselves.

  “Wha’s got your breeches in a kink, Reed?” Charlotte said in a breathless voice when she opened the door and leaned on the doorframe, twisting a lock of red hair around her finger.

  “You!” Reed growled as he leaned closer and his alcohol-laced breath fumed her face. Instead of gagging, she managed to plaster a wide smile on her face, proud that she still had all her teeth, strong and white.

  Theo appeared naked behind her, hugging her close to him by wrapping his hands around her waist.

  “I haven’t finished yet, and Damien still hasn’t had his turn.” He planted a kiss on her neck and nibbled while Charlie faked a giggle. “We got to her first tonight. You know the deal, Reed.”

  Reed shuffled on his feet, diverting his gaze from the sight of a naked, lustful man before him. As he was about to respond, Damien walked by nude in the background, barely containing his laughter at Reed’s distress.

  “Ummm, yeah, yeah... sure. Plenty of other whores around.” He looked everywhere but at them before his bloodshot eyes settled back on Charlie’s face. “But you’re still my favorite.” Reed ran his big thick finger down her cheek. “Next time I’ll be faster,” he said before turning around and stumbling away as Theo closed and locked the door behind him.

  The room was filled with three sighs of relief.

  “That was too close.” Theo broke the tense silence.

  “Yah. Thank you, both.” Charlie turned and couldn’t stop her eyes from roaming, admiring their naked bodies. “What a...waaaeeeaaste,” she said through a yawn.

  Damien and Theo chuckled.

  “Come on, little red. Let’s get dressed and sleep. It’s going to be another long day tomorrow,” Damien suggested and the other two agreed without hesitation. They pushed their beds together after getting dressed for the night. Charlie put on one of their shirts, and they all snuggled up together.

  “Good night, my-oh-so-edible-but-unattainable-saviors.”

  Theo and Damien chuckled before drifting off to sleep.

  Chapter 12

  Olivia had never had so much fun in her life. She compared it to the feeling of getting her first horse, the first gallop, catching her first fish, seeing the sea for the first time, stealing her first kiss from the stable master’s son… all the cherished firsts, but none of them measured up to flying with a dragon. She had been ecstatic, and she still was, the leftover tingles still coursing through her body to the very tips of her fingers. And Kaden had promised to fly her again!

  My dragon.

  Olivia smiled, sitting on the soft, moss-covered bank of a gently meandering stream. Kaden had taken the slightly longer route to reach the place where the water flowed at a slower pace. Now, Olivia soaked her weary feet in the cool stream. Water cascaded over lichen-covered rocks, gathering in small pools before overflowing and continuing its downward path. She leaned forward and, cupping her hands, she drank. She studied her reflection in the mirroring pools, her flushed cheeks, bright eyes, surrounded by a dark halo of unruly curls. She glowed, and Olivia smiled at her reflection as the water murmured by, gently lapping at the rocks as the birds sang in the trees behind them.

  “Enjoying yourself?” Kaden’s deep voice rumbled in amusement as he lay down next to Olivia. He circled his claw in the water, creating little whirlpools.

  Olivia beamed. “Very much so! It is so lovely out here.” She glanced around the little natural cove at the surrounding trees, the forest’s ever watchful guardians, and the colorful flowers dancing across the clearing. The air demanded to be breathed deeply into her lungs, refreshing her very soul. The sun, now high up above, held her in a warm embrace with its shining rays. She looked back at the water, swirling her feet, imitating Kaden’s patterns.

  “I am glad.” Kaden nudged her with his head, earning himself a tinkling laugh from Olivia as she splashed him with her feet.

  Kaden returned the favor. Olivia reciprocated, and soon she found herself almost completely drenched from head to toe, claiming that their little water-war was unfair since the dragon could just shake the droplets off while her clothing would take time to dry.

  “I want to come back tomorrow. To wash myself properly. It has been days,” Olivia said as she lay back on the grass, the sun drying her dress, a forearm covering her eyes.

  “We can return tomorrow. I will show you later which roots and leaves you can use instead of soap.”

  Olivia turned left, shielding her face with her hand. Kaden’s large amber eyes peered down at her as he nestled along her side. For a moment, she marveled his size; she guessed him to be five or six horse lengths long.

  She raised her eyebrows at the dragon.

  Kaden rolled his eyes in return. “I know herbs and roots and plants… I know a lot about a lot of things. I have been around for a very long time. I learned.”

  Olivia nodded, accepting this fact, then went back to soaking up the sun.

  Once Olivia’s dress was dry, they decided to catch some fish. Kaden would make an improvised pool around a fish or two with his tail and Olivia would wade in, laughing and squealing while trying to catch the slippery fish with her hands, and then throwing them back on the grass. She didn’t mind getting her dress wet again.

  Kaden was relieved she didn’t have a problem with cleaning and then eating the fish. With his help, they caught quite a few, cleaned them and prepared to take them back to the cave along with the water they had come for.

  As they strolled back to the cave, the sun sank low and was swallowed by the horizon, painting the sky in numerous shades of orange, pink and violet, all turning into a slowly darkening blue. The air in the forest was tinged with an orange hue, giving it an unearthly glow, and the spring breeze had ceased. The forest had reached its most peaceful moment of the day. The trees stilled their swaying dance, and only the chirping of the birds and the sound of their shuffling steps could be heard.

  “Kaden?”

  “Yes?” The dragon glanced at the little fascinating human walking beside him.

  “It is easy to forget you are a dragon,” Olivia said as she looked up at him.

  “What do you mean?”

  “The way you talk and act, if I did not know any better or if I were not able to see you, I would bet my life you were a human.” She bumped him with her shoulder, which of course had no effect on him.

  Kaden chuckled at Olivia, but inwardly he panicked, his heart pounding, and at the same time he hoped she would discover
his secret, that she would figure it out.

  The words slipped past his lips, “Well, if you consider that I have been living around humans for over a hundred years, even if I only had occasional contact with them, does it really surprise you? I have seen them interact quite a bit.” It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t a complete truth as well. He managed to twist the words into a somewhat honest answer. As close as he could.

  “I guess it makes sense. So, why the mountains and the cave then? Why stay in one place when you could travel wherever, whenever?”

  “Oh, I’ve done my fair share of traveling, but after a while, the novelty of it fades. The sights might be refreshing, but the people are the same. I have had enough of people and just want some peace. What better place than somewhere secluded? I like it here. I had to scare a few wanderers away, but once the word spread that it was dangerous up here, they mostly left me alone.”

  “Mostly?”

  “Yeah, mostly. There’s always someone stupid enough to think they have the skills to kill a monster haunting the mountain and boast about it.”

  “What happened to them?”

  “There you go again, asking all those questions.” Kaden bumped Olivia lightly. She stumbled as her foot caught on a protruding root but he flung his tail around her to keep her from falling down.

  She laughed. “What was that for?”

  “I’m sorry. With you, I seem to forget I’m a dragon.” He winked but didn’t let go of her; instead he picked her up and put her on his back. “I bet your feet hurt.”

  “Actually, it is my knee that is throbbing,” Olivia admitted shyly when she settled on his back, relaxing into the lulling movement, almost as if riding a horse, albeit a gigantic one.

  “Why didn’t you say something?” Looking back at her, Kaden could see her wince. “It must’ve hurt when we were flying too.”

  “Yes, but it was worth it.” A silly grin adorned her face.

  Kaden just shook his head and walked on again. They enjoyed the peaceful quiet, and neither had the urge to speak. Olivia absentmindedly caressed Kaden with her left hand as she held on with her other, looking around and about.

  “Stop!” Olivia’s voice echoed around them as she pushed up from her sitting position, both palms flat on the dragon’s neck.

  If he could have bristled, Kaden would have. Instead, he inhaled sharply, smoke forming around his snout, ready to blow up whatever danger might happen upon Olivia. A roar itched to come forth from his mouth.

  Olivia felt Kaden’s muscles tense beneath her thighs. When she noticed the smoke rising from his nostrils, a slight tremble crawled up her spine.

  “Kaden?” She lowered herself back down, even lower, pressing her body flush against him as best as she could. “It is alright. I apologize for ummm… scaring you. I just got excited,” she murmured against his neck and felt his heartbeat pulse through him strong and fast. She caressed the dragon while waiting for him to calm down.

  “I…ummm… I am alright. I am safe with you.” As she said that, Kaden’s muscles uncoiled.

  The dragon swallowed back his fire and let out a long calming exhale. When he heard her speak those words, it helped him rein in his temper and emotions.

  “I wasn’t frightened,” he spoke once he gained his composure, “just…just disturbed by your distress. If you haven’t noticed, you have come to mean a lot to me and I tend to be overly protective of what is mine.” The dragon closed his eyes, letting her scent fill his lungs and the touch of her body soothe him.

  “I apol—”

  “You have nothing to apologize for. I was the one who overreacted,” Kaden said as he walked on again, his rhythmic movements causing Olivia to sway on his back.

  “Kaden, please stop. The reason I got excited is over there and I need it.” Olivia pointed to a stand of plants on their right. “It’s burdock, great for cooking the fish. Just some clay and we are almost set.”

  Kaden stopped as she requested and then stomped over to the plants. “That is what got you so excited?” He eyed the large leaves - he knew of burdock’s medicinal uses but had never realized that it could be used for cooking.

  “Yes.” Olivia smiled, abashed, when Kaden looked back at her, now amused.

  “Alright.” Kaden lowered himself so Olivia could pick a couple big burdock leaves which she then tucked under her belt. “Great. Thank you.”

  The dragon rose up and continued on their way back. Olivia’s thoughts swirled in confusion around her head.

  He cares. A lot... He called me his... Did he not? She knew that she should be outraged at the idea, but it wasn’t about being a possession or a pet. Why did that set my heart racing? He is not human. Nothing could come of it. Why do I let this continue? She paused, feeling the movements of the firm muscles beneath her. His scales glistened, dazzling her with their shimmering colors. She hadn’t noticed how beautiful they were until now. Why am I…

  She had to take a mental pause, unwilling to admit her feelings even to herself. They were all wrong, weren’t they? Everything was so confusing and so confused. Yet there was no point in denying it. Why am I letting myself fall in love with a dragon? It should not be this way, it could not, and so fast… Yet her soul called out to his, as if finding its other part. He needs me, probably more than I need him. She had been so disappointed to realize that money and prestige were all she was valued for as a marriage partner, even to a man she had thought of as a close friend, now it felt so good to be needed. Needed for the person I am and not what I could provide or own. The way he treats me, Olivia sighed, no one has ever treated me like that. Not with that kind of attention and affection... Have I even heard him right? Well, if he needs me, I will be there for him. I need to be needed.

  Olivia absently stroked the burdock leaves tucked in her belt and allowed herself to rant on in her head. She kept telling herself that getting close to him, getting attached wasn’t good, but yet again she wanted it and never made any promises to herself to stop. Without noticing, her hand dropped from the leaves to the scales beneath her, and she let the dry, silky smoothness of the scales soothe her as she stroked them.

  “So, what’s the recipe?” Kaden could almost hear Olivia thinking, her thighs clenching around him, her hand ceasing the tender caresses. The air had gradually filled with tension, so he decided to try and tame it.

  “Hmm?” Olivia jerked out of her reverie with a guilty start, as if he had caught her doing something illicit. “Oh, right. Yes. You take the trout, season it with salt and thyme, wrap it up in a burdock leaf, and then enfold it all with clay or I guess mud could work, too? Then you set it close to the fire and wait for it to cook. It is also good to bury it in the ground next to the fire and cover it with hot coals.” Her mouth watered at the thought of proper food.

  “Alright. I will find you clay. I think I remember where I can get some. I know this forest like a squirrel knows its tree,” Kaden said.

  “Did you call me yours?” Olivia blurted before her brain caught up with her mouth.

  “Yes,” Kaden said without hesitation. He really didn’t want to lie to her or keep anything from her, so he decided to speak as much truth as he possibly could. He waited for the indignation, the vehement denial, the stream of objections.

  “Good.” Butterflies erupted in the pit of Olivia’s belly. It was an odd feeling but she liked it.

  Kaden’s butterflies, though, were already flying around but with her acceptance of his declaration, they took off in a beautiful, yet frantic dance.

  Olivia’s mind picked up on other little details which he hoped she wouldn’t ask about.

  “So... who else is yours?” she asked in a soft voice.

  “Huh?”

  “You said you get protective of those you consider yours, or something like that.”

  I really hate my life sometimes, Kaden thought. Olivia had just asked another question which he could not answer. Think, Kaden, think…

  “The horse,” he said, voice serious a
nd unwavering.

  “The horse?” Olivia echoed in disbelief.

  “Yes, the horse. It was so hard to let him go. But you know the old saying: You have to set free the ones you love, and if they come back they’re yours; if they don’t, they never were. But he never came back.” Kaden sighed.

  Laughter echoed through the forest and Kaden was happy to once again be the one to make Olivia laugh. She even snorted, much to her embarrassment.

  When her mirth subsided, Kaden knew she would ask more questions; he knew she would want the real answer. He knew vague or false answers would disappoint her, so he intercepted her predictable train of thought. “Do you want to know why?”

  “Why what?” Olivia held onto Kaden with both hands, leaning forward, as they made the slight ascent towards the cave.

  “Why I care...”

  If there had been any more laughter waiting to bubble forth from her, it died down with those words and the butterflies took off again.

  “Why do you?”

  “You see, he was a wonderful horse. He had these soulful, doe-like brown eyes...” Olivia’s laughter and a slap to his back made him pause for a moment. “It was like he could see right to your soul. And his coat… I could never forget it, oh so soft…” He teased on as Olivia shook with laughter, clutching at her belly and almost sliding off.

  “Stop. I will be really worried if you honestly think that way about a horse,” Olivia said as she tried to rein in the merriment.

  “It’s your eyes...” Kaden said in a soft voice as he slowed his gait. “When you really smile, your eyes remind me of soaring high on a sunshiny day, flying among the clouds. And that smile… it can light up the darkest of souls.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “There’s also this innocence about you; it gives me hope. Your touch is soft and gentle like your heart. And your inquisitive mind is quite fascinating.”

  Olivia had stopped laughing, words dying on her lips. Her heart beat like a master drummer playing the crescendo on his drums and her cheeks heated up as a blush crept up her face.