Page 3 of Inferno (Drake Security Book 4)

VALENTINO

“Any luck finding the demon last night?” Mac asks, far too bouncy and cheerful this early in the morning.

I groan, rubbing my forehead as I hover above my steaming mug of coffee. I feel hungover, if that were even a thing for a dragon. As I shift on the stool perched at the kitchen island, my dragon grumbles inside me, discontent and cranky about something.

“Dude.” I glance up at my brother. “Don’t you sleep?”

Mac grins, leaning his on elbows on the island. “I mean, I do, but it’s also almost noon.”

“What?” I sputter, nearly falling off the stool.

My brother chuckles. “Rough night?”

“No. No different from most nights. It’s weird. Like I lost track of time or some shit.”

“So, no demon?”

Oh, there was a demon alright, but not the one I needed to find. Montrose’s dick must emit some kind of dragon-taming elixir. Damn.

“Earth to Tino.”

My head snaps up and I focus on my brother again. “Uh, sorry. No Xazedose. I have a few friends keeping an eye out though.”

Mac’s face falls. “Shoot.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll find him. Demons aren’t the easiest to hunt, but they tend to reveal themselves. Cocky bastards can’t stay in the shadows too long.”

Mac nods, shaking off his somber mood. “Can we go see where Hem’s mate works?”

“Why? It’s just a dusty shop with old shit in it.”

“And you don’t like that? You’re a dragon.”

“I like shiny things. Gems, precious metals, stuff like that.”

“And the shop doesn’t have any old jewelry in it?”

I huff a tendril of smoke before lifting my coffee mug and slamming it back in one gulp, the liquid burning my tongue and reminding me I’m very much awake. “Fine. We can go. Hem would love to see you, anyway.”

“Thanks, grumpy old man.”

“Hey. That’s Nico, not me.”

“Whatever you say,” Mac singsongs.

Ignoring him, I stomp my way back upstairs. At least by taking Mac out I can get another feel for the demon stalking him. Hell, maybe even Mac’s scent will lure the demon out of hiding.

As I dress, memories of last night wash over me, and I’d swear on my hoard I can still smell Montrose, taste him, hear his moans of pleasure. Sexy little demon got under my skin, but that’s cool. I’ll shake it soon enough. Either I’ll find him and fuck him until we’re both over it, or I’ll find someone else to replace his memory. I’m Valentino Drake. Seduction is literally what I do.

I do wonder whether he’s still thinking about me though. Was our parking lot tryst as satisfying for him as it was for me? Would he go another round if given the chance?

My phone ringing startles me. Lord’s name flashes on the screen.

“Hey, Lord.”

“Hi. Any luck finding Mac’s problem?”

“No. I put some feelers out though, and we’re heading downtown to Dempsey’s shop. Maybe we’ll lure the demon out that way.”

“Fine. Hemingway is there and Lake is working in the office.”

“Where’s Nico?”

“Client work. A woman with a toxic ex.”

“Oh, Nico’s favorite. He’ll fuck that dude up.”

“He will.” Lord actually chuckles. “Does Mac seem okay to you?”

“Yeah, mostly. He’s obviously worried about the demon, or he wouldn’t be here, but his disposition is the same.”

“Good. I worry about the kid. He’s so reckless.”

“Eh, a little recklessness never killed a dragon. Probably.”

Lord sighs. “Unfortunately, it has. Don’t forget about how many times Arson scared the scales off of us with his antics. Or Nico blowing up and bulldozing into dangerous situations that definitely could have ended in death.”

“Yeah, but we learned. We have to give Mac the same opportunity. He fucked up with this demon, so if he’s smart, he’ll learn his limits with them.”

“I hope so. Dad called to make sure he wasn’t lying about his whereabouts. Apparently, that’s a trend.”

Chuckling, I shake my head. “He’s a handful, but he knew to come to us for help.”

“True.”

“I got this, Lord. I know this city inside and out. The demon can’t hide from me for long, and when I find him, I’ll make an example of out of him to make sure everyone knows you don’t fuck around with Drake dragons. We fuck back.”

“Yes, I know. I have full confidence in you, of course. There’s just something bothering me. I can’t put my finger on it, but…”

“Something with Mac?”

“I’m not sure about the source. I’m just uneasy, like there’s something coming.”

“Well, if there is, we got it.”

“Right. Of course.” He clears his throat. “Let me know what happens.”

“Lord?”

“Yeah?”

“You don’t have to carry the weight of the world all alone, you know? We’re here too.”

I hear the smile in his exhale. “I know you’re right, but I’m the oldest. I feel responsible for you all.”

“You’re older by minutes, bro. We can take care of ourselves, but most importantly, we take care of each other.”

“When did you get so levelheaded?”

“I’m not just a pretty face.”

“Clearly.” He chuckles. “I’ll see you later?”

“For sure. We’ll swing by after our outing.”

After ending the call, I sit on the edge of my bed for a few minutes. I know I’m the himbo of the clutch, a reputation I proudly claim, but I’d be nothing without my brothers. Even a lothario knows the importance of family.

Ten minutes later, I’m dressed and marching down the stairs in my favorite black combat boots, ripped jeans, and body-hugging black sweater. Mac is waiting in the foyer wearing jeans and a sweater too, but in a much more casual way—sort of floppy and too big. I’ve notice it’s the style with young guys.

“How old do you tell people you are?” I ask as I grab my keys from the entry table.

“Twenty-five,” Mac answers. “I landed on that after asking people how old they thought I was. What do you say?”

“I never bother to answer it. I let people think what they want. You look the part though.”

“You look like a model or a dude about to drop a rap album.”

I laugh at that. “Rap? Not much musical ability here. I do like how it sounds though.”

“Me too,” he says like it’s some kind of amazing discovery that we have something in common as he bounces out of my house to the car in the driveway.

With dragon lifespans, it’s not uncommon for clutches to be hatched hundreds of years apart. We may be full blood siblings, but Lord, Nico, Hem, Arson, and I were long out of the nest by the time Mac and his cohorts clawed their way out of their own shells.

“How do you keep your scales from popping when you’re really worked up about something?” Mac asks as he settles into the passenger seat.

“Deep breaths, focusing on something unappealing. The same way you get your dick to chill the fuck out when you can’t do anything with it.”

Mac snorts a laugh. “Okay, that I know how to do.”

I pat his thigh. “It gets easier with practice.”

With a grin, I press the ignition button, pausing to enjoy the gentle purr of the engine, then tear off toward downtown. Mac messes with my stereo, which I allow. Baby brothers get whatever they want. He finally finds a station he likes, singing at the top of his lungs to Panic! At The Disco’s “Death of a Bachelor.” It is a good song, even if I hope to never be singing it for myself. Only Lord and his hermit ways have a better chance of avoiding love than I do, and I’m okay with that.

When we arrive in front of Timeless Treasures, I immediately sniff the air, then catch myself. The last being I should want to see right now is Montrose. Not with my brothers around and a problem on our hands. I suppose I could ask Montrose if he knows where to find Xazedose, but in my experience, demons don’t rat each other out. Those guys are tighter than the Mafia.

Mac is out of the car and inside the store almost before I realize it. Ah, to be young again. Snickering, I follow him inside, glancing around before I enter. If there’s a demon around, I’ll find him, and Hades help him when I do.

MONTROSE

As soon asI catch the little twerp’s scent, I pop out from the hidden realm just in time to see him enter a store with the hunky dragon, Valentino, confirming my suspicion that they are indeed related.

That’s a problem for me. How do I teach the young one a lesson and still get my hands on the older one? Normally, I wouldn’t care, but damned souls, I can’t stop thinking about the sexy dragon who brought me to one epic orgasm last night.

I decided to be smart today and hide behind my strongest mortal glamour, keeping my demon scent undetectable unless I want it to be. It’s the only way I can stalk my prey without drawing attention. And that prey is wearing skintight jeans showing off his bubble ass and thick thighs. The man sure does know how to wear clothes.

My insides tingle and a wave of uncontrolled pheromones releases. Gasping, I duck between the buildings, hoping the dragon didn’t catch the scent, but only seconds later, I’m faced with the clearest blue eyes and fullest lips in all of creation.

“Montrose,” Valentino says before closing in on me.

He presses me against the wall, the two of us falling into a sultry kiss that defies common sense. It’s like neither of us could avoid the other if we tried. My hands move seemingly of their own accord to his chest, then up his neck, and into his messy hair. It’s so soft I swear I could twist my fingers in it for days.

But his mouth. Hades, his mouth is a raging inferno. My own inner heat rises and spreads through me, searing his skin wherever we touch, which only seems to increase his desire as he wraps a muscular arm around my waist and pulls me closer.

I shamelessly grind my cock against his, the two of us rutting together like mindless animals. I know dragons have more control than this, so it must just be this intense spark of lust driving us both to our most feral selves.

Valentino slides his hand down my body, between my legs, slipping it easily inside my stretchy pants.

“Fuck,” he moans, not breaking the kiss as he handles my cock.

“We should go somewhere else, dragon.”

My suggestion seems to break him out of his daze, and he groans as a tendril of smoke snakes from his nose. “Can’t right now.”

His voice is gravelly, and yeah, I totally preen that I’m the cause of the dragon’s situation. Still got it.

“I’m with family,” Valentino continues. His gaze is penetrating, questioning, and I’m positive he’s wondering the same thing I am. Why are we so drawn to each other?

I reach across the small distance between us, rubbing his obvious erection. His eyelids flutter and more smoke billows out of him. When he focuses on me again, I notice his dragon looking at me, his pupils tiny slits instead of the round mortal ones, with shimmering gold irises.

All of hell, he’s so sexy.

“I want to see you again,” Valentino says. “This…” He gestures vaguely between us. “This thing is intriguing. Isn’t it?”

“You fucked an incubus. Of course you want more.” Not that we’ve actually fucked—not yet anyway—but he wants to. A hot, needy feeling pulses inside of me. I want it too.

“It’s not that, Montrose, and you know it.” He closes in on me again, caging me against the brick building. If I was in any kind of danger, I could blip out, but I’m not. Something about Valentino makes me feel the safest I’ve ever been. Fucking weird.

“Yeah, you’re right,” I concede.

“There’s a club not far from here. The Mirage. It’s a supe hang out. You know it?”

I nod, my head slightly swirling from the lust flowing off of Valentino. “I know it.”

“Meet me there at midnight.”

A little surge of self-preservation bubbles up, and I push his chest slightly. “If I’m free.”

“Don’t fuck with me, little demon.” He grips my chin, holding my gaze. “You think I’m afraid to go to your realm to find you?”

A jolt of electricity hits me at the very idea of Valentino braving the demon realm for me.

“Settle down, dragon. I’ll be there.”

He leans close, rubbing his nose along the column of my neck and moaning. “Fuck, why do you smell so damn good? I thought all demons smelled like burning flesh.”

I snort a laugh. “I told you. I’m exactly what you want. It’s my ability to seduce you. Top tier incubus, here.”

“No.” Valentino shakes his head. “It’s not just the incubus schtick. I’ve had a noseful of incubus pheromones before, and it was nothing like this. It’s gotta be something else.”

I shrug, ignoring the odd tugging in my chest. “For what it’s worth, I thought all dragons smelled like lizards, but you don’t.”

A sexy smile spreads across his lips, making my knees buckle just a bit. Easy, Xaze. He’s just a horny dragon with enough lustful energy to feed a hoard of demons. I can handle this.

“You’ll find I’m not your average dragon.”

That’s obvious, but I keep that thought to myself. “You better get back to your brothers.”

Valentino cocks his head. “How do you know I’m with my brothers?”

“I can smell the familial connection and you yourself said you were with family. I can usually tell the difference between the various relations.”

He nods, but I see the curiosity in his eyes. Couldn’t possibly tell him I know the scent of his little brother, the twerp who stole from me. I’m having way too much fun with this dragon to cut him loose just yet. One or two more orgasms should ease the itch, and then we can both move on to our next conquests.

A foreign shiver tingles through me at the thought of someone else touching Valentino, both unpleasant and unsettling. Someone really should’ve warned me dragon dick was so addictive. But that’s a problem for future me. Present me has a hot date with a dragon later, and that’s almost enough to make me forget what the little twerp did. Almost.