Page 21 of So I Dared a Dragon (The Mating Game #6)

twenty-one

. . .

Calista

Aarix put his big hand on top of mine. The silver filigree on the talon cones glowed in the moonlight.

We were driving away from Sunset Springs. Not back to Bibi’s house or to the chalet. I was still too furious to ask any questions. Anything I said was sure to come out all wrong, make things worse, and be used against me. Chances were production was putting me into quarantine until they figured out how to make this curse stop.

If that was the case, at least they let me keep my dragon.

The scales on my arm were cold, which was new. Part of me wished I could rip them off and see if they were the cause of the madness. But the rest of me hated that idea. Aarix had given them to me—my beautiful, tragic mate who wanted nothing more than to right his past wrongs.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“I’d been planning our date before you got impatient.” He squeezed my hand. “So when Bibi told me there was a change of plans, I asked if we could still do this.”

I slid my glance over to him, trying to play it cool. But the truth was, my stupid heart skipped many beats at the thought of the dragon trying to impress me. “Did you know my plan would be a disaster?”

All I’d wanted to do was kiss the dragon. I never thought it would come at such a price.

“I thought we’d be celebrating,” he said. “And we still will. Don’t beat yourself up over this, sunshine. I don’t plan on letting this ruin our night.”

I had no idea how he could remain so positive, but he’d dealt with far worse than a cursed mate. He’d spent centuries living with the regret of making the wrong decision. And he was doing just fine now. I needed to bring the pity party to a screeching halt and learn something from this ancient beast.

“I’m excited to see what you have planned.”

We were quiet for the rest of the trip through the windy mountain roads. Judging from the snow, the altitude was high. There was light ahead, and Bjorn parked in front of an adorable A-frame cabin.

“Where are we?” I asked as Aarix opened the sliding door.

“Our own private cabin for the night.” He leaned in and pressed a kiss against my forehead. “These accommodations will be more luxurious than the last time we spent the night together.”

“Do we actually get it to ourselves?” I’d barely been alone since I moved into Bibi’s spare boudoir. “I don’t have anything with me.”

Not that I cared. We were in our own personal winter wonderland, a snow globe, where no curse or bad guys could touch us.

“Don’t forget who you’re dealing with.” Marissa chuckled. “Bibi made sure an overnight bag was packed with everything you could possibly need. It’s in the back.”

Bjorn had already grabbed it and slung it over his shoulder, along with another bag that probably belonged to Aarix. The air was crisp and cold, and it was so quiet up here. Aarix’s hand was warm in mine as we walked into the adorable cabin.

It was all wood tones with overstuffed leather furniture with plaid blankets thrown over the back. A fire roared in the fireplace, and there was an open, cozy-looking kitchen. The bedroom was in the loft, with only string lights illuminating the big, fluffy bed.

“It’s perfect.” Except for one thing. “The walls are all windows.”

“The views are breathtaking during the day,” Marissa said.

My heart pounded. “But that means anyone can see in.”

“We’ll be staying in the van. Security is on the lookout. Not close enough that they’ll be able to see how you spend the night, but they’ll make sure no one else does, either.” Bjorn crossed his arms. He hadn’t unloaded his camera equipment. We’d left the museum so fast it was probably still there.

“As long you’re all set, we’ll head out,” Marissa said. “Have a wonderful night. If you need anything, we’re only a message away.”

“Relax, sunshine,” Aarix said once the door closed behind them. “I won’t let anyone hurt you, as long as you’re with me.”

“This is thoughtful and amazing and I’m absolutely thrilled to spend the night with you, but it doesn’t take away the fact that bad things still happened when we were together at the museum,” I said. Aarix had to know I was absolutely terrified. “Someone’s trying to hide something form us.”

He nodded. I wished he didn’t agree. That he saw it differently from everyone else. “We can’t ignore your power anymore. Especially since our enemies are one step ahead of us.”

“We’ll probably never be allowed in the museum again. All the answers could be right there, and we’ll never know.” I sighed. “I’m worried I’m the curse. I’m making these things happen.”

“They won’t be able to get Luca out of there until he’s absorbed every last detail. I’m sure he’ll text me when he gets back to the chalet.” Aarix motioned for me to take a seat on the couch. Once I did, he settled beside me.

For a moment, I imagined that we had a normal life. That this was our house. That we didn’t have to run and hide anymore.

“Wait, you can text Luca?”

He grinned and pulled a phone out of his pocket. “Production gave us these. Luca and Magnus might have, how do you say it, a doomscrolling addiction? They can’t get enough. There’s so much information available literally at our fingertips. They’ve been competing with each other to find the most interesting facts on the internet.”

“That’s adorable.”

He took my face in his hands. It took everything I had not to rip his clothes off. “It doesn’t matter what someone’s trying to hide from you. We have all the power we need.”

“You keep saying that, but I’m so scared to disappoint you.” I stopped myself before I said like I’ve disappointed everyone else. There was no hiding how upset I was about what happened at the museum. When the words disappeared from the pages of the old books, it didn’t quite sink in that I was causing it. But now that priceless, physical items had dissolved into nothingness, there was no denying that I was responsible.

“The power is in you. Between us.” Aarix took a deep, shaky breath. His plan was held together with pure faith, and he didn’t have anything to base it on but a feeling.

I trusted him, because I needed to believe in something bigger than myself.

His lips were on mine, a quiet confirmation that started as a spark of a flame and would quickly grow into a wildfire. The scales on my arm burned, and I wanted nothing more than to melt into Aarix. Become one with him.

And just like that, he lifted me without a word, putting me over his shoulder, primal and hot as fuck, as he carried me up the stairs. His thick arm wrapped around my thighs, and my dress rode up.

Gently, he put me down at the foot of the bed. His talons raked through my hair, pushing it over my shoulder. With a tug, he undid the knot at the base of my neck, and the fabric cascaded down my chest, revealing my lacy strapless bra.

“I’m surprised this thing held up this long,” I laughed and realized Aarix was giving me a questioning look. “Strapless bras are notorious for sliding down and causing disasters.” I reached back and unhooked it, dropping it dramatically to the floor.

“I like it better there.” His gaze was on my breasts, reverent, like he’d never seen them before. I realized every time we’d been together was in his dark and cramped room inside the cavern. Here, we were free.

Maybe he was as scared as I was. I wasn’t the only one who had something on the line.

I rose on rubbery legs and shimmied out of my dress, kicking it aside when it hit the fluffy rug. All I had on was my lacy little thong and my heels. I straddled Aarix’s lap, loving the rumble that came out of him. There was no way he wouldn’t notice my panties were soaked with my arousal.

He palmed my breasts, running his talons over my nipples slowly, back and forth.

Sparks rose with each pass of the silver. I wasn’t sure if it was coming from him or me or where he ended and I began.

Had the patch of scales on my arm grown bigger? Sweet moon, it had crept above my shoulder. A sparkling iridescent copper shimmer that made me doubt my senses. It was too otherworldly to be real.

“You’re turning me into a dragon.” The words barely had volume.

“No, sunshine, you’re becoming who you were always meant to be.” His eyes closed; long, inky lashes fanned out as he lowered his mouth to my nipple, expertly swirling his tongue around the hard peak.

I was in freefall, and Aarix was the only thing anchoring me to earth. I didn’t understand what was happening in my body, in my universe. But he was the calm in my storm, wanting nothing more than to give me pleasure.

He had this crazy idea I could help him liberate dragons, and I could barely think straight as I writhed in his lap in rhythm with his movements.

Slowly he drew his head away, like he was in a dream state.

“Why did you stop?” he said.

“I could ask you the same question.”

“I love the way your body moves when I touch you. It was the closest I came to magic for a long time.” He pulled his shirt out of his pants and wriggled out of it.

That was my cue. I ran my hands up his arms, loving the way his scales felt rough and so real under my touch before I grasped his shoulders.

But I pouted playfully. “You don’t think I’m magic anymore?”

“Calista, you have no idea what kind of power flows through your veins.” He ran his hand up my bare thigh, stopping at the thin strap. “I beg of you, trust yourself. Let go. Stop worrying about what could go wrong.”

He caught my stunned lips in a kiss.

“When we were together before, it was playtime. A distraction, but we both knew we were destined for so much more. Now, before you get upset with me for making such accusations, I held myself back too. I was scared of what would happen to you, to us, if I was to help you come to your full power in that cavern. I have a suspicion that might be what happened to your friend.”

“Oh.” As preposterous of a claim as that was, it also made a lot of sense. I’d need to get in touch with Darcy when we got back to Sunset Springs. “Is it bad if I can’t think about anything but you right now?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” His grin was wicked; mischief danced in those green eyes seconds before he used his talons to shred my little panties. My body bucked, his touch was magnetic. He brought his lips to my ear. “Don’t hold back, sunshine.”

I nodded, but Aarix wasn’t asking for permission. His hungry lips fell to my neck, down my collarbone, and I felt like I was being consumed by flames. Aarix’s body was always warm. It had taken getting used to when we were first together, but it was a sensation I began to crave.

But then I realized the heat was coming from me. An orange glow radiated between us. Aarix’s colors were cool: purples, greens, and hints of teal.

This was the color of my scales. This was my power.

The rational part of me was freaking the fuck out. She wanted an explanation. The rest of me was hungry, feral, as my hands found the button and zipper of Aarix’s trousers.

His cock was hard and waiting to be freed. Just like the rest of him, it was more than human. It was huge, hot, and covered in those purple and green scales. My pussy pulsed, craving the feeling of it. I ran my hand down the length of his enormous shaft, loving the way he threw his head back. Hissing like the sensation was too much.

Sweet moon, was I burning the dragon?

He took advantage of my surprise, pushing my shoulders down to the mattress. Keeping me pinned down, he rolled back in a fluid motion, and nestled himself between my thighs.

His tongue swirled around my clit. He’d memorized all the spots that drove me wild. The orange glow grew bigger. Warmer. I cried out, on the brink of breaking into a million pieces.

Aarix picked up his head and breathed fire. I expected the cute little cabin to ignite like a tinder box, but it didn’t. We were in our own little world where human rules didn’t apply.

He took my clit between his talons, a simple move that made me see stars.

“Yes,” he said. “Let go. Let it all go.”

I didn’t have any other choice. He slipped those jeweled talons inside me, and power surged through me. My body wasn’t my own, it was magic and fury. Sensation and hope.

He pulled me off the bed. Normally, after an orgasm, my bones would’ve been the consistency of overcooked spaghetti, but I felt amazing. Like I could climb to the top of the mountains that surrounded us. Break inside and free those prisoners.

And Aarix had even more power. He easily lifted me with one hand, and used the other to give his cock a rough pump.

Slowly, he lowered me down, inch by inch. We were face-to-face, enveloped in this ethereal orange glow. I rested my dewy forehead against his. I’d never forgotten how good he felt inside me. But this time, as he lifted me, everything was different.

I screamed. I needed to tell him what was happening, but I didn’t have words. My skin felt like it was peeling away, replaced by that orange glow. He thrust harder, faster, like he was losing control.

Until the person—the wolf—I was no longer existed anymore.

His balls hitched, and his shaft swelled. My body trapped him inside me, and the entire world exploded.