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"He can sense if you're thinking about him, remember? He said so a couple months ago," Iris said. "At least until you've completed your contract. Focus on him; maybe he'll sense your need."
I glanced back at Iris before returning my attention to the road. "You're a genius. Hold on." I swerved off to the shoulder and jumped out. "Delilah, you drive while I try to get through to him. Otherwise we could end up in a ditch." We changed places, and she took the wheel while I leaned back in the shotgun seat and let my mind drift back to the dragon and his dreyerie.
Forming a mental image in my mind wasn't hard. Once again, I found myself swept back into his bed, with him—naked and ready—leaning over me.
Whoa! Slow down. I tried to focus on his face, on our need for his help, on my own desire to see him again away from his land. There was a tiny click, which might mean I'd gotten through—or maybe not. I couldn't tell. Whatever the case, I shook myself out of the trance and glanced over at Delilah.
"There. We'll see if he answers."
"So, did you have fun out there?" Iris asked, an impish grin slipping across her face.
I tried to glare at her but ended up with a stupid grin on my face instead. "Oh yeah."
"Details!" Delilah said. "Take my mind off worrying about Chase."
"Hmm," I said. "You want details? He's as controlling as I thought, but… it's pretty damned easy to obey him. Under those clothes lurks the body of a god. After I managed to keep from swallowing my tongue, I found out that he's one of the three best lovers I've ever had."
I glanced over my shoulder at Morio. "And you know who the other two are, so don't get yourself in an uproar. Hmmm… Smoky's hair does pretty kinky things all on its own, which I really have to admit was pretty damned hot. And… he says he's in love with me and wants me to be his 'mate.' Just what that entails, I dunno, since I can't bear his children."
Iris let out a strangled gack as Delilah swerved into the other lane before she regained control of my car. Morio was the only one who remained calm, but then, he knew the story already.>He gave me a look that asked if I'd gotten up on the blonde side of the bed. "Don't worry yourself about it. And don't even think about trying to strengthen them for me. I've seen the results of your magic," he added with a smirk.
"Hey, I'll have you know, I'm pretty formidable when it comes to death magic," I said, shaking my head. "Listen, you were going to tell us what you knew about the Raksasas, by the way."
Smoky nodded. "Last night, while you slept, I transcribed what I learned so you can show your sisters. Let me get my notes for you." He bounded away into the bedroom.
Morio leaned forward and whispered, "He plugged directly into the Energizer Bunny?"
I thought of the throbbing ache between my legs. He'd managed to introduce me to muscles that I didn't know existed.
"Well, he does keep going and going and going. Nice in some respects but…"
Morio snorted. "Finally found somebody who can outride you? Maybe I should have stuck around last night, just to witness the miracle."
I swatted him lightly on the arm. "Yeah, right, you should talk. Between you and Trillian, it's a wonder I ever get any sleep."
He winked at me, then leaned over to plant a quick kiss on my cheek. He backed away then, just an inch or so, and held my gaze, searching my face. "You aren't going to leave us for him, are you?" he asked.
And once again, I was pulled back into my reality.
"No," I said. "Trust me, I have no plans on deserting either of you for Smoky. But it's been like a bizarre dream. He's incredible, but his life feels so… outside of my reality."
"Maybe that's what he's meant to be for you. A retreat—a safe haven perhaps—for you when you need to get away from who you are and from what's going on." Morio slid back into his chair as Smoky returned to the room, a sheaf of papers in his hand.
As Smoky handed the papers to me, I thought about what Morio had said. Was the dragon my safety net, where I could come when I needed to feel isolated and insular? Could I play Persephone, spend part of my time in Smoky's world, the rest out where I was needed—fighting demons and saving worlds? And would Smoky be content with that?
"Thank you," I said as I leafed through the neatly printed notes. "You're a sweetheart, even if you won't admit it." He looked pleased as I leaned over to plant a peck on his cheek. "You really are," I whispered. "I would have come to you even if we didn't have a contract between us."
Smoky relented then and pulled me to him for a long, slow kiss, then let go with a huff, but this time he didn't sound put out.
I glanced at the papers. His handwriting was precise, and he used blue ink on a frost-white notepad. I decided to wait until I got home to read it, so I could talk everything over with Menolly and Delilah.
"We'd better be going," I said, standing. "Morio, did you drive out here?"
Morio arched an eyebrow. "No, I flew. Of course I drove. My car is near Georgio's house." He turned to Smoky. "With your leave?"
Smoky slipped into his white trench, and I found myself entranced by his beauty again. The man was just too gorgeous to be real. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and hoisted my overnight bag with his other hand. "I'll walk you to the house. I should ask Estelle how Georgio's doing today."
As we wended our way through the woodland, I felt like I could breathe again. The barrow had been too confined, but out here it felt perfectly natural for Smoky to have his arm around me. I leaned my head against his shoulder.
