Asher: Dragon's Savior (4 page)

“You attacked me, you overgrown asshole. And what were you doing with the flying guy? Don’t think I didn’t notice that shit either. People popping in and out all the time.” She turned to him, and Elbert backed up again. “What are you running here? A circus?”

“I don’t think so.” He was confused. Not that it wasn’t unusual for him to be in that state, but he was also nervous and he was having a hard time holding his shape. “Perhaps this would be better if we had cooler heads.”

Kiaran chose that moment to come into the room. While the dragon wasn’t large, he was a little intimidating when there were already high tempers. As soon as he moved to Asher, to no doubt blend with the man, the woman attacked. And Kiaran, being a protector, retaliated. Elbert let his human shape go then, and dropped to all fours to get ready for whatever he needed to do.

No one moved. Elbert wasn’t sure right then if that was a good thing or not, but the woman came toward him with her hand out. She was trembling, and as much as he hated to admit it, he felt like it was his fault.

“He won’t bite.” Going to his belly, Elbert looked at Asher, hoping he’d explain something to the woman before she came any closer. “Just don’t try to shoot him. He’s an immortal like me, and he might just tear your arm off.”

“Fuck you,” the woman said, then went to her knees in front of Elbert and smiled. Elbert sat up, his ass still sitting on the floor, and cocked his head at her. “You’re a pretty boy, aren’t you? What are you?”

“Elbert is a shifter, but he prefers to be this guy. He’s a Rottweiler. The first of his kind.” The hand at his head had him turning to her again. Asher continued to speak but Elbert didn’t care anymore. She was petting him and scratching him behind the ear as the children had when they were smaller. “We’re not humans, so I’d not screw around with us and get the hell off our property.”

“Is he always so friendly?” Elbert shook his head and she laughed. He could see right then what had attracted Jacob to her. “Well, Mr. Elbert, if he gives you any shit, you can come and stay with me. I love dogs of any kind. It’s assholes that I don’t like.”

When she stood up and looked at Asher, Elbert could see that he was pissed. It wasn’t a mood he’d seen on the younger man in a very long time. When she made her way to the door he followed, just wanting to make sure that she was going to be all right. But Asher got to her first.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” She tried to dodge him again, and he put his hands on her arms. When she cried out in obvious pain, he pushed her to the bed and ripped her shirt sleeve up. “Who did this?”

Elbert was able to shift back then, and he left the room to get the first aid kit. It had come in handy over the centuries, and had been updated just recently when he’d brought it with him the last time he’d been here checking on things. When he returned, the young woman was arguing with Asher, and Elbert was beginning to think this was going to be an ongoing thing with these two.

“I said it’s just fine. Will you…what the hell are you doing now?” Kiaran was standing next to the table now, but he was a man, not a dragon. He looked concerned, and Elbert knew that it was more than just a bad cut. He asked him what it was.

“It’s from a witch. She’s been cut by her fingernail or a dirty blade.” Asher leaned in and sniffed the wound, much to the dismay of the woman. Kiaran continued talking, but Elbert had a feeling it was more to the woman than them now. “Did you meet someone here? Maybe someone that might have asked you a few questions? Like about the people who live here?”

“Yes. But I didn’t know anything other than the old man that said I could stay here. But I didn’t tell her that.” The woman started shaking then, and he could tell it was taking a great deal out of her. “I don’t think I feel so well.”

“You don’t.” Asher picked her up and sat her on the counter in his bathroom. “I need to cool you down before I can seal this wound.”

He was pulling at her clothing when she smacked his hands away. “What the hell is wrong with you now? Damn it all to hell and back. I don’t even know you, and if you think I’m going to hop in the shower with you, naked, you’re nuttier than that old woman was. I’m out of here.”

“You leave here and by nightfall you’re going to be dead.” It wasn’t said as a threat, but calmly and with a great deal of conviction. The woman turned to Asher as he continued. “She’s poisoned you. I don’t know if it was on purpose or not, but knowing you, it was more than likely the latter. The way that you’re feeling right now, it’s shaky, right? And you feel like you’re going to throw up. And your toes burn, as do your fingers.”

“Yes.” Asher put her back on the counter, but she didn’t fight him. “How do you know that? Are you a doctor?”

“No. I’ve been around for a long time.” He pulled her shirt off and tossed it on the floor. “My dragon’s name is Kiaran. My name is Asher, Asher Benson. And you know Elbert.”

“I’m Essie Hahn. Esmeralda really, but no one calls me that.” She leaned her head on Asher’s chest and Elbert looked at him. There was worry there, more than he’d thought with such a small wound. “I’d like to go to sleep now. If you don’t mind taking me back to the cave, I’ll rest.”

“Maybe later, Essie.” He closed his eyes before he spoke again. “We’re going to have to burn this, honey. It’s bad and the poison is going to kill you.”

“Okay.” When Asher lifted her head, Elbert got a look at her eyes. They were fevered and she was not focusing on him. “You’re very handsome, did you know that? And your mouth looks so kissable. Do you think you could kiss me? Just once.”

“I’d rather heal you first.” Her lower lip came out and Asher laughed. “You should do that when you’re healthy. I’ll give you whatever you want then.”

Kiaran went into the bathroom with them. Essie had on her bra and her pants but nothing else. Asher was speaking to Kiaran in low tones, but Elbert had no trouble hearing him. They were going to have to hurt the girl before she was going to be able to get better.

When the dragon was standing beside them, Elbert went to get towels and blankets. He heard her scream even from the lower levels of the house, and then he heard Asher cursing. When he got back to the bedroom, Asher was in the shower with the woman and Kiaran was gone.

As soon as Asher and Essie got out of the stall, he met him there with the towels. She was shaking hard enough that Elbert was afraid Asher was going to drop her. Stripping her down to her bare skin, Asher then dried her and wrapped her in a sheet. Then he put her in the bed and took off his own clothing.

“She’s been marked. Kiaran thinks he’s gotten all the poison out, but he went to get some herbs that grow on the mountain to make a poultice for her.” When he was naked, he crawled into bed with her. “My body heat will keep her from getting sick. And when Kiaran returns, he’ll join my body and heat us both up for her.”

“I’ll put some broth on. When she wakes, she’ll need it.” Asher nodded and pulled Essie into his arms. His hiss made him think she was cold and he asked him.

“No. She’s burning up. I’m worried. All that fighting with us, it made the poison run through her system quicker. I don’t…for some stupid reason I like this woman.” Elbert told him he did as well. As he was leaving the room so that she could rest, Asher called him back. “She saw Dad, didn’t she? I mean, that’s the old man that let her stay here.”

“He told me that he’d met her here. It’s why I came up here.” Asher nodded but said nothing more. Elbert left the room, leaving the window open for Kiaran to return by.

Chapter 3

Asher pulled the softness to him tightly. He’d never had a pillow that was so lumpy before, and decided that the next time he was in town, he’d look into getting a new one. But when something hit him in the face, he opened one eye and looked at the furious woman in the bed with him. And just like that, the entire ordeal with her came back to him.

“If you pout for me now, I’d be willing to give you that kiss you wanted.” Essie huffed at him and struggled to get out from under him. “You have on nothing but a sheet and I have on less than that. If you get up, one of us is going to get a very nice view of the other.”

“Where are my clothes?” He pointed to the dresser across the room. There were no clothes in it that were hers, but she didn’t have to know that. “And you’re naked in bed with me why?”

Asher felt his cock stretch and ache to show her just why they needed to be naked. Instead of telling her, he rolled her to her back and settled between her legs. The blanket he was under had long since been tossed to the floor, and he was hoping that she’d not notice, not yet at any rate. She stared up at him while he pulled her arms above her head. Her legs moved over his, and he nearly missed her intent to unman him.

“You are the most violent woman I know.” She tried again, and he put both her hands into his one and then cupped her ass hard to him with the other. Essie stilled, and he watched her mouth when she licked her lips. “You’re very beautiful when you’re all tossed like you are.”

“You’re not going to have sex with me.” He grinned at her, and she cursed. “Is everything a joke with you? I want you to let me up right—”

Him rocking into her softness had them both moaning. Asher wanted her, wanted to be buried deep within her right now. Holding her to him, he let go of her hands and ran his fingers down her right arm to her chest. Her breast was covered, but the sheet was slipping away. He slipped his fingers under the hem of it and brushed them over her tight nipple.

“Can I taste you? I’d like to just kiss you, but the thought of suckling at your breast makes my cock hurt to be inside of you.” Her tongue ran along her lips again, and he leaned in to chase it. She tasted of sweet honey, and he wanted more. Kissing her, deepening the kiss, gave him the opportunity to pull the sheet down and bare her lovely breast for him. Cupping it in his hand, he toyed with her nipple as he explored her mouth.

“Please?” She begged him when he lifted his head to take her breast into his mouth. “Please don’t…don’t…stop.”

He knew that wasn’t what she meant, for him not to stop, but he wanted her. Leaning his head down to her breast, he licked her tip while he watched her face. When her body rocked up to his, her breast filling his mouth, Asher pulled the sheet the rest of the way off her body.

Looking down the length of her, what he could see with his body over hers, he felt his mouth water to not just taste her but to nibble on her everywhere. When he suckled at her breast again, she wrapped her ankles over his thighs, and Asher knew that all he’d have to do was push forward just a little and he’d be inside of her. But he didn’t want their first time to be over so quickly.

Rolling to his back, he took her with him. She straddled his hips and his cock was stiff in front of her. When she wrapped her fingers around him, bringing her pussy flush with his cock, Asher held onto her hips while she rode him.

“Come for me.” She moaned and rode him harder. Sitting up, he pulled her ass to him, lifting her up enough that the next time she came down, he was going to take her. But she wrapped her fingers over him again and lifted her body from his and held him to her pussy. “If you take me inside of you, I’m going to come. I want you to come first.”

“I’m coming apart the moment you’re inside of me. And I’m going to scream.” He held her, trying to catch his breath at the thought of her coming around him. “Asher, please don’t tease me. Fuck me.”

He pulled her down hard, impaling her on his cock. She was right, as soon as he entered her, he felt her tighten around him and she screamed out her release. Asher let her ride him, giving herself as much pleasure as she wanted, his body hard for his own release. As soon as she started her ride a second time, he rolled her to her back and fucked her as hard as he could, knowing it was going to be the most powerful climax he’d ever had.

She was rolling her hips up to meet his every stroke. Christ, he wanted to come inside of her, release his cum deep within her, but he didn’t want it to end. He wanted to be with her, fucking her like this for hours and hours. But she grabbed his ass as she lifted her hips up higher, and he felt his cock being milked by her pussy when she came again. Asher pounded her harder, his cock filling even as his balls emptied deep inside of her. Throwing back his head, Asher cried out his climax, rolling over his entire body with hers.

Her arms dropped from his shoulders, and he felt her hot breath on his neck when he lowered his head to her breast again. Christ, he’d only meant to have some fun with her, but this was more than he’d bargained for. Lifting his head when she said his name, he wanted to take her again. She was simply too beautiful to resist.

“You’re heavy.” He rolled over again, taking her with him. But she laid over him this time. Asher felt his cock stretch again, and she glared at him. “Men don’t come twice.”

“I will with you.” He fucked her gently, taking his time, bringing her back up again. “You have the most beautiful body. Hard in all the right places, soft in others. I love the way your breasts feel against me. And your nipples are beautiful, all red from my mouth. Let me taste them again. I want to nibble on them until you come.” She lifted her breast to his mouth, and he did just what he wanted. Her moaning had him fucking her harder until she was panting with him.

“You’re a very smooth talker, and you keep that up, and I’m going to come again.” He told her he hoped they both would. “I want to ride you again. I love watching your face when you fuck me like that.”

He helped her to sit up, and she swung her leg over him and stood next to the bed. He had no idea what she’d been planning to do, but she stood staring at him. Asher didn’t move. Few people had ever seen him like this. He didn’t hide his dragon from her so he knew just what she was seeing. Even those that did see him ran from him when they did.

“Does it hurt?” Kiaran moved but didn’t leave him. Essie put her hand over where his head was and then the dragon lifted up. Not from his body but enough that she could feel him. “He’s really a part of you.”

“Yes.” She moved closer to the bed, and he put his hand on her ass and pulled her even closer. “When you touch him, I feel it too. Rub his head and watch my hair.”

As she did as he’d asked, he felt her fingers run over his hair and knew that his hair ruffled with her movements. Asher had never had anyone study him so intently before, and wasn’t sure what to do when she sat on his lap again.

“Does he have sex with me when you do?” He told her no. Kiaran was a dragon that could only have sex with his mate. “But he’s here. With us.”

“He can feel you when you think of him. If you…say his name and he will part from my body to come to your call.” Asher waited for her to do that, but she only stared at him. When her fingers touched his chest, running along his body, he felt the dragon purr, something he’d never done before. “He likes what you’re doing. Can you hear him?”

He didn’t think she could. In fact he was sure of it. But when she said that she could hear him purring too, Asher sat up. He put his hands under her breasts and held them to his mouth. Suckling one, then the other, he tried to tell himself that it didn’t mean anything that she could hear his dragon.

“I want to come with you again.” He pulled her closer to him, her pussy hard against his abdomen as he helped her ride him. “I’m so close. I never…sex usually doesn’t mean anything for me.”

“I want to drink from you.” She moaned, and he turned her onto the bed. Standing next to it, he moved her legs off the edge and sat on the floor between her thighs. “Christ, do you have any idea how much I’d like to fuck you again?”

“Yes.” Asher lifted her legs and put them up on his shoulders. He didn’t want anything in his way when he started eating her, and he wanted to do it right now. Leaning into her, he didn’t know that once he did start that he’d ever want to quit. Licking her from gate to clit, then sucking the hard nubbin into his mouth, he felt her legs tighten around him as she screamed out her release again.

Asher brought her three more times before she pulled his head up by yanking his hair. He crawled up her then, tasting her flesh as he went, biting her gently where he could. Holding his cock in his hand, he rubbed it over her swollen clit and watched her face as he did it. She was close again, and he wanted to fill her when she came.

Sliding into her, he moved slowly. But she wasn’t having that and wrapped her legs around his hips and rose up to meet his downward strokes with a hard thrust of her on. When her fingers cupped his ass, pulling him into her deeper, Asher moved deeper and then deeper still, watching her face as she came again. She begged him to join her, crying out that she wanted to feel him come inside of her, and Asher came hard, pounding her through two more climaxes as he emptied into her.

Dropping on top of her, he rolled to his back, taking her with him once again. Sleep was hard coming on him, and he wrapped his body around hers as she slept. He had a feeling that she was going to leave him as soon as she woke, and he really didn’t want that to happen. Asher had no idea why, but the thought of her leaving him, and not just his bed, made him think that harm would come to her. Maybe to them both.

~~~

Essie sat on the floor after trying and finally succeeding to get out from under Asher for ten minutes. It was exhausting trying to move a big body off you, she thought, when all you wanted to do was have him wake up and take you again. Christ, the man had made her feel like she’d never felt before, during or even after sex. She looked up when she heard a noise.

The big dragon only stared at her. She was actually a little afraid of him, but he moved a little and was suddenly a man. He sat in the chair near the window and leaned back as if he had not a care in the world.

“I helped you.” She looked at Asher, then back at him. “He would have awakened the first time you moved if I hadn’t made him sleep harder. I wanted to talk to you.”

“About what?” She started to stand but realized that she only had the sheet she’d managed to snag and nothing else. “He said my clothes were over there. Can you hand them to me?”

“The clothing you had on has been burned. I thought it better to have all traces of the witch out of this house. It turns out I was correct, as there was enough of her power on them to have let her past the protection. But I want to talk to you about Asher.” She nodded, guessing that since he held all the cards for now, she’d listen. “You and he, did you know that it was planned that you come together?”

She stared at him, wondering what he was talking about, and said nothing. But her mind was trying to wrap around trying to come up with why the hell anyone would want her. When she thought of something, Essie realized that he hadn’t said anything either.

“If you’re warning me off him, I can tell you now that it was just sex. I don’t know where you got your information, but I assure you, I don’t need nor want a man in my life. Especially one that has dragons as part of his body and a man who shifts into a dog.” She started to stand, hurt more than she could say that this guy was turning her away. “I’m not sure where…you know what, I don’t really care if you like me or not. I was doing just fine before you two came to the cave.”

“You weren’t surprised about him having a dragon. Nor that Elbert was a shifter. Why not?” She stood up then, not really caring if she was naked or not, and dragged the sheet from under Asher to wrap around her. “You were sent here to spy on him, on all of them, weren’t you?”

Essie could have told him that the man Jacob told her. She’d actually thought him off his rocker a little, but he’d been kind enough to offer her the barn to sleep in, and she thought she could put up with a lot for a dry place to sleep for a change. Walking to the big dresser that was near the bathroom, she opened the top drawer to find the neatest stacks of underthings she’d ever seen. Taking out a pair of the silk boxers, she went to the next one to find herself a shirt. There was no way she’d be able to wear any pants of the person this room belonged to, so she didn’t bother. Dropping the sheet to dress, she let the tears fall as she spoke to Kiaran, beyond caring if he was embarrassed or not.

“The man, Jacob, told me about him. All of you actually. Not that it matters, but he let me sleep here until spring. I’m not going to now. As for you warning me off your friend, fuck you.” She jerked the shirt over her head after pulling on the too large boxer shorts. “As for you warning me away, well, thanks. I’m so glad that he has someone looking out for him that is just as much an asshole as he is.”

Essie started to the door and thought for sure he was going to stop her. When she opened it and stepped into the hall, she nearly ran but didn’t want to give him the pleasure of seeing how badly he’d hurt her. And for the life of her, Essie had no idea why his rejection of her hurt so badly. It’s not like she’d not been rejected before.

Elbert was standing in the kitchen when she entered. Jacob was there as well, and he stood up when she started for the door. He stepped in front of her before she could leave.