Dragon's Curse (Harlequin Nocturne) (12 page)

The only saving grace with this particular insanity was that
the book remained invisible to everyone except her.

“Done for the day?”

She jumped at Cam’s question. Without having to hide the book
this time, she turned around. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

He walked into her bedroom. “I asked if you were done for the
day.” His calm, even tone was in complete contrast with his angry
expression.

“According to the clock I am.” She glanced with longing toward
the bathroom. Her bubbles would have to wait. “Unless there’s something else I
should be doing.”

“You could explain what you were doing in the basement.”

“Just being nosy.” She’d had her fill of confrontation today
and was determined to keep this conversation light. Besides, it wasn’t as if
she’d found anything that she needed to lie about. “Wasn’t that obvious?”

“Nosy?”

Ariel chose another word. “Curious.”

“Curious about what was behind a locked door?” Two steps
brought him closer. “When you picked the lock, didn’t a part of your mind warn
you not to go down into the dark?”

“There was a light switch.” She cringed, wishing that just once
she would employ her brain before giving her mouth free rein.

Another step brought him against her. “What were you looking
for, Ariel?”

His calm, steady tone chafed. It was the same tone her mother
had used whenever she or Carl were being unreasonable. She was no longer a child
and Cameron Drake most certainly wasn’t her mother.

The pulse throbbing against his neck caught her attention.
While he might be trying to keep his words even and steady, his heartbeat told
another story.

Ariel reached up and ran a fingertip across the not-so-steady
pulsing. Cam grasped her wrist. “Don’t.”

She tugged her arm free. “I wasn’t looking for anything in
particular. You were watching, I saw the light on the security camera, so you
know exactly what I found—nothing.”

He lifted a lock of her hair. She shivered as his knuckles
brushed against her neck. Cam leaned closer. “Yes, I know what you found.”

Ariel held her breath, fighting the unexpected flash of terror
beating against her mind. She knew that voice, recognized the darkly ominous
tone.

No.

She pushed back the fear. It wasn’t possible. Cameron was not
the dragon changeling from Mirabilus. That creature had frightened her so much
she was certain she’d have realized it before now. This unwarranted emotion was
caused by nothing more than the heated rush of desire chipping away at her
ability to think clearly.

Cameron continued, “What I want to know is what you were
looking for in the first place.”

Ariel closed her eyes against another rush of emotions turning
the floor into waves beneath her feet. He was too close. His breath wafted too
warmly across her ear.

She swayed briefly against his chest, before forcing her legs
to hold her steady. “I wasn’t looking for anything.”

“You are such a liar, Ariel.”

His breathless comment sounded more like an endearment
whispered by a lover in the heat of the moment than an accusation by a mythical
beast. She gazed up at him.

His shimmering gaze reflected the desire coursing through her.
He might be angry with her for snooping and he might never trust her, but at
this moment he wanted her.

She could feel his longing, sense his need. Ariel didn’t
question how she knew it, because she wanted—needed—him, too. Just being near
him this past week had been maddening.

She didn’t want to be here—not like this, as a spy and a thief.
The Drakes were nothing to her except owners of the items that would spare her
brother’s life. Once she found what she needed, she’d leave the Lair without
looking back.

Except for Cameron.

It would be hard walking away from him. She’d been attracted to
him from the moment she’d walked into his office. Ariel wasn’t foolish enough to
hold any illusions about their attraction. There was no budding relationship
between them—it was purely physical.

She hadn’t had time for dating. One-night stands didn’t
interest her. Acquaintances had called her a prude, but her friends had
understood. Juggling the responsibilities of school, work and Carl were all she
could handle. Adding the emotional complications that came with relationships
and sex would tip the scales.

And now, a man had the ability to make her shiver with desire.
It seemed as if she’d waited years for just this moment—for just this man.

When she had nothing to tell Renalde tomorrow, her time at the
Lair might come to an end. Tonight could very well be the last chance she had to
see if her dreams were right. Would making love with Cam be as erotic and
fulfilling as her nightly visions had promised?

She leaned purposely against his chest. “Cam…” Uncertain how
to ask for what she wanted, she let her plea trail off.

His heart pounded in unison with her own. He pulled her close
to bury his face against her neck, and warned, “Don’t offer more than you’re
willing to give.”

Ariel knew that at this moment she would offer him
everything—no matter the cost. She was drawn to him by a power she couldn’t
imagine let alone define.

Nothing could keep her from his arms. She craved his kisses,
needed his touch too much to back away now.

She brushed her cheek across his. “I’m not.”

Cam groaned. Her response broke the chains holding the dragon
in check. He couldn’t tell who wanted her more—him or the beast.

His hands shook with the effort required to coax the now-raging
beast to be patient. Never, until meeting Ariel, had controlling the dragon been
so difficult.

Each time he’d sensed her desire, breathed in the fragrance of
her lust or heard her blood rushing with need, the threads of his restraint had
frayed.

It wasn’t that he cared for her—his heart wasn’t involved, even
if his lust-crazed beast momentarily thought otherwise. But he feared that if he
relinquished control, gave the desire full rein, he could quite possibly come to
care far too much.

Caring too much now would only make being alone once again more
difficult. Because once this was over, she would leave—she would have no choice.
And he would return to his solitary existence.

But there was tonight. They could share just one night and
somehow he’d make the memory last a lifetime.

Cam took a deep breath, willing himself and his beast to go
easy. They had all night. There was no need to rush.

With the blink of an eye, he set the scene. Soft, gentle music
filtered in through the ceiling speakers. Candlelight replaced the glare of the
lamps. Incense that mimicked her pheromones scented the air.

Still holding her close, he swayed, dancing slowly to the
music. She followed his lead as if they had done this a thousand times in the
past.

“This feels like a strange date.” Ariel tipped her head back to
ask, “No wine, or flowers?”

Did she think she was dealing with an
amateur?
He spun her around the room, pausing next to a side table
set with a white lace cloth, orange-hued roses and two full champagne flutes.
Cam relaxed his embrace and handed her a glass.

A flash of disappointment raced across her face before she
tasted the champagne. He cupped her cheek, stroking his thumb over the softness
of her face. “What’s wrong?”

“Impressive.” Ariel’s gaze roamed the bedroom before coming
back to him. “How many times have you done this?”

“Never.”

Her eyebrows arched above her shimmering gaze. “Never?”

He stroked her lower lip, smiling at the tremor his touch
created. “No.”

Ariel lowered her gaze and set her glass down. She touched the
roses. “Orange?”

“The color symbolizes desire.” Cam drew her back into his
embrace and onto their makeshift dance floor. “Roses for a beautiful woman.”

“I’m not beautiful.”

“Stop it, Ariel.” She was nervous. He’d expected that. But he
had hoped the music and wine would help. Apparently not.

She glared up at him. “Stop what?”

“Stop thinking and questioning. Stop trying to find fault with
every little thing. Stop worrying. Tomorrow will get here tomorrow, no matter
what.”

Still dancing slowly, he lowered his mouth to brush her lips,
whispering, “Right now, just let it all go. Let yourself enjoy this moment.”

She clung to his shoulders. “I don’t think I know how.”

“Like this.” He covered her lips, kissing her, teasing her,
coaxing her to relax, beckoning her to feel instead of think.

Chapter 11

A
riel leaned into his kiss with a sigh of
surrender, giving up any pretense of control over her desires. She would follow
where he led, submit to his will and worry about the consequences tomorrow.

She had waited her whole adult life for this moment—for just
this touch, just this kiss—just this man. One with the ability to chase away her
breath with a glance and steal her mind with a simple caress.

Why it had to be
this
man, one who
was not quite human and more foe than friend, didn’t matter. She didn’t know
how, or why, but some primal part of him spoke to the wildness in her. It
whispered to her soul, seducing her with a promise of safety and completion.

At this moment, with his arms holding her, his lips warm and
demanding on hers, she felt no fear, no trepidation, only want and need.

“Ariel.” Her name was a heated whisper against her cheek. “Send
me away, now.”

“No.” She slipped her hands beneath his shirt, marveling at the
warmth of his flesh, and wanting to feel the heat of his skin against hers.
“Stay.”

Either he read her thoughts, or had the same desire, because
before she could draw another breath they were on the bed—naked. Only partially
surprised, she stared up at him. “Isn’t that cheating?”

“Yes.” Cam’s husky answer and shimmering gaze sent a rush down
her spine. He looked at her as if she was the only thing in his world.

His gentle, seeking caress as it trailed along her side
conveyed the same message—no one else existed except the two of them.

Wizardry and cheating fell to the wayside. She ran a hand
through his hair, tugging him closer, drawing his mouth back to hers. He gave in
to her silent demand, kissing her until she moaned with need for more than just
the feel of his lips.

Moments ago his caress had been gentle and seeking, but now his
thoroughness left her gasping at the icy fire skittering along every nerve
ending.

Every caress, each erotic kiss against her skin made her feel
alive, nearly frantic with longing.

Other than in her dreams, she’d not realized it could be
this—intoxicating. Her heart pounded, her body throbbed beneath his insistent
onslaught.

The heat of his hands on her legs, stroking, teasing his way
over her knee, up her thigh, made the muscles low in her belly clench.

Even though she knew it wasn’t possible, Ariel’s body responded
as if his touch was familiar. She moved instinctively beneath him, anticipating
his next caress, knowing what he wanted her to do.

She frowned. Her dreams had been vivid, but how had they been
so realistic?

His lips following the path his hands had just taken chased her
wonderings aside. When the bed seemed to spin beneath them it no longer mattered
if this was their first time together or hundredth.

She wanted more than just the caress of his hands on her flesh,
or the exquisite kiss at her core. She tugged on his hair, wanting him over her,
filling her.

“Cam.” Ariel’s breath caught in her throat as the already
intense throbbing quickened. She moaned, calling out his name again, “Cam,
please.”

Thankfully he didn’t have to leave to get condoms, they were at
hand. The mark on his shoulder blade throbbed. His beast roared, demanding to
claim this woman as his own.

Again, he felt an inviting warmth steal over him, rushing
through his limbs to settle around his heart. His beast crooned, rumbling with
anticipation.

Shocked, Cam cursed silently. Why now? Why this woman and not
Carol? This possession, this all-encompassing completion should have been shared
with his wife, not with his enemy.

His beast roared, demanding he forget his hurt and accept what
this woman offered.

No. He had to remain in control. The wild desires within
couldn’t be unleashed. It would be disastrous in ways he could barely imagine at
the moment. But the beast beckoned him forward relentlessly.

Ariel moved beneath him. Before he could stop her, she drew her
hands up his back, grazing his skin with the tips of her fingernails. Her touch
once more across his birthmark sent shivers down his spine.

He couldn’t hold back any longer and Cameron gave in with a
strangled groan.

His control slipped, but to his relief, his dragon didn’t
ravage the woman as he’d feared. For the first time since he’d recognized the
creature inside, they acted as one. Instead of being at odds with him, the beast
let him remain in human form as they sought release.

He and Ariel moved together, their rhythms in tune as though
this wasn’t their first time together. The sound of his name on her lips was an
aphrodisiac that nearly sent him over the edge.

Ariel’s fingers grazed the mark on his shoulder blade, curling,
pressing her nails into his flesh as she found her release.

Now the beast growled, pushed over the edge at the contact with
the oversensitive birthmark. Cam gasped, his muscles straining against the urge
to forget his human nature.

Before he fully realized what was happening, reality fell away
in a dizzying rush. There was no bed beneath them, no confining walls
surrounding them. Nothing but air and the wide-open sky served as a backdrop for
two mating dragons.

No matter how hard he tried, Cam was unable to pull away from
the near-brutal savagery of their dance. He closed his eyes, but in his mind saw
his beast shake the smaller female into submission before folding his wings
around her, holding her close.

Fingernails pressing into his shoulders and his name whispered
as a breathless sigh shook him free. Spent, he dropped beside Ariel, pulling her
roughly into his embrace, thankful that what he’d seen had not crossed the
border between dream and reality.

Ariel’s heart beat hard against his chest, nearly as hard and
erratic as his own.

She trailed her fingertips up his spine and across his shoulder
blades, breathlessly asking, “Was that man or wizard?”

He closed his eyes as she lightly brushed over the
still-pulsing mark. “Neither. It was magic.”

She sighed against his chest. “I’ll agree with that.”

He chuckled, leaning closer to kiss her. A shimmer of light cut
through the darkness behind his closed eyelids. Reluctantly breaking their kiss,
he glanced toward the light.

What the hell was going on
here?

Speechless, he jerked free of Ariel’s embrace and stared from
her to the grimoire on her dresser.

The music came to an instant stop. A glaring overhead light
replaced the soft flicker of the candles. Ariel shook off her daze and followed
the direction of Cam’s stare.

A glowing light shimmered around the book on her dresser. From
the rigidity of his muscles and the even more rigid expression, she knew that he
could see the grimoire.

She gasped, hoping he’d believe her feigned surprise. “Where
did that come from?”

His brittle, humorless laugh evaporated her hope. “Why don’t
you tell me?”

“There isn’t anything I can tell you.” Just as there’d been a
time for lying, perhaps this was a time for the truth—especially now when it was
more believable to her than any fabrication she could concoct.

When he glared down at her, she rushed into her explanation.
“It just appeared when you forced me to move in here.”

He turned away, sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his
temples. She could completely understand if his head was pounding—so was
hers.

She touched his arm, trying to get him to turn around and look
at her. “What do you want me to say? It was just here.”

Cam jerked away from her touch. “And how long has it been—just
here?”

“It’s been here as long as I have.” When he did turn to look at
her, Ariel scooted away from the anger that seemed to glow from his eyes.

“Who helped you?”

“What?”

Cameron rose, grasped her arms to drag her from the bed, then
tugged her toward the dresser. “This didn’t get here on its own. The Learneds
can’t gain entrance into the Lair. So, who is helping you?”

He ran his gaze down her naked body. Before she could decipher
his look, he waved their clothes back on and continued, “Even if you have any
abilities, they can’t possibly be strong enough to have broken the spell
encasing this book.”

Ariel frowned. “So, even if I was a—” she choked on the
insanity of even saying the word “—wizard, I couldn’t possibly be as strong, or
magical, as you?”

“Since your powers of comprehension are still intact, tell me
who’s helping you.”

She gritted her teeth. They’d just made love, but that
obviously meant little. How dare he use that overly caustic tone of voice with
her? She jerked free of his hold. “Who do you think you are?”

“Your boss.”

Her
boss?
Even though his response
stung, she dismissed it with a wave of her hand. “We both know how much truth
there is in that. You act like you’re the king of the wizards or something.” She
shook her head. “And I sound like an imbecile. Wizards. Kings.”

“Close.”

“To an imbecile?”

“King.” He shrugged, before turning back toward the grimoire,
saying, “More like the Dragon Lord spare.”

Ariel didn’t know who, or what, to stare at first—the man who
just declared he was some sort of lord, or the book that was now glowing with a
shocking red light.

She finally settled on Cam. “What are you—”

He raised a hand, cutting off her question. “Come here.”

“No.” Ariel backed out of his reach. She wasn’t getting any
closer to that book than she had to. In fact, she edged toward the door, intent
on making her escape.

Cam looked over his shoulder and crooked a finger in her
direction. She dug in her heels and grabbed for the bedpost, knowing it would do
little good.

She closed her eyes as once again she levitated a fraction of
an inch above the floor and floated to his side. The instant her feet hit the
floor she opened her eyes, demanding, “Stop doing that.”

“Listen to yourself.”

“Listen to myself? Why? Are my words coming out funny?”

“Funny? No. Angry? Yes. Sarcastic? Most definitely.”

“You should talk.”

He draped an arm over her shoulder. “Shut up a minute, then
listen.”

Ariel swallowed, but clamped her lips together to keep from
shouting. A warmth stole over her. It slowly flowed from his arm into her,
relaxing her, chasing away her anger. She glanced up at him. “What is going
on?”

Surprised at her calmer tone of voice, she shook her head.
“This doesn’t make sense.”

“No, it doesn’t.” He nodded toward the book. “But look.”

The grimoire now glowed with a soft pink light. “How did you do
that?”

“I didn’t.”

“Neither did I. I didn’t sneak Renalde into the Lair, if that’s
what you think.”

“You couldn’t have. I would have known the instant he stepped
on our property.”

“So, what’s making the book do that?”

“I think it’s us.”

Ariel leaned as far away from him as his hold would permit.
“What do you mean ‘us’? There is no ‘us.’”

Cameron looked down at her. He cocked one eyebrow and shot her
a half smile that made her stomach flip. “Oh, really?”

She swallowed and worked to unglue her tongue from the roof of
her suddenly dry mouth. Finally composing herself enough to speak, she answered,
“Really.”

His soft chuckle set her heart skipping.

“Watch and see if this works like I think it will.” Cam lowered
his arm and gently pushed her away from the dresser. He crossed to the other
side of the room.

Within a moment, his smile faded and her renewed anger grew.
Ariel’s spine stiffened, her stomach tightened. The throbbing in her temples
returned as she clenched her jaw.

“When did you say the grimoire first appeared?”

She closed her eyes against the harshness of his voice. “The
same day you made me move in here.”

“Right.”

“Are you calling me a liar?”

“It is something you seem to excel at. Where have you been
hiding it?”

Ariel flinched at his accusation. “Nowhere. It’s been right
there this whole time. That’s what I was trying to hide that first day.”

“Is this what the Learneds sent you here to find? How much have
you told them about the grimoire?”

“No.” To her horror, her bottom lip started to tremble. She was
tired of arguing with him, especially now. It took too much energy, leaving her
drained. “I haven’t…told them…” Ariel paused, determined to keep her voice from
breaking. “I haven’t told them anything.”

Cam fought the urge to groan. Even though he’d rather be wrong
in this, his guess was that she hadn’t broken through his spell. Somehow, the
grimoire had done it without help.

And for whatever reason, it was causing this false, overblown
feeling of anger. His rage had been inexplicable, especially since the beast had
remained calm and unconcerned, still soaking up the afterglow of sex.

If the shimmer of tears in Ariel’s eyes and her trembling lip
were any indication, her overwhelming emotions were being forced on her, too. He
went toward her. “Come here.”

“Just leave me alone.” She backed away. “And don’t even think
about floating me over there.”

“Fine, we’ll do it the old-fashioned way.” He cleared the
distance between them in three long strides and pulled her into his arms.

Nearly dragging her along, Cam stopped in front of the dresser,
whispering, “Now watch.”

When he covered her lips briefly with his, Ariel relaxed and
rested her cheek against his shoulder. “Now what?”

As much as he hated to admit it, he explained, “It’s only a
guess, but I think it’s our turn.”

“That makes about as much sense as anything else.” She sighed,
then asked, “Our turn for what?”

“The grimoire has a spell on it.”

“I’m shocked.”