The Old Dragon of the Mountain's Christmas (Dragon Lords of Valdier #9) (5 page)

A strange feeling washed through Christoff as he slowly woke. He instinctively knew that he should be dead. He remembered the pressure of the mountain expanding outward right before he lost consciousness. There had been something else, almost like a hand against his brow, but he decided he must have been dreaming. One thing he did know, he should be dead.

Instead, he was encased in his symbiot. The familiar feel of his friend and companion sent a wave of comfort through him and his dragon. He was about to thank it for somehow, miraculously saving them when he felt a different type of warmth touch him. It felt as if someone had slid their hand over his body. Whoever, or whatever was touching him had definitely woken up his dragon. He had never felt his other half wake so fast or be so – focused – as it was now. Another slight caress washed across his body pulling a soft moan from him.

For a moment, Christoff kept his eyes closed, not wanting to lose the intense feeling of pleasure that was washing through his body. He knew the caress wasn’t actually touching him; it didn’t have to. As long as it was touching his symbiot, it was as if it was caressing his skin as well.

Curling his fingers, he focused on the movement of the creature as it walked around his symbiot. His body tensed as he waited for just the right moment to strike. He could see it was a female through the images his symbiot was sending to him. She looked similar to the one that came with the Dragon Lords back in the cave, only older… and definitely more beautiful to him. His opportunity came when the female stopped to stare down at him once more. He heard her murmur at the same time as he focused on his symbiot to release him.

The woman’s soft, warm body fell into his arms as he reached for her. He drew her down until she was lying on top of him. His eyes swept over her face, noting the beauty of her silver hair and the startled look in her light green eyes.

“Uh, hello,” she whispered, staring down at him. “I… Can you understand me?”

Christoff frowned. Yes, he could understand her. What he could not understand was his body's reaction to her. He felt…

Mine!
His dragon roared in delight.
I bite. Yes, yes. I bite now.

What? Bite? Why?
Christoff asked in confusion as he continued to stare up at the woman.

She our mate!
His dragon responded with a loud sigh.

“Mate!” Christoff exclaimed in shock, not realizing that he had spoken aloud until the woman’s eyes widened in surprise and shock before a delicate blush rose up her cheeks.

“I… No, my name is Edna,” the woman finally said with an amused smile.

“And my mate,” Christoff replied with a confused frown.

Edna gently pushed against his chest, trying to pull free. He reluctantly released her even as his dragon groaned and growled at him. He rose to a sitting position when she stepped back and slowly looked around. Everything was… different, alien.

“Where am I?” Christoff demanded in a husky voice, turning back to stare at the woman standing in front of him.

“You and your – ship are in my living room,” Edna replied with a smile. “You are safe.”

“Symbiot,” Christoff automatically corrected as he pushed off the makeshift bed.

“What?” Edna asked in confusion this time.

Christoff touched his symbiot as it shifted into a large, strange creature. He started when he heard a noise and turned. Another beast, slightly smaller than his symbiot was lying on the floor, wagging its long, furry tail. His symbiot trotted over to it and pressed its nose forward.

“What is that?” Christoff asked, turning back to Edna.

She chuckled when the two golden beasts started to play. They were chasing a round, green ball across the floor. He could see them in his peripheral vision, but his main focus remained on the woman in front of him. The strange warmth invaded his body again, making him feel like a clumsy boy.

“Are you hungry?” She asked instead.

Christoff thought about it for a moment. His stomach rumbled. He couldn’t remember the last time he ate.

“I… Yes,” he finally said, suddenly feeling lost. “I do not understand what happened.”

Edna’s expression softened and she reached out to touch his hand. His eyes widened at the spark he felt when she touched him. It was strange and exciting and confusing all at the same time. Afraid she would disappear, he wrapped his fingers around her hand when she started to turn away.

“I put some stew on earlier. It should be done,” she said in a comforting tone. “We can talk while we eat dinner. Does your – symbiot, I believe you called it – need anything to eat?”

Christoff shook his head as he glanced over to where his symbiot was lying. The green ball was between its front paws. The other beast was lying directly in front of it, softly whining. The furry creature’s eyes were glued to round toy. His symbiot leaned down and used its nose to push the ball toward it. He smiled when it turned to look at him and wagged its’ tail. A sense of happiness radiated from his symbiot.

He turned back around when Edna pulled her hand away while he was distracted. He stared in disbelief at her wrist when she reached up to push a strand of hair back from her face. His hand lifted and he lightly touched the gold wrapped around it.

“My symbiot… does not need food like my dragon and I,” Christoff murmured in a rusty, hesitant voice.

“Dragon…,” Edna repeated, releasing a loud breath on the word. “I definitely think we have a few things to discuss.”

Christoff nodded and followed her when she turned away. A crooked grin curved his lips as his gaze ran down over Edna, settling on her butt. The grin faded when she glanced over her shoulder at him. The raised eyebrow and flush to her cheeks told him the she was very much aware of where his eyes had been. He gave her a bashful grin when she shook her head and continued around the sitting area.

They entered the room behind it. He could tell it was the kitchen. His gaze shifted to a large pot on the stove and he drew in a deep, appreciative breath. He sure hoped she had a lot of whatever it was when his stomach and his dragon both growled in approval.

“You can sit down,” Edna said, glancing at him. “I’ve told you my name, but you never told me yours?”

“Christoff,” he replied, standing to the side so he could watch her instead of sitting down like she suggested. “That smells good.”

“Somebody is hungry,” she responded with another soft laugh that echoed throughout the room when she heard his stomach emit a loud growl.

Christoff decided he liked the sound. He watched as she stirred the contents of the pot before ladling it into two bowls, one larger than the other. He reached around her and picked up the two, steaming bowls before she could.

“I’ll get some crackers to go with it,” Edna replied, shaking her head.

A few minutes later, the table was set and they were seated in front of the window where they could see the snow falling. Christoff studied Edna as she picked up several crackers and placed them on the small plate next to her. He hesitantly reached for several, giving her an uncertain smile when she looked at him.

A part of him wanted to grab the spoon and start shoveling the thick stew into his mouth. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d smelled something so good. Instead, he waited for her to take the first bite. His father had always waited for his mother to begin eating before he started. He remembered asking his father why one evening.

“A warrior always cares for his mate before he cares for himself,” his father had responded. “It is a small thing, but it shows my respect for your mother.”

After that night, Christoff had waited as well. Lemar had made fun of him, but he hadn’t cared. He wanted to show his mother that he respected her as well. He released a thankful sigh when Edna picked up her spoon and began to eat. Picking up his spoon, he filled it with the savory blend and lifted it to his mouth. He couldn’t stop his eyes from closing as the delicious flavor washed over his senses.

Perhaps we did die in the explosion, he whispered to his dragon as it rolled over in ecstasy.

“I take it you like the stew?” Edna laughed.

Christoff’s eyes popped open and he slowly pulled the spoon out of his mouth. A rueful smile curved his lips and he nodded. He waited for Edna to take another bite before he spooned a second serving into his mouth. This time, he kept his eyes focused on her.

“So, Christoff, tell me how you ended up on my mountain,” Edna said after they had eaten most of the meal.

Christoff frowned and shook his head. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I was trapped in the cave. The mountain was about to erupt. I felt it draw in its last breath before it did, then….”

Edna leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table, staring at him. He could see the worry and confusion in her eyes. He tried to remember the last few seconds in the cave, but all he remembered were the presents the younglings had left him. His eyes swept up in panic and he started to rise from his chair. He sank back down when his symbiot, sensing his distress and the reason for it, came into the small dining area with his leather satchel in its mouth.

Christoff reached for it, affectionately running his hand over the symbiot’s head in appreciation. Placing the bag in his lap, he carefully opened the top. Inside, he could see his father's old shirt that he used to protect his precious memories of them. He knew that the carving knife and his mother’s locket were inside it. On top, though, was the glass dome the two little girls had given him. He carefully pulled it out.

“The younglings,” he started to say before his throat closed at the memory of their tender words. Drawing in a deep breath, he held the glass dome out to her. “They came to the mountain to find me.”

Edna reached over and took the dome. He saw her eyes widen before she looked back at him. Her lips parted and tears filled her eyes as she gazed back and forth between it and him.

“This is Abby’s work. I would know it anywhere,” she whispered as a tear slid silently down her cheek. “Why did they come to find you?”

“They told me they wanted to be my friend so that I would not steal their Christmas,” Christoff replied quietly, staring at the dome. “It has snow and on the bottom if you turn the small knob it will play music.”

Edna smiled and nodded. He watched anxiously as she turned it over and twisted the small knob. The air was immediately filled with the song that Edna knew. His gaze jerked up when she began singing along with the melody. It was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard next to his mother’s voice.

Edna gave a self-conscious laugh and brushed her hand across her damp cheek. Christoff rose out of his chair and walked around the table. He knelt by her chair and touched her cheek. His fingers spread across her soft skin, marveling at it.

“Who are you?” He asked with a confused frown. “My dragon says you are my mate. My symbiot has claimed you as well. And I…,” he looked up into her beautiful eyes with a look of uncertainty.

“And you…?” Edna asked in a slightly breathless voice.

Christoff’s eyes darkened to a deep gold as he leaned forward. “I find I can’t keep my hands off you,” he murmured, leaning forward to press his lips against her parted ones.

He marveled at the feel of her. This was the first time he had ever kissed a woman in all his long centuries of life. Oh, he had kissed his mother on her cheek, but he had never had an opportunity to kiss a female before, not like this. A burning ignited deep inside him. His body throbbed, making him ache with an awareness that he had been alone for far too long.

A silent curse escaped him when he felt his dragon pushing at him. Pulling back, he balanced himself for a moment on his heels before standing and stepping back. He needed to get control of himself. This was crazy! How he could even think that a woman such as Edna would be attracted to an old dragon like himself, one far past his prime, made him grimace.

“I…,” he started to say.

Edna rose out of her seat and stepped toward him with a raised eyebrow. He clamped his lips together in a tight line when he saw the look of warning in her green eyes. Some instinct told him he had better not finish his sentence.

“So help me, if you say you regret kissing me, I’ll pop you on the head with this globe,” she hissed in warning.

Christoff’s eyes widened in surprise before a delighted grin curved his lips. He shook his head. Reaching out, he took the globe from her hand before raising her fingers to his lips. Pressing a kiss to them, he stared into her eyes.

“I have no regret kissing you, Edna. In fact, I claim you as my true mate,” he stated with a feeling of satisfaction. “You are now mine.”

Later that evening, Christoff knelt by the fireplace. He carefully arranged a few more pieces of wood on the fire. After dinner, he had helped Edna clean up the kitchen. His gaze flickered to the bedroom on the right before moving to the one on the left.

You let me bite, we no sleep in small bedroom no more,
his dragon growled, pacing back and forth inside him.

What if I don’t know what to do? What if we frighten her? What if…,
Christoff grimaced when his dragon fell backwards, laughing.

I know what to do,
his dragon assured him.
You let me bite, you will know too.

She was very firm when she said that was our room,
Christoff retorted.

We be even firmer,
his dragon snorted.
I horny.

You think I’m not?
Christoff growled back.

“Are you alright?” Edna asked.

Christoff muttered a silent curse at his dragon when his dragon growled that
“No, they were not alright! They were extremely horny.”
Rising to his feet, a dark scowl crossed his face when he realized that if he turned around, Edna would be able to see the answer for herself. With a sigh of resignation, he turned to where she was standing in the hallway leading to the bathroom.

“I wish to share your bed tonight,” Christoff said, wincing. “That was not what I meant to say.”

Edna’s eyes widened, her lips parted, and a rosy blush swept through her cheeks before she burst out laughing. Walking forward, she laid the towels in her arms down on the end table and stepped up to Christoff. Sliding her hands up his chest, she rested them on his shoulders to steady herself so that she could press a brief, hot kiss to his lips.

“I think that is the sweetest thing I have ever heard, but the answer is still no,” she said with a shake of her head. “I’ve known you for approximately four hours. I think we need a few more before we decide if we should share a bed.”

A flash of pain swept across Christoff’s face before it cleared and a grin replaced it. She hadn’t said “no”, just that they needed a few more hours. By his calculations, that meant until it was bedtime. He could wait a few more hours.

You can, I can’t,
his dragon groaned
. I wants her now!

Remember how father used to tease mother?
Christoff replied as a plan of action formed in his mind.
He would brush his hands along her and give her kisses. By night, we could hear them. Mother could not resist father.

You better be right,
his dragon complained.
If not, I no kiss. I bite!

If this does not work, you can bite,
Christoff finally agreed.

“Christoff?” Edna called out, drawing him back to the present.

Christoff blinked and frowned when he saw that Edna was now by the front door to the cabin. His fists clenched when he saw she was reaching for her coat. His gaze flickered to the window. The snow was falling heavily now and there were already several inches of it on the window sill.

“Where are you going?” He demanded, taking a step forward. “The snow is falling and it is cold outside.”

Edna chuckled and fastened her coat. “I know it’s snowing; and yes, that means it is cold outside. I just want to check on Gloria before bedtime and Bo needs to go out once more before it gets too dark.”

“I will go with you,” Christoff informed her with a frown. “Who is Gloria?”

Edna paused and looked at him. He could see a flash of indecision in her eyes. He wondered if she was having second thoughts for a moment before he pushed it away. She had kissed him this time. He could still feel her warmth against his lips.

“You’ll need a jacket. I think Jack left his here the last time he was up. I think it might fit you,” she said.

“Who is Jack?” Christoff asked with a scowl. “I will fight him for you.”

Edna paused by the door to a small closet off to the side and looked at him in amusement. Shaking her head, she opened the door and reached inside, pulling out a long, black coat. Shutting the door, she walked over to him and held it out.

“Jack is my son-in-law,” Edna explained with a twinkle in her eye. “He would probably faint if you told him that you were going to fight him. Jack is good in a courtroom, but he is definitely more of a lover than a fighter. Hanson and I had one daughter, Shelly. I couldn’t have any more after her. I started hemorrhaging and had to have a hysterectomy. Shelly and Jack only have one daughter, as well. My granddaughter, Crystal, is thirteen now.”

Christoff reached for the coat, sniffing it. The scent of the man clung to it, but there were also other scents, too. They were softer, more delicate. He tried the coat on, surprised that it fit. His hands slid into the pockets and he discovered a pair of gloves and a hat. The gloves were too small, but he could wear the hat.

“Your mate was this Hanson?” He asked in a gruff voice as a feeling of jealousy washed through him.

He glanced down at Edna when she stepped closer to him. A small, sad smile curved her lips. She touched his arm, waiting for him to look into her eyes.

“He was my first love, my friend, my companion for many wonderful years and I will never regret having him in my life. It took me a few years to accept that he was gone and never coming back. We both made a promise to each other that if one of us died, we would grab life by the balls and live it to the fullest. I forgot that for a little while in my grief, but not any longer,” she explained.

Christoff reached up and ran his fingers along her cheek. A sudden devilish grin curved his lips as he slid his hand around to her nape. Bending his head, he paused for a brief second.

“I think living life to the fullest would include me sharing your bed tonight,” he murmured before he captured her lips.

Edna melted in his arms as he drew her up against his body. He deepened the kiss, sweeping his tongue into her mouth with an instinct born of need. A soft moan escaped her and he reveled in triumph when her hands slid up to tangle in his hair.

Several minutes later, they were both breathless. The only thing stopping them from losing themselves in the heat of passion was Bo’s persistent whining. Christoff glared down at the Golden Retriever and grimaced.

“You pick a fine time to insist on going out,” he muttered to the impatient dog. “The snow and cold weather better not dampen her desire,” he warned.

Edna’s laughter filled the cabin as she pulled on her woolen cap, scarf and gloves. She gave Bo an affectionate pat on the head and glanced mischievously over her shoulder. Her lips and cheeks both a beautiful shade of red.

“If I get cold, I think I know someone who wouldn’t mind warming me up,” she teased, opening the front door so both Bo and Christoff’s symbiot could escape out into the freezing weather. “Brrr! I think I’m definitely going to need some warming up tonight.”

The grin on Christoff’s face grew until a huge smile lit his face. Laughing, he stepped out and closed the door of the cabin. Grabbing Edna’s hand, he closed his larger one around it.

“I can think of nothing better that I would like to do,” he replied. “Now, tell me who this Gloria is.”