The Old Dragon of the Mountain's Christmas (Dragon Lords of Valdier #9) (7 page)

We have to do this,
Christoff ordered.
She deserves to have a choice.

I no like you no more,
his dragon snapped.

Christoff remained silent. He nodded to Edna and began moving the furniture while she picked up the dirty dishes and took them to the kitchen. He could hear the water running as she washed them. Glancing at his symbiot, he released a deep breath and call to his dragon. It took several tries before his dragon finally responded. His eyes closed as he felt the familiar change sweep over him.

He remained frozen, his eyes closed against the rejection he and his dragon were positive they would get. He would not blame Edna if she did. None of his own kind accepted him except his mother and father.

An image of the dragonlings flowed through his mind, as well as their parents. Surprise flooded him when he realized that they had accepted him. Another image, this time of the small black dragon with the beautiful feathers surfaced and the face of her father holding her. All of the other dragonlings and their two companions had also looked beneath her differences to the soul captured inside.

His eyes slowly opened and he stared at Edna. She stood gazing at him in awe. His eyes followed her trembling hand as she raised it to brush a strand of gray and silver hair back from her face. His dragon trembled as well when she took a step closer to him.

“Can I touch you?” She asked in a faint voice.

Christoff snorted and slowly nodded his head. He lowered it when she reached up to touch his snout. While he was smaller than the typical dragon, he was still taller than her. He started when his dragon blew a puff of warm air around her hand.

Edna’s soft giggle pulled at him. He rubbed his nose affectionately against her palm before swiping it with his tongue. Another burst of laughter echoed in the room. That was something he was learning about Edna; she liked to laugh.

“You are so beautiful,” she whispered, stroking his head and jaw.

His eyes drooped when she carefully traced several scales along his jaw. Releasing a playful sniff, a pleased moan escaped him when she ran her fingers along his left nostril and up his snout to his brow. The pleasure turned to an uncomfortable rumble of unease when she ran her hand down along his neck to his shoulder. She would see his deformed wings. Turning his head, he studied her expression as she looked at them.

A low growl of warning escaped him when she started to reach out to touch them. Her hand froze and she turned to look at him. Licking her lips, she drew in a deep breath and continued to reach out.

She going to touch them,
his dragon groaned in despair.
She see them.

Yes,
Christoff whispered.
She sees them.

Deep down, he braced himself for her rejection while another part of him rejoiced that she hadn’t shunned him – yet. Excitement began to build when he felt her hands stroking his small wings. He tilted his head when she carefully lifted one.

“You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen in my life,” she whispered, shaking her head in astonishment. “Why you would be worried about whether I would accept you in this form is beyond me. You are incredible.”

Christoff swung his tail around, wrapping it around Edna and twisting so that he could run his tongue up her cheek. Her choked laughter filled his soul with wonder as she wrapped her arms around his head and pressed a kiss between his eyes. Unable to stop, he shifted back into his two legged form, catching her when she swayed.

“You are definitely mine,” he whispered in a dark, husky voice filled with emotion.

Later that evening, Christoff stepped out of the shower in the guest bedroom. He stared moodily at the large bed. The large, empty bed, he thought with regret.

“I’m not happy about it either,” he grumbled when his dragon snorted in disgust.

“Christoff, I thought you might like to wear… Oh, my,” Edna whispered, standing in the doorway staring at Christoff’s nearly naked body. A soft groan escaped her. “There ought to be a law against men your age looking this good.”

Christoff turned when he heard Edna. A slow, sexy grin curled his lips. He raised an eyebrow and his fingers moved to the towel wrapped around his waist. He wasn’t above playing dirty if it would keep him from having to spend one more day in his long life alone.

“Are those for me?” He asked innocently as he started to loosen the towel where it was tucked in against his flat stomach.

“Don’t… Don’t you dare!” Edna hissed in a slightly hoarse voice. “Christoff, you wouldn’t… Oh, damn, you would!”

Christoff let the towel he was wearing fall to the floor. He was so turned on, that the towel wouldn’t have covered his desire anyway. Besides, Edna might as well know the effect she was having on him.

“It is warm in here,” he replied, stepping closer to her. “The only thing that would keep me warmer was if I had you next to me.”

He saw Edna swallow, her gaze glued to his arousal. A wicked grin curved his lips when he felt his cock react to her appraisal and jerk upward. The low hiss that escaped her showed that she wasn’t immune to his body.

“You are very…,” she started to say, forcing her eyes up his body until they collided with his dark gold ones. “You did that on purpose.”

Christoff chuckled and stepped closer. “Yes, I have decided I’ve spent enough of my life alone. I do not wish to be alone ever again.” His voice softened and he grew serious as he reached up to touch her cheek. “A true mate is a gift from the Goddess, Edna. A warrior knows when he has found his.”

“How? How can you be sure?” She asked, staring up at him.

He ran his hand down her arm and lifted her wrist so she could see one of the gold bracelets wrapped around her wrists. He leaned down and pressed a kiss along the edge of it. His eyes darkened when he felt her pulse jump.

“All three parts of a Valdier warrior must accept a female for her to be his true mate. My symbiot has claimed you. It would not have given you these if it had not. My dragon claws at me to bite you. And, I… Since you fell into my arms early this morning, I have not been able to resist touching you. This is a gift, Edna, one that I will fight for.”

Edna’s eyes closed for a moment before she opened them. Pulling away, she turned and walked over to the dresser, setting the sweat pants that she had found down on the dresser. Turning back around, she stared at Christoff with a small smile.

“I’m not as slim and trim as I was in my youth. My breasts aren’t perky, my stomach isn’t flat, and my hips a bit wider than they used to be,” she said with a self-conscious laugh. “I haven’t been with a man in over five years, but if you don’t care that I’m not as young as I used to be, I’d love to have you next to me tonight – and every night after.”

Christoff released a deep sigh and nodded. He stepped forward and gripped the hand she held out to him. Together, they walked through the living room and back to her room. He forced down the wave of panic building inside him, wondering if he should tell her that he had never been with a female before.

NO!
His dragon snapped.
You leave this to me. I know what to do.

You haven’t been with another dragon before, so how are you supposed to know?
Christoff grumbled silently as Edna released his hand and pulled at the tie wrapped around her waist.

You be quiet!
His dragon insisted
. I no want to scare her off.

“Edna,” Christoff whispered in a hoarse voice as she shrugged her robe off and tossed it onto a nearby chair.

She turned to look at him. He could see the uncertainty in her face and knew she was thinking he was having second thoughts. He could never let her think it was her.

“I understand if you’ve changed your mind,” she said with a slightly embarrassed laugh.

“You said it had been five years since you had been with a man,” Christoff started to say, cupping her cheek so that he could force her to look at him.

“Yes,” she replied.

“I have never been with a female before,” he admitted in a gruff voice. “Will you teach me?”

*.*.*

For a moment, Edna didn’t think she had heard Christoff correctly. Tilting her head, she stared at him with a frown. Did he just say he had never been with a woman before? Surely, she must have heard him wrong.

“I beg your pardon? Did you just say you’ve never been with a woman before?” Edna asked in a slightly higher voice than she intended.

Even in the dim light cast by her bedside lamp, she could see his cheeks turn darker. She blinked several times, trying to understand what he’d really just said. She must have misunderstood him. There was no way he could be a – virgin, could he?

“Yes,” he admitted with a wince. “My dragon said I should not have told you that.”

A wild giggle escaped Edna and she had to cover her mouth to keep it in. She was a sixty- five year old woman standing in the middle of her bedroom talking to an alien male who was not only a virgin, but arguing with his dragon about whether or not he should have admitted it. To top it off, he wanted her to teach him how to make love. This was almost as bad as her honeymoon, only in reverse.

“I… I’m sorry,” she whispered as another nervous giggle escaped her. “It’s just… This is a first for me.”

Christoff scowled and folded his arms across his chest. “It is for me as well, which is why I told you,” he said, lifting his chin.

“Yes, of course,” Edna muttered, fanning herself and wondering if she was about to start having hot flashes again. “I… need a moment.”

She needed more than a moment, she needed a stiff drink. A virgin, hell, the only virgin she had ever known was her! Well, and Shelly. She hadn’t exactly handled that discussion very well either. Hanson had to come in and take over. If she remembered correctly, that discussion had involved a bottle of wine and a lot of embarrassed giggles.

“How long of a moment do you need?” Christoff asked curiously. “My dragon wants to know.”

A slightly hysterical laugh escaped Edna. “Is he… Is he going to be with us the entire time?” She asked, trying to keep a straight face.

“Of course,” Christoff replied. “He is a part of me and he will be part of our mating.”

“Great, a ménage,” she whispered. “The night is just full of first for all of us.”

Christoff gazed down at her in confusion. “That is a good thing?” He asked, tilting his head when she laughed again. “It is something you will enjoy, yes?”

Edna blew out a loud breath and smiled. “As you so eloquently said this is a night for firsts. I’m sure we’ll have a wonderful time together – all three of us. Spark isn’t going to be joining us, is he?” She asked faintly, lifting one hand to her throat.

Christoff frowned. “I can ask, if you would like,” he said.

“No! No, that is alright,” Edna whispered, shaking her head. “I think the bed will be crowded enough as it is.”

“So, what do we do first?” Christoff asked, dropping his arms to his side.

Edna’s eyes jerked up to his face. A light laugh escaped her at the excitement on it. She suddenly felt young and wild and free. Reaching down, she grabbed the bottom of her nightgown. She was going to have to invest in something a little sexier than her flannel shorty. Pulling it over her head, she tossed it to the side before stepping up to run her hand up Christoff’s broad chest.

“Now, we kiss,” she murmured, pressing him back until he sat down on the edge of the bed. “And just take it one touch at a time.”

Christoff wound his arms around Edna, pulling her down on top of him as he lay back against the pillows. His mouth opened and he hungrily devoured her kisses like a dying man taking his last breath. He didn’t know how he had come to be in this strange magical world. If he was dreaming, he hoped he never woke up. This was his next life. His body might not be whole and undamaged, but it didn’t matter anymore. All that mattered was that he had finally been given a true mate, his partner in life, after so many centuries.

His hands moved down to her hips and a soft moan escaped him as he pressed himself upward. He could feel the waves of dragon fire building inside him, desperate to get out. Breaking their kiss, he ran his lips down along her jaw.

“Oh!” Edna whispered when he nipped her.

“I want to touch you,” he murmured against her skin. “All of you.”

Edna leaned back far enough to look down at him. A tender smile curved her lips. He looked like a little boy at Christmas who didn’t know which present to open first.

“I think that is a wonderful idea,” she said with a slightly unsteady smile. “I wouldn’t mind exploring all of you, too.”

Christoff rolled so that they were lying side by side. He gazed into her eyes, trying to note what brought her the most pleasure as he ran his hands over her. His fingers trailed over her hip and across her stomach. He paused when he encountered a small patch of soft curls. Curious, he gently pushed her over onto her back and sat up.

“You are soft,” he observed, trailing his fingers down through the fine hair. “I like that.”

Edna gave a choked laugh and shook her head. “I’m glad. I’ve kept a bit of my figure with the help of Yoga, but it’s not what it was when I was younger,” she retorted in a teasing tone. “Are you sure you’ve never done this before?” She added with a shudder when he ran his finger along her sensitive nub.

“You like this. I can see your face flush and your heart is racing,” he replied with a grin.

“Let’s see how you handle me exploring you, my curious alien,” she retorted with a sly smile of her own deciding she could do a little playing, too.

Christoff’s eyes widened and he sucked in a deep breath when Edna suddenly sat up and wrapped her hand around his throbbing cock. The next moment, he was panting. She was running her hand up and down his cock, from the base of it to the head and back again in long slow, agonizing strokes.

“Edna,” he groaned.

“Lay down, Christoff,” she whispered, turning as he did so. “I think this first time should be about you.”

He shook his head. “It should be about us, Edna,” he said hoarsely. “You are my true mate. You will always come first.”

Edna chuckled. “Not this time, my alien virgin. This time, it is all about you,” she teased, lowering her head to kiss him.

Christoff leaned upward into her. Her lips teased his skin just as her hand stroked his cock. He released her hips to grip the covers when she began moving down his body. A light sweat broke out on his brow and he stared up at the ceiling, wondering when she was going to stop and hoping that she never did.

“Edna!” He choked out when he felt her warm, moist mouth cover the end of his cock. “Great Goddess above!”

His gaze remained frozen at the sight of Edna’s lips wrapped lovingly around his cock. He could feel the heat building inside him. His dragon was purring so loudly he was surprised that Edna couldn’t hear him!

His hips began to instinctively rock to the same rhythm of her head. The feel of her long braid against his inner thigh was like someone stroking the fire until it ignited with such a force he was left gasping for air. His body stiffened and he swore the mountain was trembling again as he came.

It took several minutes for him to realize that he was still alive. Forcing his stiff fingers to release the covers, he reached with shaking hands to caress Edna’s hair. A shudder ran through his length when she slid her lips from around his cock with a soft moan of pleasure.

She smiled up at him with her rosy lips. He leaned upward and wrapped his arms around her. Lying back, he raised his hand to cup her chin. He kept their eyes locked on each other as he leaned up to kiss her. He could taste his essence on her lips. The memory of what she had just done reignited the fire in his gut.

“Now, it is my turn,” he growled, rolling over until she was trapped under him. “I will do the same to you.”

“Christoff!” Edna gasped, stunned when he began moving down her body with an ease that belied his experience. “Are you sure you’ve never done this before?” She moaned, grasping his shoulders when he began sucking on her nipples. “Oh, yes! Oh, yes!”

Christoff decided right then and there he would always start by kissing her, one inch at a time. He turned his attention to her other nipple. It had grown hard and full as well. It made it easier for him to pinch them between his fingers.

He soon discovered that the more he played with them, the louder she cried out and wiggled. His cock was throbbing again and he wanted, needed to drive it into her. The thought shocked him.

Focusing on his first intention, he worked his way down over Edna’s stomach to the soft curls between her legs. She immediately arched upward and parted her legs further for him. The sweet scent of her arousal made his mouth water. He wondered if she tasted as good as she smelled.

“Sweet orange spice,” Edna cried out. “Oh, Christoff!”

Christoff had no idea what sweet orange spice was, but he did know that when he parted the soft skin protecting the nub he had found earlier that she definitely liked it. He parted the protective skin and ran his tongue over the nub, enjoying how it swelled at his touch.

Yes, you lick. I bite, we do good,
his dragon crowed in delight.
My mate! I get my mate.

Christoff tried to push his dragon back, but the damn thing was determined to have his way this time. He could feel the dragon fire building inside him until he thought he would explode as the pressure built to unbearable levels. Instinctively, he knew what it was and what he needed to do. He just wasn’t sure what would happen once he did it.

I bite, now, I bite,
his dragon growled.

Christoff felt the scales of his dragon rippling up his neck and over his shoulders. He fought for control, but his dragon wouldn’t have any part of it. They were both too far gone in their need for their mate. He felt his teeth extending and knew that tonight, he would have his mate.

Or we die,
his dragon moaned.

Die?! What do you mean we die?
Christoff choked out even as he felt his head turn and he sank his teeth into Edna’s thigh.

Her startle cry tore at him, even as he breathed the dragon fire into her bloodstream. He could feel it pumping into her. She started to fight against him before a loud moan escaped her and she began to writhe in his arms. Sliding his hands up under her thighs, he kept her open to him as he continued to breathe the fire of his dragon into her. Only when he felt the last of the fire pour into her did he run his tongue over the mark he had left. If the Goddess thought them worthy, a new dragon would be born tonight. One that would heal his fractured soul.

Christoff turned his tortured eyes to Edna. “You are mine, Edna. I claim you as my true mate. No others may have you. I will live to protect you. You are mine to love, to protect, forever,” he murmured, knowing he would say the words to her over and over before the night turned to dawn.

Bending forward, he clamped down on the swollen nub and sucked hard, at the same time inserting two fingers up into her slick vaginal channel. He could feel her pulsing around him. Her need was growing as the heat of the dragon’s fire swept through her.

He felt it when the first wave hit, sending a shattering orgasm through her that left her shaking and gasping for air. Rising up, he slid back up her body, touching and kissing each part as he went. His own body was hard and throbbing with need. Tonight, he would fill her with the essence of his dragon.

“I need you, Edna,” he groaned, holding his body over her.

Edna’s legs parted and she reached between them, guiding him into her. She stared up at him with wide, light green eyes filled with need. Her lips parted, but he could sense the next wave rising up. Bending, he captured her cry at the same time as he drove himself into her. The combination proved to be the catalyst needed to bring the wave to a crest and it burst around them, soaking them in a fire that would last the rest of the night.

*.*.*

Edna jerked awake, disoriented for a moment. Her body felt like it was on fire. This was nothing like the hot flashes she had gone through. They were a piece of cake. No, this was a full-fledged inferno.

Her body arched as another wave hit her. She could feel hot moisture pool between her legs. A soft moan escaped her and she rolled, coming up against a hot, solid body. Christoff! She didn’t know what he had done to her, but she felt like she would die if he didn’t take the edge off the heat. Sitting up, she slid her leg over him so she could straddle him. She lifted up, just high enough so that his hard cock could seat itself in her slick channel.

“Edna,” Christoff whispered, coming awake immediately. “The fire…”

“It burns, Christoff,” Edna moaned, bowing her head as she splayed her hands across his chest. “I need you to put it out.”

Christoff gripped her hips to hold her steady as he pressed upward at the same time as he drew her down on top of him. She could feel every exquisite inch of him as he impaled her. Never in her life had she wanted, needed someone the way she needed him. There was nothing human in their mating. It was all primitive need as she began riding him with an energy she hadn’t felt in years.

“Yes, my beautiful mate,” Christoff whispered, staring up at her in wonder. “Come for me. Tonight a new dragon will be born.”

Edna was vaguely aware of the pale green marks running up her arms. She thought they were a product of her imagination. After all, she didn’t have scales. Christoff had scales – beautiful ruby and silver scales that danced over his skin when they made love.

Her body shook and her heart stuttered for a moment as the fire increased. She could sense Christoff pulling her closer, but everything was blurred. Her heart was pounding too fast, too hard. In the back of her mind, she was afraid she might be having a heart attack. She was having trouble catching her breath.

“Christoff?” Edna whimpered as he tilted her head to the side.

“Accept me, Edna,” he whispered. “Accept our dragons.”

“Yes,” she moaned, crying out when he sank his teeth into her again, this time along her neck and started to breathe the flames to life again.

Fire seared her veins, and the transformation that had started hours ago burst outward, finishing the change to her blood, her organs, her very essence. Deep down, another spark suddenly burst into life. It flickered for a moment, almost going out, but the low, mournful cry of a male dragon pulled at it, fanning it until it flickered back to life.

My true mate,
his dragon breathed, watching as his mate was born.