Sarn's lair was different. Not as comfortable as Bastian's, barren actually. Calista, his bride, welcomed me with a soft melodic voice. She was much older than I was, her hair long and grey, her face wrinkled but the beauty she once held was still evident. It was surreal meeting a claiming bride whom I'd studied in school. The other, Megan, belonging to Tahr. She was middle aged, with graceful beauty and still full of life. The dragons seemed relaxed, friendly, and curious of me until Laryn arrived. I received a sharp jerk to my hand, which brought me closer to Bastian's side within seconds of the devastatingly handsome man's approach. With gentler and more subtle moves, Sarn and Tahr brought their women nearer too.
Laryn nodded his head in greeting. "Tahr, Calista, Sarn, Megan." He looked at Bastian, but then his eyes wandered to me.
Internally, I winced. Not from the leer he half-heartedly gave me, but from the pain I saw deep within his dark eyes. They had a blue spark; whereas, Bastian's was red. I wondered if this defined the color of the true dragon once they shifted. I tucked my question away to ask Bastian after we returned home.
"Will you introduce me to your bride, Bastian?" Laryn's low voice ran over my skin, and I shivered. How could he cause that reaction in me? The perplexity he triggered made me feel uncomfortable.
With little more than a tight snap of his lips, Bastian did the honors. "Acasia Laryn, Laryn Acasia. Do you insist on ogling my bride and starting a war or do you wish to play cards?"
Laryn's teeth flashed in what I hoped was a smile. "Cards, by all means. I plan to take your second-most precious treasure this night."
Bastian stomped to the card table, pulling my hand, causing me to trip behind him. When I righted myself, I looked up. Laryn winked at me and I gave him a small smile. Bastian growled.
The women sat slightly back from their men, able to watch and within reach. The game soon started and I carefully followed the play. I wasn't familiar with their game, but quickly caught on. Mathematics was my specialty and I was soon counting cards. Bastian held my hand against his thigh. He started to discard the wrong card and I squeezed the tight muscle. He looked at me and I moved my head slowly in a barely perceptible motion back and forth. He chose another card from his hand and laid it on the table. He won the hand after the others made their play. After that, he followed every tip I gave him.
Human servants brought food and wine, keeping us comfortable. The night went on and I wasn't bored, because I was too busy following the play.
"Damn, Bastian, your bride has given you the luck of the gods," Tahr said with clear disgust, throwing his cards on the table.
A laugh barked from Bastian's throat. "Only half the night is gone. Are you giving up?"
"I will play until I have nothing left to bid, you demon spawn."
They all laughed. I saw Calista's head nodding to the side, tiredness claiming her. I was sure it was due to age. Sarn did the last thing I expected. He picked her up and placed her in his lap, tucking her against his chest.
He loved her. She was old and frail, hers no longer a youthful beauty, but Sarn's feelings were obvious. It was also heartbreaking. She would live maybe ten more years. For the first time, I sympathized with the dragons and hated the curse even more. Before, I'd always pitied the plight of the women. My plight. Now I saw the devastation to all. This was Bastian and me in forty years. At least it would be if he truly loved me and I knew he did. All my annoyance with Bastian left. It would be better if he didn't love me.
My dragon won the night. His mood lightened and he teased his friends. "Same time next month? I'm sure all of you can scrounge up more gold."
"Go home, Bastian, before I challenge you," Sarn said; I could see he wasn't serious.
"I will fly with you, Bastian," Tahr said.
I saw a look pass between Bastian and Tahr. Laryn grumpily looked back and forth at his friends, but didn't say anything. I said goodbye to the women as we stood on the ledge before taking off. Sarn held Calista tightly as she waved.
Laryn was blue, as I thought, and Tahr silver. Laryn stayed with us for part of the trip before veering off. I heard a great roar in the distance a while later. Filled with grief, I knew it was the blue dragon. A short time later, Tahr flew away.
"How did you know what cards to play?" Bastian startled me from my thoughts of Laryn and his lost love.
"I counted them. I wanted to be a great mathematician after graduating from college."
"I didn't know. Does that make you better at chess also?"
He couldn't see my smile. "Yes."
"Will you teach me your game, checkers?"
My stubborn dragon was giving in. "I've been waiting for you to ask."
"Humph."
I laughed delightedly.
The next two weeks were mostly calm. Bastian and I played chess and checkers, went for rides through the countryside, and did naughty things. He caught me looking through an illustrated book of sex positions, which embarrassed me horribly.
I didn't hear him come up behind me, too engrossed in the erotic pictures.
"What have we here?"
I slammed the book shut and jerked around. He was naked, and my mouth was even with the long length of his cock. I gulped and said, "Nothing."
He turned me so I faced the book again, moved closer so his erection pressed against my back, and read the title aloud. "'100 Kama Sutra Sex Positions.'"
I squirmed.
His arms reached over me and he opened the book to a random page in the middle. The couple sat on a chair, the woman facing away, her legs spread, hands on his knees, and him holding her breasts. I gulped.
"You have too many clothes on for us to try this one," he whispered in my ear.
"What makes you think I want to?" My breathy words gave me away.
"I scented your arousal from the other room. We dragons have a good sense of smell, especially when it calls from our woman."
I tipped my head back, looking up into his burning gaze. "Show me."
He stripped me naked in less than a minute before moving us to another chair. He sat down, his cock tall and proud. "Turn around."
I did. He clasped my waist and lifted me so I went to my tiptoes then slowly pulled me back so I sheathed his cock. His entry was slippery because I had gotten aroused looking through the pictures. I rested my hands on his knees and he cupped my breasts in his large hands. Movement was awkward at first, but I figured it out quickly. I loved his hot breath against my back. He licked my flesh and ran his scruffy chin across my skin.
How I loved him.
I rocked up and down using my legs. He pinched my nipples, and my moans filled the room. He bit the skin where my shoulder and neck joined, and my moans turned to cries of completion. We didn't glow. He waited until my breathing slowed, lifted me, cradling me against his chest, and walked back to the book.
"I want to try another," he said as he flipped through the pages.
My delighted laugh sounded throughout the room. Several positions later, red light exploded from our bodies. When we finally lay exhausted on the floor, I couldn't help but wonder what happened when two dragons mated.