Alexa's Dragon (Dragon mates Book 1) (9 page)

“I’ve never seen anything like this before not even on the nature channel. How do you keep it like this? You obviously use electricity.” She could see lights on in the hangar they used for the plane. “I assume you also have heat and running water. Wouldn’t that cause a problem for some of the plants and flowers.”

“Yes and no. If we did it like you do, then yes we would have a problem. Remember, we took in all the humans that were different from what mankind decided it wanted to be. We gained not only their talents but their intelligence also. We were able to do what you do but cleaner and more efficiently.

“So we shot ourselves in the foot by denying those that are different from us?”

He nodded and led her over to the car. “I wish I could fly you to my mountain, but unleashing my dragon wouldn’t be the smart thing to do right now.”

“I think you underestimate him. He won’t hurt me”

“I won’t take the chance.” He opened the door to his car for her to slide in.

“Thank you,” she murmured, feeling overwhelmed as she looked around.

He walked over and got into the car beside her.

“No driver for you?”

“No, although at times George’s mate likes to pull out the limo, shine it up and then pressure me to get in the back so she can drive me around.”

“Why is that?” She had a frown on her face making her nose pinch just a little and jutting her chin out. She watched him as he watched her.

“She believes at times we need a little bit of pomp and ceremony. Mostly, I think she likes to mess with my brothers who don’t have limos and never are driven around. They’re like an extended part of the family. If I had cousins, I’m sure it would be George and Tamia. Well, Tamia by marriage.”

“Hmm she likes to mess with you, or you like to mess with them?”

“Maybe a little bit of both”

She stared out the window, her mouth hanging open as she watched the people they passed by.

“Tell me about the people here.” She snuggled into her seat looking at him.

“Not sure where to start. Everyone here is a descendant from the different cultures you already know. There are several cultures here you will have no knowledge of because they were never acknowledged. The people here can be telepathic, some use magic, others move things with their minds and that’s the little stuff. Some work with numbers as easily as you talk. Some work with the elements, controlling them. They keep the earth calm so we don’t experience things like earth quakes. Still those are the little things. What the people here do is everyday life to us, but mysterious magic if we did it on the other side of our borders.”

She nodded her head. Anything different was considered magic, black or white. What happened when the person wielding the power was neither evil nor good but simply using a gift she was born with? Alexa wasn’t naive enough to think the world would accept such a person. Her white hair and electric blue eyes had caused her to be the brunt of more bad jokes than she wanted to think about. And it was just a physical feature. What would happen if someone who could control fire showed up on the scene?

She shuddered and looked out the window. They were driving by the river now. There was a woman standing on the banks with a small child, her son. She was scooping water out the river and flicking it at him while teaching him to do the same. It was a beautiful scene to watch them bonding, except the women never touched the water. She simply used her finger to bring it to her and flick it at him.

This was a world filled with magic and people she never knew existed, and now she was given a chance to be part of it. Her heart pounded faster. The little girl who only observed the world around her wanted a place to stretch her wings. The teenager who wanted to walk down a street and not be pointed at because she was so radically different and the woman who just wants the shelter of Syn’s arms around her. Each part of her needed a place where she could be free. Alexa wanted to get to know this place better.

They took a winding road that led up from the river deep into the mountain area. “Is the first mountain yours?” It was shrouded in a cloud of fog.

“It is my older brother’s.” Sadness touched his face. The loss of his brother was easy to read.

The mountain was barely visible, the little she could see seemed to radiate a feeling of joy towards her. Sunlight peeked through the mist making her feel slightly giddy. It was as if his brother was welcoming her home in the only way he could.

The car stopped.

“Syn, are you all right?”

“There is never sunlight on the mountain. When my brother froze, everything around him froze also. The plants, the animals, everything. No one goes there; they are all afraid they too will freeze. I’m the only person who goes there.”

“You go there?”

“He’s my brother, Alexa, even the light stopped shining on his mountain. Why would it shine now?”

“It’s your brother’s way of welcoming me to your home. Also he is letting me know that his dragon form may be frozen but he is very much alive.” She gave him a small smile. None of it made sense to her but it was a feeling she got deep in her gut and she couldn’t shake. She knew she was right.

Syn reached over and took her hand. His heart beat faster as the winds of change ruffled his hair. Alexa would be good for his land and his people.

He started the car and drove further into the mountains. They stopped at the second one he came to.

“This is my home.” He walked to her door opening it for her.

She stood and craned her neck, looking up towards the cloud-laden sky.

“Welcome home,” he whispered in her ear as his arms wrapped around her.

Home. She’d been looking for that place since she turned sixteen and suddenly felt like she didn’t belong anymore. It was hard not feeling at home in the place you were raised, but it was hell not feeling at home in your own skin.

This place made her feel good. Syn took her hand and walked her through the huge double doors. Walking in, she craned her head to the ceiling; it was impressive, twenty feet high at least with a mural of dragons in flight, some of them gliding lazily while others spewed hot flames from between their teeth. Those teeth, even from where she stood, looked laser sharp. One chomp and whatever was in their mouths would be destroyed.

“Alexa.” She jumped at the sound of Syn’s voice so close to her ear. “I want to show you to your room before I give you a tour of the house.”

“My room? We won’t umm be staying together?” She stumbled on her words aware that she wasn’t sure what needed to be done when she got here. Would he force her? No, seemed he was giving her time. A smile slid into place, one she couldn’t get rid of even if she tried.

“You’ll know where my room is located.” He gave her a smile that warmed his green eyes and made the blue in them pop.

Her hand went up to cover her heart as it fluttered in her chest. The more she was around him, the more she wanted to taste him. And not just his lips, although his kisses were sweeter than candy and more addicting than the drug of your choice. No, she yearned to get her lips on other parts of his anatomy.

She followed him to the corner of the large room. She wanted to go back and study the ceiling again, then get a good look at the living room. They reached an elevator with the doors wide open.

“I have seven levels, two below this one and four above.”

“Where do you sleep?” The inside of the elevator wasn’t very big. It could carry about four people comfortably, more if they pushed closer together. The walls were made of a slick white material with perfect veining.

“Is this marble?”

Nodding, he reached out to run his hands over the walls. His fingertips took the time to slowly run over the marble making her want to stand in front of it and receive his touch. She shook her head in confusion, she was jealous of a wall.

“Supplies are abundant here. So we use what we want to build. Remember, I’m a dragon. I hoard. Whether it’s in my secret stash or in my elevator, it’s part of my hoard.”

“Will I wake up one day and find myself locked away with your hoard?” She teased him giving him a flirty smile.

“Never.”

Her smile drooped for a minute. The desire to mean something to him sat like a rock in her chest.

“My most precious things never end up in my hoard. I keep them close, so I can watch them.”

“Close?” She stuttered as he pulled her into his arms.

He leaned down and took her ear between his teeth and tugged on it before placing a small bite there. A low keening noise came from her as she felt the warmth between her legs. She shook wanting to get closer to him.

He licked the shell of her ear and she clung to him. How could such simple little movements have her so off balance? Her mind clamored to keep it together while her body demanded she give in and let him satisfy her.

“I keep my most precious treasures in my bedroom or next to me all day long and when the evening comes I tuck them in bed right along with me. Right where I imagine seeing you, Alexa, night after night. Right by my side.”

She stopped breathing as she saw it too. Her lying next to him cuddled in sleep because he had thoroughly satisfied her. Blackness danced on the corner of her eyes as she held her breath and scenes of them together took over. His touch reminded her to breathe.

“Where are we?” They stepped out of the elevator into a small hallway. Eight steps from the elevator was another door. It was heavy. No one would be breaking through it.

“This is my floor and behind that door is my sanctuary.” He placed his hand against it and the door opened.

He took her hand and placed it on the door. He worked a few controls as well as drew a few shapes in the air. Then he nodded his satisfaction and took her hand away.

“Now your hand print will be able to open the door. If anything happens, you come here immediately. Understand?”

“Not really. What could happen and why would I come here?”

“Mutufa will be back. The safest room in my mountain is mine. Don’t argue, just come here.”

She nodded and he opened the door so she could get her first look. The room took up the whole interior of the mountain. She looked at him, her eyes filled with wonder.

“It had to be this big. In the end, I would shift to dragon unable to shift back and eventually I would freeze.”

She nodded with a lump in her throat. The thought of him freezing made her nervous. He wouldn’t be here to tease her or take care of her. That was bad enough but thinking of how she would visit him crushed her, and she would visit him like he visited his brother. She needed time. He didn’t have to freeze; it was all up to her now. Something she wasn’t ready to think of. Taking responsibility for another person when she felt barely able to take responsibility for herself.

The room was wide and deep. She walked to the middle to find a huge bed. “What is this, two king sized beds put together?”

“I had the bed made a long time ago and I get the mattresses specially made when I need new ones.”

“All right.” The balcony called to her. She went out and just smiled in awe as she saw the view, it was beautiful. “Do you change and fly from here?”

“I do. I love seeing my land like this. Lately it has been one of the few things that gives me not only pleasure but also peace.”

Walking back into the room, she saw two doors. The last one was a bathroom. It had a huge shower and a large jetted tub along with double sinks. From the look of the bathroom, it was recently updated. The other door led to a huge walk-in closet. There was more than enough room for every stitch of clothing she owned and much more.

“This is like your own private lair.” She ran her finger along one of the dressers that matched his huge bed. The carving and detail work in it was phenomenal.

“I’ve had centuries to work on it. Let me show you where you will be sleeping.”

She looked around once more with regret, and followed him to the door.

They ended up on the sixth floor. When they got off the elevator, there was no security door that needed to be by passed. There were three doors on the floor. He opened the one to the right and let her inside.

“This is where you will be staying.” It was about a third the size of his room making it a very large room.

“It beautiful. Your mountain is filled with a peaceful charm.”

“Thank you.” He crossed the room and placed her bag at the foot of the bed.

“Would you like to see the rest of my home or would you prefer to shower or bathe first.”

“Would that be ok?” She looked at him with a smile. Her body was still tired from all they had done and she wanted nothing more than to sink in a tub. She could only hope hers was jetted like his was.

“Take your time. I have to go talk with some friends, so it will be fine. If you can’t find what you need in here, feel free to look for it in my room.” He leaned over and kissed her, placing his hand on the small of her back to bring her closer. She leaned up into him letting her pebbled nipples rub against him.

“Keep doing that and I’ll think you want me.” His voice came out in a rasp that made her nerve endings beg for more.

He turned around on his long muscular legs and ate up the distance between her and the door. He gave her one last smile before leaving.

Forget the thinking part, she muttered to herself, I want you. She slipped out of her shoes and padded to the bathroom. A nice hot soak in the tub was what she needed.

The bathroom was nice but it wasn’t nice like the one she saw in his lair. She sighed, this would have to do. It had a separate shower with a tub that was jetted, but so much smaller. Was she suddenly a tub snob? She laughed at the thought.

“What are you doing?”

Alexa turned around with a jump at the sound of that voice.

“Mom!” She could almost see her mom standing before her. Her large eyes and dark hair that never seemed to gray swam in her mind.

“Baby, I thought you would never get here.

She choked back a sob thinking she heard her mother’s voice. Turning around she found a veiled figure. Although it was obviously female with a female voice she knew it wasn’t her mother. Memories of Mutufa trying to trick her came back to her mind.