Compelled (The Secrets of Dragons Book 1) (13 page)

The time for slow, leisurely movements was passed and he urged Eric to move. Eric did as requested, his cock brushing against Alex’s stomach as he crushed it with his body. Eric gasped and jerked, a shiver running through him as the warm feel of his fluid burst forth onto Alex’s stomach.

Alex pushed him downward, holding him tight as climax hit like a raging torrent that flowed hard with each beat of his heart. He growled, gritting his teeth as the glorious stream throbbed and then slowly ebbed to a finish.

Alex dropped onto his back, and felt Eric sag against his chest. “Oh, I really needed that.”

“Yeah, me, too. Let’s get some sleep. Hopefully Lou will wake up and want to be involved.”

Eric got up and got a cloth to wipe them both. Alex rolled to slide Lou over into the middle of the bed. Her breathing seemed horribly labored and he sat up, flicking on the light. Her skin was pale, her mouth hanging open. “What’s wrong?” asked Eric.

“I don’t know. She doesn’t look right.” Alex took her pulse; it was abnormally slow. “Holy shit.” Without giving it a second thought, he leapt from the bed and grabbed the twine of rope from the cabinet. He handed it to Eric who appeared terrified.

“What the hell is going on?”

“We had sex with Lou sleeping right beside us. I don’t have time to explain. I’m going to change, and you are going to tie her to my back. Do you hear me?”

“Yeah,” Eric replied in a panicked tone. This wasn’t Eric’s fault; Lou’s condition was both their faults, but he didn’t have the time to worry about Eric’s stress level. He lifted Lou from the bed, carrying her outside and then handed her to Eric. Within moments he had shifted and was waiting impatiently as Eric laid Lou on his back and then secured her to his body. The moment he had the final knot tied, Alex took off into the air. He flew at full speed, across the forest and into the cave, trying not to hit anything in his mad rush. He landed in the central area and for once it was empty. With a growl of frustrated anger, he shifted back, the ropes falling away from his smaller form as Lou slid from his body to the floor.

Alex ran toward Yassie’s cave and burst through the door without knocking. Yassie was up in a heartbeat, black scales covering his body. It lasted for only a second and then he began to change back. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, Alex?”

“Lou. Something’s wrong; I need your help.”

The anger faded from Yassie’s expression. “Where is she?”

“In the cave. I flew here as fast as I could.” They were walking swiftly together back toward the center. “Her pulse is really slow and she isn’t breathing right.”

“Did something happen to cause it? Is she having a reaction to something?”

“I think so. I kissed her and she almost instantly fell asleep. Then—how could we be so stupid? Eric and I made love with her sleeping next to us in the bed.”

They walked out into the cave. Eric was sitting on the floor with Lou’s head in his lap. He was stroking her hair with tears dripping down his cheeks. “This is my fault,” he said with a sob. “I did this to her with my lust.”

Alex really didn’t need this shit right now. He knelt down beside Eric. “You didn’t do it,
we
did it. We weren’t thinking about how it would affect her.” Alex turned to Yassie. “Can we do something?”

Yassie had her wrist in his fingers. “Her pulse is slow, but not erratic. That’s a good sign. The problem is the only way to help her is to begin the change. The moss will weaken her and also the effects of your scent. Of course once that’s done, there’s no turning back. Did she ever make a decision?”

“Yes, she wanted to do it. I wanted to give her more time to think, but—shit! Isn’t there a chance she’ll wake up and be fine?”

“A slim one. The other option is to have someone monitor her around the clock until she opens her eyes. It could take days to happen, if she doesn’t crash and die first.”

Alex was stunned, that was an unacceptable answer, but the option was to begin the process without Lou’s knowledge. She had already said yes, but he had wanted to wait and give her more time to think. “Do you think it would be safe to give her twelve hours or so to wake up? We could prepare the moss ahead of time and if she doesn’t, we can have it ready for her, can’t we?” Yassie was the expert on the changing, and he felt horribly helpless.

“I suppose we could do that. I think you should put her in with Luke. The man was smitten by her, and I don’t want to leave her out here in the public domain. I will go gather the moss for the serum and then we can see what happens as it brews.”

He swept Lou into his arms and stood. Eric immediately scrambled to his feet walking beside him as he hurried toward Luke’s set of caves. The man was smitten with her, huh? That was interesting. How had Lou reacted to Luke? Her smile had been friendly, or maybe inviting, he couldn’t quite be sure. “Eric, do you think Lou was interested in Luke?”

“Interested how? Sexually?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know. Why do you ask?”

“Because of what Yassie just said. You know that Luke is not mated, so if he’s part of Lou’s change, she will want to be with him afterward. She will be compelled just as I was.” The truth was he still wanted Luke, and every time he was around Luke he craved the man. Yassie had once explained to him that a mated dragon didn’t usually create scent markers unless they were looking for a second mate. For him to be around Luke was frustrating in a way he couldn’t really explain to Eric. It created an inner need for sex and emotional oneness that up until now he had not given into. He wouldn’t hurt Eric that way, but if Luke was involved with Lou, then both their cravings could be addressed. He just had to talk Eric into agreeing. “I’m also getting the impression that Lou needs protection and three dragons are better than two.” Eric’s skin tinted with lavender, scales forming on his face as he growled. The man did have a jealous streak that far outweighed his own temper. “Woah, Phylox, tone it down a bit; it was just a suggestion.”

“How can you even think of bringing another man into our lives? You just told me that you were happy with me alone.”

“I am happy with you. If you’re against it, I won’t suggest it. Luke is going to be one of the men who changes her, though, and they will already have a forever connection. I was thinking if she was interested, I’d be okay with it. I also don’t want Lou to suffer from a compelling urge to be with Luke when she can’t be. You know what it’s like.”

Eric glared angrily at him, his brown eyes tinted with purple. He adored Eric’s eyes when he was a dragon, they were an amazing color. He would talk Eric into it. Better to leave it be for the moment. “Can you knock for me? I kind of have my hands full.”

Eric banged on the door as if there was imperative need to open it. Luke pulled the wood open seconds later, wearing only his birthday suit. The man did have an impressive body. The obvious anger in his expression instantly turned to concern as he saw Lou. “What happened?”

“Long story, can we come in?”

Luke backed up and gestured them in. He shut the door behind them. “Do you want to put her on the sofa or the bed?”

“Which is more comfortable?”

“Probably the bed,” Luke replied as he walked through the cave and into another area with a door on it.

Luke’s bed was almost as impressive as theirs. Luke pulled back the rumpled sheets and Alex put her on the surface, drawing a blanket up over her body. She was unusually cool. Sitting down on the edge, he checked her pulse again. It wasn’t any better, but it also wasn’t any worse.

****

“So what happened to her?” asked Luke. She looked really bad and it was terrifying to think of her dying before he had a chance to get to know her better. There was something about Lou that intrigued him immensely.

“Eric and I happened,” Alex replied as he released a heartfelt sigh. “I’m sure you heard the initial conversation with Yassie about our scent.” Luke nodded. “I guess the reaction has become worse. I kissed her and it knocked her out. Then, without considering the consequences, Eric and I had sex with her in the room. You see the result.”

What an incredibly stupid thing for them to do. “She looks pale.”

“Her pulse is low, and we’re going to have to keep a careful eye on her to make sure it doesn’t get worse.”

Worse? What exactly was that? She already looked horrible. Luke sat at the bottom of the bed by Lou’s feet. He stroked her foot. It was wonderfully soft, but also abnormally chilled. “What if it does?”

“Yassie said the only option is to begin the change. He said it will make her ill, but also lessen the scent’s hold on her.”

“Did she want to become a dragon?”

“Yes. She agreed.”

“Then what’s the problem? If it will make her better than why risk harming her more? Just do it.” He could feel his skin crawling as anger called to his dragon. He needed to keep him contained. It would do no good to have an altercation with Alex. It had been a mistake, an extremely stupid one, but a mistake nonetheless.

“This is a hard choice to make. Lou spoke the words and I was overjoyed. I kissed her, and she dropped into sleep moments later. We didn’t even have a chance to discuss her decision. I’m hoping if we wait for a few hours she’ll wake up.”

He could understand Alex’s reluctance, but… “What if she never wakes up because you made a choice to wait? Is she the kind of wishy-washy woman who would say yes if she wasn’t sure?”

“No.”

“Then what’s the issue?” Alex seemed seriously wishy-washy himself. It was completely unlike the man he knew and respected. What was his problem? “Tell Yassie to change her ASAP.”

He heard the outer door shut and frowned. Alex scowled as he rose to his feet and walked to the doorway. “I don’t need this shit, Eric. What are you doing? Son of a bitch.” Alex looked back at him. “My issue is that I love her and I’m afraid she’s going to die. This is my fault, although Eric insists it’s his. I should have considered this before we made love. Now he’s having a hissy fit and it’s adding to my stress.”

“Then go get him. I know how to get someone’s pulse. Is Yassie making the serum?”

“Yes.”

“Then there isn’t anything we can do right now anyway.”

“I know. You’re right. We need to do this as soon as we can. Hell of a dom I’m turning out to be tonight.”

“It happens to the best of us. Go get Eric.”

Alex turned, but then stopped and looked back. “If you had a chance to be one with the three of us, would you take it?”

“In a heartbeat. She’s an impressive lady and I’ve always loved the two of you. I was one of your makers.”

“I haven’t forgotten.” Alex turned and walked out of sight. Had that been an invitation? Luke didn’t think so. It had only been a question. It was what he wanted now more than ever. He had always felt compelled to be with Alex since the night he had been part of his changing. It was why he had volunteered in the first place. He liked and respected Alex, but his hidden feelings were deeper than that. He also understood that Alex would never do anything to hurt Eric. For them to pursue the unspoken need to be with one another would cause problems, and he would never do that. It didn’t change the fact every time Alex was around, his dick was fighting a battle to get hard. His body craved Alex and now also Lou. She was something special, and he wanted to be a part of her changing.

Lou had also been an item for many nights of consideration on his part. To be connected to two dragons who could not be a part of his life would border on self-torture. He had to be out of his mind to even consider it, giving Eric’s reaction. Eric was his friend, but nothing more. The man was sexy as hell, and his demure attitude was kind of a turn on.

He gazed down at Lou again and sighed. “This is going to be an interesting night. Damn I wanna be with you. I know how to share with the best of them.”

****

Eric stopped, slamming himself back against the tunnel wall and sliding to the floor. He was being childish and needed to stop. He wasn’t doing Lou any good with his tantrum, and he certainly wasn’t supporting Alex.

He knew why Alex wanted to include Luke. The two had a connection since the night they were changed. Luke had been with Alex, but not him. He had chosen Patrick over Luke because he really liked the man. Now Patrick was gone. He had moved across the country with his mate and Eric missed him. It was not just cause to deny Alex a chance to be with Luke. He liked Luke also, but to have two doms in the same house might not turn out well. Of course, both he and Lou were subs, so it did equal out.

Alex strode up to him and slid down the wall to sit next to him. “What’s up, babe?”

“I’m acting like a little shit. I’m sorry.”

“You are, but I’d like to know why. Is it Lou or Luke or both?”

“Both. I feel bad for what we did to Lou. I shouldn’t have become angry with you for your suggestion. It’s selfish of me to throw a fit.”

Alex stroked back his hair. “It was also inconsiderate of me to ask right now. I know you’re feeling insecure. I would never choose Luke over you. I love you, Eric. You are, and always will be, the number one man in my life. I was just asking because I figured that Lou could use the extra protection and because Luke likes her.”

Alex was telling him a half-truth trying to protect his feelings. He knew the meaning of compelled. Patrick had been single when Eric was changed. Patrick was gone, but not seeing him didn’t obliterate the overwhelming urges he used to feel in Patrick’s presence. “I know. I also know you like Luke and have a connection to him that I will never have.”