Drawing a deep breath, Layla knew her moment of judgement had come. Either she stood up for the people she loved, taking a risk in their high-stakes game and putting her own life on the line, or she played it safe and watched everything she loved get torn down around her. She was willing to risk her own life for something she believed in.
But she wasn’t willing to risk the lives of people she loved.
“I’m in.” Layla spoke, certainty in her voice as she stared up into Dusk’s handsome face, her arms still clasped around his neck. “Where do we start?”
“We start by fucking you rotten while your Dragon is still lazy from the Ephilohim’s charm,” he breathed with a grin, though his sapphire eyes were serious. “And then we go to the Madame and tell her what we’re up to, and make all the arrangements for you to leave this afternoon.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Layla agreed.
Staring up at Dusk, watching his beautiful face, Layla suddenly realized there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t risk for him, or for Adrian. They were a part of her now – a part of her she couldn’t deny anymore. They had been woven into her spirit so fundamentally that there was no turning back. She would put her life on the line for both of them.
Anytime, anywhere.
Lowering down, Dusk kissed her, gently at first, then with heat. There was time for passion and they took it, kissing hot but slow, embracing and caressing each other in the bright winter morning. Dusk slid Layla’s silk robe open as they kissed, settling to his elbows atop her. Curling her into his arms as she slid her legs up around his hips, Layla stroked his sides with her fingertips as they sweetly devoured each other’s lips. They both cried out together as he entered her, their foreheads resting together. Layla found herself breathing in rhythm with him as he tightened his core, pressing inside her deep. He didn’t thrust or pull out, just stayed inside her, moving his body in fluid waves to gather her into him, deep and hard and slow.
They moved together, breathing together, making it last. Time stretched; the day seemed to expand around Layla in a halo of light as she watched Dusk while they made love for the second time in as many days. Because that’s what it was – lovemaking. She’d not had this chance with Adrian yet, but with Dusk it was incredible; sweet and deep, solidifying something between them that had long been aching.
Layla felt her heart expand as he thrust deeper, slower, more firmly, watching her with amazement. Waves of light passed through his Dragon-scales, brightening him in blissful pleasure as he curled his strong arms around her and held her close to his warm, hard body. Layla felt that light passing through her also, even though Dusk wasn’t plying her with his magics today – only the beautiful experience of making love to him, luminous in the winter day.
They rose to their climax at the same time; a deep, sudden quickening that took Layla’s breath as she cried out in his arms. Dusk called out with a deep shudder, waves of light and vibration passing through him. Layla came again on that tremendous power, her hands gripping his back and her legs clenching him close as she cried out into his shoulder. Dusk made a purring sound like a cat as he cradled her, thrumming wave after wave of pleasure through her as she gasped, crying out against him and coming a third time. He stroked her nape, holding her tight, letting her crumble in his arms even as he gasped with glory. And with one last thrust and spasm, they collapsed to the bed like cut marionettes – Dusk propped on his elbows, kissing Layla gently, over and over.
Layla didn’t ever want the moment to end. She held him close, still gripping him with her ankles around his butt and her hands on his sides in a way that was almost possessive, even though the rest of her had gone lax. Dusk tried to move, to slide out of her and Layla made a petulant mewl – straight from her Dragon.
He chuckled by her ear, kissing her neck. “I’m going to get a cramp if I stay locked inside you like this, Layla.”
“Too bad.” Layla spoke, her voice growly and breathy all at once. “You’re not going anywhere, pal.”
He chuckled again, brushing her curls back from her neck with his fingertips. “No, you’re the one going somewhere today. We both should get dressed.”
“Just a moment longer.” Layla was enjoying the sensation of him still inside her. It was a moment she didn’t often get to enjoy, and she was determined to make it last.
“Why, Layla Price.” He chuckled by her cheek, lifting his head so he could see her. His entire being was smiling, cheeky and wonderful, and as Layla watched, a ripple of light passed through his eyes and sex-messed hair. “I do believe you’re hot for me.”
“Yup.” Layla grinned, lifting up to kiss him again.
Dusk chuckled. But before Layla could lock him in more, he pushed up and off her with a bright laugh. With a cheeky glance back, he walked to the table nude, giving her a great view of his perfectly-sculpted back and ass, and the amazing lines of Dragon-scale and gold accenting that musculature. Dusk flaunted it for everything he was worth, taking up a piece of bacon and munching, turning half-back toward Layla so she could watch his lean, built muscles in the high winter light.
“You bastard.” Layla pushed up from the bed as she grinned, cinching her silk robe closed.
“What?” He grinned back, lifting one dark eyebrow as he ate.
“You know what.” Layla laughed, taking her coffee with her as she went to the table to get some breakfast at last. She couldn’t resist stroking her hand over Dusk’s perfect abdomen as she went, tracing the lines of serrated Dragon-scale that curled in over his hips. “We could be in the middle of armageddon and you’d still act like a cheeky dick, flaunting your sexiness.”
“Hey, there’s no better way to approach armageddon, really.” Dusk finally fetched his midnight-blue silk sleep pants from a chair, pulling them on. Layla was sad to see his beautiful nakedness disappear, though there was still plenty left to admire. Pulling out a chair, he started filling a plate with his usual brusqueness. And just like that, he transitioned from languid lover to moving fifty miles a minute. Filling a plate for Layla with swift precision, he refilled her coffee and added a generous amount of cream, then refilled his own.
Clinking coffee mugs, he spoke, his gaze level as it had ever been in Concierge Services. “Here’s to your first foray into the dangers of Dragon life, Layla Price.May the odds be ever in your favor.”
His reference to the Hunger Games made Layla laugh, even though it was serious. As she sipped her coffee and began to eat finally after forty-eight hours of hell and pleasure, she realized her life was going to be something like that from now on. The old her was gone, replaced by someone new. And though she was still technically the same person, she was now venturing into the unknown, even more than when she’d first arrived at the Red Letter Hotel Paris.
Yet something inside Layla smiled, vicious and ready. She would be known in this world; her Dragon would be known. And not for being a weakling, or an idiot, or arm candy that anyone could just throw around.
She wouldn’t be a ceramic dinner plate.
She’d be a priceless Ming vase – one with bite.
CHAPTER 12 – PARTNERS
Layla returned to her room on the third floor to pack. Though her fancy clothes had been moved to Reginald’s apartment when she’d moved in with him, most of her casual clothes were still back at her own place. It was strange returning to her rooms. Everything had a familiar yet stale feel as she moved through her space, gathering up jeans and sweaters and boots and stuffing them into a small black rolling bag that she could carry on a plane.
