But Reginald got no further as Layla swept to him. Practically jumping into his arms, her heart swelled at his astonished blink, and the way his sculpted arms suddenly closed around her. Her lips were on his without a thought, and Reginald made a sound in his throat as Layla kissed him – as if his entire body had been swept away by her sudden act. His golden eyelashes flickered as he kissed her deeply back, winding her into his arms, and Layla felt the beautiful susurrations of his oceans surge up around and through her as they kissed.
Breaking from her gently, Reginald breathed deep at Layla’s lips like he’d come completely undone. His eyes were flooded with grey and gold as he stared down at her with amazement, reaching up to brush a curl from her face.
“As ever,” he spoke quietly, love shining from his eyes, “you astound me, Layla Price. Here you are with your two primary lovers in your hands… and still, you kiss me like that.”
“You deserve it.” Layla breathed at his ultra-soft lips. “When will you finally realize it?”
“Not for a thousand more kisses, I’m sure…” Reginald breathed. And then he was kissing her again, slow and deep, putting all of his vast Courtier’s wiles into it this time. Layla melted in his arms, until it was only his strength holding her up from sinking into a puddle on the floor. He chuckled, dark and delighted as he pulled away, then put an arm around Layla and turned her back to the others, moving into their group.
“Reginald.” Adrian’s nod to the Royal Siren was stiff, no love lost between them. But even Layla could see the calm way Adrian and Reginald tolerated each other now since the battle at Deep Harbor. Adrian didn’t like it that Reginald was in the Bind and shared Layla’s bed, but he also couldn’t refute Reginald’s power flowing through them all now because of it. Extending a hand, Dusk was more civil, shaking Reginald’s hand solidly.
“Aldo!” Dusk exclaimed, his surprised face showing Layla he hadn’t planned this. “I thought your duties up at Deep Harbor and the Paris Hotel would keep you from coming.”
“You extended me an invite, did you not?” Reginald’s humor was scathing as his lips curled up in a devious smile. “In any case, someone has to see to standards being upheld here while a Dragon King visits, and I figured it might as well be me. You three miscreants would most likely slum it up on yoga mats and fuck in ratty hammocks without me to bring this place some class.”
“You twin-finned, elegant shit.” Dusk grinned, shaking his head as he set his hands to his hips. His eyes sparkled with pure pleasure at Reginald’s ferocious wit – a side of Reginald that was new to Layla also now that her Royal Siren was no longer obligated to become his clan’s next King. “What about Fury? Doesn’t he still need tending?”
“He does still need tending,” another voice flowed through the elegant lobby, silver like the moon to Reginald’s caustic gold, “and what better place to convalesce than the beautiful waters of Antigua?”
Turning, Layla saw a sight she never thought she’d see. Moving into the grand old lobby was her incredible Royal Silver Siren Fury Durant, his long silver hair bound loosely over one shoulder as he leaned heavily on Layla’s Royal Storm Dragon Rhennic Erdhelm. Dressed casually in a linen shirt and pants with the cuffs rolled up, Fury looked like the most gorgeously shipwrecked artist as he entered the hall, barefoot and still moving with fey grace though Rhennic provided a strong arm.
Dressed in dark blue jeans with leather sandals and a nice white Cuban shirt, Rhennic was robustly glorious in the most casual outfit Layla had ever seen him in. She suddenly felt hot seeing his immensely built blond Viking glory beside Fury’s perfect, fey grace. A scalding flush rolled all through her as they approached, Fury holding her gaze with something like apology in his silver-midnight eyes as he solemnly kissed her cheek. Rhennic gave her a pleased grin from his handsome face and bright lavender eyes as he leaned down to briefly kiss her lips.
“Layla. I hope we’re not too much of a surprise.” Rhennic spoke with a chuckle.
“A good one.” Layla breathed, reaching up to touch her Royal Storm Dragon’s short blond beard before he stood back to his full height.
But as she finished greeting Rhennic, Layla suddenly realized she was standing in the lobby with all five of her Royal Dragons. They’d never been all together like this, and suddenly Layla found herself flushed with nervousness and also desire – wondering how this vacation was going to go. Around her, her men shuffled as if experiencing their own sudden awkwardness. But like the thoughtful rogue he was, Dusk broke the tension with a beaming grin and a clap of his hands.
“Okay! Layla, Adrian, let’s go settle into our rooms. Rhennic, take Fury out to the pool bar while Reginald finishes berating the staff to make our amenities top-notch. We’ll all meet back down by the pool in twenty minutes for lunch and cocktails. Florian, can you make sure the margaritas, tacos, and rum punch are flowing like wine by the time we get there?”
Layla had completely forgotten the Antigua Hotel Head was still standing with them, when Florian raised his voice in a deep basso laugh. “My King, of course! Settle in, friends, and I will see to you personally tonight! Anything you need, we shall provide – until your nights are nothing but merriment and your days are nothing but ease!”
As Florian beckoned, the tension in the lobby lessened. Stepping to the Hotel Head, Dusk, Adrian, and Layla peeled away towards the rear of the grand building as Rhennic gave them a big smile. Fury was sober as he watched Layla go, not stepping from Rhennic’s side. But Reginald was the consummate Courtier as he swept Layla a deep nod, giving her a sexy smile of pleasure.
It was everything Layla needed as she moved away. And though she still had no idea if this vacation was going to be a shitshow or ridiculously pleasant with all her men here, she found she was suddenly looking forward to it. Even if there was drama, this was the kind of adventure she wanted on a Caribbean holiday.
She only hoped their bedrooms were fortified with magical barriers.
So anyone with cottages around theirs wouldn’t feel… you know.
CHAPTER 7 – TOGETHER
Layla, Dusk, and Adrian’s suites were all part of a single compound nestled up in the forest. A hundred feet up the mountains from the sea, the Parrot’s Nest of the Red Letter Hotel Antigua consisted of a collection of thatched treehouses cleverly hidden by flowering vines and foliage, though the balconies had a lovely view down to the bay. Coiling up stout tropical trees, their aerial domicile was accessed by a beautifully carved driftwood staircase. As everyone ascended and arrived upon a balcony facing the bay, Layla saw the entire lofted cluster of chalets was built like a beautiful bird’s nest, something like a Phoenix might have created.
The frame for the central platform and all the treehouses were wood, but the sloped roof-bowers were artfully woven from colorful parrot feathers, flowering vines, and thatch that seemed magically-preserved even in the human world. Moving inside, they entered an airy circular living room open to the breeze on three sides with flowing white drapes fluttering in the wind, three similar bedrooms sprouting off the central area. Tapestries of parrot feathers flowed over the vine-woven walls, long beautiful mobiles of feathers swaying above. The beds were soft and white with opulent memory foam beneath the pristine white sheets and duvets. All three rooms were in one cluster, joined by the central living space with comfortable chaises, and across the outdoor deck area Layla saw another cluster of a living area plus three more rooms.
Though Reginald, Rhennic, and Fury had apparently elected to stay in that set of rooms on the Twilight side of the Hotel.
As they settled in, Florian showed them a bathroom with an open-air shower possessing a lovely view of the ocean, plus all the fluffy towels, robes, and other amenities they might need. As he showed them around, a brisk troupe of staff bustled in, changing the bed linens to something pure white and silky like Layla had enjoyed up at Deep Harbor. When it was all finished to Florian’s satisfaction with orchids left on the pillows, he bowed his way out to get their lunch and poolside drinks started. Moving to Dusk as Adrian wound his arms around Layla from behind, she laced her hands around Dusk’s neck as he beamed at her.
“Will this do for a fancy vacation?” Dusk spoke cheekily, grinning at her.
“It’s perfect.” Layla smiled, lifting up and kissing him. It was perfect, and with a gentle laugh, Dusk unwound her hands from his neck. Kicking off his shoes, he unzipped his suitcase, taking out leather thong sandals, a cobalt blue speedo swimsuit, jeans, and a white v-neck shirt. As Adrian moved his and Layla’s bags to the adjacent bowers, Dusk shucked everything right in the living room, hauling on his speedo and jeans and zipping them up. Layla could only gawk at his sculpted, exquisite nakedness as he changed, even though he looked human with his glamour. But his vivid sapphire-blue eyes were all Dragon as he turned to her.
Giving her a ribald grin and lift of one straight dark eyebrow.
“Burn me up a little harder with your staring, Layla Price.” He chuckled sexily.
