My fingers dug into her hips at the slow torture. My muscles tensed at the pleasure of her seduction. A part of me feared what tomorrow would bring. I wanted this moment to last forever.
But the moment she came, her sex clamping and rippling around my dick, I was lost. Lost in the wonder of her passion. Lost in the love I couldn’t stop.
She stayed locked against me as we found our breath. Together, we lay down on the blanket, cuddling, speaking softly, not of Percy and the strangers, not her past or mine, we shared our dream. Hers being to have a house with land where Zaza could grow and run free. Mine, to wake up and greet the day without depression. A dream already coming true for me.
Nicky fell asleep in my blanket nest, and I ended up scooping her and taking her to the bedroom, laying her beside Zaza. No need for us both to be stiff in the morning. Not that I figured I’d end up with much sleep.
A nagging sense of danger filled my body and led to me moving from window to window, upstairs then back down. Constantly searching the shadows. Listening for movement.
I did catch a few Zs here and there, ten-minute naps that kept exhaustion at bay. When dawn crested, I remained alert and had coffee brewing when Nicky stumbled into the kitchen.
“And here I thought we’d wake up snuggled,” she muttered, giving me a stern look.
I couldn’t help but shrug. “I didn’t want my restlessness to keep you up.”
“I take it nothing happened.”
“Nope. But that doesn’t mean we should drop our guard.”
The next two hours passed quickly, with me daring a quick shower, Nicky taking a longer one while I minded Zaza, who babbled in my lap and pointed at the pictures in her book. Percy seemed off this morning, listless and lacking appetite. Another shedding was coming, and I wondered how much she’d expand this time around. It made no sense. Growth didn’t happen overnight in living creatures. But apparently that basic law of nature didn’t apply to dragons.
When it came time to leave, I took Percy out in a duffle bag lined in a blanket which I placed in the back seat, in case anyone was watching.
While Nicky kept up a stream of conversation, talking about the dishes the resort served, I paid only partial attention, my focus on the road. I tensed each time we passed a hidden driveway, wondering if we’d be ambushed.
We made it to town without being accosted. I dropped Zaza off at the church daycare. The toddler chortled as she ran off to play. When I parked by the employee entrance for Nicky’s job, she didn’t immediately exit the car.
“You sure you’re going to be okay?” she asked, face creased in concern.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re a tense mess,” she corrected before wincing. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be so blunt.”
“Don’t apologize for being right and never be afraid to call me out on my bullshit.” I offered a tender smile. “I don’t want you to ever hold back with me.”
She reached out to touch my cheek. “Be careful.”
“I’ll try.”
Nicky reached into the back to slide a hand in the duffel and stroke Percy. “I’ll see you later, my little dragoness.”
“I’d better. I’ll be hungry,” muttered Percy.
Nicky leaned over to give me a lingering kiss before heading into her work.
As for me, I went on the hunt for some weaponry.
To buy a gun in Italy you needed to be a resident and fill out a shit load of bureaucratic forms. I couldn’t afford to wait weeks. A good thing Italy, like pretty much every other country in the world, had a dark underbelly where anything could be bought for a price.
It took a few visits to seedy alleys and chats with some shady characters before I scored what I sought: a revolver and a rifle, both of which I paid too much for. I also bought several boxes of ammo as well as a scope.
A part of me hoped I wouldn’t have to use them, not just because I wanted to avoid any issues with local law enforcement. Getting rid of bodies would be a pain given the frozen ground. Since I couldn’t easily bury any corpses, I’d probably have to hike into the mountains and find a deep ravine to dump them in.
Morbid? I called it self-preservation. It should be noted, I didn’t plan to strike first, but if threatened, I also wouldn’t hesitate.
I’d driven by the hotel where I’d seen the orange car the day before several times. Not once did I spot the vehicle. Had the duo returned to my chalet? No way of knowing, hence why I picked up a doorbell camera while in town. I’d install it tonight.
Before I knew it, I had less than an hour before I had to grab Nicky from work. I made a quick stop at the grocery store, grabbing a fresh Italian loaf, more boxes of cookies, and a few cans of peaches, which Percy loved.
