Chapter 12

Waiting for her birthday was interminable. She had two more days to find out what Argenis had collected for her.

Trying to entertain herself, she enjoyed playing her new favorite game—guess what's in that sooty container.

She knew Argenis had used his fire inside to harden a large vat, making it possible for the community to boil water to make it safe. The grateful man had given him the package. Ciel had some hint that her gift hadn't been there by accident. Argenis had gone to get it and then helped.

By combusting his body and the gift after leaving the area of illness, Argenis eliminated all the germs he might have encountered. And given her a show that she had replayed in her memory many times already. Watching him stride toward her—all hard muscles and manliness. Mmmm!

She'd decided to look around. If she happened to find the container, it wouldn't be her fault he was a bad hider.

Wandering through his immense home, Ciel couldn't believe that she still got lost as she explored. How crazy was that? Thank goodness there was a central hallway that ran from the front to the back.

Today, she chose to start in the library. Argenis often worked in the gorgeous room. Since he was out surveying the land around Wyvern, she had free rein to check it out without worrying about bothering him. A huge tome that appeared to be the twin of the one passed down to her lay open on a elegant walnut and metal bookstand. She ran her fingers down the hand-inked designs. They certainly didn't create books like that anymore.

Walking along the bookcases that lined the room, she spotted famous authors and works she'd only heard of but never read. Many who had been gone for years. There was not a speck of dust on the shelves, and each book was in pristine condition. Selecting one, she peeked at the inside cover just to see if anyone had ever opened it. She froze seeing the signature of the author and her mate's name. Carefully, she set that back into place, knowing the value of that one volume had to be significant.

On the last bookshelf, there was a beautifully carved heart ornament. Ciel picked it up and panicked when she heard the faint grinding of gears. Crap! What had she done? Quickly, she replaced the wooden heart, and the noise stopped.

Staring at that decoration, she battled with herself, trying to squash the temptation to touch it again. Ciel looked over her shoulder and listened intently for anyone in the area. The house was quiet.

Cautiously, she reached for the wooden object again. This time, she pulled it against her chest and held it. Again, that distinctive sound happened. Where was it coming from? She pressed her ear to the wooden frame of the bookcase and listened.

Yes! It was coming from there.

She stepped back to scan the books displayed in front of her and gasped. One section was partially ajar—pushed out into the room. Ciel raised the box to set it back on the shelf and saw the opening narrow. It was linked somehow to the object in her hand.

Ciel stepped to the couch and set the box on the end table next to a gorgeous Tiffany lamp as she eyed the door. It reopened again. Obviously, this wasn't a passage meant for random people to explore. She wasn't just anyone, though, right?

Gathering her courage, Ciel walked to the opening and pulled it to create a large enough space she could squeeze through. Without allowing herself to chicken out, she stepped into the hidden passage and immediately let out a short shriek as she batted the cobwebs from her hair. Obviously, the housekeepers didn't come this way.

She squared her shoulders and forged on, batting the wispy threads out of her way as she walked down a metal spiral staircase. It was musty and dim. The perfect setting for a horror movie. Now why did I think of that? Ciel tried to shake that thought out of her mind with very limited success.

Spooked, she forced herself to keep going. Argenis would never have anything dangerous in his house. She'd be fine.

A scream burst from her lips when she turned a corner and came face to face with a bear—its mouth gaping open with white teeth trying to bite her. Ciel ran up several steps before realizing she didn't hear anything behind her. Breathing hard, she paused and held her breath to listen. Nothing.

Quietly, she snuck down the steps. The bear hadn't moved. She waved a hand to see if he could see her. There was no reaction from the creature. Ciel poked at the bear and felt real fur. Stuffed. Who put a huge attacking bear in the stairwell of his secret passage?

Argenis, of course.

"I hope he ate you," she scolded the bear and jumped when her voice echoed. Prepared for anything now, she carefully snuck past the bear. It was dead, but she wasn't taking any chances.

Her next find was a faded photo of a beautiful woman. She held a locket around her neck that was shaped like a heart. Suspecting this was one of Argenis's former mates, Ciel wanted to hate her, but the woman looked so happy. Ciel couldn't keep from feeling glad that Argenis had enjoyed this woman's company and love.

Feeling less scared and more intrigued, she continued. The stairs ended in a vast room. Ciel figured this must be the basement under the mansion. Here and there were scattered boxes and old pieces of furniture draped by dust cloths.

There was one couch without fabric covering it. Ciel walked toward it and discovered displayed in front of the seating area were beautifully ornate picture frames with a combination of portraits and photos. The woman from the stairs appeared again alongside two other women and one handsome man.

Moving closer to the latter, Ciel was eager to see what Argenis had looked like years ago. She inhaled sharply at the sight of deep red hair, a mustache, and dark brown eyes that seemed to see into her soul. That was not Argenis. Scanning the portrait of the well-muscled man, Ciel noted something special.

Her gaze darted from one framed picture to the next. Every person wore the same type of necklace. Each different. But all consisted of a heart-shaped locket.

"You have been busy, mate."

Ciel whirled to see Argenis standing behind her. "I'm sorry. I should have asked before coming down here."

He nodded to agree with her but remained silent, giving her courage. Maybe she wasn't in trouble.

"Who are they?" she asked.

"This is my place to remember my mates. I come here every once in a while to think of them and treasure the time we had together. Not because I'm unhappy with my life in the present, but because they were so important to me, I don't want to forget their impact on my life."

"One's a man…"

"Love doesn't know a gender, Ciel. Neither does a mate bond. I don't know who was more surprised, Edward or myself. Does it bother you that one of my mates was male?" Argenis asked, studying her face.

Ciel shook her head. "No. It's… It's actually quite hot."

Argenis laughed and nodded.

"Was it a huge scandal?"

"More than being mated to a dragon alone? I don't believe so. As you can tell, Edward was as strong as a mule. He was sometimes as stubborn as one. The town's citizens didn't argue with him."

"Tell me about her. I saw her on the stairs," Ciel requested.

"Come sit with me, Little Sky. I'll tell you about everyone if you are interested," he invited as he sat on the couch. When Ciel approached eagerly, he lifted her onto his lap, turning her so she could see his face as well as the portraits.

"Her name is Marianne. She was my third mate, the daughter of the town's storekeeper. She was quick-witted and eager to experience life."

"That portrait is of Helena, my first mate. As soon as the pact was signed in blood, we bonded. I handed the quill back to her, and the mark appeared when our hands touched. She was forty. Unwed. The town's healer who had urged the town's folk to consider the pact."

"Forty was old then, wasn't it?"

"Ancient," he agreed. "Her mind was an amazing storehouse of facts about nature and healing. Her book sits on my shelf."

"Is that Everly?"

"Yes. She's been gone for almost twenty years now."

"Do you miss her?" Ciel had to ask.

"I miss all of them, but I am not so foolish as to lose my focus on the one I am lucky enough to have in my life now. They were all special. You are the mate I lavish my love on now."

"Do you love me?" she asked.

"With all my heart." Argenis pulled her toward him and kissed her lips softly, before adding, "I have a present for you in the library. I was waiting for your birthday, but I think this would be a good time for you to have it. Do you have any more questions for me before we leave this spot?

"No. Thank you for telling me about them."

"Of course."

"Will you put me on your wall?" she asked.

"I have found an artist to paint your picture. He will be here next week."

"That's fun," she said, instantly intrigued by the idea.

"I have a feeling you will find it very tedious to sit still for hours," he commented with a smile.

"Hours? That doesn't sound fun," she said, changing her mind.

"It will be worth it when it's finished. How many people do you know who have their portraits painted?" he pointed out.

"Zero."

"It's always a good idea to remember sitting on a hot bottom would be even more difficult."

"You'd spank me if I fidget?" she asked, aghast.

"Oh, yes."

Studying his face, she knew he was telling the truth. "Did you spank them?" she asked, waving a hand toward the wall.

"Yes."

"Even Edward?"

"Frequently. He frequently put himself in danger's way."

Ciel looked at him and nodded. "I could see that happen—the danger, not the spanking."

Argenis boosted Ciel to her feet and took her hand. She pulled back when he led her away from the stairs. "Isn't it this way?" she asked.

"Only if you want to battle the spiders."

She ran a hand over her hair at the thought of having picked up a creepy crawler from the webs. "There's a different way?"

"Yes, Little sky. Come with me. This mansion is old and holds many secrets," he told her as they walked away from the spiral staircase. It also has been updated."

She stared at an elevator standing with its doors open. "Does that work?"

"By dragon power, yes."

He ushered her inside and placed her in the far corner. One section of the elevator's wall was missing. Ciel could see the cables running up and down. As she watched, Argenis heaved on one and they rose three feet. Again and again, he tugged on the lines. When they came to the next floor, he tied off the cables and pushed open the door.

"I couldn't do that myself," she said, mind boggled by his strength.

"This is very definitely a ‘do not do this at home' moment. Come on, your gift is in my desk."

She looked at what had seemed to be a supply closet in the hall and shook her head before allowing him to lead her back to his office. Standing by his desk, Ciel watched him sit in the big leather chair to pull something out from under his desk.

It was the charred box she'd seen before when he'd torched all his clothing away. She hadn't focused much on it with all that delicious scenery. Ciel wrinkled her nose at the sight of the tarnished box.

Argenis opened the latched and drew the top back on a hinge. Inside, it was gorgeous. Ciel leaned forward to peer closer. Lined in purple plush, it looked like the most extravagant jewelry box ever. She saw one gleaming item inside.

"Here, it is." He lifted a delicate necklace off the velvet. "I started this tradition several hundred years ago. I would love for you to wear this, my mate." He stood before holding it out for her to see.

Ciel traced the delicate chain. Intrigued, she looked closer. "Are the links, dragons?"

"Silver dragons."

"That is gorgeous, Daddy."

"Would you like to wear it, Little Sky? Once it is on, you will never take it off," he warned.

"Never? What if I'm going swimming or wearing a gold dress?"

"The metal is waterproof. And you will never wear a gold dress." The last was in a tone that brooked no argument.

"I like gold. I have a bunch of gold earrings and a killer pair of stilettos," she told him.

"We will find another home for your treasures."

"What?"

"Back to the necklace," he suggested.

"Oh, I'm sorry. It's beautiful. Does the locket mean something?" she thought she should double check.

"That you are the beloved mate of the silver dragon and under my protection."

Her eyes filled with tears as her emotions overwhelmed her. "That's so sweet. And I was worried about clashing with my clothes."

"Would you like to wear this, Ciel," he repeated patiently.

"Yes," she answered, smiling.

He placed the beautiful jewelry around her neck and fiddled with the front before smoothing it on her collarbones. "Perfect."

"They all had them," she said, running her fingers over the cool metal that warmed quickly against her skin.

"Yes."

Argenis pulled her close and pressed his lips against hers in a gentle kiss that quickly ignited. She squirmed closer to him, enjoying the feel of his body against hers. He cupped her bottom and aligned her pelvis with his, skyrocketing her arousal.

"How do I respond so strongly to you?" she wondered.

"You are my mate. My body calls to you and yours to mine." He rubbed her soft mound against his rapidly hardening shaft.

She linked her arms around his neck and asked, "Make love to me, mate?"

"What do you think I'm doing?" he asked with a grin before tracing a finger down the side of her neck to the locket. She shivered and wiggled away.

"Are you okay, Little one?"

"I keep thinking about those spider webs. Do you think I have any spiders on me?"

"We should definitely check."

His hands lifted her T-shirt over her head. Ciel clasped her hands over her breasts as she looked at the open door.

"Do not hide from me, Ciel," Argenis reprimanded her sternly as he unfastened her jean shorts.

"Argenis! Anyone could walk by."

"Daddy."

"Okay, Daddy, anyone could walk by," she said, exasperated. She wiggled her hips, trying to stop him as he pulled down her shorts and panties.

"My staff is well trained. They will not intrude. There is a spider here. On your sock."

"What? Get it off!" she begged. Her hands dropped from her breast to whisk over her arms. If there was one, there's more.

"It's only a little one, Ciel. I'll take care of this."

In a short time, she stood nude in front of him. He looked over her body carefully before having her turn to show him her back.

Looking over her shoulder, she asked, "Do you see any more?"

"Not yet, Ciel. I need to check one more place. Arms behind your back. Now, lean over my desk," he requested.

Willing to do anything to make sure she didn't have spiders on her, Ciel moved to loom over the papers on his desk. She gasped in surprise when he lifted her to adjust her position. Reaching down with her toes, she discovered she could barely graze her big toe on the carpet. She tried to scoot back, but he wrapped one hand around her hands still clasped behind her back. He held her securely in place as he sat down in his chair.

"Spread your legs."

"I don't have any spiders there," she protested.

"I haven't checked."

She quickly moved her thighs apart. He inserted his knees between hers and pushed them further apart.

"Beautiful." He stroked his hand over the curve of her bottom. He rubbed his thumb on that sensitive spot where her bottom met her thighs. "Good news. No more spiders. Yet."

"I don't even want to think about that," she said, hearing a drawer open.

"I'll need both hands, Little Sky."

She felt something cold hook around her wrists, securing her overlapped hands together in that same location behind her back. Immediately, she tried to pull her arms loose since he wasn't holding her. "Let me go, Argenis."

"Daddy. I haven't finished my search. I think you need a reminder to call me Daddy, Little one."

Looking over her shoulder, she watched him pull a tub of lubricant out of his desk and a small object that made her meet his gaze in shock. "You can't put that in my bottom."

"Of course I can. You need stretching anyway so you don't tear. A plug in your bottom will remind you to call me Daddy. After you wear it a few times, you'll remember," he explained as he spread her bottom to look at the small entrance between them.

She tried to turn over, but he easily held her in place. "I have bigger plugs if you're naughty."

Ciel flattened herself against the desk.

"Good girl."

Argenis twisted off the seal of the lubricant and opened the jar. When she saw his finger emerge from the jar with a big dollop of a thick substance, Ciel pressed her forehead against the cool wood. She bit her lip as he dabbed the cool mixture on her tight ring of muscles before pressing that digit deep inside her.

She didn't know what to do. It felt awful, amazing, hot, and embarrassing all at the same time. Closing her eyes, she tried to think of something else. A moan fell from her mouth as he applied the slippery mixture inside. Each movement seemed to fire up a million nerve endings. Please don't let him notice I'm wet.

"Eventually, Daddy will put his cock in your bottom, Little Sky. Are you brave enough to take me?"

"Not today!" she wailed.

"Okay. Soon," he promised, and she knew she'd just agreed.

She needed to stop talking. It was hard to think with his finger inside her bottom. When he finally drew it slowly out, she flattened to the desk. A few seconds later, the feel of something cold against that puckered entrance made her inhale sharply and contract her bottom with all her forces.

"None of that, Little Sky. Relax your bottom. A plug is going into your bottom. The longer you delay, the more likely someone will come to find me."

She looked desperately at the door. Still open. "Could you close the door, Daddy."

"Relax and I will close the door on my way out to wash my hands."

Nodding quickly, Ciel tried to relax.

"Take a deep breath and blow it out slowly. One, two, three, four, five. That's a very good girl," he praised her as he seated the plug against that small ring of muscles. He patted her bottom as he slid a drawer out of his desk. "You stay right there, and I'll be back."

She watched him close the door as he left. As time ticked by, the thought of getting up popped into her mind. Ciel tugged her hands. There was no way she could unfasten those or get dressed without her hands. She tried to pull her thighs together to be less on display and discovered there was something keeping her from doing that. He's pulled the center drawer out.

He knows me too well.

Hearing the murmur of voices out in the hall, Ciel could tell someone had caught Argenis before he could return. "I'll need an hour first and then I can definitely take over at the east barricade." There was a mumble for a response, and then she heard the door reopen.

"There's my beautiful girl," he said as he returned to her side. Once retaking his seat, he pushed the drawer back inside.

"That was mean."

"Oh? You tried to move?" he asked with a deceptive lightness that she knew better than to fall for.

"No. It scratched the inside of my thigh."

"Oh, no. I'll treat that so it doesn't become infected," he assured her as he stood.

Before she could let out an eep, he had turned her over to lie on her back. Her arms ached instantly underneath her, but that was not distressing as the device in her bottom. Instinctively, she tried to pull her legs together as the plug shifted to remind her it was there. His hands pressed her knees back into position. "Sorry."

"You are forgiven. Now, let's look at this scratch."

He searched diligently over her inner thighs. His fingers skating dangerously close to the area, she suddenly wanted him to touch more than anything. "I'm not finding anything."

"Maybe it just felt like a scratch."

"Perhaps." His fingers brushed through her trimmed pubic hair. When her hips bucked upward, he pressed her pelvis back down.

Ciel moaned as the exterior flange of the plug hit the wooden desk.

"You do need Daddy's attention. Let me kiss it and make it better."

Expecting him to kiss the alleged scratch on her inner thigh, she moaned as his mouth pressed a kiss to her pussy. She closed her eyes at the feel of his tongue tasting her arousal juices. His hum of approval sent vibrations through her.

Without lifting his mouth from her pussy, Argenis lifted one of her legs to set her foot on the edge of the desk before repeating his action for the other. Splayed out before him, her mate settled himself between her thighs to nibble and taste. He seemed to know just where she needed him to touch and played her body like a finely-tuned instrument. When he pulled her clit into his mouth as he sucked lightly on it, Argenis pressed two fingers into her.

A keening scream filled the room. It took a fraction of a second for Ciel to process that she was the source of the sound. Embarrassed, she bit her lip to cut off the noise.

"Daddy wants to hear all your noises, Little Sky," he reprimanded her.

"I don't do anything right," she accused, overwhelmed by all the sensations buffeting her.

"That is not true. Just the sight of you tempts me, Ciel." He pulled his fingers from her pussy and licked them clean.

"I could taste you on my fingers every day for the next one hundred years and want more. Soon you'll realize that I will demand everything from you." He tapped the outer guard of the plug to jostle it in her bottom. "As I take you in every way possible to bring us both pleasure."

Her body gushed at that thought. She met his eyes as he stood once again between her legs. He walked around the desk and pulled her body across the surface of the wood until her head dangled fully over the edge. She could only focus on his hands as he unfastened his belt and pushed his trousers and boxers down his legs. His massive cock was directly in her line of vision.

She watched him drag his hand from root to tip. Licking her lips without thinking, Ciel did it again when she heard him groan. He stepped forward to rub the velvety soft head across her lips. Wishing a taste, she darted her tongue out to taste him.

"Good girl. Open your mouth."

Immediately, she parted her lips, inviting him inside. He pressed slowly into the heat of her mouth, challenging her ability to take him completely without hesitation. He believed in her. She did her best and felt him glide out just as she knew she couldn't take any more.

"Your mouth feels amazing around my cock. A little deeper this time. Swallow," he coached her as he pushed into her throat and then groaned as she followed his instructions.

"So good. That deserves a reward, right? I think it should start right about now."

As on cue, a buzzing started, and the vibrations reverberated through her body. He thrust more forcefully into her mouth as she tried to figure out what was happening. A wet slapping sound registered first before the zing of sensations flooded her pussy. The plug.

"It's hard to concentrate on everything, isn't it, Little one?"

"How—How does it even work?" she thought to herself, unable to ask him.

"It's old-fashioned tech, Little Sky. Wind up technology that doesn't need any batteries. The timer has a delay. There's a surprise before it stops working."

She couldn't nod as he filled her mouth once again. His hands seemed to be everywhere on her body. A tweak to her nipple almost pushed her into a second orgasm, but she was determined to wait for his.

This time, when he almost withdrew completely before flexing his hips to drive himself into her mouth, she could taste the flavor of his cum and knew that he was close. Sealing her lips around him, she sucked him deep and tried to make it difficult for him to glide out.

The buzzing inside her increased, and Ciel clenched her fingers together, trying to hold on as she feasted on his thick shaft. His shout into the room gave her permission to come, and she felt everything inside her shatter as he thrust into her mouth and emptied himself down her throat.

Long minutes later, she sat on his lap with an empty bottom and a blown mind as he rocked her slowly. "Can you even fly after that? I don't think I know my own name."

"I'll manage. Do you know my name now?"

"Daddy," she said contentedly.

"There's my good girl. Would you like to nap in your nursery with Silly while I go on patrol?"

"Yes, please." Her eyes simply wouldn't stay open.

Holding her shielded against his chest, Argenis strolled naked through the house. No one looked at them or even seemed to notice as they walked by. He tucked her in her bed and pressed a kiss to her mouth before pressing another to the heart locket around her throat.

"Such a good girl. Daddy loves you."

"Night, Daddy."

She didn't hear him walk out of the nursery.