Chapter 11 - Julie

The idea of repeating the raw, animalistic sex with Kaius but with him in his dragon form is playing through my mind like a highlight reel. I want to know what it would feel like. The idea of even more power behind his body, the sheer size of him. I don't know if it's even possible, but the deeply suppressed part of me wants to find out.

My fingers ease up the tension on that sensitive spot just enough to be the most featherlight touch before I pull them back. Blindly, I lean forward and run my tongue slowly down the same spot. The rush of anticipation has me dripping wet.

Only a fraction of a second passes before a ripple of energy whooshes over his body, and there's a disappointingly human version of Kaius turning and pulling me into a rough kiss, his hand tangled roughly in the back of my hair and crushing my face toward his.

A low growl slips from him, and I wrap my legs around his waist as he lifts me up off the floor. Kaius maneuvers us to the bed and lays me down, overwhelming my body with the sheer size of him. This time, there's no foreplay and preamble. His hands drop to my hips. He thrusts into me, hard and punishing, crashing into the very deepest part of me as he buries himself completely with each stroke.

I can't move my hips in the iron grip of his hands. All I can do is control the pace of my body clenching around him a little and use my hands. I find both of his firm butt cheeks and dig my nails in as I feel him flex beneath them. My name falls from his lips as he tenses one last time, and my body crashes with him as he spills into me.

My ears are ringing as he collapses on top of my body with a grunt. His head lays between my breasts like a pillow. It's much more comfortable in the bed than on the floor, and the release of the tension has us both falling asleep after a few breaths. The rest of the day passes in much the same manner. Brief moments of snark, followed by more tension, then release, and falling into bed again.

I wake the following morning to the deep snores rumbling in his chest beneath my face. I push myself up from the bed and his hand pulls possessively at my hip in his sleep but lets me go after I pull away more. We're both sticking to the party line of "this can't be anything more."

Kaius's entire attitude while healing from the injury is short-tempered and pouty. It's getting on my last nerves, and I genuinely wonder if he's always this much of a baby about being injured. Most of the sex has been spurred on by an argument where he's just being a stubborn ass about me trying to help him. More and more I am sure that he hides behind the snarky comments. It's a deep defense mechanism he seems to use, and I can't help but want to know why.

I step to the door and pull it open a crack. I am relieved to see the sun shining down on the mountain and telltale drops of water coming off many of the branches and the eaves of the house. The storm has definitely passed, and it'll be possible to hike out now. I turn back and see Kaius sitting up in the bed, sheets crumpled around his waist, eyes blinking up at the sun.

"Looks like you're in luck. The weather is turning. We can get out of here today," I say as I shut the door behind me.

"The ache is gone in my shoulder, so I can probably fly you back."

"No, no. I would rather hike out by myself. Thanks, but I've had my fill of dragon-flying shit."

He rises from the bed as I move to pour a bottle of water on the fire in the grate. I busy myself with shoving things back in their place and sealing up the food containers so I'm not responsible for any mice.

"Don't be ridiculous. It's still cold, and it may not be safe for you alone out here right now."

"Are you really trying to start another argument?"

"It's not an argument. I'm not letting you hike out of here alone."

"Letting me? You think you suddenly have a claim to let me do anything? Fuck so far off right now, Kaius. You may have got in my pants, but that doesn't give you an invitation to dictate anything about my life."

I pull on my coat and bend over to lace my shoes, but before I can finish, my body is lifting, and I am thrown over his shoulder.

"Oh my God, put me down, Kaius."

"Nope, you want to be petulant, so I'll treat you accordingly," he sighs as he moves to grab the key off the counter. He shuts off the lantern and turns, surveying the room, leaving me dangling upside down with a rather bold view of his butt.

I squirm, kicking my feet a bit, and he smacks a hand firmly against my ass. I freeze as the action makes my mind jolt back to all the other ways he's spanked me in the last day and a half.

"That's not fair."

"Never claimed to be fair. World's biggest asshole, remember?"

He maneuvers out the door with me still draped over his shoulder and steps out onto the front porch, turning and locking the door. He pauses, and I am torn between wanting to appreciate the view and wanting to yell at him, but I'm certain it would be relatively useless.

"Where does the key need to go?"

"Oh, you had a whole masterful plan for this but don't know where to put the key? How about you put me down and I'll show you?"

His hand connects with my ass again, and I gasp this time. Damn traitorous body.

"Third log down on the right. There's a hidden notch there."

Such a jackass… Nice ass, but such a jerk.

His body shifts with a ripple of power, and I move my head out of the way of a wing and his tail that flicks irritably across the ground. He hauls me down off his shoulder and cradles me in his arms instead before pushing off powerfully with his legs and launching into the air.

Without the adrenaline and fear of attack, I take a moment to appreciate that we're actually flying. He stays in the cover of the clouds, only dipping low enough to see the landmarks briefly through the thin haze of the clouds. The air is cold and wet, but I feel so alive that it's easy to block out the cold.

I'm still pissed at him for carrying me the way he did and not letting me hike, but as we land, I'm almost willing to forgive it all as my eyes take in the scene through the trees. Scorch marks trail the ground and trees. There's a massive tree down behind my car. Papers, photos, clothes, everything is scattered around the melting snow in the yard, and the door to the house is open.

I break into a run, feet struggling in the heavy, wet snow that's melting around us. I'm up the short steps of the porch and through the door in a flash, but my breath stops as I skid to a stop in the living room. Uncle Merl is face down in the kitchen"s entrance, his clothes charred and his mangled flesh underneath peeking through.

I slide to a stop next to him and put a hand gently to his throat, fearing the worst, but he pulls in a ragged breath. Relief washes over me, but I realize how bad this is. He's been sat here for at least a day with these burns all over him. I reach for his landline behind me and smash the numbers 9-1-1 as footsteps echo up the porch.

"Julie…" I know his voice all too well now. I don't even turn to look at him. I can't bring myself to even acknowledge him.

"No. Leave. Just get the fuck out of here. This is all your fault. You should have stayed and helped him," I snap and turn my back to him as I replay the details of where I am and what's happened through my mind.

How could I have done what I've done… And this is what his leaving turned into?