Chapter Four – Complications
She made little whimpering noises as he nuzzled into her neck. One of his hands pulled her leg over his hip, the other kneading her large, soft breast. Julia panted, leaning back against the wall. She rolled her hips forward gently, grinding against him through their clothing. Benjamin groaned. This had been going on for almost a week now. He couldn't get enough of her cherry taste, her fruity scent under the smell of cleaning agents and baby powder. He sought her out every day, making sure nobody found them. He wanted to keep her after work and take her to a fancy restaurant, then bring her back to make love all night, but she always managed to slip through his fingers and disappear as soon as her shift was over.
So all he had were these stolen moments and an aching for more.
Right on cue, Julia pulled away from him. She patted her hair nervously and shook her head. Her face and neck were flushed, the scent of her arousal between them, making him long for a taste.
"Five more minutes," he moaned, leaning in.
She pressed her hands to his chest. "You said you have a meeting to attend and I need to get back to work. Natalie is getting suspicious and it's not fair to not work when I'm on duty."
"I'm the one paying you," Benjamin reminded her.
It was the wrong thing to say. Her face fell into a dark frown. "And that's part of the problem. I'm not a hooker. You're not paying me to make out with you. So let me get back to work."
Benjamin groaned as she elbowed past him. "Has Natalie been harassing you?"
"None of your business. Good-day, your highness."
And just like that, she was gone. Benjamin leaned against the wall, huffing out an annoyed breath. He didn't get her. One moment she was soft and receptive in his arms, the next she was gone, leaving him with an aching desire and no way to relieve it. At least, no gentlemanly way.
Sighing, he left the closet and headed for the welcome room where he was due to meet the freshly-minted queen from Northfall, Caitlyn. A spoiled, arrogant woman, Benjamin could hardly stand her. When they were younger, she had told everybody that they slept together, even though he had no more than glanced in her direction. He hadn't allowed her to be in a room alone with him ever since. It had led to a media frenzy, not to mention Caitlyn's father coming down to the kingdom to challenge Benjamin to a duel.
Caitlyn had thought it was all dreadfully funny. She hadn't matured much since then.
He sighed as he walked into his study, where she was waiting for him. She wore a flirty dress with a deep V-neck that featured her round, plump breasts. Her ankles were crossed demurely, but there was nothing demure about her. The dress had cutouts in its abdomen, the skirt falling approximately mid-thigh: highly inappropriate for a meeting between states. He liked to see some skin on women, but not when they were meant to discuss trade relations.
Even worse, there was nobody else in the room. Her guard was nowhere to be seen and the servants he'd told to stay had vanished – no doubt bullied and mocked by Caitlyn until they left. Benjamin's nostrils flared as he stepped into the room, making sure to leave the door open behind himself.
"Benjamin," she greeted with a smile. "Close the door and come sit down."
"Where are your ministers? This meeting—"
Caitlyn waved her hand. "Oh, pish posh. No need to be so formal. Daddy's gone and retired, leaving me queen. He's way out in the Caribbean. He's got better things to do than police me at all times. There will be time for business later. You and I have things to discuss."
"What sort of things?"
"Well . . . the possibility of marriage, for one. We're in the same boat, you know. My ministers are pressuring me to marry, your ministers are pressuring you to marry."
Benjamin laughed.
"Well. I didn't think it was that funny." Caitlyn scowled at him. "You're not my first choice either, you know. Unlike you, however, I actually think of my kingdom. You know how the old folks are. What is a king without his queen? And what is a queen without her prince charming? It would be beneficial, making us politically stronger in the eyes of our rivals. Can you imagine our combined economies?"
Benjamin shook his head. She had a point, politically. If she wasn't such a horrible person, then yes, It would make sense for them to be together. She was beautiful and knew how to command a room. Strong-willed, smart, ambitious – all good qualities in a queen. The problem was that she was also petty, vindictive, and selfish.
"I'm only going to tell you this once," he said, keeping his voice even. "I will never marry you. Not if you were the last Dragoness in the world."
Caitlyn's nostrils flared. The faint scent of charcoal deepened, but to her credit, no smoke escaped. She folded her arms over her chest as though trying to hide her cleavage. "It's not like I'd stop you from sleeping with your human pets. As long as I'm the only woman to bear your children."
"Right." Benjamin rolled his eyes. "And you'd, of course, have your lovers as well."
"Of course. If you can sleep around, so can I. I don't understand why you won't just take me. We would make strong, attractive children."
"Maybe because I'm not a stud horse." Benjamin's fire flared and he took a deep breath to calm himself. "I am flattered by your proposal. It shows just how highly you think of this kingdom. But I will not be bound to someone that I can hardly stand, and you, Caitlyn . . . you are the worst person I have ever met."
Her eyes flashed.
"Now, unless you're actually going to discuss trade—"
"Trade?" Caitlyn leaped to her feet. Her teeth bared in a snarl as her hands clenched. "You think you can insult me like that and just start talking about a trade? No, Benjamin. You are a fool and a cad and if you don't start watching your tongue, do you know what is going to happen? Your kingdom is going to burn to the ground around you and it will be your fault."
Benjamin dropped his shoulders and widened his stance. He lowered his head slightly, his fire rising up to course through his arms and chest. "My kingdom is going to burn? Is that a threat?"
A snarl answered him. Caitlyn launched herself across space between them and slapped him hard. He saw it coming and didn't flinch as the stinging pain erupted over his cheek.
"Hey!" There was a streak of movement and suddenly Julia was beside him. She pushed Caitlyn back and planted herself between the two Dragons, as though she needed to – or could – protect him from the queen. "Leave him alone."
Benjamin wrapped his arms around her waist and moved her aside, out of the line of fire between him and Caitlyn. His fire flickered in his throat, threatening to burst out towards the other Dragon as she sneered at Julia.
"Let me go!"
"Julia—"
"Ah, you must be his latest toy. You'd better watch yourself."
His fire scorched his throat. "Threaten her again, Caitlyn. Just try. She is one of my citizens and I will not stand for your insinuations."
"There are no insinuations. You're sleeping with her. And you, girl, don't start thinking you're better than your class. You're only human. A housekeeper. Although I can see exactly why Benjamin is interested in the likes of you . . . " Her gaze trailed down Julia's body. "I can imagine that you're quite flexible. Tell me, has he convinced you to do anal yet? I can tell you from experience that he's not worth it."
Benjamin growled smoke curling from his mouth. "Get. Out."
Caitlyn glared at him for a moment longer before she flounced out. He slammed the door after her and collapsed into one of the chairs. His fires battled him, wanting to be released. Ugh. This could not be happening. He did not invite the queen from a nearby kingdom to the palace to discuss trade and then insult her and kick her out. His mother was going to kill him when she found out.
"Are you okay?" Julia peered at him. "I don't think it'll bruise."
"Dragons don't bruise," he grunted. "We heal too fast for bruises."
What was he going to do now? He was too angry with Caitlyn to think about apologizing to her, but if she really was going to cut trade . . . It would hurt her kingdom as much as it would hurt him, but who was to say that she would really care? This was a disaster.
He opened his eyes to find Julia staring at him. Her face was flushed, her lower lip pulled into her mouth. "So . . . Anal, huh?"
"No," Benjamin blurted out. "I've never slept with her. She's a . . . not a nice woman. This whole situation is . . . I have to get married. A Dragon king without a mate is nothing and so I have to freak get married. I never wanted to marry. I like my freedom. I like having pretty girls in my room. I don't do relationships. I don't do forever. You know that, right?"
She didn't respond.
"I'm always clear about that," he muttered. "I don't ever mean to hurt anybody."
"But you do," Julia blurted out. "You do hurt them."
Benjamin considered her for a moment. It was wrong, but at that moment, he wanted her more than anything else. He pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her. Her eyes widened but she didn't pull away, didn't make any indication that she didn't want him. He brushed his mouth against hers.
"I won't hurt you," he whispered. "I will never hurt you."