Chapter 17
Centuries of death, loneliness, and the stark reality of his existence had hardened Duncan’s heart. While compassionate for the plight of the mortals he served to protect, he learned the hard way that life was easier if he guarded his emotions.
Now he had a mate, and she would be in constant danger from anyone who wanted to get at him. The thought of anything happening to Ava caused his gut to churn. A wave of protectiveness swept over him. Her place was by his side, where he could keep her safe.
The dragon would never have shifted from his body to hers if she wasn’t meant to be with him. She couldn’t deny their bond any more than he could—not that he intended to.
After three days of battling demons nonstop, he finally had the chance to be with her. He called for the valet to move his car from the private garage to the hidden exit at the rear of the casino. Tonight he would drive to the Goddess House rather than transport through a portal.
He loved the sound of the road beneath his wheels and the rush of being in control of a powerful machine. As he slid into the black leather seat of his slate-gray Lamborghini Diablo, he had only two things on his mind: winning Ava’s heart and getting her into his bed. Restless, he punched through the stations on the radio, stopping abruptly when he heard the sound of a familiar voice—Ava’s.
What the hell?
Shock surged through him as he ripped the cell phone out of his pocket.
~ ~ ~
Ava practiced her sultry, sex goddess voice one more time and adjusted the microphone in front of her lips. In less than three minutes, the show would start and her determination to make it a success occupied her thoughts.
After spending the afternoon filling out paperwork using the fake social security number and driver’s license Carman procured for her, she was anxious to get started. Buddy, the assistant producer, filled her in on the expectations of her job, and having him by her side further bolstered her confidence. The giant bear of a man filled up a big part of the stuffy sound booth, but he had a gentle spirit and she liked him.
“Take a deep breath, Ava. You’ll do just fine.” Buddy gave her a reassuring nod. “You’re on in three . . . two . . . one . . .”
Her finger hovered over the switch for a second.
Was she really ready for this?
With one flick, she went live.
“Hello, lovers, this is Ava, Goddess of Pleasure and All Things Sexual. You’re listening to Sexual Healing here on K-SEX.” Her tone, deep and soothing, was laced with a hint of compulsion. Satisfied that any mortal listening wouldn’t be able to resist her voice, she smiled and relaxed. Buddy grinned, gave her a thumbs-up and put the first caller on.
“The Love Goddess is at your service.” Her cheerful voice belied her jittery nerves.
“Ah . . . how do I get my wife to try bondage?”
“That’s easy. Let her tie you up first.”
“I don’t really want to be tied up. I want to tie her up.”
“It doesn’t work that way, cowboy. You need to gain her trust by letting her take control. Grab some restraints and a whip, and hand them over to her.”
Soon the switchboard lit up with callers in need of her expertise. Excitement welled inside her. At this pace she’d have mortal women sexually liberated in no time.
She continued to take call after call giving advice and answering questions, while unleashing bursts of compulsion over the air. Each call brought a return surge of energy. Carman’s prediction had come true. This job had her name written all over it.
Energy raced through her veins, and sensory awareness flooded her brain. Sights, sounds, and aromas became more vivid, and nothing escaped her attention.
Ava wondered if the excess energy would cause her skin to glow as the Mother Goddess’s often did. Fearful of exposing her true nature, she took a deep breath, cleared her thoughts, and answered the next call. Learning how to handle the excess energy would be necessary, but she’d need to survive her shift on the air first.
“She wants a threesome with you and her best friend.” Mortals continued to surprise her. “That’s every man’s wet dream, so what’s your problem?”
“Ah . . . well . . . two women, that could be a little intimidating. What if I can’t . . . you know . . .”
Ava smiled to herself. Problem solved. With an extra wave of compulsion, she could turn Romeo into a raging stallion.
“Listen to me. You will not suffer from performance anxiety. You will do this for your wife and enjoy every second of it. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I understand. No performance anxiety. Enjoy.”
“Sex potion on line two.” Buddy chuckled as he put the caller through. Ava winked and smiled back at him. Buddy seemed to be relishing his job at the moment.
“Ah . . .” She noticed that many of her calls began like this. She would never understand mortal inhibitions toward sex. She blamed the Puritans for this.
“Yes?”
“My wife can go for hours.” A man whispered into the phone, his voice tentative.
“And?”
“I can’t. Is there anything I can take to increase my stamina?”
“That’s easy. Before sex, try a mixture of wheat-flour cakes, baked with honey and sugar, sprinkled with ground pumpkin seeds. Eat it while you’re naked, under the full moon and rolling in the grass. I promise you’ll be up all night if you understand my meaning.”
“Ground pumpkin seeds . . . naked . . . full moon . . . Okay, I’ll give it a try.”
“Make sure that you do.” She shot him a burst of energy that would keep him going for days without the potion. Ava glanced over at Buddy in time to see him jot down her stamina recipe and giggled under her breath.
“Last call,” Buddy whispered.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Duncan’s voice boomed over the line causing her to cringe. She’d managed not to think of him for a few short hours, and here he was, full of dragon fury.
“I’m saving the world from sexual redundancy, one caller at a time. How can I help you?” The sweetness in her voice belied the fear that maybe she had pushed him too far this time.
“Get off the radio. Right. Now.”
Duncan wasn’t the only one who could play this game. If he wanted to have it out over the airwaves, then so be it.
“I recognize your voice from our private conversation earlier. As I recall, you were having problems keeping your lover satisfied?”
“Like hell I—”
“And as for the size issue, I can suggest certain positions that will maximize your small—”
“Dammit, Ava—”
“You know, sometimes the root of inadequacy in the bedroom can result from a lack of communication.”
“I am not inad—”
“Perhaps you should ask your lover what she wants. Does she want more foreplay? Oral sex? Does she want to be bound to you for all eternity?” Ava teased.
Buddy pushed the disconnect button. “Don’t worry about that. There are all sorts of crazies out there, all bark and no bite.” Buddy gave her a reassuring nod. “Now go ahead and sign off. It’s been a long day and you look beat.”
She couldn’t agree with him more. “Well, that’s it for this evening. Please join me next Saturday night for another night of Sexual Healing with Ava, Goddess of Pleasure.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. After four hours on the air, she was hoarse but exhilarated by her success.
Rodney pushed through the door of the sound booth looking like he just closed a million-dollar deal. “You rocked tonight, Ava. Keep this up and maybe we can expand to Friday nights, too.”
Rod grabbed her hands and gazed at her cleavage. The overpowering scent of his aftershave in the tiny room caused her eyes to water. Her boss was way too slick and sure of himself. She pried her hands out of his and took a step back.
Undaunted, he continued the conversation. “How ’bout you and I get a drink? You know . . . to celebrate.”
Her stomach churned at the thought.
“I promised my roommates I’d come straight back. They’ll be waiting for me, and I’m exhausted.” She turned to leave, hoping to put an end to the conversation.
“Okay, but don’t make any plans before your shift next Saturday. I want to take my new star to dinner.”
She pretended not to hear him as she walked away, thinking she had a week to strategize about how to cool his advances without a direct confrontation.
Certain that a conversation with Duncan would be in her near future, she yearned for the comfort of the Goddess House and a chance to clear her mind. Hurling the gauntlet at Duncan’s psyche had not been her intention. Her plans for a more subtle, sensual approach were dashed by her smart mouth.
He had the ability to scramble her brainwaves. Instead of using her sex goddess skills for seduction, she managed to ignite his fury. Exhausted and stressed from her eventful evening, she hoped that Carman was waiting for her in the parking lot. Hopefully, before her next encounter with Duncan, she would figure out how to make amends.
~ ~ ~
Upon arriving at the station, Duncan found Carman jamming to AC/DC in her ancient puke-yellow Toyota. When she noticed his approach, a wicked grin swept across her darkened lips.
“Hey, Duncan, I heard you on Ava’s show. A big strapping guy like you having trouble in the bedroom, who knew?” She shook her head in mock pity.
“Don’t go there, Carman.” His gruff tone didn’t faze the feisty goddess. She laughed mischievously and raised her eyebrows. “I’d say Ava won that round.”
Duncan smiled. “The night is young, Goddess, and I’m not yet ready to admit defeat. She no longer needs a ride home.”
“I can see that,” Carman said, still grinning from ear to ear. “Good luck!” With those words, the dark-haired beauty threw her car in reverse and drove out of the parking lot, waving out the window as she turned the corner.
Carman had given in way too easily, causing Duncan to wonder if he had an ally in Ava’s snarky friend. He hoped so. Making her come to her senses would be difficult, and he needed all the help he could get.
Returning to his vehicle, he leaned against the door and folded his arms across his chest. The few minutes until Ava appeared would give him some time to find the right words and actions to win her over. More amused than angry with her barbs about his sexual prowess, he had to admit that in the war of words, Ava won hands down. That was okay with him. He had other weapons in his arsenal.
Her quick wit and determination to be independent both attracted and scared him. A dragon-shifter’s desire to protect his mate could not be extinguished.
Still, curbing her freedom would do nothing to win her heart. Her happiness was as important to him as her safety. Winning her love required embracing her as an individual while keeping her safe from harm. How the hell he would do that, he hadn’t a clue.
The click of the latch to the back door drew his attention. He held his breath in anticipation. Ava stepped over the threshold gracefully. A sleek, sexy dress clung to her curves, the shimmering fabric complementing the glow of accomplishment on her face. Heart thundering in his chest, Duncan could do nothing but watch as she moved toward him. Her gaze met his. Her clear green eyes drew him in like a moth to a porch light. Any thoughts of what to say or how to say it fled his scrambled brain. He remained in place, paralyzed by her beauty.
He’d turned into a love-sick moron—incapable of coherent thought. Worst of all, he didn’t really give a damn.
~ ~ ~
Ava exited the building, weary and ready for bed. Right now the soft downy comforter and fluffy bed pillows appealed to her more than any grandiose, silk- and satin-covered bed she had ever slept in.
Lost in her thoughts, she almost didn’t notice Duncan in front of her. There he stood, leaning against a shiny, gray sports car, arms folded across his massive chest. Faded jeans encased long, muscular legs paired with worn leather boots and a tailored black shirt. Dear Goddess in the heavens, how could any woman resist him? Caught off guard, she inhaled sharply and looked around. Carman and her abused Toyota were nowhere to be found.
The sight of him filled her with conflicting thoughts of confusion and anticipation. No matter what she’d told herself, these last few days without him left her aching with need. She wanted to jump him on the spot. Only the last remnants of pride prevented her from doing so.
Duncan’s eyes searched hers for what seemed to be an eternity, his expression a blaze of desire. When he did break the silence, his deep voice hinted of barely contained sexual restraint.
“Hello, Ava.”
His intense gaze entranced her. A flood of heat swept through her as the dragon glided around her waist and positioned itself over her heart.
“Are you trying to drive me insane?”
“No.” She smiled, approaching him with her best runway model stride. “I need a job and this one is perfect for me.” She lifted her chin and stared defiantly into his eyes.
“You don’t need a job. As my mate, you’ll be provided for.” He unfolded his arms and moved closer. The closer he got, the more her skin heated in response and the more her own desire betrayed her.
“I don’t want to be kept, Duncan.”
“I know that, but we can’t ignore the bond between us.” He took her hand in his.
A jolt of excitement swept through her. She trembled with anticipation. It took every shred of self-control to resist throwing herself in his arms.
She needn’t have worried. Duncan made the first move. Pulling her closer, he encircled her in his strong embrace.
“Ava, I know I’ve made some mistakes, but denying our bond is only torturing us both.” He kissed her gently on the lips. “I love you, and I want to be with you. Can we just stop with the mind games and be together?”
She took one look and saw the sincerity in his crystal-blue eyes. He loved her, and she would be a fool not to accept that.
“I love you, too, Duncan. Let’s make this work.” She kissed him back.
His fingers stroked her back, sending shockwaves of pleasure down her spine. His heated touch ignited her passion. Lust took over reason as the pull of sexual energy between them intensified. Her concerns about their relationship were now buried under a mountain of lustful urges.
The passionate, all-encompassing kiss that ensued curled her toes, scattered her brain waves, and caused a desperate ache deep within. She pulled him closer, shamelessly pressing against him. He groaned in response, emitting a deep, feral echo of gratification.
“Tell me that you want me as much as I want you.”
Her heart pounded erratically, her breath quickened, and her need for physical contact consumed her. “I want you, Duncan, make no mistake about that.”
Without another word, he swept her into his arms. The door to his sports car swung open as they approached. He settled her in the passenger seat, slammed the door, and hurried around the car. As he slid into the black leather seat, his fiery gaze met hers. “Hold on, Ava. You’re in for one hell of a ride.”