Chapter Seven
“I’m going back to the city,” Seph announced the next morning, as he stood in the kitchen next to Drew and helped himself to a cup of coffee from the pot on the counter.
“Because of last night?” Drew asked, lifting his own mug to his lips and taking a sip. He and Seph had always been the early risers of their clutch, up before their brothers and sometimes even Father.
“More or less,” Seph admitted. He leaned back against the cupboard, dressed in jeans and a cable knit sweater. “I didn’t sleep very well last night.” He grimaced.
“To be honest, I think that scene in the dining room completely exorcised the Christmas spirit from this house.”
Drew sighed. “Yes, that was a mess.”
“I just felt so helpless,” Seph went on. “I’ve been struggling to come to terms with the things Father said to Elizabeth and Gwendolyn. From a professional standpoint, I know that it came from that dark place inside him that we all know about…but it doesn’t excuse it.”
Mrs. Carson, already busy preparing breakfast, turned to face Seph. “Pardon me for eavesdropping,” she said, “but I understand how you feel, dear.” She lowered her voice. “We were all a bit surprised by the exchange – speaking for myself, my heart went out to those two young ladies…but a greater part of it went to you, as well.”
Seph raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Wow,” he said, after swallowing a mouthful of coffee. Mrs. Carson had always spoken her mind freely, damn the consequences if Father ever found out; more than likely he knew anyway, but let it slide because he had always said how much he loathed breaking in new staff members. “Thank you, Mrs. Carson. I appreciate your concern.”
“I just wish you’d reconsider staying,” the matronly cook said. “It’s always good to have my boys together for Christmas.”
“We love you, too, Mrs. Carson,” Drew said, and leaned over to kiss her cheek.
Seph did give it further consideration. Unfortunately, he found his decision made for him shortly after breakfast. He had been in the library, looking for a book to read to pass the time. He had felt the Vovin patriarch’s presence without looking up. “Good morning, Father,” Seph said.
“It’s been brought to my attention that you have considered going back to the city,” Cyril said without preamble. He had dressed in a dark blue, three-piece suit with a black tie. He pulled out a gold pocket watch with the Vovin Clan crest engraved on the back and looked at the time. “If you leave now, you’ll miss the afternoon traffic.”
Seph turned to stare at him, surprised. “You’re telling me to go?”
“I am releasing you, yes,” Father said. He tucked the watch back into his waistcoat pocket. “If you aren’t feeling in the holiday way, it would be pointless to make you stay.”
It almost sounded like compassion and understanding – two things Seph had never really associated with his father. “I appreciate that,” he said.
“Just bear in mind that time is running out,” Cyril went on. “You still need to find a wife, Seph – or this will be the last chance you will ever have to spend Christmas at Tamerlane.”
His incentive leaves much to be desired, Seph thought sourly. “I understand,” he said.
“Good.” With a thin smile, Cyril turned and headed out of the library. “Safe journey, my son.”
And just like that, Seph knew he could not stay. Father’s arrogance, his demands, and his brusqueness seemed to permeate every corner of every room. Seph packed, said good-bye to his brothers and the staff, wishing them all a good holiday. Then he was on his way, steering his car along the winding road leading away from Tamerlane. He glanced in the rear-view mirror, seeing the house grow smaller the further he moved away from it. He thought about Father’s thinly-veiled threat, that this could be the last time he ever saw his childhood home. Steeling himself, Seph turned his attention back to the road ahead and gripped the steering wheel tightly. Maybe it’s better if I never come back.
He lowered the window and let the cold winter air hit his face and ruffle his hair. Breathing deeply, he willed his mind to clear itself of the negativity from the last twenty-four hours. Part of Seph wanted to defy his father. I am in control of my own destiny. All this urgency to find a mate had stirred something within him, though. Dragons have biological clocks, too. Some of his clients had talked about how they had felt overcome with the need to reproduce not long after meeting their intended partner. Seph had never given much thought to parenthood. Now, he found himself considering it – and not just because of Cyril’s decree. One thing’s for certain: I will be a much better father to my children than he had been, to us!
As he returned to the city, he took in the festive decorations on every light post and in the storefront displays. The sidewalks bustled with activity as last-minute shoppers rushed about. Corner street vendors sold cups of hot cider or paper cones filled with cinnamon-toasted almonds.
Seph stopped for a family trying to make its way to the other side of the street by way of a crosswalk. Bundled against the cold in thick coats, hats and scarves, the children clung to their parents’ hands so as not to be separated in the chaos. The father paused to scoop up his little boy and settled him on his shoulders for a better view over the crowds. It made Seph happy to see such love and caring, but at the same time he felt a pang of bittersweet regret. Those children would grow up with cherished memories of the holidays. When they grew up, they might even take their own kids out shopping on Christmas Eve, to see the lights and visit the department store Santa Claus. Screw Tamerlane, Seph thought. You should consider starting a few new holiday traditions of your own.
Thinking of traditions made him remember Thanksgiving with Asha and her family, and he smiled. Something like that, only with friends. His brothers would always be welcomed to join him, too, if they found themselves put out by Father – either by their own choice, or because they had failed to find mates. Yes, if Cyril decided to disown all five of his sons, they would survive being cut off from the main Vovin Clan. We’ll make a new one of our own.
Seph continued to drive around town for a while. He considered stopping at the delicatessen for a few things before making his way back to his apartment. Wouldn’t it be funny if Asha showed up again, and asked you to join her family for Christmas? Seph snorted at the notion. Right – lightning doesn’t strike twice, so don’t get your hopes up. Still, it would be nice. He wondered how Asha celebrated the holidays. Would they have a tree covered in lights and homemade ornaments that they would decorate together? Would they sing carols, drink hot cocoa, and build snowmen in the front yard – all those wonderful cliché things he had seen in movies and television specials, but had never experienced for himself?
In the end, he decided to go home and order something for delivery; Chinese, perhaps. He pulled into the parking garage; bag in tow, he took the elevator up to his floor. As he made his way through the hall to his door, he thumbed through his keys, humming to himself. Some of his neighbors had hung wreaths on their doors, or sparkly garland and lights around the framework. He reached his corner condo, devoid of festive decorations. That’s part of your problem, he realized. You help others to make their lives warm and bright, but your world is cold and dark and dismal. He let himself in and closed the door. Tossing his keys into a tray on the foyer table, he headed for his bedroom to drop off his suitcase. He toed out of his shoes and tossed his coat over the foot of the bed. He took a moment to stretch, grunting softly. He reached up and kneaded at his neck and shoulder in hopes of relieving some of the tightness knotting there.
So, now what? Seph wondered. This is your first Christmas Eve on your own. What are you going to do? He wandered over to the sliding glass doors that opened onto the terrace. In the summer, he liked to stretch out and sun himself in either form – man or Dragon. Now, he pushed the door open and stepped outside into the chilly, early evening air. Night fast approached. Looking up, he saw clouds moving in, heavy with snow. I need to work off some of this tension, he thought. He gazed out over the sparkling city, listening to the ever-present hum of it. Tamerlane could be so silent, like a tomb. Here, Seph could hear and feel the pulse of life. I want to fly over it, take it all in.
Shedding his clothes, Seph padded barefoot over to the balcony ledge. He raised his arms high over his head, took a deep breath, and willed his body to transform. He remembered the first time he had shape-shifted into a Dragon, how he had been scared and excited. He doubled in size, muscles filling out, bones growing. From his shoulders sprouted a pair of leathery, iridescent blue wings with a fifteen-foot span. He dropped forward onto his palms, watching his hands become covered in dark blue scales and his nails turn into thick, black, curved claws. Looking down, he saw his thighs swell into powerful haunches. His weight was balanced on the balls of his feet as his toes became longer, tipped by talons like obsidian daggers. His neck lengthened, telescoping out, while the hair on his head receded under a crest of blue scales that emerged from his scalp. His mouth and nose elongated to form a muzzle with wide nostrils; he flicked his tongue over pointed teeth made for bringing down large prey. His eyes enlarged, spaced further apart and glowing gold. The final part of the process came with the vertebrae at the base of his spine cracking, as they formed a tail as long as the rest of his body. Seph raised his head and let out a barking roar of joy. It’s been too long, he thought.
Bounding up onto the wall, Seph launched himself into the air. His great wings beat to lift him higher. Banking around the tall buildings, he soared and rode the wind currents. His night vision allowed him to see other Dragons flying around the city, making their way from one place to another. Seph flew with no destination in mind. He just wanted to enjoy himself, to experience the freedom of flight. I feel better already, he marveled. Something about being in Dragon form had always helped to relieve the stress of everyday existence, like a snake shedding its skin. Seph whirled and glided, dipped and spiraled, dancing with the snowflakes that began to swirl around him. I feel alive!
He wondered what it would be like to share this experience with his future wife. Some of his clients would tell him how much they enjoyed going on flights together – the Dragon holding his Human wife in his arms, or even using a harness that allowed her to ride on his back, safe and secure from falling off during the wild twists and turns. It could be so thrilling, even arousing, and many times often led to mind-blowing sex. God, how I envy them, Seph thought. I hope to have that, someday.
Seph soon found himself circling over the offices of Wings of Love. To his surprise, he saw a familiar figure emerge. Asha? Seph watched her walk out to the parking lot toward the only car sitting there; a mid-size coupe, covered with a light dusting of snow. Lights blinked on with the help of a keyless remote, and the security alarm deactivated with a chirp. Seph hovered high above, observing as she dropped in behind the wheel and started the engine. He blinked, the ridge of his brow furrowed in confusion. It’s Christmas Eve – why is she only now getting out of work?
Concerned, and more than a little curious, he decided to follow her. The roads are getting slick, he reasoned. I should be on hand, if she runs into trouble. He flew over the car as it traveled through the city to a side of town where some of the older brick buildings had been restored during a recent renaissance. Not as upscale and trendy as Old Town, it had a retro flavor with second-hand shops, bookstores, and tea rooms; retail at street level with residential above. Seph watched Asha pull her vehicle into a small lot and make her way toward the entrance to the loft apartments over a nail salon. He had to chuckle to himself. Probably where she gets those beautiful manicures, he thought.
He circled around until he saw a light go on in one of the apartments. Seph landed on the roof of the building directly across the street. He could look down and see right into the apartment. He saw Asha put down her messenger bag and strip off her coat, which she hung in a closet. She wore a low-cut green sweater dress with a belt of gold rings circling her waist. Seph smiled inwardly. She always looks good no matter what she wears. He watched as she kicked off her high-heeled shoes, walking around the hardwood floors on bare feet.
Asha finished sifting through her mail and dropped it on a table before moving off to the next room over. Another light came on. Seph could see a bed with a lavender comforter. His heart began to beat a little faster when he saw Asha remove her belt and set it on the dresser. Okay, she’s about to get naked, Seph realized. You were raised to be a gentleman, to respect a lady’s privacy. You made sure she got home safely; it’s time to go, now.
But Seph could not make himself move from that spot. Transfixed, he stared through that window, distantly wondering why Asha did not close the shades. Does she not have curtains? He swallowed as she reached up behind her back and lowered the zipper, then peeled her dress off her shoulders and arms, working it down over her wide hips until it dropped to the floor. Her large breasts looked ready to tumble out of her black satin bra as she bent to scoop up the dress. For a moment, she stepped out of view, and Seph felt a rush of disappointment.
She returned a moment later, wrapped in a clingy, silk kimono of pale blue with pink cherry blossoms, the belt lashed loosely around her middle. She sat down on the end of the bed and pulled her braids over her shoulder. She had her smart phone in her other hand, face up. Seph could not help his Dragon hearing from picking up on someone talking, coming through the speaker. It’s her mother, Seph noted, recognizing the voice.
“…sure you don’t want to join us tonight?” Janice asked.
“I’m real tired, Mom,” Asha replied, and Seph could hear the exhaustion in her words. “I’ve got these end-of-the-year taxes to file…used to be that they let me have until January to get them in, but this year they’ve got this new guy who keeps throwing around the word ‘audit’ – trying to scare me, of course, but you know it takes a lot to shake me. More than anything, I’m pissed at him.”
“Oh? Why, baby? What happened?”
Asha sighed. “He said something derogatory the other day, which makes me think he might be a little racist against Dragons. That could be why he’s giving me a hard time over the taxes.”
“And making you feel like you’ve got to work on Christmas,” Janice said, sounding angry. “Look, if this tax accountant or whatever the hell he is gives you any grief, you let us know. Your family’s got your back, and we will not stand by and let someone harass you. Your grandparents did not march in the Sixties for this!”
Asha chuckled and shook her head. “I’ll be all right, Mom,” she said. “I’ll come over tomorrow. I just want to take the rest of tonight to relax, have a hot bath, eat something, and then go to sleep.”
“All right, then,” Janice conceded. “We’ll see you tomorrow. Merry Christmas, baby.”
“Merry Christmas to you, too,” Asha said. “Tell everyone I love them.”
“Okay.”
The call ended. Asha put her phone aside. Instead of getting up, she lay back across her bed. Her robe opened, slipping off one thick but shapely leg as she raised her knee. She folded her hands over her belly. Against the pastel of the comforter, she looked delectable, like a rich chocolate dessert. After a moment, she reached up and unhooked the front closure of her bra. Her breasts rolled out, soft mocha mounds of flesh.
You really need to leave, that voice in Seph’s head said again, almost frantic, but it sounded farther away, now. A whole flight of Dragons would have to swoop in and snatch him off that roof; he wasn’t going anywhere. Mesmerized, he watched as Asha drew circles around her nipples with her fingernails, causing the flesh to rise and harden. Oh my God, Seph thought wildly. What is she doing?
The answer to that question became more apparent a moment later, as Asha’s right hand drifted down her body and slipped under the waistband of her panties. Her legs fanned open in slow motion, heels digging into the mattress. Seph could hear her breathing change, coming in quick, hot huffs broken by the occasional whimper. She continued to pluck at her nipple with her left hand. Seph found himself wishing she had removed her underwear, longing to see her play with her clit. His long Dragon tongue slipped around his mouth from one corner to the other. He wanted to fly over to her window, pull it open, and climb inside her room. He wanted to breathe in the scent of her arousal.
What if I just did it? Seph thought. Suddenly, a fantasy began to play out in his mind. He would leap easily from the rooftop and land on the ledge outside her bedroom. Reverting to his human form, he would duck inside and stand before her. He imagined Asha looking up at him, startled, seeing him there in all his naked glory.
He could see her sitting up, her robe slipping off one smooth, dark shoulder, her chest heaving. ‘What are you doing here?’ she would ask.
‘Something we both want,’ he would answer. Walking toward her, he would stop at the foot of the bed. His Dragon cock would already be hard, rising taut against his belly, flushed purple at the tapered tip, the veins that wound around the widening shaft throbbing with blood. He would run a hand down his own torso and wrap his thumb and forefinger around the base, stroking himself for her. ‘I want to breed with you, Asha. You are so beautiful…every time I think of you, or even say your name, I’m overcome with a deep, burning need.’ He ran his fingers through the golden curls circling his prick, reaching down to lift and squeeze his balls. ‘I want my seed inside you.’
Asha would look up into his eyes, her own dark and fathomless as the night sky, and her mouth would curve into a smile. ‘I want you, too,’ she would say, her voice a sensual purr. She would reach out, spread her hand and press her fingertips against his abdomen, gently urging him to take a step back. Then she would get to her feet. With a slight shrug, her robe and bra would drop to the floor in a puddle of cloth around her ankles. She would look him over slowly as she hooked her thumbs in the waistband of her panties and slowly pushed them down over her hips. Her tongue would travel over her full lips. ‘How do you want me, baby?’ she would ask Seph.
‘Like this,’ he would say, and sink to his knees in front of her. His hands would roam over her thighs and belly, circling around to cup her luscious ass. So plump and plushy, it begged to be smacked; he would crack his palm against one fleshy cheek and Asha would let out a squeal, laughing as she tugged on his hair. ‘I love your ass,’ he would tell her. ‘Every time I’m around you, I can’t resist staring at it.’
She would chuckle at this. ‘You like this booty, do you?’ Thrusting her hips forward, she would peer down at him past the swells of her breasts. ‘What about this pussy? Bet you want to get a taste of that, am I right?’
‘God, yes,’ Seph would say, all too eager to prove it. He would push his face against the neat triangle of dark hair between her legs and drink in her sweet musk, groaning as it filled his senses and spiked his desire. She would spread her feet apart to give him better access, allowing him to nuzzle her mons before he used his tongue to explore her folds. Asha’s knees would tremble and with a moan she would sink back down onto the bed, lying on her back. Seph would hook his hands under her knees and hold her legs open wide before diving in again. He would lick into her, tasting the tang of her juices, fucking her with his tongue until he had her thrashing, moaning, and pleading for more. He would replace his tongue with his fingers, pushing them inside, loving the slick sucking sound they would make as he eased them in and out. He would continue his assault, feeling her body quiver under his touch. Raising his head, he would lick her delicious glaze from his upper lip before grinning at her. ‘I’m going to fuck you,’ he would tell her, his voice low and heavy with passion. His fingers would keep moving inside her, digging deep, his thumb flicking her swollen clit. ‘Once I’m inside you, you will be mine. No other man will be allowed to have you.’
She would look up at him, and her eyes shimmered with longing. ‘I don’t want anyone else,’ she would answer. ‘I just want you.’
Seph would climb off the floor and onto the bed. Asha would reach up and grab onto the headboard. They would gaze at each other as Seph lifted one of her legs over his shoulder. He would kiss the inside of her knee before lining up his cock with her entrance. Slowly, he would sink into her. Her breath would hitch and she would press her head back into the pillow as he filled her, stopping only when he felt the folds of her labia wrapped around the wide base of his dick. He would take a moment to savor the connection, his cock twitching inside her heat. And then he would start to fuck her, just as he promised, taking her in long, hard, thorough strokes. The whole bed would jerk under them, creaking loud enough that she would probably get complaints from the neighbors.
Then, just to make things more interesting, Seph would hold onto her and roll over, pulling her with him. He would sit her up, still impaled on his cock and now sitting astride. ‘How would you like to ride the Dragon?’ he would ask her.
She would grin down at him, arching one fine eyebrow. ‘Hard, fast, and all night long,’ she would reply. Splaying her hands over his broad chest, she would rock back and forth, posting on him. She would start slow but build quickly to a rapid pace. Her breasts would roll and bounce, and Seph would reach for them, caressing them, rubbing her nipples with his thumbs. He would sit up, wrap his arms around her and grab her big, gorgeous ass. He would keep thrusting, meeting her on every downward stroke, over and over while their desperate cries rose in volume. At last, she would throw back her head, her face contorted in ecstasy, her nails digging into Seph’s shoulders. He would feel her tighten around him, and he would respond by pumping her full of his life-giving seed.
‘Mine,’ he would say, as he pressed kisses all over her face and neck, licking up the sweat that pooled between her breasts. Flipping her over again, he would rise above her, his hips moving again, his cock still hard inside her. ‘I can’t stop,’ he would tell her passionately.
‘I don’t want you to,’ she would say. She would look up at him again, and he would see something shining from her eyes that reached deep into his soul…
The sound of Asha letting out an impassioned cry brought Seph out of his reverie. He snapped back to the present, just in time to see Asha’s hips arch up off her bed, her hand still moving inside her panties. His nostrils flared and he felt a twinge low in his belly, realizing she had just achieved orgasm. I want to make her do that, he thought. He wanted to make his fantasy a reality.
A sound from behind him made Seph whip around. The door to the rooftop access stairs opened, and a man in a security guard uniform shined a light around. “Hey!” he shouted, seeing Seph. “What the hell are you doing up here, pal? This ain’t no rest stop for Dragons – this is a privately-owned business, and you’re trespassing!” He waved his free hand. “Go on, before I call the police.”
“Sorry,” Seph hissed out. With a final look back at Asha’s window, he saw her lying there, basking in the aftermath of her climax. He smiled. Yes, he thought. I know what I need to do.
“Come on, pal,” the guard said. “Move it or lose it.”
Without further ado, Seph sprang up and soared away. His mind swam with all the images playing through it, both real and imagined. He reached his terrace a few minutes later; as soon as his feet touched down, his body began to morph back to its human form. Not surprisingly, he looked down and saw his cock was hard. When he took his Dragon shape, it would disappear inside a protective sheath. Now, it stood out from his hips, dripping with arousal. Seph barely got inside his apartment before he had to take himself in hand and start jerking it. He closed his eyes and pictured Asha, lying on her bed, fingering herself. He replayed his fantasy of her; changing it up, he imagined what it would be like to fuck her in his own bed, or in the bath – even on the table in the dining hall at Tamerlane. He thought about those perfectly manicured nails digging into his back, of kissing those thick lips, of being surrounded by all her soft, warm flesh.
Seph heralded his release with a shout. “Asha!” He felt the thick ball of a seed sac roll up the length of his shaft and push out through the tip of his cock, a bubble of semen that burst and oozed down over his fist. Panting and dazed, Seph slumped against the wall, sliding to the floor as his legs buckled. Oh, my God, he thought. It all makes sense, now. His desire to start a family had been awakened, because his mate had presented herself – just not in the way he had expected. I’ve been going about this all wrong, trying all these different women, looking for the one I’m supposed to be with. He leaned his head back against the wall and laughed. This whole time, she was right there in front of me; I never realized it, until tonight. “Now, how do I tell Asha it’s her?”
Asha had made it clear that she had no interest in finding a mate and settling down. She wanted to focus on her business. She had also said she would not marry someone just because they had genetic compatibility. There had to be more; a connection. Seph huffed out a sigh of exasperation. He thought about the rapport he and Asha had developed over the past several months, but that had all been professional. Talking about how you struck out on your dates isn’t exactly what a woman wants to hear, he thought. Asha also knew about his situation, how he needed to find a mate or be cut off from the family. I don’t want to make her feel like she was my last resort, the consolation prize claimed out of desperation. She has to know that she means more to me than that. He recalled the dinner at her aunt’s house, when he felt a shift in the way he looked at her. She became a friend.
But would she be willing to become more than friends?
Seph pulled himself up off the floor. Making his way through the living room, he swept the remote off the glass coffee table and turned on the television to a random channel. Not surprisingly, it happened to be in the middle of a classic Christmas movie. The main character needed a miracle, something to make his holiday – and his life – complete. Seph snorted and shook his head. “Yeah,” he said. “That’s what I want, too. A Christmas miracle.”
He dropped the remote on the table and headed for the master bathroom. As he turned on the water for the shower, he considered how he would approach Asha and tell her how he felt. Part of him wanted to go back to her tonight, to share his revelation and then fulfill his erotic fantasy. No, he chided himself, stepping under the spray. Not like that. He thought about how he would counsel one of his clients, if they had come to him with a similar problem. Easy – I’d say ‘take a few days to mull it over, consider all your options, and then approach the matter from a different angle.’
“Okay, so I’ll wait.” Reaching for the body wash, Seph nodded. “I’ve waited this long to find a mate – I can wait a little longer.”
But not much.