Chapter 49: Roxanne

He doesn't know my name and it hurts.
After the opening introduction and the extended time-out for the two dragons, Laryn returns. His and Sarn's clothing are slightly disheveled but if there was blood they cleaned it off. Laryn remains by my side for the rest of the evening. I know of Calista, Sarn's bride. Her name and that of Meagan and Acasia as well as all the past brides are spoken of with reverence. To sacrifice yourself to a dragon is the highest honor a woman in my village can achieve. Of course, everyone believes they go to their death. It doesn't matter what they say to keep the brides from living in fear of the claiming. The village sacrifices the few to save the many. I had hoped by killing the dragon, the villagers would see what they do as wrong. The brides have no true life until one of them is chosen. The tradition is horrible and must be stopped.
Meagan is old and frail. I don't question Tahr's love for her. You can see it in the attention he gives her. In only a short time, he will be as Sarn. I do not want that for my dragon. I love him, but he must never love me.
Ashrac goes to bed when he begins yawning, and his mother and father tuck him in. The train engine never left his hands the entire time he stayed with the adults. The card game begins. I've never played, so Laryn teaches me. Meagan plays and every once in a while Tahr assists her when she's not sure what she's doing.
"No, darling, you want this card." She smiles at him and I see the beauty of her youth. When Tahr smiles at her, I see in his eyes that she's never changed.
Laryn notices me watching them and squeezes my hand beneath the table. I play my trick and take the hand. My dragon has given me gold coins to play with. My pile stays about the same throughout the evening while his grows a bit. Sarn says very little. His sadness is a black rain cloud in the room. I could have easily killed him when we first arrived. Now I realize it's what he wishes. He doesn't want to live without his bride.
Acasia takes most of the gold with a burst of laughter on the final hand. This upsets my dragon slightly but he still smiles at her promising to take it back the next time. I'm emotionally exhausted when we finally leave. Laryn doesn't go straight to his castle. Several times he breathes fire and I think it's to relieve his aggression that I've felt the entire evening. He and Sarn might have put aside their differences, but my dragon is not happy. He takes us to the cliffs high above the ocean. I've noticed he does this when he's unsettled. Or I'm unsettled. I tuck myself into his large legs while he stays in dragon form. Under the glow of the moons we absorb the sound of untamed water striking the rocks.
I say nothing as we stand and stare far out into the night.
"What I did to Acasia was wrong. I'm sorry you witnessed Sarn's reaction. Neither Sarn nor Tahr has spoken to me since it happened. This was our first meeting."
The heat from his body warms me, though his words leave me cold. "I know the story, Laryn. Acasia told me. Sarn's pain is great. I don't hold it against him, though I would have killed him if need be. I never want that for you, Laryn. When I am gone, live wild and free until the next claiming. Don't waste the first days with your next bride with your overbearing pride. Treat your bride well and enjoy your time together."
He doesn't answer. A few moments later, he tells me to mount. He locks the door to my room when we get home and I spend a very lonely night thinking of my dragon.
Laryn is mostly quiet the next day at breakfast. I can't see inside his head and know what he's thinking and he won't speak of it. When I finally meet him to train, he seems to have shaken off some of his bad mood.
"If you hold onto the halberd today, I'll pay you a boon." He offers the first smile I've seen since last night.
"I have jewels and gold. What else could I want, dragon?"
His eyes go wide. "You have no jewels or gold. Those belong to me."
He's quite easy to tease. "I'm your bride. What's yours is mine."
He shakes his head. "It doesn't work that way. You must steal your own treasure."
Hmm, that gives me an idea. "What if the boon is that you take me somewhere that I can steal a treasure?"
Laryn stares at me with his mouth open in shock. "You wish to steal something?"
"If I hold onto my halberd, it's what I want for a boon." I can see sparks of silver flash in his blue eyes. He's excited. I have my old dragon back.
Then, he tries to kill me. Or at least it feels like it. I fall and roll before he brings his much larger halberd down. Sweat drips down my back and between my breasts. The weapons are sharp. I know he wouldn't mean to hurt me, but I know it can happen. I focus on his legs and belly. The muscles in both bunch immediately before he strikes. He said I had to hold on. He didn't say I couldn't cheat.
As I turn away from him I unbuckle the front of my top. I don't have time to draw the leather completely down, so I must wait until he gives me another opportunity. The next time, the entire piece comes undone and dangles from around my neck, my breasts hanging free. I can feel that it wouldn't be comfortable to fight like this, but it serves a purpose. Laryn drops his guard and I bring my weapon down. I pull it back at the last second. "You are a dead, dragon," I say with a huge grin.
His eyes are still on my breasts. He finally looks up and desire burns between us. "You win and shall have your boon, but you will give me one first."
"You're lucky I'm feeling charitable after defeating you, dragon."
He takes my hand and jerks me against his chest. "I'll make sure you don't regret it, bride."
My hand goes to the front of his jeans and I squeeze his member. "You know that thing you do with your mouth between my thighs?"
"I love that thing I do between your thighs with my mouth," he says with a grin that matches mine.
I feel suddenly shy. "Can I do that thing to your thing?"
He chuckles gruffly against my lips. "I wouldn't dream of stopping you."
His mouth devours mine and I'm no longer shy about what I want. I move his zipper down slowly and love the sound my dragon makes when I free his member. We are out in the open and wind cools the sweat on my body. The heat from my dragon's eyes keeps me warm as I sink to my knees. My tall boots protect my skin from the rough surface. Not that I actually care.
Laryn's hands go to my hair that I tied tightly back to keep it out of my way when I train. He unties the leather and threads his hands through it until it whips across my face. Then he wraps the hair around his fist and holds me still. I gaze up the length of him. My mouth waters at the sight. "Please tell me what to do."
His eyes flash. "You know what to do, bride."
I do.
I lean forward. Laryn controls my head, but he gives me the ability to do as I wish. A small drop of liquid pearls at the tip of his member. I want it. My tongue flicks out to taste him. My dragon. He's salty and sweet at the same time. His eyelids flutter and I think he will close them. He doesn't. He wants to see what I do. I wrap my hand around the width of him and kiss where I've just licked. He likes to put his mark on me and I want to mark him as well. I kiss down the length adding suction as I go.
"Holy fuck," he all but shouts into the breeze.
He so likes that word. I'll take it as encouragement. I close my mouth around him and he adds a slight amount of downward pressure to my head. Hmm, I go ever so slowly even when he presses a bit harder. His soft groan is my reward. I like this. Like the control and taking what I want. I flick my tongue and receive another groan. The sounds in his throat encourage me and I love that he enjoys what I'm doing. I increase my speed as his fingers become almost painful in my hair. He's lost in what I'm doing, so I'm surprised when he suddenly pulls away and slips from my lips. His hand goes to his member and he pumps his fist up and down until his essence spills against my breasts. He slides his member through the white substance he's leaving behind. I'm enthralled by what he's doing.
After he pulses the last bit onto my skin, he puts his hands beneath my arms and pulls me up. Our lips meet, our chests slide together, his essence transferring from me to him. If the brides knew the ecstasy that happens after they lose their virginity, none would be virgins even with the threat of death.
He pulls back and lifts me. I place my hands around his neck as he carries me to his rooms. My precious dragon owes me a boon, but I plan to give him a few before he needs to pay up.