Chapter 10
With a full stomach and the attention of her Daddies, Skye was able to put everything back into perspective. What had seemed like the world coming to an end now seemed silly. She knew Ardon and Oldrik loved her. They couldn’t disguise their true feelings when their minds were linked to hers.
“Feeling better, Blueberry?” Oldrik asked.
Yes. It’s fun to see Ardon’s lair. This seems like where I would picture a dragon living. Lots of craggy walls and treasures.
She became suspicious when the dragons exchanged a look. What am I missing?
“The real treasures are not visible, Skye. Avarice is the middle name of all dragons. We enjoy collecting rare and precious items. These things are not displayed for everyone to see,” Ardon explained.
You have stuff hidden?
“Would you like to view my treasury? Oldrik will need to stay here,” Ardon stressed.
Is that okay? She checked with Oldrik, concerned that they were cutting him out of activities.
“Of course, Blueberry. I will share my collections with you as well, privately. As much as I trust Ardon as a member of the horde, I would not expose an insider's view of my defenses to him. Not that there is any way he could abscond with my possessions,” Oldrik stressed, sending a pointed look at Ardon, who appeared amused.
She was so intrigued by the idea of a dragon’s trove of treasure. I’d love to see it.
As they walked away, Oldrik settled in a comfortable leather chair and picked up a book from the nearby table. He didn’t seem bothered at all to allow them to leave together. On a whim, she tugged at Ardon’s sleeve before running to his side to wrap her arms around Oldrik’s neck. After delivering a quick kiss, she scurried back to Ardon. This time, when she peeked over her shoulder, she saw Oldrik brush his fingertips over his lips as if savoring her kiss.
“Nicely done, My Treasure,” Ardon praised her as they turned the corner.
Skye skipped happily by his side for several steps, pleased at having given in to her urge to say goodbye as they left. She stopped with Ardon when he paused in front of a blank section of wall next to a bronze wishing well. Puzzled, she watched him dip his fingers in the container and heard a rumble.
Focusing back on the wall in wonder, Skye’s jaw dropped ajar when a door opened in front of her. Ardon waved her inside and pressed his hand to a panel next to the door. The barrier replaced itself.
That was like magic. I couldn’t see a line even hinting a door was on that wall …. Her thoughts shut down as she gazed over the vast space. Every imaginable type of art, jewelry, and gold and silver coins attracted her attention with glistening and gleaming splendor.
“What?” slipped from her mouth as she tried to take it all in.
Skye pointed to a bronze sculpture in the room's corner. “Is that Rodin’s Thinker?”
“Just his preliminary scale model. The large one is in Paris.” Ardon’s voice echoed around the large chamber.
It is, huh? Skye couldn’t figure out what to say to that. It almost sounded like Ardon knew the famous artist. How many jeweled necklaces do you have?
“Two million four hundred and seventy-three.”
That’s it? she asked sarcastically. He knew how many necklaces he had that precisely?
“For today.”
Dragons do love their treasure, don’t they?
“Of course we do.”
Skye walked toward a mound of coins in the center of the room. It was at least four times her size, and she couldn’t even estimate how far it spanned in each direction. She reached down to scoop up a handful and studied it. The ancient lettering, foreign languages, and the weight of the metal in her hand fascinated her. This small selection spanned the course of human civilization for hundreds of years.
“Here. Check this out,” he suggested, extending a large, old book.
Holding out her hands, Skye accepted it and ran her fingers over the thin metal casing. “What is this?”
“Open it up.”
She followed his directions and gently turned the cover. Inside were a ton of sketches of familiar designs. This is Rodin’s? This should be in a museum.
“These were his sketches from his childhood. He made me promise not to show them to anyone in a position of power in the art world before he gave it to me. In those drawings, he experimented with perspective and other artsy endeavors. I thought perhaps you would be interested in studying what appears to be almost scientific experiments to me.”
The appeal of all the shining, precious items in the vault disappeared. This meant more to Skye than any jewelry or wealth. She wanted to cry but was afraid she’d get the pages wet.
Interested? Skye shook her head in disbelief. This is incredible. Can I take it back to my room?
“It is yours, My Treasure. You may rip it to shreds if you wish.”
Her eyes widened in shock at that idea. She closed the volume and hugged it against her chest.
“Or you can study it and perhaps Rodin can teach you something. I suspect he’d be pleased to have it go to a talented artist who’d appreciate his early attempts.”
Skye set the book carefully on the ground before rushing over to throw herself into Ardon’s arms. I don’t know how to thank you .
“No thanks are needed, Skye. I will, however, accept a kiss.”
Skye pressed her mouth eagerly to Ardon’s. When heat flared between them, she pulled back, not wishing to betray Oldrik in the other room. “I will cherish this,” she forced herself to say out loud. This was too big just for a mental message.
“Then it is with the right person. Would you like to take anything else with you? A ring, some coins, a chalice?”
No, thank you. This is more than enough.
She picked up the volume and hugged it to her chest. Walking with Ardon back to the room where Oldrik waited, she still struggled to process the treasure he had shared with her.
Oldrik was dutifully impressed as well. “Well done, Ardon. I will have to try to top that.”
This isn’t a competition, Skye told them both, glaring from dragon to dragon.
“Of course it is, Blueberry,” Oldrik assured her with a complete lack of concern.
She shook her head, wondering if she’d ever understand her dragons. My dragons , she repeated to herself. Skye liked the sound of that.
“Now that Ardon has had the chance to check on his loot and found something special for you, how about going on an excursion together. How would you feel about going outside to tour the area by air?”
That would be fun. Can we drop this off at home first? I don’t want to damage it.
“Of course. Then, we thought you might like to go to a waterfall that Ardon found a few years ago,” Oldrik suggested.
I’d love that. It’s so cool to soar through the sky and feel the wind. Skye threaded her fingers through her hair. I love my new cut. Oh, no! I forgot to pay Lalani. We have to go back.
“She is not expecting money, My Treasure,” Ardon assured her as they landed in front of the large mansion.
Of course I need to give her something. I don’t have any money. Do you think she’d like me to draw a picture of her and Khadar together? I can do it from memory. Or we could pick up something while we’re out?
“I’m confident she would treasure having that picture from you. You can work on it tonight. For now, let’s go and have some fun. I think all of us need a bit of enjoyment in our lives,” Ardon said.
A waterfall sounds nice. Is it okay if I don’t have a bathing suit?
A flicker of heat appeared in each of the shifters’ gaze. It didn’t appear that the idea of her unclothed bothered them at all.
“Thank goodness the waterfall is close. Grab some towels to keep our mate warm and let’s go,” Oldrik ordered.
After shifting to carry the tome inside, Ardon returned with thick terry cloth sheets and something else that made Skye swallow hard. She studied the curved metal object in his hand and asked, That’s not what I think it is, right?
“If you think it’s a plug to stretch your bottom, you are correct,” Ardon said, setting the towels down.
“Excellent idea. That could be what’s not allowing us to relax into the mate bond,” Oldrik told him.
I don’t understand. How’s that going to help?
“We need to make love together, Skye—both of us buried deep inside you. We’ve hesitated to take you at the same time. Hurting you is the last thing we would risk.” Ardon stressed that last sentence.
Skye squeezed her legs together as a mental image flashed into her mind of having her shifters wrapped around her. How would it feel wearing that? The plug seemed so naughty. Her anticipation grew as Ardon applied thick lubricant over the metal surface.
“That goes in me?” she squeaked, speaking out loud and startling herself.
“Shh! You’ll be just fine. Let’s slide this in so your body will have time to adjust.” Oldrik tugged Skye toward him.
Before she could react, Oldrik stripped her pants down to her ankles. He lifted her and draped her over a ledge on her tummy. He pressed a hand to the small of her back, pinning her in place.
“Wait!”
“This will not hurt you and will help protect you, Skye. It is important,” Oldrik stressed as Ardon approached.
Skye froze, torn between embarrassment and arousal. She could already feel herself getting wet. “Um….”
Oldrik rubbed her bottom to comfort her. “There are no secrets between mates. It’s okay to be turned on by the thought of us taking you here. Any pleasure shared between mates is positive and healthy.”
He held her gaze directly, waiting for her to respond. When Skye nodded slowly, he praised her. “Good girl. I’m going to spread your bottom and prepare you for the plug. Take a deep breath for me. Now, exhale.”
The cool air of the cavern swirled over her intimate space as he parted her bottom and spread lubricant on her small entrance. He pressed a finger firmly into her opening, applying the slippery mixture on all sides of her tight channel.
Skye melted on the hard surface below her when he removed his probing finger. That relief didn’t last long. Ardon stepped forward to press the cold metal tip of the plug to that tight ring of muscles. Oldrik held her in place as Ardon pushed the device into Skye. She bit her lip, fearing it would tear her. At the widest point she struggled to accept it. To her relief, the plug narrowed and slid firmly inside her with the wide, flat base nestling against that sensitive ring.
“You took that perfectly, My Treasure. I’m very proud of you.” Ardon praised her and adjusted it slightly as Oldrik moved away to clean his hands.
Each motion of the metal inside her sent shivers of arousal through her. When he lifted his fingers away from shifting it, Skye breathed a sigh of relief and missed the stimulation at the same time. She squeezed the plug inside her, testing the sensations that remained.
“Let’s get your pants back in place, and we’ll go on our ride. The waterfall is waiting,” Ardon said as he lifted her down and set Skye on her feet.
She shivered at the feel of the cold metal inside her as Ardon restored her clothes. Oldrik returned to take her hand and led her slowly to the enormous cavern, just inside the entrance, where they could shift into dragon form. Each step jostled the tormenter inside her. She couldn’t think of anything else as she took baby steps next to him. Her panties were already soaked. And they expected her to sit on a dragon?
Ardon changed in a shimmery show that captivated her. Skye had tried to discover how his muscular human form changed into a massive dragon shape, but the details never registered on her mind. Some kind of magic must be involved.
Oldrik shifted rapidly as Skye climbed up on Ardon’s back. She was pleased to find the process seemed normal now. Settling into place, she noticed Oldrik nudge a large package toward the opening. Was that something they were taking with them?
What’s that?
Some supplies for us to enjoy at the waterfall , Ardon answered.
Skye noticed when he turned his head toward the protective ring of flame, it went out. She breathed a sigh of relief that he wouldn’t carry her through that. She wasn’t quite over their scary arrival.