Chapter 22
Meera
The midafternoon breeze blew across the rooftop patio.
I sat poolside under the shade of an oversized umbrella next to Tansy and Lillian, who were sprawled out on lounge chairs of their own.
It was a beautiful day to hang out by the pool.
They’d assured me that no ghouls would reach me on the patio since it was considered part of the penthouse and therefore covered by the wards and spells.
So far, they were correct, and nothing had bothered me, not even a bug. Chicken Nugget, who was currently splish-splashing in a shallow bowl under the umbrella, hung out with us, making a big mess. How did one bird accumulate this many bath toys?
I closed my eyes and tried to tune out the little bird. I thought of something else sitting in a giant egg instead.
I didn’t know what I was trying to accomplish by trying to talk to the dragonlet through the egg yesterday.
I’d asked if it was happy at Desmon’s, and I was sure it glowed a little.
But then again, it could’ve been my imagination.
But I was pretty darn sure that the reaction it had to my next question hadn’t been in my head.
When Elana had been distracted with a text on her phone from Seth, I’d quietly told it I’d dreamt of his father, and I swear, it had gotten warmer. Like it was… excited? Like it wanted to go home.
I didn’t pretend to speak egg, or dragon for that matter, but I felt it all the way down to my soul. Was that cliché? Sure, but I didn’t know how else to describe it. Putting it down had been difficult too. And a part of me screamed that I was abandoning it.
Elana had seen me hesitating and understood. Apparently, she found it difficult leaving it alone too.
“Desmon says it’s how the egg ensures its best chance at survival. Especially useful when older siblings are known to push unhatched eggs out of the nest and down the side of a cliff.”
“Do you think it’s happy here?” I’d asked her. “Or do you think it wants to return to its parents?”
She’d looked pensive and told me she wasn’t sure.
I’d considered telling her about the dream, but didn’t want to worry her if it really was just my brain playing tricks on me.
I’d had a stressful few days, and Graham had been sure that no magic would be able to sneak through the penthouse’s defenses.
So I’d let it be. Omelet did seem happier than it was when I’d first held it. I couldn’t believe that moment in my kitchen when I’d first laid eyes and hands on it had only been five days ago, six if we counted today.
I’d woken up in the middle of the night again with the same dream. It had gone exactly the same way as the first one, and nothing I did changed any of the dialogue. I couldn’t control the words that came out of my mouth. It was like a recording.
The smell of popcorn and theater-style butter jogged me out of my head and back poolside. I gawked as Lillian produced a large plastic bottle of the liquid gold and started squirting butter-flavored oil generously over her freshly popped kernels.
“You took the whole bottle of butter out here?” I asked, astonished.
“I told you yesterday, it’s going to expire soon. We have to eat it all.”
I sighed. “Fine. I’ll help.”
She held out the movie theater popcorn bag-shaped ceramic container to me, and I grabbed a handful. Tansy rejected the offer, claiming that the baby had had enough butter-flavored oil for a twenty-four-hour period.
I finally understood why the penthouse had so many couches. Last night had been movie night, and there were just enough couches for every couple to have their own.
The girls had won out, and we’d watched Stardust. I’d loved that movie growing up, and it was definitely sleepover movie material. Except it hadn’t been a girly sleepover, but a co-ed one, and I’d spent the movie cuddled up next to Graham under the blankets.
I fit into this group’s dynamic so well that I was almost scared I’d wake up and it would all be a dream. This was just too good to be true.
Despite knowing that, it was hard to keep my heart out of it, especially when I was all wrapped up in Graham’s arms. And when we got to the part where Yvaine confessed her love to mouse Tristan, I swore I’d felt Graham’s arms tighten around me ever so slightly. Or did I imagine it?
Love. Love was a silly thought, especially between us, right? I mean, he was just the gargoyle guard tasked with protecting me until this whole ordeal was over. We had chemistry, and we were a good physical match. No, not merely good, we were explosive. But sex didn’t equal love.
And not to mention, I’d just come out of a long-term relationship. Jumping directly into another one was a recipe for disaster. I’d be dooming the relationship before it even started.
So this had to be casual because I didn’t want it to be casual. Did that even make sense?
Once this was over, I’d take some time away to find myself or whatever the fuck I was supposed to do after wasting three years of my life. And then, when enough time had passed that it wouldn’t be considered a rebound anymore, I could figure out a way to see Graham again and start fresh.
I could always come visit Shelby, Lillian, and Tansy.
A few days ago, Mateo had come by with the black duffel full of my clothes.
He hadn’t been kidding when he said Eva had just shoved clothes into it blindly since they were in a rush to get out of there.
She must’ve grabbed things mostly from the top drawer, which were all my sleep clothes and undergarments.
At least I had enough pajamas to last me my whole visit.
Luckily for me, she did grab a pair of jeans, so at least I had that to pair with my sleepy tank tops, which had to be good enough for now.
Mateo had also dropped off a gaudy-looking spiky chainmail-eqsue necklace that clearly belonged to Seth.
The necklace had a cloaking spell woven into it, and as long as I wore it, no ghoul would be able to track me through magical means.
Which meant I could actually leave the penthouse with Graham without looking over my shoulder every five seconds.
The only catch? The damn thing looked like it belonged in a Renaissance faire reject pile.
I’d also found my swimsuit stuffed in the duffel, which was why we’d been spending so much time poolside.
Graham and Gunnar were out protecting some politician while they were in town, and Eamon had been called in by the EA for some work needing his demonly expertise.
“What are you going to wear on your date with Graham tonight?” Lillian asked.
“It’s not really a date. He’s still showing me around Darlington, remember.”
“Psssh.” She waved a hand. “Tomato, tomato.”
I laughed. “You said that the same way.”
“Exactly!”
Nugget, who had her head cocked listening to us, squawked.
“See, Nugget agrees. And no offense, but it’s not like you have that much waiting for you back in New York.
An okay job. No friends.” Subtlety, clearly was not Lillian’s playstyle.
“We’ve been trying to get Graham matched up for a while.
I say you lock that shit down stat. And plus, you have us here. ”
“What Lillian is trying to say is that you have a place here if you want. No pressure.”
Lillian snorted. “No. Actually, I’m totally pressuring her. I feel bad when Graham disappears whenever we hang out because he feels like the odd one out. You’re good for him, Meera.”
“I don’t think he’s looking for anything serious.”
And this had them both cackling like I’d said something funny. Nugget cackled along with them, thinking it was a game.
“You’re literally the only woman he’s ever shown any interest in, Meera. Like the only one.”
“Do you guys know why?” I asked, hoping I’d get something useful from them.
“I don’t know the whole story, but it’s some girl he liked literally a century ago,” Lillian said. “Gunnar mentioned her when I asked, but he didn’t sound like he liked her much. The guys hate how her memory hangs around like a freaking ghost.”
“There’s no actual ghost though,” Tansy assured me.
“Nugget would’ve seen her if there was. From what I gathered, they weren’t even that close.
He just decided he was done with women after that.
Until you came around. But if you want the whole story, I think you’ll have to get it from Graham.
If he ever decides to talk about it.” Tansy stood, stretching.
Even pregnant, she looked gorgeous in her swimsuit.
She put her hand on her belly. “Okay, little one, let’s go for a swim. ”
She gracefully lowered herself into the water as Lillian put her popcorn aside before cannonballing into the deep end.
“You’re supposed to wait after eating!” I yelled as she resurfaced.
“Bite me!” was her reply.
I grinned, then deciding a few laps would do me good, I joined them in the water.
I got a few laps in before I started feeling the sun on my skin despite slathering on a good amount of Lillian’s sunscreen.
But not wanting to use more of her imported Korean skincare, I decided I’d pick some sunscreen up for myself and just hang out under the umbrella for the rest of the afternoon.
It was much sunnier today than it had been yesterday.
A big, greenish-gray hand helped me out of the pool, and I found myself plastered against Graham’s chiseled chest. He was topless, but I was also getting his jeans all wet, but he didn’t seem to care.
“Swimwear suits you.” He looked down my body with a predatory grin.
Then with one fluid motion, he swept me into his arms and I found myself being carried to the French doors and back into the penthouse. He didn’t stop until we were in his suite, up the stairs, and in his room. He plopped me down onto the bed.
“Yes, you definitely need another bikini.”
I giggled. “I’m getting the bed all wet.” I’d tried to swim without dunking my head under, but my hair was wet anyway.
But his eyes weren’t on the wet spots I was leaving on the bed; they were on my shoulders.
“You’re turning red.”
I looked down at my chest, and sure enough, my usual light tan color was just on this side of lobster. “Oops, I guess I was in the sun longer than I thought.”
He disappeared into his bathroom and returned with a bottle of oil. The viscous liquid shimmered in the light like it had tiny specs of gold.
“It’s oil meant for dragon wings, and has healing properties. I splurged on some last year. Lie down on your front; I’ll put some on you.”
I did, and he moved my hair out of the way.
The oil had healing properties all right, but I wasn’t sure whether it was from the oil itself or his deft fingers.
I moaned as his hands, covered in oil, smoothed over my skin.
The gold-flecked liquid glided like silk between us, and the light floral aroma made me feel heady and giddy.
With several pulls of the ties holding my bikini on my body, I was naked. I could feel the heat of his gaze on me, even with my face pressed into the pillow. Firm palms dragged slick oil over the globes of my ass.
I laughed. “I don’t think I burned my butt.”
“I had to make sure.”
His hands stilled on my ass, his thumbs tracing slow, deliberate circles over my skin.
Then his fingers tightened, his grip turning possessive.
The oil made my skin gleam under the soft light, my breasts rising and falling with my quickened breath.
His eyes raked over me, lingering on the flush still painting my chest, the way my nipples pebbled under his stare.
He pulled me up to my hands and knees, and after another generous drizzle of oil warmed between strong hands, he soothed my collarbone and chest. Slick with oil, his thumbs brushed the undersides of my breasts before cupping them.
I arched into his touch, a whimper escaping me as his fingers pinched my nipples, rolling them between his knuckles.
The oil made everything slippery , his touch gliding over my skin like he was memorizing every inch of me.
“Graham…”
My plea died on my lips when oil-slicked fingers slid down over my belly to my pussy, the oil enhancing my own wetness. His tail joined in the quest, the tapered tip dragging up my inner thigh. I held my breath, my body remembering exactly what that tail could do.
How could I forget when he hadn’t failed to remind me every day since?
“You like this, don’t you?” His voice was a dark purr. “You liked it when I fucked you with my tail.”
I couldn’t lie. Not when my body was already trembling, already aching for more.
“Yes,” I breathed.
“That’s a good girl.”
His tail pressed in, making my back arch.
It stretched me until my toes were curling.
His hands left my breasts, one gripping my hip to hold me in place, the other sliding between my thighs to tease my clit.
His tail pulled out only after several thrusts, only to be replaced by the broad head of his cock.
I hadn’t even realized he’d gotten his pants off.
I gasped into the mattress at the first thrust of his thick length. His cock was veiny and mildly ridged, and I could feel it all as it speared into me, holding me wide open. But he didn’t move.
I whined, shoving my ass back at him.
He reached for the oil and drizzled more of it over my ass and pussy. Then his tail was there at the rosebud of my ass.
I froze, worried that it would hurt.
“I’ve never tried that before,” I admitted.
“I will make it feel good,” he promised. “I promise to make it good for you.” The tip of his tail rubbed in slow circles, and to my shock, my pussy only grew wetter.
“But won’t it be easier by itself?” I asked, still nervous.
“This will be easier. Let me show you, Trouble.”
He thrust his cock several times into me, and my body reacted wildly, shoving back against him. The tip of his tail breached my tight opening. There was a slight discomfort, but it was masked by a new pleasurable sensation I’d never felt before.
“Push out,” he ordered before sliding his cock in and out of my pussy several more times.
And this time, when my body responded to his, rocking back and forth, I pushed out when I felt the pressure. His tail, slick with oil, and my juices slid in. I was sure it was only an inch or two, but it felt so full. I keened, a guttural sound coming from my throat.
“Good girl. You want more?” Graham murmured, bent over my body, his breath hot against my skin. “Tell me.
“Yes,” I gasped. “Please!”