Ascend
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Ophelia Bell
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Chapter One
Corey stood in the center of the corridor, staring at the massive green jade double doors. He felt like a fool for deciding to go through with thisâdateâor whatever it was. As much sexual eye candy as heâd witnessed over the last few hours, and as frustrated as he was as a result, heâd always considered himself the kind of guy who cared about more substance in his partners.
It had been Kris, finally, who had changed Coreyâs mind about going through with this. Kris who had made him understand the unique nature of these people their team had awakened. He had a hard time thinking of them as anything other than people, in spite of the fantastic shapes heâd seen them take. Heâd drawn a few of his own conclusions too. Very unscientific conclusions, probably, but he had a feeling Erika or the others might agree with him.
In spite of the very sexual nature of their new friends, each one of them ultimately had seemed human to him in one very particular way. They werenât mindless sex fiends. That realization had come, ironically, in the middle of watching the only orgy Corey thought he could ever stomach. Heâd stayed to man the camera for as long as he could endure, but in that span of time, heâd seen how attentive and caring each of the dragons had been to their lovers.
Corey had been with his share of lovers, all women, but only with one of them had he ever come close to feeling what heâd seen in all the dragonsâ eyes during the course of that night. It made him ache in a much deeper place than his balls to think he could have that again with a woman. He just hoped this particular woman wouldnât end up finding him wanting after a few months and leave him for a richer man.
Hell, she might hate him from the beginning, but heâd been on plenty bad dates and the world hadnât ended as a result. Shit, he hoped the world didnât end if this went badly. Heâd seen some of the magic the dragons could do and wondered how much more they were capable of when full-up. Like Kris shooting fireworks from his fingertips, Corey thought. If only a normal orgasm could feel that good. Just being in the room at that point wouldâve been enough to make Coreyâs cock hard as a rock, if it hadnât been already.
He wiped his damp palms on his pants and took a tentative step forward. Should he knock? Or should he just go in? All it had taken from Dimitri was touching the doors of that chamber and theyâd opened up, like heâd done it with the power of a thought.
âFuck it,â Corey muttered and rapped the knuckles of one hand lightly on the carved jade figure that graced the front of the door. He only had a second to regret which part of the womanâs image heâd managed to choose to touch before the doors both swung inward. He hurriedly raked shaky fingers through his hair and wished heâd had more time to prepareâto bring her flowers or something. As it was, all he was showing up with was a raging hard-on that hadnât subsided in hours. Heâd finally just written it off as something heâd have to live with for the time being.
He stood on the threshold, gazing around at the interior of a massive chamber easily the size of the throne room. It was completely lit, and at the far end was a huge bed with four columns of carved jade rising from the corners.
He almost didnât see her, as small as she was relative to the scope of the room and the bed. When he finally realized she was there, seated serenely in the center of the mattress, he raised a hand and gave her a tentative wave.
âAh ⊠Sorry Iâm late.â
She only nodded and raised a hand to gesture for him to come forward. Once he was a few paces in, she made another slight gesture and the doors swept closed behind him.
Coreyâs heart pounded as he looked over his shoulder at his only means of escape. But escape from what, exactly? He swallowed his anxiety and turned forward again to take a good look at this dragon queen he was so irrationally afraid of.
He stepped a few more paces into the room, keeping his eyes on her. She seemed so placid sitting there, just watching him come to her. Halfway into the room he stopped, deciding that was far enough. If she wanted him, sheâd have to meet him the rest of the way.
Now that he was closer, he could see her very clearly. His uncertainty replaced by cautious interest in the lovely figure. She was a petite young woman with skin so fair it glowed and thick, black curls that fell past her breasts. She had the same Asian features as Kris, though much more lovely and feminine compared to the guideâs. Of course, Corey reminded himself, she was Krisâs sister.
Her bright green eyes watched him take her in. He only made a cursory glance of her body, quickly shifting his eyes back up when he realized she was stark naked.
Of course sheâs naked, dummy. This is like the dragon nudist colony. Though he supposed dragons might not normally wear clothes when they were being ⊠well ⊠dragons.
She frowned and finally spoke. âDo you not find me pleasing to look upon, human?â Her voice was light and smooth, and carried easily across the expanse of the room to his ears.
Corey cleared his throat. âOh, trust me, I find you spectacular.â
âThen why wonât you come to me?â
Corey blinked at her. She sounded genuinely confused by his hesitation, but not in the way heâd have expected someone with the title of âQueenâ to sound. She cocked her head in an endearing way, waiting for him to respond.
âIâm not sure what you expect, so Iâm just being cautious, if thatâs all right. Iâm not in the habit of just jumping into bed with a pretty girl the first time we meet. I donât care how kinky you normally get with your lovers.â
âWhat can I do to appease your reservations?â
Corey took a deep, calming breath through his nose and rubbed the back of his neck. Eyebrows raised, he said, âWell, you could start by telling me your name. Then maybe we just talk a little?â
âMy name is Racha. And you are Corey. My brother told me of you before you arrived at my door.â
âOh? What did good old Kris have to say?â
âThat you are not like the other humans, but I think you are.â
âAnd what makes you think that?â
âYouâre here, and you want me.â
Now there was the Queen heâd expected. Her assertiveness irritated him, which he hated because she wasnât lying. Except it was a hollow want he felt, not the deep, abiding need heâd seen in the othersâ eyes, particularly Krisâs just before heâd made love to Issa for the first time.
âMaybe I just donât want you enough,â he said.
Racha grew thoughtful. Her gaze slid over his body and paused at his hips before moving back to his eyes.
âProve you donât. Take off your clothes.â
Heat rushed to Coreyâs face at the command. The hell heâd strip naked. Well, he might have just to prove the point, except being naked in front of her would only prove the opposite.
âI have a better idea. Why donât you put something on and we can talk about this like two sane people who ⊠I dunno ⊠actually get to know each other before fucking.â
