A Dragon's Tale Ch. 46

It must be that damn bond.

*But she doesn't stop there.* Ethan continued. *This is a special collar with a small metal ring in front.*

She swallowed.

Hard.

To her, that was the clincher of a collar. Anything else could be passed off as a fashion accessory or choker. For her, that small metal ring in the front made it obvious that it wasn't a choker, but a collar. Any woman could wear a choker, but only special women -- women who'd proved they were worthy of it -- could wear a collar.

The tiniest moan escaped her lips, but she suppressed it almost instantly.

She hoped he hadn't heard.

*Then this woman continues doing what she was instructed to do.* He continued. *She lays flat on the table which was custom made to ensure her comfort. Then she clips a small carabiner to the collar, attaching the cord on its other end to a cleverly concealed hitch on the table, intended for just such a purpose. Then she adjusts the cord until ti's just tight enough that she can't move herself backwards, though without any unpleasant pressure on her neck.*

Selene pictured it in her head. If the woman's high-heel clad feet were still on the floor cuffed to the table legs, and her torso was laying across the table with her butt facing the room's entrance, and her collar was attached to the far side of the table so she couldn't move backwards...

Mmm.

Holy shit that was hot!

In her mind, it needed only one more thing to make it perfect. But he wouldn't say it, would he?

*Then, she reaches for the final item.* He continued.

Oh please, let him think of it.

Please.

*She feels around until her hands hit the cuffs, which she then uses to cuff her hands behind her back.*

Fuck yes!

Selene let out a tiny sigh, scarcely believing that Ethan -- kind, caring, and selfless Ethan -- could've come up withexactly this. She hadn't known it until he'd said it, but that was definitely a fantasy of hers now. She'd never thought of a situation quite like this, but damn it was hot.

She bit her lip and waited for him to continue.

He didn't.

She waited almost thirty seconds, but he still didn't say anything.

*Ethan?* She asked tentatively when almost a minute of agonizing silence had passed.

*Yes Selene?* He replied as if they were discussing the weather or some other trivial matter, not like he hadn't just given her one of the hottest fantasies of her life, if not the hottest.

*I... Uh...* She floundered, her cheeks burning at even thethought of asking him to continue.

*You... what?* He asked calmly, with a hint of dragonish smugness in the background.

He knew.

Fuck, he knew.

How did he know? Probably the bond. Damn it. Heknew and he was going to make her ask for more. For some reason, that was almost as hot as the story he'd been spinning. He wasn't going to let her get away with hinting; she would have to ask. He was making her ask.

Grr, why was that so hot?

*I was wondering if you had finished.* She finally replied.

*Not yet.* He replied. *I would've told you to let go of my wing if I was finished 'taking care' of things in here.*

Shit.

He was wasn't going to make this easy. *Um, I meant the... the story.*

*I just said I was going to create a situation.* He replied. *I've done that.*

She wanted to groan in frustration. He was playing with her; toying with her. He knew how much she wanted to hear more and was going to make her ask for it. He was playing her like a fiddle and shealmost hated how much that turned her on.

She bit her lip. *Um, you could continue if you wanted.*

*Selene, stop pussyfooting around.* He replied, a note of sharpness in his dragon-tinged tone. *Say what you want or be silent.*

*I want...* Could she admit it to him? He must already know; surely he must. That's when she remembered that he could feel her emotions over their bond.

He did know.

Her cheeks suddenly felt hot.

She grimaced and then covered her mouth, only to realize that he didn't seem disturbed by it at all. Far from it in fact, he had actually been spinning a story where...

*I want you to keep going... with the story.* She said, needing to get the words out before she stopped herself. She had always thought that everyone would think there was something wrong with her for her kink.

He didn't.

He not only didn't think something was wrong with her, but he had actually fed into it; he'd joined her in it. She never thought that would happen.

Ever.

*Say please.* He replied, and somehow she knew that this had nothing to do with manners.

She shuddered as her nether lips started to almost tingle. She suppressed a moan, scarcely believing how good he was at this. He was taking control of the situation in a way that made her just... Mmm. She couldn't have scripted this better if she had tried.

*Please.* She thought to him. The thought was faint; almost like a whisper.

A plea.

*Very well.* He replied. *The woman stays there, laying comfortably across the table with her ankles cuffed to the legs, her collar fastened to the far side, and her hands cuffed behind her back. Completely naked. Exposed. Laid bare for her lover to see.*

Selene shuddered again as she let out a soft sigh. Her breathing was shallower than normal, her cheeks were flushed, and her entire body felt warm; almost feverish.

*She lays over the table as the minutes slowly tick by, each one bringing her lover closer as she waits for him.* He paused, probably for effect. *She waits for him inexactly the way thathe wants her to wait.*

The caramel-haired beauty opened her mouth and let out a breathy exhale.

*Finally, she hears a car pull into the driveway.* He continued. *Her heart quickens.*

Selene's certainly did.

*She can feel her body reacting to him, to what is about to happen.*

The Brazilian woman could too. If she had been the woman laying on that table, she would've had viscous moisture running down her legs.

*She hears the door unlock, open, then close.*

Selene's breath caught. She wanted him to see her -- not Ethan to see her, but the man to see the woman -- and be captivated by her.

*She hears soft footfalls, then the telltale creak of a floorboard in the room's entrance announcing that he could see her.*

The caramel-haired beauty made to put her left hand between her legs since she was still holding Ethan's wing with her right. This was going to be good. She knew it was. If he was going to get off, she sure as hell was going to as well.

*Selene!* Ethan thought to her sharply, his dragon side again tinging his tone.

She froze.

*Hand at your side unless you want me to stop.*

Her mouth fell open.

How did he know?

Was it the bond? She doubted the feeling were that granular; perhaps his dragon instincts were letting him know? That would make more sense. It still strained credulity though. There was a door between them so he couldn't see. Could he hear? Did he just know her that well? Maybe he'd learned something from their bonding? Some deeper insight perhaps?

It must be the bond.

Stupid fucking bond!

Selene put her hand down, not wanting him to stop but also wanting to take advantage of the tale he was spinning while hating that she couldn't. Okay, notexactly hating it. In a strange way, it was kind of hot that he wasn't letting her. She didn't know why, but it was.

*The woman hears him breathing, but can't look to see him.* He continued. *Her hair and the collar being attached to the table make that impossible. So instead she waits.*

Selene waited with bated breath.

*She hears him take a step forward, then he makes an appreciative sound.*

Selene moaned softly, imagining him doing that after seeing her like that; completely exposed and utterly helpless.

*He takes another step forward and she feels his hand gently brush the outer curve of her hip, still unable to look or respond because she's so helplessly secured.*

If the caramel-haired woman had been able to use her hands, she would be cresting a wave right about now.

*The man leans over her helpless and captive body; so close that she can almost feel him touching her, but he isn't anymore.* He continued. *Then she feels a single one of his fingers slowly trace up the outside of her thigh, going over the curve of her hip and up her side.*

Selene was imagining so hard that could she almost feel it.

*His finger comes up her side and over her shoulderblade.*

She shuddered.

*Then he leans down and whispers into her ear: 'you've done so well, I have a surprise for you'."

It took most of Selene's willpower not to start franticly rubbing her clit.

Then she heard a slight groan from Ethan in the next room.

Wait, what?

He couldn't be done?

No!

This was just getting good! Okay, it had been good for a long time, it was just getting great. Beyond great, beyond incredible even.

*You can let go of my wing.* Ethan said.

She did, her face and heart sinking faster than a stone even as her arousal soared. He was done?! But--

He opened the door and was standing there with an unreadable expression. "I do feel a bit less dragonish, thanks."

She nodded, trying to reconcile the raging fire in her loins with the casual way he was speaking. "Uh, you're welcome?"

Damnit!

She needed a little time alone to finish with her fingers what he'd started with his words.

He grinned at her a bit wickedly, and she got the distinct impression that his dragon side was still running the show. *And if you can restrain your fingers until next time, I might finish that story.*

Her eyes widened. *You'might' finish it?*

*Might.* He nodded. *I make no promises.*

She stared at him incredulously. *Afterthat, you want me to wait a week on the off chance that youmight finish it?*

*Then don't wait.* He shrugged. *But if you don't, then you willnever know how it ends.* He grinned at her wickedly. *Your call.*

And with that, he gave her a cheeky grin and then walked up the stairs to the Argo's weather deck.

She stared after him.

That brilliant, wonderful, devious, infuriating, caring, maddening, kind, and pseudo-sadistic dragon had just given her a fantasy that she would never forget. How was she supposed to wait a whole week?! She had just had the most intense sexual experience of her life!

As she thought about it, she realized that all three of the most erotic experiences of her life involved Ethan. Number three had been listening to him, Beth, and Alana make love after Beth had come back from the dead. Number two was how he'd looked at her at the portal before he'd left Earth. And now this? And he wanted her to wait?!

What the hell?!

That was the exact moment when she remembered something. She had read and enjoyed stories with this as an element. In fact, she'd sought them out before and on a regular basis; stories where the male lead incentivized the heroine to deny herself -- or even edge -- with the promise of future rewards.

Fuck!

It was definitely, positively, in no way whatsoeverat least ten times hotter in real life than in stories.

Not at all.

Not one bit...

* * *

"The other airship has changed course." Kendra said, adjusting her spyglass as she saw it come into view. It had been hidden from the Argo by the twin peaks they had sailed through earlier that morning, but now was visible. She was standing on the quarterdeck of the Argo with Anthiel, and had been checking that direction for the airship regularly for the last hour.

"I'm surprised they didn't change course sooner." The high elf replied. "Oh, and our quarry is turning too."

The dragon huntress looked forward and saw that the ship which Ethan had attacked earlier was indeed turning. It hadn't seen them already because they'd remained in the sun from its perspective, but it would see them very soon.

"Ethan just got back." Alana said as she came up the stairs to the quarterdeck. Their husband had just finished bringing Beth's Astral Plane form back to her body since they wouldn't need her on the target airship for the rest of the day, and she understandably didn't want to spend it alone.

"Captain." Anthiel called loudly.

Ethan came up the stairs to the quarterdeck not long afterwards. "What's up, oh captain my captain?"

The high elf raised her eyebrow.

"It's from a movie." He explained.

"I'll need a course." She said a moment later, ignoring his comment. "Both two airships are turning and both will see us soon."

"I suppose back in the direction of Dotmier makes the most sense." He replied. "We won't reach there before dark, will we?"

"No." Anthiel replied.

"Then we'll have time to ambush them before we get there." He looked out at the ship they weren't following. "Can you plot a course that won't allow the ships to catch us, but will still allow us to ambush the one I attacked?"

"Do dragons breathe fire?" The high elf replied, then started issuing orders to Serif and Raklan, and not long afterwards the Argo began to turn.

For the next hour, not much happened.

Frankly it was boring.

Kendra watched Ethan sparring with both Serif and Raklan, alternating with whoever Selene wasn't sparring with. The two airships had clearly caught sight of them and were giving chase, which was perfect. Anthiel had angled the Argo's trajectory so that the airship whose mages Ethan had mostly eliminated was much closer. The Argo was moving slightly faster, so the other airship wouldn't be able to catch up.

At about lunchtime Anthiel reheated a pot of some kind of stew and everyone gathered around it to eat. Kendra sat next to Selene and could tell that something was off about the Brazilian woman. She seemed both more frustrated than normal and also much happier than normal. The dragon huntress wasn't sure why and made a mental note to ask her later.

It didn't take long for Thor to run up to the Brazilian woman, snuggling and purring on her lap as she sat cross-legged eating and petting him.

"Ethan." Selene said after a minute. "I bet Thor would warm up to you if you fed him for a few meals."

"Good idea." Kendra said.

Anthiel always cut up some raw meat for the kitten as part of preparing meals, and she offered that plate to Ethan instead Selene this time.

"Thor." Ethan called.

The kitten looked at him warily, but remained on Selene's lap and meowed up at her.

"Go get your food." The Brazilian woman told him. "Ethan's got it, and he's not such a bad guy."

The kitten meowed again, then almost pointedly turned his back to her, walked off Selene's lap, and flopped down next to Kendra.

Everyone laughed.

"I've been thinking about tonight." Kendra said once she'd stopped laughing. "Are we sure the decoy plan is a good idea? Maneuvering an airship the size of the Argo into position to board without being seen will be hard, especially if everyone is on edge from a recent grenade attack."

"Do you have another option?" Rachel asked.

"I was thinking -- and hear me out before you object -- what if we board using my airship?"

Several of them looked at her canoe-sized airship, then back at her.

"Like I said, hear me out." The dragon huntress continued. "It has overkill for ballast logs; like,way overkill. It could fit everyone who needs to go and still stay aloft, as long as we don't need to gain altitude quickly. Plus we won't need to fit Ethan since he can fly and thus won't need to be on my airship."

"Okay, but that's still six people: Alana, Rachel, you, Selene, Serif, and Raklan." Ethan said as he held out a piece of meat for Thor, who was still refusing to come near him.

"It can do it." Kendra said. "I was once on an airship of the same model while it was keeping eight people aloft. It took forever to rise, but it would stay in the air. Mine only needs to carry six people."

"How does it not tip over with that many people?" Selene asked.

"The two masts." Kendra replied. "The lower mast of an airship is always left at full weight, and the upper mast is enchanted so it has the maximum possible negative weight."

"Which is the normal weight, just inverted." Alana added. "So if something weighs a thousand pounds, you can enchant it to weigh negative one thousand pounds."

"Exactly." Kendra nodded. "So with the lower mast pulling down and the upper mast pulling up, that provides plenty of counterbalance to keep most any airship upright. My airship can do it, and I think it would be easier than using the Argo."

"An important factor is the camouflage, which will make the mission much easier." Serif said, which was unusual as he rarely spoke at meals.

"Camo? What camo?" Ethan asked.

"Let me show you." Kendra stood up, and Thor meowed at her too. "Go get your food from Ethan." She waved toward her husband. She smiled,her husband; she still couldn't believe that she was married.

She walked over to her airship and touched the hull and then the sails. Slowly the color changed from natural wood and linen to a dark navy blue, of the type that would blend in well at night. She returned to the lunch circle to shocked and slightly awed looks.

"Wow, that's amazing." Taloni said, her eyes as big as saucers.

Alana was staring at the dragon huntress. "How in Saidow's lair did they fit that enchantment into the wood with the lightening enchantment?"

"Well, I know that the wood was grown especially for Aldmiri airships." The raven-haired woman replied. "I think they source it from a wood elven family."

"They must." The wood elf mused. "You'd need some wood nearly as good the staves my adopted family made to fit both enchantments." She cocked her head to one side. "Or simply have been clever and enchanted only a thin part on the outside to be color changing while making the bulk of the enchantment lightening."

"Or both." The raven-haired woman suggested, then addressed everyone. "Also, notice that my airship doesn't have a protrusion on the front to hold sail lines like the Argo does, so you can get much closer than you could with the Argo. Since it's so small and it's very dark before the moon rises, we could sail up from underneath if Ethan eliminates the lookout on the lower crow's nest."

"I'll be the first to admit it; that sounds like a better idea than mine." Selene nodded. "It'll be much harder for them to see us coming and we'll have more flexibility on where to board."

"The quarterdeck." Anthiel said. "If you control the quarterdeck, you control the ship."

"Plus, the two stairs on either side are convenient choke points." Kendra said. "If we put Serif and Raklan on one stairway, and then myself, Selene, and Ethan on the other, and have Alana and Rachel providing ranged and magic support, we'll have a solid defense and they won't be able to get behind us."

"I'm not crazy about sending a pregnant woman into battle." Ethan frowned.

"I'll be fine, I wouldn't go if I didn't think Ruth would be safe." Alana said, putting her hand over her womb. "I'll hide behind Rachel's shield the entire time. I can pop out, aim, release, and get back behind the shield fast enough that I'll be safe. Plus I'll pop out at random intervals and in different places."

"I promise I'll take good care of her." The redhead said, and not a soul in the Ten Kingdoms would've doubted the sincerity in her tone.

"I still feel like this is avery bad idea." He frowned.

"I'm not perfectly happy with it either." The wood elf replied. "But I couldn't live with myself if something happened to one of you when I could've done something to prevent it." There was a short pause, then she added to the group chat in a deadpan tone. *Except Raklan.*

Everyone in the chat chuckled.

"Besides, I had that dream where Gabriella showed me that I would nurse Ruth." The brunette continued. "I'll be fine."