Chapter 11.

Coal leaned up against the wall at the door. He folded his arms.

Julie knocked again. There was still no answer.

"She's sleeping... peacefully." Coal said, his eyes on the opposite wall. The rooms and hallways within this... lair...it wasn't a lair though, not really. More like a ma.s.sive castle or mansion. No, a mansion was too small for what this was.

"She could be tied and gagged." Julie narrowed her eyes at him.

The lair was tastefully decorated, yet quite spa.r.s.e for such huge rooms. There was no expense spared and the pieces looked to be antiques. Large Persian rugs, pewter candle holders. At least, she a.s.sumed it was pewter or possibly white gold since non-humans were allergic to silver. There were ornate crystal chandeliers throughout.

After waiting half a minute, she knocked a third time.

"Can we go yet?" Coal said, his voice low. "I'll bring you back later. I promise."

Julie shook her head and prepared to knock again.

"Coming." She heard a croaky voice, from the other side of the door. It was definitely a woman's voice.

Julie smirked at Coal who huffed out a breath.

It still took another minute or two for the door to open. Pauline was in a thick, toweling robe. Her hair was mussed and her eyes had that sleepy, just woken up look. She smiled and ran a hand through her hair. "Hi," she said, before stifling a yawn. "Sorry, come in." Pauline gave Coal the once over before turning and heading back inside.

"I'll be back in just a minute," Julie said to Coal. It was her way of letting him know that he wasn't welcome. She needed to speak to Pauline alone.

Coal nodded once. "I'll wait here. It's unsafe to walk around by yourself."

"Yeah, yeah... in case someone else tries to take me for themselves."

His eyes darkened. "It's not a joke."

"I'm not laughing." Julie closed the door behind her.

"Are you okay?" Pauline asked, then she smiled. "Was that your dragon? He's cute. Not nearly as cute as Flame though." She smiled over her shoulder. "These dragon shifters are awesome, aren't they?" Her smile was about a mile wide and her cheeks were flushed. Then she frowned. She looked more closely at Julie and must have picked up on her unease. "Oh s.h.i.t! Did you get a bad one? Are you hurt?" She took a step closer and looked Julie up and down. "He seemed nice. You look okay except for your knee but surely he didn't do that." She narrowed her eyes.

"I'm fine." Julie said, feeling like a bit of an idiot. Pauline clearly had the look of a woman who had just gotten it all. Her lips were swollen, her eyes sleepy with a content look. "Sorry, it's just that I was worried about you and the others so I asked to check in. I can see that you're fine."

Pauline smiled. "More than fine." She widened her eyes. "I can't believe I actually slept with him so quickly." She lowered her voice. "I've never been this forward with a guy before."

Julie tried to smile. This was too much information but Pauline was too excited to notice her discomfort it seemed.

"When we arrived back here I was really tired but also really worked up. Flame is just so sweet and so s.e.xy. The s.e.xiest guy I've ever met. He tucked me in and slid in next to me and I may have made a move on him." She was blushing wildly. "He actually tried to turn me down. How sweet is that? He said that I should get some rest. That took care of any reservations I may still have had. I had the best s.e.x of my life." She giggled like a teenager before turning serious. "Those dragon women were full of BS. They told us complete rubbish. The s.e.x was off the charts and there was no forcing of anything. Flame has been the perfect gentleman."

Julie needed to get out of there. Now.

"I take it you haven't... you know?" Pauline raised her brows.

"Um... no, I... w-well..." She sounded like an idiot. "We were stuck in the forest all night so..." Was she actually giving excuses as to why they hadn't slept together? Surely not.

"It was amazing for me!" Pauline blurted. "I've never been with a guy with that much stamina. Flame was a little rough around the edges but it was like his sole existence was to make me happy. To do what it took to ensure that-"

"I get the picture," Julie blurted. She couldn't take any more.

"I'm not so sure about actually living here and having his children. It's a bit soon for that but I've decided to get to know him and to see where this goes." Pauline smiled.

"That's nice," Julie remarked.

"You don't think I'm crazy, do you?"

Julie thought back to her original a.s.sessment. If a group of these dragon shifters walked into a bar, they'd have a chorus of panties dropping in a matter of minutes. "Not at all." The crazy thing was, she meant every word. "They are pretty hot," she added. It was the truth. They were d.a.m.ned attractive.

"I just figured that while I was here, I should make the most of it." Her sentiments exactly. "Flame is just so sweet. You never know... maybe he's the one." Pauline looked sincere.

The one.

Really? Now that was crazy talk. Humans and shifters didn't belong together. They were just too different. She thought about Coal. He was an attractive guy. His dragon was beautiful and although he was a bossy boots, he was also sweet. The man did have ulterior motives though, namely to get her to mate with him and to have his babies. s.e.x was one thing. She still wasn't sure about his man parts. s.e.x with Coal would probably be intense since he was so intense but she couldn't imagine staying in dragon land. No way. There was a whole world out there. Adventure waited. This couldn't be it for her. She wasn't ready for a relationship. She'd probably never be ready for one. People let you down. It was a given.

"You never know." Julie finally said, noting that Pauline had that faraway look again. "I hope that Flame told you that if it doesn't work out that you can go back to Walton Springs."

Pauline nodded. "Yes, he did." Her face clouded. "Not that there's much to go back to."

"Good, you should know your options." Julie smiled. "I'm glad you're okay. We should chat in a few days. I'm going to check in with the others."

"I saw Lisa. She was really angry. She shouted about suing the dragons for all they're worth. That poor guy she's with looked like s.h.i.t. She had him cringing. A big, strong, dragon shifter was afraid of her." She choked out a laugh. "It was hilarious."

Julie had to laugh as well. She actually felt sorry for the poor shifter that landed the heiress. Lisa was something else.

"You didn't see any of the others did you?"

Pauline shook her head. "No, but Flame a.s.sured me that everyone was okay, so I'm not worried. They're not at this castle. One of them is with the water king and the other is on earth territory." She pulled a face like she didn't really know what she was talking about.

There was only one way Julie was believing it and that was by seeing them for herself. "Okay. You go back to bed."

"Yeah." Pauline yawned a second time, putting her hand in front of her mouth. "I'm bushed. I'll see you soon."

Julie nodded. The door opened before she got to it. Coal was waiting for her. "Jeez, you weren't lying when you said you had better hearing than us."

He turned down the hallway. "Lisa is just down the hall."

She nodded.

Coal walked right next to her. He didn't try and touch her though. They pa.s.sed one other shifter. He ogled her until Coal growled. It was really low, almost inaudible but that just made it all the more intimidating. The guy averted his eyes and slunk away. It would've been laughable if it weren't for the deep frown on Coal's forehead.

"It's this way." He turned a corner and they headed down yet another long, wide corridor.

The way he had growled just now reminded her of the big room they had entered when they first arrived. Coal called it the great hall. It was filled with men. Big, burly shifters. All clothed in the same pants... well mostly. There were one or two naked guys as well. Coal's whole demeanor changed. He went from hardcore to lethal. His eyes were narrowed, his jaw tight. His muscles seemed to grow. Impossible right? Wrong. They not only looked bigger, they were bigger. He snarled at a guy that dared get too close and his teeth seemed bigger too and sharper. His eyes... they had that same slitted look he had when he was a dragon.

Another guy dared get close and he snarled again, this time making her jump. He held her tighter. She smelled smoke and turned her head in time to see some of it curl from his nostrils in big white tendrils. It was freaky. It was hot and not just in the physical sense.

If she was a dragon shifter guy, she'd stay away from him. Coal had death written in his eyes. His whole stance shouted to the rest of them to back the h.e.l.l off.

Just before leaving the hall, he turned to the large crowd of men. "Mine," he growled. She was surprised he didn't beat his chest while he said it. Then, he turned back and ushered her from the hall. No one dared approach.

Once the big double doors closed behind them, she glanced up. "Was that really necessary? That whole mine thing was a little over the top."

Coal kept his eyes on the hallway ahead. "It was as much for you as it was for them."

What was there to say?

No Forget it.

Or maybe, sure thing, but just for the next few weeks.

Coal had been in this dark, brooding mood ever since. He was angry because she didn't trust him. Well, boo-freaking-hoo and sorry for him. She didn't trust anyone and wasn't about to start now. When you trusted you opened yourself up to getting burned. He could be p.i.s.sed off with her and giving her the silent treatment for as long as he wanted, she was enjoying the quiet.

Just as that thought entered her head, a loud moaning noise punctured the silence. Then a groan. Then a high pitched whimper. There was a banging noise. It was rhythmic and insistent and growing louder by the second. Then again, so were the moans.

Um... no... surely not. h.e.l.l no!

"Are you going to knock or should I?" He looked completely deadpan although that twinkle was back in his eyes.

The moans had turned to shrieks. "Yeah!" Lisa shouted. Really loudly because they could hear her quite clearly. "That's it big boy... right there... oh G.o.d... yes... I'm going to come... I'm going to..." The knocking grew so loud she was sure that the wall might crack.

Lisa screamed.

It was loud.

It was so laced with pleasure that Julie felt her own body react. Why was she in the middle of a dry spell? Argh! Her c.l.i.t throbbed, she was pretty sure that things got a little wet as well. s.h.i.t!

"I guess I'll do it then." Coal moved towards the door and lifted a fist, intent on knocking.

"No!" Julie yelled. "No." She said much softer. She could feel her cheeks heat. "I think she's okay."

The knocking started up again and so did the moaning.

"You have got to be kidding me? Where are the cameras? This has to be some kind of joke."

"It is no joke." Coal's frown was worse. "I a.s.sure you that all of the females are fine. Lisa is quite okay. She might be screaming and calling out but-"

"I know what s.e.x sounds like," she blurted. Then she sighed. "Okay, you can take me to my room now."

"What about the other two? I would be happy to take you to see them. It will take about forty-five minutes to get to each one because they are no longer on fire territory but I'm game if you are?" His brows were raised.

"No, it's okay. We can check in on them a little later... or tomorrow." The moaning grew louder and Julie was tempted to block her ears. "Let's just go."

Coal nodded once. He walked back the same way they had come, going the opposite direction as they hit a T-junction. They walked for another minute before he stopped at a door. It was big. Like everything else in this place. The doors were about three times the size of normal doorways. Ceilings were way higher.

"Is this it?" She asked.

"This is it." He opened the door and gestured for her to go inside.

"Well," she felt a little awkward. "I guess I'll see you later or tomorrow or something."

Coal sucked in a breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You are mine."

"So you keep saying."

"This is my chamber." He spoke slowly and carefully.

"I don't understand." Oh! s.h.i.t! Wait, what? "You expect me to share your place with you? As in, live with you?" She shook her head.

"It's not a negotiation. Either you share with me or another male will take you."

"Pauline is alone." She gestured back down the hall.

"Flame has claimed her fully."

"Um." What? Oh! "So, I need to have s.e.x with you to get you to leave me alone. Is that right?"

He rubbed the back of his neck like he'd developed a spasm. "If we rut, you won't want me to leave you alone." He sort of smiled. It lasted all of a half a second.

"Oh really." She folded her arms. "I highly doubt that. I'll probably need medical help but I would be quite happy to be alone once the paramedics were done with me. I don't do living together. I don't do sleeping together. s.e.x, is fine as long as it's quick, good and the person leaves afterwards."

"I don't do quick. I do long and hard. Did you say good...?" He gave her a half smile. Lingering this time. h.e.l.lo gorgeous, where have you been all my life? She didn't just think that, did she? He didn't just say that did he? Julie swallowed hard.

His eyes narrowed and his voice deepened. Her nipples may or may not have tightened. "It will be better than you've ever had before and you will sleep with me afterwards. In my arms."

Yes!

No!

What the h.e.l.l? "I d-don't think so." It was halfhearted and stuttery.

"I don't just think so"-he took a step towards her- "I know so."

"You said you wouldn't force me," Julie blurted. She needed for him to give her s.p.a.ce. Needed this line of conversation to stop before she did something stupid like agree to having s.e.x with him.

Just like that, she watched him shut down. His eyes clouded and his neck muscles popped. His mouth pursed and a muscle ticked in his jaw. She almost apologized but pursed her lips instead. She didn't owe him anything, least of all an apology.

"Go inside." He worked hard to keep from growling.

What was he going to do with this female? Why hadn't he just taken one of the others? One of the more agreeable females. Julie had decided that dragon shifters were without honor even though he had explained things to her. She seemed to understand, yet she had no clue.