Red- Dragon part 4

Mmmmm. Good dream. Grey’s leaning over me in this huge bed. I know it’s him because he has that raw male scent of seduction oozing out of him. I want him closer. Skin on skin would be wonderful. I can almost feel the full weight of him on me. Ah, what it would be like to feel him inside. I wonder if he would look different naked since he’s a dragon. My dream, I’ll find out. Too groggy to move my hand in my dream. Damn it. I can feel his stubble on his face graze my cheek. Why is that always so intoxicating to me? He was nibbling my ear. I can hear myself say how much I needed this. Good feelings everywhere. Don’t wake up yet. His lips crush down on mine. He must be as hungry for this as I am. I can feel his warm hand tracing down my neck and then my corset loosened. Ah, deep, needed breaths. The kiss broke and so did my dream. I’m awake. Great. I hear what sounds almost like a low growl. I try to get up but I’m pinned down.
“It’s okay.” It was Grey’s gravelly voice. “It’s just me.”
“I was... why are you on top of me?” Not that I’m going to complain. I wouldn’t mind if he stayed there and lost the clothes between us. Especially with that I’m-going-to-eat-you-up smile he has right now. The intoxicating weight lifts off me. Damn. He made that annoyingly charming chuckle again.
“Sleep as long as you can.”
“Wait.” I felt so tired My eyes were heavy and I was struggling to stay conscious - to try and feel him again. His lips brushed mine and all turned black.

Ugh. The sun. Uh oh. Add one perky voice and it all came back to me. Violet. She’s chattering as I’m rubbing my eyes trying to wake up. I sit up slowly.
“What?” I ask, hearing my voice all raspy.
“We’re going shopping!!” she squealed, tugged my arm and flashed a credit card. “I only have a ten thousand limit. We can’t max that out in this town. But come on, let's try!”
I’m standing and still fully clothed. Corset was looser, thank goodness. Breathing was an option. She’s right about needing to shop. We do look silly dressed like we are. Well, me more than her.
“You know where the mall is?” I just nod in response. We’re in Lima. Victoria’s Secret first. After all, we can’t wear regular clothes with this kind of underwear. That was my reasoning anyway. I’m a sucker for cute undies and as long as someone else was buying...why not? We had to make a quick stop in Old Navy - for my sake. I didn't want to wear this thing all day. People might just shoot me. You never know. But it wasn't her style and she was eager to move on to the "panty store" as she called it. It didn’t take us long to get there and Violet’s eyes were in shock when we entered the store she saw the products on the rack.
“This is just scandalous!! Don’t tell my brother what I buy here. I’m going to get one of everything!” She did let the lady help her with her size - apparently corset sizes don’t go by numbers and letters. So that was fascinating to her. From there on, things were just dumped onto the lady’s arm for purchase. I did advise her not to get too much since we had to carry it all. Six bags later - two for me - we were headed out. “Where to now?” She asked excitedly. I was on my way to take us to a Hot Topic type store - just to get under ole Grey’s skin - when I see someone approaching us. He looks.... determined.
“You know him?” I ask. She scans the people and looks back to me.
“Don’t sense it, don’t see it. Just people.” She sits down in front of the directory and starts looking for which stores are just clothes. “Oh, so many to choose from! Macy's? Should we go there?”
He’s striding towards us so fast that before I can turn and call Violet, he’s right in front of me. He stopped, though. Not invading my space or close enough to snatch us.
“She can’t see or hear me.” He had a velvet smooth voice and gave an almost sinister chuckle. “Or feel me.”
“Who, Violet?”
“What, Bianca? Macy's not a good idea?” I shake my head and sit down next to her, pretending to look at the directory also for a plan of attack. He stares at her momentarily. Feral. I have two seconds of feeling like I need to protect her from that look. “Hm. I feel feverish. All warm and tingly. Must be that shopping adrenaline.” He just smiles and turns back to me.
“Ask her to stop going through that bag.” Was snapped out quickly. I hadn’t noticed she was re-examining all the cute little things we just bought.
“Violet, not here, someone may want to jump you just because of what’s in your hands.” Her mouth formed an O as if she hadn’t even realized what she was doing.
“I’m great at reading lips, if you don’t want to freak her out.”
“Good.” I mouth.
“My name is Cameron Fortis. Grey’s on the hunt for whoever tried to take Violet last night. Not that the bastard ever listens to me. I think they were after both of them. Grey has more power, but Violet’s trainable and innocent. They can teach her, or force her, to be so much stronger and then use her against Grey. I don’t want to see that. I’ve been following a few leads myself. But you need to stay safe. Hidden. Hurry up and get what you need. No more than two hours, please. Get something to eat at the hotel and don’t have anything you purchase sent there. Buy it and take it yourselves. They’ll track where you sent it if they pick up your trail of where you’ve been. I’ll be helping guard you at the hotel. Just yell Fortis if you need me. Any questions?”
“Well,” I look to Violet and stand up and start following her to get to the next store. “Why don’t you want to be seen by her?” I mouth.
“Not my choice. Trust me. Hurry.” I caught the sadness in his eyes before he turned and disappeared in the scurry of people.
“Alright, hon. I have this feeling we need to shop fast. We’ll get some basics and beyond that, we’ll have to set another shopping date.” I grab her hand and we pick up the pace. Thankfully no one will notice in this holiday crush.
“I don’t sense anything off.” She scanned around and blanked out for a second staring into space. “Oh, you want to be back when Grey comes back?” She winked.
“What? No.” I said too quickly. Fine, go with it. Get her shopping, get her back. “Maybe a little. But, don’t tell him. He’s already too stuffy, that head of his might explode.” We went to a dozen or so shops and she sure knew how to speed shop. Just pick her size, yank off the rack and try on later. I’d never thought of shopping like that, but then again, I’d never had so much money to blow. We even bought some nice dresses just for fun and gobs of jewelry we probably would never wear. Shoes were a bonus, we got about five pairs each and I still have no idea how we carried it all to the truck. But thankfully, it was a truck! It had one of those snappy covers which was really convenient. Traffic wasn’t too bad and we made good time getting back. It took us a little over two hours, but good ole Fortis would have no complaints within fifteen minutes I’d think.
“We should have one of those bellboy guys help us out.” She winked. But I had that feeling we shouldn’t. I was about to comply when I saw Cameron at the entryway shaking his head no. Hm. strange. I look around to see what car he was driving. Didn’t see one. I look back for him and he’s gone.
“No, it would be better if we carried them ourselves. We made it to the truck just fine. That way we can just dump it all on the bed and go crazy playing dress-up. I’ll order us some food and go pick it up downstairs so we don’t have to worry about whoever coming to bring us our food being a bad guy.” I’m pleased with that answer. She nods and gets in the elevator. We hit the floor below ours and it heads up. Violet blanks again. It’s kinda freaky and her eyes get cloudy. “Violet?” She gasps and collapses. “ You okay?”
“Fine. Just, an odd vision. Too powerful.” Violet gave a weak smile and headed to our room. We unloop all the bags from our arms onto the bed. Thankfully I had the good sense to buy a little suitcase for each of us to try to stuff it all in - just in case we had to run. I start taking off tags and putting stuff in the suitcase. She still looks dazed.
“Violet. What aren’t you telling me?”
“I could sense him again. I hate it, but I love it. You must think I’m terrible.” Agony. Poor girl was seriously conflicted. “I keep seeing him. Holding him. I know I shouldn’t and that I can’t. But he just draws me to him and I can’t move.”
“Who?” Tears silently streak down her cheeks.
“I can’t see that. Just that he’s dangerous. And I could get hurt. I will get hurt. I can see that. Oh, Bianca, I can’t see him. I can see what’s happening to me, but not who he is. I just keep getting overwhelmed with desire and I get strong, but weak. Oh, it doesn’t even make sense to me. But I feel him. Almost every night. I have this theory that I’m not supposed to feel him. Yet, I can. Does that make any sense? Even though it’s dangerous, I want to be there. So badly.” I thought of Cameron, but he didn’t seem like he’d hurt her.
“You have to trust your heart because I don’t know who it is in your dreams. Once you know who it is, it’ll be easier for you to figure it out.” We spent the next few minutes in silence as we went through our bags for what to wear now and put the rest away. Surprisingly, she went for a tank top and a low cut sweater, jeans and tennis shoes. Hm. Practical. I thought about the shoes. Sneakers would be great in case of a getaway. I pulled out the cute Sketchers I bought, jeans, and a deep V sweater. I opted for no tank though. Sue me. I’m old, I can show off what I have while I still have it. I set out a lacy little slip under my pillow for tonight. I am addicted to lingerie. I’d wear it all the time if I had the money. Which is probably why I stocked up today.
“Hungry?” Violet asked.
“Sure, you order, I’ll go pick it up.” She called and I noticed two bracelets on the bed. They were silver with bone or something. Like little charm bracelets and one necklace that had a little silver dragon with etched wings. I heard the phone hang up. “Where’d you get these?”
“Not sure. I was kinda grabbing and going. I think we each need a bracelet. You can have the necklace, though. Not like I need another dragon hanging on my neck.” I heard a smacking noise and realized she put on chapstick. I put the dragon on and thought that it even looked like I imagine him. Not the dragons out of books exactly. Different. Regal, a protector. I put on the bracelet. I can’t see it under the sweater, but I know it’s there. I’ve never really gone shopping with a friend and done anything bonding. I have to admit, it was fun. Ten minutes later I was on my way down. Violet said there was no bad guys out there, but I was still careful. I got down to get the food and then was in the elevator holding the bags.
“Smells good.” The voice was in my ear and arms around my waist. It sounded invasive. Unnatural. The bags of food dropped.
“Fortis!!!” I shouted as loud as I could. Still had a few more floors to go and my heart was pounding. To my surprise he poofed into the elevator. Is poofed a word? But he did. Smoky and then he was there.
“Greymalkin.” He regarded him almost as if he’d fight him if he needed to. He looked to me, back at him and something registered in his eyes. I was released and turned to look at Grey. Why hadn’t I realized it was him? “Maybe now you’ll understand a little better.” He looked quite meaningfully to me again and then back to him and then disappeared.
“What in the hell was that?” I demanded. He looked unsteady for a moment. As if he were registering something about what Cameron just said.
“How do you know him?”
“You first. I’m trying to keep Violet safe and you’re out scaring the shit out of me. I’ve never felt more terrified than just a second ago. What the hell is going on and what kind of creepy voice was that? It’s not how you usually sound. And I’m very glad I met Cameron, because if you were evil, or are and I’ll call his ass back, then I feel safer.”
He ran his hand through his hair and took a deep breath. As if trying to control himself. “Fortis is a...friend. He helps protect Violet and doesn’t ask questions about it. I don’t think he’s a dragon. I can’t tell what he is. He may be a dragon - or have powers of one at least. But his powers are so strong, he doesn’t show himself very often. You might say he’s the invisible man. For centuries he’s helped us. That I know of, anyway. He scared Violet once. I suppose in way you just were. She said she felt almost like when he talked he was trying to take over her somehow. Something in her changed and the dragon side of her locked up in a way. For most it naturally releases, for her it didn’t. It was right after she saw him and then he went away for decades. At the time, we couldn’t decide if he was a man trying to help, a dragon, or someone trying to claim her powers, so he doesn’t show to her. He made a vow to us after the incident. She can’t tell he’s there.”
“Yes she can.” I said quite plainly. “Anyway, you mean he scared her the way you just scared me. Not that I know you too well. But I felt safe with you even after you killed someone. That’s saying something. But right now. Just then. I was scared for my life. I felt like you were taking my soul out or something. I didn’t like it.” After I said that, I could see pain in his eyes. It reminded me of the Beast from Disney when Belle didn’t recognize him. Hurt to the core.
“I’m sorry. I can’t promise it won’t happen again.” He seemed to be trying to control himself. “I will do my best to control this. There are so few of us left that we don’t always know or remember how to control our magic.”
“Well, you do that.” I wasn’t sure what else to say. A few moments went by and he was holding the food for me. I just stared at the doors until they opened.
“What do you mean yes she can?” Now he looked worried.
“We were shopping in the mall and he came up to us. She couldn’t see him, but she changed. Not in a bad way, but she could sense him there. Said she was warm and had an adrenaline rush.” I shrugged my shoulders and looked to the lights at the top that weren’t moving. I hadn’t noticed he had stopped the elevator. When did that happen? We started moving again and the doors slid open. I felt his hand on the small of my back and it seemed to spread warmth everywhere. Such a light touch and so intimate.
“You should lock all your doors tonight. Don’t let anyone in.” We had stopped in front of my room. I use the key and open the door just a crack.
“Is that against other people, or just you?” He started to turn away, but I swear I saw a lopsided grin.