Dragon Chains by Grace Goodwin

4

Emily: so how’s it going

Katy: fine. sign contract tomorrow. italy is amazing

Emily: told you it would be great. have some fun

Free from all the problems waiting for her back home, Katy walked along the streets soaking in the sights, sounds, and unique smells of the village in springtime. With Mist accompanying her from the palazzo, she decided to use the other woman as a tour guide of sorts. When she’d asked for a bit of space, Mist had nodded agreeably and followed at a discreet distance.

Katy wasn’t crazy or stupid, and knowing she was a female alone in a strange place, she felt much safer knowing Mist was watching over her. She had even asked Mist to let her know if any of the places she wanted to visit were unsafe. Mist readily agreed, even going into the shops with her, then melting into the background. Katy was free to roam, unafraid of getting lost or being pestered by strangers.

The sun had gone down hours ago, but still she didn’t want to stop. This was exactly what she needed after the insanity of the last 24 hours. By this time yesterday she had buzzed Bosszilla that she had an emergency and was leaving for a few days then blew out the door without waiting for a response, broken more than a few polite driving rules to get home and then nagged her Uber driver to go faster in her mad dash to the airport. The first-class seat made the flight tolerable, despite her frazzled mental state, but the hours of quiet gave her mind too much time to make up dozens of scenarios and come up with even more questions. The whole airport experience was both bizarre and embarrassing and the uncomfortable drive to the sprawling estate seemed to take hours.

After all of that, postponing the whole ‘you have to be there to sign these papers’ event that started this crazy train was just about enough to send Katy into a full-blown mental meltdown. Now, however, she was much more relaxed. The past few hours had been perfect. A bit of window shopping. A bit of sightseeing. She actually felt like she was on vacation.

Katy enjoyed every moment exploring, stockpiling memories, taking pictures with her phone, tasting the food from local street vendors. She wanted to experience everything, all at once. She smiled, happy to be in the one place she had always dreamed of visiting.

Catching Mist’s eye, she motioned with her head toward a nightclub. Mist would either smile and nod that it was a good place to go, or frown and shake her head no. So far, Mist had only said no twice. Katy was not surprised; the places had even looked a bit sketchy. This one, however, looked very upscale. Discoteca Reale. Katy used her phone to look up the translation: Club Royal. Nice.

After a nod from Mist, Katy stepped eagerly through the doors of the nightclub, glad she had taken the time to shower and change into one of Emily’s little black dresses and a comfortable pair of heels before leaving the palazzo.

The music was upbeat, loud, and the people inside were smiling and dancing. She caught a glimpse of Mist melting into the crowd as she made her way to the ladies’ room. Normally she would have felt suffocated, but here in Italy, she was grateful for the other woman’s unobtrusive presence.

As she opened the door, cool air and modern decor greeted her, a comfortable looking sofa, coffee table, and magazines in one corner, with plenty of stalls farther in to accommodate the largest of crowds. Katy freshened up, even going so far as to let her long hair down. She was in Italy, after all.

When she finished up, she headed out to find a corner table where she could watch the dance floor without attracting too much attention. She wanted to get a feel for the place before she did anything crazy, like dance in front of a roomful of people who were all so much sexier than she was. Her dancing was pathetic. She looked like a stiff robot every time she tried, while Emily, the wild child had joined the hip-hop dance team. Katy had been drawn to the controlled beauty of ballet. Too many years on pointe made her amazingly graceful, but horribly unprepared for clubbing.

Thinking of Emily, Katy took out her phone and dialed her sister, surprised when she answered on the first ring.

“Hey! You must be psychic. I was just about to call you,” Emily chirped happily. “Wow, it’s loud. Are you at a club?”

“Yes.”

“Fantastic. How did it go? Any problems? Everything go okay? Did you sign the contract yet? Have you seen the pool?”

Katy scrunched up her nose as she listened to her sister’s endless questions. Finally she interrupted with a laugh, “Slow down! Let me talk!”

“Sorry,” Emily said contritely. “To be honest I was a little nervous about sending you out there in my place. But everything here is on schedule. I should be there in three days.”

“I thought it was two? What the hell happened now?” Emily could not do this to her. Not again.

“The most bizarre thing. I made it to Anchorage. Flight was supposed to be a hop over the pole to London. Twelve-hour layover and I would have been there with bells on.”

“Em. What. Happened?”

“This amazingly hot pilot comes out of the cockpit and tells the plane we’re being diverted to Inverness, as in Scotland, because of—well, actually, I’m not sure why. Anyway, there’s no flight out of here for a couple days. Something to do with the weather.”

“What the hell, Em?” How the hell did her sister always get into these situations?

“Don’t get mad. It wasn’t my fault this time.”

Katy rubbed her temple with her free hand. “It never is.”

“Well, it sounds like things are going well in Italy. You’re there. You’re at a club. Did you wear the little black dress I packed?”

“Yes. But… yeah. Well, about things going well, not so much.” Katy paused, thinking about the luggage. And the toy. The humiliation. Thinking about it now made her fidget on her chair. “You owe me big-time. I can’t believe you packed a vibrator! That’s probably why they postponed the contract signing until tomorrow.” She practically shouted to hear herself over the pounding music.

A loud peel of laughter forced Katy to hold the phone away from her ear until the sound faded.

“You think it’s funny? Well, your luggage got torn up and your little toy went rolling out of the bag right in front of the people who picked me up from the airport.” Katy’s lips twitched with amusement at her sister’s indrawn breath.

“Really? Oh, well. I don’t care about that silly thing. I threw it in at the last minute.”

“As far as I could tell, everything else is fine. I don’t know why you bother packing toys like that. You’re literally a hot guy magnet. Doesn’t matter where you are, they always find you. Me, on the other hand, they treat like a leper.”

“Oh Katy, stop being so hard on yourself. We look exactly the same. Guys drool all over you, too, but you don’t give them the time of day. I’m not sure you even notice most of them. If you would loosen up a bit. Smile. Flirt. Let the poor guy know you don’t think he’s a lowly worm you want to squish under your heel…”

Katy scrunched her nose. “I do not come across that bad. I just don’t have time to date,” she replied defensively.

“Normally I would argue, but I’m done dating. Done with men.”

“Sure. I totally believe you.” She had heard this from Emily after every bad breakup. The hiatus only lasted until the next drop-dead gorgeous man looked her way.

Katy leaned back into her seat with a grin on her face as Emily spiraled into her sure to be long justification of why this time was different. Katy looked around the club, only half listening to her sister. The crown molding in the room was exquisite; the ceiling etched with some kind of plaster art that made the room feel like a fairy-tale ball should be happening, not a roaring nightclub full of normal people out for a good time. Mythical creatures had been molded into the ceiling. Dragons, mostly. A few fairies. Lots of trees and flowers filling in the spaces. The ceiling alone was worth the trip. Only in Italy would a building this old and beautiful be used as a dance club.

“I’m serious. I’ve been around the block a few times.”

What were they talking about again? Oh yes. Men. “That’s an understatement.”

“Be nice.”

“I was.” Katy grinned and watched a couple writhe and move together on the dance floor like they were making love through their clothes. Sexy. Hot. She couldn’t take her eyes off them as they started to kiss like they were starving for one another.

No man had ever kissed her like that. Not even close. She sighed, jealousy a little green monster twisting in her gut.

Emily was laughing. “Fair. I’ve dated a lot of men, and not one of them was worth keeping. I’m done. I’ve had my fun. I want different things now.”

“Like what?”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m all set, and I’m determined to be happy about it. But you, dear sister, need to get out there. Take the chance to hook up with an Italian sex god and have an orgasmic vacation.”

Katy nearly choked on her dirty martini. “You’re terrible.”

“When was the last time you let loose and had a one-night stand?”

“Um, wow, let me think about that. NEVER. You know I can barely talk to strangers, so picking up a hot guy and letting him see me naked would be next level.”

“Fine. How about sex with a boyfriend? A friend with benefits? Coworker? Anyone at all?”

Katy opened her mouth to reply, but her sister beat her to the punch.

“With a man, not a toy.”

“A long time.” It was probably over a year now, but who was counting?

She was. Fourteen months. Her va-jay-jay was probably covered in cobwebs.

Emily’s voice was sympathetic. “I know you don’t sleep around, which is fine. But Katy, you’re in Italy! The men are gorgeous. No one knows you. Have a little fun. Have a lot of fun! Just relax and enjoy! You deserve this!”

Katy groaned. “I’ll try.”

“Listen, I’ll be there in a few days. Then the real vacation starts for you, Sis. I want you to find someone sexy. Or maybe two someones, and rock their world. I’ll expect a full report after the dust settles,” Emily chuckled.

“One is more than enough.” Katy sighed. “And I don’t know how to rock anything.”

“Then just let him rock you on his really big co—”

“Em!”

Emily was still laughing when she ended the call. Katy put her phone away and ordered another drink. So, Emily was in Scotland. Which meant Katy was stuck here.

The kissing couple had shifted position, and the woman now had her back to her partner, his thighs directly behind her backside and his hands on her hips. He was kissing her neck, and she looked blissed out. Content. She obviously trusted the man she was with, and Katy wondered if they knew each other or if this was an Italian thing. Their women seemed so sexy and free. More like Emily than Katy would ever be.

But I’m not Katy Toure tonight, am I? I’m someone else. Katy Toure checked out at the airport back home. Tonight I’m Emily. Fun. Flirtatious. Wild. Free.

What would her twin do in this situation? Exactly what Emily had told Katy to do. Find a sexy Italian man who looked like a god and get naked. Have some fun and a few orgasms. Not be alone in bed.

Again.

“Buonasera, Mia Regina. May I join you for a drink?”

The deep voice came from a man standing next to her, and Katy tore her attention from the dancing couple to look up. And up.

Their gazes locked, and Katy forgot to breathe. She flushed with pleasure. Excitement. The fantasy sex god had arrived as if on cue. And he’d just called her something his—she knew at least that much Italian. Her toes curled. Her nipples hardened into tight, aching pebbles. Desire bolted through her body as the air nearly crackled with sexual tension. Out of all the hot, single Italian women in the club, he’d singled her out. Picked her. A glance to the side showed at least half a dozen women glaring daggers at her. She didn’t care.

Katy turned back to sip at her drink, observing him from beneath the sweep of her long lashes. His wavy black hair was short and just a little wild. His lips firm, made to pleasure a woman. His eyes, dark and intense, filled with smoldering heat and promise. He was tall, packed with sinewy muscle she could see outlined through his blue shirt with a hint of gold from a chain around his neck. His shoulders were broad, tapering down to a trim waist, making a perfect triangle that only a man who was seriously fit could pull off. He looked like a lean fighting machine. A large, predatory animal, balanced, focused, ready to strike. She trembled, everything feminine inside her responding to the masculine, dominant alpha waves rolling off him.

“Yes. I mean, sì, signore.” Katy’s voice took on a husky sound she’d never heard before. But then, she’d never been this aroused by just looking at a man either. Sex god might be an understatement. He was gorgeous. Perfect. His smell…

God, his smell.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as his cologne—she would have to find out what it was because the scent was the most amazing thing ever—surrounded her and made her body burn. Her breasts grew heavy, and her panties were instantly soaked with her desire.

She wanted more. She wanted to bury her nose in his neck and nibble on his skin. Rub herself all over him. Absorb him. Mark him somehow, as hers.

“I’m going crazy.” She whispered the words to herself but didn’t open her eyes. Not yet. Not when she could still taste his scent on her tongue and her body was on fire. She needed to gain control of herself. Calm down.

“Such formality… you must call me Ryker. And you are no more crazy than I.”

She finally opened her eyes only to find him watching her intently, as if he had noticed her odd behavior. Color swept up her cheeks. She thanked everything holy that the club was dark enough to hide her blush. She was acting like…like…

Em. I’m acting like Em. Wild. Free. But it’s okay. That’s who I am tonight. Not the controlled, responsible twin. Not the demure, reserved woman who has to think of everyone else first. Tonight I can let loose. Be free. No rules. Nothing but pleasure. Tomorrow I can go back to being the responsible one. Tonight I want for me.

She peeked at him again. His smile went straight to her core, and her thighs clenched.

Ryker slid into the seat next to her and placed his hand, palm up, in the center of the table. A blatant invitation.

Katy didn’t want to resist. She needed to touch him. She slid her hand into his and gasped as heat filled her entire body. Raw lust. Desire. It was like she’d fallen into a hot bath, and her mind went blank. All she could think about was kissing him the way the couple on the dance floor had been kissing. Pressing her body to his. Feeling his strong hands grip her hips. Her ass. Melting into his heat. Reveling in his scent as it enveloped her. Welcoming his hard cock pounding into her body over and over…and over.

“Dance with me.”

Katy’s heart pounded in her chest. The club was loud, the music thumping. She shouldn’t have been able to hear his quietly spoken words, but his voice was so deep it carried straight to her ears, vibrated through her body, and set her core to throbbing. His English was perfect, the accent exotic. Sexy. Not quite like the other Italians she’d spoken with while shopping. She couldn’t quite place it. Didn’t care. “Yes.”

Katy allowed Ryker to lead her onto the dance floor. As the music pounded around them, he pulled her in close. She went readily into his arms, her body suddenly pliant, melting into his strength. He growled low, pulling her in even closer. Molding her body to his. He bent his head slowly toward her, allowing her time to resist. She wanted this. Wanted his lips on hers. Without conscious thought, her gaze grew slumberous; her long, dark lashes swept down to cover her eyes as she waited breathlessly for his kiss. He didn’t disappoint her.

His lips were pure fire. Heat flowed through her like nothing she’d ever felt before as he conquered her mouth with his own, his large frame folding around her until she felt like they were the only two people in the world. She’d read novels where one kiss made a woman forget her own name but had never experienced it. Until now.

“Ryker.”

“Hmmm?” His response sounded as drunk on desire as she felt. They had melted into one body, one being, and she clung to him without shame or hesitation. She moved with him on the dance floor, the music barely registering. He moved, so she moved. His scent filled her lungs, made her feel like she was a wild thing and somehow he belonged to her now. Was hers to do with as she wished.

Was this pure lust? Pheromones? Chemistry?

Katy couldn’t help herself. She wanted more. Her head tilted back, her heavy fall of hair encouraging her to expose the sensitive curve of her neck. Her eyes drifted closed on a wave of pleasure as Ryker bent his head to skim his lips over her beckoning flesh, his warm breath sending tingles up and down her spine. She shivered at his erotic touch.

Ryker pulled her hips closer with one hand pressed to her lower back, the other diving into her hair, tugging her long curls just enough to let her know he wanted more access. To her neck. Her body. He wanted her to surrender. She gave him what he wanted. What she wanted. With her head back, her chest arched up, her heavy breasts tingling as they smashed into his hardness.

She caught her breath as he caught her body, one muscular thigh diving between hers, his hard muscles rigid against her warm center. She was powerless to resist. Didn’t want him to stop. She wanted him deep inside her, didn’t care who knew, her normal reserve burned to ash by her desire for him. Part of her screamed this was crazy, the rest of her didn’t care.

She opened her mouth to ask him who he was. Where he was from. Something. Anything to break the sexual spell he’d placed her under.

One word. She only managed one word.

“Ryker.”