Spooks & Specters: A San DeLain Short Story Collection

Chapter Two

TAKING THE boat out was always a special occasion. Hudson’s property boasted two lakes: The larger one was designated for the court’s use, while the smaller one that was located behind his house was reserved for his private enjoyment. A sheltered boat dock housed his ski boat and pontoon, ready for leisurely days on the water.

Not far from the dock lay a sandy beach, and nearby, there was a stone firepit surrounded by wooden Adirondack chairs. A picnic table was nestled on the grass leading to the woods.

It was serene, secluded, and utterly ideal for the three of them. Hudson paused at the picnic table to unload the baskets.

“Where did the rafts come from?”

“I had them brought out earlier. If skiing gets tiresome, we can just laze on those for a bit,”

Hudson explained, putting his basket down. Then he opened it and retrieved a couple of water bottles.

“Well, it seems we’ll find out if I’m graceful enough to ski,”

Kit pondered, gazing out at the lake.

“Getting up on the skis is the hardest part. Once you get the hang of that, you’ll be fine.”

Connie set his basket down, then rubbed his hand up and down Kit’s back. “I’ll give you some pointers too.”

“What about you?”

Kit inquired.

Hudson shrugged. “Me? I drive the boat.”

“You don’t ski?”

“It’s never really piqued my interest. The water’s fine, but I don’t have the same love for it as Connie does.”

Hudson gave his other mate a wink. “Come on, let’s head to the boat,”

he said, taking Kit’s hand.

“Seriously, if I hadn’t been born a dragon, I probably would’ve been a merman,”

Connie confessed, taking Kit’s other hand as they walked along the beach toward the boat dock.

“Nope. Because if you had been a merman, the three of us probably wouldn’t have ended up in a relationship, so that’s a definite no-go.”

Kit mock scowled at Connie.

“That’s true,”

Hudson said. “The mer tend to stick to their own kind.”

“But don’t they have the ability to change a human?”

Kit asked.

“They do, yes, just like a were, but it’s not done often, from my understanding,”

Hudson admitted. “Which is not to say it’s never done. But I would also imagine it’s a bigger adjustment for someone turned into a mer.”

“Mers live in the ocean. That means no more living on land,”

Connie added.

“Okay, yes, that would be a big adjustment,” Kit said.

“Exactly.”

Hudson couldn’t think of anything worse, in fact. He definitely preferred living on land.

THE JOURNEY to the covered dock was brief. It accommodated only two boats, but it also included a boathouse for storing gear and a spacious fishing area, complete with several rocking chairs.

Connie often retreated here alone to unwind and fish. Hudson joined him only at Connie’s request, respecting his need for solitude. Residing in a court meant the constant company of other dragons. Courts, similar to werewolf packs, were designed for communal living. Contrary to ancient tales, dragons were not solitary creatures.

Although there was the occasional oddball who preferred solitude, generally they were sociable creatures. They thrived on the bonds formed with their court mates, not to mention the need for structure.

However, there were always exceptions. Take the Night Court, for instance. Its members did reside in a court, of a sort, but they were infamous for their “dog-eat-dog”

mentality.

Dragons from the Night Court were notorious for their destructive competitiveness and ruthlessness. Fortunately, Hudson hadn’t encountered one in over fifty years.

The last one bold enough to venture into San DeLain met an untimely demise.

AFTER A few hours, they made their way back to the boat dock because Kit was hungry. He’d needed several attempts before successfully getting up on the skis, but once he managed, he quickly grew confident.

A severe wipeout gave Hudson a scare, but fortunately, Kit was unharmed. Knowing that Kit was consuming both his and Connie’s blood reassured him.

Kit stretched as soon as he got out of the boat. “To say that I am out of shape is probably putting it nicely. I’m going to feel this tomorrow.”

“You know there is a gym in the compound, right?”

Connie asked, holding a couple of the empty water bottles.

Kit followed Connie up the walkway, while Hudson walked behind them. “I need to check it out. My apartment had one that I used to go to all the time. I also used to jog.”

“You’ve mentioned that. Want to go with me in the mornings?”

Connie asked.

Dragons didn’t require exercise, yet many found it enjoyable, nonetheless. It served as an effective stress reliever, or so Hudson had heard. Neither he nor Connie frequented their gym, but Connie was fond of morning runs.

“You know, I think I’ll take you up on that.”

“Good thing I know where to find you in the mornings, huh?”

Connie teased as they walked toward the picnic table. “Want to join us, Hudson?”

“That’s okay, you two go on ahead.”

“Are you sure?”

Kit asked.

“I’m sure.”

Although the three of them were in a relationship, he had no issues with Kit and Connie having activities that were just theirs. Similarly, there were times when it would be only him and Kit together.

Jogging could be one of those activities Kit and Connie shared.

Sue him, but he was a thousand years old, and he failed to see the appeal of jogging around the compound, becoming hot and sweaty. It wasn’t that he minded getting hot and sweaty; he simply preferred doing so in more pleasurable pursuits.

Upon reaching the picnic table, Hudson took charge of the basket filled with napkins and other items, concealing his surprises within. He arranged the plates, utensils, and napkins as Connie searched through the food basket.

Connie held up the bottle of wine.

“Let’s save that until later this evening. Alcohol won’t affect us, but it will Kit,”

Hudson said. “Also, I asked for cheese and grapes to go along with that wine. Are they in there?”

“Yes. Okay, saving the wine for later then,”

Connie said, digging out a couple more water bottles that he placed on the table. “So, I see we got turkey, gouda, and apple tea sandwiches, BBQ chicken salad sandwiches, grilled lemon chicken legs, potato salad, spring salad with strawberries and goat cheese, prepackaged fruit pies, and several kinds of chips.”

Kit gaped. “Good grief, that’s a lot of food.”

“Dragons, remember?”

Connie joked. “We eat a lot.”

“And how did you know all that?”

“It’s labeled. There’s also a package of hotdogs and buns. Plus, jumbo marshmallows. Oh, and trail mix. Not to mention the cheese ball, grapes, and wine.”

“Marshmallows?”

Kit asked, peeking into the basket. “I can’t remember the last time I roasted marshmallows over an open fire. Can we do that?”

“Of course.”

Hudson gestured at the firepit. “I’m sure that’s why they were included. All we need is some wood. You already got your fire starters here.”

“Guess it’s a good thing I’m mated to red dragons, huh?”

“You know it, babe.”

Connie poked Kit in the ribs.

“Hey now!”

Kit swatted him.

Hudson watched as his two younger mates play fought. Connie, mindful of his own strength, handled Kit with care. Given his speed and might, Connie had the potential to inflict serious injury.

In any combat between a dragon and a human, the human stood no chance. Nevertheless, Connie allowed Kit to land several solid strikes.

Kit seemed aware of this, as indicated by his eye-rolling.

As Connie backed Kit towards Hudson, their eyes met. Wrapping his arms around Kit, Hudson pulled him onto his lap. Without wasting a second, Connie took hold of Kit’s face and planted a kiss on his lips.

Having Kit squirming on his lap was definitely going to lead to trouble, and Hudson was tempted to throw his plans out the window and just go with it, but he didn’t. For one thing, he’d heard Kit’s stomach growling just moments before.

As much as he wanted to screw his mates’ brains out, the need to feed Kit was more important. Nevertheless, he stuck his nose against the back of Kit’s neck and inhaled deeply. His dragon rumbled, content. Hopefully that would keep him satisfied until later this evening.

“Our mate is hungry, Connie,”

Hudson said quietly.

Connie sighed against Kit’s lips, then pulled away. “I know.”

Kit huffed.

“Later,”

Hudson whispered against Kit’s neck.

Kit turned his head to glare at Hudson. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

“I sincerely hope so.”

Connie helped Kit up. Privately, Hudson could admit he missed Kit’s weight on his lap. He joined them at the picnic table and picked up a water bottle. He needed something to drink.

“Why don’t the two of you sit down, and I’ll fix your plates. Is that okay?”

Connie asked. “Just tell me what you want.”

“Sure thing.”

Kit climbed on top of the picnic table as he told Connie what he wanted.

Hudson raised an eyebrow as he watched his mate clamber up there. “What are you doing?”

“Sitting on top of the picnic table.”

Connie snickered as he filled Kit’s plate.

“I can see that. I mean why.”

“There’s not enough room for us three to sit on the bench. This way, one of us won’t have to sit alone.”

Warmth curled in Hudson’s chest. “Trust you to think of such.”

“What a lovely thought,”

Connie added, handing Kit’s plate to him. “Hudson? What do you want?”

Hudson rattled off his choices. Within minutes, Connie presented Hudson with his plate. The joy in Connie’s eyes from serving both of his mates was evident to Hudson.

Such a dragon thing.

Fixing himself a plate, Connie sat opposite Hudson, and bit into a chicken leg.

ONCE THEY finished their meal, Kit reminded them to wait thirty minutes before returning to the water. Puzzled, Hudson glanced at Connie, who mirrored his expression.

“What?”

Hudson inquired, putting their garbage in a trash bag he’d brought along.

“What do you mean what?”

Kit asked.

“Why do we have to wait thirty minutes?”

Connie questioned.

“Haven’t you ever heard that?”

Kit finished off his pie, then held out his hand for the wet wipes Hudson had.

“Well, yes, but that’s an old wives’ tale,”

Connie said. “The belief that the blood going to your digestive tract after eating steals the blood needed to keep your arms and legs pumping during swimming is unfounded. Surely you know that.”

“My mama said I had to wait after eating when I was a kid, and I certainly wasn’t going to argue with her about it,”

Kit said. “Besides, that’s something humans believe, anyway, and you two are not human. I’m the only one who is. Well, kind of. So it’s more for me. But if I can’t go in the water, it’s only fair that you two can’t either.”

“Ah, I see. Yes, I completely understand not arguing with your mama,”

Connie said.

Kit pointed at Connie. “Right? If you know, you know.”

Hudson did not know. His mother hadn’t particularly been that involved in his raising.

“Thirty-minute break is all I’m asking.”

Kit looked around. “Didn’t you say this place was secluded?”

“Yes. Why?”

Hudson asked.

“How do dragons feel about curling up in the sun and taking a nap?”

“YES! We love it, don’t we, Hudson? Red dragons, in particular, like the heat. By Gaura, I can’t remember the last time I did that. What do you say, old man? How about a short nap in the sun?”

Hudson didn’t want to admit it, but he liked the idea. A lot. So did his dragon. “But what are you going to do, Kit?”

“Lean up against one of you and take a nap. What else?”

“There we go!”

Connie exclaimed. “There’s your answer, Hudson. Can we change now?”

“Well? Get on with it. Let the dragons out to play.”

How could Hudson say no to that? Chuckling, he let Connie pull him a safe distance away.