Chapter 4

"That was spectacular," Livia said, as soon as she had recovered her breath from Dave having released his seed into her. She and Dave lay on the carpeted floor with their clothes askew. Dave had his pants and underwear down around his ankles, but still had his shirt on, though it was considerably wrinkled and the only reason it wasn't torn was because Dave always bought the best quality and nothing cheap. As for Livia, who had been wearing a blouse and pants, those pants were on the floor, as they had been flung somewhere as soon as Dave had removed them, Livia not protesting the action. In fact, Livia had eagerly participated and unbuckled Dave's pants and pulled them down and then his underwear, so it was only a minute later when they were practically rutting on the floor of the same room they had been occupying for the last few hours.

Dave had been looking at and complimenting her on her sketches and suddenly the two of them had leaned over at the exact same time and started kissing each other, as they were sitting side-by-side. Before they knew it they were on the floor flinging clothes everywhere and Dave was entering her.

"Well, it looks like we both wanted the bond to be completed," Dave said after a minute to catch his breath as that had been rather intense, but extremely pleasurable. "My dragon really wanted to complete the bond with you, but I wasn't going to push you into anything. Apparently, the shifter part of me decided differently. I'm sorry about that."

"I've been wanting the same thing," Livia admitted kissing Dave softly on the lips. "My feelings for you are already so intense and we've only known each other a day."

"That's the way it is with mates, though I wasn't entirely sure if you would feel the same things I was or with the same intensity since you're not a dragon or a shifter of any kind," Dave said. "There is still another step to the process, that potion I mentioned. While the bond is now complete the potion will link your lifeforce to where it matches mine, but as I told you the other day it will require some ingredients and also, someone who can do complicated potions, but that can wait though, for as long as you like. You just say the word and I'll start buying the ingredients for it and also ask a witch I know to brew it for me."

"Is it safe?" Livia asked, not bothering to ask how such a potion could exist, because if Dave said it did then it did.

"Perfectly safe," Dave assured her smiling obviously, not at all perturbed at the question. "It will require several drops of blood from both of us in order to activate it's full potential. Some potions require something personal from the person who's going to be drinking it, whether that's blood, saliva, hair or nails. In this case, blood is required, though not a great deal of it."

"I have so much still to learn," Livia said shaking her head at Dave's explanation, even as they lay there amongst all the flowers that covered the carpet that Dave had had the servants collect out of the greenhouse and gardens.

They were lucky that they hadn't knocked over any of the vases that held the flowers since they had so frantically rutted on the floor.

"You still would not have known about an obscure potion, even if you had grown up in this world, Livia. Give yourself a break," Dave told her.

His tone was understanding and compassionate, because he knew Livia had likely felt overwhelmed ever since she'd leaned about the supernatural world at 17. It didn't help that she'd grown up in the foster care system, so had believed herself to be delusional, ever since her powers that started to develop at 13. "The only reason I know so much about every kind of supernatural on this planet is because I have met many of them and I've been around for centuries, so learned a great deal about every species that shares this planet. You're doing quite well considering you didn't learn about the supernatural world until you were nearly an adult. You should have grown up with your mother at least, as she could have explained a lot of things to you, but even if you had, it's unlikely you would know about the potion specifically. I mean think about it, you grow up as a human and how many things about that world don't you know because it is so big and vast?"

"A very good point," Livia admitted. "I'll never know everything about the human world, just my little section of it. Also, facts that you pick up from from others you are around on a constant basis."

"Well, the paranormal one operates under the same principles," Dave said.

"Except it's a secret from humans, which is why I had no idea it existed until I met, Alifair, who took a big chance on telling me," Livia said.

"Yes," Dave agreed his tone going grave, even as he reached over and squeezed her hand from where he was laying.

"Do you think that any other paranormal children have been in the foster care system?" Livia wondered out loud.

"It's possible," Dave said. "I couldn't see it being someone like a shifter though, as shifters keep a pretty tight rein on their people. Orphans are always taken in by someone, not necessarily the family, but as for any of the other species, like witches it's possible. Witches and sorcerers and other types of paranormals are basically human."

"So would me being able to see the future make me a witch? If I am a witch can I learn magic? Do witches need wands or is that just fantasy?"

"Alright slow down," Dave laughed at Livia's rapidfire questions. His laughter wasn't derogatory, but full of warmth. One question came out Livia's mouth and another one immediately followed it, the words nearly tumbling all over each other in their haste to be spoken. "I'll answer all your questions I promise but you have to give me a chance."

"Sorry got carried away," Livia apologized looking sheepish. "There's just so much I don't know, like how many different types of shifters are there?"

"There's no need to apologize. As to your first series of questions, you might be a witch, but don't absolutely have to be in order to be able to get visions of the future. You could have witch blood or the blood of a sorcerer or even both, as we have no idea who your father is," Dave said.

"What's the difference?" Livia ask curiously. "Isn't that just two different names for basically a male and female with the same abilities?"

"Didn't your friend explain the difference in the species of supernatural?" Dave asked.

"Not really, but we don't meet every week, as I am often out of town or at least I used to be and there is so much to cover. We just hadn't gotten around to that conversation yet as a meal only lasts so long."

"And there's no one else you can ask," Dave said in understanding.

Dave was sure there was a lot of things Livia had been curious about for years and her friend had been her only source of information until now. It was no wonder she was asking so many questions at such a rapid pace when Dave really thought about it. He would certainly do his best to answer her curiosity about a world she had basically fallen into instead of growing up in it like she should have.

No one had known of her plight, so nobody had rescued her from the supernatural world before her powers had begun to emerge.

Dave tried his best not to dwell on her childhood, because it made him sad and angry and a whole other bunch of emotions, all of them negative. He was going to do his best to make up for her childhood now that they had met and would treat her like a queen. She was certainly his queen

"Exactly," Livia agreed. "I might be part of the paranormal world, but really, I'm only on the edges of it. The only reason I'm part of this world at all is because of my ability to see the future. While Alifair has been a godsend, there are some things she can't answer, because she doesn't know it," Livia said.

"Or you don't think to ask because you don't know you need the information, don't even know that the question exist," Dave said understanding yet again why Livia was asking so many questions. "In that case, I'll be glad to be your resource. Ask me anything you want and I'll do my best to answer. As to your previous question no sorcerers and witches are not the same. While they both have magic their abilities differ in the way they use them, also their techniques. Sorcerers use artifacts that have power to use their magic while witches take their magic from the earth. Of course, there are other types of witches not just earth witches, but they're all offshoots of the original earth witches. Then of course, there are different levels of power in all of the above."

"That I knew," Livia said. "Alifair, has told me that much and says, she's just a witch with a minor healing ability, which is why she went into nursing."

"So she can heal cuts and bruises with no problem or a broken bone but for major life threatening injuries they would either take more power than she has or they would render her unconscious if she tried to heal someone unless she was with a group of others and they combined power and wasn't trying to heal something major by herself," Dave summarized.

"That's what Alifair has said," Livia agreed.

"It's time for us to get up and get dressed," Dave said finally, sounding rather reluctant. "I'm glad you're not mad at me, because I couldn't control myself. Normally, I have excellent control of my shifter form. I know we've only known each other a day and I was willing to take it as slow, as you wanted me to, but my inner dragon disagreed with my idea of how fast our relationship should proceed."

"It was what I wanted to, so no, I'm not mad and in fact, I feel very sated and satisfied," Livia said. "It doesn't matter the length of time we've known each other Dave. We both knew we were destined to meet, destined to spend the rest of our lives together. It doesn't matter that we had sex after meeting a little over 24 hours ago."

"You might be pregnant though, even though I only spurted my seed into you once. We have no idea how fertile you are and as you pointed out it might only take one time to create a baby. While I would love children with you we aren't ready for that stage of our lives. I was hoping to do some traveling with you, before we went down that particular path."

"There's no guarantees I'm pregnant though, so let's not worry about it until we know one way or the other. If I am then so be it," Livia said. "We will love and protect whatever we have and we can still do some traveling, even with the baby you know."

Livia sounded extremely philosophical.

"I'll tell you one thing though, there is no way in hell any baby of ours will ever end up in the foster care system!"

Livia's voice was filled with determination and venom.

"I'll make arrangements for the baby just in case something should happen to you and me if you are pregnant," Dave said giving Livia's hands a squeeze of reassurance. "As a shifter, any baby of mine does not need to end up in the human foster care system, as they would only shift in front of a human and, not knowing better and that person would likely kill them or at least try to. I'll make sure they end up with a shifter family that will look after them."

"That's good then," Livia said relaxing knowing that Dave would make arrangements for their baby to be looked after if the worst happened, but only if she was pregnant and she knew very well she might not be. It didn't hurt to prepare for the future though, just in case.

"That's my worst fear you know any child of mine ending up an orphan having no family to take them in and then being put in the system," Livia said.

"I understand," Dave said. "You grew up in the system so you know how bad it is. I don't blame you for not wanting one of our children to grow up that way and that won't happen I promise you. I know plenty of shifter families that would happily take whatever children we have in and treat them with love if it ever becomes necessary. I have some family that lives over in Italy and really they should be the next on the list to raise whatever children we have if necessary."

"Now that that's settled," Livia said. "I suppose it's time we redonned our clothes."

Livia's tone was calm again Dave noticed now that she had spoken her views on any child of theirs being put in on the foster care system. He couldn't really blame Livia for her views about the foster care system, as it was basically shove them into a box and then release them at 18.

"I'll happily take you to bed now that that's settled and yes, I'll use a condom now that the bond has been completed," Dave said. "I'm going to have to buy some soon though, as I have just part of a box from my last relationship a few months ago. Of course, now I have you, so there will be no more new relationships."

"I've never had a steady relationship, because I was always getting visions, so they broke up with me. The fact that I didn't know they were visions at the time didn't help. That's not to say, I never had sex before you, just that any boy I met and we started to date didn't last very long. Of course, those visions weren't the only reason that those relationships ended so quickly, but because I knew you were in my future. I just couldn't estimate how long it would take to meet you," Livia said.

"You couldn't tell from how old you were in the vision," Dave asked.

"I admit, I wasn't really paying attention and I mostly just saw other people," Livia said and Dave nodded, as that's what he had expected.

There were some pictures of Livia in her sketchbooks with him and on her website that hadn't sold as yet, but most of them were of him only. He had seen himself at different distances and with different scenery surrounding him. Most him were close up, though there was one of his profile. Livia had gotten every detail perfect down to the bristles of his beard and the ring he wore on his right hand to tell people he was the owner of the castle here in Montréal. He also had another ring with the Rossi crest, but that was on the opposite hand and didn't show in that drawing. Dave was sure there were some pictures on Livia site of him in his dragon form, though only if they hadn't sold already.

He would be surprised if they hadn't been, as such images tended to be popular. Well good for Livia, he was so proud of her.

He couldn't believe he had finally met his mate and that they had already completed the bond was something he had never expected to happen so soon, even if it had been rather unexpected. Just because it had been unexpected due to his dragon within him didn't mean it was unwelcome and had been better than he had imagined. She hadn't even been mad or upset at him for being unable to control himself, no, she had been happy they had completed it. Anything that made Livia happy, made him happy

"That's usually how such talents work as you don't see yourself, just others that are important in some way to the future," Dave explained.

"That's something that Alifair didn't tell me, but then, she doesn't know much about that type of magic and admitted as much," Livia said. "It makes sense though, as we just see some of our vision's actions, but not everything."

"Different decisions lead to different actions, so you see more than one path that someone can take," Dave said.

"Yeah, but let's quit talking about it, as I'm getting a break for a change from having visions," Livia said.

"Alright," Dave agreed without arguing.

The two sat in comfortable silence before Dave finally suggested getting some dinner delivered as it was around that time.

"Sounds good though you did promise to cook for me," Livia reminded him.

"So I did and if that's what you want then I'll be happy to," Dave said smiling.

"That's what I want," Livia said decisively.

"Your wish is my command," Dave said rising to his feet and leading Livia to the kitchen she had seen briefly on her tour.

~~~Dave and Livia~~~

"This kitchen is fantastic," Livia said looking around at the large space. "I know you showed it to me when you gave me a tour, but we didn't really stop in just looked in the kitchen door."

"Yeah, I had it remodeled about 15 years ago, but it's probably time that I remodel again," Dave said.

"Why spend the money it looks great," Livia mildly protested looking around at the beautiful kitchen.

Every surface was sparkling, clean as was the floor the walls were white, and they looked as if they had just been painted.

"Well, for one thing the wiring needs to be updated," Dave explained calmly. "It also needs some other updates perhaps a new color paint on the walls that kind of thing. Also, there's not enough outlets and there a lot of new devices that make cooking easier, which is one reason that the kitchen needs to be rewired, so if a lot of devices need to be hooked up at the same time the power doesn't go out. You know money isn't an issue for me and if both of us are working in this kitchen it needs to be expanded to give both of us plenty of room to move around."

"I guess that makes sense," Livia admitted. "It's certainly the biggest kitchen I've ever been in, bigger than the one at the residence certainly. It's at least twice the size of that one and maybe a little more."

"Still, it won't hurt to expand it another few feet, but we'll have to ask whatever contractor we get what he thinks," Dave said.

"Is there room to expand without getting rid of something we need like a load bearing wall?" Livia asked

"We'll have to consult the experts. You're right, we don't want to get rid of anything vital, so we might not be able to expend the kitchen but we can remodel. We'll talk about that later though, as dinner will be ready shortly," Dave said.

As they had been talking Dave had been cooking expertly. The food wasn't complicated just a simple fast meal that didn't take more than a few minutes to fix so long as you knew what you were doing.

The food was ready within five minutes and Dave expertly placed it onto plates. Dave took silverware and napkins out of their places and placed the plates on a tray and they were soon back to the living area where they had been earlier. The flowers were still mostly in their vases with some of the petals having fallen to the floor marring the finish of the wood

Dave however, didn't seem to care about the flower petals having marred the gorgeous wooden floor at least the portion of floor that didn't have a rug or carpet. Dave simply walked past all the vases to place the plates on the small table that was on a portion of the floor with no carpet. The table was over by the fireplace and while they didn't need a fire at this time of year it would still be rather intimate. To share a meal by the fire when it was active, just the two of them having an intimate conversation while hearing the crackling flames.

"It's too bad it's too warm for a fire tonight," Livia said regretfully. "I've never had a meal in front of a roaring fire before. I've just heard it's very romantic."

"We'll be doing this a lot," Dave promised, as he turned from placing the plates on the table. He took two steps towards Livia and took her into his arms as soon as he was close enough giving her a passionate kiss. "We are going to have meals in front of a roaring fire for a long time to come and not necessarily just here at home, but in places all over the world."

"That sounds wonderful," Livia said really looking forward to it.

She sat down in the chair that Dave pulled out for her and then Dave headed and took his own seat.

"I can't believe how fast you prepared this fantastic meal," Livia said once she had taken her first bite. "It didn't take you but about a half an hour and really a little less than that."

"It helps when you know where everything you want to use is and also when you don't have to look at the recipe," Dave said answering Livia's statement. "I've been cooking for a very long time and I know the kitchen like I know the back of my own hand. So long as nothing's been moved around to where it's not in its proper place I know where everything is located, but since I'm the only one that ever uses the kitchen, not to be able to locate some tool that I need has never been a problem."

"I'm surprised you don't have a cook though, considering how wealthy you are," Livia said.

"I have a cook on retainer. Whenever I don't want to cook like if I have large group I need to prepare dinner for then she'll come and fix it," Dave answered. "But when I'm cooking for just me and a few friends I like to fix it myself, as it keeps me in practice for one thing. I don't like to let servants do everything for me like a lot of wealthy people do. I'd be bored out of my mind in no time and considering how long dragon shifters can live..."

"I suppose when you put it like that it makes sense," Livia said.

"Some people are simply too active to enjoy just sitting around and that is definitely me," Dave said.

"You could always play rich boy games," Livia teased him.

"Rich boy games?" Dave asked with an eyebrow raised in amusement already guessing where this was going.

"You know, play things like lacrosse, tennis or squash, drink and whore and travel the world but never to get any work done. Just basically sit on your hands and waste your life away," Livia teased him with a grin.

"I suppose it is the stereotype for a reason," Dave snorted not at all offended and in fact, he sounded amused by Livia's statement . "Not all rich people are like that you know, though I know there are plenty of them just as you describe. Ones that were born with silver spoons in their mouths and don't do anything productive with their lives other then insult people who they consider beneath them and demand things.

"That's where stereotypes come from," Livia agreed in a more serious tone.

The two shared an intimate meal together talking quietly learning more about each other as they ate.

~~~Dave and Livia~~~