She feared the dragon, but she loathed the black knight. The dragon could devour her. But the knight… The knight was the more dangerous of the two. She couldn’t look away from his eyes as the bottomless dark pools swirled with fire.
He dipped his head and nipped her lower lip.
“Yield to me,” he whispered.
He caressed, nibbled, and tasted. He suffused her with heat, sending strange sensations through her that made her dizzy. And when she opened her mouth to protest, he delved in.
Oh!
His tongue was hot, insistent, and wicked. The buzzing sensation in her mind spread to the rest of her body. The heat that originated in him began to fill her, spreading all the way to the ends of her limbs.
His large hand came up to her throat. The pad of his thumb rested against her frantically beating pulse before he moved his long fingers down to work the wooden buttons on her shirt.
She tore her lips from his to draw air. “Nay!”
He stilled, dark storm clouds crashing in his gaze, his wicked lips curving into a smile of utter male arrogance.
“You wish for more love play.” He took her lips again.
She was to have no time to search for an old blade, Einin realized, and grabbed for the nearest chunk of loose rock she could lift. To distract the man, she pressed her lips tightly to his. Now!
He must not have been as distracted as she’d hoped, because he disarmed her easily and threw the rock clear across the cave. In fact, he kissed her with even more fervor, even more thoroughly, leaving her gasping.
“Maybe later, if you still wish, we can spar a bit,” he offered with an indulgent smile when he finally pulled back. Then he sighed, as if the thought filled him with satisfaction. “Aye, but you’re a fine wee lass.”
Einin stared at him, overwhelmed by the strange realization that he didn’t altogether mind her attempts on his life. She had no time to entertain the revelation, however, as he kissed her again.
Oh.
Her mind buzzed louder, then her body burned. No village boy had ever kissed her like this. Wilm’s few forceful, slobbering attempts paled. She’d forgotten them by the time the bruises on her shoulders faded.
Now Einin felt like her skin was too tight, her body swollen, especially the part between her legs, to the point where the sensation could no longer be borne. Then Draknart dragged his torturous lips to her neck, and a new aching wave of need washed over her. By the time he made his way to her ear, licking and nibbling every nook and cranny then, gasp, sucked her earlobe into his mouth, she was near certain she was going to die, that this was some ancient dragon magic with which he meant to kill her.
“Submit to me, Einin,” he rasped into her ear, his hot breath sending shivers of pleasure down her spine.
Every ounce of strength she had was needed to produce a weak “Nay.”
Chapter Five
Draknart watchedthe confounding slip of a maiden sleep next to him on the furs—a first. Her breath came in soft little puffs, warm against his scales. He’d never slept with a woman before. The experience was odd, although not unpleasant.
A shame that she hadn’t submitted to his expert seduction. Yet he couldn’t regret the time spent. Sparring with her sharp tongue was just as entertaining as sparring with her when she held a sword. But now the first light of the day reached through the cave’s opening. He’d never kept one this long. And all the others had begged to live. While Einin…
Draknart shifted his heavy dragon body. He lifted his head and adjusted himself, curling around her, cradling her in the middle as a bird in a nest.
He should end her quickly. But he couldn’t resist licking the bottom of Einin’s feet, letting his tongue play with her perfect small toes.
She gave a soft moan in her sleep.
He loved the feel of her skin on his lips. He shifted again and sucked her into his mouth up to her knees. Then up to her waist, saying a silent good-bye with true regret that surprised him. She was a woman like no other he’d met before, strong enough and honorable enough for a queen.
She’d asked for a quick death.
So long, fiery maiden—
He stilled as the taste of her womanhood spread on his tongue. His insides turned to liquid fire. The man inside him wanted her still and demanded another chance, a mating.
Draknart hesitated. What would another day matter?
