“I have?”
“Yes. I suppose it was wrong of me to make assumptions based on your appearance, but I did. I thought you were a more . . . please, don't take offense, but the word submissive came to mind.”
Something zinged through me. I was shocked to find it wasn't revulsion. It was excitement. I still wanted what Rontor had given me. I liked the feeling of being possessed. But it would take a very special man to treat me as Rontor had, to sense the complications of my desires. Could Rian be such a man? Could I teach him to be? Perhaps it's best to state what you want instead of merely hoping someone will figure it out. It certainly seemed like something a powerful man would do.
“That is not entirely an inaccurate assessment,” I whispered. “I can be submissive. I enjoy it under the right conditions.”
Rian went still. The stillness of a hunting beast. His stare locked on mine and his lips parted.
“Rian?” I asked hesitantly. “Does that disturb you?”
He cleared his throat. “Not in the least. It excites me.”
My heart started to race. What am I doing? What if he misinterprets what I say? How do I guide him into being what I need?I had no idea how to be subtle about it, so I just blurted, “I don't want to be abused. That's not the kind of submission I offer.”
Instead of scoffing or brushing that off with useless reassurance, Rian cocked his head and considered my words. “What do you consider abuse?”
What a good question.
I swallowed past the dryness in my throat and just went for it. “Pain. Harsh words. Insults. Apathy. Negligence. Cruelty. True violence.”
“True violence?”
“I like a little submissive play.” The more I said, the bolder I became. “Some light punishment for disobedience. Spanking, denial of pleasure, that sort of thing. But I don't want to be beaten. I want to feel treasured, not used. Adored, not abused. Cherished, not enslaved.”
“I could do that,” the Dragon King whispered. He leaned forward and added, “Iwantto do that.”
“You do?”
“You deserve to be cherished, Galin. Youarea treasure. And there's a part of me that wants to . . .” He paused to lick his lips and swallow. “I want to clutch you tightly and not let go. Hoard you. Bind you so that I may tame my dragon.”
“Bind me to tame your dragon?” My face flushed.
“Yes,” a growl entered his voice. “To let the animal in me know that you belong to us. Only then would he go calm enough for me to adore you. And I would take great pleasure in adoring you.”
I lost my breath. Just couldn't find it. As we stared at each other, our food arrived. We composed ourselves as the waiter rattled on about the dishes, then asked if we needed anything else.
“No,” Rian said hoarsely.
The waiter left.
Still holding my stare, the Dragon King cut into his meat. He lifted a bite, snatched it from the fork, and savored the food as his eyes consumed me. It became erotic, the way he licked at his lips and swallowed, his thick throat moving. The way he tore a chunk of bread, dipped it into gravy, and placed it in hismouth, sucking at his fingers. My pants grew tight around the crotch. My wings shivered. My nipples hardened. Had we been alone, I would have crawled beneath the table and taken him into my mouth.
Thank Fulgark we weren't alone.
“Eat your breakfast, my jewel,” Rian growled. “You need your strength. And you need to stop looking at me like that or I'll be forced to carry you from this room and ravage you in my carriage. Please, don't make me do that. I want our first experience to be special.”
My breath puffed out of me. I wanted him to do that. But I also wanted what he wanted—for our first time to be special. So I lowered my gaze, drawing upon every ounce of will I had to do it.
Chapter Ten
The King's sleigh/carriage took us out right onto the lake and into the middle of the fair. I got out hesitantly, setting my boots lightly upon the cloudy ice. It had been scraped clean of snow for the fair. I didn't slip, nor did the ice crack, so I went toward the fair with more confidence. Stalls stood in orderly lines, forming lanes for fair-goers to stroll down, and we joined the crowd. People nodded and bowed to the King, but he was focused on me. I was too excited for the fair to focus back. I searched the stalls eagerly, scanning the items for sale, most of them themed around the season and the many cultural holidays that came with it.
“I wonder why I wasn't invited to put up a stall?” I said as Rian led me down the first lane.
“Oh, I believe you have to apply to a committee,” Rian said. “They don't give invitations.”
“Ah. Very well. Next year.”
