Page 78 of Tears of Gold

Ava climbs onto Skye’s back and clings to his mane as he zips through the water. Occasionally, he bucks her off and Erritt catches her. At least the prince must be feeling a lot better. He kisses her under the waterfall, hands linking around her bare waist.

My belly twists as he pulls her clear of the water. Long black hair plasters against her back, and her wet shirt clings to her skin making it glaringly obvious she’s not even wearing a bra. Her mounded breasts shape the draped fabric, and a happy grin plasters across her face.

Fuck! An instant hard on throbs against my shorts, and I cover a groan. This is worse than I imagined.

I jump up, grabbing my boots. I’ve got to get out of here.

“Harper, wait a minute.” Skye calls from nearby.

I spin around.

He walks up the bank in his completely naked human form. “You want her, right?” He shifts his shoulder back, giving me a clear view. Erritt and Ava stand hip deep in the water just off the bank. Erritt hugs her from behind, making those beautiful plump breasts stand out even more. Her nipples poke against her shirt like play buttons begging to be pressed. They’re both looking at me, and Ava’s hopeful smile sets flares off in my guts. Fuck! How cruel can these bastards be?

I shake my head at Skye. “Don’t do this to me, dragon,” I warn.

He smiles gently. “We talked it over. We’d like you to join us.”

Staring at him, I forget to breathe. Does he mean for a swim, or something else?

“You can join our relationship and have Ava—if you can pass two tests.” Skye cocks his head, studying me.

I look past him to Ava. She has her bottom lip in her teeth, watching us. That thing she does with her lip undoes me.

I take a step forward, driven by a desperate, painful force. “Don’t tease me, Skye!”

He steps closer and puts his hand on my shoulder. “I’m perfectly serious.”

My pulse races, my eyes flicking between him and the woman who stole my heart. “What tests?” Is he really offering me a chance to be with Ava? Is that what she wants? I don’t think I could bear it if he’s joking.

“The first one is right here.” He pats his lips with a finger. “See, we all share, and I have to know you’ll be okay with that. With all of us.”

I swallow around a sudden rock in my throat. His words leave me with as many questions as answers. I look at Ava, then back at Skye. If he were on Earth, he’d make a killing as a porn star thanks to his lean body and downstairs endowment. I drop my head an inch to meet his gaze and his near black irises fix on me, waiting.

He’s deadly serious.

My mouth dries up. “This is why you’ve been flirting with me?” I ask, voice cracking a little.

He nods. “You don’t have to make love to us, but you’ve got to be comfortable enough for us all to be with Ava at the same time. That’s our rule.”

I take a deep breath. “I’ve never kissed a guy.”

He grins, flashing his dimples. “First time for everything, right?”

I meet his eyes. This is the guy who nearly killed himself to track Ava, who’s endured countless public beatings at the hand of his best friend, of all people, without a whisper of complaint. He’s cheered me and welcomed me into their group, long before today. And he’s been teaching me dragon secrets to grow my qi. Maybe he’s also sunk his teeth into me a few times but not without good reason.

There are far worse tests I could go through for Ava’s sake.

I lift my hand to rest on his shoulder, and he does the rest, drawing me into him and finding my mouth. His lips are soft and damp, though demanding. I had thought a peck might suffice, but Skye crushes me against his chest, cradling my back and head. His slick torso rubs against mine, his shlong burning against my pants.

He pries my lips apart. I fight him for a moment, and his hands tighten on my back.

Shit, he means the whole damn way!

I open, and his tongue sweeps mine. Electricity charges through my limbs, and I clutch at him, suddenly weak. A pressure tickles my essence, and I finally understand. This is a test in trust as well.

Slowly, I relax my mind and let him in. I can’t fix the mess of my thoughts which I’ve trained for years, but he’ll be able to pick through it without resistance. I’m barer than bare, my secrets, all the dark things I’ve done through the years exposed for his judgement.

Fuck, even the affection I’ve felt for him ever since we tracked Ava together simmers to the surface, along with my anger, confusion, loneliness and homesickness.