Unlike the dragon. He didn’t shrink from her rage. He appeared to enjoy it. Greatly.
The strange way of man and beast. It never failed to confuse her.
She wondered where she’d created this dream lover from. Had she ever seen the man before? Perhaps in one of the towns or villages that aided her troops? Or perhaps she created him from her own imagination. She knew not. But lately she’d begun to regret having to wake up.
He sat on the edge of the bed and stared at her, as he always did. He stroked her face with his large, strong hand. She sighed contentedly and smiled. He returned it with a smile of his own. Annwyl felt bold in this dream world. Brazen. She reached out a hand and slid it around the back of his neck, drawing him down for a kiss. She liked this dream lover, he didn’t resist her. Instead he let her lead him. When their lips met, her whole body responded. Intense heat from his body licked over her flesh. Her nipples tightened and grew hard, begging for the touch of those strong hands of his. Heat and moisture pulsed between her legs. She experienced things she never felt before. And she wanted more.
His tongue licked across her lips and she instinctively opened her mouth to let him in. She moaned as his tongue slid across and around hers, and her body arched as she tried to get closer to him. She wanted her dream lover. In her bed. In her.
But he pulled away from her. She grasped for him…and found herself face down on the floor. Again.
“By all that’s…” She pushed herself up as Morfyd hurried to her side.
“By the gods, lass. Are you all right?”
“Yes. Yes.” She took Morfyd’s arm and allowed the woman to help her sit back on the bed. “I’m fine.” She couldn’t keep ending up on the floor. Now it was just getting embarrassing.
“You should leave her there. She looks adorable. Like a puppy.”
Annwyl turned narrowed eyes on her dragon rescuer as he sat by the entrance to this part of his lair. “Quiet, dragon,” she warned playfully. She’d become used to the dragon lingering near her. Teasing her. In fact, she found she started to like it. To like him.
Morfyd examined her wound, already less painful then it was the previous day. “Why do I keep finding you on the floor,” Morfyd asked with a slight mixture of annoyance and humor.
“I keep having this dream about a man….” Remembering they were not alone, Annwyl stopped. She cleared her throat. “Uh…it’s nothing though.” Morfyd only glanced at her, then she turned two suddenly angry eyes on the dragon. Annwyl watched as the dragon looked up at the ceiling. Perhaps examining it for cracks.
“So, how long before I can return to my men?”
“Well—” was all Morfyd got out before the dragon cut her off.
“We need to make sure you’re well first. Wouldn’t want you to get caught in a battle still weak.”
Annwyl shrugged. “That’s fine. I just worry about my men. They need to know I’m alive. I don’t want them to…”
“Give up hope?” Morfyd gently asked as she cleaned off the wound and placed another bandage over it.
“Aye. I can’t desert them now.”
“You’re not. And I doubt they will give up hope.” Morfyd straightened up. “But I will see what I can do.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll bring you some food.” Morfyd left, punching the dragon in his side as she walked past him. Had the witch gone mad? Did she not see his fangs?
“Tell me, dragon, do you have anything to read?”
“Read?”
“Yes. Does your kind read?”
“Of course we read!”
“Don’t yell.”
The dragon growled at her and she fought her smile.
“Come on then.” He headed off deep into his lair. Annwyl wrapped the fur covering tight around her naked body and followed.
Definitely one of the stupidest things he’d ever done. He really couldn’t believe he was doing it. He turned a corner and led her to the right. He could have just brought her some books. Dropped them right into her lap. Instead he led her here. He led a human to his treasure. What the hell am I thinking?
He reached the entrance and stepped in. She stopped dead in her tracks and waited.
Fearghus didn’t say anything. He wanted to see her reaction. She didn’t speak for several moments. Then, “I’m freezing me tits off. Where are the books?”
Fearghus blinked. “‘I’m freezing me tits off,’” he mimicked back to her.
Annwyl shrugged. “I’ve been with my troops for over two years now,” she muttered as if that explained everything.
Fearghus motioned to a corner of the room. “The books are over there.” He watched her clamber over gold, jewels, and the other riches he’d claimed over many, many years. She reached the books and examined them closely.
“So do you like to read or are you desperately bored?”
“No. I’m not bored at all. I’m actually enjoying myself quite a bit. It’s nice and quiet here.” She grabbed two books. “And I love to read. To learn. I should have been a scholar.”
“Why aren’t you?”
She shrugged as she walked back over the riches as if she stepped on old stones. “My father had other plans for me. He thought I’d make a fine noble’s bride.”
Fearghus couldn’t stop the laugh that burst from his snout. Annwyl glared at him. “Well thank you very much!”
“I mean no offense. I simply don’t see you worrying about the supplies for the kitchens or whether you’ll breed a son to carry on the family line.”
“Really? And what do you see for me?”
“Exactly what you’re doing now. Protecting your people from a tyrant.”
She smiled and he felt pride for causing it. She began to head back toward where she slept.
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
“Wouldn’t you like some clothes?”
“You have clothes?” He motioned to several chests buried in a corner. She handed the two books to him and descended on the wooden boxes. She dug through the clothes quickly. She ignored the beautiful and richly made gowns, tossing them aside like a wench’s bar dress. But when she discovered a chest filled with men’s clothes, she began to take several articles for herself. Several pairs of breeches, shirts, and leather boots that she held up against her rather sizable feet to make sure they would fit.
Once she had what she needed, she took her new clothes and books, and headed
