heard me. I don’t want to go inside. Nothing is wrong with me.”
Ailean entertained the idea she might be right until she took off running and did a somersault—for no apparent reason.
“In fact,” she announced, “I feel amazing. At least a hundred years younger.”
“Shalin, you’re not old.”
“No. I just feel like it most days.” She suddenly did a handstand and Ailean briefly closed his eyes and groaned. He couldn’t help himself once he realized she was completely naked under that dress.
“Shalin—”
“You know,” she flipped forward and landed on her feet, “I don’t do anything. I go where they tell me. Do what they tell me.” She put her hands on her hips and said, “I almost handed myself over to the Northland dragons because I thought it was the right thing to do. I’m tired of living for others.”
“Then don’t.”
“Don’t?”
“Don’t. Gods know, I don’t.”
“It’s easy for you. No one expects anything from you.”
“Thank you.”
“I mean…” Again she waved her hand like she was waving away a fly. “Why lie? I meant what I said. All they expect from you, from your kin, is to kill on command. That’s your skill. Your gift to our people. When you’re not killing, they really don’t care what you do.”
“But you…”
She laughed, but there was no humor in it. “From me, they expect much.”
“Your life is your own, Shalin. That’s the true beauty of being dragon. Even our gods know not to demand much of us.”
“It’s not the gods I care about disappointing.”
“Your father?”
She nodded. “I love him too much to ever want to hurt him. Failure—my failure—would hurt him.”
“But, Shalin—your father’s not here. And, based on those clouds, he won’t be here for quite a bit. So, perhaps you can allow yourself a chance to just be. For once.” He grinned. “Who knows what you’ll discover about yourself?”
She frowned a bit. “I guess I can do that.”
“You guess?”
She snorted. “I don’t know how to throw all caution to the wind like you do, Ailean.”
“Then isn’t it time you learned?”
“How do you—”
“You just do it. You simply see what you want and you go after it. That’s what I do. Trust me, Shalin, there’s no one here who will hold you back.”
“Truly?” And she looked afraid to hope.
“Truly. You may not always get what you want. But I’ve found it never hurts to at least have tried.”
Shalin nodded. “All right, then.”
Then she took off running—right at him. He barely had a chance to stumble back before she slammed right into his chest. If he hadn’t been hit with so many other unexpected things over the years, he’d never have been able to stay on his feet.
Shalin wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. She stared into his eyes for a long moment before she said in no uncertain terms, “I want you to fuck me, Ailean.”
She couldn’t tell if he looked horrified, appalled, or merely stunned.
Shalin swallowed and gave him a way out. “You can say no, of course. I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to—”
“Shut up, Shalin.”
Ailean closed his eyes, and she could hear him gritting his teeth. He looked as if he was in physical pain.
“What do you want from me, Shalin?”
That seemed like an odd question, and he seemed so angry, she decided retreat might be her best option. “Nothing, Ailean. Nothing.” She tried to pull out of his arms and he yanked her back. That’s when she felt his erection pushing against her sex.
“You don’t understand me. What do you want from me, Shalin?” She shook her head, still unclear what he meant. “Are you a romantic, Shalin? Do you need the soft light of candles and the gentle touch of your lover?”
“Uh—”
“Normally, I could give you anything you’d want. I’m known for my versatile skills. But I can’t promise that right now.” He pushed a wind blown lock of her hair behind her ear. “I’ve wanted you too long to be much of a sensitive lover. All I can promise you at the moment is a rough ride right here in the dirt. If you don’t want that, then walk away from—”
“Put me down, Ailean.”
He looked so disappointed, she almost felt guilty for how happy that made her.
With a curt nod, he carefully placed her on the ground and she stepped back. “Give us your shirt.”
“What?”
“Your shirt.” She motioned to the linen shirt that fit him perfectly but would hang on her like one of his cousin’s dresses. “Give it to me.”
Not sure why she wanted it, he still reached back and grabbed up the shirt with both hands, dragging it over his head. He handed it to her and she took it but stopped a moment to simply stare at him. Gods, he had a nice body. And he wasn’t even naked yet.
Clearing her throat, she shook the linen shirt out and placed it on the ground. “Until you’ve actually had dirt up your bum, you really can’t appreciate how uncomfortable that could get.”
She stood, brushing off her hands. “Now make sure to get me there.” She pointed at the shirt. “You know, when we actually get to that point.”
He seemed to struggle between wanting to glare at her and smile. “Did you hear a word I said to you?”
“Quite clearly. I have excellent hearing.” She moved closer to him and Ailean’s body tensed. “I appreciate the warning, though. It was very sweet of you to give me the option to run away…”
Ailean’s hands were fisted at his side while he eyed her. She had the feeling he would not make the first move. He needed her to prove that she wanted this.
Wanted this? Gods, she needed this. Perhaps her only chance at getting something she really, truly wanted that had nothing to do with anyone or anything else. No matter how temporary, she needed this.
Now Shalin stood so close to him their bodies nearly touched. She raised her hand and let her fingers skim along a jagged scar across
