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 his upper chest. Ailean’s big body trembled beneath her exploring fingers, and she felt a surge of confidence and lust she’d never known before.
She moved her fingers to another scar, this one on his shoulder. And while her fingers toyed with that, Shalin leaned in close and licked Ailean’s nipple. His entire body jerked so she did it again. The fists at his side relaxed.
Shalin laid her hands flat against his chest while she licked his other nipple. Ailean groaned and it reverberated through Shalin’s body, making her feel hot all over, her skin itchy. She wanted to strip and rub herself all over him.
Big, strong fingers speared through her hair, and Ailean pulled her head back. His eyes roamed over her face and she tried hard not to shrink back from his examination. She was used to shadows. She liked shadows, liked blending into walls. But Ailean and his kin wouldn’t let her. She tried to hide and they only pulled her back out again, but not out of cruelty. Not as a way to hurt her.
And that was why she kept her eyes on his. Because she wasn’t afraid to meet his gaze, to challenge him as he was challenging her. He looked for fear, and she’d show him none. Not now, not ever.
Ailean groaned once, and then he kissed her. And Shalin knew she’d made the right decision.
She wanted him. And not in some shy, innocent way, begging him to lead. When he kissed her, she met him with as much passion as he felt. Her tongue met his, bold and demanding. Her hands slid up to his shoulders and around his neck. She raised herself on her toes, tipping her head to the side to get a better angle. For a dragoness who’d never been with a male as human, she seemed to know her way around. He truly thought she’d be lost without her tail.
Shalin’s small hands reached for his leather leggings, tearing at them, trying to get them off. Her passion for him making her as rough as he’d threatened to be. Ailean pushed her hands away, so he could deal with her dress, doing his best not to rip it in the process. It was so large, it took no effort to push it off her shoulders and down her body. Once the dress cleared her arms, Shalin went right back to removing his leggings, sliding them over his hips. As she lowered them, she went along, crouching in front of him, her lips leaving a delicious trail down his naked hip and thigh.
His cock sprang free of his clothing, clearly begging for her mouth. And when she licked her lips, Ailean knew he had to get control of this situation or come before it even truly started.
“No,” he said simply before digging his hands back in her hair and yanking her to her feet. He pulled her tight against his body and took her mouth again. Only now it was flesh against flesh and nothing had ever felt so wonderful to him. Gods, there had been so many others, but none like Shalin.
He didn’t understand it. Maybe it was that innocent honesty. No lies or deceits. No seduction. Simply knowing what she wanted and making it clear. Now it was his turn to know what he wanted and to make it clear.
Ailean released her hair and slid his hands under her ass. Lifting Shalin up, he dropped to his knees and placed her on the shirt she’d laid out, careful not to slam her head into the ground.
Moving down her body, he kissed and licked her flesh, pinning her to the ground with his hands against her waist. Sliding between her thighs, Ailean pushed her legs apart and nuzzled her sex until she growled and grabbed hold of his