Page 70 of Phoenix's Fire

"But I didn't notice the branch was there," she mumbled, "so it was my fault."

"Ayla, you noticed the deer." My thumb followed her hairline down before I forced myself to pull my hand away. "Hunting with a bow isn't easy. You were closer than a lot of people who consider themselves skilled. Believe it or not, you're good at this, but no one is ever perfect."

She looked away to put the arrow back into her quiver, but I could see her smile grow a little more. "Thank you."

"Huh?"

Those beautiful blue eyes slid up to look at me from under her golden lashes. "You always find a way to make me feel like I'm succeeding, even when I feel overwhelmed by everything."

"What does everything include this time?" I asked.

Her cheeks immediately began growing darker. "Everyone's been angry about the kiss."

Yeah, and they'd had things to say to me about it too. My problem was they couldn't understand my intention. I didn't even care if this girl had no interest in me; she deserved to know about pleasure. She had the right to make decisions about her own body - informed decisions, not those based on fear. She also needed to learn how to say no, and in my mind, that meant trying it with someone who wouldn't assume her silence meant yes.

"Do you know why they're angry?" I asked. "And are you aware they're angry at me?"

She nodded. "Lessa slapped you, so that made it clear, and Rymar said he'd sting you."

"Do you know why?" I asked again.

Pressing her lips together, she thought for a moment, then shook her head, but her eyes jumped up to find mine. Damn, but I liked that. I knew this had to be embarrassing for her to talk about, yet she still looked at me with so much trust in her eyes.

"It's because you didn't want to be kissed."

"But it didn't hurt," she mumbled.

Fuck, I had to struggle not to smile at that. "Doesn't matter, Ayla. I was trying to show you that you're amazing, and powerful, and strong enough to doanythingyou want. If you slapped me, I would've been proud of you."

"I just kissed you," she said, and her cheeks were starting to turn pink.

I couldn't help it. A little chuckle slipped out. "But that's okay too. See, that's what I want you to understand. It's okay to change your mind. There's nothing wrong with realizing your opinion has changed. There's also nothing wrong with you telling me - or anyone else - that you won't do it, don't want to, or simply slapping us."

"Like Lessa did?"

"Mhm," I agreed.

"She said you are a good lover."

I nearly choked at that, then stuttered a few times before my mind caught up. "She told you that?"

"Yes, when we were walking back. She said she thought I was brave enough to try sex, and that maybe that was why I got birth control. She said she's willing to help me understand this stuff, and no offense, Zasen, but some things really are easier to talk to women about.

"I'm sure," I agreed. "But did she tell you about dating and families?"

"Rymar told me about dating, and I know what a family is," she huffed.

"No, Ayla, I'm not sure you do. Not the way Dragons use the word." Releasing her, I stepped over a little more, checking the forest around us.

"A husband, a wife, and their children," she assured me.

"That's one form," I agreed. "But when people use it here, that's not usually what they mean."

She wrinkled her nose in the most adorable way. "So then what do they mean?"

"For Dragons, a family is a group of people who agree to share their lives."

She nodded. "Okay, so it counts even if they don't have children."

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