Page 54 of Veiled Flames
As she looks into my eyes, I see her recognition that she’s failed to convince me.
“Please.” She slides her hands up my thighs, drifting dangerously close to my rod. I wish I’d put on my breeches.
“If you let me try, I’ll doanythingyou ask of me. I’ll come to your tent every night. Whenever you want. I’ll dowhateveryou ask of me.”
My cock fully hardens, thinking of all the ways I could take this woman. All the ways I’ve already planned to take her. But even if she hates me, even if she never touches me again, I can’t send her to certain death.
Suddenly, I see a way to reason with her. If she wants me again, as badly as I want her, I can see a new argument. One that might work.
“Rosomon.” I stand. My head strikes the top of the tent, forcing me to bend, so I move to the center. “You can’t have it both ways.”
She nods as she rises from her knees, hope and eagerness spreading over her face.
“If you enter camp as a boy, as a rider candidate, if youtrulyhave a death wish, I won’t stop you. I won’t reveal your identity.”
Her joy is palpable and consumes the air in the tent. I hope she’ll choose against it but, even if she makes the choice to continue her ruse as a boy, given the rigors of training, she’ll change her mind the first day. Long before she approaches a dragon.
“Thank you, Master Saxon.” She moves forward, clearly intending to kiss me.
I hold up my hand. “I haven’t finished.”
She rocks back on her heels but then nods.
“If you enter camp as a candidate, we can’t have sex again. We can’t even risk being seen together.” The words hurt my throat, but I remain hopeful it will help her to make the right choice. The smart choice. The choice that will keep her alive.
“Oh.” Her nose wrinkles as she absorbs my words.
I long to touch that nose, to smooth its creases. I want to pull her back into my arms and kiss her. I want to drive my rod inside her soft body again. But it’s far more important that I convince her.
“We can’t have sex again?” she asks softly. “Not even in secret?”
I shake my head.
She steps closer. “Is it because you’d feel shame for having sex with a boy? Is that forbidden?”
“No.” I shift back, shaking my head as it strikes the tent again. “That’s not it at all.”
“Then why?” Her hand reaches for my leg, testing my resolve. Why did I not put on my breeches?
Stepping away from her touch again, I straighten to full height, close to a span above hers, and fold my arms over my chest.“We can’t be together, because if you enter training, I’ll be your teacher, your master, yourcommander.”
“Oh, I see.” She looks away from me, before turning back. “That makes me sad.” Her head drops.
Hope rushes through me. Finally, I’ve broken her stubborn streak.
“Don’t despair, ma chérie, because there is an alternative. A very good alternative. One I believe you’ll find very favorable.” I step toward her and tilt up her chin to better gaze into her beautiful eyes. But they’re awash in sadness.
“While I can’t offer you marriage,” I tell her, “I would be very pleased for you to become my courtesan.”
Her nose wrinkles, and she blinks.
“Life at camp isn’t as luxurious as you’re used to,” I tell her, “but dragon masters have more comfort than most, and I can offer you a very agreeable life. You can stay with me, or have your own quarters, if you prefer. Either way, we can be together whenever we want. And I’ll protect you.” I widen my stance.
“Protect me?” Her eyes are hard to read at the moment. “Protect me from what?”
“From the other men.” I take her hands, but they remain limp in mine.
“Why would I need protection from the other men?” she asks. “Have they no honor?”
