Page 20 of Bride of the Black Dragon
I wake up pressed against something hot and hard—it’s like a solid wall of muscle. It’s moving in a slow, steady rhythm but more importantly, it’s putting out heat like a furnace and it smells incredible, like leather and fire and pure, masculine spice. As the dark spice penetrates my brain, I come a little more awake and realize where I am.
I’m in Xaren’s room—in his bed—and I’m pressed against his back.
Goddess of Mercy!
I start to scoot away but it’s too late—he’s awake too. He turns over to face me, his golden eye blazing.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he demands. “I thought I told you to stay on your side of the bed?”
“I…I didn’t do it on purpose!” I exclaim. “It’s just so cold in here and you’re so warm. I must have scooted over in my sleep.”
He frowns as though he doesn’t believe me.
“Let me tell you something, little dove,” he growls, leaning over me. “And hear me well when I say this—I am no rapist, I won’t take what you don’t want to give. But my Drake wants you.”
“He…he what?” I pull the sheet up over my breasts.
“He wants you,” Xaren repeats. He frowns down at me. “I don’t know why—he’s never wanted anyone. Which is why you’re better off staying the hell away from me when we sleep together like this.”
“Will he…is he going to come out and…and eat me?” I hear the squeak in my voice but I can’t help it.
Xaren just looks at me.
“As I said, he’s never wanted anyone before. You shouldn’t be here. But if you have to be, you need to at least keep your fucking distance. Do you understand?”
“I…I’m sorry,” I say again. Then I get mad. “But I didn’t do it on purpose! Maybe if you’d keep it a little warmer in here, I wouldn’t feel half frozen and I wouldn’t have tried to get warm by being close to you!”
He shakes his head.
“I chose these rooms on purpose because they’re cool. I have a fire inside me…my Drake’s fire. Which is growing every minute you spend here in my bed.” His golden eye glimmers in the gloom. “It’s almost dawn now—I think you’d better leave.”
“But—”
“Leave!” His voice is a low, menacing growl. “Now.”
There’s no disobeying him—not when he speaks like that. I can hear an echo in his voice—a reverberation. It must be his Drake, trying to get out. He really must want to eat me up!
Hurriedly, I jump out of bed and grab for my robe. I stuff my feet into my slippers and rush out of the bedroom. Behind me, I can feel that golden eye glaring at my back, beaming into me.
I slam the wooden door behind me and run up the stairs. I don’t care what the Queen says—I am never going back there!
13
ELAINA
I hurry back to my rooms but Tanzy isn’t there yet. I suppose that’s because it’s still early. She usually comes in to help me get dressed and to do my hair a little before breakfast time.
I wait around and soon enough the door opens—but it isn’t Tanzy. It’s another maid, one I’ve never seen before.
She drops me a little half-curtsy.
“If it please you, my Lady, I’m Bridget. I’m here to help you dress and do your hair.”
“That’s, er, very kind of you, but I have a maid,” I say. “Unless she’s sick? Her name is Tanzy—do you know where she is?”
The girl’s eyes widen.
“Oh, didn’t no one tell you, my Lady? I’m afraid she’s in the dungeon until her trial.”
