Can't Get Enough (Dragon Kin) - G.A. Aiken Page 0,33

word didn’t seem quite right. Not any more. Liaison? No. Too fancy for the way she and Ailean…uh…fucked, as Ailean loved to say.

Perhaps this was simply some sibling rivalry that had nothing to do with her. And she refused to see anything beyond that. She knew her heart to be a fragile thing and she’d encased it in ice long ago. She’d not thaw it now.

No. She’d simply enjoy this…this…thing for what it was.

Resolved, she stood and turned in time to see Arranz fall by the window, landing hard on the ground. Convinced that his seemingly hard head could handle such a drop, she went out to check on her horse. But she still chuckled when she heard Arranz yell, “You blue-haired bastard!”

10

“What exactly did you do to my horse?” Shalin accused him lightly as she dropped into a chair next to Ailean and watched his family and many of the humans who lived on the territory dance. What had sounded like a simple little get-together after their evening meal had turned into a large party. Not that Shalin minded. She liked parties, although she never really participated before. She usually sat in a corner and watched. It seemed, however, that sort of thing wasn’t allowed among Ailean’s kin.

“Me? That evil bastard bit me.”

“You must have done something. It took me ages to calm him down and I had to feed him by hand.”

“Och!”

“What?”

“You are so easy, Shalin. He’s trained you like you’ve trained that puppy. Only he’s done a better job of it.”

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing.”

He’d seemed miserable all night and she didn’t understand why.

She turned in her chair, her knees grazing his leg. “You should dance.”

“I don’t want to dance.”

“Dance, Ailean. I’m sure any of these ladies would love to dance with you.” The glare he gave her had her rearing back. “What was that look for?”

“For someone so smart you can be so…” He bit off his next words and growled, looking away.

“If you’re going to be like this, I’ll go.” She went to stand up but Ailean’s hand clamped onto her arm.

“You want me to dance? I’ll dance.”

Then he stood and dragged her with him.

“Wait! Ailean!” She’d danced with both his brothers and several of his male cousins, but she’d been horrible at it. In fact, she’d been quite grateful for their jovial attitude regarding her lack of skill. “I can’t—”

He turned and yanked her in close. “You can dance with my kin, but not with me?”

Her eyes widened at his growled words. His family, dancing around them, seemed quite oblivious.

“I’m not good at it.”

“That didn’t stop you before.”

“Because I don’t care if I make a fool of myself with them.”

And like that, Ailean’s anger seemed to evaporate. He grinned, placing one of her hands on his waist and gripping her other hand tight. Pulling her close against his body, he said, “Trust me, Shalin. I’ll teach you.”

“You won’t laugh?”

“At you? Never.”

Even though a fast jig played, Ailean started off slow, taking her carefully through each step. He kept her spirits up and when she was moments from quitting, and before she even realized it, they’d danced around the floor as if they’d been dancing together forever. Fast music or slow, Shalin handled all of it as long as she stayed in Ailean’s arms.

She’d lost track of how long they’d been dancing when Kyna patted her shoulder. “We’re going up, luv. Care to come with us?”

Shalin looked around and realized they were one of the few couples left. Others were enjoying late-night meals or had already left.

Shalin pulled out of Ailean’s arms, hoping to control her human body’s weakness of blushing.

“Of course. I didn’t realize it was so late.” She smiled up at Ailean. “Thank you for the lessons.”

“My pleasure, Shalin.”

Hoping he’d still come to her room later, Shalin followed the twins up the stairs.

Ailean went to Shalin’s window as he had the night before. As dragon, but using his camouflage skills to hide his presence from anyone, even another dragon, who might be watching. She’d left the window open for him this time and when he pulled himself through, she stood with her back to him, a fur covering wrapped around her.

“Shalin?”

She didn’t face him when he called to her, but instead asked with horror in her voice, “Ailean, I found chains and a metal neck collar in the small closet back here. Why are they there?”

Ailean winced and gritted his teeth. He’d forgotten to clean out this room before Shalin took it and Arranz