Can't Get Enough (Dragon Kin) - G.A. Aiken Page 0,46
the rest of Ailean’s kin, they clearly had “not forgiven you for the whole slashing throat incident,” as Ailean’s Aunt Briaga put it.
By the fourth day, and as the full moon neared, they all stopped coming. Leaving her alone to fully realize exactly how much she missed Ailean. Gods, and she did miss him. With her very soul she missed him.
Determined not to focus on the acute ache in her heart, Shalin shifted to human later in the day and put on one of the dresses the aunts had left for her, since the cave could get quite chilly for human flesh. She groomed and fed Nightmare, appreciating the way he kept nuzzling her, trying to cheer her up.
Once done, she didn’t bother to shift back and instead walked to the cave entrance and sat down, her legs hanging over the edge. She stared out over the land. It was quiet. Not like the busy streets of Kyffin, where it was never quiet unless it was a religious holiday or a public execution was taking place.
Shalin didn’t know exactly when Ailean sat down beside her but she wasn’t really shocked.
“I’m surprised to find you as human, Shalin.”
She gave a little shrug. “It’s easier to tend Nightmare.”
Glancing at him, she saw that his wound had healed but it had left a nasty scar behind. Would take a decade or two for that one to fade.
“Are you all right out here? Need anything?”
Shalin couldn’t help but smile. “Hardly. I’ve had quite the influx of your kin stopping by with gifts.”
“Good. Madenn sent up some food for you as well. It’s cooked, though.”
“That’s fine,” she said casually, although she’d already scented the food and her mouth had begun to water. Nothing like fresh meat she’d torn open herself, but she’d learned to enjoy the herbs and seasonings the humans used to enhance their cooked meats and fish. She’d definitely begun to miss it.
Not that she’d ever admit that out loud.
“Thank you for bringing my puppy and Nightmare.”
“I had to.” He chuckled. “Big bastard wouldn’t eat and nearly stomped one of the stableboys when he tried to groom him. And the puppy whined incessantly when he couldn’t find you at evening meal.”
As if sensing they spoke of him, the puppy yipped and charged forward, but Ailean easily caught him before he slid right out of the cave. “You ever going to name this little one?” he asked as he placed him back on the floor and patted him back inside.
“Name him?”
“You have to name him, Shalin. We can’t keep calling him ‘puppy.’ Especially once he gets to be about two or three hundred pounds.”
Ailean slid his hand under hers, big fingers intertwining with her smaller ones.
“I’ve missed you, Shalin. I’ve missed you so very much.”
She closed her eyes, trying to block out the sound of his voice and the words. But she didn’t have the heart to shake his hand off. She liked how it felt against hers.
Ailean leaned in close and nuzzled her neck. “Let me stay the night, Shalin.”
“I—”
“I promise I won’t Claim you until you want me to.”
She snorted. “So sure I’ll want you to?”
“Not sure. Hopeful.”
He kissed a trail down her neck to her shoulder, tugging the dress down a bit so he could toy with the flesh beneath.
“If I let you stay,” she whispered, already losing the battle, “you know it won’t mean anything.”
Ailean reached around, sliding his hand into her hair and gripping the back of her head. He forced her to look at him. “We both know that’s a lie. But if it makes you feel better this night, I won’t argue.” His gaze traveled to her mouth. “Gods,” he moaned, “I’ve missed you, Shalin.”
Shalin opened her mouth to speak, to tell him to go before she lost any more of her heart to him, but before she could get the words out, he kissed her. And, as always, her human body nearly burst into flames from the passion of it.
She couldn’t fight him. Not when she’d missed him so much. So she released herself into that kiss. At least for the moment, she let go the anger and stubbornness and simply unleashed the desire she’d been bottling up for days.
Gods, he truly had missed her. Just the feel of her mouth on his or the way she pressed her body into his. Whether human or dragon, she always fit him perfectly. For days he’d been longing for her, following his kin’s dictate that the time wasn’t