Firedrake - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,50

own stupidity. He hadn’t felt this bad about himself since he’d left home. He should have known coming back to Draconia would bring back all that crippling self-doubt.

“That’s because I’m all you ever knew. There are many more worthy men out there, Jen. I hoped you’d have found one in the time I was gone and the fact that you waited and pined for me only makes me feel worse. I’ve been nothing but bad for you since the moment you hatched, but I can’t help loving you. Please don’t make this any harder than it already is.”

Jenet backed off, clearly hurt. “I’ll leave it for now, but I’ll never stop hoping, Drake. You don’t see yourself clearly, but I do. I see to the heart of you, and it’s you I want.”

Great, Drake thought, only two women around for miles and they’re both upset with me. So much for the fabled bard’s charm.

Sometime in the dark of the night, Krysta had snuggled against Drake. There wasn’t a lot of room between the dragons and under the tarp, and though the dragons kept the area warm, Krysta undoubtedly felt the night air’s chill, even positioned as she was between Drake and Mace. She had returned to the group silently as they prepared for sleep, giving in to the necessity of sharing body heat to stay warm as the rain continued to pour down in a steady stream.

Drake felt the soft, feminine touch on his chest under the loose shirt Mace had loaned him and came instantly awake. Krysta was still sleeping, her face nestled into the crook of his arm, her body turned to his, burrowing into his side. Drake saw the way she shivered in the chill air and drew her closer, wrapping his arms around her.

She settled into a deeper sleep, her hand trapped between them, under his shirt, her palm resting over his heart like a promise. Drake felt the rightness of having her there, in his arms, but was powerless against the drag of fatigue on his tired body. He fell back asleep, only to dream of the moment when they would finally make love.

The first rays of dawn touched the land when Drake woke again. Krysta was still in his embrace, her lithe body entwined with his. Their legs had tangled in the night so that his morning erection nestled snuggly between her thighs, resting against the place it most wanted to go. Her lips grazed his neck, raising gooseflesh where they touched as her soft breath rasped across his skin.

Drake relished the feel of her for a long, pleasurable moment before the slight motion on her other side roused him to open his eyes once more. Mace was watching them.

He read envy and a little regret in the knight’s eyes, but strangely, no trace of anger. Drake wondered at that. He thought for certain any man would be incensed to find the woman he wanted had turned to another for comfort in the dark of the night. But then, this was Mace. The quiet knight seldom reacted as others did.

Krysta stirred against him, slowly coming awake.

When her eyes popped open, confusion reigned there for only a moment before she tried to pull away. Drake wouldn’t let her. There was something he needed from her first, something he had to know.

Slowly, he lowered his lips to hers, seeking the warmth of her kiss, knowing full well Mace watched every move. She didn’t resist as his mouth claimed hers, lips and tongues tangling with the familiarity of long-lost lovers though they hadn’t yet shared more than a kiss and a snuggle.

She felt so right in his arms. Surely Mace could see the truth of it. This woman was meant for Drake and he was making the point the only way he could think of at the moment.

He turned her, settling her on the ground beneath him, his cock settling into the welcoming cradle of her thighs as she spread them easily for him, as if he was always meant to be there. Stars! He couldn’t wait to get inside her, but he’d bide his time until they were alone.

Sense overriding passion, Drake eased up, lifting his head to look down at her passion-glazed eyes.

“Good morning, sweetheart.”

Her breathing was ragged, just the way he liked it. “Good morning.”

“I’m sorry about last night. I had a long talk with Jenet and you were right about everything. The nosey little matchmakers were manipulating us all.” He moved off her,