“To be quite honest, her timing was impeccable.”

“I know. She’d fallen out of the sky.” Talaith pointed an accusing finger. “That’s what you were trying to hide from me, wasn’t it? Her and Éibhear.”

“Talaith—”

“So what you said was merely to distract me. I should have known.” She tried to walk away again, but he yanked her to him, pinning her arms behind her back.

“I meant every word I said to you, Talaith, Daughter of Haldane. And don’t ever suggest again that I didn’t. I don’t say things lightly or merely to get someone into bed. I love you, Talaith. You might as well get used to it.”

“I don’t want to get used to it or you.”

“What are you so afraid of, little witch? Of losing your heart? Of falling in love with me?”

Falling? She’d fallen. Face first off the highest spire. But she’d dare not tell him. She dare not speak the words that would hand her heart over to this dragon for the next six or seven centuries.

“Let me go, dragon.”

He pulled her closer, leaning down a bit to let his lips brush against her forehead. “Why do you keep fighting me, Talaith? We both know you love me. Why won’t you admit it?”

“Is there ever a time you’re not an arrogant bastard?”

“Is there ever a time you’re not a difficult bitch?”

“No.”

“Then I guess that makes us perfectly matched, now doesn’t it?”

He grinned and she couldn’t help but smile back.

“Look at that smile. Now isn’t that a thing of beauty.”

She’d never had anyone say such things to her before. It thrilled her and made her uncomfortable all at the same time. She tried to turn her face away, but Briec wouldn’t let her.

“Look at me, Talaith.” She did, and he rewarded her with a soft kiss on her nose. “You are beautiful. And I’ll tell you that everyday if you let me.”

“Not sure I can handle that kind of pressure.”

“Guess you’ll have to learn,” he muttered as he kissed her cheek, then her jaw. “Stay with me, Talaith. Stay with me until our ancestors call us home.”

Sighing, even with her arms still pinned behind her back, she leaned into Briec, letting his mouth move slowly up her chin toward her lips. “That’s a very long time for both of us, Briec.”

“Aye. If we’re lucky.”

He kissed her, his mouth taking hers gently. Coaxing her to trust him, to allow him in to her life and become part of it as she let his tongue slide in and claim her mouth.

Briec released her arms, allowing her to reach up and wrap them around his neck, bury her hands in his hair. Not until her dragon had she realized exactly how pleasurable kissing could be, how wonderful.

Pulling out of their kiss, Briec’s lips traveled down to her neck. He bit her gently and she moaned.

“Let’s go to your room, Talaith. Let me show you how good we can be.”

Smiling, she managed the impossible and pushed him away. “No, dragon. I promised Annwyl I’d be at dinner tonight.”

“She’ll understand,” he growled, reaching for her again.

She moved away from him, walking backward toward her bedroom door. And Briec matched her pace for pace.

“No. We’ll go to dinner tonight.” She arrived at her door, her hand grasping the handle.

“Why?”

“Because…” she pushed the handle down and made ready to move, “…I want to watch you squirm thinking about me sucking that huge shaft of yours into my mouth later tonight.”

He went to grab her, but she had the door closed in his face before he had the chance. She locked it and leaned against it, smiling even as he banged on it from the other side.

“Open this door, wench!”

“No.I have to get dressed. Go and play with your brothers, dragon. I’ll see you at dinner.”

“Evil tease.” She heard his body lean up against the door, and his whispered words made it into the room like a warm, caressing wind. “I’ll make you pay for this tonight, sweet Talaith. I promise you that.”

As always, he moved silently in his human form, but she still knew when he’d walked away from the door.

Talaith took slow, easy breaths and tried hard to get her body under control. She couldn’t go down to dinner with her ni**les burrowing through the dress and her wet sex leaving marks on her chair.

“It would be unseemly,” she said to no one in particular, then she laughed and it felt so good.

* * *

Briec sat back in the chair, staring at Talaith as she did her best to ignore him and continue to listen to Gwenvael tell a completely inappropriate tale about himself and several young maids whose poor father caught them in his stables.

It had been a long, painful meal. At least for his cock. Although he did have to admit, if he weren’t so rock hard and desperate to get inside Talaith, it would have been a pleasant dinner with his kin.

At first, though, Briec wasn’t so sure that would be the case. Fearghus kept glowering at Talaith over his wine. But by the third time, when Briec thought for sure he’d have to beat his brother to death, Annwyl’s hand slipped under the table. Briec quickly realized that without breaking conversation with Morfyd who sat on the other side of her, Annwyl had taken a rather firm hold of her mate and apparently had no intention of letting go. After that, Fearghus paid attention to no one but Annwyl.