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“But you did it anyway. My grandfather always said that was the true definition of courage - doing the right thing even if it scares you.”
“Your grandfather sounds like a very wise male.”
He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it, his mouth warm and enticing. She opened her mouth, not even sure what she wanted to say, but he shook his head and got up.
“I believe we should call it a night. I’ll take the rodent out for a quick run while you get ready for bed.”
A confused mix of emotions filled her, but she nodded. By the time they returned, she’d put on a short nightgown and was perched uncertainly on the edge of the bed. He gave her a thoughtful look as Raja hopped up on her lap.
“I would offer to sleep on the floor but I don’t believe there’s enough room.”
“Of course you don’t need to sleep on the floor. There’s plenty of room in the bed. Well, not plenty, but I’m sure it’s enough.”
He nodded and started stripping off his clothes. Although he was good about giving her privacy to change, he didn’t seem to have any hesitation about getting naked in front of her. I should look away, she told herself, but she didn’t, admiring his strong muscular body, his golden scales shimmering slightly in the lamplight. Without conscious volition her eyes were drawn to the long slit concealing his codix. Was it her imagination or had the edges parted slightly? She licked her lips, remembering their encounter by the river.
“My flower, we are about to spend the night in very close quarters. I am trying to behave with honor, but it would be much easier if you weren’t regarding me as if I were a feast for your delectation.”
Heat flooded her cheeks and she looked up to find those impossibly blue eyes focused on her mouth.
“I’m sorry. I was just remembering yesterday.”
He groaned.
“That does not help either. Why don’t you lie down?”
She obeyed, but she couldn’t help peeping at him over the blanket as he turned around to find his sleep pants. He had a remarkably fine ass, she decided, and it was amazing how quickly she’d gotten used to that tail. Which was just as well since the first thing that happened after he managed to wedge himself into bed with her was that his tail wrapped around her waist. That was also the point at which Raja decided there wasn’t room for three.
Now she was lying there smiling and idly stroking Celenk’s tail until he put his hand over hers to keep it still.
“Are you trying to torment me, my flower?”
“Oops, sorry. I wasn’t thinking.” He groaned again as she twisted around to face him. “But I was thinking that you haven’t kissed me good night.”
“Under the circumstances, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
His voice sounded strained and she hid a smile as she wiggled a little higher.
“No? Why not?”
“Tormentor,” he growled, but then he kissed her.
The kiss was thorough and slow, his mouth hot and persuasive. That long tongue curled around hers, stroking, caressing, and sending little pulses of excitement through her body. She gasped into his mouth and felt an increased pressure against her stomach, but then he raised his head.
“Good night, Lottie. Go to sleep.”
She tried, she really did, but the arousal caused by the kiss refused to fade. Being pressed against the big, hard body, his deliciously masculine scent filling her lungs, didn’t help and she found herself trying to rub her breasts surreptitiously against his back to relieve the aching peaks. He sighed and suddenly she was on her back while he loomed over her, a shadowy figure in the dimness.
“I knew I shouldn’t have kissed you. Are you feeling needy, my flower?”
“Yes! You can’t expect me to go to sleep now.”
“I suppose not. I shouldn’t be doing this,” he murmured, as his mouth dropped to the curve of her neck, nibbling the sensitive curve and making her gasp. “But perhaps I can help you sleep.”
His hand slid up beneath her nightgown and found her nipple, plucking at the sensitive peak and she moaned.
“Harder.”
He obeyed, pinching it between two fingers until she was squirming eagerly. He started to lower his head, then muttered a curse as he collided with the wagon wall.
