When he didn’t respond right away, her cheeks warmed. She’d only come on to him one time, and it had been under the influence of hisdragon spices, but, for someone who was largely oblivious to sex and innuendos, he was convinced that she wanted him.
“I don’tdesireyou,” she caught herself adding. “Dragons are pompous and full of themselves and you’re…” She waved toward him and groped for words, but what popped into her mind washandsomeandactually not as full of yourself as other dragons. “My partner,” she finally said. “Even if Ididdesire you, it would be far less fraught and complicated if we kept our relationship professional.”
“Yes,” Jildarin said promptly and with relief.
“In addition to trying to burn me to a cinder,” Rylana said, trying not to feel rejected and unappealing by his relief, “they attackedyou. They drew blood.”
“That is common for dragons. Females, in particular, are mercurial and quick to show their fangs.”
“Even with their lovers?”
“Love is a concept unfamiliar to our kind. As I’ve told you before, we rarely form lasting pair-bonds, and we mate for procreation purposes only.”
“Does your brother know that? He’s horny for that elf ballerina, and I doubt he wants her to have his babies.”
“Elves and dragons are too genetically different to have offspring together. As to the rest, Zelik is… quirky.”
“Maybe you’re the quirky one. Maybe other dragons go through life filled with lust and a great urgency to mateall the time.”
Jildarin started to shake his head but paused. “The sistersdiddisplay lust and urgency.”
“While they were trying to set me on fire, yes.”
“You’ve brought that up several times.”
“Nearly being incinerated leaves an impression on my kind.”
“You had reason to fear them, but you stayed regardless. To assist me.” Jildarin nodded to her. “That is when I decided you were no longer my enemy.”
“Then I guess it was worth it.”
“Naturally. To have a dragon ally is a great boon.”
“No doubt.” Rylana yawned and put down her pen. “Do you want to get coffee? Or tea? I guess it’s getting late for something stimulating.” She didn’t expect Jildarin to accept the invitation but, with Zilek’s warning repeating in her mind, she wanted to check to see if Sylin was in the area and pass along the updates he’d shared.
“You ask me to accompany you for a hot flavored water? Would humans consider that a date?” Jildarin sounded like he was trying to figure out if it would be appropriate for him to go, not that he had no interest in doing so. Maybe he actually liked chatting with her. “Part of a courting ritual?”
“Itcanbe but wouldn’t be in this case.” Rylana pushed her chair under the desk and stepped toward the doorway, though Jildarin still occupied it. “As we’ve established, we’re not interested in courting.”
“Correct.”
“Business partners can get a drink together. I go to the coffee shop with Sylin all the time, and we’re not romantically involved. My ears aren’t the right shape for her.”
His gaze drifted toward the side of her head as he considered her lobes.
“Never mind,” Rylana said. “It was a joke. I like men for my romantic interludes. And Sylin… Well, I’m not all that sure where her preferences lie.”
“I am not interested in that topic.”
“I figured. If you come, we can discuss business.”
“The pergola.”
“Oh, yes. I ache to go over its dimensions and what species of wood would be most appropriate.”
Jildarin nodded. “That will be satisfactory.”
He stepped aside, and they found that the last of the dinershad departed and the staff had finished cleaning and left. Had they been talking for that long? Rylana hadn’t realized it. For a stuffy dragon, Jildarin could be kind of fun to spend time with. When he wasn’t accusing her ofdesiringhim.
