Page 83 of Oath of Rebellion

"Darkling hells, Eirwyn, are you sure you're not a hedge witch? You whip up this fantastic meal out of practically nothing."

She chuckled, her cheeks heating as she took another bite of the sticky sweet dessert. "I have a lot of hobbies and interests. The cook let me help when I was a child but I was afraid I'd burn myself so kept me away from the stove. That was another reason I started to run off into town. By the time I was fourteen, I'd already tried all the hobbies around the castle. I was very bored by then."

He licked his fork. "I guess that means you've read all the books in your massive library then, huh?"

She winced. "Not quite. I might've read the first few pages of every book, but my attention span is rarely held to finish a book in its entirety."

He tapped on the book on the table. "Speaking of, I found this interesting in..." He paused, frowning. Then he said slowly, "My father's things."

She took another bite and waited as he flipped to a page.

"Apparently dragons with my abilities can do things I never even imagined. Like with my tail? Apparently it can be used during sex."

Eirwyn's spine straightened. "Really?" she asked breathlessly. "Care to test it out?"

His eyes glittered from the firelight as he grinned. "Most definitely. Do you want me to tell you the rest or show you?"

Her stomach twisted, and she licked the fork slowly. He watched, his eyes glittering. Then she reached over and grabbed his fork and put them into the now empty pan. She took them to the pail of water to soak.

"Eirwyn?" His voice was soft and sent a shiver up her spine.

She turned to face him, her hands resting on the counter behind her. "Show me. Always show me," she whispered.

She tugged on her shirt, pulling it out of her pants and over her head. She dropped it onto her chair, then walked around the table to where he sat. She hopped up on the table and spread her legs, holding up one foot near him.

"Can you help me take off my boots please?" She batted her eyelashes at him, and he licked his lips.

Then he reached up with shaking hands and began to unlace her boots. They fell to the ground with a thud, one after the other. His hands slid up her legs to the buttons on the front.

His hands hovered over them, lightly caressing under her belly button. "Do you want me to help you take off your pants too?"

She nodded, leaning back on her hands and pushing her breasts and hips up. His eyes flared, and she reveled in the power she had over him.

She was the most important thing in his life right now. After years of being ridiculed, looked down on, and ignored by her brother, having all of Knox' attention was like the sweetest ambrosia on her lips.

He flipped the buttons and slid her pants down her hips, every trace of his fingers on her skin lighting a fire that couldn't be quenched. She sat back down on the table as he tossed them onto the chair.

Then he stepped back, his eyes growing heavy lidded with desire. "You're so beautiful, Eirwyn," he said softly, reaching up to caress her cheek. "Sex with dragons can turn violent, and I don't want to hurt you."

She laid back on the table, now naked, and set her feet on the chairs. Her legs spread, and she traced her fingers up her sides to cup her breasts.

"You could never hurt me, Knox," she whispered, arching her back. There was no doubt in her mind that he would protect her no matter what. It was one thing she loved about him.

Her mind stuttered to a stop. She wasn't some innocent miss who fell in love with every guy she slept with. She'd protected her heart all this time, yet she'd been powerless to resist Knox.

She bit her lip and pinched her nipples as he undressed. He reached up and unclasped his cloak, dropping it to the floor.

She lay naked in front of him, her heart open and vulnerable. A tiny sliver of fear snaked up her spine. She barely knew him, had only spent a few days with him. She'd only learned he was a dragon yesterday. What else did she not know?

What if he turned out like her brother? What if he put on a good show, said all the right words, but then poisoned her?

He pulled his shirt over his head, and a tiny tendril of green gas snaked out of his nose, sinking to the floor. Her heart raced, and she froze, waiting for the panic to recede.

He kicked off his boots and stepped out of his pants. His eyes never left her, but she couldn't meet his gaze anymore.

She sat up on her elbows, pursing her lips. "Careful, Knox. Your poison is showing."

He grinned wide, making her heart trip again. "Maybe you should get closer. Give it a real sniff."