Page 40 of Dance with the Dragon Duke

He relinked their fingers, trapping her hand against his warm thigh. “Awfully cold out there.”

Tomorrow shivered sympathetically. “I’m just trying to be fair to you,” she whined. “Stop making it so hard.”

His smile was as threatening as it was captivating. “Spare me your kindness, then. I don’t deserve it, anyway.” He lowered hishead and whispered in her ear, “Instead of being fair to me, you can let me kiss you. I’ll get on my knees before you right now and kissallof you.”

“Well, that’s just . . .” The image of him kneeling in the cramped space, her skirts rucked up to her waist, legs flung over his broad shoulders, had her voice pitching high. She swallowed to clear it. “That is counterproductive to our aim here.”

“Counterproductive to your aim maybe.” His tail swept low, flicking the edges of her dress up over her boots. “My aim is to see you come again.”

Face flushed, her resolve slipped slightly. Gods, her release yesterday had felt so fucking good. Would it really be terribly selfish if she allowed him to—

“Oh, thank the divines,” she breathed as the carriage began to slow. “We’re here.”

* * *

Westarow was a sprawling urban estate with twice the usual amount of staff. Several footmen greeted them, taking their coats and gloves and using a special broom to clear slush from their boots. Because the sun had nearly risen above the horizon, she lit incense at the altar of the Divine Day and the Divine Night in the foyer. Butterflies filled her stomach. She placed a hand against it, smothering the sensation.

The butler, an aged mortal, guided them into a well-lit library to await the earl. Lord Bjorn Aaberg had been caught up in a meeting with estate advisors. He’d visit with them shortly, the butler explained before quitting the room.

Tomorrow explored the antiquated space. It smelled of old books and beeswax. The furniture was plush and inviting. She ran her finger over the spines on the nearest shelf. They wereorganized by topic: nature on the display before her, sciences on the one beside it.

Dark kept close, casting his great shadow over her in the gaslit room. Tomorrow repressed another groan. She even liked the way his shadows touched her. How pathetic did that make her?

Very, very pathetic.

“It could be to your advantage if the earl walked in and found us embracing,” he said softly.

A tingle tickled the back of her neck. Only Dark could make a wholesome word like embrace sound like pure licentiousness. “I’m not wholly certain that’s necessary.”

“Just a thought,” he said, sounding innocent enough, but his slanted smile was smug and sinful. “I do think I hear someone coming.”

She was about to accuse him of fibbing, but then her long ears picked up the footsteps as well.

“Oh.” Tomorrow licked her lips. Her thoughts spun. Was it actually a good idea to make a show of kissing him now, or did she justwantto kiss him?

“Better hurry up and decide, Sunshine,” he taunted.

Tomorrow threw her arms around his neck, glaring up at him. “Just . . . behave yourself, will you please?”

“Never,” he said, then he lowered his head and kissed her.

It was a kiss that made the ground shift beneath her feet, made the air swell and then go thin. His large hands held her tight. He engulfed her, and she felt warm and safe andwanted. The caress of his lips was tender, not demanding at all, and that somehow made it so much worse. His kisses felt like a tease. They wound her up with their promise of more.

Wanting all of him, Tomorrow molded her body to his. Hands dropping to his chest, she felt the tremor of pleasure ripple through him, and oh, that was so intoxicating. She had nobusiness making this extraordinary dragon man want her so, yet there she was with just a kiss melting the two of them together.

“Ahem.” The voice at the door was feminine.

Tomorrow pulled away, surprised that it was not the earl coming to meet with them at all, but his daughter, the mother they’d met at the fae feast.

“Lady Moen,” Tomorrow said hurriedly, parting from Dark with such vigor she nearly tripped over her own feet. “I beg your pardon.”

“Apologies,” Dark said, not sounding sorry in the least. “The mate bond is new for us.”

Though technically not a lie, Tomorrow shot him a warning look. His returning grin was full of daring.

“Please, call me Frances and keep your apologies,” the lady said, batting a friendly hand at them. Her fae skin was a shade of rose pink. She wore her lush black hair pulled into a knotted plait at her nape. “I remember the blooming bond all too well. You have nothing to apologize for.”

“You’re very kind, my lady,” Tomorrow said with a polite bow of her head. “Frances,” she added, stumbling over the name. Try as she might, the gentry still made her very uncomfortable.

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