Page 84 of The Dragon's Mate

“Yes, why?” She wasn’t sure what was so funny.

“He’s a dragon and his name is Drago. Youdon’t see why that’s funny?”

“Not really. It’s a family name,” shesaid.

He laughed again and she couldn’t help butsmile at him. “I like your laugh.”

“Thank you.” He moved closer and pressed aquick kiss against her mouth. Her dragon purred loudly, the sound slipping outof her mouth. He cocked his head at her. “There’s that almost a purr again.”

She cleared her throat. “It’s not purring.”

He traced his finger along her jawline andher dragon purred again, louder and rougher.

“That was definitely a sort of purr,” hesaid in a low voice. He was staring at her, his light blue eyes dark with need,and she arched her body toward him when he ran his finger down her throat andalong the neckline of her shirt.

She absolutely could not do this, not withDrago and Bones in the apartment. So why was she leaning toward him? Why wasshe parting her lips and pressing them against Bren’s?

He kissed her gently at first, the tip ofhis tongue sliding across her upper lip. She put her arm around his waist,drawing him up against her as she deepened the kiss. He sucked on her tonguebefore releasing her mouth. “Do you know how difficult it was to wake up withyou in my bed this morning and not touch you?”

She ran her fingers across his broad chest.“I wanted to touch you too.”

“You should have then.”

She wanted to take Bren away from here. Gosomewhere that they wouldn’t be interrupted, where her clan mates wouldn’t findher, and she could finally take what she wanted, what she needed.

It’s not that simple.

She sighed inwardly. Her inner voice wasright. It wasn’t that simple. As tempting as it was to fantasize that she andBren could be together, the truth was – Bren was in terrible danger and it wasall her fault.

Her lust died immediately, and she steppedaway from him, crossing her arms over her chest.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have touchedyou or kissed you.”

“It’s my fault,” he said. “I kissed youfirst.”

She laughed bitterly. “I wanted you to kissme.”

“Kaida?”

Bones was back and she scrubbed her handacross her mouth guiltily. “Hey. Did you see the hatchling?”

“Yes. He’s beautiful. The clan is anxiousto see him.” If Bones could smell hers and Bren’s lust, he didn’t acknowledgeit. He checked his phone before sliding it back into the pocket of his jeans. “It’salmost noon. You’ve been away from the clan for nearly twenty-four hours. Doyou feel all right?”

Surprisingly, she did. She supposed it hadsomething to do with her dragon believing that Bren was her mate. Dragons whowere with their mate could stay away from a clan longer than a single dragoncould. “I’m fine.”

“Good. Jarvis and Sika are feeling okay aswell, but it would be better if they returned to the clan today. I spoke withSika and she says she can travel.”

“Are you sure?” Bren said. “Maybe theyshould stay another day.” He glanced at Kaida. “You should stay as well, tohelp with the baby.”

Bones studied her and then Bren, and Kaidalicked her suddenly dry lips. After a moment, Bones said, “It would be betterif you returned today. All of you.”

“You’re right,” she said.

She could smell Bren’s disappointment, butit was better for him –saferfor him – if they left. The sooner shespoke to Cadmus and the rest of the council, the better chance she had at convincingthem that going to Bren and revealing their secret had been a necessity. She wouldmake them understand that Bren wasn’t a danger to them, despite who his fatherwas.

If they touch my mate, I will destroythem, her dragon growled.

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