Page 54 of Fire Dragon
“It’ll be fine.”
A few minutes later, she smiled at her reflection in the mirror. She wore Liam’s boxers and a t-shirt that hung mid-thigh. She wasn’t a short woman at six-one, but Liam was still much bigger at six-five.
She found a brush and a hair dryer and took her time drying her hair. She had some natural curl and didn’t bother trying to straighten it.
Her nostrils flared suddenly and a sudden rumble in her stomach followed. Warrior training was hard work and Liam had kept his promise. She could smell the steaks grilling.
She pulled several loose hairs from the brush and washed it thoroughly then returned both dryer and brush to the appropriate drawers.
By the time she made her way back to the cathedral-like entrance, Liam stood off to the side, in the living room, and was preparing a drink. “Would you like an old-fashioned?” He wore a black tank top and jeans, no shoes.
“Thanks. That would be perfect.” She gestured with a toss of her arm toward the entrance doors. “I’ll be on the patio.” He was crushing a sugar cube in the bottom of a tumbler as she stepped onto the beautiful granite ledge.
He couldn’t have chosen a better location. Opposite his home was a cliff that showed an almost perfect balance of trees and rock outcroppings. She imagined when it rained it would cascade with a dozen small waterfalls.
When he brought her the old-fashioned, she asked him if what she could visualize was true. Were there several waterfalls?
He nodded. “Very perceptive of you. I looked at several stretches of the gorge over the course of six months. I flew over this entire area, for miles in both directions, and in all kinds of weather. One day, that was exactly what I saw. At least a dozen miniature waterfalls. I was sold. That and the size of this outcropping.” He gestured to the floor of the landing.
“You chose extremely well. I would never want to leave a place so beautiful.”
She sipped her old-fashioned.
“My wife had a temper.”
She almost choked and came up sputtering. “I beg your pardon?”
He smiled then his eyes tightened. He looked anywhere but at her. “My wife, Vinia, had a temper.” This time he laughed. “She was always calling me on my bullshit.” He cleared his throat. “I heard her now, or a few minutes ago anyway, when I started making up reasons in my head why I wanted you to leave. I think she called me an idiot.” She watched him take a deep breath. “You honored me by sharing some of your story. I’d like to do the same. Because the fact is, I want you here, Emma. With me.”
Emma didn’t dare take another sip. She was sure she’d choke again. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She also understood exactly how hard it had been for Liam to admit he wanted her in his home.
There was only one thing to do. She moved away a few feet to set her drink on a table near the grill, then returned to him. She didn’t ask permission. She didn’t even give him warning.
Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
For a couple of seconds, he remained as still as stone. She supposed she’d stunned him. But she didn’t stop kissing him, either. It didn’t take long for the stiffness in his arms to ease or for his hands to slide down her back. He pushed his tongue against the seam of her lips and as she parted for him. Desire cascaded down her body all the way to her toes.
She groaned as his arms snaked around her back and he pulled her tightly against him. She used her own tongue and began a duel that had him stiffening against her leg.
The feel of his arousal caused her hips to arch into him over and over.
He drew back and met her gaze. His fire-dragon eyes bored into hers.I want to make love to you again, Emma. I take it you’re with me?
She spoke aloud. “Uh-huh. Yes, I am. But we should eat first. I have a feeling we’re going to need the nourishment.”
His lips broke into a smile, something that didn’t happen often enough. “I like the sound of that.”
He inclined his head in the direction of the grill. “Let’s eat.”
The meal was simple with her whisky and his beer. He’d thrown a salad together with a dressing of olive oil, black pepper, sea salt and balsamic vinegar. Nothing tasted better.
He moved his seat close to hers. He didn’t speak much, but he kept one hand on her bare leg. She kissed him often in response and fondled the bulked-up muscles of his arm and shoulders.
She wanted to touch other things but thought it would be unwise in the same way he kept his own fingers behaving properly.
She found herself relieved when the meal ended at last and she rose from the table. He slid an arm beneath her knees then gathered her up in his arms. He cradled her as he levitated to the bedroom.
Just as he crossed the threshold, she was grateful she’d been on birth control for well over a year. Maybe she’d foreseen this moment, or just hoped like hell it would happen again.
