Page 108 of Red Dragon
“I brought something to wake you from the drugged stupor I was led to believe you’d be in until morning.”
“You came to wake me? Not take the amphora?”
“I’d planned to do both. The latter should have been my only priority, but the chieftess said that if your general doesn’t respond favorably to her proposed prisoner exchange, they might… do something else with you.”
It touched him that she cared, that she’d come to save him, and he turned his face to rest it against her hair and kiss the side of her head. “If my enemies want to kill me, you should let them.”
“Oh, I know.”
He slid a hand along her side, wishing they were in a more private place so they could enjoy each other’s company. Instead, he needed to grab the amphora, find and steal the ore she’d acquired, and depart. That would be a horrible way to reward her for her coming to save his life, and he didn’t want to do any of it. He would much rather reward her in a way that made her cry out in pleasure.
“Don’t get too relaxed and amorous,” Syla warned, though she’d turned to facilitate his hands’ explorations instead of moving away from him. “I’ve come with a plan that involves attempting to manipulate you.”
“Do tell.” Vorik trailed his fingers up her side to find the warm curve of her breast through her clothing.
“I was hoping you’d be grateful to me for waking you up and would agree to join forces with us and help us get into the storm god’s laboratory. If the scrolls are correct, what we’ll face in there may be more dangerous than gargoyles, and…” She paused before adding with audible reluctance, “we wouldn’t have survived those if you hadn’t shown up.”
“The world is a dangerous place. My people have a lot more experience surviving in it.”
“So you know that dragons and explosives are required.”
“Absolutely.” The idea of flying away from Scar Peak with Syla and workingwithher to complete this journey rather than against her had great appeal. Hewantedto be her ally. But… “What would you propose to happen afterward, if we were successful and stood with all three shielder components between us?”
Vorik stroked her gently, following her curves, wishing they could remove their clothing and fully enjoy each other’s company.
“Then…” Syla turned slightly, pressing her breast more fully into his hand, as if drawn by her yearning for him.
He smiled a little smugly at the knowledge that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. But it was leading his thoughts in a dangerous direction, and he needed to be careful here. If he made a deal, he would be honor-bound by it.
“Then, unless you come to your senses andgiveme the amphora so that my aunt can repair what your people appallingly and savagely destroyed, we would dissolve our alliance. At that point, we could each try to escape with the components, doing whatever is necessary to aid our people.”
Since Vorik needed someone with a moon-mark to get into the laboratory, and there might be dangers inside that would threaten even a powerful rider, combining forces made sense. But it wouldn’t be any easier to betray Syla after they’d worked together than it was now.
“Your proposal intrigues me,” Vorik said when she lifted her face toward him and rested her hand on his chest. “Is there any chance that, in the end, you’d attempt to seduce me and knock me out with scented candles rather than commanding your dragon allies to attack me and mine?”
“I can’t command Wreylith to do anything.”
“And yet she is here helping you. And has recruited another dragon too. Since I’ve lost my lieutenant and his dragon, you’d have me outnumbered.”
“Yes.” She didn’t sound bothered by that.
“In addition, you have your cousin and your bodyguard. He would happily leap on me with his mace.”
“That’s an idea that doesn’t alarm you in the least.”
“He’s not a bad warrior, especially for someone of his age.”
“But you’ve defeated him every time he’s tried to get the best of you. When it comes to thehumansin my party, you don’t have a lot to worry about.” Her fingers curled, kneading his chest through his clothing. A fresh tingle of heat ran through him, arousing him further, making him want to kiss her.
He lifted his own fingers to brush her hair, then rub the back of her neck, even as his other hand continued to stroke her breast. The way she shifted into his grip, pressing closer, promised she was aroused too. If they escaped the cave and journeyed together, might they have an opportunity for a private encounter before reaching their final destination? Before having to battle each other for the shielder components?
“It’s the dragons in your party that concern me most,” Vorik murmured, “though I haven’t managed to defeatyouyet either.”
“Because I’m such a strong and capable warrior,” Syla said with a snort. “All the people I meet remark upon it.”
“Youarestrong and capable.” He kissed her, wanting… what he couldn’t have. Not here. Heshouldn’twant it with her ever. Reluctantly, he drew back his lips.
“I did consider that maybe I could seduce you while Fel sneaked away with the components,” she whispered.
