Page 63 of Red Dragon
Her thoughts grew fuzzy as she caught herself returning his kiss while pushing one hand up to brush through his hair to rub his scalp. He groaned with pleasure of his own, tightening his grip on her, and she felt his own longing through his trousers. Knowing she could inspire such desire in a man like him—a man who could have had any woman—excited her, just as it had thenight they’d joined. She wanted to let a hand drift lower, to touch him and feel?—
No. Sergeant Fel was outside, and Agrevlari perched above. Syla made herself stop her explorations, grip Vorik’s shoulders, and lean back from his kiss.
The heated expression in his emerald eyes promised Vorik didn’t want to stop their reunion, but she had to know why he was here. What if he’d been sent to interfere with her mission again? And was using the appeal of his body and his charm—and those expertly talented lips—to distract her from thinking about that?
“What are your orders, Vorik?” Syla forced herself to look away from his lips and into his eyes, though they were just as dangerous.
Surely, the desire and heat in them couldn’t be faked? He’d been moved to kiss her because he wanted to, not because his general had told him to.
Could she believe that? She wished she could be certain.
“They weren’t to question you.” Vorik’s gaze lowered toherlips.
He licked his, as if he longed to return to their kiss, and a tingle went through her, tightening her core. She longed for that too. But voices drifted in from the deck, the captain ordering his men to restore order to the ship and get them to Hazel Harbor on Harvest Island as soon as possible.
“Whatarethey?” Syla had a feeling he wouldn’t answer. “Why are you here?”
And why couldn’t she step fully away from him? She’d broken the kiss, but her body remained molded to his, her soft curves pleased to be pressed against his hard length. Anticipation filled her lower region, as if, independent of her mind, it was certain of where this would go.
“Believe it or not, it’s happenstance. Well, not exactly. I have orders that will take me elsewhere, but my dragon—you may remember that Agrevlari is also pining—brought me here to check on Wreylith. Apparently, she’s hunting elioks on Harvest Island?” Vorik arched his eyebrows, silently asking if Syla knew what Wreylith was up to.
Wariness crept anew into Syla as she recalled his questions back at the castle. He remained curious about her relationship with Wreylith. Hisgeneralprobably did too.
“I understand dragons find them irresistible,” was all Syla said.
Vorik smiled, probably recognizing her evasion. Since he was being evasive too, she refused to feel guilty about it.
“For once, I’m relieved that my dragon has a crush even if you didn’t truly need my help.” Vorik glanced at the spot where the body of the man she’d killed had been.
Theyhadneeded help. Syla might have kept one man from assassinating her, but there’d been too many enemy ships. No, Royal Fleet ships thatshouldn’thave been enemies. Eventually, her allies would have been overwhelmed. It had been the dragons showing up that had convinced the military ships to depart.
She decided to keep those thoughts to herself. Vorik was probably aware of all that, but she didn’t think she should admit that she owed him a favor. Not when she still knew nothing about his orders.
“I can’t speak of my mission,” Vorik admitted, “but I do want to warn you… You’re aware that Captain Lesva survived, right?”
Syla grimaced. “You implied that, yes. I’d rather hoped she hadn’t. Sorry. I know she’s your…” She thought about saying lover, since Lesva herself had said that, but it had sounded like a relationship from the past. Sylahopedit was all in the past. Even if she couldn’t have any kind of relationship with Vorik,she hated the idea of him being close to such a vile woman. “Colleague,” she finished.
“Yes.” Something in Vorik’s eyes suggested he knew what she’d almost said. “We have a contentious relationship, so I won’t be affronted on her behalf if you wish her ill. It would, in fact, be wise if you are extremely alert going forward and keep an eye out for her.”
Syla’s stomach sank. “Is she after me?”
“I’m sorry.” Vorik lifted a hand to the side of her face, stroking her cheek with his thumb. “It’s not an order from General Jhiton or any of our superiors. It’s… personal.”
Syla didn’t want to tear up again, but it was hard not to feel overwhelmed. This was the last person she should confide in, but she couldn’t keep from whispering, “Everyoneis after me, Vorik.”
“I’m not,” he offered with a smile.
“No, but I think that makes you more dangerous than all the others.”
His smile grew sad. “Does that mean you won’t kiss me again?”
“A part of me is tempted to do that and more and hope you’ll let me know what you’re up to while in the throes of passion. Inspired by my mouth around… a certain body part of yours.” Syla tried to make her tone teasing, but was it even a joke? If they’d truly been alone instead of with people—anddragons—around to overhear, might she have attempted to seduce him and extract information? She admitted she would love to have sex with him without any other motivation beyond their shared pleasure. Besides, she was such an improperly trained seductress that she would probably forget to ask him anything. As she recalled,he’dbeen more in charge than she last time. She’d been lucky he hadn’t questionedher.
“A certain body part of mine would like me to be less than honorable by suggesting you might indeed extract truths from me in that manner,” Vorik said, “but I don’t think my lips are that loose.”
“No. All of you is taut.” Syla squeezed his shoulder, enjoying its hard roundness under her grip.
Humor sparked in his eyes, mingling with passion and desire. “A certain body partespeciallyis.”
