Page 49 of Wish of Dragons (Dragon Tails 3)

“Whydidyou save us, by the by?”

She tilted her head to the side so that the male at her back could see her profile.

“For the reward I intend to collect, of course,” she answered throatily, curling her lips in a smile of anticipation.

Her male tensed to steel behind her, and she could have sworn she felt his heart kick against her back.

Without looking back at Ere, she said, “We shall ride ahead. Follow us at your own pace. At the foot of the next mountain there are longhouses made of ice. They will be stocked with fish, water and ale, as well as food for the animals. That is where we shall stay the night.”

“Just like that?” Ere asked. “Do we have to do anything? Make any payment to anyone?”

Eir looked back at him at that.

“The ice houses are kept by trolls who live deep within the mountain. They take treasures for payment.”

She narrowed her gaze on the fine, woven chain and golden feather pendant around Ere’s neck.

“That necklace would pay for all of our lodgings, as well as the animals,” she pointed out.

Ere clutched the feather in his fist as if to shield her view of it.

“Never,” he said vehemently. “They will have to accept something else.”

Eir shrugged.

“Figure it out then, dragon. See you at sunrise.”

She spurred her horse forward, but was stopped by Ere’s call.

“Wait! What do you mean sunrise? I thought we’re going to arrive at the lodgings by night?”

“Aye. We shall. But I intend to be extremely preoccupied with myrewardall the night long.”

She reached behind and squeezed her male’s trunk-like thigh plastered to the back of her own, making him grunt.

“Oh,” Ere said, eyes round, taking in her possessive touch.

“Oh,” he repeated with emphasis, clearly comprehending just what kind of reward she would be indulging in tonight.

Without wasting more words, Eir kneed her steed into a gallop, racing across the ice lands with her prize.

For many miles, she didn’t slow. Her stallion reveled in the freedom of pounding hooves. She closed her eyes, not needing to direct him. He knew where they were headed. He would take them there safely.

Instead, she focused on the icy, biting wind upon her face, the hot, muscled body at her back. The clean, earthy, musky scent that surrounded her. And the strong, thick arms that enfolded her.

He didn’t hold her tightly, despite the speed at which they galloped. He easily adjusted his weight and body to the movements of her and her horse.

She could feel his warm, steady huffs of breath at her temple. The rhythm of his heart thudding against her back.

This male, this stranger, felt likeheaven.

Eir had never known anything like it. This sense of certainty and rightness. As if in his arms was always where she was meant to be.

Foolishness.

This was only attraction. He was a magnificent specimen of male virility, and she was an appreciative female in heat.

That was all.

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