Dragon Me to Your Lair: A dragon shifter story (Dragons of Emberside Book 1) Read Free Page B

protest, Niall walked up behind her, a hair's breath from her body. He leaned over her and put his hands right on the package—just not the package he really wanted to touch.
    Damn. He wanted to whirl her around and kiss her—hard.
    She bumped into him as she backed up, obviously flustered. “Thanks.”
    He touched her back, and she stopped and slowly turned around.
    “If you'll just move, I can finish putting together our tea.” Skye's smile was tight lipped, her pulse beating in her throat like a little dragon's wings.
    “Sorry.” Niall put his hands up. I can't win with her. “So, tell me more about writing romantic suspense.” He chuckled.
    “What's funny about it?” She dumped some scones onto a plate with an angry thud.
    “Nothing. I just pictured you writing something...more serious—like historical novels.” He shrugged. It was true.
    “Well, you pictured wrong. I happen to adore the romance genre and cut my teeth on my Gran's old Scottish highland romances.” Skye's cheeks pinked again.
    “There you go again.”
    “What?”
    “You're blushing.”
    “Dammit!” Skye stamped her foot as the tea kettle whistled. “If I am, it's not because I feel...embarrassed, or—or uncomfortable around you or anything.” The words dropped like bricks between them.
    Niall let the silence roll out. He wanted her to hear what she had said. Oh, but you do. You're so afraid of me. I think you like me, my sweet dragon girl.
    “Let's eat.” Skye sat down with the plate of scones, a scowl on her face.
    “Yes, ma'am.” Niall grinned.
    I'm going to find out if you are a dragon shifter, sweet Skye, and I'm going to do it tomorrow, so help me gods. My time is ticking fast with Morighan and the clan breathing down my neck.
     
    * * * *
    Niall managed to avoid Morighan that evening and the next morning until he left Emberside Cave, as his clan called their dwelling place. He feigned illness and stayed in his room. He knew he could only buy a couple more days. She would come to him, demanding sex and to know if he was in love with someone else.
    I have to find out today whether Skye is a shifter.
    If she wasn't, he still wanted her, but if she was, making his case to the clan was so much easier. Besides, dragon mating was the hottest thing in the world—much better than sex in human form or sex with a non-shifter.
    Not that all I want is sex.
    It was true. He thought Skye was smart, plucky, and a match for his bullshit where most women didn't have a prayer of keeping up with him. She was also kind, though. He could see that in her—and a bit shy. Morighan didn't hold a candle to her. She was all hard edges and meanness that served to get her way.
    He'd tossed and turned all night until it was time to go to Skye's. Niall hoped against hope that he could catch her at a compromising moment. It wasn't a gentlemanly thing to do, but he had to know if his suspicions were correct.
    The next morning, he covered the distance between the cave and her cottage with speed, anticipation driving him. It was early. Niall had told her he would be at her place around 8 am to do some work right before he had left the day before. She mentioned something offhand about that giving her time to get ready and have a shower before.
    Bingo. His plan had hatched. It had been hard for him to avoid shifting, just thinking of Skye in the shower, her sweet body lathered and clean.
    “Damn. Quit thinking about it, you idiot. You have a goal here beyond just getting into her pants, which isn't happening today.” He punched himself in the gut, something he often did to center himself in his human body. It was easy to let the dragon mindset take over with its hyper drives for sex and stimulation.
    As he approached the cottage, he slowed down and bent over. He fought the feeling of being a sneaky bastard for doing what he was doing.
    It's for love and the future of the clan. And to see her naked.
    Niall suppressed a laugh, shaking his head at himself.
    He