Aiding the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons 7)

“I can do that. Although if you miss too many meals, I’ll bring something to you, no matter where you are at the time.”

Part of her wanted Aaron’s words to be actual concern, but she quickly brushed that aside. “Good. Then can I sit and eat already?”

Aaron pointed to the two plates. “One is for me.” She opened her mouth to protest, but he beat her to it. “I’m hungry as well, so don’t even think of tossing me out of the kitchen to order me around.”

She moved to stand close to him and hopefully throw Aaron off, but he took her shoulders and put her at arm’s length. “I’ve learned my lesson about letting you near my balls. Sit and I’ll bring your food.”

For a second, neither one of them moved. His warm, strong hands on her shoulders sent a tingle through her body. Up close she finally noticed the flecks of gold in Aaron’s brown eyes. There was also a small scar near the corner of his mouth.

His lips parted a fraction, and Teagan quickly looked away. If he thought she was interested and then leaned in to kiss her, she might allow it to taste his soft lips once more. For all his sarcasm and sass, his lips were inviting and bloody well knew how to kiss a female properly.

Her beast chuckled. His kiss can be our appetizer.

Did you really just say that?

Her dragon hummed. He would taste good.

Aaron leaned forward and Teagan noted his slitted pupils. With his breath against her ch

eek, heat flooded her face as she remembered the last time they’d kissed.

Her dissuasion tactics weren’t working as well as she’d hoped.

Her beast sighed. And a good thing, too. Why wait for him? Kiss him already.

She tried to remember the reasons why she should walk away. But as Teagan focused her gaze on Aaron’s lips and the small scar at the corner of his mouth, she toyed with the idea of kissing the former injury before gently biting her way down his neck. After all, there was no one watching.

However, before she could decide to give in to her hormones or not, Aaron quickly released her shoulders and stepped away.

He cleared his throat. “The food will get cold. Take a seat and I’ll serve you.”

Teagan quickly turned toward the table and barely resisted placing her hands over her surely-pink cheeks. Of all the males in the world, why did Aaron have to be the one who stirred her body and her beast? With the trials coming up, she didn’t have time to deal with any male, let alone one from another clan who liked to drive her mad.

And who might still only want her because she was a clan leader.

She’d just have to eat as quickly as possible and send him on his way. She could then fortify herself against his touch and strategize how to resist his lips in the future.

Her dragon sighed. We can do more than one thing at a time. He is good for us.

You say that, and yet he’s not our true mate. We know so little about him.

Then ask him questions. It’s not like I’m proposing to mate him and have babies. A little sex would be nice.

Right, because the clan will treat that as casually as you, especially if he starts boasting to his fellow Protectors.

Oh, stop it. He went to the trouble of breaking in to cook you dinner. That’s a lot of work for a one-night conquest.

He is male after all.

Her beast huffed. Talk to him and give him a chance. Besides, if he’s here, no one will know about the dinner or more. Use the time to get to know the foreign visitor. That’s part of your duty as clan leader.

Teagan knew her dragon was prodding her on purpose. But as Teagan watched Aaron’s broad back move under his shirt as he dished out supper, she itched to trace his muscles and maybe have those huge arms hold her close as she found her release. While she loved her clan, every once in a while, she yearned to have a night or two where she was merely a female.

Placing her hands on her cheeks, she willed the heat in them to cool. She needed to be the distant clan leader for the meal. If Aaron understood how his touch affected her, he’d surely lord it over her. Or worse, he might kiss her and who knew what mess would result.

Taking a deep breath, she thought about all the paperwork sitting on her desk. Remembering her hand cramp from writing tiny letters in impossibly short boxes, her heart rate slowed a little.

Good. She should be able to handle Aaron professionally now.