Loving the Dragon (Vintage Collection)

He found himself behind her within seconds, not sure how he got there, his nose buried in her hair.

She jerked against him. “Aidan?”

“Your hair is so beautiful, love,” he said, inhaling. The silky tresses held the scent of pine and wildflowers from their morning in the mountains.

“Th-Thank you.” She cleared her throat and squirmed. “It’s horribly tangled from our bike ride. I need to—”

He turned her around briskly to face him and lowered his mouth to hers.

This time she responded without coaxing. Her body sagged into his as he kissed her. She reached for his cheeks and stroked his jaw line. When he heard her sigh into his mouth, his heart leaped, and he rubbed his arousal against her pliant body. The urge to thrust into her warmth overwhelmed him. His cock throbbed, and his balls tightened. Tiny pulsing jerks ran along his shaft.

Easy, Aidan. He calmed his dragon to cool the flame.

He feathered his fingers along the creamy satin skin of her neck and then began to nimbly unbutton her blouse.

Oops. Too far.

Kristen turned her head, broke the kiss and panted against his shoulder. “What are you doing?”

Aidan caught his breath and pushed her away from his aroused body. “I’m sorry. So sorry. I… There’s no excuse. Except that you’re beautiful and I want you.”

“I-I thought we were going to dinner.”

“Yes, yes. Of course. Dinner.” Aidan turned around and calmed the dragon again, easing the ache in his loins.

Kristen’s voice, cracking and timid, interrupted him. “I’m sorry Aidan. Really. I just don’t… I don’t understand what’s going on here. With you. With…us.”

Aidan swallowed and turned around slowly to face the woman who was his destiny. What to say? He knew she didn’t understand. He wished he could take things slowly with her. But time was scarce, with Micah gaining ground every second. And this wanting. This inescapable desire for her. It was eating him up inside.

“I know you don’t, love.” He stepped forward and brushed his thumb across her bottom lip. “But I told you this morning that I would never hurt you, and I meant it.”

Kristen backed into her cash register. “Please…”

“Don’t fear me.” He moved slowly. “I couldn’t bear that.”

She reached out her arm to stop him from embracing her. “Dinner? Please Aidan.”

He forced his lips into a smile. As he watched Kristen release the tension from her body, smiling became easier.

“Dinner. Come on.” He reached out to her.

She put her hand in his. He felt her anxiety, but as her fingers curled into his he sensed her desire for him.

Oh, this was going to be a long dinner.

8

Kristen followed the tuxedo clad host into a private dining room. She didn’t know the Black Forest Inn even had a private dining room. But here it was, small and dimly lit, with one cozy linen-covered table beckoning them. An elegant chandelier cast delicate light about the small room. Candles were noticeably absent, thank God, and in the center of the table was a budvase that held one long stemmed yellow rose.

Kristen felt underdressed in her white blouse, khaki pants, and canvas shoes. Aidan wore jeans and a white button down. His gorgeous hair was pulled back at his neck. Casual, but deliciously sexy. He looked like he belonged here.

She watched as he slipped the host a folded bill and was surprised when the man left before seating them.

When the door closed and they were alone, Aidan lifted the yellow rose from the vase, smelled it, and then held the soft petals to Kristen’s lips and lightly caressed her with them.

Kristen closed her eyes and inhaled the floral perfume. Yellow roses. In her dream he said she smelled like yellow roses. All roses smelled the same. How did he know the difference?

“Shall we?”

She opened her eyes. The rose was back in the vase, and he held out her chair for her.

“I had all the candles removed,” Aidan said. “I know you don’t like fire.”

“That was thoughtful of you.” Kristen trembled as she sat down. She looked at her lap. This was all so strange. So surreal. Here she was with the object of her fantasies, and he seemed to want her.

Aidan sat down across from her. She drank in his nearness, so intoxicating. His blue eyes—yes, they were blue tonight, or maybe it was the dim light—gazed into hers as he picked up the bottle of wine that sat on the table and poured some into her goblet and then into his. He raised his glass.

“To us,” he said.

“To us?”

“Yes.” He smiled. “To us. To getting to know each other better.”

She smiled shyly. He seemed sincere. And she did want to get to know him. Not only was he the most gorgeous man she had ever laid eyes on, he also intrigued her. He seemed genuine. Nice. And of course, her body responded to him with an intensity she hadn’t known possible. Even now her nipples ached, her pussy pulsed.