About a Dragon (Dragon Kin #2)(51)

“That they’re jealous of our greatness.”

Talaith laughed hard, her face buried against his neck and her entire body shaking.

“What?” Briec asked in all sincerity. “What’s so funny?”

Chapter Twelve

The storms continued relentlessly. Although there would be moments of sunshine, moments of frightening calm, a few hours or sometimes even minutes later, it would all start over again.

Talaith barely even noticed or cared. For weeks now, there had been no sign of Arzhela. And after so many years of living in fear, she felt peaceful. She knew it wouldn’t last. She knew Arzhela would call her to perform her task, and she would go. Until then, Talaith spent her time enjoying Briec and not having that evil heifer in her mind for even a little while.

Briec seemed to enjoy their time together as well. If he wasn’t reading or sneaking out to find a cow or lamb, he was with Talaith. True, there were a few times he’d ask her, “Please by the love of all that is holy…stop talking!” Which, of course, she completely ignored. Leading them into one of their many arguments. They didn’t argue because they were angry, they argued because it drove them both wild.

It had become quite the joke. They’d find the most ridiculous things to argue over. One day, she yelled at him because the butter for her toast had gone bad. Another time he growled at her because she left a wet cloth on his cave floor. But no matter what they argued about, they always ended up the same way—f*cking. Like two wild beasts in heat.

Talaith felt as if she were making up for the last sixteen years of her life where her husband would lay on top of her, bounce around a bit, roll off and go to sleep. True, it didn’t start out that way, but within the year that was the best she could hope for. Shutting off his desire for her with a spell turned out to be absolutely no loss.

Ah, but Briec. For a being not human, he truly understood a woman’s body. And he worked hers in a way even thinking about it in passing made her knees weak. Some days, after a particularly hearty argument, they’d couple fast and furiously. Each taking what they wanted and giving back only what was necessary. It was selfish and deliriously fun.

Other times, he’d spend all day in bed with her, taking her slow and long. Toying with her. Teasing her. Like he had all the time in the world. Both worked wonderfully for her and she’d already begun to plan their argument for the night. She had the feeling the fruit he’d brought in the other day wasn’t ripe enough.

Aye. That’ll work.

Smiling, Talaith crouched beside the cave entrance watching the rain fall. This way in was at ground level by a stream and was not big enough for Briec to enter in dragon-form, which could explain why he knew nothing about it. He still thought there were only two entrances into his cave, but she’d discovered five others. When the time was right, she’d tell him about those extra entrances. No matter how this all ended, she’d want to make sure he remained safe long after she was gone.

Looking up at the dark sky, Talaith hoped Briec would be all right. He’d left nearly an hour before with promises of returning with something special for her besides the fresh supply of bread she truly needed. She couldn’t begin to guess what his “something special” may be, but she didn’t care. Trinkets, gifts, even his treasure meant nothing to her because wealth couldn’t buy her what she needed.

The torrent of rain stopped suddenly and she glanced up at the two suns shining brightly overhead. Startled, Talaith looked around. Unwilling to miss this opportunity of getting out of the cave for even a few minutes, she stepped away from the entrance, breathing in the fresh scent of a rain-doused forest.

She’d only gotten a few feet away when she felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. Her eyes closed and she almost moaned in despair.

“Hello, Talaith. Miss me?”

Shaking with rage and fear and outright hatred, Talaith slowly dropped to her knees and bowed her head before the deity. “My Goddess.”

* * *

“Guess who?”

Blinded by small hands over his eyes, Briec smiled at the teasing voice in his ear. “Hell and damnation?”

“Well that was just mean.” He turned and his baby sister punched his arm. “You’re all so mean to me.”

“No we’re not…except Morfyd.”

The beautiful redhead smiled and he marveled at how much she reminded them all of Gwenvael, only female. And a tad bit lustier.

“That’s because she lets me torture her. I don’t know why she blames me for her own weakness.”

“Brat.”

She giggled and threw herself into her brother’s arms. “I missed you, brother. I haven’t seen you in ages.”

“Aye. I’ve been busy.”

His sister pulled away, smiling up at him. “And with whom were you busy?”

“That, baby sister, is none of your business.”

She pouted and he bet that worked on all the males, human and dragon, who had graced her bed. “You’re no fun.”

“And you are a spoiled brat. Guess that makes us even.”

Keita the Red Viper Dragon of Despair and Death—as one unfortunate town named her after their failed attempt to enslave her with chains so she could be their guardian—twirled around showing off her expensive gown. “Isn’t this lovely?”