Read A Shade of Dragon for Free Online Page A

routines’ and ‘peacocking’ and blah, blah, blah.”
    The beach house loomed uncomfortably close now. There were two windows alight: the den, and a bedroom.
    “Who are these men of which you speak?” Theon wondered.
    I almost giggled. His perfect grammar was riveting. Real people never spoke correctly. “Pick-up artists. They’re usually shy guys—or guys who aren’t very good-looking—and they invent strong, creative personas and even prepackaged stories in order to seduce beautiful women.” We began to ascend the wooden staircase which led to the beach house stoop. “There are a lot of ‘teachers’ out there who have different methods—”
    Theon jerked and glared at me. “Excuse me?”
    “I didn’t say I supported it!” I said quickly, my words forming misty plumes. I was starting to feel the cold again and wound my arms around myself. “It’s just something that some men do in order to meet women.” I didn’t make eye contact with him as we plodded up the stairs. “And you… with that vest… and the cave, with the fire… the massage… and the necklace… the way you talk…” I shook my head. “But it doesn’t make any sense. You’re hot enough to not need any training wheels.” We crested the landing and climbed onto the porch.
    “I do exude heat, but I don’t see what that has to do with locomotion.”
    I whirled on Theon and pointed my finger. “Aha! Like that! That’s a perfect example. It’s just the kind of thing real guys don’t say.”
    Theon enveloped my finger in his large palm. I froze immediately. “I guess it works, though,” I whispered.
    He slid his rough thumb into my fist and spread my fingers apart, forming an open palm. I gaped at him, strands of my hair fluttering into my mouth. He stretched my arm forward and laid my hand flat across his chest, his own hand spread on top of mine; I could feel his heartbeat. It was like a steady fist punching lightly at the interior of his ribcage. I’d never felt a pulse more clearly or strongly.
    My eyes widened as he took his other hand and wove it through my hair, removing the errant strands from my face. Oh, my God . He’s going to kiss me. He’s really going to kiss me.
    “May I look into your eyes?” Theon whispered.
    The hand in my hair migrated down along my cheek and tilted my face up toward his.
    “Okay,” I whispered uncertainly.
    For a moment, his eyes shimmered in the moonlight. With my hand still planted on his steadily beating heart, he leaned closer, and closer, and closer. My mouth gaped open and I took a dizzy breath.

Chapter 9: Nell
    T heon’s eyes grew and brightened; I couldn’t look away from them. He didn’t lower himself to my waiting lips. He was just leaning into me, only inches away from me. My heart hammered in my chest and my mouth went dry.
    I don’t want you to come any closer because I’m afraid of what might happen if I ever fall in love. I watched my parents destroy each other for years and I don’t want to do that to anyone else. And I don’t want it to happen to me, either. Just stay away. People are fine when they’re alone. They’re better that way.
    A twinge of pain sang through my chest as his eyes grew even bigger and penetrated even deeper into mine. The layers of defense were forced away.
    I care very much about doing the right thing. I want to try my best, though it has made me few friends in life. I believe in the goodness of people, even though I get disappointed so, so often—and I’ve been forced to build these walls to protect myself. I want to make a difference more than I want to be happy. I pride myself on my self-control. Even though I really want to kiss you right now… you also terrify me, and I don’t know if I can handle it. People have always been so predictable. It made me feel secure—and bored. But you…
    I felt another twinge as his eyes plunged deeper still—deeper than I had realized that I could go.
    You make me believe in the goodness of