Read Dragon Wish for Free Online Page A

commented. He cut
    another slice. He took his time chewing it. The food carried
    no taste to him. The texture was dry, even tough.
    Last night still haunted him.
    He had inquired of the innkeeper to see if anyone
    35
    Dragon Wish
    complained of any strange happenings in the night, but the
    man had shaken his head. Satisfied none of the locals
    suspected what had occurred, he had proceeded to order his
    morning meal along with the bill for the room.
    He chewed another bite, hiding the disgust floating in his
    gut. He had taken a chance by touching her.
    The night before, he had been unable to stop himself
    from comforting her. Her lips had caressed his skin in a
    soothing, gentle way which managed to dissolve all his
    resolutions with the heat of his need. Her palms on his chest
    had stirred the embers of his passion until they flared to a
    white hot fervor, and rational thought no longer controlled
    him. Just the memory of what they had shared during the
    night caused the embers of desire to smolder within him.
    He swallowed as he glanced around the room, hoping to
    distract the renewed bud of warmth building between his
    legs.
    The Inn’s common room bustled with travelers who
    mingled with vendors. Some roamed from table to table,
    others sat on benches lined against the two side walls. Odors
    of cooked food and body scents, some good—some not so
    good, saturated the place. Laughter interspersed with
    conversations swept across the room. Feet shuffled under
    tables and across the room as the vendors vied with the
    locals for a space to sit or stand so they might break their
    morning fast. He ignored most of the noise, allowing the flow
    of activity in the inn help him keep his mind away from
    thoughts of the strange woman. When he looked around,
    several females blushed and twittered to each other behind
    their hands.
    He frowned at the sight then lowered his focus to cutting
    another piece off the steak. The attention he garnered was
    the same everywhere he traveled. The women reacted like
    they had never seen someone like him. Yet, in his homeland,
    all of his clansmen were tall and light haired with light eyes.
    They were much like him. The dragon blood ran strong in his
    36
    Dragon Wish
    clan. What would these dark-haired, rounded women say if
    he told them that in his land, he was considered rather plain?
    Wooden clogs clopped down the stairs, drawing his
    attention. The off-worlder had arrived. Dressed like a young
    male, her small frame went unobserved by the inhabitants of
    the room, but he noticed. His heart skipped a beat. Dainty,
    delicate, the soft lines of her heart-shaped face strengthened
    the seed of desire she planted inside him last night until it
    threatened to bud into a clinging vine, refusing to release
    him. He gritted his teeth and unintentionally clenched the
    handle of his tankard. No matter what, he had to maintain
    controlled in her presence. Never again would he allow
    weakness to rule his body. He mustn’t allow a repetition of
    the previous evening. She made it clear she didn’t want him.
    She stopped on the last step and looked around the room.
    There, she glanced at his table, she turned away but her stare
    returned immediately. He witnessed her swallow, and then
    raise her chin to a higher degree. He tilted his head, smiled
    and motioned her to the table.
    She stepped away from the stairs, merging with the many
    people roaming throughout the room. She was so small,
    fragile even when compared to the others in the room. The
    muscles in his back tightened, and he straightened in his
    chair. Dressed in breeches and a white rough linen shirt, she
    still stood out among the patrons. Her slender form served to
    refresh his memories of her body, naked, supple, and pressed
    against his while her soft cries entered his mouth when he
    slid...he tensed, slamming the images to the back of his
    mind.
    “Good tidings.” He rose from his seat and gave her a tight
    smile before holding out a chair.