Free Dragon King: A Dark Kings Novella (1001 Dark Nights) by Donna Grant Page B

He didn’t want her to leave.
    Ever.
    Arian closed his eyes. How the hell had he gotten into this situation? He realized as soon as that thought entered his head that there was no answer. It could be a myriad of things that allowed Grace to sink deep in his soul.
    Whatever the cause, she was there. And he was going to hold onto her. It didn’t matter what Con or any of the other Kings had to say about it.
    “You’re quiet,” Grace said.
    Arian found himself smiling. He noticed that he had been lightly rubbing her back the entire time. “So are you, lass.”
    “I’m thinking.”
    “About?” he urged.
    She snuggled closer to him. “Don’t laugh.”
    “I would never,” he responded solemnly because he had a feeling whatever she was about to say was about them.
    Grace flattened her palm on his chest. “I’ve not been writing it correctly.”
    “Writing what, exactly?”
    “Passion. I forgot what it was,” she whispered. “I went off what I saw in movies or read, but I haven’t...experienced...it in many years.”
    He didn’t like thinking about other men being with her, but they were in the past. Where they would remain. “Were they no’ good lovers?”
    “They were all right, but without passion, it all feels...empty.”
    Arian tightened his arm around her before he rolled her onto her back so he could look into her face. “I’ll be happy to show you several times a day.”
    Her smile was infectious. “You’re up for that job?”
    He looked between their bodies to his cock that was already hard again. “Oh, aye.”
    Her smile softened as she put her hand on his cheek. “I just met you, and yet it feels as if I’ve known you forever.”
    “Is that wrong?”
    “No. It’s just...scary.”
    Arian didn’t want her to be scared of the storms or the feelings developing between them. “How, lass?”
    “I feel there’s a connection between us. I’ve felt it from the moment I saw you. I don’t instantly sleep with people I first meet, and yet I was drawn to you. I couldn’t stop it, and I didn’t want to.”
    “What we did is natural. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
    “I’m not ashamed,” she said as she ran her hand down his neck to his shoulder. “All I can think of is doing it again.”
    Arian returned her grin. “It’s our connection that frightens you, aye?”
    “Yes. There isn’t the normal anxiety I feel around men I’m attracted to. With others there was nervousness and uncertainty, which can make relationships difficult to form. But with you, I’m comfortable. Except when I saw you in dragon form. Then I was scared out of my mind.”
    She laughed, but Arian heard the truth in her words. “Are you still afraid?”
    “Of you?” she asked, eyebrows raised. “No.”
    Arian once more felt Con push against his head, shouting Arian’s name. He opened the link long enough to tell Con, “ I need a moment. ”
    “There are more of us,” Arian told her.
    Grace swallowed. “Yeah. Those I might be a tad nervous around.”
    “I willna let them harm you.”
    Her navy eyes softened. “They’re your brethren. You would do that?”
    “Without question.”
    Grace closed her eyes for a second before she said, “Where have you been all my life?”
    “Waiting on you to find me, lass.”
    She laughed and pulled him down as she wrapped her arms around him. They remained like that for several moments. Arian knew he couldn’t hold Con off forever, but he also suspected that Con would want to interrogate Grace himself. With the war, they were all on edge.
    Though Arian was assured Grace was innocent, Con would have to be certain as well.
    Arian rose up to look at her. How he wanted to stay right here in this moment, but it was fading no matter how desperately he clung to it.
    “Tell me about you,” she pleaded.
    Since he wasn’t ready to answer Con, he touched the tip of her nose with his finger. “What do you want to know?”
    “Everything. We all have pasts. I want to know