Free Firewalker by Allyson James Page B

my sentence is execution, my honor will remain intact.”
    “Well, thank the gods for that.”
    “I know you don’t understand. But there are things I can do in my defense, and I might be able to persuade them to give me a punishment I can survive.”
    “Shit, Mick, don’t blind me with your optimism.”
    “You won’t have to worry about this, sweetheart. When they schedule the trial, I’ll go, take my punishment, and do my damndest to get back to you.”
    “You’re not going alone. The dragons are all hot to kill you because of me, and I’m going with you.”
    Mick lost his smile. He turned from the bed and reached for his shirt. “No, you are not. It’s far too dangerous for a human, and I don’t trust that one of them won’t try to kill you as soon as my back is turned. They don’t like you, and your little display up on the ridge hasn’t made things any better.”
    “My ‘little display’ saved your life. Which you’re about to throw away when you go to this fucking trial.”
    “I don’t have a choice,” he said, words clipped.
    I put my hands to my aching head. “Shit, Mick. I don’t want this. I don’t want any of this. Why can’t we just have a normal relationship?”
    Mick’s face softened. “A Stormwalker and a dragon? Not in this world.” He leaned to me, his body hard and warm, his fists firm on the mattress. “Janet, sweetheart, I’d a thousand times rather have what I have with you than any ‘normal’ relationship with anyone else.”
    That was more what I wanted to hear. His skin was hot and damp, his breath warm, and I’d missed him so much. I brushed my thumb over his wrist. “Stay and do some healing magic with me?”
    To my vast disappointment, Mick shook his head and straightened up. “Sorry, sweetheart. I’m still pretty weak. The little healing I did on the drive back was all I had for now.”
    I shifted over in the bed, giving him plenty of room. “You do know that asking you to do healing magic is my subtle way of saying ‘come to bed and screw my brains out’?”
    Mick didn’t smile. “You’re tired, love. I don’t want to hurt you.”
    “Just having you in bed with me will help me feel better. I missed you, Mick. I was so worried about you.”
    “Janet.”
    I heard the “no” in his voice. My heart ached. Never since I’d met Mick had he been anything but happy to slide between the sheets with me. I needed to reassure myself that he was back with me and unhurt.
    I folded my arms. “Next time I’ll leave you at the bottom of the damned shaft.”
    Mick leaned to me again, closer this time, his breath hot. “What you don’t understand, Janet, is that I want you so bad right now that I wouldn’t be able to stop myself. The things I’d want to do to you would hurt you, maybe put you back in the hospital. Is that what you want?”
    The rough note in his voice rippled agreeable heat through me. I gave him a tired smile. “I think I wouldn’t mind.”
    Mick was strong, never mind that his magic was at a low ebb. Gods, that turned me on.
    “But I’d mind.” He stood up. “I’d hurt you, baby, because right now I wouldn’t be able to control myself. I’m strong, and you’re injured, and I’d take advantage. I don’t want to have to live with that.” He turned away, but not before I saw his hands shaking.
    “Mick,” I called before he opened the door.
    He looked back, so much pain on his face that I almost relented. Almost.
    “You do have the sweetest ass,” I said.
    He growled something, ducked out into the sunlight, and slammed the door.
    I grunted and lost my smile. Mick was sexy as sin, but I still had one hell of a headache.

    When I woke up again, the sun was setting, and I felt better. The healing spells Mick had done on me in the SUV had helped, and I did a few on myself while I showered, but I could have done so much more if Mick had stayed. He’d taught me the power of Tantra, and together we’d worked some brilliant magic. The