Free Smoke and Fire: Part 3 by Donna Grant Page A

could.
    Her heart and soul were fully exposed, as if she were standing naked in the hallway. Ryder watched her with expectation and hope. Everything she wanted was right before her. She just had to have the strength—and guts—to take the chance again.
    She knew Ryder’s secrets now. For three days she’d lived in his world.
    Because I can no’ have you.
    Kinsey wanted to rest her head on his chest and wrap her arms around him. She wanted to lean on him once more and let him shoulder her troubles. She wanted to know that he would be with her each morning when she woke.
    She wanted the dream she’d once had with Ryder. She wanted it all.
    He moved closer to her until their bodies were nearly touching. “Tell me you doona want me. Say the words, Kins, and I’ll never bother you again.”
    Was he serious? As if she could say them. She couldn’t have said them the day she arrived at Dreagan, and she certainly couldn’t now.
    “I can’t,” she whispered.
    He dropped his chin to his chest and sighed, a pleased look passing over his face.
    “Perhaps the two of you could continue this after dinner,” Con said.
    Kinsey had completely forgotten Con was there. She’d been so absorbed with Ryder that everyone vanished.
    Ryder smiled as he lifted his head. “I agree. We’ve already kept the others waiting too long.”
    Kinsey found herself walking between two very handsome Dragon Kings. A few days ago, it would’ve been disconcerting. Now, it just seemed like an everyday occurrence.
    They got a few steps from the painting before Con said, “I’m pleased you didna think I looked too aggressive.”
    Her feet halted as she stared after Con entering the arched entryway to the dining room. Con. The gold dragon was Con? Why hadn’t she thought to ask who it was?
    “I was going to tell you it was Con when he walked up and shook his head to stop me,” Ryder said.
    Kinsey looked at him and laughed. “At least I didn’t say something stupid.”
    “You said everything right. Con is warming to you.”
    “Right,” she said with a snort. “I don’t think Con warms to anyone.”
    Their conversation ended when they walked into the dining room. The room had an even more inviting and warm look than the rest of the house, if that were possible.
    The table was a rich dark brown with years of use evident in the markings. It only made the table more beautiful, in her opinion.
    The legs of the table were carved into dragons and it appeared as if the table rested upon the shoulders of the dragons.
    “Dragons holding up the world,” Kinsey mused. Art mimicked real life. She wondered if the Kings even knew it.
    Ryder leaned close. “What?”
    “Nothing,” she told him as he guided her past chairs already filled to two empty seats across from each other.
    Kinsey was seated beside Lexi on one side and a handsome man with impossibly long black hair and eyes the color of champagne on the other.
    Grace sat across from him and winked at Kinsey before grinning like a fool at the man. “This is Arian,” Grace said.
    Kinsey nodded at him, and was greeted with a smile.
    “I’ve heard a great deal about you,” Arian said. “I’m glad you could finally join us.”
    “Me, too.” What else was Kinsey supposed to say? Her parents’ entire house could easily fit inside the dining room it was so large. And she didn’t even try to introduce herself to everyone. There were too many people, and she’d never remember their names.
    But they were all looking her way. It was like being under a microscope. She understood their curiousness, because she felt the same about them. Thankfully, everyone was pleasant, offering smiles and waves when she looked their way.
    Once Con took his seat, there was a moment of silence. As if on cue, everyone reached for a dish and then passed it to the right.
    It wasn’t long before each dish had passed before Kinsey—and there were many. She chose her food and set about eating, listening to the many