Free Koshi by Annie Nicholas Page A

where you keep the oil.” She scratched the sensitive ridge along his eye. What would she say when she found out it was considered foreplay?
    “Climb aboard, I’ll carry you there.” He dipped his shoulder. When she backed away, he set his tail behind her. “Come on, don’t you want to ride me?”
    The blush on her cheeks deepened and made him want her even more. She wouldn’t escape today. Nothing would keep him from having her in his bed. He ran the tip of his tail along her calf, climbing between her legs to her thigh before she swatted it away.
    “Behave or I’ll change my mind.” Her voice shook. Pushing the loose strands of hair that had slipped from her ponytail behind her ears, she approached him. “You’re not going to fly?”
    “Never. Not without a harness. Don’t you trust me?”
    She raised any eyebrow at him.
    It speared his heart. “I’m wounded. I haven’t harmed you. If anything, I’ve gone out of my way to help you.”
    She snorted and clambered onto his shoulder, muttering things under her breath like trickster and twisting the truth . He might have done a little of both, but it had been all in fun. Never harm.
    He waited until she settled between his shoulders, legs hanging around his neck. He’d truly be a liar if he said he didn’t enjoy the press of her sweet body against his scales, but he kept silent. He did want her to tend that patch after all. Walking on all fours, he carried her through his maze of tunnels to a hot spring deep enough for his dragon form to soak. With a small flaming breath, he lit the torches on the wall.
    “Handy trick.” She clung to him, running her hands back and forth. He could spend the rest of the day under such attention.
    Tendrils of steam floated from the water; the scent of minerals tinged the air.
    “Nice.” She drew out the word in appreciation. “Koishi, help me climb down.”
    Ignoring her, he scooped up a stiff brush with the tip of his tail and stepped into the pool. The water was warm, but wouldn’t burn her.
    She rose to her feet while still on his shoulder as he swam farther from shore. With a twist of his back, she tumbled off. Sputtering, she surfaced from the depth. “My clothes are all wet!” She splashed the back of his head.
    “You’ll have to take them off and let them dry.” He circled her and fluttered his eyelashes. “It’s not like they’ll be ruined. Oh! I hadn’t considered you might have wanted to undress first.”
    With sure strokes, she swam for shallower waters.
    He snaked his tail under her and stopped her progress by blocking her way. The brush dangled from the tip. “The area needs to be scrubbed of loose scales before you can apply the oil.” With a couple small kicks, he floated next to her. “It’s less painful if the area is soaked.”
    She tossed him a glare that any warrior would have been proud to own, and then grabbed the brush. It didn’t take her much effort to climb from the water. On her hands and knees, she found the spot and applied the blessed brush.
    Purring deep in his throat, he pointed his chin to the ceiling. “Oh yeah.” The tough bristle bit into his itchy flesh. He’d been ignoring the spot far too long.
    She put her back into the scrubbing. “There’s a lot flaking off.”
    His vision tunneled. “To the left. To the left.” A shiver ran over his spine and sent a spasm into his back leg. The harder she brushed, the faster his leg twitched. “Dear God, woman, you’re merciless,” he cried out.
    Her soft chuckle echoed in the spacious cave, carrying a tint of evil. She sat on his spine and stopped cleaning the spot.
    He spun his head around to check it out, almost giving himself whiplash. “I can still see loose scales.” He rose out of the water a bit so she could have a clearer view of his back.
    “I know.”
    Narrowing his gaze, he twisted his neck to face her. “What are you up to?”
    She ran the tip of her finger over the sensitive area, sending his body into