Everlasting Bad Boys (6 page)

S
halin had not slept well. She’d pretty much done everything but sleep. She’d read. She’d tossed and turned. She’d played with the puppy until he fell asleep. Now all she wanted to do was spend some time with her horse.

She walked down the stairs and into the Great Hall.

“We need to get you a dress that fits,” Arranz said in lieu of a proper greeting. “And some boots.”

“Are you done?” And her clipped words had Arranz staring at her.

“Is there a problem?” he asked.

“No. Not at all. Feel free to comment on anything. My hair all right with you? My face? Anything else I can fix to your satisfaction?” When he didn’t answer, Shalin looked at the rest of the Cadwaladr Clan. “Truly. Feel free while I’m standing here to comment on anything you like. No?”

Unable to stop sneering, Shalin grabbed a loaf of bread and walked out to the courtyard.

Ailean walked into the Great Hall. He passed by his kin, the lot of them nearly filling the room, grabbing a loaf of bread from the table. Before he went outside, he stopped and asked, turning back to his kin as he did so, “I need to train. Anyone up for—”

In the ten seconds since he’d started to ask his question, all but three of his kin remained. The twins stood.

“We’ll—”

“Sit down,” their mother ordered. And they both obeyed. She remained the only being on the planet who had full control over them. “What’s going on with you two?” Deniela asked Ailean.

“What are you talking about?”

“That sweet, innocent dragoness—”

At Ailean’s snort, Deniela’s eyes narrowed, and he held his hands up, indicating she should continue.

“She was in a foul mood and I’m blaming you.”

“How is it my fault?” Although deep in his soul, he prayed it was his fault. He shouldn’t be the only one not sleeping.

“She’s an innocent, Ailean. Don’t play with her.”

“I haven’t. And she’s not an innocent.”

“She’s probably a virgin.”

“Don’t be daft.”

“Have you asked her?” Deniela demanded. “Maybe you should before you set your sights on dirtying her up.”

“I have to say,
Aunt
Deniela, that I don’t appreciate you suggesting her being with me would
dirty
her up.”

When the old cow only stared at him, he walked out.

Shalin glanced up and that’s when she saw Ailean staring at her—again. She’d found him doing it several times since he’d walked in to groom the horses a few hours before. Finally, unable to stand it anymore, she asked, “Is something wrong?”

“No. Why do you ask?”

“Because,” she said, focusing back on Nightmare, “you keep staring at me.”

“Sorry.” But he didn’t stop staring.

“Ailean,” she finally said, “you haven’t done anything wrong.” In fact, he hadn’t done a damn thing and she’d gotten tired of waiting for him to.

“I know that.”

“Then why do you look like you’ve ravished me and left me pregnant like some human?”

“No, I don’t.” He finally grinned. “There’d be much more running away involved.”

She petted Nightmare’s neck. “I appreciate your family’s desire to protect me, but I don’t need them to protect me from you.” She forced a smile. “I’m sure when this is all over we’ll be the best of friends.”

“Friends?”

Shalin’s lip curled. “Is there a reason you snarled that?”

“Are you a virgin?”

Rearing back a little, Shalin wondered at the abrupt change of conversation. Her anger sliding away from her in seconds. “Sorry?”

“You heard me.”

“I…uh…”

“Yes or no.”

“No. But I’m not sure it’s—”

“You sure?”

“Am I sure? Am I sure I’m a virgin or not?” She stepped away from Nightmare. “Is there something wrong with you? Mentally?”

“Yes. Or. No.”

“Yes. I’m sure that I’m not a virgin. I haven’t been one for quite some time although it’s none of your damn business.”

“No reason to get snappy. It was a simple enough question.”

“I don’t get snappy. Now if you’ll—”

“Ever been with anyone while human?”

Shalin let out a long breath. “Why is this conversation getting stranger?”

“Answer me.”

“You want me to answer you? Fine.” Placing her feet in between the slats of the stall gate, Shalin rose up so she could look him right in the eye. “Here’s my answer. No. I’ve never been with anyone while human. But after reading those books about you, I’ve always thought if there was anyone who could show me how good it could supposedly be, it would be you. Little did I know at the time that you were
insane!
”

Ailean carefully wiped off the bit of spit that hit his eye when she’d hissed that last part at him. “Good, because—”

“Ailean?” the human female said from the front of the stables.

Shalin realized it was the blacksmith from earlier and she growled, causing the woman to step back.

“Uh…” the blacksmith stammered, “…you said you wanted to see the blade as soon as it was done.” She held up something long and wrapped in soft cloth. “I have it here if you’d—”

“Yes, yes. I’ll look at it now.”

“You’re leaving?” But he hadn’t finished what he’d been saying!
Good because what? Good because what? Dammit!

“I’m not flying to the suns, dragoness. I’ll be back.”

And he thought she’d still be here?

He walked away, heading toward the blacksmith and Shalin jumped down from the stall door. She looked at the horse. “Would you like to teach me how to ride?”

In answer, Nightmare slowly lowered himself enough for her to easily mount him.

“Oh,” she sighed, “if only they were all like you.”

Once he’d approved the blade, Ailean walked back to the stables. His body almost vibrated with the thought of getting inside Shalin. Teaching her exactly how enjoyable a human body could be. To be the first to do so.

Still, that little voice of doubt wouldn’t shut the hell up. Constantly asking him if he should do this with someone he’d sworn to protect. Would that turn him from Ailean the Whore to Ailean the Right Bastard?

Ailean stepped in front of Nightmare’s stall and stared blindly inside.

When one of the stable boys walked past, Ailean asked, “Where’s Mistress Shalin?”

“She took Nightmare out a few minutes ago.”

He turned on the boy and yelled, “
And you let her?
”

“Well…she didn’t actually ask my permission.”

Ailean snarled and went to Dragon’s Gold, his fastest mount. It wasn’t that Shalin had walked away from their conversation. It was that she’d rode away with that demon horse. It was one thing for her to feed him and groom him, but riding that big bastard was another matter altogether. If he threw her and she landed the wrong way, her human neck could snap.

He saddled and mounted his horse quickly and took off after Shalin, using her scent to guide him. It didn’t take him long to find her. Typical dragon. She’d gone to the lake. To water. Something his kind were elementally drawn to.

“Have you gone mad?” he demanded, dismounting before the horse had even stopped.

She’d already dismounted and stood staring out over the lake at the next coming storm. He, too, could see the dark thunder clouds approaching, which fit his mood quite nicely.

“He could have killed you.”

“Well, you know us virgins. We just run off half-crazed.”

“I can’t believe you’re still upset about that.”

“Upset that you were discussing my intactness with your kin?”

“It wasn’t like that, Shalin.” Well…not
much
like that.

She waved him off. “At the moment, I really don’t care.”

Ailean gently swiped a hand down her back. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. I’ve just…” She let her hands fall at her side. “I’ve just never seen that before.”

He followed her line of sight before returning his gaze to her face. “You’ve never seen storm clouds?”

“Of course I’ve seen storm clouds. I’ve just never
seen
storm clouds.”

“Perhaps we should get you inside, Shalin.”

“Don’t be dull,” she said before walking away from him.

“I beg your pardon?”

“You heard me. I don’t want to go inside. Nothing is wrong with me.”

Ailean entertained the idea she might be right until she took off running and did a somersault—for no apparent reason.

“In fact,” she announced, “I feel
amazing
. At least a hundred years younger.”

“Shalin, you’re not old.”

“No. I just feel like it most days.” She suddenly did a handstand and Ailean briefly closed his eyes and groaned. He couldn’t help himself once he realized she was completely naked under that dress.

“Shalin—”

“You know,” she flipped forward and landed on her feet, “I don’t
do
anything. I go where they tell me. Do what they tell me.” She put her hands on her hips and said, “I almost handed myself over to the Northland dragons because I thought it was the right thing to do. I’m tired of living for others.”

“Then don’t.”

“Don’t?”

“Don’t. Gods know, I don’t.”

“It’s easy for you. No one expects anything from you.”

“Thank you.”

“I mean…” Again she waved her hand like she was waving away a fly. “Why lie? I meant what I said. All they expect from you, from your kin, is to kill on command. That’s your skill. Your gift to our people. When you’re not killing, they really don’t care what you do.”

“But you…”

She laughed, but there was no humor in it. “From me, they expect much.”

“Your life is your own, Shalin. That’s the true beauty of being dragon. Even our gods know not to demand much of us.”

“It’s not the gods I care about disappointing.”

“Your father?”

She nodded. “I love him too much to ever want to hurt him. Failure—
my
failure—would hurt him.”

“But, Shalin—your father’s not here. And, based on those clouds, he won’t be here for quite a bit. So, perhaps you can allow yourself a chance to just be. For once.” He grinned. “Who knows what you’ll discover about yourself?”

She frowned a bit. “I guess I can do that.”

“You guess?”

She snorted. “I don’t know how to throw all caution to the wind like you do, Ailean.”

“Then isn’t it time you learned?”

“How do you—”

“You just do it. You simply see what you want and you go after it. That’s what I do. Trust me, Shalin, there’s no one here who will hold you back.”

“Truly?” And she looked afraid to hope.

“Truly. You may not always get what you want. But I’ve found it never hurts to at least have tried.”

Shalin nodded. “All right, then.”

Then she took off running—right at him. He barely had a chance to stumble back before she slammed right into his chest. If he hadn’t been hit with so many other unexpected things over the years, he’d never have been able to stay on his feet.

Shalin wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. She stared into his eyes for a long moment before she said in no uncertain terms, “I want you to fuck me, Ailean.”

She couldn’t tell if he looked horrified, appalled, or merely stunned.

Shalin swallowed and gave him a way out. “You can say no, of course. I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to—”

“Shut up, Shalin.”

Ailean closed his eyes, and she could hear him gritting his teeth. He looked as if he was in physical pain.

“What do you want from me, Shalin?”

That seemed like an odd question, and he seemed so angry, she decided retreat might be her best option. “Nothing, Ailean. Nothing.” She tried to pull out of his arms and he yanked her back. That’s when she felt his erection pushing against her sex.

“You don’t understand me. What do you want from me, Shalin?” She shook her head, still unclear what he meant. “Are you a romantic, Shalin? Do you need the soft light of candles and the gentle touch of your lover?”

“Uh—”

“Normally, I could give you anything you’d want. I’m known for my versatile skills. But I can’t promise that right now.” He pushed a wind blown lock of her hair behind her ear. “I’ve wanted you too long to be much of a sensitive lover. All I can promise you at the moment is a rough ride right here in the dirt. If you don’t want that, then walk away from—”

“Put me down, Ailean.”

He looked so disappointed, she almost felt guilty for how happy that made her.

With a curt nod, he carefully placed her on the ground and she stepped back. “Give us your shirt.”

“What?”

“Your shirt.” She motioned to the linen shirt that fit him perfectly but would hang on her like one of his cousin’s dresses. “Give it to me.”

Not sure why she wanted it, he still reached back and grabbed up the shirt with both hands, dragging it over his head. He handed it to her and she took it but stopped a moment to simply stare at him. Gods, he had a nice body. And he wasn’t even naked yet.

Clearing her throat, she shook the linen shirt out and placed it on the ground. “Until you’ve actually had dirt up your bum, you really can’t appreciate how uncomfortable that could get.”

She stood, brushing off her hands. “Now make sure to get me there.” She pointed at the shirt. “You know, when we actually get to that point.”

He seemed to struggle between wanting to glare at her and smile. “Did you hear a word I said to you?”

“Quite clearly. I have excellent hearing.” She moved closer to him and Ailean’s body tensed. “I appreciate the warning, though. It was very sweet of you to give me the option to run away…”

Ailean’s hands were fisted at his side while he eyed her. She had the feeling he would not make the first move. He needed her to prove that she wanted this.

Wanted this? Gods, she
needed
this. Perhaps her only chance at getting something she really, truly wanted that had nothing to do with anyone or anything else. No matter how temporary, she needed this.

Now Shalin stood so close to him their bodies nearly touched. She raised her hand and let her fingers skim along a jagged scar across his upper chest. Ailean’s big body trembled beneath her exploring fingers, and she felt a surge of confidence and lust she’d never known before.