Dragonlands(222)

"I'm sorry." Her voice traveled back to him, despite the roaring wind. "I shouldn't have said anything."

"Oh, Elinor." Bastian leaned in closer, his lips ticking her ear. "I can't promise anything. Not now. But you are in my thoughts too. All the time." He kissed her hair, then rested his chin on the crown on her head.

Elinor's melted into him. They didn't say another word during the short flight to the Meadowlands. The stars lit their way as they passed from danger to safety through lazy clouds.

When they landed, Elinor and Vatra slid to the ground. Bastian stood solidly on two feet, and only then realized how exhausted he was. Connor changed to human form so quickly that he ended up with his socks on his hands.

Connor laughed, pulling the socks off. "I need to eat. I'm guessing Vatra does, too. Mind if we do some hunting near the shore?"

"No." Elinor said, "You two go. Bastian and I will sleep for now." She slid her hand in Bastian's, giving it a squeeze.

A lump formed in his throat. Suddenly the last thing he wanted to do was sleep, despite his growing exhaustion.

"I'll take the first watch, then," Connor said. "You two get some shut-eye. I'll wake up Elinor for the second watch."

Bastian nodded, letting Elinor lead him away into the tall grass. They lay down, fingers intertwined, watching the stars twinkle. He felt shy, which was something he'd never experienced when alone with a woman. Seduction usually came easily to him, but tonight his instincts were off-kilter.

"Bastian," Elinor said, sitting up. Slowly she pushed her cloak off, then unlaced her gown. The fabric gaped open, but still hid her delicate skin. "I know you can't promise me anything. I just know how I feel, and I don't want to miss an opportunity to be with you. Since I met you, life has proved fleeting. So many have died. I don't want to die without feeling your hands on me."

He swallowed. He wanted to grab her, rip her dress off, and make love to her. But this shyness was new. He wasn't sure how to cope with it. Elinor was so beautiful. Her golden curls glowed in the starlight. Her smile lit up the quiet night.

She reached for his hand, pulling it closer until it rested on her shoulder. "Please?" She kept her hand on his, using it to push her gown off her shoulder until it fell to her waist, exposing her to the night air.

Elinor leaned down, her lips caressing Bastian's. She straddled his hips, pushing down on him so unexpectedly hard that all of his inhibitions fell away. Bastian's hands explored Elinor's back. He cupped her bottom, pulling her even closer.

She gasped. "I guess you are interested in me. I was beginning to wonder." She dove back in, her lips on his neck.

Elinor pulled his shirt over his head. Then her fingers turned to his breeches. She played with the strings, pulling one slowly after the other. He wanted to tell her to hurry, but held back when she bit his lip. Bastian groaned. He'd never wanted any woman as much as he wanted Elinor. Tired of waiting, he pulled off his breeches and flipped positions, slamming her back onto the ground. "I'm so sorry. Did that hurt? I didn't mean to be so rough."

Elinor giggled. "I'm not a delicate flower, Bastian. Feel free to do anything you like."

Bastian leaned in, forgetting that the world around him was in chaos.





Chapter Twenty-One


The next day, Connor, in dragon form, landed in the throne room. Bastian slid off his back, holding his arms out for Elinor. She lingered in his embrace only for a moment. With a shy glance, she sashayed away from him. Bastian ached to reach out for the contradictory woman. Sweet, but hiding an animal inside. They'd agreed to keep their tryst away from prying eyes until they knew exactly what they wanted from each other. Bastian had to think of his daughter now.

With bright eyes, Farah ran and jumped into his arms. She snuggled against his chest and he held on to her as if he'd never let her go.

"Are you staying, Dada?" she asked him. "I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too," he mumbled into her hair. At only three, she was already wise. He planted a kiss on Farah's cheek and pushed her back toward the other children. She smiled and waved as she ran into the fray.

He looked at the children of Hutton's Bridge, running and playing in the throne room. They'd all witnessed things they shouldn't at such a young age. Hazel stood in the center of the chaos, her eyes trained on Connor as he changed from a dragon into a man. At least this time his socks were on his feet.

Hazel watched Connor silently. He looked at her, confusion and sadness pulsating in his gaze. He turned and left the throne room, Fotia and Vatra on his heels.

Hazel made her way through the throng of children toward Bastian, narrowly avoiding a few collisions. "I see you found some of the eggs." Her eyes wandered to the doors.