Leonidas lifted one eyebrow and stood face to face with her. “My bedmate probably needs a rest, anyway.”
Arabella felt the heat flood her cheeks. She dropped her gaze to his bare feet, then darted it away to the furnishings of his house. God, she was a grown adult. She really should be able to look a man in the face while he talked about sex. She forced herself to meet his gaze.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
“Look.” Arabella unlocked her arms and lightly tapped her fist against her open palm. It helped a little. “I’m sure having a kept human works for most dragons. And I’m sure she’s enjoying it. It’s just not for me.”
Leonidas frowned a little but mostly seemed entranced by her words. He flicked a look at the closed door, then back to her. “I see.”
The heat was back in her face. Had she just insulted him? “Lucian just said that…” She gestured helplessly at the door. She was only digging herself in deeper. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter. I shouldn’t presume. Is she your mate?”
A breathtaking grin broke out over his face. “No.” He seemed to be holding back a laugh. “But then I’m not exactly looking for one, either.”
“Oh.” She grimaced. “So, that’s not something all dragons want?” Didn’t Lucian say it was? Now she couldn’t remember through the haze of all the sex.
“Oh, they do. Most of them, anyway. The ones with any sense.” His eyes narrowed, studying her. “Lucian is definitely in need of one.”
“In need of?” She returned his frown. “You mean because he’ll die soon if he doesn’t find a mate.” He definitely said that—that his days were numbered unless he found a mate and spawned a dragonling.
Leonidas tilted his head. She guessed that was agreement.
But something didn’t add up. “You’re triplets, right? I mean, if Lucian’s biological clock is running out, doesn’t that mean yours is, too?” She flicked a look to the bedroom, but the door remained closed. These dragons may be five hundred years old, but they had the stamina of a twenty-year-old mixed with the skills of a very experienced man. She could see them living that for all it was worth, right up until the end. Whatever the end was for a dragon who lived for hundreds of years but still looked hotter than sin.
“It’s different for Lucian.” Leonidas’s face was pinched, examining her. “He’s the crown prince.”
“So he has to carry on the line?” she guessed. It made sense, but that seemed kind of less important than, you know, not dying. Plus, didn’t they have contingencies for this sort of thing? She wasn’t an expert on human royal houses, much less dragon ones, but it seemed a little fraught with problems to rely on one guy to provide the sole heirs to the dynasty. Especially when there were two other brothers.
“So to speak.” Leonidas pulled in a breath, and his face opened. Less suspicious, or maybe just relaxing. “Lucian needs a mate to fulfill his duties, and for our own particular reasons, neither Leksander nor I will be taking mates. But I doubt you’re here to find out why I’m bedding my females instead of mating with them.”
She flushed again. The way they put things sometimes made her shiver—direct and yet phrased in a way that made her wish to be in Lucian’s bed again, having him lavish her with that sexy language as well as earth-shaking orgasms.
“I’m here because I think I might be falling in love with your brother.” She pursed her lips after saying it, watching Leonidas’s face open even further in surprise.
Then his surprise collapsed into a pinched look. “But you’re unsure.”
Arabella lifted her hands. “I’ve only known him for a few days!”
“That’s something easily fixed.” He was examining her again with that calculated look.
“And I don’t know anything about being the mate of a dragon.” For some reason, her complaints were sounding less reasonable when she said them aloud. But it was true—what did she know about these strange, sexy men-beasts?
He gave her a small smile. “And I’m not the one to tell you. These are things you should be discussing with Lucian, not me.”
Arabella flushed again. He was right. If there were to be anything between her and Lucian, she would have to trust him to give her straight answers to her questions. And just spend time with the man. Get to know him. None of that was accomplished by sneaking off to talk to his brother. What did she expect? That Leonidas would spill Lucian’s secrets for her?
She pulled in a breath. “You’re right.”