Everlasting Bad Boys. Cynthia Eden

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