Calming the dragon inside took all his energy.
Aidan left Kristen’s house and then let the dragon free. He jumped into the air and changed in midflight. His dragon heart wept for his love as he flew toward her. His senses led the way.
He would find her, and he would claim her.
He no longer cared about condemning his brother to death.
In his dragon form, his animal nature took over, and he would fight for his mate like an animal in the wild.
18
Kristen yawned and stretched her arms over her head. Her head felt heavy, as though the pillow around it was a helmet. Her body still tingled, and her pussy felt deliciously used.
She turned to curl into Aidan’s arms.
But…no Aidan.
Where was he? He hadn’t left her, had he?
She opened her eyes and let them adjust. As the blurry images cleared, she gasped.
This was not her room!
Where was she?
She lay in a large bed, surrounded by red satin sheets.
She was alone.
And naked.
She gasped as a flame flickered in the corner of her eye. She turned.
A fireplace! It roared to life right in this room!
Aidan knew she was afraid of fire. He would never bring her to a place with a fireplace or at least not leave it blazing.
Her nerves tightened and her heart pounded.
She let out a blood curdling scream.
“What, what?” Someone rushed in.
Micah.
His long blond hair framed his eerily beautiful face. His eyes were green today. Or were they blue?
“Where am I? Where is Aidan?”
“You’re perfectly safe here, Kristen.”
“Get some water! I don’t want that fire!”
“Calm down. It’s just a gas fireplace.”
“Stop it!” She curled her fists into the red sheets. “I hate fire. Get rid of it.”
“I can turn it off with a switch, see?”
He walked toward the flames and flicked what looked like a light switch on the wall. The flames disappeared.
Kristen let out a breath and her heart began to calm. But only a little. She grasped the satin in her fists and covered her exposed breasts. Where was Aidan? And how had she gotten here?
“Why am I here? Where is Aidan?”
“First, stop yelling, okay? You’re perfectly safe here. I would never harm you.”
“You’ve already harmed me. I don’t remember coming here. You… You took me, didn’t you? You kidnapped me. You abducted me.”
“I only took what was mine.”
“Yours?” What the heck are you talking about? I’m not yours. I’m not anyone’s.”
But the words were a lie. She didn’t realize that until she uttered them.
She was Aidan’s.
She had given herself to him last night.
Or yesterday afternoon.
Or… What time was it, anyway?
“Where is Aidan?”
“Still in your bed, I’d suspect,” Micah said.
“What did you do to him?”
“Nothing. Do you really think I’d harm my own brother?”
Kristen honestly didn’t know. Would Micah harm Aidan? Something about Micah didn’t gel quite right. Oh, he was gorgeous, and she was drawn to him, but something was off.
“How did you get me out without him noticing? Is he okay?”
“I still have a few tricks up my sleeve that my baby brother hasn’t figured out. He’s fine. Trust me.”
“Trust you? Are you kidding? You’ve abducted me. How could I ever trust you?
He gazed into her eyes. “Tell me you want me, Kristen.”
“No.” She fought the invisible bonds she felt tying her to him. “I will not.”
“Aidan hasn’t been honest with you. You don’t know anything about him.”
“I know all I need to know. I—”
“God, don’t say it.”
“I can’t help it. It’s true.” She pulled the sheets more tightly around her nude body. Her body was for Aidan and no one else. “I love him. I’ve loved him since he first walked into my bookstore.”
Micah sneered. “That’s crap. You are equally fated for me.”
“What the heck are you talking about?”
Kristen’s nerves skittered across her skin. God, she wanted some clothes. She wanted to get out of here. Most of all, she wanted Aidan.
“It’s an ancient code, one that binds both Aidan and me. I suppose he’s told you nothing about his heritage.”
“Just that he’s Scottish.”
“Has he bothered to tell you that he’s several centuries old?”
Kristen chilled. Not only had she been abducted, she’d been abducted by a lunatic. She’d have to tread carefully.
“What? You’re talking crazy.”
“And I’m older. His elder by a year.”
“Right. You’re telling me you’ve been alive since the dark ages? I don’t think so.”
Keep him talking, Kristen. Keep him talking so he doesn’t do something really crazy.
“See? How can you love a man who hasn’t been completely honest with you? I, dear Kristen, will be honest.”
“You’re lying now. Why should I believe anything you say?”
“Feel me, Kristen.” He drew nearer. “Feel the bond between us, and know that I will never lie to you.”
She couldn’t deny a bond. It pulled at her. He was attractive. So very attractive. Similar and yet completely different from Aidan.
And yes, she was drawn to him. In a way she couldn’t quite describe or understand. It was a desire yet it wasn’t. A lust, yet not. So very different from the desire and lust that Aidan inspired.