While she relieved herself behind some bushes, he watered a tree.
“Done?” He grabbed her hand and led her farther along the cliff.
“Where are we going?” She shivered as a cool breeze swept past them. “Shouldn’t we get dressed?”
“First, we have to bathe.” He showed her a pool of water enclosed in a rock basin, fed by a trickling waterfall.
“Oh, it’s lovely.” Kneeling down, she dangled her fingers in the water. “Good heavens, it’s freezing!”
“Not for long.” He eased her back. “Wait here.” He took a deep breath and accessed the dragon fire deep inside him. With a whoosh, he blew fire across the surface of the water. After a few minutes, he tested the water and it had warmed enough for them bathe.
He eased into the deepest part of the pool, where the water reached his chest. “Come on.”
She slipped in beside him. “Oh, it feels wonderful!” She dunked down so the water came up to her chin, then tilted her head back to rinse out her hair.
He sank underwater, then grabbed her around the waist. As he straightened, he lifted her into the air. She squealed as he spun around, then he let her slip down his body till he could draw her nipple into his mouth.
“Silas.” Her fingers delved into his wet hair. “I thought we were going to bathe.”
“We are.” He grabbed onto her rump to support her. “Wrap your legs around me.”
When she did, her womanly parts pressed against his swollen cock. She was probably too sore for intercourse, he thought, but there were other things they could do.
He stroked her gently. “Does that feel all right?”
With a moan, her head fell back. “Silas, I think I’m in heaven.”
“Then you’ll marry me?”
She gave him a wry look. “You’re proposing now?”
“Yes.” He rubbed the extra-sensitive nubbin at the top of her sweet folds, and her eyes glazed over. “As you can see, I’ll be a very attentive husband.”
She moaned.
“Was that a yes?”
“More,” she whispered, pressing herself against his hand.
He stroked and fondled her, enjoying the different expressions that flitted across her face as she neared her climax, then shattered in his arms.
As her breathing returned to normal, he nuzzled her neck. “Are you going to answer my question?”
“Hmm.” She smoothed a hand down his chest. “There’s something I need to know first.”
He grew tense. “What?”
“Is there a way for me to be equally attentive?” She curled a hand around his swollen cock.
He hissed in a breath. “Yes, actually.”
She gently rubbed her hand up and down the shaft. “Can you tell me how?”
“You’re doing quite well—” He gritted his teeth. “Does this mean you’ll marry me?”
She gave him a squeeze. “I’m not hurting you, am I?”
“No. You still haven’t answered—oh, hell.” He grabbed her hand and guided her into a more aggressive approach. “You can use your mouth, too. Licking. Sucking.”
“Yes.”
“Excellent.” He lifted himself onto the rocky ledge at the edge of the pool so his cock was exposed. “Go ahead.”
Her eyes widened as she looked at his erection.
“Gwen?”
She leaned over to kiss his cock. “I said yes.”
“Huh?”
Her eyes twinkled with humor. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
“Yes!” He jumped into the water and pulled her into an embrace. As her sweet body pressed against him, he stiffened, then with a shout, he climaxed.
She held on to him until he grew calm once more.
“Gwen.” He patted her rump. “You naughty girl. You paid me back.”
She grinned. “We are well matched, aren’t we?”
He kissed her brow. “I’m not sure what will happen when we go back. But we need to stand strong and face it together.”
She nodded. “Together.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Silas contacted Dimitri as he drew near to Draven Castle. We’re returning. Is it safe for Gwennore?
Yes. The king rescinded the warrant for her arrest. We’ll meet you in Karlan’s office.
Did you hear that? Silas asked Gwen, who was cradled in his forelegs.
“Yes.”
Silas could hear her thoughts, so he knew she was relieved, but still worried about the crowd who had demanded her death. Everything will be fine. We’ll announce our betrothal—
“I think we should wait till after the queen’s funeral.”
All right. He swooped down to the grassy clearing by the cabin. You should close off your mind now.
After they landed, he dressed in the cabin while she erected her mental shield. Then they walked toward the castle, hand in hand.
In the hallway outside Karlan’s office, Margosha, Annika, and Olenka were waiting with the dog Brody. He gave a yelp as he trotted toward them.
“Gwen!” Annika ran toward her, followed by the other ladies. “Thank the Light! We were so worried about you.”
“I’m fine.” Gwen smiled as she encompassed in a group hug. When Brody barked, she gave him a hug, too.
Silas cleared this throat. “I’m feeling fine, too, in case anyone is wondering.”
Annika laughed. “That’s good. Thank you for rescuing Gwen.”
Margosha patted Gwen’s shoulder. “There’s no need for you to fret. The king has changed his mind—”
“You mean we changed it for him,” Olenka boasted. “I told His Majesty that my dear friend would never harm anyone.”
Gwen’s eyes widened. “You stood up for me?”
“We all did,” Karlan said from the open doorway of his office.
Dimitri stepped into the hallway. “I wasn’t going to let my cousin be falsely arrested.”
Gwen’s eyes glimmered with tears as she looked over her friends. “Thank you.”
Silas took her hand. “Soon everyone in the country will love you.” He leaned close. “But you’re mine first.”
She beamed at him. “I’ve always wished for a place where I could be loved for who I am.”
Dimitri cleared his throat. “We need to talk. Now.”
When Brody trotted into the office, Dimitri glanced inside. “Shit. Don’t come in now. He’s shifting.”
“I have a spare uniform I can give him,” Karlan muttered as he went inside.
“Is something wrong?” Silas asked.
“Yes.” Dimitri glanced inside once more. “We can go in now.”
After Silas and Gwen went inside, the other ladies tried to follow them.
Dimitri lifted a hand to stop them. “Official business.”
“But I’m on your side,” Olenka protested.
“Lady Olenka,”
