Liza (Dragon Isles Book 1) Page 5

  A young wolf of around three months old lay on its side, a spear protruding through its shoulder. Blood pooled around the pup with a larger amount of blood nearby. Where was the pup’s mother? The rest of its pack?

  A soft whine came from a thicket, and Leo lifted his head, his eyes narrowing while he focused his senses. He spotted a black nose. A second pup. Somehow this one had escaped the death that had claimed its sibling and probably its mother.

  Leo crooned to the wolf but remained still. He didn’t know what had happened to the pack, but he couldn’t leave this pup alone to die. Even worse, someone had trespassed on his land and killed at least two wolves. He had no idea why.

  The area bordering his belonged to Ulrim, Protector of the Forest. Ulrim valued the acres left to him by his grandfather, and he gained his title after he refused to sell any portion of his property to Myndunth, The Banker. Rumors had circulated for months regarding a gambling den and luxurious accommodation. The speculation had died a gradual death, since Ulrim refused to comment, other than to confirm his land was not for sale.

  Now Leo wondered if something more sinister was afoot. The other side of Hissing Isle contained fewer green spaces and more luxurious homes belonging to wealthy dragons. Some made their fortunes in jewel mines while others traded in leather, wool, foodstuffs, or construction.

  Leo wasn’t confident of his suspicions, but he’d hate for the wolves to end up driven from their natural home. While he’d been pondering potential scenarios, the wolf-pup crept from concealment. Leo’s scent would be familiar to the pup. All he knew was he couldn’t leave the creature alone, and he didn’t have time to track the pack since he ached to return to Gwenyth.

  “I guess we should follow the scent trail,” his dragon stated, sounding a trifle grumpy.

  “Later,” Leo replied. “With that amount of blood, I doubt the wolf is alive. I’ll take the pup home and feed him, look after him while we decide what to do next. I would follow the trail, but I don’t wish to leave Gwenyth alone for too much longer.”

  His dragon perked up at the decision. “Darkness will fall soon. Best, we follow the trail during daylight.”

  The pup came closer, and Leo remained unmoving until it nudged his hand with its cold, black nose. Leo still waited and let the animal come to him. He murmured encouragement and ran his hand over the pup’s matted fur. The wolf trembled but cuddled closer. It allowed Leo to pick it up, and he carried the cub toward the steel storage chest where he kept necessary supplies—natural remedies in case any of his animals were sick or injured. A lead for his boss cow. Wherever he led his boss cow, the rest of the herd followed, which was handy if he wished to move his cattle to a lower pasture. It also contained empty hessian bags he used to ferry supplies while in dragon form. He plucked one of these from the chest and placed the wolf-pup inside.

  Before he left, Leo studied his cattle. They hovered in a tight bunch, acting skittish. He’d shift them tomorrow or the next day to one of the lower pastures where it was easier to watch over them along with the yearling cattle already there.

  Leo transformed to dragon and carefully picked up the bag containing the pup. This time he scanned his land as he flew, searching for anything out of the ordinary. Nothing jumped out at him, and he soon landed on his balcony.

  When he removed the wolf-pup from the bag, it was shuddering even harder. He cuddled the pup to his chest and strode inside. All was quiet, and when he peeked into his bedroom, he found Gwenyth sound asleep. He figured he’d let her rest.

  He grabbed a towel and wrapped the pup in it. The temperature had dropped, and Leo partially shifted to breathe over the kindling he’d laid in preparation. With the fire going, he set the pup down, and once he’d satisfied himself, the wolf would stay put, he went in search of something for it to eat.

  “Not too much food,” his dragon cautioned. “I don’t want to clean up after it gets sick.”

  Leo snorted. “I’d be the one doing the cleaning. You’d use my fingers and thumbs as the reason I’d be better suited for the job.”

  “Do I look stupid? I am a wise and clever dragon.”

  Leo snorted again, entirely unimpressed by his dragon’s logic. He heated a portion of beef stew—the meat he’d had over after making his pie—and placed it on a dish. The pup had wriggled free of the towel and savored the radiant heat from the fire. It lifted its head at Leo’s approach.

  “Here you go, fellow.” Leo nudged the dish of meat closer and stood back while the pup sniffed and investigated. Finally, he stuck his nose into the bowl and ate a chunk of meat.

  “Where did the pup come from?” Gwenyth asked, her husky voice startling the wolf.

  He gave a panicked yap and crowded against Leo, seeking protection. Leo smoothed his hand over the pup’s back and crooned nonsensical words to him until the wolf calmed enough to return to his food.

  “I found him when I went to check on my cattle. Someone killed his mother and sibling.”

  “That’s terrible,” Gwenyth whispered. “Is he okay?”

  “He’s uninjured, and he’s eating, so that’s an excellent sign. How is your head?”

  “Better,” she said. “I’m feeling hungry again.”

  Leo rose from his crouch near the pup and closed the distance between him and Gwenyth. Unable to help himself, he slid his arm around her midriff and dragged her against his side. Without hesitation, Gwenyth curled closer.

  “You make me feel safe.” She squeezed him.

  Leo’s big heart seized for a second, before giving a thump and racing faster than average. “You make me happy,” he said gruffly. “Let’s have pie.”

  “I think your wolf is a she,” Gwenyth said.

  Leo glanced in the pup’s direction. She stretched out in slumber after sating his appetite.

  “We’re collecting females,” his dragon chirped. “How fun.”

  Leo grunted. “Dinner,” he repeated.

  Gwenyth poked Leo in the chest. “Did you snort at me?”

  “My dragon is making smart-arse comments.”

  “I wish I could hear him.”

  “That might happen one day,” Leo said, yet guilt filled him. What if she had a husband? He knew nothing of her previous life. Besides, he needed to investigate the failing barrier. He must send a message to his friends on the other Dragon Isles on the morrow. Although he hated to leave Gwenyth alone, he’d have to bury the wolf and investigate the mysterious slaying, drive his cattle home.

  “How will that happen?”

  “Sometimes, the dragon part will recognize his true mate and wish to bond. I’ve heard it feels as if a bracelet snaps into place. Not every dragon ends up with a genuine mate bond.”

  She cocked her head, curiosity and intrigue fighting for supremacy within her gaze. “When does this happen?”

  Normally during the first time a dragon made love with his woman, but he could hardly tell her that. “I’m uncertain,” he replied. “I’ve never met a dragon with a true mate.”

  Gwenyth frowned. “Well, that pops the fairy tale of true love.”

  “She sounds tetchy. You’d better feed her.”

  Leo agreed with his dragon. “I’ll serve dinner.”

  “You know me so well,” she said, her brow smoothing. “I get grumpy if I’m hungry. Will the puppy be all right there?”

  “She will. Dragons have excellent hearing skills. I’ll know if she’s in distress.”

  “You’re a caring man.” She gave him a quick squeeze before aiming a kiss at his lips.

  The instant their mouths met, he groaned. His dragon groaned.

  “Kiss her back, numbskull. This is our opportunity to romance her.”

  Leo didn’t hesitate further. He dragged her close, his pulse racing in exhilaration, and kissed her. Her mouth opened to him when he ran his tongue along the seam of her lips. Sweet darts of pleasure surged the length of his body. Her lips were soft. Decadent, and he wanted to feast on them for hours. Their tongues twirled toget
her as she plastered herself against him.

  Sweet, sweet lodestone.

  He groaned again. His dragon echoed the sentiment, and they dived back into a second kiss. Finally, he pulled away and pressed their foreheads together. His lungs labored while her taste lingered on his tongue. Her scent wrapped around him—memorable and so intimately her. His natural scent added a piquancy that thrilled him.

  “Mine. Mine. Mine.”

  “Ours,” Leo corrected silently.

  “We’re not giving her back.”

  “We might have to if she has a man.”

  “Stop mentioning a man. I get it. Either way, we will fight for her. We are The Champion of the Skies. We will not fail.”

  Gwenyth’s belly let out a rumble, tearing Leo from his unpalatable thoughts.

  “I’d better feed you before you nibble on me,” he quipped.

  Gwenyth laughed and twirled away from him. He caught her audacious wink before she sashayed to his kitchen. “I might enjoy nibbling on you.”

  “By Lodar,” his dragon breathed. “Let her nibble.”

  Leo had to agree.

  6 – I Want to Kiss and Make Love to You

  “This pie is delicious.” Gwenyth added a moan of appreciation as the savory, meaty flavors burst across her tongue. “I can cook, but I don’t think I’m this good.”

  “Are you trying to saddle me with cooking duties?”

  Humor burst inside Gwenyth, and she arched a brow. “Has it worked?”

  “We’ll need to judge your skills first. If you’re feeling up to it, you can take over the duties for tomorrow.”

  “Smart,” she acknowledged, enjoying the natural flow of their conversation. Every time she focused on his powerful features and dark stubble, his piercing green eyes, his sensual mouth, she wanted to cheer. She was so lucky to have Leo as her husband. Not only was he handsome and pleasing to her eye, but he was also kind and strong. How many dragons would’ve saved the wolf cub? Few, she suspected. Many would’ve left it as too much trouble, or worse, eaten the pup for a snack.

  “That’s settled then.” His eyes glittered with an otherworldly glow and a faint hint of gold. His inner dragon? She should recall this stuff. The critical, intimate details. Instead, this hole in her memory made everything fresh.

  Gwenyth pushed away her empty plate even as she wished manners allowed her to lick the remnants of the gravy. A yawn escaped, forcing her mouth wide. She clapped her hand over her lower face.

  “You’re tired,” Leo said. “You should go to bed. Let me clear the dishes.”

  Gentleness and understanding instead of chiding her for poor etiquette as Tony—

  She frowned as her brain cut off the thought and supplied no further information. Who was Tony? Gwenyth shook herself and focused on Leo. “No, I’ve slept most of the day. I’ll help to clean up, and we’ll go to bed together. My headache has gone, and the bump on my head has ceased hurting, unless I knock it by mistake.”

  “What if I pounce on you the minute we step into the bedroom?”

  She winked. “I’m counting on it.”

  His intent study and the flit of his gaze had her body heating. He growled and stood. “I hope I make it through the dishes.”

  “We could always do them tomorrow.”

  “Tempting,” he said. “But I need to fix the wolf-pup a bed and take her for a walk.”

  Thoughtful. Yes, she approved. “Why don’t you do that while I start the dishes?”

  She stood and collected their plates. A glance at her fingers as she stacked them brought a frown. She wasn’t wearing a ring, although it looked as if she had in the past since a pale indentation showed on her finger. Another puzzle to consider. Perhaps they’d argued, although she couldn’t fathom why. And this mysterious Tony. Should she mention him to Leo? No, she’d wait and hopefully remember more about how he’d fitted into her life. It wasn’t as if she could picture the man. He could be anyone.

  In the lounge, Leo chattered to the pup, and the wolf yipped in response. Anyone who cared for and respected weaker beings was a keeper.

  Gwenyth hustled over to the sink and started the dishes. Leo had cleaned the kitchen after he’d cooked, and she soon had the few dishes draining in the dish rack. She wiped the surfaces, and after a final check to determine everything appeared tidy, wandered to the bedroom.

  Her preparations were minimal. She cleaned her teeth and washed her face, and this felt natural. Normal for her. It looked as if she might have a black eye by the morning, and the knot on her head ached, although she’d not admit it.

  Tonight, she intended to get her hands on her husband’s delectable physique, and nothing would halt her from following this plan. She ached for him, her body twitchy as if she hadn’t been with a man for a long time. Although she was sure this wasn’t true, it was weird how the knock on her head had changed her reality.

  A door opened and closed, and she stripped. She discarded the soft shirt Leo had given her to sleep in and slid beneath the covers.

  Leo entered the bedroom ten minutes later—time for her to picture those big hands of his gliding over her back and her bottom. Time for her to ponder how his mouth would caress her breasts and suck on her nipples. And time for her to imagine how it would feel as he pierced her with his cock and massaged the sensitive spots that would give her pleasure.

  “I thought you might be asleep.”

  “No.”

  “Every time I glimpse you, I want to kiss and make love to you.” He cleared his throat. “I’m not sure I should. You injured yourself. You require rest to recover.”

  “Have you considered your hesitation is scaring me? I wonder if we were estranged if there was someone else or a problem within our marriage. I don’t have a wedding ring. None of my clothes are here, apart from what I was wearing, although you explained their loss. I can’t remember much about you or our life together. It-it makes me nervous.”

  “We’re meant to be together,” Leo stated, the hint of gold shining in his eyes, giving him an unworldly presence.

  “Prove it,” Gwenyth said.

  “I don’t want you to have regrets.”

  “So we were having trouble with our marriage. You told me we hadn’t been married for long, so that doesn’t bode well.”

  “There are difficulties,” he agreed. “But they’re not with us. Outside problems. My parents, for instance. They wanted me to marry another dragon. They’d arranged the marriage without any consultation with me.”

  Truth rang in his words. “So, it was external difficulties that left this strain between us?”

  “Yes.” Leo stripped off his clothes and turned off the lantern before she could study the lines of his massive body. He slipped into bed but didn’t reach for her.

  A spurt of temper flashed through Gwenyth. This would never do, and especially not since she feared her jitters might shake her free from her skin. “Leo, I’ll make this clear, so there is no misunderstanding,” she stated, surprised her voice lacked a tremor. This asking for what she wanted seemed uncharacteristic.

  “What?” he asked, and caution screamed in his tone.

  “I want you. I want to celebrate our love.”

  “But you’re injured.”

  “I’ve lost my memory. Physically, I’m fine.” She ignored the twinge at her eye and the accompanying thud of her head. She was confident she’d feel one hundred percent once their marriage stood on more solid ground. “Please.”

  “If we do this, you’re mine,” he stated. “I’m keeping you.”

  His words cut and dug at her temper. “That’s what I want, but I’m already yours. We’re married, remember, so we should act like a wedded couple.”

  He rolled without warning, his solid frame caging her against the mattress. “Be certain.”

  “I want this.” Gwenyth meant every word.

  Leo sought her mouth, their lips crashing together before he gentled the contact and seduced rather than took. Not that he had to worry b
ecause she was a sure thing. Her hands curled around his shoulders, then she ran one down his back. A puckered scar interrupted the smooth glide of her fingers, and she hesitated before telling herself this dragon-man held immense strength and the skills to survive aerial battles. Her husband showed intelligence, and one day, he’d retire and let another take his place.

  She was safe.

  He would keep her safe.

  Her brow puckered at the anxiety that crept into her, the sense of danger.

  Leo lifted his head. “Have you changed your mind?”

  “What?” She stared at him, her pulse racing. “No. I touched one of your scars, and it pushed my thoughts in a weird direction. Was I in danger? Had someone threatened me?”

  “You hadn’t mentioned anything of that nature.” His features tightened, his green gaze bleeding into red. “Have you remembered something?”

  Her flash of fear passed, yet it left her unsettled. “No, I’m solidly here in the present and naked with my husband. If I promise not to let my mind wander again, can we make love?”

  “Anything, my lodestone.”

  He rolled without warning, and she found herself draped over his massive chest. “You explore me. No more mind-traveling.”

  “Hey!” She pinched one of his flat nipples. “That was rude of me. I hope I don’t make a habit of drifting in the middle of our sexy times.”

  He laughed, and Gwenyth gaped at his sparkling eyes, his kissable lips, and warm expression. “Next time you do that, I promise to put you across my knee and spank you.”

  “Let’s not do that,” she murmured. “Now changing the subject. Is your dragon ticklish? If I wriggle my fingers over your tattoo like this.” She skimmed her fingers over his skin and tried not to grin when she spotted the way Leo’s tattoo shifted and cocked his dragon head. He jumped at the tickle of her fingers and retreated, stretching away from her touch.

  Leo chuckled, even as he wriggled to escape her teasing caress.

  “Ah!” She made tickly motions in the air with her fingers.