Taming the Dragon Collection by Jessica Ryan

know he had her and he might decide to go ahead and take her as his own. But would that be so bad? Or would he just toss her out because she was too close?
    The thought of Alek casting her out and moving on brought a great pain to her heart.
    “But I want to go home,” she said. “I swear I do.”
    It was a lie and Mara knew it. She tried to deny how she felt, but it was futile. She had feelings for Alek and she wanted to stay with him and see what happened. She knew he was lying about his disgust with a human’s body. He enjoyed looking at her body too much to be repulsed by it. He definitely had, at the very least, lustful feelings for her. She shared those feelings, but she felt a little bit more for Alek. And she just couldn’t allow the man she had feelings for to become a cold-blooded murderer who brought the world to its knees.
    “It won’t happen,” she declared, stomping her foot for nobody to see. “I’ll find a way to stop him.”
    The only times Alek wasn’t brooding and looking like the world had stepped on his tail were when he was discussing his future conquest of the countryside or when he was looking at her body. His eyes lit up the same way when either one was involved.
    It was no shock; she had been told by more than one wandering bard that the pleasure center of the heart lit up the same for sex as well as violence. Some bards claimed they were always intertwined, right before they tried to get her to make a mistake and become the bard’s nightly adventure. Mara had refused to allow herself to be the subject of any future fireside song, plus she hated the way lutes sounded anyway.
    Mara rubbed her hands down her body, feeling each and every curve as she did so. It was strange that the dragon would be so interested in a curvy woman, but maybe he enjoyed more flesh than not.
    That evening she went to take her bath and found a surprise waiting for her: Alek, who was lounging in the tub. His head was thrown back and his eyes were closed as she entered the room. She moved slowly across the room, setting her stuff down by the large, steaming tub and letting her eyes travel over his body. Every inch of him was perfect, just perfect. She had always observed his chest, but right now her eyes wouldn’t leave his shoulders. It looked like someone had carved two perfectly round boulders and placed them where his shoulders should be. They connected to the thick, ropey muscles of his neck. Mara found herself growing hot and bothered again as she imagined her hands reaching up and gripping those shoulders and that corded neck as Alek manhandled her from the top.
    No, she thought. He’s not interested in me like that. Or is he? Let’s find out.
    Silently Mara removed her clothes, letting her dress fall to the ground. Her heavy breasts spilled out, perfectly exposed for Alek to look at when he opened his eyes. She then slowly climbed across the edge of the tub, like a cat stalking its prey. Finally Alek looked up, opening his eyes as she found herself on all fours in front of him, her entire body on display for him.
    She arched her back and pushed her round ass into the air, hoping Alek would imagine himself behind her with his hands digging into the thick flesh of her hips. She looked over at him and smiled as his mouth hung open and his eyes traveled her body.
    “I did not expect you,” he murmured.
    “I bathe at the same time every night,” she purred, calling him out on his lie.
    “It must have slipped my mind,” he said, coughing and trying to look away. It was useless for him; his eyes were fixed on her body and nothing else. “Well, go ahead and join me.”
    “I don’t mind if I do,” she said. She giggled and then slid into the water. She slid in low and then came up, rubbing her hands down the front of her now slick breasts. Alek straightened up and swallowed hard as he looked at her breasts.
    “Are you having a good soak?” she asked.
    “Of course,” he said. “Everything I do is