Page 36 of The Black Dragon

“Drust. The Coldfire Wizard toldme.”

“Who’s he?” Interesting. She’d never heard of such awizard. But he said nothing more on the subject, only shifted into a dragonagain.

This time, he flew them straight home. Wind rushing through her hair, she didn’t feel the exhilaration of flying with him the firsttime.

When they returned to the house, Justin shifted back and wasted no time in ushering her into the master bathroom. He pawed through the medicine cabinet, findingperoxide, a First Aid kit and wiped her woundedcalf.

The evident concern on his face and the gentle way he treated her wound gave herpause.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” she askedsoftly.

A shrug of those big shoulders. “You agreed to three nights in bed with me. I don’t want to lose on myinvestment.”

The curt words hurt. She thought he’d softened.Wrong.

“You’re a curmudgeon.” Ariel flinched as he swabbed herleg.

Interest flared in his gaze as he glanced up. “What’sthat?”

“It’s a nice word for a bad-temperedasshole.”

He said nothing, but his strokes on her leg became less certain. Ariel grabbed the bottle and cotton from him and began treatingherself.

Justin sat back on hishaunches.

“I am an asshole.”He stared at the ground. “Thought you knew that bynow.”

“I did. You only confirmedit.”

When she finished, he took the bandage. First he pressed a very soft and gentle kiss on hercut.

“Is that better?” he asked in a huskyvoice.

Throat dry, shenodded.

After he put away the supplies, he refused to look at her. “I’m headed out for a while. Get groceries, maybeorder dinner. You needanything?”

Ariel shook her head. Only to bealone.

Again, his expression dropped. “Ok, I’ll be back in a fewhours.”

She spent the rest of the afternoon reading the ancient Mage book, searching for answers on why baby dragons lived in the Bell Rock vortex. But she foundnothing.

When he returned, it was late afternoon. Justin walked into the housewith a bag of groceries and a bouquet. She blinked as he set down thegroceries.

Justin cleared his throat and his face reddened. “You mentioned last year you like roses. Um, I thought you’d likethese.”

Taking the bouquet, she inhaled the delicate fragrance. Again, her heart gave a leap. Damn if this dragon didn’t go from being cruel to kind in a split second. Ariel didn’t knowwhat toexpect.

Or what tonight wouldbring.

Sheshivered.