Read Online Prince of Dragons by Cathryn Cade - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Cathryn Cade
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he’d mate only with a female who’d cleave to him for life, giving all her sweet fire to him? No, of course she didn’t. She was Sirena—a law unto herself. Be damned to her, then. He wouldn’t apologize now.
He walked toward the men’s locker room, already pulling his brief singlet open. As he walked into the gleaming changing room, rolling his shoulders to ease the tired muscles, he stopped short. The new female cadet, Tawnee, stood in the center of the room, looking around. She bit her lip, her lovely eyes wide.
He frowned down at her. “What are you doing in here?”
She stared at his bare chest. “I—I didn’t pay attention to where I was going, Commander. I’m sorry. I’ll go, and let you take your shower-dry.”
She walked toward him and then paused, so close he could smell the sweet scent of her.
“Unless you’d like me to give you a shoulder rub?” she offered. “I am trained in all kinds of massage.”
He looked down into her wide, guileless eyes. Was she as naïve as she appeared? She was a lovely girl, and he was almost tempted to take her up on her offer. He was used to women hitting on him—Serpentians were forthright about their desires. So were many of the passengers. Just now, his control was stretched thin. He didn’t think he could bear much more sparring with Sirena.
“No, thank you, cadet,” he said stiffly. “The ship’s massage specialist can do that for me. Go along—and watch where you’re going next time.”
“Yes, sir.” She smiled up at him and sauntered out of the room, slender hips swaying. Slyde locked the door behind him before stripping down.
Sirena was in a foul mood as she readied herself for the Aquarian prince’s first party that evening. As she stepped out into the main lobby, Slyde Stone appeared from another elevator. His gaze swept over her and his face tightened, his impressive jaw clenched.
Sirena narrowed her eyes and strutted to the huge double doors that led to the ballroom. He disapproved of her ensemble. Let him. She wore her favorite outfit of gold raw silk, the two pieces bound on by narrow ropes of gold that wrapped about her throat, arms, and hips. Though brief, it was comfortable and not nearly as precarious as it appeared. Of course, if every male in the vicinity wanted to hold their breath hoping it might slip, that was all right with her.
She was going to enjoy herself this evening, and Slyde Stone could choke on it. Though she would sooner choke herself than tell him, he was breathtaking, elegant and handsome in olive silk smoothly tailored to his huge frame. The cut emphasized the breadth of his shoulders and the lean length of his legs; the color set off his golden brown hair and eyes. She wanted to draw him back into the elevator and take him straight back up to her quarters and have her way with him—several times. She would bet he had more stamina than most.
He followed her across the lobby without a word. Two Aquarians stood guard. At the sight of the two Serpentians, they pulled the doors open wide. Sirena knew that she and her co-commander were an impressive couple as they paused in the open doors. Smiling lazily at the faces that turned their way, she strolled into the party.
The Orion ’s ballroom was a unique space, with an interlocking series of walls and ceilings that could be changed according to the planned use. Tonight it resembled a seraglio, with ornate columns and latticework panels framing conversation areas made cozy with sumptuous rugs and cushions. Holographic fountains tinkled among ferns. A Barillian trio piped soft, haunting music. The prince, enthroned in a divan with a beautiful woman at each elbow, held court in the largest enclosure. An elaborate game board sat before him, scattered with gem-studded playing tokens.
“Ah, welcome, Serpentian friends,” he said as Sirena and Slyde crossed the room to him. “Come, eat and drink with us.”
Servants appeared at their elbows, bearing trays with an
He walked toward the men’s locker room, already pulling his brief singlet open. As he walked into the gleaming changing room, rolling his shoulders to ease the tired muscles, he stopped short. The new female cadet, Tawnee, stood in the center of the room, looking around. She bit her lip, her lovely eyes wide.
He frowned down at her. “What are you doing in here?”
She stared at his bare chest. “I—I didn’t pay attention to where I was going, Commander. I’m sorry. I’ll go, and let you take your shower-dry.”
She walked toward him and then paused, so close he could smell the sweet scent of her.
“Unless you’d like me to give you a shoulder rub?” she offered. “I am trained in all kinds of massage.”
He looked down into her wide, guileless eyes. Was she as naïve as she appeared? She was a lovely girl, and he was almost tempted to take her up on her offer. He was used to women hitting on him—Serpentians were forthright about their desires. So were many of the passengers. Just now, his control was stretched thin. He didn’t think he could bear much more sparring with Sirena.
“No, thank you, cadet,” he said stiffly. “The ship’s massage specialist can do that for me. Go along—and watch where you’re going next time.”
“Yes, sir.” She smiled up at him and sauntered out of the room, slender hips swaying. Slyde locked the door behind him before stripping down.
Sirena was in a foul mood as she readied herself for the Aquarian prince’s first party that evening. As she stepped out into the main lobby, Slyde Stone appeared from another elevator. His gaze swept over her and his face tightened, his impressive jaw clenched.
Sirena narrowed her eyes and strutted to the huge double doors that led to the ballroom. He disapproved of her ensemble. Let him. She wore her favorite outfit of gold raw silk, the two pieces bound on by narrow ropes of gold that wrapped about her throat, arms, and hips. Though brief, it was comfortable and not nearly as precarious as it appeared. Of course, if every male in the vicinity wanted to hold their breath hoping it might slip, that was all right with her.
She was going to enjoy herself this evening, and Slyde Stone could choke on it. Though she would sooner choke herself than tell him, he was breathtaking, elegant and handsome in olive silk smoothly tailored to his huge frame. The cut emphasized the breadth of his shoulders and the lean length of his legs; the color set off his golden brown hair and eyes. She wanted to draw him back into the elevator and take him straight back up to her quarters and have her way with him—several times. She would bet he had more stamina than most.
He followed her across the lobby without a word. Two Aquarians stood guard. At the sight of the two Serpentians, they pulled the doors open wide. Sirena knew that she and her co-commander were an impressive couple as they paused in the open doors. Smiling lazily at the faces that turned their way, she strolled into the party.
The Orion ’s ballroom was a unique space, with an interlocking series of walls and ceilings that could be changed according to the planned use. Tonight it resembled a seraglio, with ornate columns and latticework panels framing conversation areas made cozy with sumptuous rugs and cushions. Holographic fountains tinkled among ferns. A Barillian trio piped soft, haunting music. The prince, enthroned in a divan with a beautiful woman at each elbow, held court in the largest enclosure. An elaborate game board sat before him, scattered with gem-studded playing tokens.
“Ah, welcome, Serpentian friends,” he said as Sirena and Slyde crossed the room to him. “Come, eat and drink with us.”
Servants appeared at their elbows, bearing trays with an
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