Carpathian 23 - Dark Storm

color along with the bright silver of the water in the dark were beautiful. She wished
     she was alone with Dax and could just sit quietly with him, holding hands and listening
     to the sounds of the waterfall splashing into the cool pool below.
    Dax answered her with a caress down her cheek. I can always have the Old One make an appearance. He isn’t fond of people. He’ll clear
     them away fast.
    Riley laughed, unable to contain her happiness that she had him. He made her feel
     safe in a world turned upside down. She could forget the ugliness of the situation
     for just a few minutes and see the beauty around her because of him.
    “It’s damned hot,” Weston called. “Come on, Riley, want to strip down naked and go
     swimming tonight with all of us? Bet you’d like that. You’d be the center of attention.”
    Riley glanced back at Dax. Their eyes met. Amusement bubbled up. Serpent in paradise. There’s always one.
    The Old One particularly finds him foul.
    Riley reached deeper. The dragon opened a sleepy eyelid, winked and went back to sleep.
     He wanted little to do with man. The Old One, or you? she teased.
    Perhaps both , Dax conceded. His hands were gentle on the professor, his steps sure as they continued
     hiking toward the river. If Weston truly wishes to be naked, I can help him with that.
    The trail led down a ravine and back up the other side. The going was easier. Miguel’s
     machete was silent. Ferns grew everywhere, in between the boulders and along the banks
     of the pool and stream, creating a glimpse of paradise.
    Don’t you dare! Laughter bubbled over.
    Perhaps not , Dax agreed, but he quickened his pace until he was up beside Weston.
    The engineer snickered. “You got something to say to me? I’m just saying what every
     man here is thinking, including you.” He grinned at Riley. “Isn’t that so, baby? Your
     fantasy. Naked with all these men licking that gorgeous skin. You’d love it.”
    Riley’s heart stilled. She shook her head, her breath burning in her lungs. Weston
     had no idea what he was dealing with. Dax could go from easygoing to extreme violence
     and back in seconds. Don’t. Don’t hurt him.
    He will not feel a thing. His voice had gone from soft and sensual to grim and forbidding.
    A shiver went down Riley’s spine. This was a man—a being—one couldn’t control. He
     would go his own way, make his decisions based on the rules of his world—not hers.
    Weston opened his mouth to taunt Dax again and a deep, bullfrog croak came out. Startled,
     Weston’s hand went to his throat, his eyes going wide.
    Shelton burst out laughing. “Dude! What’s wrong with you?”
    Riley pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh. Your sense of humor is out of hand.
    I don’t find anything about Weston humorous. You wish him to live, so better he croaks
     this way than another.
    There was no amusement in his voice, or in her mind, but his answer made her laughter
     escape in spite of her determination not to encourage him.
    Weston cleared his throat and tried again. A series of loud sounds much like croak,
     croak, croak burst from his throat.
    Even Jubal’s mouth twitched as though he had to suppress his laughter. Gary and Miguel
     smirked, but neither commented. Miguel continued leading the line of travelers down
     through the narrow canyon that was a shortcut to the river. The small gorge would
     save them miles.
    You can’t leave him like that.
    I think it’s best ,Dax replied.
    Once again warmth flooded her mind, all that slow, heated molasses filling her brain
     with erotic fantasies.
    He can’t say your name and naked in the same sentence, not without me remembering just how soft your skin is. The
     only man to lick water off your skin is going to be me.
    A frisson of pure arousal slid down her spine. Heat curled in her belly. Even when
     he was being bad— especially when he was being bad—he was downright sexy.
    Now you’re just being outrageous. She paused and then let her imagination take flight, wickedly feeding him a few fantasies
     of her own.
    She felt his breath catch in his throat. Fire smoldered deep.
    You could get yourself in trouble. I can always shield us from prying eyes, and believe
     me, sivamet , I am more than willing.
    Her womb clenched. Hot moisture gathered. Her breasts felt instantly achy. She would
     love to be in his arms, legs wrapped tight around his waist, him buried deep inside
     her. She would love to be in the cool water