Giving her a slight smile, he whispered, "I'm putting my hand to your cheek right now." The stubborn strength that had kept her knees locked threatened to give way. Closing her eyes, she whispered back, "I'm putting my arms around you, and leaning my head on your shoulder." "And I'm stroking your hair, and kissing you." He took a deep breath. "And I am always, always going to hold on to you with all of my strength. Always, Pia.

She smiled and whispered, "I'm kissing you right now." He swore softly, frustration evident in the snap of his voice. "I'm kissing you too." With that she had to be content enough to walk away.

He told her, You are a wise woman. Pleasure warmed her voice. I do have my moments, don't I?

He told her, I don't remember any other lover but you. I don't believe you. I don't. I know the facts of other lovers, but all the real, visceral memory, or any emotion has burned away. Those lovers happened to someone else, the man I was before I met you.

What do you have in mind? It was too dark for her to see his smile, but she could hear it in his voice. Probably too many things for the amount of time that we've got, but you never know. I'm an ambitious man.

Pinning her wrists on either side of her head, he growled telepathically, Open your legs. Hunger pulsed. God, she loved it when he got growly and autocratic. Arching in a stretch that rubbed her torso against his, she put her mouth lightly against his and whispered, "Make me...

The universe can bring it. We'll deal with whatever may happen together.

He had taken to asking himself WWPD? (What Would Pia Do?)

He was a contented dragon, not a tame one.