Erik was pacing the floor of his renovated loft. The building had been reconstructed since the fire a year before, and though it was similar to his former residence, the presence of Eileen and their 25 страница

“I’m pretty sure, though, that you are a guy,” she whispered.

“Pretty sure?” Niall teased.

Rox grinned. “You can’t be faking these biceps.” She ran her hands across his chest again, launching an array of little sparks and making Niall catch his breath. “And the usual suspects are absent and unaccounted for.”

“Excuse me?”

Rox’s smile turned coy as she slid her breasts across his chest. He glanced down into her cleavage, saw the creamy curves of her breasts, and his mouth went dry. He saw appreciation light her eyes and knew he should stand up, put some distance between them.

Before it was too late.

But Rox caught his neck in her hands. Niall froze, uncertain of what she would do but wanting to know. The firestorm was messing with his usual clear thinking, sending an insistent message through his body that was impossible to ignore.

“Thanks, Niall,” she whispered, eyes shining. “I would have been squished like a roach without you.”

Niall had no chance to answer because Rox kissed him. It wasn’t a sweet kiss or a shy kiss—it was a kiss that knew where it was going and why.

It was going exactly where the firestorm wanted to lead.

And that kiss shorted Niall’s circuits. It got right to where he lived, routed his doubts, and undermined his hesitation. It filled his body and his mind with an urge to consummate the firestorm, with a sense of urgency and demand.

It made him want.

It made him need.

It made him forget the merit of duty and logic and deliberate choice. It made him appreciate the call of passion and impulse.

And one cheeky little brunette named Rox.

Author’s Note

In writing the Dragonfire novels, I’ve come to rely upon the Web sites provided by Fred Espenak of NASA, which offer comprehensive information about eclipses, past and present. Extrapolations regarding the Pyr and eclipses are, of course, my own, as are any errors made in interpreting the data provided.

If you are interested in learning more about eclipses and Saros cycles, visit http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov.

About the Author

Deborah Cooke has always been fascinated by dragons, although she has never understood why they have to be the bad guys. She has an honors degree in history with a focus on medieval studies, and is an avid reader of medieval vernacular literature, fairy tales, and fantasy novels. Since 1992, Deborah has written more than thirty romance novels under the names Claire Cross and Claire Delacroix.

Deborah makes her home in Canada with her husband. When she isn’t writing, she can be found knitting, sewing, or hunting for vintage patterns. To learn more about the Dragonfire series and Deborah, please visit her Web site at www.deborahcooke.com and her blog, Alive & Knitting, at www.delacroix.net/blog.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-04