Page 83 of Dragon's Folly

It was intimacy on a level I’d never known, our treasures mingled, made by him as a gift for me.

I placed it with great care on the dressing table and threw myself into his arms. “It’s incredible,” I told him. “You’reincredible.”

I kissed him before I pushed him back onto the bed, determined to demonstrate my gratitude. He went easily, laughing, and his laughter turned to groans as I showed him preciselyhowgrateful I was and how much I loved him.

Later, I lay beside him and traced imaginary peacock feathers over his chest as he held me, loving that I could touch him whenever I wanted.Loving that I washis.

“How can you give away something that’s made from the thing you treasure?” I asked.

“I cando itso long as I keep it away from my hoard and always remember it isn’tmine. I hate doing it, though, so I only work in copper if the client absolutely demands it and the project pays well enough. But the thing is, Ollie,” he said, trailing hisfingers down my cheek, grey eyes smiling into mine, “when I’m giving this toyou,I’m not giving itaway.”

It was all I could do not to cry. “I love it,” I said instead, hopelessly inadequate words. “I loveyou,Archer.”

He kissed me gently, then he raised his head and his eyes changed. They were teasing, glinting down into mine, and I thought of the controlled, stern, unhappy dragon I’d first met. It seemed a lifetime ago. “You’re sure you don’t mean Mr Rochester?” he asked.

“Only if you’ve got a thing for ploughing the governess,” I said as he swept his hand down my body, making me wriggle with pleasure and anticipation.

He snorted with laughter, which unfortunately prevented him from doing anything else for a moment. When he stopped laughing long enough to kiss me again, I held him close.

I hadn’t dreamed it was possible to be this happy, but, with Archer, I couldn’t be anything else.