His sharp canines screamed danger. “I have two ideas we can try, but I must consult Saffron, The Leather Master, first.”
“We should do that ASAP.”
Leo grinned, a mischievous quirk of his lips that enticed her to touch. Before she could act, he crouched to free Jenny. The pup licked him on the face and ran in a circle, sniffing everything in her path. Leo rose and extended his hand to Gwenyth.
Unable to resist, she curled her fingers around his and ambled at his side. Quaint stone cottages hugged the hillside while a salty sea tang rode on the air. Leo led her toward a cobblestone street that sloped down the hill to the sea. Three small boats bobbed in the harbor, sails furled, the vessel’s owners nowhere in view. The rush and retreat of gentle waves on a beach created a pleasing rhythmic hiss.
Jenny trotted at their heels. Several men nodded to Leo, and a woman pushing a baby in a stroller lifted her hand in a wave before she disappeared into a butcher shop.
“Good morning, Mr. Leo,” a girl said.
Her younger brother toddled straight to him and raised his arms for Leo to lift him. “Mister. Mister. Mister!” he cried.
Laughing, Leo situated the boy on his shoulders and eyed his older sister. “Where are you off to today, Marcie?”
The girl skipped beside them. “Ma wants a loaf of bread from the baker. Is that your dog?”
“It is,” Leo said. “This is Gwenyth. She’s my special lady.”
Gwenyth bit back a grin while Marcie ran her gaze over Gwenyth.
“She’s pretty.”
“Thank you,” Gwenyth said.
Leo led her through the village, past the butcher, and a shop that appeared to sell cheese and butter. She sniffed as they approached the baker’s shop.
Leo let the boy down. Marcie took her brother’s hand, and they waved goodbye before disappearing into the bakery.
Glossy fruit tarts cozied up to beautiful pies with intricate lattice tops. Another shelf contained small cakes, big cakes, layered cakes, and others with unique shapes. Each caught her gaze, tempted her. A plate of delicate cookies in pastel colors sat beside a larger dish of more robust chocolate-flecked ones. The appetizing scent of bread and spices had her tummy rumbling while her eyes delighted in the edible bounty.
“I think I have a sweet tooth,” she said. “I have an urgent craving for a cake.”
“Why don’t we return and purchase something for our midday meal once we have our marriage certificate in hand?” Leo suggested and urged her onward with a hand in the small of her back. “My dragon and I favor honeyed foods too, although we don’t indulge ourselves often. We restrict sweets if we’re training for our aerial battles.”
Gwenyth’s brows rose, and she poked his hard belly, humor spilling from her in a giggle. “You don’t need to worry.”
Leo shook his head and reclaimed her hand. He checked that the wolf-pup was following and headed farther down the cobblestone road. “If we put on weight and get flabby, we’d lose our title.”
“We couldn’t have that,” Gwenyth said, her tone dry. “I and the dozens of others wouldn’t enjoy studying your backside if you turned to fat.” She jerked her chin toward the group of whispering women to their right.
Another two younger women joined them, and one—a dark-haired woman—almost tripped over a cobblestone since she was ogling Leo so hard.
“Huh,” Leo said. “I’ve never noticed before.”
Gwenyth held back a snort of disbelief. A man as sexy as Leo? She’d bet the local women enjoyed the spectacle every time he visited. How could he not detect their interest? “Have you not dated any of the humans before?”
“Dated?”
“Courted them?” Hadn’t Leo intimated dragons didn’t choose their partners? “Had a meal or spent time with a human. Slept with them.” Heat collected in her cheeks when those words popped free, and she clapped a hand over her mouth.
Wow. Just wow.
What was wrong with her today? Men never rattled her. Calm and mature were her middle name. The information sprang into her brain, gave her pause. She strained to follow more of the logic but slammed into a brick wall of nothing. Gwenyth pushed at the darkness, and a jolt of pain warned her to cease.
“Sometimes, we visited the house of women who specialize in sex. If I’m at home, I remain on my land and only leave to purchase supplies. I visit the castle if my parents insist.”
“What about sex?” she blurted. Oops, there went her filter failure again.
“Sex is healthy, and while I enjoy a female’s body, neither my dragon nor I wish for complications. We are saving ourselves for you.”
“But I offered myself the other night, and you encouraged me to sleep.”
Leo ceased walking, a frown digging deep on his forehead. “You had a head injury and needed to recover from your dip in the sea. We want you to enjoy yourself, not consider us a responsibility.”
“I understand.” Lie. Didn’t all men accept an offer of no-strings sex? Once again, she followed the strand of remembrance before striking a wall.
“Ah, here is the church. Hopefully, Allen is present and can wed us straightaway.”
“What about a marriage license and the rules and regulations?” Somehow, Gwenyth understood these were necessary to ensure the legalities.
“I’m hoping the minister will understand the difficulty we face if this marriage does not go ahead. Jenny!” Leo clicked his fingers to signal the wolf-pup. She trotted over to Leo, and he scooped her into his arms.
“Why are you carrying her?” Gwenyth asked.
“The humans are nervous of her. The women we pass are pushing their children behind them as if Jenny might bite.”
“Do they have problems with wolves?”
“It’s possible those who farm struggle to keep their livestock safe from wolves. We’ll keep Jenny close to err on the safe side.”
“What will we do with her while we visit the castle? I don’t expect a wolf roaming the halls will excite your parents.”
“I’d considered that already,” Leo said. “Allen and his family might keep her. They fenced their yard to keep the children safe, which would work for Jenny. If not, one of my friends will mind her. This is the church,” Leo said, ushering her onto another cobblestone road.
“Are we sure the minister will keep our secret?” Gwenyth asked. “What if one of your family questions him? If they discover our lies, everything we’ve done will be for naught.”
“The minister is my friend. I did him a favor several years ago, and if we explain, I believe he’ll help.”
Gwenyth sucked in a quick breath, her imagination conjuring the minister’s appalled reaction and worse… “What if your parents kill me? They could. Right?”
Leo’s jaw tightened. “They might try,” he conceded. “Which is why I’ll never leave you alone while we’re inside the castle. If I’m unable to protect you, I’ll leave you with a trusted friend.”
“What if your friends disapprove of me?”
“It’s none of their business.” Leo grasped her arm and led her through a hip-high wooden gate.
The church was a stone building and similar to many of the English churches on the mainland with a bell tower and stained glass windows. Its square angles and towers reminded her of the medieval era.
“Have the humans been here as long as the dragons?”
“Most are descendants of the original humans. Some of them come from Viking stock, and others descend from sailors who wrecked their ships during smuggling runs. Once the Druids helped us to protect our islands and made them invisible, the humans became trapped here.”
“Didn’t that worry them?”
“Most were outlaws in their own countries or ran businesses outside of the law,” Leo said. “From my experience, the humans seem happy with their lot. There is plenty for them to do and keep busy. Most of them work hard.”
“Could the human sector have anything to do with the break in the invisibility?”
/>
“I’ve pondered reasons. It was a small window.” He frowned. “At least, that’s my supposition. The break might have existed for some time, or it might have occurred for mere minutes, and my finding you was sheer luck.”
“Excellent for me.” An involuntary shudder shook Gwenyth’s shoulders. “I would’ve drowned. You said I was unconscious.”
“Maybe we’re meant to be together. Fate.” Leo knocked on the large wooden double doors. When nothing happened, he opened the door on the right and tugged Gwenyth inside.
The interior of the church seemed dark, and it took seconds for her eyes to adjust enough to spot the altar. Her gaze lifted to the colorful rose window in teal, blue, and violet with a yellow center depicting a robed woman.
“Allen, are you here?” Leo called.
Footsteps sounded, somewhere from her left, and a tall, thin man appeared from a doorway. He wore black trousers, a plain white shirt, and a minister’s collar. “Leo? What are you doing here?”
“This is Gwenyth Jones, my fiancée,” Leo said, giving her a surname without a blink. “If you have time, we’d like you to marry us.”
Allen cocked his head and stared from Gwenyth to Leo. “Rumor says you’re betrothed to a dragon from Smoking Isle.”
“Rumor is wrong. Gwenyth and I met, and that was it for me. I’ve always scoffed at love at first sight, but Gwenyth…” Leo’s face softened, and even she believed he adored her. “We fell in love, and we’d like to formalize our relationship.”
The furrows in Allen’s forehead deepened. “We haven’t called the banns.”
“I’m a dragon,” Leo countered. “We don’t adhere to human rules.”
The minister turned to Gwenyth, his gaze drilling into her as if to ascertain her genuine opinion. “What say you about the banns business? You are a human, are you not?”
Gwenyth straightened. “I love Leo. I’m no longer a youthful woman, and until Leo came along, I’d almost given up on finding Mr. Right. Leo is an admirable man. He’s honest and hardworking. He’s a decent dragon who never treats humans as if they’re inferior. I’d need to search a long time to discover a man of Leo’s equal.”
Respect gleamed in the minister’s eyes. “You’re right. Leo has many excellent qualities, and he treats humans as equals. He’s unfailingly polite and gives of himself to help those in need.”
“So you’ll marry us?” Gwenyth asked, her breath catching as she waited for the minster’s reply.
“Others might question the validity of the marriage,” the minister cautioned.
“I love Gwenyth, and the marriage will be real to me, to Gwenyth. We are the ones who matter,” Leo said.
“Your family will not feel the same. They’ll be furious.”
“Plead ignorance should any of them accuse you of helping me to get out of the betrothal they arranged for me.”
“Your parents are formidable foes,” the minister said, still hesitating.
“I will donate to the church,” Leo said. “My friends and I support many in the village by purchasing our goods here rather than from the dragons.”
Allen grinned. “Blackmail, it is then. Let the ceremony begin.”
9 – Lots of Kissing
“I pronounce you man and wife,” Allen said, his bearded face one big beam of happiness and satisfaction. “You may now kiss your bride.”
Leo winked at her, his broad and happy smile punching her right in the chest. Gwenyth found her lips curving with the same awe and exhilaration. Leo’s excitement at their marriage was difficult to resist. While she liked Leo—heck, she’d fallen for the handsome, caring dragon—reservations swirled in her. Her lack of recollections worried her because monsters might swim in her forgotten memories. Was she even a decent person?
Who knew? She didn’t.
Gwenyth stared at the sparkling ring he’d slid onto her finger. The red-and-blue stone picked up the light while the rose-gold band glowed, even inside the church. It was breathtakingly gorgeous.
“Hey.” Leo clicked his fingers in front of her face. “Something wrong?”
“No, everything is perfect.” Gwenyth leaned closer and offered her lips.
Leo’s mouth closed over hers, and he drew her nearer. Everything in her current world faded to the background while her new husband tasted her, seduced her, and left her weak-kneed with his kiss.
“Ahem,” a voice trespassed into their private world. “Ahem!”
Leo drew back without haste as if he hated to release her.
“This is a church, a place of god,” Allen chided, although his eyes twinkled. “Where are you going now? To the castle?”
“Not straight away, no. I have a surprise in store for my darling wife.”
Leo drew her against his side. His warm strength and familiar scent brought a sense of comfort—a welcome.
“Congratulations,” Mary-Anne, Allen’s wife, said. “You couldn’t have a better dragon for a husband. Let me see your ring. Oh, it’s gorgeous. A Marquess, by the look of it. You lucky woman. A handsome husband and a generous one.”
“A Marquess?”
“The most highly skilled and sought-after jewelry designer in the Dragon Isles. The identity behind the brand is a cosmic mystery. No one knows who he or she is,” Mary-Anne gushed. “Your husband is spoiling you already with a unique Marquess ring.”
Gwenyth slid a glance at Leo, a breathless lightness taking her by storm. “I am lucky. It’s a wonder a clever woman hasn’t snapped him up earlier.”
“From what I hear, many have tried,” Mary-Anne said. “Isn’t that true, Faith?”
Faith, their other witness, had said little either before or since the marriage ceremony, but now she nodded with enthusiasm. “Congratulations to both of you.”
The door to the church opened, and Allen’s three children spilled inside with Jenny chasing them. The wolf-pup skidded into a pew and released a surprised yelp.
Leo chuckled and scooped up the pup.
“Dad, can we keep her?” the oldest of Allen’s children asked.
“No,” Allen said. “She belongs to Leo and Gwenyth.”
“Would you consider looking after her for us?” Leo murmured to Allen in an inaudible voice, so the children didn’t overhear. “It will be difficult to keep her safe where we’re traveling. Gwenyth and I need to journey to Perfume Isle. It might be up to three weeks.”
Allen summoned his children with a wave. “Leo has asked if we can mind Jenny. Would you like that?”
“Yes, please,” the three kids chorused.
Allen grinned at his wife. “Well, we’ll do that then.”
“Thank you,” Leo said. “That is a weight off my mind. It will be better for Jenny here.”
Leo shook Allen’s hand and kissed Mary-Anne’s cheek. Gwenyth hugged them both since they’d welcomed her without reservation.
Soon, she and Leo were on their way.
“Where are we going?” Gwenyth asked.
“We have a few hours. I’ve arranged an outing to a friend’s property. He has a private beach where we can swim and enjoy the sun. I thought we’d visit the bakery on the way there and buy a few supplies. We’ll also make a quick stop at the seamstress’s parlor. How does that sound?”
“Perfect. Do we need to fly?”
His lips twitched. “No, the cottage is within walking distance.”
He offered his hand, and when she entwined their fingers, a frisson of pleasure seeped deep into her. After their requisite stops at the bakery, the grocery, and the seamstress where they arranged to collect clothes on their return journey. Leo led her down a narrow cobblestone alley. They traversed a set of stone steps, the scent of the sea growing stronger with each stride. The walkway gave way to sand and a tiny beach.
“Is this it?”
“No.” Leo smiled, his green eyes alight with contentment. “We need to walk along the beach and into those trees. It’s the next bay where we’re spending our time.”
The gent
le swish of the waves relaxed her and seemed familiar, although she hadn’t visited this area before. Tiny pebbles crunched under their feet, and an audible hissing came from the shingle shifting with the wave action. Leo led her into the trees—a grove of pine. She sniffed the fragrance and smiled. At this end of the beach, she could no longer hear the village noises or voices.
She followed Leo down a trail that wove through the pine trees. The path rose upward until they exited the trees. The tiny beach consisted of white sand instead of the regular hissing pebbles.
“It’s beautiful.”
“A fisherman friend owns the property. I helped him build his cottage and lent him the money to purchase the land.”
“That was nice of you.”
“He’s a decent man who works hard. He was having problems finding the money, and I wanted to return the favor he did for me.”
“What did he do?” Gwenyth asked.
“He is a talented artist and designer, and he helped me with the interiors of my home. Are you hungry, or would you like to go swimming?”
“I don’t have a swimsuit,” she said, disappointed since she loved swimming. She frowned at that because, during her recent experience of the sea, she’d almost drowned.
Leo grinned. “No special clothes necessary. I’m swimming in my skin.” He winked at her. “What do you say, wife? Do you want to go swimming?” His words held a dare along with the sensual purr.
“Of course.” Gwenyth followed Leo down the slight incline and onto the sand.
Leo led the way to a spot where a tree draped its shadow over the sand.
“Are we setting up camp here?” she asked.
Leo’s gaze burned hot, his green eyes almost golden with heat and something else. Perhaps longing.
Her hands went to the laces on her tunic. Without haste, she tugged them free and whooshed the garment over her head. Beneath, she wore her lingerie, the two pieces she’d been wearing when Leo found her. Cream and black with lace of both colors. She dropped her trews next, the removal easy since they were too big for her.
She peeked at Leo and saw he’d frozen in position, his eyes wide as his gaze measured her curves in a visual caress.
Liza (Dragon Isles Book 1) Page 8
