“There are many things you do which are dangerous or which could bring trouble upon the sept. Many times you go headlong into situations at which a more knowledgeable person would hesitate. You have so much to learn about this world, Aisling—I cannot allow you to harm yourself or the sept in your desire to be independent.”

“Nor would I want you to.” I clutched the arms of the chair to keep my body from flinging itself on him. “I will modify that point to exclude times when I might be unaware of a dangerous situation, or one that would have political ramifications for the sept.”

“We will try it your way,” he said, his voice filled with suspicion. “But if it does not work out to my satisfaction, we will renegotiate this point.”

“If it doesn’t work out to our mutual satisfaction, then I’m willing to discuss the matter,” I corrected him.

“Agreed,” he said after thinking about it for a few minutes. “Your next condition?”

“It’s something you just brought up—my cluelessness regarding dragons. You have to fill me in on exactly what the duties are of a wyvern’s mate. Also, I want a list of my responsibilities with the sept and a detailed history of the dragons so I don’t feel like such an idiot around you all.”

“Granted,” he said without pause.

“One last condition,” I said, taking a deep breath. I was honestly surprised that he’d agreed to my conditions thus far. Maybe he had changed? Maybe the separation had done what I’d hoped it would—made him see I was serious about being a Guardian? Maybe we could live happily ever after, after all? “I want you to tell me what you’re thinking.”

He didn’t move. Not even an eyelash trembled. “Why?”

“Because I never know what it is you’re thinking or feeling unless you decide to spill, and that doesn’t happen very often. I want to know what interests you. I want to know your pet peeves. I want to know what makes you giddy with delight, and what makes you sad. I want to know about your past, your hopes and dreams, the trials you’ve overcome, what you’re proud of, what you want in life . . . everything. You’re not a very forthcoming man, Drake. I respect the fact that you wish to have some privacy, but I feel like an outsider whose body is just conveniently handy for a little romping between the sheets. I want more than that. If I’m going to have you, I want every bit of you, dragon warts and all.”

“I do not have warts,” he said absently, mulling over my request. His green eyes sparked with inner fire that I could feel from across the room. “Will you do the same for me?”

I laughed. I couldn’t help myself. Verbal reticence had never been one of my faults. “Sure. Consider yourself the recipient of all my thoughts and feelings.”

“Very well. I accept that condition so long as you recognize there are some things I will not be at liberty to tell you.”

“Things? What sort of things?” I asked suspiciously.

“Nothing about my hopes or dreams, as you put it. There are certain things wyverns swear to that I cannot discuss with anyone, not even my mate.”

“All right. I can accept that some things are off limits. Everyone is entitled to a certain amount of privacy. I’m sure there is some supersecret Guardian stuff I won’t be able to share, too. So long as you do as I’ve asked the rest of the time, I think we’ll be OK.”

“Where is Jim?”

“In the bathroom, with orders to stay there.”

“Excellent. Let us make love.”

I laughed again as Drake rolled backwards onto the bed, waggling his eyebrows and giving me the come-hitheriest of all come-hither looks. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you be silly. Why don’t you do it now, just to let me see a side of you that I doubt few get to see.”

He stopped come-hithering. “You want me to be silly?”

“Yes. Just a little. A tiny bit of silliness. Something to give me a wee little peek into your psyche.”

“I am a dragon. Dragons are not silly.”

I tapped my lower lip. “OK, then, show me your dragon form. I’ve never seen one of you guys all scaly and winged and breathing fire. Why don’t you show me that instead of being silly?”

Drake stood up, peeling off his shirt. “This is as silly as I know how to be.”

As I stood there, blatantly ogling his bare chest, arms, and every other bit of magnificent exposed flesh, he put his hands on his hips and breathed fire.

On me.

In the shape of a heart.

I burst into laughter a third time as the ring of fire wafted over to me, encircling me in dragon fire. “Very silly, and very romantic at the same time. Thank you.”

“Now can we make love?”

I swear his toes tapped in exasperation as I spun around in the ring of fire, opening myself up to his unique form of passion.

“Oh, no, not yet. I have a lot more things to say.” I stopped spinning and traced the sept brand mat Drake bore on his collarbone in the same place mine was located.

“Very well,” he said, his face resigned as he caught my fingers in his, flicking his tongue over the tips. “Proceed.”

“For one, I want to apologize for leaving the sept in the lurch. I had no idea things hinged on me being present in Budapest. I honestly thought everyone would be just fine without me.”

Drake gently bit one of my knuckles. I had to stiffen both my knees and my resolve to keep from jumping on him. “I accept your apology. I will admit that in hindsight, perhaps I might have explained the situation to you in a better fashion.”

“Well, I’d make a comment about an understatement of the year, but that would be petty of me. I will content myself with accepting your apology.”

“I didn’t technically apologize,” he murmured, turning my hand over to nibble on my wrist, working his way up to my shoulder.

I shivered at the delicious feeling of heat licking up my arm. “I know. We’re going to work on that, too. But since I don’t expect miracles, I’m willing to be gracious. Um . . . Drake, there’s something else. If we’re going to do anything involving the application of your flesh against mine, we’re going to have to use some sort of protection.”

“That is unnecessary.” He nibbled my shoulder. “You are pregnant.”