Dragonvein - Book Three Read Online Free PDF Page A

sat on the porch watching Markus and Lylinora talking quietly a short distance away under the shade of an apple tree. Over the past several weeks the two of them had grown quite close. And though they would never admit it openly, Ethan suspected that their relationship had become intimate. On quite a few occasions they had disappeared for several hours, returning flushed and disheveled. He had asked Markus what had changed between them, but his friend would only give vague answers and was always quick to change the subject.
    The door to the cabin opened and Kat stepped out to take a seat beside him. She had shed her jeans and tee-shirt in favor of a pair of loose fitting cotton trousers and a blouse: a choice she was now able to make. When first arriving back on Lumnia, all the clothes she had left behind were naturally sized for a thirteen year-old girl. But to the surprise of everyone, Renald had expertly refitted them for her. As it turned out, the old mage was quite the seamstress – a result of mending his own clothing for the past five-hundred years.
    Kat reached across and took Ethan's hand. “No lessons?”
    He smiled over at her. “Renald is working with Jake and Val today. And I think Lylinora needed a day to rest.”
    “You mean a day to spend alone with Markus,” she corrected. “Speaking of which, I thought we could eat dinner on the boat tonight.”
    “Just the two of us?” asked Ethan.
    Her smile became soft and seductive. “Of course. Unless you want to invite Renald.”
    Ethan’s heart began to race. They had yet to consummate their relationship – though they had come very close on several occasions. That they hadn't done so was all down to him. For some mysterious reason he was reluctant to rush things. His feelings for her were undoubtedly as strong as ever, and he thought of her constantly. Even so, something was holding him back. A tiny voice in the back of his mind kept telling him to wait; to be patient. This did not sit well with Kat, who had done everything she could to seduce him each time they were alone.
    She rose from her chair and straddled his lap. “And this time you’re mine,” she stated, kissing him long and deep. Her tongue played teasingly with his as she ran her fingers through his hair.
    The effect on Ethan was instantaneous. He was acutely aware of his manhood swelling in response, and of his heart pounding furiously as the passion of her kiss increased.
    “Enough, you two!” Markus called across light-heartedly. “The sun’s not even set.”
    Their mouths parted, but Kat's eyes locked onto Ethan’s. Her hips wriggled suggestively across his lap. “Is that enough?” she asked, a mischievous grin on her face.
    Ethan could barely utter a sound. He wanted her so badly, it was taking every ounce of willpower he possessed to stop himself from dragging her away and ravaging her immediately.
    “For now,” was all he could manage to gasp.
    Kat slid from his lap and sauntered away in the direction of the shore. Ethan could clearly see the look of disapproval on Lylinora’s face as Kat passed by. More than once she had scolded them both for such public displays. At first Ethan had thought it was said out of jealousy, but soon it became evident that she simply didn’t think it proper for a young lady to behave in such an openly sexual manner. His mother on Earth had possessed much the same attitude. Anytime they passed a couple kissing on the pavement she would scowl and look at Ethan. “I hope you never have anything to do with women like that,” she would say. “It’s just shameful.”
    Mother would definitely not have approved of his new love.
    After a moment, Lylinora sprang to her feet and hurried after the departing Kat. Most probably to give her another scolding, Ethan thought. Markus joined him on the porch and tossed him an apple.
    “Funny how things turn out,” his friend remarked.
    “Yeah,” agreed Ethan. “You and Lylinora. I wouldn’t have