Serpent's Kiss: A Dragonfire Novel Read Online Free PDF Page A

narrow his eyes against it. His mouth went dry and the need within him was strong enough to make his grip loosen.
    She was having a firestorm?
    With who?
    “The thief,” Thorolf said, remembering the night he’d found Viv in Bangkok. Her wallet had been stolen by a hungry young boy and he’d pursued the thief to retrieve it.
    This thief.
    Who hadn’t been a hungry young boy after all.
    What was she doing here? Intending to rob Viv again? His anger took new force from that idea.
    But the woman didn’t answer. She neither looked left nor right. She kept her gaze locked with Thorolf’s and walked steadily toward him. She didn’t appear to be armed, and her hands were empty. She held them up as if to let him see that she meant him no harm.
    It was a ridiculous idea that this small woman could ever do him, a dragon shifter, injury, but Thorolf let her keep her illusions. The orange flames grew brighter and hotter with every step she took, filling the room with a brilliance that heated him to his core.
    And made him forget everything but how much he wanted . Desire pounded through his body, making him keenly aware of this woman, of the slender curves beneath her boyish clothes and the sweet allure of her smile. He could seduce her, right here and right now, make her moan and beg for more.
    When she was two steps away, she lifted her hand toward him. A spark of flame leapt from her fingertips to Thorolf and he staggered when it struck him in the forehead, right between his eyes.
    His own firestorm.
    Thorolf stared at the woman who must be his destined mate, even as the firestorm crackled between them. The heat of its spark slid lower, rendering him speechless as it left him burning with hunger. He could almost taste the kiss she would surrender to him, the fire it would light within him, the way it would warm him for all eternity.
    He’d waited so long for this. He both wanted to savor the firestorm’s burn and satisfy it immediately. He would take her, and it would be a seduction worth remembering, one that would destroy all the wounds of the past and light the way for their new future together.
    “He doesn’t know where she is,” his mate said and Thorolf liked the sultry sound of her voice. It was a bit husky, deeper than he might have expected. “Let him go.”
    Thorolf glanced at the man whose neck he still held, the man he’d nearly forgotten about, the man who was still watching him in terror. He set the man on his feet with care. Thorolf was dazed and overwhelmed by the firestorm’s power, even as the man backed away warily.
    His mate put her hand on his arm, and he inhaled, savoring the surge of passion that emanated from her touch. He felt so much better than he had, settled and soothed and passionate. When she stood right beside him, he wondered how he could have doubted her gender. A thousand secrets shone in her eyes, filling him with a desire beyond anything he’d ever experienced before. She was Asian and slender, her dark hair cut short, her eyes darkest brown. She smiled up at him and slid her hand up to his shoulder. The flames burned hot at the point of contact, sending lust through Thorolf that eliminated every thought from his mind.
    Except one. He closed his eyes, reveling in spark’s touch, and knew there was nothing more important than this.
    Than her.
    “The firestorm,” he whispered. This was his mate, his destined lover, the woman who could bear his son. Thorolf was awed and humbled to experience the firestorm himself. He really didn’t want to screw this up.
    It was the one thing in his life that he had to get right.
    Thorolf turned to face her. He would be gentle and tender, as well as passionate. He’d be sure he didn’t frighten her with his desire. She was so much smaller than him, so fragile, so delicate. His mate. Thorolf cupped her head in his hands, bent and touched his lips to hers.
    Her mouth was warm and soft, enticing and perfect. Her sigh of pleasure was ideal, but far