Chapter One
Adora opened her eyes slowly. Her head tilted to the side as she lay on her stomach. She could just make out the huge form of Sir Jared, hovering over her, as he had for the past few days. His ruggedly handsome face carried a stark, broad scar down one cheek and onto his neck. The ragged mark of his warrior profession disappeared below the neckline of his shirt, making her curious to see just how far down it went on his broad, muscular chest.
“How are you feeling?” His voice was husky with disuse and she guessed it was late in the night.
“Jared, you should really seek your own bed. Sitting up with me does neither of us any good.”
The knight favored her with a small smile as he poured a cup of water from the pitcher on the bedside table. Hearing the splash of water suddenly made her thirsty as her tongue moved around in her cottony mouth.
“Humor me, Adora. Besides, Kelzy wouldn’t let me leave, even if I wanted to try.” His gaze shifted to the wide archway, neatly blocked by the blue-green dragon’s huge head. Kelzy blinked at them sleepily—even the massive dragon showed weariness in the vigil she’d kept at Adora’s side for the past few days.
Jared sat on the side of the bed with a gentleness she found astounding in such a powerful knight. He was so big and muscular, so able to fight and destroy, but she had learned over the past days his magnificent warrior’s body housed a gentle soul.
Because of the deep, slashing wounds that reached around from her back to one side, she had to lie on her stomach or the uninjured side and found it difficult to use one of her arms. Levering herself off the bed even to drink a glass of water was almost impossible to accomplish alone. Jared lent her his strength every time she needed to rise and use the bathroom or as now, take a drink of water.
He slipped one hand under her torso from the uninjured side, his forearm settling intimately between her breasts as he spread his hand against the opposite shoulder. This odd position allowed her to use her one good arm to push herself upward while he held her securely, in case her strength gave out. As it was, her arm trembled as he held the cup of water to her parched lips. She wasn’t entirely sure whether her trembling weakness was from the injury or the mere proximity of the dashing knight.
It had been years since she’d been touched so intimately by a man, and never by a man such as this. Jared took her breath away. A warm gust of air settled over her from the direction of the dragon in the doorway. Adora swiveled her head to look at Kelzy, but the motion caused her healing wounds to pull and she gasped. Jared reacted instantly, sliding both hands up her torso, supporting her, guiding her gently back to lie on her stomach.
“Easy now.” Jared’s voice was warm and soft near her ear. It made Adora feel safe and protected. She tried not to think about the hand resting between her breasts as he lowered her slowly to the bed, nor the way he slid his rough palm out from between the sheets and her body, his strong fingers grazing the swollen sides of her breasts.
“Can you help me turn to lie on my side? My neck hurts a bit from sleeping in this position.”
“So you admit you do need me here after all?” He chuckled and it warmed her heart.
Jared was always so serious that it was good to hear him laugh as he put his big hands on her once more. He handled her as if she were a priceless treasure but with a strength that would not be denied. Never had such a masterful man been so close to her. Her long-dead husband’s touch had been quite different. Jared was strong and sure, yet showed obvious care in the way he used his strength.
Adora liked the way he touched her. She liked him, if she was being honest with herself. Jared was a man among men, otherwise the dragon who had been like her surrogate mother would never have chosen him as her partner. Not only the dragoness, Kelzy, but King Roland himself entrusted a great deal to this man, for Adora had learned Jared was a general in the king’s fighting forces. Jared and Kelzy were the leaders of this new Lair filled with dozens of knights and fighting dragons.
“I admit nothing.” She enjoyed challenging him and smiled as Jared paused, his hands around her, his face very near.
“Adora…”
She felt his grip tighten on her and saw his face lower. She hadn’t been kissed in far too many years, but still remembered the signs. She knew she could turn away—his approach was slow enough to give her time to call a halt if she wished—but she wanted his kiss. Suddenly, she wanted nothing more desperately in the world.
The moment his lips touched hers she knew why. His kiss was everything. Soft and gentle at first, firming to hard, demanding, male. Oh, so male, and so missed. She had missed this in her years of widowhood. She had missed a man’s strong hands molding her body while his lips and tongue plundered her mouth.
After the first few blissful moments, Jared’s kiss turned molten and hungry. Powered by a lust that fired through his veins, he seemed to ignite as their lips came together for the very first time.
“Adora.” He broke off the kiss but buried his hungry mouth at her throat, nibbling at her soft skin.
“Jared,” she whispered. His nipping teeth were just powerful enough that she knew he would leave a mark on her tender skin. The thought excited her. Never had a man been so hot for her, or she for him.
“Interesting as this development is,” Kelzy’s dryly amused voice sounded through both of their minds, bringing them back to earth with a thud, “Adora is still hurt, Jared. Leave off before one of her wounds reopens.”
“Sweet Mother of All.” Jared released her slowly. His blue eyes smoldered with something like shock laced with a bit of anger and frustration as he looked down at her. “Did I hurt you, Adora?”
She shook her head slightly, but his hand traced down her throat to the tender spot he had bitten, and their eyes locked and held. She suspected he had bruised her on purpose and she would wear his mark for a few days.
“Nothing significant.” She tried to put his mind at ease about the love bite, but his expression went cold, and she realized her words might have sounded different than she meant them. She tried to find something to say that would fix her error, but Jared was already on his way out the door. He was gone before she could speak and she found herself lying on her side, staring at the dragon in her doorway with mixed feelings. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
“I know, my dear. Jared is a hard man. His emotions are held close inside. In fact, I’m amazed he even let go enough to kiss you. He’s not a knight to court the ladies. Let him be for a while. He has much in his past that he needs to come to terms with if he is to ever reclaim that portion of his life.”
After long moments thinking on the dragon’s words and that startling kiss, Adora finally slept.
To read more, get your copy of Border Lair by Bianca D’Arc.
About the Author
Bianca D’Arc has run a laboratory, climbed the corporate ladder in the shark-infested streets of lower Manhattan, studied and taught martial arts, and earned the right to put a whole bunch of letters after her name, but she’s always enjoyed writing more than any of her other pursuits. She grew up and still lives on Long Island, where she keeps busy with an extensive garden, several aquariums full of very demanding fish, and writing her favorite genres of paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi romance.
Bianca loves to hear from readers and can be reached through Twitter (@BiancaDArc), Facebook (BiancaDArcAuthor) or through the various links on her website.
Other Books by Bianca D’Arc
Paranormal Romance
Brotherhood of Blood
One & Only
Rare Vintage
Phantom Desires
Sweeter Than Wine
Forever Valentine
Wolf Hills*
Wolf Quest
Tales of the Were
Lords of the Were
Inferno
Lone Wolf
Tales of the Were ~ The Others
Rocky
Slade
The Jaguar Tycoon
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Tales of the Were ~ Redstone Clan
The Purrfect Stranger
Grif
Red
Magnus
Bobcat
Matt
Tales of the Were ~ String of Fate
Cat’s Cradle
King’s Throne
Jacob’s Ladder
Her Warriors
Tales of the Were ~ Grizzly Cove
All About the Bear
Mating Dance
Night Shift
Alpha Bear
Saving Grace
Bearliest Catch
The Bear’s Healing Touch
The Luck of the Shifters
Badass Bear
Guardians of the Dark
Half Past Dead
Once Bitten, Twice Dead
A Darker Shade of Dead
The Beast Within
Dead Alert
Gifts of the Ancients: Warrior’s Heart
Epic Fantasy Erotic Romance
Dragon Knights
Maiden Flight*
The Dragon Healer
Border Lair
Master at Arms
The Ice Dragon**
Prince of Spies***
Wings of Change
FireDrake
Dragon Storm
Keeper of the Flame
Hidden Dragons
The Sea Captain’s Daughter Trilogy
Book 1: Sea Dragon
Book 2: Dragon Fire
Book 3: Dragon Mates
Science Fiction Romance
StarLords
Hidden Talent
Talent For Trouble
Shy Talent
Jit’Suku Chronicles ~ Arcana
King of Swords
King of Cups
King of Clubs
King of Stars
End of the Line
Diva
Jit’Suku Chronicles ~ Sons of Amber
Angel in the Badlands
Master of Her Heart
Futuristic Erotic Romance
Resonance Mates
Hara’s Legacy**
Davin’s Quest
Jaci’s Experiment
Grady’s Awakening
Harry’s Sacrifice
* RT Book Reviews Awards Nominee
** EPPIE Award Winner
*** CAPA Award Winner
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