The Dragon's Appraiser: Part One by Viola Rivard Read Free Book Online Page A

always seemed to elude her when it came to his unique, masculine scent. All she knew was that it made her knees weak.
    “Your body isn’t an object.”
    “But it is,” he insisted. “I spent centuries crafting my human form. I took inspiration from the things that please me.”
    Madja remembered her own assessment of Sevrrn’s body, the first morning she’d seen him in his human form. Bronze skin, hair like white gold, eyes like garnets, and teeth like pearls. It now made sense to her, how so much beauty could be condensed into a single being.
    “Perhaps you are not skilled enough to appraise me,” he said, his lips pressing together.
    “That’s not it, it’s just that…”
    Madja trailed off as she felt something brush against her belly. Her mouth became dry, and with considerable effort, she glanced downwards.
    Her eyes bulged. Were he not such a large man, Sevrrn’s manhood would have seemed comically oversized. But given his stature, it was perfectly proportionate and, at present, completely erect.
    For reasons she could not fathom, Madja remained still, not backing away, nor taking her eyes off of the hard length pressed against her.
    “It happens when I see your breasts,” Sevrrn explained, not sounding the least bit ashamed.
    She realized, then, that while her white slip shielded her body from view, it was considerably less effective when wet.
    “I thought you found humans to be distasteful.”
    “I am unaccustomed to using this body for extended periods of time,” he told her. “This is my first experience with arousal. I find it to be very…frustrating.”
    “Well, I guess it’s flattering—”
    “We should indulge in one another.”
    Madja stepped back so quickly she nearly tripped over her own feet. “Huh?”
    He gestured toward his erection, his tone all brisk practicality. “It is for the best that we slake these urges on one another’s bodies. I have been having difficulty concentrating as of late. I cannot continue to suffer this debilitation.”
    Madja blanched. “I—I’m not just going to have sex with you.”
    “Whom else would you do it with?” he asked, now scowling.
    She raked a hand through her hair, struggling to understand how their conversation had taken such a bizarre turn.
    “We can’t just have sex. It’s irresponsible. What if you got me pregnant?”
    He folded his arms across his chest. “I would not be so reckless as to spill my seed in a human.”
    For all his beauty, Sevrrn really had no concept of how to talk to a woman.
    “Look, I’m not having sex with you. You have to understand that for most women, and even a lot of men, sex is about more than just physical lust. There needs to be some sort of emotional connection. I’d have to be in love with you, or at least really, really like you.”
    Sevrrn frowned. “You do not like me?”
    “I do like you, but not like that.”
    He sighed, and she could hardly blame him. She was very attracted to Sevrrn and knew that if he continued to make advances on her, it would only be a matter of time before she capitulated. But right now, it was all too sudden. She needed time to adjust to the idea of a dragon and her being lovers.
    “You are such a nonsensical creature,” he said with a shake of his head. “Fine, let us a make a deal, then. What do you want in exchange for the use of your body?”
    Now that was prostitution.
    Her jaw clenched and unclenched. Through gritted teeth, she said, “I don’t give away sex, I’m not a whore. If you wanted to be with a respectable woman such as myself, you’d have to do what every other quality man does. Be nice to her, respect her, and cherish her.”
    In actuality, arranged marriages and bride prices were quite common in many parts of the world, but she decided to keep that information to herself.
    A devious look spread over his face.
    Not good .
    “I see. Perhaps I should go to your people and ask that their next tribute is a female with fewer reservations.”
    Not