The rest of the negotiations completed without incident. While satisfied with all that he’d accomplished, Prince Eli was ready to go home.

Watching the elaborate display put on for his final night in Qumaref, Eli barely noticed the dancers as he thought of returning to the flagship and Auburn. He wanted more than Sligo’s assurances that she was fine.

Thoughts of her copper-colored hair, the exotic scent of vanilla and jasmine that whispered over her flawless skin, and the sweet taste of her kisses teased through his senses as he watched a dancer prance past him. The dancer was little more than a pinpoint of light compared to Auburn’s flame.

Eli almost laughed at himself. The Twins had touched him, and Their gift had changed him. He was not the same man that had come to Qumaref. Different, better perhaps. At least, he wanted to be better for Auburn.

When the festivities tapered, Eli nodded to the sultan. “I’m glad, Sultan Pandhuka, that we found ways for our two nations to build a future together.”

The sultan grinned and clapped him on the back. “This is not goodbye, Prince Eli, just until next time. I shall have to come visit you in Tamryn and see this ball room dancing, yes? Maybe meet a Knight of Valor.”

“You are welcome in Tamryn anytime.”

“May the gods bless you with many strong sons.”

“May the gods shine Their light on you,” Eli said.

The men shook hands, and Eli left the sultan to enjoy the remainder of the evening. The prince’s bodyguards fell in around him as he exited the great hall, the doors closing behind him with a solid thud.

Despite the sultan’s words, Eli was certain he’d never see the man again. Princes and attachés made the dangerous trip across the ocean for treaties, not kings and sultans.

And Eli had no intention of returning.

He would never ask Auburn to come back to Qumaref, and he wouldn’t spend the better part of a year away from her.

Eli glanced to his left as Sligo detached from the shadows and nodded to the bodyguards. “If you’re ready, Your Highness, we can head to the flagship now.”

Eli followed Sligo through the palace and to the large entry hall as a nondescript carriage pulled up to the palace. Glancing at the driver, Eli recognized him as one of his regular guards and climbed into the carriage. A few minutes later, they were clattering through the dark and empty streets of Qumaref.

The trip was devoid of the fanfare and pageantry that had brought him to the palace, and Eli was glad of it. Made him less of a target, and he was ready to dispense with the gaudy displays.

Time to return to Tamryn.

Time to go home.

A smile curved his lips. He’d be spending his nights with Auburn again, and once they reached Tamryn, he’d make her place beside him official. He’d enjoy showing her the capital city of Aerius, the palace, and even the Dragon Church. Whatever she wanted to see.

Then they would retire out to his estates.

He’d miss the energy of Aerius, but not the constant demands on his time. He’d also be able to better oversee his duchy from its seat, and he thought Auburn would like the quiet of the country, especially when it came to raising their family.

The thought wrapped around Eli’s heart. A family. Not just an heir, but a family. He hadn’t had that since his mother had been assassinated. It was something he’d thought he’d never have again, something he hadn’t wanted. Another layer of vulnerability. Another avenue to pierce his shields.

Too late for that.

He loved Auburn, and he would love any children they had. A vulnerability, but she was worth it. And with his ambitions for the throne retired, she would be in a lot less danger. Especially after he dealt with the Tamarian that had orchestrated the assassination attempts.

The jolt of the carriage as it rounded a corner snapped his eyes up, and Eli’s heart swelled as he saw the flagship’s main mast rising into the dark night. Sleeping dragon, indeed, but it was home. And he loved it. All the good. All the bad.

Even sleeping dragons opened an eye and signed trade deals. Deals that might be the first step to ending slavery in Qumaref.

He sucked in a breath of humid sea air as a cool night breeze blew away the heat of the day.

The carriage pulled up to the ship, and Eli disembarked, his long strides devouring the distance to his cabin. He opened the door to find Auburn sitting on his bed reading a book he’d brought to occupy himself on the long voyage.

She glanced at the door, and a smiled spread across her face. Pushing aside the book, she hurried over and hugged him.

The prince scooped her into his arms and spun her around.

She winced, and concern pinched his face. “Are you all right?”

“Better now that you’re here.” She touched her lips to his.

He claimed her mouth, kissing her long and slow as he carried her to the bed. He eased her dress up over her head, then traced the smooth skin of her shoulders, over the curve of her breast, and down the indentation of her waist.

The tips of his fingers discovered the angry red scar left by Premal’s blade. Rage threatened to engulf him. He’d failed to protect her and had almost lost her, lost all that was between them. The touch of her lips on his quieted his fear and muted his fury.

“You’re still hurt.”

“Sore, but healing.” She looped her arms around him. “Please be gentle.”

He tried to step back from her, but she kept her arms linked around him.

“Auburn...”

“I’ve missed you.” She kissed him, soft and slow, quieting his objection.

Eli couldn’t resist her invitation, and he eased her out of the rest of her clothes, then stripped out of his.

By the gods, she was beautiful, her milk-pale skin luminescent in the evening light. He drank in the sight of her, soft and flushed, then teased the tips of his fingers over shoulders, across her collarbone, and down the gentle swell of her breast. He paused at her pert nipples, swirling around them before teasing over their tips.

Her head fell back as she gave him full access to her, her skin already flushed and heated under his ministrations. A moan escaped her as he taunted her furled peaks. She arched up to him, filling his hands with her.

He stroked the curve of her breast, then dipped lower, petting down over her belly and the roundness of her hip. His hands trailed lower, over the smooth column of her thighs and then tickling behind her knees.

Easing back up, he parted her as he explored her heated flesh with his fingertips. He brushed over the soft curls at the junction of her thighs, and then continued his upward climb, back over her stomach and pausing again to stroke her swollen breasts. He teased over her collarbone, along her check, and thumbed over her soft pink lips.

She parted them, her tongue darting out to taste and tease him.

Pleasure shivered along Eli’s nerves at her so warm and wanton beneath him, but he held his desires in check as he continued to lavish pleasure on her, to build the same need in her that was winding through him.

He trailed his hands down her again, this time, his lips following behind them. Nibbling along her throat and down her chest, he teased hot kisses over her full breasts. He lingered over the pink peaks before dipping his head and sucking one into his mouth.

Auburn moaned and tangled her fingers in Eli’s hair, her head falling back against the pillow as she tried to absorb the intensity of the feelings he lavished on her.

Eli gave her no mercy as he lifted his head from her first breast only to fix his lips on the second.

Auburn squealed in delight as her body writhed in time to his lips and mouth, moving beneath him and teasing her body against his.

Dipping lower, he pressed tentative kisses to her belly, careful not to cause her pain. Eli moved lower still, teasing his lips along the curve of her hip and then down the outside of her thigh. He laved the back of her knees with his tongue, enjoying her quivering in anticipation beneath him.

He teased kisses up the inside of her thigh, first on one side, then the other, easing a little further toward the sensitive junction at the top with each kiss. When he reached the apex of her thighs, he parted her copper curls and teased kisses along the delicate folds before flicking his tongue over the tender pearl hidden there.

Auburn bucked beneath him and gripped him as if he were an anchor in the maelstrom of feeling.

Eli eased back, let her catch her sensual breath, and then renewed his assault, taunting and teasing her with his lips and tongue.

“Eli,” she begged as she closed her eyes and fell back against the bed, her thighs parted in offering.

Grinning, he swirled the sensitive bud and relished the soft moans that fell from her lips as her body writhed in wanton need beneath him.

Eli released her tender pearl and kissed up along her belly, pausing again at her tender swollen breasts as he eased between her parted thighs.

She reached for him, and he came to her, his lips on hers as his body pressed her into the thick mattress.

Auburn parted her lips, and he surged inside, his mouth taking hers as their tongues danced in an age-old rhythm.

Reaching between them, he slid a finger into her inner-most recesses. She was scorching hot and slick with desire.

As his mouth continued to plunder hers, he positioned himself and slid inside of her.

She held him as her body stretched to accommodate him. Their mouths continued to dance as he moved inside her, softly, gently at first, matching her, meeting her.

The molten desire grew, radiating out from the point where their bodies met until it consumed them. The passion grew with every kiss, building each time he filled her, crashing over and through them with mounting waves of pleasure until it cresendoed, and she lost herself in the golden glow.

With a final thrust, he lost himself in her and joined her over the edge and beyond in the hazy golden clouds of fulfilled desire. He smiled as he collapsed beside her and stroked her cooling body.

He was well and truly home.