He had no intention of Claiming anyone. Possibly ever.

His parents’ mating hadn’t been anything that made him believe love was never-ending. He knew better.

But great sex? Now that was something worth indulging in as often as possible. And he’d only had a small taste of Branwen the Awful. He definitely wanted more, and was happy to give her what she wanted if it meant things could keep going as they were.

“Oh, right.” Aidan nodded. “No out-of-bounds kissing.”

“Exactly. We’re friends who fuck. Not Claimed mates.”

“I’m fine with that.”

“But we need to make sure that it’s clear at all times.”

“I already agreed to no out-of-bounds kissing.”

“You can’t keep that up,” Brannie argued, her hand gesturing around her face. “We both know I’m irresistible.”

“You and Keita really are blood relations, aren’t you?”

She jumped off the bed, began pacing. “I’m just trying to do what’s best for both of us. Because when this is all over, assuming we both survive, we’ll be going our separate ways. And I don’t want you sobbing over it.”

Insulted, “I don’t sob.” She gave him an exasperated glare, but he argued, “I don’t! I saw my own brother eyeless . . . didn’t sob then.”

“You hate your brother!”

“You’re right,” he easily admitted. “I do. But you met him—he’s a prat.”

She paced a little more before stopping and pointing at him. “I’ve got it. No sex as dragons.”

Aidan gazed at her. When she only gazed back, he finally asked, “What?”

“No sex as dragons,” she said proudly, as if she’d discovered something brilliant. “We only fuck as human.”

“And your reasoning?”

“I’m saving it.”

“Too late for your virginity then?”

She glowered. “I’m saving it for the dragon I Claim.”

“Actually, he’s supposed to Claim you.”

“Och! So old-fashioned. We’re in modern times now. I can Claim who I want. And when I do, he’ll get me as dragon. In my true form.”

“What if he’s human?”

“What?”

“It’s possible. Your best friend is human. Princess Morfyd mated with a human. Your male royal cousins all mated with humans. What if it turns out a human is your true love? Then you’ll never have sex as a dragoness again. That would be so sad.”

She dropped her hands on her hips, sucked air between her teeth before asking, “Do you or do you not want to keep this friends-fucking thing going?”

In answer, Aidan pushed himself off the bed and moved in front of her. He grabbed the bottom of her chain mail shirt and lifted it.

“Arms,” he ordered. She raised them and he pulled the shirt completely off.

“What are you doing?”

“Keeping the friends-fucking thing going.” He untied the material that bound her breasts. “Is that all right with you?”

“You still need to agree.”