“Of course.”

Aidan went to the lake’s edge and crouched down. He scooped water into his hand and brought it to his mouth, drinking deeply. He took several more scoops before standing and turning....

Brannie’s ass was right there. She’d bent over at the waist to shake her hair out once again. Was she doing this on purpose? Because he didn’t appreciate it one bit.

He leaned down and grabbed the robe that went with their surcoat and placed it over Brannie’s shoulders when she stood up.

She looked down at the robe, then up at Aidan.

“Uh . . . why?” she asked, appearing confused.

Stepping away from Brannie and facing her, he didn’t answer her question. “What’s our plan for today?”

Brannie frowned, black eyes watching him closely. After a few seconds, she replied, “Believe it or not, I’m leaving that up to Keita.” Without warning, she suddenly tossed the robe off her shoulders. Hands on her hips, she stood there. “This is really her mission. So, wherever we go, it will be up to her.”

“You have a point,” he said, moving closer so he could snatch up her robe and put it back over her shoulders. He briefly held the robe closed in front of her. But as soon as Aidan released the wool material, Brannie tossed it off her shoulders again.

Growling, Aidan picked it up again and put it around her shoulders. There was a struggle between them. Aidan trying to keep the robe on her. Brannie trying to take it off.

Brannie yanked the robe from Aidan’s grip. “What is wrong with you?” she asked, still laughing.

“Nothing,” he lied, stepping away from her. “Nothing. I . . . just don’t want you to get sick. It’s cold out here . . . and you’re”—he swallowed—“wet.”

“I’m a dragon.”

“Yes, I know,” Aidan snapped. “I saw your tail.” He glanced off. “It’s perfect, by the way.”

“Really? I’ve heard it’s stubby.”

“It’s not stubby.”

“Huh.”

Aidan heard that tone and immediately got defensive on her behalf. “Tell me you’re not listening to those two idiots.”

“Caswyn and Uther? Hardly.”

“That’s good because their ‘stubby’ opinion may be my fault.”

“Oh?”

“It was when we met with you and Izzy that first time and Uther and Caswyn were practically drowning in their own drool while they watched you bathe, so I may have said something about your tail—”

“Being stubby?”

“I never said stubby. I said ‘a little short,’ assuming they would lose interest since they are definitely dragons who do like a good tail.”

“They’re that easily manipulated by you?”

“Yes. Yes, they are.”

“I see. But you didn’t mean it?”

“Absolutely not. I just didn’t want Éibhear tearing off their wings for lusting after his favorite cousin.”

“But you like my tail.”

“Of course I do . . .” Aidan cleared his throat. “In a . . . non-lusty, just as friends way.”