His arms tightened around me, pulling me flush against his upper body. ‘‘You are mine, Mayling. No other wyvern will have you. But until you are properly claimed and accept me as your mate, you are vulnerable. We must mate tonight. You must accept me as your wyvern, and the silver dragons as your sept, or I will be forced to spend all my time keeping you from other wyverns rather than helping you escape your bondage to Magoth.’’

Tears pricked at the back of my eyes. I seldom cried, unlike Cyrene, who wept at the drop of a hat, but the thought that Gabriel would go to the immense trouble of trying to free me from Magoth touched my heart in a way I did not know was possible. ‘‘You’d do that for me?’’ I asked in a breathy voice.

His eyes promised so much. ‘‘I will move the heavens and earth if you so desire.’’

The romantic moment was almost too much to bear, but I would not be Cyrene’s twin if I did not bring forth all the common-sense arguments against an instant relationship. ‘‘Can’t I accept you and your sept without us having sex?’’

A slow smile pulled up the corners of his mouth. ‘‘Yes. But it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun.’’

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

‘‘I owe you much this first time, but unfortunately, I may not be able to show you the tenderness and gentleness you deserve,’’ Gabriel murmured into my collarbone as his fingers deftly stripped my upper body of shirt and bra.

I shivered as the chilled air hit my fevered skin, then gasped as my breasts, heavy and sensitive with wanting, brushed against his chest when his hands slipped lower, tugging off my pants. I rose to my feet, kicking off the pants, watching with increasing concern as he shucked his own sleeping pants.

‘‘I’m short,’’ I said, looking up as he stood naked in front of me.

His lips twitched. ‘‘I wouldn’t say short. ‘Petite’ was the word that first came to mind.’’

‘‘Yes, but . . .’’ I stared in dismay at his penis. It was slightly darker than the rest of him, possessing all of the usual attributes, but also startlingly . . . well, large. ‘‘You’re much taller than me. At least a foot.’’

A lovely soft chuckle twined itself around me. He took my hand and wrapped it around himself. ‘‘We will fit, do not fret, little bird.’’

‘‘I’m not fretting. I’m just concerned.’’

"I assure you that in this regard, I am no different from any other man."

I narrowed my eyes at his penis. ‘‘You don’t have to patronize me. I’ve seen naked men before. I’m no stranger to sex, either, just not with a man.’’

‘‘I would not dream of patronizing you. Would you like me to lie down so that you may explore my body?’’