A woman.

By the time you've shed your last item of clothing, it's clear that you have Drakivicius's undivided attention. He watches you with sharp, hungry eyes as you advance slowly to the foot of his canopied bed and rest one hand on one of the tall bedposts.

"Is it true," you ask, "that they used to tie up sacrificial victims for you to devour?"

His eyes narrow. "Different dragon. That was great-aunt Sylerika, and she always did carry a grudge too far. She used to demand..."

He trails off as you turn away from him, putting your back to the bedpost. You cross your wrists high over your head and snap your fingers. The conjuror's trick you learned in Eastern Byzore works perfectly. A red silk scarf appears in the air and wraps itself around your wrists, tying them to the bedpost, snugly, but not too tightly.

Then you look over your shoulder so you can give Drakivicius a patient smile.

He doesn't need to be asked. He climbs out of bed, folds back his wings, and steps around in front of you. His eyes linger on you, and he reaches for you, brushing the backs of his fingers across your cheek. He trails his fingertips down the side of your jaw, then down your throat. You lift your chin as his touch leaves sparkles of excitement on your skin.

Then his fingers move down your chest, and between your breasts, making your breath a little short. When his fingers reach your navel, he pauses there, and bends his head to kiss you.

You bring your chin up to return his kiss, meeting his tongue with yours. Your instinct is to embrace him, but you can't, with your wrists bound over your head. Instead, his hands settle on your hips and he presses himself to you. He's strong and warm, and you're pleased that his scales are so fine that they aren't sharp or rough. The texture isn't entirely like skin, but he's firm where he should be and yielding where he shouldn't. You let yourself drift into his kiss, melting under the touch of his hands and lips.

You also feel his stiff cock trapped between you, and it's a clear reminder that he wants you. You think you've sent a crystal clear signal that he should take the lead, and you're gambling that even if he wants to take you quickly, he's willing to wait for you.

Your gamble pays off when he breaks your kiss to look down into your eyes, and he asks...