Spark of Desire (The Dragon's Virgin Tribute) by Madelene Martin

An Excerpt From the Book
    F aith's face grew hot with embarrassment and shame, and she looked away to stare at the ground.
    The dragon-man came closer, until he was standing over her. She cringed as he reached out and laid a hand on her head.
    He stroked her hair once, and she just had time to wonder what he was doing, before he wound his fingers in the dark tresses. Then he bent lower, and pulled her hair with a painful yank, so that she was forced to get up onto her knees. His hand still entwined, he positioned her head so that she had to look at him.
    She let out a pained whimper, the fear taking hold again. Her heart thudded in her chest as she stared into his handsome face. The dragon's eyes were still fixed intently on hers, his expression mild.
    Her lips fell open and she was about to speak - to plead, or curse - when he spoke.
    "Now, rebellious one." He purred. "You see that I can give you pleasure, but I am quite willing to cause you pain, if I have to. You are mine. The sooner you learn that, the better it will be for you."
    He seemed to wait then, staring at her patiently. He expected a response.
    Faith swallowed hard, and nodded. A final tear squeezed from the corner of her eye and slid down her cheek, and she knew she could cry no more.
    All hope had fled, leaving her feeling numb and empty. She just wished that having her acquiescence, he might leave her alone for a while.
    A drastic change came over his face then. The glowing in his eyes faded, leaving them placid and dark. His brow smoothed, and his expression became almost tender. His hand loosened its hold on her hair, and suddenly he was caressing her again.
    Then the dragon smiled, his full lips tilting up at the edges. The smile transformed his face. He was really incredibly handsome. No... handsome was not the right word. He was beautiful.
    Though her heart still beat hard, something in her shifted then. A queer thrill that started in her belly and settled lower, in her sex. Faith had to look away, angry at herself.
    "What is your name?" He asked her.
    "Faith." She murmured.
    He made a pleased sound; stroking her hair, lifting an end and inspecting it. "I am Inaeth. I will be your mate for life... if you please me."
    "And... if I don't please you?" She dared, her voice little more than a whisper.

1.
    Y our great aunt was a heroine, you know. She is the one who put an end to the fiery terror of the dragons by reuniting the two species: us and them, in an alliance. She risked her life to approach the king, who thought she was dead, and deliver the dragon's demands.
    You see... once, our kingdom forgot the ancient pact they had with dragon-kind and stopped sending their tributes. They sent dragon-slayers and hunters instead, and began to kill the mighty beasts. Soon, the peaceful dragons remembered how to be full of rage, and started burning villages, hunting livestock and people.
    They killed us and we killed them, until the people lived in constant terror and only a single dragon remained. But one dragon was enough to cause much destruction.
    Out of desperation, the king gave Lily - who was his fourth daughter - to the dragon, in hope of a few years of peace. You see, the people believed the dragon would devour the girl and be satisfied with his revenge.
    Instead, Lily became Nalranith's mate, and together they began to replenish the dragon race.
    Many years later Lily returned, riding on Nalranith's back and accompanied by a fearsome guard of her dragon sons.
    Her father, who had once sent hunters after the dragons, had died knowing the destruction his choices had caused. Her oldest brother now reigned, and he was wise enough to bow to the dragons' demands, and re-forge the old alliance.
    And that, Princess Faith, is why you are special.
    ––––––––
    F aith had heard it a hundred times. Her whole life had centered around that tale. Born the fourth daughter of the reigning king, she had been saddled with a destiny at the moment of her