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Gabriel’s eyes widened, the pupils almost nonexistent as he gazed upon my exposed flesh. He swallowed a couple of times, his voice thick when he spoke. ‘‘Alone—’’

‘‘We bring your luggage,’’ someone said behind him. Gabriel leaped out of the way to avoid being whacked on the back yet again as István kicked open the door, depositing my bags from Gabriel’s house. I didn’t have time to snatch up a shirt before Gabriel was in front of me, blocking István’s view.

István’s eyebrows rose at the sight of my clothing on the chair. ‘‘Oh. Sorry. The door locks, you know.’’

‘‘I will be sure to see that it’s used,’’ Gabriel answered.

István surprised me with a grin, and then he was gone. Gabriel locked the door, counted to ten, then sighed when no one knocked on it. ‘‘Shall we try this again?’’

‘‘I don’t know—it’s taking on the feel of a scene from a Marx Brothers’ movie, don’t you think?’’

His smile warmed me to the tips of my naked toes, but it was his gaze that left me feeling as if I was burning. ‘‘You are so delicious, I don’t know where to begin.’’ His gaze moved along my exposed skin.

I laughed, propping my foot up on the chair and nodding toward the knife I wore at my ankle. ‘‘Why don’t you start by helping me out of this?’’

He looked at my leg. He looked at my breasts, straining to get out of my bra in a manner hitherto unbeknownst to me. He went back to my bare leg, with a brief stop at my hips and belly.

‘‘No?’’ I asked, amused, aroused, and slightly confused by his hesitation.

He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he shook his head. ‘‘I want you,’’ he finally said, his voice sounding somewhat strangled.

‘‘I can see you do,’’ I said, glancing toward the bulgy front of his pants.

‘‘I mean I really want you. I need you. Right now.’’

‘‘Well, I don’t see a problem with that, unless Cyrene has suddenly developed a skill for lock picking,’’ I said, unbuckling the knife sheath.

I stood up, wondering what on earth was keeping him from all the pouncing I could have sworn he was going to do the second we were alone, and decided to give him a little encouragement. I unhooked the front of my bra and let it fall to the floor.

Gabriel swore in what I assumed was his native language, his eyes huge.

I watched him closely for a moment. He was as stiff as a board, only the liquid silver of his gaze as it leaped from my breasts to my legs and back again offering a sign he was still actually alive. He’d even stopped breathing.

I shucked my underwear and stood in what I hoped was an attractive pose that wouldn’t let him see quite how large my backside was.

A strange gurgling noise emerged from him, but nothing else.

‘‘Am I doing something wrong here?’’ I finally asked, raising my hands and letting them fall in frustration. ‘‘You don’t want me naked?’’

A little whimper escaped his lips. He swallowed again, his hands tightening to fists at his side. ‘‘I can’t think of anything I want more at this moment, including the phylactery, Kostya’s head on a platter, and peace in the weyr.’’

‘‘Then why are you standing over there, making odd little noises of unhappiness, while I’m standing here feeling extremely insecure, exposed, and like I need to go on an immediate diet to lose at least ten pounds?’’

He closed his eyes for a moment, his face twisted in pain. ‘‘I may be a dragon, but I am not an animal, Mayling. You clearly wish to arouse me by performing this . . . incredible . . . striptease, and I will stand here and allow you to proceed if it kills me. Which it very likely may do.’’

‘‘Gabriel,’’ I said, smiling at the fact that he thought I was performing for him.

‘‘Don’t,’’ he said, his eyes still closed. His body trembled.

‘‘Don’t what?’’

‘‘Don’t say my name. I don’t think I can bear it.’’

I shook my head, laughed a little, then walked over and unbuttoned his shirt so I could put my hand on his bare chest. ‘‘I don’t understand you at all. You’re acting like you want to make love to me, but I can’t say your name?’’

‘‘No,’’ he answered,