““I completely under—oh!’’ Aisling hunched forward again as Gabriel slid his arm under her legs. Drake exploded, slamming Gabriel up against the wall, snarling something that sounded vicious, his arm against Gabriel’s windpipe. Maata and Tipene were instantly at his side but at a gesture from Gabriel backed away. ‘‘Drake, let him down. It’s just a twinge, nothing more!’’ Aisling said, waving me toward them. ‘‘Stop him, May. Although don’t hurt him; I’m rather fond of him as he is, overprotective tendencies and all.’’ I tapped Drake politely on the shoulder. ‘‘Would you mind letting Gabriel down? I promise I won’t let him hold Aisling’s hand anymore. Or touch her stomach.’’ Drake eyed Gabriel for a moment. I have to admit that Gabriel surprised me by not fighting back. Having seen him go at it with Drake’s black-dragon brother, Kostya, I knew he was not one to remain passive when attacked. But he stayed still, not struggling at all despite the fact that his face was gaining a dull red tint due to lack of oxygen. ‘‘All right,’’ Drake said at last, removing his hold on Gabriel. ‘‘But I will hold you responsible for his actions.’’ Gabriel’s eyes flashed in warning, but Aisling bursting into laughter defused the situation enough that he could see the ridiculousness of such a comment. I touched a faintly swollen spot on Gabriel’s neck. ‘‘Would you like me to kiss what hurts and make it better?’’ I asked softly. He’d been looking at Aisling, obviously about to make some observation about her health, but at my words a new look of interest filled his eyes. ‘‘Only if I get to pick what needs kissing.’’ ‘‘I am so glad Jim is not present to hear that, because it would no doubt make all sorts of inappropriate comments that would force me tosmack it with a rolled-up magazine, and then we’d be back to Gabriel groping my stomach and Drake having a hissy fit,’’ Aisling said, helping herself to a glass of orange juice.””
