Page 23 of Fire Dragon Lover

He watched as her face shifted and tears built in her eyes. She quickly got up and ran down the hallway. Logan jumped up, "Gretchen, wait." Maybe he had said it too harshly.

He heard the door to his bedroom slam shut, and he headed down the hallway. "Gretchen, please."

He could hear her crying, and it hurt him physically. He never wanted to wrap her up in this, but she was, and there was nothing he could do about it. He leaned against the doorframe and sighed, "I guess the reason you don't believe me, is because maybe I haven't been telling you the full story behind everything." He scratched his head, "Gretchen, I have enemies, and it's not a short list. In my line of work, I have more people that want me dead than that want me alive. Everything I have done has been to protect you. You don't deserve the harsh reality that I live in."

He heard the door unclick, and she pulled the door open slightly. He could see fresh tears on her face. She wiped her eyes, "Don't lie to me."

"It's the truth."

She bit her lip and pulled the door open. Logan stepped in, and she shut the door with a sigh, "I want to know everything."

Logan turned around and watched her take a few steps towards him, "You will tell me everything that you did." She crossed her arms, "It's only fair."

He didn't want to, but he didn't have a choice.

Thirty-Four

Gretchen

Gretchen could hardly contain her emotions. Just listening to Logan, she wondered how he was still standing. He'd explained to her how he'd had countless assassination attempts on his life, each worse than the last. They were almost weekly, which only sent a cold chill down her spine.

To think someone wanted him dead so badly to send people to kill him over and over and were willing to hurt and kill innocent people that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It sickened her.

"I'm sorry." She reached over the bed and grabbed his hand. She meant it. No one should have to go through life constantly looking over their shoulder. She wondered if today was the day that they died. He'd kept this from her to keep her safe, and she understood that.

She could only imagine the amount of stress that rested on his shoulders, and she'd never known. She'd worked with him for how long, and she never knew how many attempts there had been.

Sure she knew that he had been in accidents and that he had been hurt but not the number he had given her.

She swallowed and looked down at her hands. She was shocked that this man sitting next to her was strong enough to go on every day. She didn't have that kind of strength.

"Gretchen, look at me." He leaned closer to her and held onto her hands tightly, "I love you."

She blinked and shook her head, "No, please don't say that."

"Let me finish, please." His voice shifted into desperation. Gretchen swallowed as she looked at him as he spoke up.

"I've loved you since I first laid my eyes on you in my office. When you first walked in for your interview, and you wore that neat blue blouse and the simple black skirt, I loved you. I loved you because you are my mate, Gretchen. I have tried so damn hard to keep it together and keep you away from the trouble that plagues me, but I can't. You deserve to know everything." He gently squeezed her hands, "And I'm sorry that I hurt you. I never wanted to, but I was trying to keep you safe. I never wanted my world to shatter into yours. You didn't deserve it."

She broke down, bawling. She couldn't help it. She was overjoyed with happiness after hearing that he had felt the same for her and that he loved her as much as she loved him.

"You're an idiot. An absolute idiot, you know that."

"That isn't funny." He chuckled and moved a strand of her hair.

"You buffoon!" She shook her head, "I love you too."

He broke out in a smile, "Do you really?"

She nodded her head and wiped at a few tears, "Yes. I love you too, Logan. Despite everything, I still love you."

Logan leaned forward and crushed her in a kiss. He laughed, "I love you so much! I'm so happy to hear those words."

Thirty-Five

Logan

Logan kissed her gently. He was ecstatic about the fact she loves him back, and he wanted to let his dragon just roam free and take control. But, he knows that Gretchen doesn't need him being rough. He needs to be gentle and allow her to rest the most that he can.

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