Page 49 of To Ignite a Dragon's Desire

I really wanted to test that theory out.

He’d been nothing but a perfect gentleman, showing me off with a few graceful dips and twirls despite the rust on my heels.

I laughed as he dipped me again, trusting his strong arms to keep me from falling, and missed the next step, stomping on his toes before he carried me back to the beat.

I should’ve been embarrassed—Drew always said I had two left feet—but I wasn’t. Lucan made me feel graceful and beautiful and alive.

My cheeks ached from how hard I was smiling and my hair was a sweaty mess, but I’d never felt this… free.

The music was still playing, yet the world around us came to a standstill as Lucan slowed, staring into my eyes. There was pure hunger in that look.

It made me burn with need.

I’m not ready.

I panicked, resting my head against his chest as he pulled me closer. It was safe here. I’d laid on this particular spot almost every night for the past few weeks.

The comforting motion helped me think.

I am ready. It’s okay to get what I want.

Lucan trailed his fingers down the exposed skin of my back, stopping a respectful distance from my hip before moving their way back up.

“Tell me about your parents,” he said.

I tensed, and then relaxed as his fingers continued to work their magic. “What do you want to know?”

“You heard all my embarrassing childhood stories.” He scoffed. “It’s only fair I learn some of yours.”

I smiled against his chest. He did have a point.

It didn’t make this any easier, though.

“They were wonderful.” All these years and I still hated to speak of them in the past. “I was an only child, but they never let me feel alone. They took me camping in the summer and skiing in the winter and never missed one of my volleyball games. My dad loved astronomy. He taught me all the constellations. I can’t remember them anymore.”

I looked up at the stars, remembering all the nights by the campfires with s’mores and tales of immortalized Greek legends as we peered through his telescope.

Inhaling deeply, I let Lucan’s scent wash over me.

“That one is Orion.” He pointed with our conjoined hands, still swaying us both to the beat of the music as it drifted through the garden. “I’m sorry for your loss. I’ve known much change and death in my life. It never gets easier.”

Almost forgot I had the hots for someone old enough to be my great-great-great-grandfather.I laughed to myself, trying to shake off the melancholy mood, and released a truth I’d never spoken out loud.

“In a way, I’m glad they died when they did.”

There was no judgment in his tone when Lucan asked, “Why?”

“Because I was still young enough to be their perfect daughter. They didn’t have to see me fail.”

Lucan’s chuckle was warm-hearted. “I don’t think you could fail at anything if you tried.”

“Then you don’t know me that well.” I planted my hands against his chest, pushing back so he could see the seriousness on my face. I needed to tell him how broken I was before he fell too deep and thought I’d tricked him into a mistake. “I’ve made so many bad choices.”

“I forgive you for being human,” he teased.

But this wasn’t funny.

Stupid burning hot tears filled my eyes.

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