Page 43 of Charming the Dragon
His stained voice garnered her attention. “Hayley, I need to tell you something. Please. Stop doing that.”
She removed her hand from his jaw and looked back up at his eyes. A mixture of regret and desire swirled in the brown depths. “Then tell me, Nathan. Tell me why you shouldn’t kiss me.”
Maybe she should regret being so bold, but didn’t. While she didn’t know what the future held, she didn’t want to ignore something that might lead to a future she’d never known that she wanted—having a dragonman of her own.
His thumb began stroking her cheek again. “Because if I kiss you, I think it’ll trigger a mate-claim frenzy.”
She blinked. “Pardon?”
“My dragon thinks you’re our true mate, Hayley. And I’m fairly certain you know what that means.”
Searching his eyes, she saw nothing but truth. However, the regret shining in his gaze stung, and she rolled away until she could get out of bed and wrap her arms around her middle. “And you don’t want me.”
He jumped out of bed and stood in front of her. After reaching toward her and then clenching his fingers into fists, he stepped away. “It’s not a matter of wanting. We still don’t know each other very well, and there’s the fact that kissing you will result in a child. I’m not about to force all of that on you without talking to you first.”
She’d heard about mate-claim frenzies from Dawn Chadwick-Whitby. Not the explicit details, but enough to know it was intense, lasted a while, and if two people were true mates, there would always be a child.
Hayley’s head spun as she tried to take it all in. Nathan stood too far away for her to see more than a blur, though, and she turned to try and find her glasses on the nightstand next to the bed. But her hands shook, and she knocked several things to the floor.
Nathan’s voice filled her ears. “Here, Hayley. Let me help you. Move, and I’ll get them.”
She obeyed, a mixture of embarrassment and confusion rushing through her. Until she could see Nathan’s face again, could judge his emotions, she didn’t know what to do or say.
A large, warm hand took hers and placed her glasses in them. She quickly put them on, closed her eyes to take a breath, and opened them.
Nathan stood next to her, less than a foot away, his expression concerned. He asked, “Are you okay?”
Was she? Minutes ago, she’d wanted nothing more than to kiss Nathan and see where it led. But now? Now a kiss wouldchange their entire future. Not just theirs, but a future child as well.
“I-I need some tea.”
He moved toward the door. “I’ll make you some.”
“No, no, that’s okay. Making it myself will help calm my mind. I just need a little time alone.”
After moving back into the room, Nathan nodded, his face stoic. “Of course. I’ll be in the command center, if you need me.”
“Right.”
With that, Hayley rushed out of the room and into the kitchen. One cup of tea wouldn’t solve all her problems, but comfort and caffeine might calm her mind enough for her to figure out how to handle this.
As Hayley fled the room,Nathan curled his fingers into fists and clenched his jaw. He’d had to tell her the truth. But just like with Tracey, Hayley had fled as soon as possible.
His dragon spoke up.Stop being ridiculous. We’ve known Hayley only for a short time, and the revelation has to be a shock. But she felt safe with us as she slept. Had wanted us to kiss her this morning. Give her a chance.
Nathan paced the room, unclenching and clenching his fingers.And how do I know this won’t end like before? I’m not even in love with her yet and I still know her rejection will sting more since she’s supposedly our best chance at happiness.
Which is exactly why you should give her a chance. Be patient, woo her, kiss her other places besides her lips, and see what happens. Taking the risk will be difficult, but if it means finding the same happiness as Dad and Denise, it’ll be worth it.
Since his dad had met Denise when Nathan was a teenager, he remembered most of their relationship. She’d come to stay with her cousin on Stonefire, fleeing the cruel new clan leader for Skyhunter back then. And as soon as she’d walked into his dad’s pub, his father had been smitten.
The years of sadness and loneliness for his dad, after his first mate’s death, slowly faded away. The night they told Nathan they were probably true mates had been full of mixed emotions. And yet, he’d been happy for his dad to have a second chance.
Nathan had never even had a first one.
His dragon spoke up again.For now, just focus on getting us out of this place. Hayley will find us when she’s ready.
You seem confident she’ll want to talk with us again.
