Page 48 of To Spark a Dragon's Love
I nodded. “Feel free to help yourselves.”
“My thanks.” Kieran bowed his head as he stepped away. The two of them gave me a wide berth when they passed, leaving me alone in the yard with Malachy and his intense gaze.
“This doesn’t come close to paying you back for what you’ve done.” I held out the child-sized pink plate. “But thank you. From both of us. Harper wanted to make sure you got the big piece.”
His lips quirked. Just a soft little twitch. My heart beat harder all the same. It was unfair that he had this effect over me when I needed to keep my head on straight.
His fingers gently brushed mine as he took the plate. “Did she tell you what happened?”
“Bits and pieces.” I couldn’t help but smile at seeing the tiny plate in his large hand. “It seems she wasn’t there for long until you showed up and killed the bad guys.”
“Yep,” Malachy hummed, breaking off a chunk of bread. Pleasure filled me as his eyes widened in delight and he finishedthe rest of it in two bites. He even licked off a piece of melted chocolate that smeared onto his thumb.
It shouldn’t have been as hot as it was. I had to swallow down a little moan when I remembered having his tongue in my mouth and those large hands on me.
There was a teasing glint in his eye as he glanced back up. “Did she tell you she bit Cain?”
I pressed my lips into a thin line, trying not to laugh. “I heard. Not sure if I should be impressed or worried.”
“Be impressed,” he said. “I am. She’s got spark. Must’ve picked that up from her mom.”
A real smile lit up my face and I had to internally scold myself for reacting so strongly. It wasn’t like he knew me. I didn’t have much spark. How starved of affection was I that a little compliment would affect me like this?
Freaking hungry.
Okay, maybe a little.
And it wasn’t my fault that Malachy was standing like a storybook hero, beautifully golden in the afternoon sun, as the wind blew around us rattling the changing leaves on the trees and sending them flying across the bright blue sky. That ache in my chest expanded. A little nudge kept telling me to move forward, to close the distance between us. If I would just listen, everything would be right in the world.
Which was stupid.
I was reading too much into his actions. It wasn’t like he was protecting my daughter for me. He was just doing what anyone in his position would do. It meant nothing.
I took a step back. “I wish there was some way I could repay you for saving Harper, but I’m not sure anything would be enough. For what it’s worth, I’m forever in your debt. If you need something else, let me know.”
Something besides being an armpiece for your prophecy or whatever it is we’re doing.
I already knew I was resigning myself to whatever life Malachy needed. That shouldn’t hurt as much as it did.
I needed to get away.
“Where are you going?” Malachy frowned.
I took another small step back. “Aren’t you leaving soon?”
I sure hoped so. I needed distance to process all these new sensations and sort through the confusion in my brain. To prepare myself for him coming or going depending on the situation and learn how to keep my own feelings locked away.
The look on his face was tearing out my heart.
“We’ll be leaving soon. Yes.”
Wait, what?I stopped in my tracks. “By we, you mean…” I wasn’t stupid. I knew what he meant. But I was stalling while I dealt with the mini-panic attack.
“You and Harper will accompany me to my territory where it’s safe.” His words left no room for argument.
I’d have to try another tactic.
“No, thank you.” The response was sugary sweet on my tongue. “We’ll be fine right here with all our other dragon friends.”
