Page 42 of City of the Lost
“Wila, please.”
“Why did you do that? Why did you slip?”
“I didn’t.”
I opened my eyes. “You werefeedingoff me.”
“I was kissing you. I was kissing you like I’d kiss a Draconi female, but you’re not Draconi. So things got out of control.”
I was so confused. “You feed off your Draconi lovers?”
“No, when Draconi make love they open a circuit where they share their soul, their very essence, with their lover. It’s a most intimate act and ...” He looked away.
“And?”
He blew out a breath. “Reserved for mated Draconi.” His words were clipped, edged with shame.
His words sank in and heat rose up in my throat, stalling my tongue. Yes, he’d mentioned this circuit once before when he’d explained the Draconi females’ polyamorous relationships.
He peered at me cautiously. “I can’t explain why it happened. Believe me, I’ve mulled it over.”
He’d been kissing me. No. Not just kissing me, he’d been kissing me like he’d kiss his Draconi mate. I took another step toward him, and he tensed, his eyes flaring. No, don’t look into them, but like hell was that possible when my body was in control, when all I wanted to do was look inside and see and understand whatever it was that was drawing us together.
He held up a hand as if to ward me off, and yet when he spoke his tone was begging me to come closer. “Wila ...”
I bridged the gap between us, throat tight, heart clawing at my ribcage. Experiment, this was just an experiment to see if ... to see ...
I lifted my chin. “See, we’re good.” My tone was husky, wanton.
His gaze dropped to my mouth. “Yes, we’re good.”
I licked my lips. “No urges.” I was playing with fucking fire, and the thrill was a pulse between my thighs that ached to be stroked.
His chest was rising and falling erratically. “No urges.” His words were more a growl than anything else, and then he stepped away, turning his back on me. “You should fill me in on what I’ve missed.” His voice sounded oddly strained.
The tension dropped a notch, still live, still there, but no longer an irresistible force.
I clasped my hands together to give them something to do aside from reach for him. “I was just about to have some tea.” Which was a lie. “You want to join me?”
He turned back to me and blinked slowly, his dragon eyes catching the moonlight and sending a shiver up my spine, but not fear. There would never be fear again because the kiss had changed the dynamic.
“Why aren’t you afraid?” He reached for me, thought better of it, and dropped his hand to his side, curling it into a fist.
“Honestly, I don’t know.”
“You were about to go to bed.”
“Maybe.” I bit my lower lip.
“But you’ll stay up with me?”
I shrugged, feigning casual, when all the time my pulse was a little too fast. “You’re part of the team, and you need to know what’s been going on.”
“Tea is ready.” Gilbert’s voice was right beside me, loud and clear. Yep, someone had been eavesdropping.
Valance’s expression shuttered and then his lips curved in his familiar cocky smile. In fact, his whole demeanor shifted to loose-limbed and relaxed. He’d donned the persona he presented to the rest of the world—the devil-may-care facade. The lump was back in my throat as realization bloomed. I’d just connected with the real Valance, and damn, I’d liked it.
* * *
