Page 9 of Bound By Fire and Magic
His Dragon pressed close to the surface, fired by the possessiveness coursing through him. Forget it. She doesn’t want us, he told it.
Yes, she does.
His Dragon was right. Because it wasn’t distaste on her face at his words but sweet agony. She didn’t want to want him, but she did. To hell with it. She’s already pissed anyway. He pulled her against him and kissed her.
Her body stiffened, but her mouth melted beneath his, opening and letting his tongue in. For about four seconds.
She pushed away, fury on her beautiful face. “Damn it, Kirin?—”
“As much as you hate it, part of you still wants me.”
“It’s only instinct. Every guy I’ve kissed since you, and there were many, made me react that way. You’re nothing special, Kirin.”
“Ouch.” He knew she was lying, but damn, that was harsh. She sure didn’t react like he was nothing special. The mist in her eyes swirled like a tornado. He’d seen it do that every day for a month, and then four times a week…
“Get it through your heads,” she said, her hard voice pulling him out of those seductive thoughts. “I’m not going there with you again. Ever.”
He grasped her chin. “Let’s get one thing straight, Elle. As great as the sex was—and it was great—it wasn’t just about that. Being with you filled my soul and made the world feel right. When I woke up next to you, I knew the day was going to be great no matter what happened. Going to sleep with my body wrapped around yours was the only heaven I needed.” He let his words sink in, then released her.
She looked shell-shocked, eyes wide and mouth open. She snapped it closed. “I definitely should have let it eat you.”
He shook his head as he headed toward the circle. “What is this? Shadow Magick?”
Even in the dim light of the orb, he could see her weighing how much to tell him. “I don’t know a lot about Shadow Magick,” she said. “We’re warned about dabbling with it, but no one really talks about it. All I know is that it involves consorting with the gods, which is never a good idea.”
“Has your father used it before?”
“I’ve never heard him even speak of it. He wouldn’t mess with that. I’m sure of it.”
Huh. Sounded like she was trying to convince herself more than him.
“Who else has access to this place?”
“Officially, my father and any real estate agents who might show the property. Unofficially, looks like anything can skulk in.” She gave him a pointed look.
He merely grunted. “This isn’t ordinary ash.”
She shook her head, resignation on her face. “I’m going to take some to my Nana. She’ll know what it is.”
“Roz.” The witch bitch who disliked him even more than her son had. “I’m going with you,” he said.
“To my Nana’s house? Why? You two never got along.”
“It wasn’t on my end. She was the one who treated me like I was a patch of mold. I can handle the…nice lady.”
“Fine, come with me. If I’m lucky, you’ll walk in a Dragon and walk out a frog.”
4
“I heard you were working at an aerospace firm in Atlanta,” Elle said, trying to fill the silence once they were in the confines of her truck. She wanted to know about his life in Atlanta, all that trivial stuff. As long as he didn’t talk about still remembering her, the way she tasted…the words still made her tremble.
Big jerk.
Honestly, she wasn’t sure if she’d meant him or herself for letting it bother her so much.
“I design parts for experimental aircraft for a government contractor. Some of it’s top-secret stuff. I get to climb around aircraft engines and get dirty.” He gave her a heart-stopping grin. “Checking up on me?”
“Lyra told me when I ran into her once, happy to share information about your life even though I hadn’t asked.” Nope, she hadn’t acted the least bit curious, telling herself she didn’t give a whit about what he was up to as she gobbled up every detail. Not dating anyone seriously. Paintball champion. Pilot. Living a Mundane life, could she believe that? He simply must be suffused with longing. Elle suspected that Lyra was trying to get them back together, clearly feeling guilty about her part in their breakup.
