Page 61 of The Dragon's Gambit
“Reiya, it’s not happening. I’m sorry. I thought I could if you wanted it, but I can’t.” She felt his grip tighten around her. “You are mine, Reiya. MINE. I’m afraid I can never allowyou to walk away. I will fight for you until the very end. There is no escape from me, because I will always find you.”
She listened to his words, trying to make out where they were coming from. Was it bad to admit that she found his possessiveness over her a bit hot? She would be lying if she said it didn’t heat her core a little bit. However, she had no clue what he was talking about right now.
Reiya tilted her head up to look at him. He was no longer gazing at her with dark, lust-filled eyes. There was a soft sadness in them as he looked down at her. She gave him a small smile in confusion. “I am yours, Lee. I’ll always be yours. And ... will you always be mine and only mine?”
He now looked at her with confusion. “You weren’t thinking of leaving me?”
“Say what? No, never.” Reiya almost felt like laughing at his serious question. What moron would leave him?
“Then, I’m confused. It felt like something was bothering you.” Lee gazed into her sapphire eyes. They were so beautiful, so captivating, and they looked at him with a doe-eyed vulnerability that made him want to wrap her in his protecting arms and seal her away from the world.
“Sometimes it feels like tomorrow, when I wake up, you won’t be mine anymore. Like maybe it was a dream, or you decided I wasn’t what you wanted. For one reason or another ... I mean, there are so many women that want you, so it’s hard to understand why it’s me, and if it really is me.” It was embarrassing to admit it, and she felt very vulnerable even saying what was on her mind, but her mother had always told her it was best to let everything out in the open. When you didn’t communicate, that was when poor assumptions were made. Her mother knew this from experience. She could feel the slight vibrations under her fingers from Lee’s chest. He was laughing?Here she was, exposing her vulnerability, and he was laughing? She went to pull back, but he held her firmly in place.
“Reiya. I am yours, and I will always be yours. There will never be anyone but you. You don’t even realize how perfect you are, how beautiful you are ... you have a gift that draws people to you. You’re my mate, but you have completely captured my heart. With a word, you can easily bring me to my knees. No one but you, Reiya. It can never be anyone but you. The fact that we feel the same way about each other ... I never thought you would feel as deeply for me as I do for you.” He reached down and gently cupped her cheek with his hand. He loved her too damn much. Like a siren beckoning him, her eyes pulled him in, drowning him. He leaned down and very tenderly pressed his lips against hers.
The kiss was sweet. The tingling, burning sensation rippled from her lips throughout her body. This felt like so much more than a kiss. It felt like their souls were being branded together. Her stomach flipped as she felt the depth of his affection in it. It was intense and emotional.
In that moment, she felt it. She was swept away by the intensity of his emotions, which she could feel radiating from his lips. It was as if their souls were merging, becoming one in this passionate embrace. And for the first time, she knew deep down that he wasn’t going anywhere. With every fiber of her being, she pressed into him, conveying all of her love and devotion into this soul-delivering kiss. The world melted away around them, leaving only the two of them locked together as time stood still. It was an exchange of every ounce of love they had for each other.
No more doubts. The time to doubt was over. They were showing each other that they were committed to one another. When he gently pulled apart from the deep kiss, he lightlypecked her forehead. His hot breath whispered to her, “I love you, my fairy.”
“I love you, Lee. We’re kind of silly, huh?” Reiya giggled. What she had just thought felt very silly now.
“No, I don’t think so. I think it shows how much we care about each other. Thank you, Reiya, for sharing your feelings with me.”
“Lee.” Reiya reached up and brushed her hand against his cheek. “I’ll trust you and believe in you.” She then gave him a big smile. “But I am never going to be okay with the succubi that are constantly drooling over you. I know if they got the chance, they would be on you faster than I could blink.”
Lee chuckled. “Sounds like I’m not the only one who can be possessive. I like it. Of course, you know I feel the same way.” He leaned his face into her hand. “I don’t trust any of these men around you but a few. Let’s just say I’m holding on by a thread, with the way they’re looking at you. And having said that, we probably need to head back.”
“I told Xander I was only going to be gone for a moment. Oops.” Reiya scrunched her shoulders up and bit on her bottom lip. Hopefully he wasn’t worried.
“He saw me leave. I’m sure he knows that I’m the one keeping you away.” Lee gave her a wry grin. He walked her up to the door and just before he opened it, he felt her reach up and pull him down to her. She pressed her lips into his and then smiled.
“Okay, just needed one more kiss to get me through.” Reiya winked at him and then opened the door. He chuckled and followed her out.
“I’ll follow behind you. It wouldn’t look right for us to be really chatty and walking side by side. I wouldn’t do that.” Lee gave Reiya a small frown, but she met it with a cheerful nod. She was trying to make the best of the situation. She would keep this moment special and close to her heart, the moment she realized he was just as insecure about their relationship as shewas. She would cling to the memory of what they had just shared together.
They walked down the stone corridor, the gentle sounds of their footsteps echoing on the cold walls. As they approached the kitchen area, she could see Brody and Chelsie leaning against the wall outside the door.Oh crap.She turned around and gave Lee a pitiful look, only to hear him chuckle. She had to pretend like she didn’t know. She didn’t want to embarrass them and wanted them to tell her when they were ready to.
“Reiya, it certainly took you long enough to come back for us,” Brody said as he walked up to her.
Bet you’re happy about that, she thought to herself. “Well, guess what I managed to do? I managed to make friends with the Southern Kingdom’s prince.” Lee growled when she mentioned him, and she smiled as she continued, “And they have agreed to join the fairies when the time comes.”
“That’s amazing, Reiya. I knew if anyone could do it, you could. You’ve almost gotten all the kingdoms to join. Only one left,” Brody said as he beamed at her proudly. He walked forward to give her a hug.
She stumbled backward and Lee caught her, gently lifting her up. She still felt a bit grossed out, having seen her brother like that. She was not feeling one of his hugs right now, especially when she knew he had dried up make-out sweat still on him. Lee grinned down at her, barely able to hold back his laughter.
“Are you causing trouble for our lord?” a voice hissed out from the end of the corridor.
Lee eased Reiya to her feet and then took a sidestep away from her. The bitter man dressed in purple walked up and bowed his head to Lee. “My apologies, my Lord.”
Lee turned his head away from him without speaking. Apparently, Clovis was someone not significant enough for him to speak to.
“You might be the king’s mate, but it’s an entirely different issue if you offend our deity.”
“He didn’t have to catch me. He chose to. I don’t see how that can be offensive to him.” Reiya rolled her eyes and stood up to the man with confidence. She did not like him at all. He was a snake. She could feel the deception leaking out from him. Brody immediately took a protective stance next to her, as did Chelsie. A guardian was not one to be messed with. Even Clovis knew this, and there was a sparkle of fear in his eyes.
“I don’t appreciate your tone with my princess. She is not only the fairy princess, but also your king’s mate. I wonder how he would feel about the way you’re speaking to her.”
