Page 36 of The Dragon's Gambit
Lee regarded her carefully. “I don’t understand, Reiya. How do you want me to see you?”
Reiya felt exasperated, and her shoulders slinked in defeat. “Don’t worry about it. It’s fine.”
“Reiya, you brought it up. I didn’t realize it bothered you. I’m sorry. I was … I was just trying to be close to you. I’m sorry ifit made you feel uncomfortable.” Lee felt mixed emotions now. Did she want him to treat her more diplomatically? Like friends? He couldn’t go back to just being acquaintances. He clenched his fists to help control himself as he waited for her response.
“Lee, are you really not understanding what I’m trying to say? Do you view me so much like a child that you can’t comprehend what I’m saying?” Reiya clenched her teeth as she took in a steadying breath. Either he didn’t understand what she meant, or he knew and he refused to acknowledge it.
“I don’t think of you as a child, Reiya … trust me.” His voice was quiet and controlled, if not strained.
“I want you to look at me as a WOMAN, Lee!” Reiya finally spit out. She was done dancing around the topic. She liked Xander and was attracted to him, but it was Lee. It had always been Lee. He was the one who made her insides burn. He was the one who caused her heart to flutter, giving herself away. She was in love with Lee. To hell with finding a mate and the mate bond. She was in love with Lee. Couldn’t she just have him? Was that too ridiculous to even consider? Gosh, she’d just made a fool of herself. She could tell by the shocked way he was staring at her. She was so beneath him that the idea of her being attracted to him was way over his head. If she could just find a rock to crawl under for the rest of her life, that would be great. Bring on the demon army … it had to be better than this humiliation.
“Why. Would. You. Think. That. I. EVER. Saw you as ANYTHING … but … a … woman?” Lee’s voice came out in a quiet choppy breath as he stared at the delicate woman in front of him. He gazed at her intensely as she looked up at him with vulnerability flashing in her cool blue eyes. She was the one who didn’t understand. He could see the look in her eyes. The urge to comfort her was overwhelming. He silently cursed at himself. Damn it. Damn all of it. He punched the wall beside him and set his gaze upon her. She had no clue how much he’d beencontrolling himself. This wasn’t some game to him. He couldn’t just casually flirt with her so that she could feel like a woman. He’d tried to control the animal inside of him for her protection, but he’d finally lost that battle. His eyes flickered with the animal within as he took long strides toward his prey.
Chapter 24 Not Coming Back
Lee gripped Reiya’s chin with his thumb and tilted her head so that she was looking up at him. “I’m sorry, Reiya … I tried. I tried so hard up to this point.”
His hot breath sizzled on her lips, causing her to lick them lightly. This action brought his attention to the light pink lips of the young doe in front of him. She liked to play games and tease him sensually, and he’d warned her that her games were dangerous. He couldn’t stop his animal instincts anymore … not that he wanted to. He had wanted things to progress differently, but he was now going to cross a bridge that couldn’t be uncrossed. He lowered himself, closing the gap between their lips and pressing his against hers. He felt her body stiffen at first, no doubt in complete shock that the game she had been playing went further than she’d planned. He continued to explore her lips as he felt her soften under his demands. The more her body responded, the more his beast was encouraged.
It was so hot. His kiss was so addictingly hot. It was a gentle burn that he didn’t know she craved. She was shocked at first when his lips met hers, but that quickly vanished. She melted under his touch. This was more sensual than she’d ever dreamed it would be. A fire ignited within her as he began to greedily devour her lips. She needed more from him, and she instinctively parted her lips ever so slightly. The moment she did, he plunged his tongue into her mouth. She clumsily tried to keep up with his experienced advances. This was her first real kiss, and it was heavenly. The searing pleasure from his kiss alone was driving her delirious. She surrendered herself completely, allowing him to take the lead.
She couldn’t recall exactly when or how it happened, but before she knew it, she was lying on the soft bed with him. Their bodies never parted as he’d gently lowered her onto the mattress, their lips and limbs entwined in a passionate dance. The silk sheets beneath her skin felt cool and smooth, adding to the intensity of their embrace.
His rough hands, eager and trembling with anticipation, glided down her body, sending shivers of pleasure through her.She clutched at him desperately, her fingers digging into his back. They were lost in the moment, exploring each other’s every curve and contour. His touch ignited a fire within her that burned brighter with each passing second.
He bit at her lips, growling and sucking on them roughly. Bruising them, claiming them as he forcibly thrust his tongue in her mouth again. His tongue plundered hers with a fiery intensity, burning and consuming her. His movements were rough yet filled with tender possessiveness, claiming every inch of her lips as his own. The force of their kiss was like a tempestuous storm, stirring up emotions and desires she’d tried to keep buried. The hardness of his arousal pressed against her, sending shivers down her spine. It was as if an inferno burned within him, igniting every nerve in her body with desire.
As the intense storm of their kiss raged on, she found her mind spinning deliriously. Her whole world became him, the feel of his skin, the scent of his hair, the taste of his mouth. It was everything she’d ever wanted and dreamed of. And she wouldn’t have been shocked to wake up and find it was a dream.
He left a trail of hot and urgent kisses on her face and neck, each one igniting tiny sparks of pleasure within her. His teeth grazed against her virgin skin with gentle nips and tugs, sending more shivers down her spine. Her entire body was alive with the electricity he was creating, pulsing through her in little jolts and making every nerve ending ignite. She was experiencing sensations that she never knew existed.
As he began to burn her neck with his volcanic tongue, she let out an involuntary moan. She was so inexperienced, but her body instinctively knew and took over for her. It knew what it wanted more than she did. Her soft moans slightly embarrassed her, but they seemed to encourage him more as the smoldering heat intensified on her neck. Her hands swung up around him and pushed him deeper into her. All she knew was that she likedbeing burned by him. Her body craved it … it desired it. This was what she wanted and more. She had wanted him for a very long time.
Her neck was being torched by him. There was a sudden feeling, like a hot ember was pushed into her neck. The pleasurable pain sent tingles inside of her, making her stomach do flips in excitement. Another moan escaped from her lips. Soon, his lips began to incinerate hers again, his hot body seething into hers as she held him captive in her delicate arms.
Then, his burning lips were gone. She fluttered her eyes open at the loss of his heat. She looked up to see his light blue eyes glazed over as he stared down at her. They were both panting heavily, their chests rising and falling in erotic rhythms. Suddenly, she saw his jaw clench, and he muttered a curse word under his breath.
“Reiya, wait here. I’m needed really quickly. But … stay here, so we can continue … or talk … ugh, just wait here until I get back.” Lee bent down and kissed her forehead, a bit flustered. He didn’t want to leave her, but duty called. Mason had formally accepted his mate and, as protocol would have it, Lee would have to approve of the royal match. He didn’t have to do this for others, only royalty.
He looked Reiya over and then inwardly cursed at himself. He went further than he’d meant to. He didn’t just cross a bridge—he cut the ropes once he reached the other side. They were way past the point of no return. They would need to talk, but that would have to wait until he got back. He hoped she wouldn’t be upset with him. Who was he kidding? She was definitely going to be angry with him.
She watched as he gave her a hesitant look before he hoisted himself off her body. She half sat up as he opened the door.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can, Reiya,” he said one last time before leaving her alone to process what had just happened.
Reiya rolled to her side and yelled into the pillow. So close, they were so close. Though maybe this was a good thing. This gave them both time. She didn’t need it, though. She already knew she wanted him. She just didn’t want him to feel pressured after what she’d said. Ugh! She held onto his pillow and rolled back and forth on the bed. She’d made herself seem desperate, so he’d pitied her. The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she felt. He sympathized with her and felt sorry for her, almost sleeping with her because of it.
She sat up, holding the pillow to her face, and groaned into it. She was such an idiot, and now she would live the rest of her life in embarrassment.
An hour passed, and Reiya realized he wasn’t coming back. She had waited for him like a fool when he was trying to give her a comfortable way out, one where she wouldn’t be confronted with the embarrassing truth.Wow, I really am pathetic. Maybe I do need my mate after all, so I can get rid of these feelings.Reiya frowned as she got up from Lee’s bed.
She walked into his bathroom to splash some cold water on her face. Reaching for the faucet, she splashed the cool liquid onto her skin. She looked up in the mirror and gasped. Her neck was well marked with little love bites and slight bruises, and there was a considerably large hickey that stood out brightly above the rest. She tried to adjust her hair to cover the love marks. It was the first time her skin had ever been marked up. She would have felt proud of them if they weren’t sympathy love bites. She lowered her face to her hands and whimpered. “Ugh, you are so pathetic, Reiya. You know mom never had to beg for attention,” she spat out to herself in disgust.Oh well … what’s done is done.She pushed off from the sink and left the room.
She felt a bit pitiful and sorry for herself, to say the least. When she thought about the moment, she flushed with embarrassment, thinking about the real moans she’d let outfrom his touch. He had driven her to the brink. However, he was gentlemanly enough to not take full advantage of the moment and came up with an excuse to leave. It just took her too long to take the hint. She walked down toward the main hall and saw two familiar figures in the distance.
“Chelsie! Brody!” Reiya smiled and waved her hand, quickening the pace to walk up to them. Seeing them brought her an immediate, familiar comfort. They were always there for her. In a sense, they were her home—her safe space.
“Ray Ray! I was worried about you.” Brody wrapped his large arms around her and held her tight. “How are you feeling? You okay?”
