Page 93 of The Dragon's Gambit
Lee’s eyes widened as he turned to Xander. He pointed at Reiya and growled out, “Is she your mate, too?”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down there, Levi. She’s not my mate. But … well, I would be lying if I said I wasn't drawn to her. I don’t know why, either. I don’t understand what she means by the whole light thing. Only that she is someone important to me.” Xander didn’t know how to explain it other than that. She was important to him.
“I feel that too, Xander. That you’re someone important to me.” Reiya wouldn’t know any more than that until her wolf was out. Apparently, neither would Xander.
Lee furrowed his brows and looked between them. “That sounds like a mate pull …” he trailed off quietly.
Reiya giggled, reaching her hands up and cupping Lee’s cheek. She stood on her tiptoes and sweetly pressed her lips into his. “Xander is not my mate, Lee.” She glanced at Xander, who was also smiling at Lee. “Xander would know if I was his mate, just like you knew I was your mate. This isn’t like that. It’s different. It feels different.”
Lee leaned his head into Reiya. He didn’t know what he would do if she ended up being Xander's mate. That’s what the initial pull felt like. It felt like being drawn to someone important. He couldn’t help but worry about it.
“And in case you weren’t listening earlier, she did just give a pretty cute declaration of her love for you.” Xander smirked as he watched Reiya’s face heat up. She leaned her head into Lee to hide her embarrassment.
Lee smiled down at her and chuckled. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head. “That was pretty flattering to hear, but I want to hear more about how you plan to mark me.” Reiya pushed her head deeper in his chest, smothered by her own embarrassment.
“Yeah, maybe leave that talk for the bedroom,” Xander said with a wink.
Reiya cleared her throat. “The point here is that you are my person, Lee. It’s you. It’s only you. The feeling with Xander …” She pulled her head away from Lee to look at Xander. He just felt … safe. She reached her hand up to her chest as she tried to think of the feelings. “It feels like coming home. It’s a relaxing and familiar feeling. It’s hard to explain. I guess we’ll just have to wait for this barrier inside me to be broken to find out.”
“What does it feel like with Levi?” Xander smirked and watched Reiya’s face turn five shades of red. “Come on, Reiya. I think it would be helpful for ‘Leeeee’ to hear the difference.” He poked again, but he was just teasing. He didn’t think she would actually do it.
She rested her forehead on Lee’s chest and looked down at their feet, gnawing on her bottom lip nervously. She knew she didn’t have to, but Xander, in his own sadistic way, had actually made a good point. It would help for Lee to hear the difference in her feelings for the two of them.
“From the start … from the—”
“Shhh, Reiya, you don’t have to,” Lee said gently. She didn’t need to explain it to him. He appreciated what she was about to do, but he knew she loved him.
She gazed up at him and smiled. It might be a bit embarrassing, but she was going to try to convey her feelings for him in words.
Chapter 62 True Feelings
“Iknow I don’t. But Xander is right. I think it will be helpful for you to hear the difference. Just don’t look at me.” Reiya let out an airy laugh as she continued to keep her head hidden. “From the start, from the first day I met Lee, it’s only been him.He was the only guy who ever existed to me. The tiniest gesture melted my insides. Even hearing him tell me ‘Good job’ could keep me in a euphoric high for days.” Reiya chuckled, thinking how lame it sounded. “I don’t know what a mate pull feels like, but I’m always looking for him. In every room, I find myself trying to find him. Even being away from him for a moment is agonizing. My chest hurts when he’s away. And on …” She let out a dry cough. “And on an intimate level, I crave his touch. No, it’s more like I need it. No one’s touch does to me what Lee’s does. And on an even more humiliating level, I have an insatiable desire for him all the time. And mmmffff—”
Lee crashed his lips into hers and pulled her tightly to him. She was being so honest and open. How the hell was he supposed to just sit there and listen to that? She had no idea how those words made him feel. It was more than hearing how she felt about him, though. It was the fact that she was saying the same things he felt for her. He loved her so much, and he was able to hear how much she loved him. But it was more than love. She was also drawn to him. This gave him hope ... hope that maybe he was her mate after all.
Xander cleared his throat. “Still in the room here. But I think you’ve made Levi pretty happy with your raw honesty.” Xander had a crooked smile on his face.
Lee pulled away from Reiya and smiled into her lips. “Thank you. Your honesty is the best gift anyone has ever given me. You don’t need to say any more. I understand exactly what you were putting into words. I feel the same way about you.”
Reiya looked down and bit her bottom lip. “I told you not to look at me.” Then she let out a quiet giggle in minor embarrassment. “Anyway, it isn’t the same at all with Xander.”
“What, no insatiable desire for me?” Xander chuckled as he humiliated Reiya a bit more.
“Shut up, Xander.” Reiya rolled her eyes and looked up at Lee. He leaned down and gently prodded her nose. She smiled up at him, then decided that, while she was on this heart-to-heart train, she might as well make the next stop.
“Xander …” Reiya watched as he looked at her curiously. She fidgeted a bit trying to think how to tell him how she felt.
“I feel like I’m about to get the love confession,” Xander taunted again, but the amusement soon faded as he noticed her seriousness.
“Umm, the thing is, I know you don’t need me to say anything, but I am. Your dad was wrong. He was wrong about how he treated you, and he was wrong for leaving you. I’m sorry. It should never have been like that, ever. And I know that wasn’t easy, and it still isn’t easy. I guess what I’m trying to say is ... I’m here. I don’t want you to ever feel lonely. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.” She glanced up to see Xander and Lee looking at each other, a gentle smile on both their faces.
“Thank you, Reiya. I’m not lonely anymore. And with you here, keeping us constantly on our toes, I don’t think I’ll ever have time to be lonely again. Honestly, it was hard when I was young. But once Levi moved in, everything changed. Because of him and Gramps, I was never alone. I mean, sure, my dad ignoring me and leaving still hurts, but I’m okay now. And lately, ever since you came, it’s been really good. I’m happy. I love seeing Levi happy, and I love having you here. Being around you is … it really is like home. So, don’t worry about me. Thank you. It’s sweet of you, but it isn’t necessary.”
Just when Lee felt like he couldn’t love her any more, she went and said something like that. She was worrying about Xander and if he was lonely. She was such a sweet person. Xander was family to him, so seeing her care about him warmed his heart. She was the best mate he could have asked for. And he couldn’t wait until he could tell everyone that she was HIS mate. In fact,he was anxiously waiting for the day. He just needed a bit more time.
“Do you think those two are done romping around up there? It’s been pretty busy lately, and tonight is a down night since there’s a big event tomorrow. You guys all want to watch a movie or play a game?” Xander asked, and Reiya’s eyes lit up in excitement.
“Yes! Should we watch a movie? Only what movie … or should we play a game? Ugh, but not Old Maid. F that game. I’m so excited. It’ll be nice to just have some fun. We need snacks, too. Lots of snacks.” Reiya was speaking so fast, getting carried away with her excitement.
