Page 9 of Awaken the Dragon
“Why are you here with me? If you own this security company why do you not have your staff doing jobs like this?”
So she had questions too. Okay, well, he could do this because again, talking was much better than thinking. He took a napkin from the table, wiped his mouth and then rested his elbows on his knees.
“Staff called out sick, so instead of keeping a client waiting, I took the assignment.”
“Regrets?”
She looked over at him while she chewed. There was something pure and untouched in that look, the way she blinked slowly and watched him with interest. She couldn’t possibly know about all the regrets he harbored, nobody could.
“I like doing my job. What about you? Do you have a job to go back to after this wedding? Or did you give up everything to come here?”
He reached for a donut then, picking the powdered one and bringing it to his mouth for a bite.
“I am from Mobo. You may not have heard of our small river town, but I was a teacher there.”
“You can teach here too. There are plenty of schools in Burgess.” One of which he owned, but that wasn’t something he needed to disclose at the moment. “I mean if you liked it, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t continue. Just because you’re getting married doesn’t mean you have to give up the life you had before.”
She didn’t immediately respond and when he finished chewing he glanced in her direction again. Her soul identity eyes were more like ice, clear, and yet warmer than any other eyes he’d ever seen.
“For this, I would give up everything.”
Fury churned deep in his gut at the thought that this man who hadn’t cared enough to meet her tonight could mean so much to her. But it was replaced by a slow burn ignited the moment she leaned closer to him. As if he were hypnotized, his gaze followed the hand she lifted, the pad of her thumb she pulled in to touch the tip of her tongue, and that same thumb as it came closer to touch the corner of his mouth.
Arousal, thick and hot pulsed through him. He could feel it settling in the throb of his dick and the pounding of his heart.
“You need a napkin. All the powder from the donut is on your face.”
Humor tinged her words as she wiped that moistened thumb over his face again, this time touching the corner of his lip. His body jerked as the beast immediately pressed forward to meet her touch. She yanked her hand back, dropping it in her lap, eyes snapping from clear to reddish brown as quickly as he could blink.
He stood before instinct took over and he moved in to push her to her back so he could climb on top of her. That’s what the beast wanted and damn if the man wasn’t struggling with the need as well.
She did the same, popping up off the couch and looking anywhere but at him.
“I am going to bed now. Thank you for the food.”
“You’re welcome.” The words were thick in his throat, or was that desire?
Tightening and releasing his fingers at his sides seemed the best he could do at restraining himself from reaching out to touch her. She’d felt his skin, now he wanted to feel hers—on her face, along her bare shoulders, everywhere. “Ah, I’ll be out here if you need anything.”
No response came as he watched her walk back into her room and close the door. Dropping down to the couch Theo closed his eyes and groaned. She was right, he should have given this job to a staff member.
Chapter Four
Heat consumed him as flames licked the walls of the mountain around him. Theo stood, naked, tired and enraged.
Blood pounded through his veins, the sound like a barrage of drums in his head. Fists tight at his sides he took the first steps, bare feet moving over jagged rocks with no qualm.
“You can’t leave.”
Her voice rang like cymbals against the roar of the fire, her words slicing through his skin like a hot blade.
“You can’t leave this place. It is your home, your legacy.”
She continued to call to him and his feet continued to move, carrying him to an unknown destination. With every blink of his eyes red rage grew brighter, stronger until it clogged his throat.
“Your father will not approve. He is the ruler of all and he will command you to return! I will see that it is so!”
Sharp pain seared his gums and razor-edged teeth broke through. His head fell back, mouth opened wide and a roar that shook the world echoed in the humid air.
