Page 27 of Tempt the Dragon
Ravyn left Mel to ponder those words but all Mel could think about was finally getting away from these people. She didn’t subscribe to their way of thinking and that, to them, was clearly herbiggest fault. Yet, that tiny spark of envy she’d felt while listening to Ravyn speak with such fevered emotion about finding and ending up with Steele continued to flicker in the pit of her stomach. The sensation was so familiar, so intense she closed her eyes to the memory that assailed her.
“I love you.” The words had tumbled out of her mouth before she could think of pulling them back.When he stopped on the trail where they’d been walking hand in hand, her pulse quickened. What if he didn’t love her back?
His eyes seemed to warm as he continued to stare at her for those painfully quiet seconds following the admission and she dared not open her mouth to speak again. Having one fanciful set of words slip into the air had put her at her foolish quota for the day.
“I’vebeen waiting for you to say those words.” Not,I love you too. It took her another few seconds to process how that made her feel. Something inside her shifted at that moment. It felt like she’d turned around too fast and lightheadedness was on its way. But she didn’t sway with dizziness, instead she took a deep, steadying breath and released it slowly.
“I thought your power was telekinesis,not mind-reading.” Because if she were being perfectly honest with herself she’d been thinking those words, or at the very least had been experiencing weird emotions that she’d suspected would lead to those words, from the day she’d met him six months ago. Was that enough time to fall in love with someone? Hell if she knew, she’d never been in love before.
“What I have is a dragon who selectedits mate seconds after seeing you sparring in the training room.”
She blinked slowly because Aiken hadn’t been her first partner. He’d been her trainer and she’d been certain he could barely stand her when, of all the trainees in that room, he’d paid her the least amount of attention. “What are you talking about? You didn’t even like me when you first saw me.”
He shook his head, that sexyas hell smile spreading. “I guess it takes a while before the man, or in your case, the woman, comes to terms with the beast within.”
Why did he keep referring to dragons like the words she’d said had some sort of preternatural meaning? Well, really that didn’t matter, Mel wanted to know if he loved her back. If not, she could walk away. She’d recover and move on as she’d been forced to doall her life. It would be no big deal.
“Is that what you normally say when a woman tells you she loves you?” Did that sound vulnerable? Needy? Desperate? She held her breath while waiting for his answer.
His response didn’t come in words, but a quick tug as he dropped her hand and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her tight against him. Their lips were connected next, his tongue pressingthrough, dragging her into a kiss that sent her head spinning and the feeling inside her swelling until she thought it would push right through her skin.
Pulling his mouth away from hers, he gave them each a moment to catch their breath. “This is what I do when the Selection is sealed between me and the woman whose tenacious and spirited personality stole my heart.”
Mel’s eyes shot openand she gasped for air. Looking frantically around the room, she noted the exercise equipment, weights and mats throughout. Good, it had only been a flashback. She wasn’t in that moment anymore, and her heart wasn’t beating the rhythm of new love while her mind warred with the words Aiken had spoken. The Selection and all its implications had been like a death sentence breathed over what she’d thoughtwas the best thing to ever happen to her.
It took her a few seconds to let that memory settle in the back of her mind so she could reclaim the calm she’d practiced over the years. She hadn’t chosen to accept her beast and its selection, instead she’d walked away, to save her life. Now, she needed him to stop pushing her, stop trying to seduce her into making a different decision this time.Time hadn’t changed the fact that the sacrifice she’d have to make to do that was still too great.
With a feeling of resolution and determination, she stood and left the gym.
She hadn’t come here to fulfill some lovesick dream of getting her guy, she’d come to claim her target and that’s exactly what she planned to do, despite how much she’d wanted to climb into bed with Aiken last nightand beg him to hold her, to assure her that this was all going to work out. If this was going to go the way she wanted...no, the way sheneededit to go, then she was going to have to make sure of that herself. Nothing else mattered.
