Stephan didn’t want to talk about it. “I’m trying to embrace this opportunity, Liam, really I am. It’s just difficult sometimes to set aside that memory.”
“I understand. But keep trying, and I think you’ll find a pleasant life ahead.”
Chapter 10
Stephan tried to burden himself with the work to keep Mickey from his thoughts. But he failed because the dragon in him never grew tired. He shifted so many times that week with the hope maybe he could take her off his mind, but he failed. Every time he shifted, the desire in him grew more.
Liam was right. He could mourn and be alone for the rest of his life, or he could seize an opportunity that presented itself and take his life to the next level. Stephan wasn’t the sort to sit around and daydream about something he wanted. If he wanted it, he went after it. His past had taught him that life could end without warning, and he didn’t have all the time in the world.
Grabbing his phone, he skipped past messaging and dialed, international call rates be damned. He had more than enough money. What he wanted was the girl across the water.
“Stephan?” She answered with his name on her lips on the third ring, and it brought a smile to his face.
Then he realized he’d forgotten to check the time difference and winced. Hopefully, he hadn’t woken her up in the middle of the night. He looked at the clock on his phone quickly and did the math. Thankfully, she should just be getting off work. “I wanted to hear your voice,” he said in return, forgoing the traditional greeting.
He could almost hear her blush through the phone, from thousands of miles away. “That’s sweet. Listen, I’m about to get in the car and drive home.”
“This won’t take long,” he assured her. “I just wanted to call and tell you that you’ve been on my mind since you left. That you’re always on my mind, and I don’t know how long I can stay away from you.”
She hesitated, and Stephan held his breath. Had he said the wrong thing? He couldn’t tell, not without her here, where he could hear her heartbeat. And he had so little experience with emotions and women. “Well, why don’t we plan to see each other?”
“I want more,” he blurted out, hearing the responsive sharp intake of breath. But he had to push forward, or he wouldn’t get the words out. He didn’t want the guilt to flood back in and keep him silent. “I want to be with you. I want to feel your body up against mine. I want to taste you, to touch you. I want to hold you while you sleep, to wake you up with a kiss that turns into something passionate in the morning.”
Dead air.Stephan held his breath, trying to listen for any reaction, but it was as if Mickey had completely disappeared. Then came the soft whisper, “I can only imagine what that would be like.”
“It doesn’t have to be imaginary, Mickey. I haven’t wanted this with anyone, ever.” He winced. He had once, but trying to explain a dragon mate would probably go over as well as explaining the truth of his family’s death as opposed to calling it an accident.
“Stephan, I have a career that’s taking off, and I’ve got to focus on that. It’s extremely important to me, not just for myself, but also for my partner here. I have to take into account her needs, too. So, I’m not saying no. In fact, I’m saying yes. But only if this can remain casual, with no expectations. I don’t want to strap you down with the idea of a full-blown relationship just to disappoint you when I can’t give you what you need.”
Stephan thought about that and appreciated her honesty. He let it roll around in his head and sink in for a few minutes, and then he cleared his throat. “Okay, I understand. It doesn’t make me want this any less.” And it was true. He would rather have what little she could offer than nothing at all, and that spoke volumes about his feelings for her. “I just need to be with you. I can’t define what I’m feeling right now, but I feel like, since you left, there’s been an emptiness I didn’t feel before.”
Stephan knew that Mickey only wanted to keep their contact casual, but that was better than not having her in his life at all, and when she hinted that she was excited about the possibility of him coming to visit her, he hopped at the chance. He hung up, feeling anxious and enthusiastic. He could picture her, see the glow in her face and the shine in her eyes when they were filled with mirth. And he could smell that special aroma she put off when she was excited, when he kissed her or touched her. Now, he just needed to be patient.
???
Mickey glanced down at her cellphone and smiled impishly. She and Stephan had been texting back and forth for a couple of days now and the conversations had really started to turn steamier and steamier with every passing day. She couldn’t deny that the more she wrote to him, the more he was starting to infect her thoughts. He was really starting to get under her skin, but she still wasn’t sure that this was anything more than a fun time for him, and it made her slightly apprehensive.
There was still so much she didn’t know about him, and it sort of bothered her to know he didn’t have much of a family history to go back on. She honestly really wondered what had happened to his parents and brother, but the way his eyes had looked when she first scratched the surface of that were so sad, she knew better than to dare asking again. Causing anyone any sort of pain wasn’t something that Mickey enjoyed doing, but it did make her curious, and she wanted to learn more about him. She skimmed over his newest message and found her cheeks instantly burning brightly as she giggled lightly.
Mickey,
I can just imagine how luscious your sweet curves look right now. I can’t help but keep recalling how gorgeous that fine green gown looked on you on our first date. I can’t get it out of my mind. And then, the sweet taste of your lips, it’s been on my mind all day.
S.
This one was actually much milder than some of the others Stephan had sent her, and she worried about what Sarai or anyone else might have thought if they came by and read it over her shoulder. Thankfully, she had been so busy with new wedding decorating ventures, and that had kept both Sarai and David absent as of late. She pursed her lips and began typing out her own message, biting into her lower lip as she read back over it,
Stephan,
I too cannot keep my mind from wandering back to you and the way you kissed me that last time we saw one another. It just seems like we never really got a proper chance to see where things might go, but having you to talk to is a welcome consolation prize. You’re making me bright crimson right now with such endless compliments! You sure do know how to make a woman feel wanted.
Mickey.
She had to admit that she did like getting his messages; they brightened her day and made her feel instantly happy any time one of them popped up on her screen. It was the first time in her life she’d felt like this. But she wanted to take things slowly with getting to know Stephan, and though she did really like him, it seemed wisest to keep her heart guarded. She was no young woman, she was a woman in her third decade, and she needed to make sure she wasn’t burned beyond recognition. Especially with where she was in her career placement. It was everything to her to keep herself on track and without knowing Stephan well enough at this stage, she sure as hell wasn’t about to dive into something foolishly and screw up her whole life plan. No man was worth doing all that for, not by a long shot! But, that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy the feeling that his attentions were bringing her. Every woman deserved a good self-esteem pick up, and that was exactly what Stephan was bringing her. And, if Mickey was wholly honest with herself, shereallyliked it.
Hello again, Mickey,
I was actually thinking of coming very soon. I’ll be sure to let you know when I’ve got an idea on the itinerary. Have a good night, I know it’s getting late there.
