She frowned, seeming to roll that over in her mind. “It’s not a secret. In fact, the year it happened, everyone knew. But I don’t want to talk about it. It isn’t a happy topic of conversation.” Leena glared at him, her hands landing on her hips. “I’d like to talk about something else. What did you say to the high lord to make him demand I remain on this mission?”
Chapter Seventeen
Leena’s head felt hot. She wanted answers. Every instinct told her Ambassador Rajesh’s insistence she remain on this assignment was somehow because of Colin. The way he’d looked at her in front of the high lord… Had he said something to him? Asked for a favor? Colin wanted her. He’d made that perfectly clear. The problem was, she wanted him too. That was precisely why she needed distance.
“Admit it. You are the reason my Quanling won’t name a replacement.” Leena focused all the anger she’d felt since the ball into the point of her stare.
Colin gaped. “Of course not!”
“No? You said nothing about needing me specifically? Because our ambassador said the high lord and lady thought I wasindispensable. What exactly would give them that idea?”
A low growl emanated from Colin’s throat. “Youareimportant to this mission.”
“You admit it! Knowing full well I desired to be released from this assignment, you intentionally made it so that I couldn’t go. You did this on purpose, Colin.”
He smiled, or was he baring his teeth? “Why would I do a thing like that?”
She scoffed. “You know why.”
Colin approached until the scent of leather and spice permeated the shelves around her. She backed up a step, but he kept coming, and she kept retreating until her backside bumped against one of the library’s tables at the end of the row. He stopped so close to her she could feel his radiant heat.
“Colin…” She shook her head.
He leaned in and said, “I never asked the high lord or lady to keep you on this mission. I wanted to. I’ve made no effort to hide that I want you to be mine. My inner dragon reminds me of it constantly.”
His lips were close, and she could feel his breath against her cheek. Heat coursed through her body, her torso, circulating out each of her limbs and settling heavily in her core. Why did he affect her like this? She should move away. She swallowed but couldn’t make her legs work. “You know I can’t.”
“See, you keep saying that, but the truth is that your body is communicating something else. You were the one who kissed me—”
“That was a mistake—”
“It didn’t feel like a mistake in the tent.”
“I wanted to try it. Nothing more. You said you understood.”
“I do understand. And if that’s all you want, it’s okay with me, dancing queen. It’s just I’m not convinced you really believe that. When you forced me to dance with you, you said—”
“I was high on snail venom!”
“High or not, you stared at my lips just as you’re doing now. Are you wondering if I’ll kiss you this time?”
Damn it all, shewasstaring at his lips. She snapped her gaze back up to his eyes and gripped the table behind her until her knuckles hurt. “Where else am I supposed to stare? You’re right in front of me.”
He sighed. Only the slightest space remained between them. She could feel the heat coming off him. Any closer and he might brush against the hardened tips of her breasts. His lips might touch hers.
“So then, you don’t want me to kiss you?”
“If you did, I couldn’t stop you.”
His eyes narrowed to slits, and the heat she felt earlier turned icy as he moved away from her. “I’d never force myself on you. Don’t insult me. And I didnotask anyone to keep you on this mission against your will.”
“I… Of course you wouldn’t. I just don’t understand why you keep… tempting me.”
“Then youaretempted.”
“I am. I’ve told you as much.” She looked away, her brow furrowing as she attempted to intellectualize what she was feeling. “I think all scribes are tempted at one time or another. But with the help of the goddess, we don’t have to give in to our temptations.”
“No, we don’t.”
