“Why?”
“Because. . .I feel the same way too. . .I’m just. . .not ready to say it.”
“But youmustsay it.”
“What if it’s too soon?”
“None of that matters, Tora. It’s just us two. Together. In this bed. Heads on the same pillow. Holding each other and listening to our whispers. Skin to skin. Saying what our hearts truly feel.”
“But. . .” My pulse skipped.
Then raced.
Then stopped entirely when his eyes pinned me.
My bottom lip quivered. “I love you, Kenji.”
“I love you too, and will always love you. There will never be another woman after you. No one else can compare.”
My heart pounded in my ears.
Those words were so much I had to sit with them and close my eyes just to let them imprint into my heart and drown any fear away.
Damn. . .
And in that instant, I realized loving the Dragon would never save me—only ruin me beautifully.
Fuck it. Then that is just what will be. . .
I opened my eyes.
He continued to watch me.
I had to change the subject, if only to give my heart a few minutes to catch up. I swallowed. “Why can’t you really go to sleep?”
“I told you.”
“That’s bullshit. You’re horny, but you’re exhausted.”
His eyes didn’t move, but his jaw twitched.
“Something is on your mind. Or maybe. . .a lot of somethings are on your mind.”
“Why do you say that?”
I tilted my head, studying him like I’d studied so many before. “Your face is giving it away.”
“It isn’t.”
“It is.”
He smiled. “Tell me how.”
“The set of your mouth. The way you’re watching me without blinking, like if you blink, the thoughts will escape. That tightness around your eyes that I believe comes when you’re not angry, but you’re stressing about something that’s really heavy.”
His hand tightened on my hip, almost reflexive, as if to stop me from peeling him open. “So you think you can readme?”
“Am I right or wrong?”
