Oh well. There was plenty of time to teach him later.
“Anyway, they’re only my favorite band of all time,” I said, unable to stop the eagerness that crept into my voice. “I have all their albums on CD and vinyl—even the special editions—and, like, every piece of merch they ever put out.”
Matteo’s brows rose a fraction. “You do?”
I broke into a grin. “I’ll show you. It’s all safely stashed away in my hoard.”
“That’s... impressive.” Matteo smiled slightly. “I’d love to see it.”
A burst of joy exploded in my chest. Matteo wanted to see my TalonStorm collection. He wasactuallyinterested in my hoard.
“I could grab you and kiss you right now,” I blurted out.
Matteo blinked, then broke into laughter. “Do you say that to every man who sees your hoard?”
My cheeks burned from my sudden outburst, but his comment brought me down to earth. “No. Dragons’ hoards are special. Private. We don’t just show them to anybody. Only people we really trust.”
His expression turned gentle. “I see. I’m flattered. But that still doesn’t explain your reasoning,” he teased.
I blew out a dramatic sigh. Screw my shame, I’d get it over with since he wouldn’t stop asking.
“Fine. I’m obsessed with the lead singer of TalonStorm, and even though nobody’s seen him in a decade, I wanted him to be on the show because I was convinced he’s my fated mate. Happy now? I told you it was stupid and embarrassing.”
Matteo stared into the middle distance, like his soul had left his body. For a second, he didn’t seem fully present in the room.
My heart sank. Oh no. Was this like the Talon thing? Had I upset him by bringing up another man again? “Please don’t take it the wrong way,” I said hurriedly. “I told you it was embarrassing. It’s just a dumb crush I’ve had since I was sixteen.”
Matteo shook it off, breaking into a shaky smile. “No, Thystle, it’s okay.”
That’s what he said, but he still looked frazzled. My dragon instincts rumbled at me to claim Matteo. I threw my arms around his neck, capturing him. I didn’t want him to run away because I’d said something wrong.
“Stay,” I said.
Matteo exhaled in amusement. His loose body language indicated he wasn’t going anywhere. “This is my room, remember? Why would I leave?”
“I thought you were upset,” I mumbled.
He shook his head. “Not at all, but thank you for thinking of me.”
Relieved, I relaxed against the bed. Being underneath him was a nice feeling.
But what did being ontopof him feel like?
With my embarrassing confession and the awkward tension out of the way, I remembered the arousal between my thighs. Matteo’s looming position wasn’t helping in that regard.
My arms still looped around his shoulders. I shivered at the heat of his skin and the prickling hairs on the back of his neck. He held still, like he was holding back.
Well, screw that.
“Matteo,” I murmured. “I should’ve been there at the first challenge. Let me make it up to you.”
His still-swollen eyes widened. “Oh? What exactly do you have in mind?”
“I’m sure you can guess.”
His lip curled into a smirk. “This game again?”
“You’ll like the game this time.”
