“And now?” he asked. “Aren’t you freaked out just a little?”
“I wouldn’t say that I’m freaked out, although it was a lot to take in, especially when I was already scared out of my mind,” she said, then sighed. “I’m sure it’s going to take me some time to get used to the idea, but you were there when I needed you. It doesn’t matter how you did it, you saved me from those men, and I will always be grateful.”
“And I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “I can’t imagine my life without you now, Rose. I’m not sure when it happened, and the truth is, I don’t really care.”
***Rose***
Looking into Malcolm’s eyes as his words slowly sank in, Rose felt a wave of warmth slowly envelop her and she let out a long sigh, welcoming the comforting feeling. “I always feel better when you’re around, it’s like I’ve been wrapped in a warm blanket,” she said, smiling at him. “And now that I don’t have to lie to you, I won’t be feeling guilty all the time. It was tearing me up not being able to tell you the truth about why I’m here.”
Malcolm smiled at her. “I could feel it, I knew that something was off, that’s why I kept putting off telling you the truth, but it all makes sense now,” he said, taking her hand, making herentire body tingle a little. “We have a lot to talk about, Rose. There are things about me that are different than everyone else.”
“You mean the part where you can turn into a dragon?” she asked, grinning at him. “That was kind of hard to miss.”
“No, smarty pants, I was talking about the bond that forms between a shifter and his perfect mate, the one that lasts for a lifetime and ties them together, leaving them both miserable if they’re ever separated,” he said, then paused to let that sink in. “I’m talking about the bond that’s been forming between us since that night when I ran you down outside the stadium.”
She thought back to that night, remembered the warmth, the feeling of power surging through her, the way her entire body had been tingling for hours afterward. “I just thought…you mean that’s what that was…I’ve been thinking…well…I don’t know…” she stammered, then looked over at him. “We can’t stop this thing now that it’s started, can we?”
“We could if we wanted to, it hasn’t gone that far yet,” Malcolm said, a resigned look on his face. “I’ll understand if it’s too much, I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to back away…”
“I didn’t say that, I didn’t say that at all,” she quickly interrupted him. “I don’t want to stop it either, I was just, I don’t know…wondering what happens next.”
Before he could answer, her stomach began to growl loudly. “I think breakfast had better be next, you can’t think on an empty stomach,” he said, grinning at her. “Hattie is going to make you a tray and bring it up when you’re ready. I’ll just run down and let her know you’re hungry.”
“I don’t need breakfast in bed, I’m not sick. I’ll get up and go downstairs. Hattie already has enough to do without babying me,” she said, then started looking around the room. “I don’t suppose you know where my clothes are, I’d like to get dressed even if they’re dirty.”
“I brought your bags in last night after we got back here,” he said, getting to his feet and going to the closet. “I’ll wait out in the hallway until you’re ready.”
“You don’t have to wait for me, I can manage on my own, I know the way around,” she said, throwing back the covers. “I can meet you downstairs.”
“Yeah, you could, but I’m not ready to be that far away from you. Last night really scared me,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “That’s another thing you’re going to have to get used to, I might be a little overprotective from time to time.”
“Oh, I see,” she said, walking over to him and wrapping her arms around him. “I guess I’ll just have to get used to that.”
“There also might be a few jealousy issues,” he said, looking down at her. “The dragon is a little possessive, I’ll try to keep him reined in, but no promises.”
“We’ll just have to do our best, but maybe you could give the dragon a message for me,” she said, grinning up at him. “Tell him that you’re the only man for me, there’s never been anyone else, and there never will be; he’s stuck with me.”
He didn’t say anything for a second, then shook his head, “The dragon doesn’t believe you,” he said, a serious look on his face. “He wants you to prove it.”
“Oh, he does?” she asked, then stretched up on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss. “Does that help?”
After another brief pause, he shrugged his shoulders. “A little,” he said, “but he’s still not convinced.”
This time, she wrapped her arms around his neck and, heart pounding, pulled him down and kissed him again, this time parting his lips with her tongue and pressing her body up against his. He was stiff for a moment, and she wondered if she’d done something wrong, then he growled deep in his chest, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her back.
Her body came alive instantly, every nerve alive with sensation, the world around her melted away, and she was only aware of the glorious pleasure flowing through her. Malcolm’s hands began to roam over her body. She instantly became aware that she had little on besides the nightgown, but it felt so wonderful, she couldn’t bring herself to protest.
A knock on the door interrupted them, and Malcolm broke the kiss with a frustrated groan and looked down at her, his eyes full of desire. “Does he believe me now?” she asked, slightly breathless, wishing they hadn’t been interrupted. “If he doesen’t, I’m sure I could think of something else to help convince him.”
Malcolm groaned again, “I don’t think that will be necessary,” he said, grinning down at her. “He’s completely convinced, but now he wants more, and he’s not going to give up until he gets it.”
“Well, you’d better tell him that there’s someone at the door,” she said, backing away from him. “And I need to get dressed.”
“I could get rid of whoever it is and help you,” he said, taking a step toward her. “You might still be weak from last night.”
She laughed.
“Answer the door,” she said, heading for the bathroom. “I’m going to go get dressed.”
