“Fuck, I'm sorry,” I said, suddenly remembering how this man wanted to chase, not be chased. He was a dragon-shifter, after all. It was in his nature. “I read more into that then—”
“I do want to spend some time with you,” he cut me off. “I'm attracted to you, and not just your appearance. But you're not ready for me. And I don't know if I'm ready for you. There's a lot that comes with dating you.”
My fleeting courage rushed back. “I'm not asking you to fuck me or make a commitment, just spend the day with me. We can get to know each other better and maybe get closer to knowing if we're ready.”
“Ember, you're still figuring this out. And you're in the middle of something with Keltyr. I think you should focus on one new man at a time.”
“Oh. All right.”
“I'm not saying there won't be something for us in the future.”
“Yeah, I get it.” Then I snorted a laugh.
“What?”
“I've just discovered I'm one of those men who wants what he can't have.”
“That's all men.”
“Then maybe I should tell you there won't be a future for us.”
Taroc chuckled, and it was that low, sexy sound again. “The problem with that is we both know it's a lie.”
Then he stood up and left the table.
I watched him go, shaking my head. The man liked to make a dramatic exit.
Chapter Thirty-One
It seemed wrong to have so many men on my mind. Unfair to them. Fickle of me. Or greedy, rather. That mentality was one of the obstacles I faced. I had to get over it. I was going to take Taroc's advice and feel my way through this. Just behave as I wish, not as I thought I should. Which meant I shouldn't let guilt cloud my mind. If I wanted to think about Taroc and Keltyr or even someone else, I could.
I strode down the corridor with a new spring in my step. Act like Ember. Do what I want to do. All right. What do I—
Jath turned the corner ahead of me.
Oh, Goddess, he's what I want to do,I thought.
Jath saw me. The skin around his eyes tightened. His stride faltered. But then he recovered and his walk smoothed out.
I, however, stopped walking and waited for him to reach me. When he did, I said, “Hey.”
He stopped. “How are you?”
“I'm good. Um, would you . . .” Come on, Ember, be bold. Do what you want to do. And you know he wants you. “Would you like to spend some time with me today?”
“Spend some time with you?”
“Yeah. Like a date?”
Jath's mouth fell open.
“We could go somewhere for lunch,” I suggested. “Or—”
“I can't,” he cut me off. “I just . . .” His stare dropped to my lips.
“Jath, we both know you like me. Are you really going to let your misplaced anger stop you from finding out where this could go?”
“Misplaced anger,” Jath murmured. “Yes, that's what it is. But it is still anger, Ember. If I were to fuck you like this, it wouldn't be gentle. I'd take my anger out on you through sex, and it would kill me. Because you don't deserve that. But I haven't moved passed this yet. And that's how it would be.”
