“You think I can't have you? That's adorable.”
This time, the shiver that ran through me was cold. My face twitched, the reaction uncontrollable, and my stomach clenched. It was all I could do to remain seated and not go running out of the restaurant.
“Fuck,” the King muttered and leaned forward, his broad hand going flat on the table. “Do not fear me. That wasn't a threat. Great Ensarena, do you really think I'd force you into my bed?”
I let out a soft breath and bid my body to relax. My tone was supposed to be carefree, but it sounded strained. “Of course not. There are no rumors of you mistreating people in such a manner.”
“Listen to you.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “And you were doing so well with your irreverence. I admired it nearly as much as it annoyed me. You are so aloof. As if you're wearing armor. I just wanted to slip past it. Reach you. And I finally succeeded. But you're so sensitive beneath all of that.” He waved at me. “One touch, meant to tease, and I've wounded you.” He paused to curse. “You are a frustrating man, Tekhan. And you have some mistaken ideas about me that we need to address. First, I am not, nor have I ever been, a man to wield my power over my lovers. If you don't want to be mine, you won't. Frankly, I don't want a man who doesn't want me. The thought sours my stomach.”
I took another breath and relaxed. “I'm glad to hear it. As I'm glad to hear that you value my candor. So, let me return to my irreverent honesty. If you didn't mean by force, what were you implying just now?”
“When I called you adorable for thinking I couldn't have you?”
“Yes, of course.”
The King leaned further across the table and held my stare. “Tell me you don't want me. Go ahead. Let's see how good a liar you are.”
“We've already established that my desire for you is not the problem. I have admitted that I find you arousing.”
He nodded. “Exactly. That's what I meant when I said I can have you. You want me, so I can make you mine. I merely need to get past your reservations, and I'm confident that I can.”
I rolled my eyes. “You said I have mistaken ideas about you. What else have I gotten wrong? Please, enlighten me.”
“You think I would take your freedom. I wouldn't want that.”
“You wouldn't have a choice. It's the magic that would shackle me.”
“This is the misconception I speak of. Dragon mating magic only restrictsDragons.”
“What?” I whispered.
“Oh, look at that. Something you didn't know. How exciting.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The magic binds a Dragon to its mate. The binding process for males includes a release of our essence. This essence—”
“One moment, if you please.” I held up my hand.
The King cocked his head, his long hair sliding over one muscular shoulder. “What do you not understand?”
“Essence. What is that?”
“I was getting to that. A Dragon's essence is a part of them. Their true selves. When I find my mate and claim him, my soul will release a portion of itself and create a magical essence that is released through climax.”
“Are you talking about ejaculate?”
“It is an ejaculate in as much as it is ejaculated, but it is not cum. It is essence. I will coat my mate, and the essence will sink into him, binding my soul to his. It will give him a piece of me, do you understand? Not the other way around.”
My teeth clicked as I closed my jaw. “You have to come all over your mate and it's going to sink into him and bond your soul to his? How is that not restrictive to your mate?”
“If my mate is a Dragon, he will claim me in the same manner, and we would be doubly bound. If he is not a Dragon, he cannot claim me. In other words, he will not gift me a portion of his soul.”
“That seems unfair.”
The King shrugged. “I won't hold it against you. I mean, if you're my mate.”
I grimaced. “How kind of you.”
