“I have worked for your family foryears. I solved your problems before you even knew they were problems. I am organized. Reliable.Responsible.If I was going to be a single mom, it would be because I had done so much research I could do my PhD on it, and have plans for every possible outcome and sperm donors rankable via pivot table—”
“I don’t know what that means,” he said, feeling like he was trying to head off an avalanche before it destroyed an entire town.
“—and instead I—I…” Her voice shook. “I don’t know who he is. I couldn’t find out. Itried.All my, my useful workaholic organized-ness, and I couldn’t even find that out. And I wouldn’t give Tomás up to change any of it; he’s the best thing I’ll ever do with my life, but I still…”
“I know.”
Her eyes found his, wary and hopeful.
“I love you, Maya. And everything you have made of your life, whether you meant to or not.”
“But what if—” She bit her lip and stopped herself. “If he’s the one who stole your treasures—”
“The hell with my treasure.” He pulled her close, into a hug he hoped communicated everything his words felt not enough for. “With your permission, I will hunt down Tomás’s father. But not for my own vengeance. So we can discover the nature of his dragonfire, so you are prepared for whatever magic is in your son’s future. And I will make itextremelyclear to him that whatever his claim on Tomás, his behavior towards you has been unacceptable. He made you afraid, Maya. I will not forgive him for that. And once we have dealt with him…”
Maya wasn’t breathing. He needed to finish this, fast.
“I want you, Maya Flores. I want to go to sleep with you at night and wake up beside you in the mornings. I want to watch Tomás grow into his powers, and guide him as best I can. I want you, and I do not want to waste a single moment more of my life not being yours.”
She gasped in a breath. “But you don’t want me.” Her voice seemed to echo, hollow with shock. “It’s only physical—”
“You already know that isn’t true.”
“Your magic—”
He swallowed back a wave of bitterness. This was not what she deserved, but it was all he could offer. “You are enough for me,” he said, his voice rough. “And all I can offer you in return is a bad bargain.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can only offer you myself.”
“That’s—” Her eyes widened in understanding. “You think that’s not enough?”
It wouldn’t be, for another dragon.But this wasn’t a dragon. This was Maya, the missing piece of his heart. “My magic will not harm you so long as I never claim you. But I do not need to claim you for you to know that I am yours. You are my world, and nothing will change that.”
19
Maya
My world.
She’d bared her heart to him, and he’d accepted her, taking all her broken pieces and holding them together like the most precious of gifts.
“To be clear,” she began, her words seeming to come from a long way away, “you—”
“I love you, Maya Flores.” His voice was mock-stern, a teasing echo of the arrogant face he always showed the world. But there was still a sliver of uncertainty in it. Perhaps the first she’d ever heard. “Will you allow that?”
Would she allow him to love her?
“What sort of question is that?”
“The most important.” He waited, a huge, dark crow of a man, hesitant and stiff, as though she could possibly give him any answer exceptyes, yes, yes.
“I’ve always loved you,” she told him. “I didn’t know it, before. I didn’t know what it meant. But now I do, and it makes me love you even more. And—”
Here they were again, back at what shewanted.
“I want us to figure this out.Allof it. Together.”
