Or did he love her simply because he worried about her and knew that Nina was lonely.
He couldn’t be in love with Nina! He had not known her long enough. Yet, his heart and mind argued with the rationale.
“Why are you studying me in such a serious manner?” she asked with concern.
“I am trying to understand.”
“What?” she asked.
“I have never been drawn to anyone like I am you.”
“I am in part nymph because of my connection to a tree,” she explained. “Men are drawn to nymphs because they unintentionally inspire great love and desire among mortals and gods alike. Strong emotions can be invoked by nature and men have been known to become possessive of dryads.”
Could she be correct? “I was not drawn to the others, and they are more nymph than you.”
Her brow furrowed. “Perhaps you were not close enough.”
“I am not certain I agree. I believe I am drawn to you.”
His words nearly broke her heart. It didn’t matter if he was drawn to her or not, there could never be anything between them. Yet, Nina couldn’t pull away.
“What is to become of us, Nina?” he asked quietly.
“We are to be friends,” she answered. “That is all we can or ever will be.”
“What if I want more?”
Before she could answer him, Orion leaned forward and placed his lips against hers.
As much as Nina wished to be kissed again…to be held, she knew it was not only wrong but dangerous, and she should push him away. Instead, she allowed herself to linger as his kiss deepened. Her heart and soul warmed, longing for more, while her head was screaming at her to run away. It was only when she felt a tightening about her ankle did Nina realize the danger of her actions.
With both hands on his chest, Nina pushed Orion away and glanced at her foot where a vine had wrapped itself around it. The vine had also woven about Orion’s. She kicked it away, stood and backed away from Orion.
“Blast!”
Orion kicked at the vine and then joined Nina in the temple.
“You can never, ever kiss me again.”
He frowned and glanced down at the vines now limp on the marble step.
“It appears that is to be the case.”
He sounded as disappointed as she felt, but this was for the best.
“Those are evidence of why we can never be more, Orion.” She pointed to the vines. “I would not have you injured, nor do I wish to be.”
His frown deepened. “I still wish I knew why the vines behaved in such a manner.”
Nina shrugged. “Not even the dryads know.”
She glanced up into his warm brown eyes and Nina’s heart painfully constricted with the knowledge of what was never to be.
She’d been so foolish. Nina kept telling herself it was simple infatuation, and one that she would get over, and that they were only friends. She was wrong or she had been lying to herself because her caring for him went beyond infatuation, but she was too afraid to label it as love. But what else caused the pain of a heart being crushed?
“You should go!”
“Why?” he asked in alarm.
