“It is for the best.”
Orion reached out toward her. “What is for the best?”
The intensity of his question had her pulling back. She could never allow him to touch her again. She needed to put distance between them.
Nina pulled in a deep breath and did her best to calm herself and straightened her spine. She must be strong. “It is best if you keep your visits to the grove for only when your presence is necessary and required.”
His face contorted into pain, worry and disbelief. “Is this because of vines? I promise never to kiss you again.”
It did not matter if he did or not because Nina would still crave his arms about her and his lips on hers. “You will want to kiss me again, or I will wish you would,” she admitted. “It cannot be. It is best if you leave and not return.”
Nina didn’t wait for a response but turned away from him and calmly walked from the temple, down the steps and onto the path. As soon as she was out of sight, she ran for her home.
In time her heart would grow stronger, and she would once again be content with living in the grove.
She must be.
Besides, she’d known Orion not even a fortnight and it was foolish to upset her life and her heart over someone who was fleeting in her life. Not seeing him would bring her the perspective she needed, and Nina was certain that when she looked back, she’d be able to see more clearly that her infatuation was only because he was new and different, but nothing more.
If a heroine in one of her novels behaved in this manner, believing that she was possibly in love after such a short time, Nina would have considered her a fool. Therefore, she mustn’t succumb to such foolish notions of longing for someone she’d known hardly any time at all. In fact, she hardly knew him. Yes, he was a beautiful man, but he was simply someone new and different. The novelty of the new friendship would wear off and she would return to how she was before Orion ever walked into the grove, and it would be for the best. She simply needed to allow herself time to heal her heart, become reasonable again and then all would be well.
At least she hoped that was the case.
It must be what happens because longing for what she could never have would only lead to unhappiness for the rest of a very long life.
Besides, what he claimed to be feeling might not even be real. She’d heard the stories of men becoming possessive and desirous of dryads and all manner of nymphs. It was why her friends hid. It’s very possible that Orion was only responding to that small part of her who was a dryad, a nymph, and if she was simply a human and nothing more, he might never have noticed her.
Eighteen
Orion stared after Nina, wishing to follow her, but knew that she’d disappear as she had before.
He thrust his fingers through his hair, heart aching and stomach tight. She had sent him from the grove. Not just for today, but he was not to return unless it was necessary.
All because of a simple kiss.
Except, it wasn’t so simple. Each touch of the lips ignited something within him that had nothing to do with passion. Yes, he desired her, and he had a passion for Nina and wanted to experience all the wonders that men and women have enjoyed since the beginning of time with her, but what burned deep inside was so much more.
To be honest, he didn’t truly understand the draw, pull, and need for her. He’d never experienced such with any other woman he had ever met.
Could it be as she said, that because she was linked to the dryads, she was also a nymph? He had read accounts of men, though mostly gods, losing sense and pursuing nymphs. It would explain why his draw to Nina was so strong. She was in his mind nearly always and in his dreams at night. If she weren’t part nymph, would he even have returned after first seeing her in the grove?
Yes, he would have because of his curiosity, and he’d still want answers for why she was here. But that didn’t explain his current obsession for someone whom he’d known such a short time.
Was there a potion that his sister could brew that would keep him from being susceptible to a dryad?
If there was, then he would take it so that he would know for certain if his emotions for Nina were true or simply the madness that gods and mortals before him had suffered.
With those thoughts in mind, Orion quit the grove and went in search of Petra, who he found in the stillroom.
After he explained what he needed, Petra frowned. “I am certain that there was probably such a spell or potion long ago, but I do not know of one.”
“Could you create one?” he practically demanded.
“It is not so easy. I would need to create something strong enough to block the power of a lesser goddess. I am not certain any witch has strong enough powers to do so.”
He’d forgotten that dryads were lesser goddesses, which meant Nina was one as well.
Bloody Hell! He wasn’t even worthy of her. He’d kissed a goddess!
