“It is you I desire. It is you I dream of. It is you who pulls me to the grove and your being nearly a dryad has no effect on those emotions.”
It had been so much easier to push him away when she had convinced herself he only cared because she was almost a nymph, but to learn that it was her that he wanted made her ache and long to be held and kissed—made her want the impossible.
Nina immediately pushed those thoughts aside. She’d not succumb to her heart’s desire because when this need or whatever it was he spoke of came to an end, he would leave and she would be alone once again.
“You are curious because you’ve never met anyone like me,” she began to explain, hoping she found the right words. “You said so yourself that I am not like others in Society.”
“You do not dress as others in Society.”
“It is practically the same,” Nina insisted.
“Why are you trying to push me away?” he finally asked as pain etched across his features.
“Because unless you seek only friendship, then there can be nothing between us.”
It pained her to tell him so, but it was the truth, no matter how much she foolishly hoped otherwise.
“Friends,” he echoed. “That is all you really wish?”
“It is all there can be,” she said. “Have you forgotten the vines so soon?”
Orion chuckled. “No, I have not.”
“Then you understand.”
“No, but I accept your decision.” He took a step back.
Her heart constricted, though this was for the best.
“Until we can find a solution to the vines and a way to keep them from crawling up our legs each time I kiss you, I will refrain from doing so.”
“Then there is no reason for you to return.”
He tilted his head, confusion and contemplation in his brown eyes. “I thought you wished for a friend.”
“I do,” she answered before she considered her words.
“Then that is what I shall be. And, in being your friend, I will prove to you that my longing for you is very real.”
“It does not matter.”
“Ah, but it does.” He took a step toward her. “For being friends is more important than any relationship a person can share with another.”
“You will not try to kiss me again?” Perhaps if Orion kept his distance, then her heart would strengthen and any longing for more would dissipate. As she had said to him, maybe her desire was because he was new, something wonderful and beautiful in her small world.
“I will not.” He made an ‘X’ across his chest. “Or I will at least do my very best until the problem with the vines is solved.”
Nina chuckled. “If we remain away from each other, then I suppose we can continue being friends,” she finally agreed.
His shoulders dropped and Orion smiled. “I had hoped you would agree.”
Twenty-One
“I have found nothing on dryads breaking from their tree,” Petra informed Orion as he waited for Cook to prepare the picnic basket. “Many women have chosen to become dryads or even hamadryads, becoming trees, but I could find no spell that could break a tie to a tree.”
Orion was disappointed, but anticipated what Petra would find.
“I still haven’t gone through the ancient spell books yet. Maybe they will contain one.”
