“You brought light back into my house. You made me smile again when I couldn’t remember the last time I’d done that. You appreciated my garden when no one else save my landscapers even noticed it. I didn’t realize I’d been lonely until you came. Burden is the last word I’d use to describe you.”
His words swirled around me. They sounded right. But he had stated so clearly how uncomfortable he was with me. Could I believe their meaning now?
I took a heavy breath. “But you can’t change the fact that you still own me. And you have a problem with that, right?”
“Oh, sweetheart. I told you I think too much. I don’t have any problem with you. I just got worried because my thoughts get out of control. What it is that causes that is… I care too much. About any harm to you. You’re so special. My urge to protect you—even from myself—is overwhelming.”
“I guess I still don’t quite understand. Because of what happened last night?”
“Yes.”
“But I wanted it.Icame to you.”
“I know. And it was beautiful and precious. I’m sorry that what I said over breakfast came out too cold and factual to apply to something so warm and special and magical.”
My eyes warmed, but this time my vision stayed clear. I watched his face for any sign of him just trying to placate me. But his worried gaze was gentle, open.
“This is all because of some papers that say you own me?”
He nodded.
“What if those papers didn’t exist.”
He blinked. “I—I don’t know. I mean, they do exist.”
“But imagine if they didn’t. Pretend for right now that they don’t.”
“Okay.”
“Does anything change?”
“Change?”
“I’m still me. And you’re still you, right?”
“Yes.”
“The papers are just writing. They don’t define who you are. Or who I am. Not really. I’m the same person sitting here with you if they never existed. Just me. And you’re you. And last night happened because I wanted you. So bad. The papers can’t put into words exactly the way I felt. They might exist but they don’t say how I feel.”
“Wow. I needed to hear that.” A small smile began to dance in his eyes.
“You did?”
He nodded. “They don’t say how I feel, either.”
“So, you didn’t feel like you owned me last night?”
“No. You’re right. They didn’t have any role in defining last night. They still don’t.” Tane placed his hands on the tabletop.
“It’s okay, then. Isn’t that what this means? What I’m saying?”
“You’re very astute. Tanekan is berating me. He’s the one using the word astute.”
I loved that his dragon was talking to him. About me. Happiness bubbled up inside me making me want to laugh. So soon after tears, it was a welcome feeling.
Tane’s hands slid in my direction. I unbent my elbows and lay my arms flat until my fingertips reached his, touching lightly.
“Tell Tanekan I appreciate him very much.”
