Apprehension invades my desire. Even if I can get past my aversion, we don’t have time for sex.
“Rosomon,” Zogar says softly. “My Queen, my love.”
At that last word, my lungs fill with love for him. The moment we’re home, I’ll tell him how I feel.
“I must tell you something very important,” he says, “something I’ve known for some time and should have told you sooner.”
Nerves scramble inside me.
“I’ve been a coward.”
“The last thing you are is a coward.” I stroke his palms with my thumbs as he holds my hands firmly. “You saved my life today.” I shiver. “You don’t know the horrible things that monster had planned.”
His eyes darken. “I havesomeidea.” Then he shakes his head. “Let’s not speak of that demon, now—not ever again, if you prefer.” He lifts my hands to his lips and softly kisses each one of my knuckles in turn.
Warmth flows up my arms straight into my heart, and my head lolls to the side as if the touch of his lips on my hands stole all the strength in my neck.
“I wasn’t referring to today,” he says. “I’ve been a coward about a completely different matter.”
What could be so difficult for him to say?
“My queen,” he says, “I fear I must break one of the agreements I made on our wedding day.”
Fear seizes my heart. “Which one?” Every one of those vows were important—important to me.
Zogar clears his throat. I’ve never seen him so uncomfortable.
“I’m beyond grateful that you agreed to our marriage,” he says. “In fact, the word grateful doesn’t begin to describe the debt I owe you. Without your help, I would have lacked the power to accomplishanyof what has transpired since that blessed day—not to mention what I hope will transpire in the future.” Gratitude flows between us, but his eyes are still tinged with nerves.
A realization strikes me so sharply I feel foolish for not seeing this sooner. Zogar needs me for sex. After what he did on that roof, after carrying those heavy bags through the shield, he needs to have sex to replenish his powers.That’swhy we stopped here. That’s why he was carrying me toward the bed. And he’s nervous about it, because he knows all I’ve been through.
My internal muscles squeeze. I’m still rattled. Ideally, I’d like more time before having sex, but if Zogar needs me, I can’t deny him. Not after all that he’s done for me. And not now I know that I love him.
“Our union wasn’t based on love,” he reminds me. “Our wedding was based on practicality, on necessity. On your kindness and generosity.”
His words not only confirm he wants sex, they remind me why I’ve been reluctant to confess my love. When I tell him, he won’t say it back. He made that abundantly clear.
“On our wedding day,” he continues, “we knew little of each other. On that day, the presence of love in our marriage was unimportant to me.” His chest fills with a deep breath. “But my feelings about the importance of love in a marriage have changed.”
I suck in a ragged breath. He no longer wants to be married. He wants to marry someone he loves. Does dragon-shifter culture have a way to dissolve a marriage? In the Kingdoms of Light, aristocratic men find excuses to execute wives they no longer desire. And in the lower classes, men simply abandon unwanted families.
“Today, while Gabreal had you captive…” Zogar’s eyes close, and he shakes his head. “I can’t begin to describe the intensity of my fear—of my utter despair.” He draws a shaky breath. “I thought I’d lost you.”
He’s fully trembling now, so much that my hands vibrate inside his. “No.” He sharply shakes his head, and his eyes reopen. His resolve has firmed.
“I don’t want to connect what I’m about to say to what happened earlier today. I knew thisbefore, and don’t want you to think I’m saying this because that demon took you.”
I’m no longer sure which one of us is shaking. “Whatdoyou want to say?” My theories have shifted. Is it possible he feels the same as I do?
“Rosomon.” He goes down on one knee, just as he did when he gave me my ring. “Over the time I have known you, my admiration for you has grown—to the point that…” His chest expands on a deep inhale. “Rosomon, I love you. I love you so deeply.” His body shudders. “I love you with so much passion itcan’t be contained. If I’d held the words back another moment, I’d have exploded in a conflagration of flames to devour us both.”
“Oh, Zogar.” His words turn my legs to mush, and I drop to my knees. I’m so happy I can barely breathe. “Zogar, I?—”
He presses a large finger against my lips, stopping my words. “Please. Don’t respond. Not right now. I don’t want to hear…” He shakes his head and sadness fills his eyes.
His fingers brush up my throat and lift my chin, then he kisses me softly, and the previously threatened conflagration of flames consumes me. Swept up, I lick his lips, hoping to deepen our kiss, but he stands, lifting me into his arms and carrying me toward the bed.
I’m ready for this now. Ready and eager to show him what he stopped me from saying aloud.
