He nods. “I know that now.”
His other hand reaches out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, and then he gently cups my chin, tilting my face up as he looks in my eyes with a hundred emotions swirling in his.
My breath catches. Everything about him throws me into a storm of emotions and desire and things I can’t put a name to. It’s maddening. I want his lips on mine again. I want all of him.
He leans in as my heart begins to race, and this time his lips touch mine so softly I almost miss it. I close my eyes, savoring the feel of his mouth against mine, his breath against my lips as he pulls away just a little.
I open my eyes and meet his gaze. He pulls me into his chest, hard, like he doesn’t want to let go. I breathe him in as I wrap my arms around his rock-hard torso, and he kisses the top of my head. What I really want is to be ravaged by him, but now isn’t the time.
And then suddenly, I remember everything between us and I get a little heated. I pull away from him, pushing off his chest with a little bit of force that makes him look at me with confusion.
“What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong?” I repeat. “What’s wrong is that I’ve practically thrown myself at you several times, even jumped into your lap uninvited, and you’ve rejected me each time. And now what? What even is this? You’re acting like you care about me and you’re kissing the top of my head?”
My hands are now fists at my side, anger rising in me.
“I do care.” Wisely, he stands back, giving me more space from him while I unload.
“Forgive me, but that’s news to me. And honestly, I’m a little tired of the games.”
“It’s not games. It’s… complicated.” He rubs a hand along his jaw.
“It’s really not all that complicated. I’ve been right here this whole time. I don’t know why it’s such a dilemma for you, some internal battle you’re always having within yourself, but I’m tired of it being at the expense of my feelings. I can’t… I can’t get more attached. You’re leaving…”
“Elle, it’s hard to explain, but since the day I—”
“Hey!” Raef is hollering at the end of the tunnel. “We really should get going. You can have your lovers’ quarrel later.”
I glare at Daegan once more before storming past him toward the exit.
When we emerge from the dark cave into the gray sky of the outside, we find everyone waiting for us.
Somehow, the horses are still there. Even though a lot of the trees nearby are badly charred.
“We protected them,” Raef says proudly, seeing the wonder on my face as I look them over. He folds his arms with his chest held high.
“Thank you guys for protecting all of us last night,” I say.
“No one fucks with our transportation,” Raef announces proudly.
I laugh.
“Did anything else come?” I ask, avoiding eye contact with Daegan and glancing at the trees again.
He dips his chin a little. “Daegan took out a pack of maliths.”
Gaethri raises his eyebrows in surprise. “A pack of them? That easy?”
Daegan gives Gaethri a tight-lipped, curt nod.
“Okay. Let’s get back to the inn. I’m starving.” Meela climbs onto her horse, ready to leave.
Most of us ride in silence. I remain by Meela the entire ride, not once looking behind me.
“I know what you two did…” I confess.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
