During the walk over to the gathering with Kaya, Emily managed to pack away any dreams or foolish hopes regardingSeahaven’s head Protector. By the time she met him, she had her emotions under control.
Too bad it didn’t last long.
By the time he’d tugged her behind a building and asked if the ruse was the only reason she was avoiding him, her heart thudded and it took everything she had not to lean into his touch.
You barely know him. There’s no way someone would fall for you in a matter of days when you couldn’t win someone over the course of years.
Cam’s voice snapped her back to the present again. “Tell me if someone hurt you, Emily. If you do, then I’ll share why I distrusted you so much at first, too.”
She frowned as she met his gaze. “So I was right about first impressions. I thought you didn’t like me, but clearly, you’ve changed your mind, not that I know why.”
The corner of his mouth kicked up. “Don’t you? Being yourself changed my mind, lass. You’re clever and dedicated and kind, not to mention bonnie. You also stand up for yourself, which I appreciate, and challenge me in ways I didn’t know I needed challenging. In other words, this is more than a ruse to me, Emily. Or, at least, I want it to be. So won’t you let me in a wee bit? Please?”
As she searched his flashing dragon eyes, her heart thudded. Had she heard him correctly? “You fancy me?”
He smiled. “Aye, lass. But I think we both need to clear the air or we’ll never have a chance to see where things go.”
She should feel relieved there was an out. If she didn’t answer him, Cam would give up.
But did she really want that? Sure, there was a lot she still didn’t know about him. However, as he gazed at her with heat, she felt wanted. Truly wanted.
Maybe for the first time in her life.
Could she trust her feelings, though? They’d only ever given her trouble and heartbreak in the past.
As Cam caressed her cheek, she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. His hand was warm and large and slightly rough. And yet, she wasn’t afraid. She lifted her hand and placed it over his, and she heard him suck in a breath.
He whispered, “What do you want, Emily? Tell me. If you wish to keep pretending until you leave, I will. But if you give me a wee chance, and want to give this a real go, then say the word and I’ll do my best to win you over.”
She opened her eyes and asked, “Why, though? Why me?”
After cupping her other cheek with his free hand, he caressed her skin with his thumbs as he said, “As I’ve said, you’re brilliant and beautiful and have a huge heart. You were willing to sacrifice so much to help others.” He leaned a little closer, until his breath danced across her lips as he added, “Tell me why you’re so afraid to try with me.”
She swallowed as her heart thumped harder inside her chest. Before she could change her mind, she blurted, “Because no one picks me. Not my family, not Trahern, not anyone.”
Frowning, he asked, “Who’s Trahern?”
Crap.Why had she brought him up?
In recent days, she’d used her journal to sort out her thoughts. It’d helped her to understand what a fool she’d been, seeing things that weren’t there. Distance had made her realize she’d been clinging to a dream that never had a chance.
However, as her eyes moved to Cam’s lips, the urge to kiss him rushed through her. Could she really want someone so quickly?
You didn’t truly want Trahern. He was just safe and there.
Cam’s finger caressed her bottom lip, and her eyes shot to his again. “Tell me, lass. Let me in. Please. I won’t toss you aside for merely sharing more of yourself.”
This was it. This was the moment when she had to make a choice.
Did she risk feeling foolish and Cam maybe mocking her for what she’d wanted with Trahern?
No.He wouldn’t mock her. Maybe he’d pity her, which was almost worse. But she knew he’d listen and be kind.
Before she could change her mind, she whispered, “He’s a dragonman who saved me once at university from some bad blokes, and I thought I fancied him for years. I came to Seahaven partially to get away from him.”
“What do you mean you thought you fancied him?”
One of his hands continued to stroke her cheek while the other hand moved to her neck. His thumb caressed her pulse, back and forth, and it was difficult to concentrate.
