Page 28 of Dragon Kissed
Her tongue touched his, and fire moved through his veins. Actual fire; the dragon opened its throat inside him, and Demetri tore his mouth away. Nica made a sound of protest that nearly ended him. He pressed his forehead to hers and fought for control.
“Why did you stop?”
“Because I do not want to frighten you.”
“You’re already frightening me.” Soft. Honest. Demetri forced himself to release her waist, and Nica caught his bare side before he could step away. “You’re also making it very difficult to care.”
His eyes closed. The dragon preened.She wants more.He opened his eyes: her lips flushed, her pupils wide, a strand of pale hair clinging to her cheek.Beautifuldid not begin to contain her.
“You are perfect,” he said.
Her expression closed by instinct, a joke rising behind her eyes, and he saw it coming. “No.”
She blinked. “No what?”
“You will not turn this into humor.”
“I wasn’t?—”
“You were.”
Her chin lifted. Demetri touched the strand of hair beside her mouth. “You are beautiful when you are angry. Beautiful when you are frightened and refuse to retreat. Beautiful when you forget to guard your face because a piece of history has captured you.” Color rose along her throat.
“You barely know me.”
“I know what I see.”
“You don’t know what’s wrong with me.” The words came too quickly, pain moving beneath them, and Demetri lowered his hand.
“There is nothing wrong with you.”
Nica laughed once, no humor in it. “That’s easy to say on day two.”
“Day three.”
“What?”
“It is after midnight.”
She stared at him. “Day three,” she repeated.
“Yes.”
“That makes this much more reasonable.”
“No.”
Her mouth twitched, and he wanted it under his again. Instead he stepped back. The distance hurt. Necessary. “I will court you properly tomorrow.”
“What doesproperlymean?”
“You will see.”
“That sounds ominous.”
“It is breakfast.”
“Terrifying.”
