Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
When he lifted his head, his face now above me, I felt like I’d melted into a pile of goo. His hands slid up my thighs, and I could only arch toward him.
“If you only knew how badly I wanted you.” He smiled, his voice no more than a whisper. When his hands began to pull away, I held him tighter.
“If you want me…” I smiled and gripped his arms. I flipped us over, pinning him under me. “Take me.”
His eyebrow raised, clearly more amused. “Are you sure that is what you want? Or would you like to do the taking?”
Instead of answering, I kissed him, and he smiled against my lips, his arms wrapping around me, holding me closer. But when I leaned into him, he flipped me over.
“If you want me…” A wicked grin took over his lips as he pinned me down. “Mate me.”
Chapter 30
“What am I supposed to say to that?” I asked, glaring up at him.
“Yes, of course, is the preferred answer,” he replied, still amused. “What reason do you have for hesitating now after coming so far? Or do you merely wish to use me for my body?”
I couldn’t help it and laughed outright. “Can I not? All those other vampire women in America were able to.”
“As you may know, I do not recall such persons.” He bent down and kissed my lips. When I moved to kiss back, he moved, shaking his head. “No, I shall not give into your wicked temptations.”
“You sound like a Puritan now,” I teased as he sat up, pulling me up with him.
He chuckled but said nothing more. He reached up, placing his hands on my face. Calming down, and much more serious, he asked me, “What is it about mating that scares you?”
“I’m not scared,” I replied quickly as I sat between his legs. I tried to find something in his room to distract me.
“Then your hesitation is caused by what?” he asked softly, gently moving my chin over, so I would look at him. “I do not mind waiting for you, whether you wish to run or crawl or standstill, so long you are beside me, I am content, Druella. But I do wish to know what is on your mind. What is it you wish for? What is it you fear?”
“Does your mom know that?” I muttered.
“I have no interest in finding out about my lover from my mother.” He chuckled. “That is a bit awkward.”
I grinned and felt this fluttering in my chest, which was weird because there was nothing in there that was supposed to be alive anymore. Nevertheless, he always had me laughing or smiling. Sighing, I leaned into his arms to rest my head on his chest.
“I don’t know,” I whispered. “I like you. You make me laugh more in a day than I remember laughing in a month—”
“You admit you like me,” he repeated joyfully. I rolled my eyes, trying to get out of his arms, but he held me closer. “I wonder how deeply you are going to be in love with me once you are free from your spellbind.”
“How deeply are you in love with me now? You haven’t even known me that long. You have spent so long waiting for someone, waiting for me. What if I’m not what you expect or even want?”
“Impossible,” he whispered.
“You don’t know that. Forever is a long time.”
“Yes, I am aware.” He laughed with his hands in my hair. He didn’t get it.
“What if…What if you get annoyed with me after I don’t know the first decade? What if I’m not the same? What if your memories come back or my magic comes out and all of a sudden we’re…I don’t know—at each other throats, or we hate each other…What if—”
“The sun falls out of the sky and the earth burns to ash,” he teased, and I tried to pull away again, but he held me tighter. “I jest. Forgive me.”
Sighing, I sat back and rested into his arms, my back to his chest. “I don’t feel black-hearted, Theseus. I feel confused, lost, and overwhelmed.”
“My mother said before you fell asleep two days ago, she saw a flicker of me in your heart,” he whispered, and my head nearly whipped back.
“Really?”
He nodded. “Yes, so expect her to be less harsh from here onward.”
“How much less?” I pressed.
“She might say good morning every once in a while.” He snickered. “My mother is not the easiest to get close to. It’s why my father calls her Draka.”
“What does that mean?” I’d heard Sigbjørn call her that with such tenderness.
“Dragon.”
We shared a look before both of us laughed.
“Your mom must love that.”
“She hated it at first, but the more she complained, the more the name fit and proved him right.” Theseus chuckled, and I liked how his back vibrated against mine.