Page 40 of Fated for his Flame

Fire danced in his eyes for a moment. We both knew what I was referring to. But that wasn’t the purpose of the conversation.

“If it makes you feel any better,” he said, “all this bullshit isn’t how I expected it to go either.”

“Maybe a little,” I said, smiling up at him.

“But as you said, you’ve made dealing with it all worthwhile.”

I licked my lips. The mission wasn’t going at all how I’d expected it to. Was it real? Or was it some sort of fast-acting Stockholm Syndrome? It was all blending together, and I wasn’t sure what was my job and what was the truth anymore, at least as far as Silas went.

Would it be such a bad thing if I fell for the one person I might be stuck with for the rest of my life? He would make it more than bearable …

Silas pulled me closer, using one finger to tuck hair behind my ears while the others gently caressed my face. The honesty of his words poured out from him, filling his face and hands as they touched me with surprising gentleness for someone so big. I could almost feel it, it was so palatable.

He truly did feel bad about it all. He truly did care. About me.

Warmth sparked in my stomach. Not of a sexual nature, though that still burned in the background, speaking to unfulfilled needs. But at that moment, right then, our eyes locked in unspeaking connection. There was nothing sexual. Only open and true caring.

I came to a realization in that instant. An understanding, that while I might report in and give the information to my handlers they wanted so badly, I was never leaving the island. Not because it would be impossible, though it might be, but because I didn’t want to. I wanted to stay.

With Silas.

It was a compromise. I wouldn’t abandon my mission, my oath, but I also wasn’t going to risk my life to try to leave. Not when I was already happier than I’d ever been. All because of him.

You’re insane, I told myself.

Am I? Or is this something worthwhile? Maybe Silas isn’t the real enemy. After all, we started the war, technically. They were just trying to get one of their own back. I would do the same thing, so how can I call him one of the bad guys, just for trying to get one of his own?

The logical side of my brain flew through a list of reasons longer than the credits after a movie about how that was just plain twisted logic. My heart tossed the arguments aside, beating stronger and faster in response. It didn’t care. Silas was different, it insisted. Very different.

“What do we do now?” I asked, desperate for a distraction from my own brain. There would be plenty of time to argue with it in the shower at a later date. Maybe I’d even win.

“That’s up to you,” Silas said, still caressing my cheek, his other hand draped around my back, holding me close with a firm grip, though not so tight as to feel forced. “We can finish up shopping, if you want?”

“Don’t you like this dress?” I pouted, looking down.

Silas gave me a toothy grin. “I think I made my opinions on that known back in the store. If you recall …”

“I do,” I replied, my voice suddenly thick and nearly hitching on the last word.

“Good. But my point was I didn’t know if it was ‘the’ dress in your opinion. Or if you wanted to try on some more.”

Looking up at him, watching his eyes dart from my face, to my body, and back again, I smiled, and reached up behind my neck. “I think there’s only one last thing to do to make sure it’s the right dress.”

Silas’ eyes followed my every motion with burning intensity as I untied the knot.

“We’ll have to see what it looks like on the floor,” I purred, letting the top fall, baring my body to the waist for him to see.

Chapter Twenty-One

Chloe

“It stopped,” he pointed out playfully, his eyes focused on my breasts. “Looks like it’s stuck.”

“Maybe you could help me, then?” I asked, batting my eyes over my shoulder as I turned to show him the zipper.

“Of course.” He stepped forward, nearly mauling me as he struggled to undo the dress at the speed of light.

I started to protest as I shook with laughter at his eagerness, but then the dress fell to the floor, and he pulled my underwear down with it. Just like that, I was naked and exposed, and he took full advantage, picking me up and placing me down on the nearest surface, which just so happened to be the back of the couch.

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