Page 52 of Burned

“Okay. Then what do you want?”

When he doesn’t answer and only continues to hold my gaze, I fill the silence.

“Because I’ll admit, I want this. Right now. I want to stay here locked in this pretty room with a beautiful man who makesme feel things I never have before. I want to learn all your secrets and desires and make you feel good.”

“It’s impossible. We both know it.”

“I don’t know anything anymore. I’m relearning everything I was taught to believe. You make me want this impossible life.”

“We… could lose everything, Alrick. Is this worth it?”

I scoff. “What am I losing? A life I never wanted. A life that isn’t my own. My dad would probably be happy to never see my face again.”

Lord doesn’t say anything.

“Your brothers wouldn’t disown you. I know that somehow. They love you.” My voice cracks. “They respect you.”

Lord rubs his sternum as his eyes go glassy. “How do you know that?”

I shrug. “Maybe the dragon knows. Ifeelit.”

“Alrick, treasure, beautiful man. Your people kill my kind. How do we reconcile that?”

“Dragons have killed many innocent people in history, but I don’t view you in the same light. I’ve never killed a dragon, and I never will. Why do you think you found me the way you did? Because I wouldn’t strike. I couldn’t.”

Admitting this, even to myself, used to taste bitter on my tongue, but right now, it feels liberating. “I don’t want to be a hunter. There’s only one way I can avoid it.”

“You would have to leave your family.”

I nod, leaning back in my chair. “My dad wouldn’t allow me to stay anyway. Honestly, Lord, when you found me, all I wanted to do was get well enough to go back to them, but now I’ve had a taste of what a real life feels like. I don’t know if I could go back.”

“Alrick, do you hear what you’re saying?”

“Loud and clear.” I drag a hand through my hair, the weight of my words settling in my chest, but instead of feeling heavy, I’m lighter than I ever have been. “I’m not asking you to keep meif that’s not what you want. If you still want to hold out for this fated mate, I get it.”

He leans across the table toward me. “But?”

“But if you want to keep me a little longer, I want to stay. I want to stay in this make-believe world where there’s nothing keeping us apart. I want to soar over the Eiffel Tower on the back of a magnificent dragon, and I want to worship every inch of your skin. I want to take care of you, Lord, and make you feel as good as you make me feel. Even if it’s just temporary. When it’s over, I’ll go if that’s what you want. Just please let me have this a little longer.”

“Gods, Alrick, I don’t want you to leave. If you think this isn’t what I want too, you’re not paying attention.”

Smiling, I huff a laugh and blink back tears that threaten to fall. “Take me back to bed. Let’s feed each other crème brûlée and pretend this is forever.”

Lord nods, rising slowly. His eyes heat and scales flicker across his chest and arms.

“Gorgeous,” I whisper, taking his offered hand.

“Yes, you are.” He pulls me into him until our chests are touching. “My Viking.”

“My dragon.”

The words feel so right and true that my breath hitches. Lord’s dragon peeks through as a tendril of smoke swirls from his nose.

“Does he have a name?”

“It’s my true name.”

“Balriss.”

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