Page 62 of Creatures of Chaos

“I don’t know,” he answers honestly, and my heart sinks a bit lower.

It’s the truth. Unless we dig up some dirt on one of the council members soon, Becks will still be getting betrothed and then forced to life-mate with the female chosen for him. I’ve survived Chaos so far, making it further than anyone—even myself—expected, but it’s still a longshot that I’ll come out victoriously.

Becks is still the dragon heir.

I’m still as magicless as ever.

He throws his arm around me, tucking me into his side, and I go willingly, relishing his warmth in the chilly night and the butterflies that flutter in my stomach.

“About earlier tonight,” Becks starts, and I tense. I’d forgotten the events that served as a catalyst for Becks’ confession. “These trials are dangerous. Cage fights, compulsion . . . there is real potential for serious injury, notto mention the legality of it. I’m really worried about you.” He rushes to add, “And that’s not because I think of you as weak or less-than—a lot of magically powerful creatures were injured tonight. These trials are no joke.”

I start to relax. This is the same argument we’ve had for weeks, and although I’m fatigued from going around in circles, I’m just glad he didn’t bring up Talon.

“And the thing with Talon,” he says, and I tense back up. “That was?—”

“It was the compulsion,” I spit out, feeling the need to explain myself even though I know I shouldn’t have to. I didn’t owe Becks an explanation before we kissed, and I don’t owe him one now either.

He nods. “Yeah, I know. It’s just . . .” His arm around me tightens. “I just don’t get a good vibe from that guy. He’s hiding something. And the way he looks at you makes me want to tear his face off.”

I smile in the darkness. Talon’s done nothing to deserve Becks’ ire, but now that I know for certain he’s into me like I’m into him, I don’t mind the show of jealousy so much.

“There’s nothing going on between us,” I say honestly. He can’t possibly think I’m harboring feelings for another guy when I just kissed him like that. “And if it makes you feel any better, it’s not like I ever plan to search him out. I’d rather keep my distance anyway.”

He’s silent for long enough that I turn to look at him. A muscle jumps in the side of his jaw, making me think he’s stopping himself from saying something. Finally, he says, “Yeah, okay. I’ll drop it. It’s not like I have any hold on you right now. Not when I’m in the position I’m in myself.” He starts to let go of me and I know he’s not just physically retreating, he’s emotionally pulling back as well, but I’m not going to let him.

Reaching up, I place a hand on his cheek, gently turning his face so that he can’t help but look at me.

“I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. We’re going to figure it out. You’re crazy if you think I’m going to stand back and watch you be mated to another female. Especially now.”

Something sparks in his eyes, and I know I’ve drawn him back to the here and now. “You don’t want to watch me with another female?”

I purse my lips. “I thought I just made that pretty clear.”

Becks rubs the back of his neck, a wicked gleam in his eye that makes heat bloom in my gut. “I don’t know. Maybe there’s a way for you to make it clearer,” he says, as he holds back a grin.

“And how do you suppose I do that?” I ask, full well knowing what he’s alluding to, but enjoying his sudden teasing manner. Flirting is a whole new side of Becks I’m not used to seeing, let alone being on the receiving end of. I like it a lot.

“Hmm.” The sound he makes in the back of his throat is super sexy and makes my heartbeat pick back up again.

Twisting, he grabs me around the waist, and as if I weigh nothing he settles me so I’m resting with a knee on either side of his hips. As I look down on him, he swipes his tongue over his lower lip. When his gaze fastens on my mouth, I have to swallow the sound that threatens to bubble up my throat. It’s suddenly incomprehensible how I kept myself under control for so long. Now that I know what he tastes like, there’s no going back for me.

Rather than waiting for Becks to make a move, this time I do the taking. Dipping my head, I press my mouth against his, and just like before, coming together in this way is nothing short of bliss.

I follow Becks’ lead as he moves his mouth over mine, and when his tongue slides against the seams of my lips I open wider, letting him in. I can’t stop myself from running my hands overhim. I caress his biceps and dive my fingers through the soft hair at the back of his head. He trails his fingers back and forth over the exposed skin at my sides and cups a hand around the back of my neck.

This kiss is so much more than just the result of pent-up physical attraction. This kiss is everything. It’s slow and decadent and makes my toes curl. It’s an expression of the depths of our emotions. The depths of our desires. It’s everything I never knew I needed, and I’ll remember this moment for the rest of my life.

I don’t know how long we stay like that, leisurely exploring each other, but when Becks pulls back and rests his forehead against mine, my lips are swollen and my eyes heavily lidded.

Rubbing a hand up and down my back soothingly, he sighs and it’s part-resigned, part-contented. “Come on. Let’s get you to an all-night clinic. That hand needs to be stitched. We can brainstorm what you’re going to tell your parents when we get there.”

My parents. I’d completely forgotten about them. Nothing like bringing up the parents to throw cold water on a romantic moment.

Dropping my head back, I sever the connection between us and groan. A few bruises were easy to explain away, especially since they looked like sparring injuries, but a knife wound in the middle of my palm is an entirely different matter.

Becks laughs at my reaction and sets me aside. Standing, he pulls me up after him. “We’ll figure something out.”

When we climb down from the rock to the ground, he does something he’s never done before. He takes my hand. When he squeezes it, I feel a jolt all the way down to my toes. And when he looks over his shoulder at me with a carefree and contented smile, I think my heart might explode.

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