Page 48 of Dragon's Code

I roll my eyes at him. “You’re truly pathetic.”

“Athena, are you all right?” Kash’s voice sounds a little closer.

“You better make a decision, because he’s going to come through that door in three seconds.”

“You should consider coming to my side, Athena. I could make it worthwhile, more than your confused dragon friend who doesn’t even know if he wants you or not.”

His words sting, but the panic that he knows what’s going on between the two of us gives me another chill. I want him to get lost.

Raphael moves so fast, I don’t even register it until he’s right in front of me. He wraps his hand around my head and then he’s kissing me. I immediately start pushing and shoving, even bringing my knee up to knock in the balls, but he’s too fast for me. He’s gone like a puff of smoke or a shimmer of magic.

My towel is on the floor and Kash is standing in front of me.

How the hell did all that happen? Kash looks pissed, yet his eyes are eating up every single inch of my bare skin. I bend down and grab my towel, covering my body back up. I’m not ashamed of it, I’m just not in the right state of mind to be that vulnerable.

“What the fuck, Athena?”

I cock an eyebrow and a hip at the same time. “Excuse me? What the fuck what?” I say in a dangerous tone.

“You were kissing him.”

I give him a very stern are-you-fucking-kidding-me look. “He assaulted me knowing you were about to break into the sound bubble he had us in. He’s trying to rile you up, and clearly it’s working.”

Kash’s anger isn’t dampened by what I just said.

“You didn’t have a great view of me punching and kicking at him. If you think I want anything to do with him, then you haven’t been paying attention. Maybe you never have.”

I grab underwear and a silky set of shorts and a tank top pajama set I got while we were shopping. I move into the bathroom and quickly pull on some clothes so I don’t have to worry about the towel falling again.

When I come back out, he’s exactly where I left him. I should be more shaken since Raphael just appeared in my room again, but there’s something about the interaction that has me thinking.

“What did he want aside from to shove his tongue down your throat and get you naked?” Kash is still seething.

“That’s what’s interesting. He needs me for something. He wanted me to change sides, as if I even knew there was a side to choose. He clearly had higher expectations of you telling me more or thinking that I’m part of this war you’re in the middle of. If he had asked, I would’ve just told him that you don’t want me anywhere near it.”

Kash gives me a frustrated glare and then gestures for me to continue.

“I’m assuming that if he can travel on radio waves that he could easily take me, but he didn’t. Something’s going on. He’s trying to get in my head. He’s trying to steer me in a different direction.”

“Is it possible he actually does like you and doesn’t like that you’re in the middle of this war and he might have to kill you after all?”

I sigh. “I don’t know. If that’s the case then he’s barking up the wrong tree. I have no desire to be with that man ever again, but I don’t think I’m wanted here either.”

Kash takes a deep breath. “Jerrick has called another meeting. Everything has escalated with Jasmine aware of our secrets. We can’t take our time because we can’t hold her indefinitely. King Marcus will come looking for her.”

“Okay…”

“If you’re amenable, I would like you to come with me. You can meet some of the women here. You can hear what we’re trying to figure out.”

I’m surprised by this offer. “Yeah. Now?”

He nods.

I glance down at my pajamas. “I guess I should change into something a little more—”

Kash steps into my space. I tilt my head back to look at him. Without another breath or thought, his mouth lands on mine. My hands fall onto his shoulders to hold myself up as I lean into his body. He’s hard and warm. His hands are on my hips holding me against him. The kiss is all consuming and powerfully hungry. His tongue slides against mine, dipping and teasing.

I hold on for dear life as he kisses me once again like I’ve never been kissed. He tears away from me just as abruptly as it all started and storms into the other room.

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