Page 38 of Lyric

“You’re quiet, too.”

He nodded in agreement. “This afternoon I did what I wanted to do. I take full responsibility.”

Okay, so now we were talking about it. I blinked rapidly, trying to get my nerves under control. “I wanted it.” My voice went hoarse.

“I know the timing is all wrong, but I can't deny a connection. Lyrican has been babbling nonstop about it.”

It took a few seconds to order my thoughts. “Maybe the timing isn't wrong. It's only Coltan's interference that makes us think so. Maybe it's right.”

“A lot of powerful and traumatic emotions have taken over in the last twenty-four hours,” he pointed out.

“I know. That's why I've been asking myself over and over again if this is real.” Why did it hurt to say that? I didn't want that possibility to exist at all.

“Lyrican says I think too much. He's pure instinct and I'm more of a rational mind. I plan out our races and the timing we need. He provides the instinctive love of the game plus speed and strength. He runs on pure emotion. When he went to rescue you the very first time he heard your scream, he moved like a dragon on the most important mission of his life. Of course, he didn't want to see you hurt, but his was not pure altruism. It was selfish. He heard you, and your cry had already spoken to his heart.”

I'd never heard such words. Like poetry. Tears burned my cheeks.

“I--I don't know what to say. I'm shaking.”

“I didn't mean to overwhelm you, but I've been thinking all day that I needed to tell you the honest truth, my thoughts, my feelings.”

“And I'm shaking because I wanted to hear exactly what you said and I still don't believe it. How can this be? Jinnan is nudging me to stop questioning you. I want to. But I'm terrified.”

Lyric dropped off the couch to his knees in front of me. “What terrifies you?”

I shook my head, and more tears spilled.

“Is it Coltan?”

“No. Not anymore.” I took a deep breath. “I want you. So why does it hurt?”

He reached out and took my hands in his. “Are you afraid I don't have the same feelings you have? Because I just spilled them all over this room and on you.”

I let out a nervous laugh. “I'm afraid I'm still dreaming. I'm afraid I'm still in shock.”

Lyric leaned his head down and placed a kiss on the top of each of my hands. The touch of his lips against my skin sent tingles throughout my body.

“This is real for me, Jinn. I want to show you that. Maybe it will help?”

The word no didn't exist in my brain right now. “Yes.” I bowed my head down until my forehead touched his. I leaned my weight all the way forward and fell straight into his arms.

He sat back and brought me onto his lap, his arms tight around my waist. I wrapped my arms around his neck. We were face to face now, staring directly into each other's eyes. I couldn't look away as his palms pressed against my spine and brought me closer to him.

When his lips touched mine for the first time, everything went foggy, dizzy. At first, his mouth gently brushed mine like a tentative greeting. It was as if I'd been swept up in a spring wind, dragon-shifted, my wings stretched out as I glided in golden light. The whole world broke apart and was put back together again over and over.

I pressed my hands against the back of his neck until the kiss grew stronger, harder, deeper. Then I opened my mouth.

A growl escaped him and his mouth opened to mine. Our tongues touched, probed, danced. I'd never been kissed so thoroughly in all my life. But then, I'd never felt this way before.

Careful of my ankle, I wound my legs around his waist. Now I was hugging and kissing him with my entire body. I never wanted to let go.

When we broke away for air, Lyric said my name twice under his breath.

“Yes, it feels right.” It wasn't that I thought he'd asked me that, merely that I wanted to offer my side.

Jinnan was letting out little dragon roars like laughter in the distance of my mind. So happy. Of course it was right.

“Kiss me like that again,” Lyric said.

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