Page 27 of Reign

“You owe me a kiss,” he whispered when I didn’t speak. But he didn’t lean in, and I knew right then, I had a choice.

“Do I?” I managed to croak. My gaze dropped to his full and totally kissable mouth. I should refuse...

Holding my gaze with his, he leaned in. Still I didn’t move away. If anything I tilted towards him. His lips brushed mine, and electricity hummed through my veins. He repeated that gentle kiss again, then his hand was in my hair, holding me close as his mouth pressed harder, his lips warm and soft. I groaned as my whole world was reduced to thefeelof his mouth against mine. He tasted devine. My tongue brushed his, a desperate moan bubbling up my throat. My fingers twitched, and I raised my hands to grab him, but just as I touched him with my eager fingers, he moaned and pulled away.

I had no idea what to say. Any attraction I’d felt to Jed was utterly obliterated by the draw I felt towards this man.

Our breathing was heavy, and he seemed at as much of a loss as me. His gaze snagged on mine.

“Fuck,” he muttered on a long exhale of breath. Jerkily, he pushed to his feet, his gaze dropping from mine as he lowered his head and took some deep breaths, his hands on his hips.

My mind was swirling with confusion, my body tingling from the after effects of his touch. I couldn’t think straight. I had to get away from him, if only to process everything that had happened. While his attention was on the floor, I took my chance. I sprung up from the couch and bolted for my room. No one stopped me. They just watched me curiously as I ran down the corridor before I darted inside and slammed the door, locking it behind me. I laughed at my own ridiculousness. If Connor wanted in this room, then that flimsy door and lock wasn’t going to stop him; he was built like a brick shit house, a solid wall, a human battering ram—a...whatwashe? I mean, hegrowled!

With my back against the door, I sank to the floor, hyperventilating. I rubbed my temples. My headache had returned with a vengeance. It had the moment I’d run from Connor. No, wait, that wasn’t why my headache had come back. That made no sense.

A gentle knock at the door made me jump. “Ember?”

“Go away.” I pulled my knees up, hugging them. Oddly, my headache receded again.

I heard his sigh.

“It’s normal for that to happen between mates, sweetness.”

God above, he was talking about that orgasm! My cheeks heated, and I dropped my forehead to my knees. Jesus, he’d barely even touched me and I’d gone off like a fucking firework! Andsweetness?That sounds familiar, too.

“And I swear to you, I’m not lying. Jed is not now and never has been your fiance.Iam your mate. And I am not leaving you, not until you have your memories of me—of us, back again.”

I had no words. Mate? A strangely primal term to use, even if it was him I was with before my accident. I swallowed hard. Then again, I was already questioning his humanity.

“I know you don’t understand, and I know that all of this is terrifying for you, but I promise you I am telling you the truth.”

Silence from me. Yeah, I had no idea what to say. I eyed the window.Maybe I should try and get out through the gardens...Though my heart wasn’t really in that thought.

“Okay, we can talk about it tomorrow. Get some sleep.” Another pause. “And you’ll be completely safe. I’m not leaving this spot, and I’ll have men outside your window so no one can get at you from there, either.”

Damn. No escape that way, then. I didn’t know what was wrong with me, but I was almost glad he’d taken that choice away.

“We’ll eat breakfast together in a few hours. Okay?”

Silence.

“All right. Get some sleep. I’ll be right here if you need me.”

There was a sliding sound, and I couldfeelhim on the other side of the door. I could imagine him mirroring my own position, but with his long legs stretched out in front of him. Unable to understand my actions. I shuffled my knees underneath me and leaned my head against the door with my ear flat against it. His breaths were slow and deep. After a minute he added. “By the way, I’m glad your ankle feels better.” I could hear the smile in his voice.

I gasped. Oh, my god! I’d run back to my room. He was right! He’d healed my ankle. Experimentally, I twisted it in a circle, and smiled. Damn, whatever he’d used to fix me sure was some potent shit. Especially if he could heal meandgive me a world-shattering orgasm at the same time. I huffed a laugh. He should bottle and sell it.

He must have heard me because his own soft chuckle reached right into my chest and settled in that deep and empty place that had been there since my injury, filling it with that missing warmth.

“Sleep, Ember. And on the bed, not on the floor. You’ll be completely safe, I promise. I’m not going anywhere.”

Exhausted and mind blown as I was, I still didn’t want to move away from the door. His presence had soothed my headache again, and even though I was confused, I trusted that he wouldn’t hurt me. Reluctantly, I took his advice and laid on my bed, sure I wouldn’t sleep. But I did. There was no howling in my head, no nightmares and no headache. For the first time in months I slept soundly all night.

Chapter 9

Connor

The sun rose slowly,filling the corridor with light. I’d not even tried to sleep. There was no way I could close my eyes and switch off when my pregnant soulmate was in the next room. I knew she was still asleep. I could hear her deep, regular breaths through the flimsy door.

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