Page 31 of Sass Me

Screw destiny and screw Steele, and not in the fun way. “You’re an ass. I’m going home.”

Fleur stomped off, but Steele followed her. “Go away. I’m mad at you.” More like mad at the world.

“I can not leave you in these woods alone. A dozen other dragon warriors are watching and waiting for the demon dragons to appear and wreak their havoc.”

She might be miffed that a wolf wasn’t going to make her part of the family. But, those were still her friends out there. This night meant a lot to them. “Steele. You can’t let anything happen to the wolves or their mating.”

“Don’t worry, my love. If the demon dragons do appear, our warriors will take care of them. The wolves will never know. We will ensure their lovemaking goes as planned.”

“Lovemaking?” She guessed they were, but that wasn’t how she’d thought of this night. In her head, it was family making.

“What do you think is going on all over these woods right now, sweetness?”

Two wolves ran by them, dancing around each other, nipping and dashing about, their animal sides flirting.

She didn’t want to see this. Sure, she was happy for everyone who was finding their mates. But, she could be just as happy for them at home with a pint of pistachio ice cream too. Her car wasn’t parked too far away. She’d be home watching re-runs ofGray’s Anatomy, which was the perfect excuse to cry, in no time.

“Fleur. Wait.”Steele loomed in front of her and before she could dodge him he’d wrapped his wings around her, the same as he’d done in her dream.

She tipped her head forward and rested it against his big chest. Inside this cocoon he’d made for them she could feel safe and secure. Instead she was crying.

Damn. Damn. Damn.

“I understood your anger, but the scent of sadness rolling over you now is breaking my heart.”

She blinked quickly, trying to hold back the tears before Steele noticed. Too late.

His dragon tongue gently touched her cheek, wiping away the streaks.

“Is it really so bad to be my true mate?”

She swallowed back the rest of the tears. “No. It’s just that, I thought I’d figured it all out.”

“Figured what out?”

The wings around her became arms, and instead of scales her cheek lay against a warm human chest.

“Where my life was going. What I was supposed to do. I thought if I mated to a wolf. I’d finally...”

She was stupid. So, so stupid.

“Finally have a family, someone who loves you unconditionally, forever?”

Fleur jerked her head up and saw so much sincerity and vulnerability on Steele’s face it took her breath away.

How did he know?

“I never thought I’d be blessed with a true mate. That just isn’t the way of dragon warriors anymore. We fight, we hold back the evil in the world, we protect the innocent. But, what is it all for?” He shook his head and the sad far away glint to his eye hurt her heart.

Steele brought one hand up and brushed a strand of hair from her face. She leaned in to his touch, she couldn’t help it.

“I didn’t know until you. You’re the reason I am a warrior against the dark, and what I will continue to fight for the rest of my life.”

“Steel, I—” She’d never been anyone’s reason for anything. Did he really feel so deeply for her after only one day? She knew there was something inside of her that called for him to open her heart, to let him in.

She’d pushed it down, ignored it, even denied it, assuming it was wrong. Warmth grew in her chest and spread across her body, pooling in a sensual swirls low in her belly. Could this dragon really be both her destiny and her soulmate?

She’d counted on having one, hoping for the other, but ready to settle for less.

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