Page 41 of Chase Me

She tried to jerk away, but he didn’t want her to think he was some misogynistic pig. He couldn't blame her. He been acting like a dick, hulking over her, controlling her every move. What could he do to show her what he meant?

Jakob grasped both of her hands in his and sank down to his knees in front of her. “It's not like that.”

She looked down at him, pretty eyes wide. “Really?” Some snowflakes formed a halo around her head. “You don't think I belong to you now?”

There was frost in her voice, but she'd tempered it. The snow dissipated before it even hit her hair. He hoped it was his actions that had done that, and not her suppressing her emotions again. He swallowed, trying to choose his next words very carefully.

He was either in for a flurry of kisses or a smackdown of snow.

“I do. You do belong to me, but I belong to you too. We were made for each other.”

She shook her head. “No, I don't see how that could be at all.”

Humans believed in the concept of soulmates. There were enough sappy books and movies to prove that. But the human mating ritual was nothing like that of dragons. They danced around each other. Dragons marked, claimed, and mated. He needed to find an in-between for his mate. “You're my true soulmate. We were destined to be together.”

Her brow furrowed, making a cute little crinkle. “I've seen too many happy couples in my line of work to not believe in destiny. But how do you know?”

Good question. It wasn't like he had a manual on mating.

“I'm operating completely on instinct with you. Every cell inside of me, every scale on my body knows that you are mine.”

“I could maybe accept that if we'd known each other for years, and dated, and…well I was gonna say had sex, but we did do that part.”

“We did that part really well.” The next time would be even better.

Her eyes softened, and one side of her mouth lifted in a partial grin. He was making progress.

“Could we do those other things? The getting to know each other and dating? Or do I have some horrible form of that syndrome, you know, the one where the hostage falls in love with her kidnapper? I really don't understand how I could possibly not hate you. But I don't, and that's weird to me.”

He would love to romance her. He would buy her a new beautiful green gown and white gloves, choose a diamond necklace from his treasure, and fly her to Prague, where they would see an opera like La Traviata. She would probably like it better than the Pirates of Penzance. Unfortunately, with the demon dragon attack and his suspicions about what had really happened to the relic, there would be no time for wining and dining her.

“I would love nothing more, but I don't think our situation will allow that.”

She stepped away from him, trying to hide her disappointment.

That shredded his heart, and he swore to someday make it up to her.

Right now, he had a choice to make. No, this choice he needed to allow her to be in charge. He got back to his feetand stood behind her, wanting her to feel his presence, but not touching her.

“If you want me to take you back to your home in America, I will.” Even if it would kill him.

“I have a whole life to get back to there. I have a date on Thursday with Wesley.” Ciara licked her lips and made a face like she had a bad taste in her mouth.

Over his dead body. He wouldn't yet tell her that if she refused him, there would be no other for either of them. He didn't want that to influence her decision that way. “Stay.”

She didn't say anything, which punched him in the gut. Now was the time to push his case. He knew she felt something for him, he’d scent it on her if she didn’t. Maybe presenting her with the rest of his working theory would help persuade her.

“There's something more going on besides you and I mating. The massive attack of the demon dragons here at the villa, the attempt to steal my soul shard, and to get to you are all connected somehow.”

She paced back and forth. He tracked every step. “I wouldn’t be safe if I went back home, would I?”

“I would send an entire battalion of green dragon warriors to guard you.”

“But you wouldn’t be there.”

If she wanted to be his mate, they would have to be here, in his homeland, where his people and his Wyr were. “No.”

“I figured. My life is never going to be the same, is it?” She didn’t sound as bothered by that statement as he’d thought she would be.

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