Page 7 of Not a Gift

My cock is already hardening in my jeans at the sight of her.I should be embarrassed, disgusted, angry, anything but happy to see the object of my years’ long obsession.I close my eyes as my dragon roars deep in my mind, rattling my brain.He fights me, trying to get out and I almost lose the battle.What a situation that would be, my ornery dragon on a rampage in this enclosed space.

I may not have laid eyes on her in ten years, but I know every damn thing there is to know about the woman across the bar.

Lyrik.

My angel.

My own personal hell.

My mate,my dragon adds, communicating with me for the first time in his or my existence.

Chapter Five

Blast From the Past

Lyrik

I break the connection between us and turn back to my friends.I try my best to paste a smile on my face, but I don’t think I actually accomplished what I was aiming for because it feels more like a grimace.Thank God they’re all a little drunk.I don’t think they can see the confusion and fear on my face.The last thing I needed tonight was to run into my stepbrother.My hot soldier stepbrother.My stepbrother, the heir to the Black legacy.

“Ladies.”The deep timbre of his voice washes over me as he greets us all.A shiver works its way down my spine.“Lyrik.”

I don’t look back at him.“Malichai.”My friends are all staring at him with stars in their eyes.

Yes, that is the Malichai effect.It’s even worse now because I’m not used to it anymore.My body becomes heated, and my skin feels too tight.My pussy slicks with the need for this Alpha and I’m more thankful than ever for my suppression patch.

He mesmerizes anyone with ovaries.Hell, even some men fall under his fucking spell.I am not too proud to say that even I am not immune to it.

His calloused right hand lands on my shoulder, squeezing it.The bared flesh exposed by my white tank top pebbles beneath his touch, along with my nipples, and I curse my traitorous body for reacting to him.Just like it always has.

Even as a teenager, I had an immense crush on him.He was all I could ever think about, all I ever wanted.Seems not much has changed.

“When did you get back?”Hailey asks with a coy smile.

My gaze snaps to her.She is basically falling all over herself, fawning over him.I want to roar, to rage.But I can’t.He isn’t mine, and he never was.He never will be.I cried when he left, my young heart shattered.But I never told anyone the truth, mourning the loss in private.

She has every right to flirt with him.Hell, she could even date or marry him and I wouldn’t have the right to say a single fucking thing.Malichai is out of the question.Always has been, always will be.

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