Page 35 of Smoke and Lure

Avalore bit hard into her bottom lip until she tasted blood.She wasn’t sure if the pleasure or the thought ofmorescared her most, but she fought against whatever seemed to link them and her need.

“Don’t hurt yourself,” he commanded, his gaze alighted on her mouth.

Now that she felt a little more in control of her body, she licked, releasing her lower lip and clearing away the blood, ensuring she swiped her tongue over her chin to catch the droplet running there.

“How do you know your dragon won’t hurt me?”The pain throbbing in her lip reminded her of the long, sharp teeth of the dragon when he’d come at her in the forest.“How can you stop him if you want me to believe when he is out you are within?”

Appearing more relaxed than moments ago, he crossed his sinewy arms over his broad chest, his markings now subdued and the blaze out of his irises.

“Because he knows you’re his mate.”

His mate.What?This man could not be saying what she believed he indicated.She rose to her feet and placed her hands on her hips.This man had to be as insane as he was massive.

She guffawed.“No way.How can he possibly assume something too ridiculous to imagine?”

“Youluredhim to you.It’s how we found you in the forest.”

Then, one fact of his words latched onto her mind.“Hismate?If the two of you are one, supposedly, then wouldn’t that also make me your mate?”

Liekki had the nerve to shrug one big shoulder.“That remains to be seen.”

What in the hell?Could the man and dragon have two different mates?A fist tightened around her heart and made her feel ill with the thought.She refused to acknowledge her response to the idea.

“Enough talk for now.I need to go, and you need to rest.”Unfolding his arms, he waved her toward the side of the bed closest to the fire.

She started toward him.“What if I want to see your—” she yawned, “territory instead?”

He arched both coal-colored brows at her, then shook his head.“Later.”

When she was close, he pressed a hand to her body and guided her the rest of the way to the bed.“Your body must heal before you are strong enough to traverse the lands.

“Fine.”Another yawn wracked her body.She wouldn’t admit it to him but was still tired from the bee stings and escape.

Once she lay on the bed and settled her head against the pillows and Liekki pulled up the covers over her, she said, “Promise me that when I wake, I can leave your home...maybe find somewhere else to stay?”

A part of Avalore knew that her need to leave wasn’t because she feared Liekki.No.Deep inside of her, she felt warmed and secure by his presence, and his touch confirmed he wouldn’t do her harm.However, because of those feelings within, she knew she had to get far away from him.And his claiming dragon.

“There isn’t anywhere you can go that my dragon would not follow.”He settled on the bed beside her, the side of his hip pressing against hers as he gently brushed back her hair and traced the side of her face from her brow to her cheek.

“But—”

“Rest.”Liekki blew.A wispy platinum-gray cloud formed from his lips and swirled around her face.

“Wait...what?”

“Inhale.”

More smoke filled the air around her.It wasn’t so thick that she couldn’t still see the man hovering over her, but it obscured everything else in the room.She only heard Liekki and the low sizzle of the fire still burning in the grate.

“What's happening...?”Even as she questioned him about the strange smoke, her lids became heavy and began to lower.

“Inhale, deeper, Avalore.”There was a seduction to his words as cool air brushed her skin.

She attempted to struggle, fight the drowsiness that lay upon her body like a weighted blanket, trapping her beneath it.However, her limbs were weak and useless as she succumbed to the pull of slumber.

“Sleep, little lure.”

~YH~

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