Page 39 of Needed in the Night
“Only barely.” The little flash of pain was inconsequential to me. “A very fine dagger, and you are very skilled with it.”
“I have to be.” She retrieved her dagger and returned it to the sheath under her long sleeve. “I’ve lived in the shadows and by the blade. Much like you when you were a soldier.”
The ability to be honest with Isla after so many months of feigning only friendly interest filled me with joy. And truly, her perceptiveness and intelligence caused me to admire her all the more.
Her smile faded. “I’d ask why you’ve never said a word about me being your true mate, but I think I’ve worked it out. Nubo made some threats, am I right?”
“Yes.” Anger made my chest rumble.
“Damn him.” Isla ran her fingertips over mine, sending a shiver of desire down my spine. “He has to steal what he wants because no one will have him otherwise. Pathetic little man.”
I had never thought of Nubo in that way, but she was right. I did not pity him and never would, but hewasa pathetic little man who happened to be the size and weight of a Hardanian mule-ox.
It had not escaped my notice that Isla had steered the conversation away from her past, so she was not yet comfortable enough with me to reveal her history beyond a few vague references. Or perhaps she was not just worried about her own secrets.
She bowed her head. Her beautiful hair tumbled over her shoulders, forming a shimmery, rainbow curtain that hid her face. “It’s been so hard,” she whispered.
The scent of her tears filled me with the desire to hold and comfort her, but I stayed where I was because I did not know if she wanted my touches.
“All I’ve wanted since the other night was a few minutes of peace with you away from Nubo’s surveillance,” she added. “Because you are my friend.”
She fell silent for a while.
“I think I knew,” Isla said finally, her voice quiet. She raisedher head and met my gaze, her face streaked with tears. I yearned to kiss them away. “Subconsciously, I mean. I always looked forward to ending my set and coming to the bar to drink and talk with you. Those were my most peaceful hours, even though I still had to be on my guard. I know humans don’t have true mates, but we still have instincts. I guess mine were doing their job. They told me you were safe.”
Warmth and joy spread through my body. I took her hand and bowed my head over it. “That is the greatest compliment I have ever received, Isla. If all I could be to you is a place of safety, I would accept it.”
“Give me a chance to process it all.” She tipped my chin up with her free hand. “I will admit, it doesn’t feel as overwhelming as I would have thought.”
I could not help myself; I moved closer, nestled my head in her lap, and closed my eyes so I could lose myself in her scent and the sensation of her dress and skin against my face. My chest rumbled in contentment.
“I like that sound you make,” she murmured, running her fingers through my hair and along the back and sides of my neck. Nothing had ever felt so good as her caress. “Will you be offended if I say it sounds like you’re purring?” she asked.
“No.” My voice was barely a whisper. “I am not offended.”
For a long, blissful time, her fingertips explored my scalp and the back of my neck, stroking my scaly skin and twirling my hair languidly between her fingers. When she slipped her hand into the opening on the back of my shirt and gently caressed my spines, my knees grew weak. Gods above.
“Can I ask what the source is of your nonhuman DNA?” she asked.
Her tone was curious and affectionate, so I did not feel self-conscious or resistant to replying as I might have been with anyone else.
“I am an amalgamation,” I said. “As you may have guessed, Ihave primarily reptilian characteristics. These come from the Pallasian bosor. I also have genetic material taken from mammalian species on J’Nora and Muravai.”
Isla’s hand stilled. “The bosor?”
I raised my head. She appeared startled, but not afraid or dismayed.
Even so, I was quick to add, “I have fangs, but I do not have venom. You do not need to fear me in any way, Isla. I swear it.”
“I believe you.” She urged me to rise to my knees again and cupped my face with her hands. I leaned into her touch.
Her smile turned mischievous. “You’ve been honest with me, so I’ll be honest with you: I wasn’t thinking about you having venom. I probablyshouldhave been, but I wasn’t. I was thinking about a very different characteristic of Pallasian bosors.”
Before I could process her words, she slid from the couch to my lap, her knees astride my thighs. I caught her, my hands under her hips. My hearts thundered in my chest.
Her expression solemn, she reached up and tucked my hair behind my ears. “Lift me up a bit,” she said. “Let me try something.”
I did as she asked, reveling in all the wondrous sensations of holding her in my arms as her inner thighs pressed against my abdomen.
