Page 48 of The Dragon Recruit
He smiled. “I like that answer. But what happens next, if anything, is up to you. We can retire to separate rooms to study maps and what we have on Jude so far, to prep for tomorrow. We’ll focus solely on the job for as long as you need to.” He took another step. “I can be patient, but if you want anything more, even just a little, then tell me, Iris.”
Her heart thumped harder inside her chest as she scanned his gaze. He wanted her—he wasn’t trying to hide it.
Her dragon spoke up.Just lay the ground rules. No kissing on the mouth until you’re possibly ready for it.
But can he manage that? In my limited experience, males lose their minds as soon as they’re naked.
This is Antony. Stop making excuses and just talk to him.
Iris swallowed, clenched and unclenched her fingers, and whispered, “I need you to promise something before I say anything else.”
He tilted his head. “What?”
“You know dragon-shifters, which means you know how fated mates work. I can’t risk kissing you and starting a mate-claim frenzy. So that means no kissing on the mouth, aye? Can you handle it?”
He smiled. “There’s a lot I can kiss without touching your mouth, my dear. It’s a challenge, one that I look forward to.”
Even though his words sent a rush of heat through her body, she still rolled her eyes. “Your cheesy charm never goes away?”
He chuckled. “I’m afraid not. Besides, it makes your heart race and pupils flash, so I think you like it.”
She frowned. “Your hearing can’t be good enough to know when my heart rate kicks up.”
He closed the distance between them and lightly caressed her neck, right where her blood pumped under the skin. “No, but this tells me all I need to know.”
Each pass of his warm, rough finger against her skin made her heart race faster. Staring into his eyes, she sucked in a breath at the desire blazing there.
He murmured, “Yes, I want you, Iris. I have for a while, to the point I was jealous of my brother, even after he found his mate.” Leaning down, he nuzzled her neck. “I don’t know how other men have been fools for so long and haven’t tried to win you, but it’s to my advantage.” He nipped where her neck and shoulder met, and Iris quickly gripped his upper arms to stay standing. He whispered, “Tell me what you want, Iris. And do say it’s me.”
She chuckled at his teasing, arrogant words. “You never stop, aye?”
“No.” He nipped her earlobe. “But just know that with you, it’s different.” He leaned back until he met her eyes again. “With you, I’m doing my best not to pretend. Sometimes it’ll be difficult, given how I’ve worn a mask for so long. But I’m trying, and maybe with you I can finally figure out the real me.”
Iris burned to kiss him, but instead lifted a hand and traced his jaw. When Antony closed his eyes and leaned into her touch, she smiled. For all his gadgets and power and secrets, he was still just a male.
Her dragon spoke up.Then what are you waiting for? Strip him and ride him. Hard.
Ignoring her beast, she ran her other hand up Antony’s chest until she could trace the pulsing artery in his neck. “Aye, I see what you mean about not needing supersensitive hearing to notice a racing heart. Something I’ve never really had to pay attention to before.”
His eyes opened, and he said, “Well, those of us at a disadvantage must learn other ways of matching your skills.”
“Disadvantage, says the male with all the techno gadgets.”
“I knew showing them would impress you and help my case.”
She rolled her eyes. “They’re nice, aye? But since most of them are useless to me in my dragon form, they’re not reallythatimpressive.”
His fingers traced her cheek. “Then I must find other ways to awe you, my dear. Ways that involve your legs spread and my mouth too busy to charm with words.”
A rush of heat shot through her body, and yet Iris wasn’t quite ready to end the playfulness. Something she hadn’t experienced with anyone in a long, long time.
So she snorted. “I somehow think you’ll still find a way to talk. You’re not the silent type, aye?”
He quirked an eyebrow. “I can be. But I don’t want to be with you, Iris. I don’t want to hide.”
As she searched his gaze, she saw nothing but truth. Aye, he could be lying—he was a professional. And yet, her gut said he wasn’t.
Iris also realized how tired she was of hiding herself, of always having to try harder just to avoid being criticized.
