Page 64 of Fated to the Grumpy Dragon
I didn’t need a bond between us to feel his nerves. The tautness was audible as he spoke. What I got through our link that I would never have expected was the intensity of his longing for a positive answer.
Rhyse wanted to feel, well,wanted.
Was that why my comments had cut so deep? I still didn’t understandwhythe comment had hurt, only that it did. It was another piece to the puzzle, but I was no closer to knowing what the picture was.
But I didn’t need to know right away either. Rhyse would tell me in time. Of that, I was sure. I could be sure because what I did know was that he was a good person.
“Lots of things,” I answered at last. “Mostly positive. Some very much so. Others …”
I let the full weight of my growing attraction to him shine through—the one I’d discovered while standing in the water alone earlier that night, wondering why it hurt so much to see him walk off. The one that wasn’t purely emotional.
The one that was also more than a little sexual. I let him feel the desire to have him come to me. To take me. I didn’t hide it. Instead, I tried to push it through my connection and into him. Baring my soul, so to speak. I had no idea if it worked that way, but I was going to try anyway.
“Are you sure you’re not just trying to apologize for earlier?” Rhyse asked.
“No,” I said with a definitive shake of my head. “When I think of you, Rhyse, it feelsright. Whatever that means. I want to smile, and when I do, I’m happy.”
His chest rose then fell. Again and again with deep, even breaths.
“Thank you for apologizing,” he said at last, leaning forward, broaching the space between us. “And for sharing. I’m glad you have some of your memories back in whatever form they take. It’s the next step to making you whole.”
I touched my left shoulder through my shirt. “I’m whole because of you, Rhyse. You saved me.”
He smiled. “I know. Now, I’m sure you’re exhausted. You should get some sleep.”
I rose, recognizing the end of the conversation for the time being. Trying to stifle my disappointment, I headed for the bedroom.
“Rhyse,” I said as I climbed into the bed.
“Yes?” he asked from the door.
“I don’t want to be alone right now.”
“Why not?”
Looking away, I bit down on my lip. This was so embarrassing to admit, but I knew I had to do it. “I … I think I’m going to have nightmares. These memories, they aren’t pleasant.”
“I’ll wait until you’re asleep to leave,” he said.
“Okay.” I couldn’t hide my disappointment.
“I can sense that’s not all. What do you want?” he asked, entering the room and coming to the bedside.
Sitting up, I reached up and grabbed his shirt.
“You,” I said, hauling him down to my level and letting him see into my eyes. “I wantyou.”
“Emma,” he said. “I don’t know. This is quite the flip from one side to the other.”
I pulled my shirt off to reveal I wasn’t wearing anything underneath.
“This has nothing to do with that,” I told him. “This has to do with why I came back. What I discovered about myself while I stood there in the ocean, being laughed at by Killian and his men in that beautifulglaniyou bought for me.”
“What did you discover?” he asked, his eyes unable to stay on mine for long, constantly falling back down to my bared chest.
“Come here, and I’ll show you,” I said, giving his shirt a tug.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
