Page 39 of The Dragon's Captured Heart
I looked down at my feet, avoiding her sudden scrutiny. The day before, in his apartment, there had been something there.Something was between us, and there was little doubt about that.
“Maybe,” I said, shocking myself by admitting it. “Maybe I know what you mean, but even if I do, I’m not giving into it.”
Laura smiled. “You will.”
“How can you be so certain?”
“Look at you. Dragons make you incredibly uncomfortable. Yet here you are, watching them, trying to give them all a chance because one of them has gotten to you.”
“I see.”
“It won’t be long now,” she teased.
“So, you’re an expert on it?”
“Absolutely not,” she admitted. “But I’ve seen you take at least two glances over at Callum since I got here. And I can see the look on your face as you do it. It’ll happen.”
“It?”
“The point you realize you care for him more than you thought.”
I stared at her. “You love Vic, don’t you? Well and truly love him.”
“Yes,” she said unequivocally. Her hand came up to touch her chest.
It was a move I’d seen before. “Can I see it?” I whispered.
Beaming in pride, Laura pulled the collar of her shirt down enough for me to see the orange and black scale on her chest.
“Does it hurt?” I asked, reaching out to touch it without asking. But Laura didn’t pull away.
“Only at first, but it’s a burn that becomes a warm embrace,” she said, smiling and looking into the distance. “I won't spoil anything else.”
“You’re so certain of this,” I said.
“I am. Women’s intuition, I guess,” she said.
We both laughed.
“Even if Ididfall for him, I don’t think it’ll work between us.”
“Why?”
“Because he already has a scale on his chest. He’s mated to someone. Can he even mate again? Is that possible?”
“I don’t know,” Laura admitted. “I don’t know enough about them.”
“Same. If he did try to mate again, though, that scale would probably have to come off, wouldn’t it? But he said if he tries to remove it, he’ll die. And even if hecould, I don’t know, Laura. How do I ask him to get rid of it? The woman died. It’s not like an ex dumped him, you know? It feels wrong.”
“I don’t know either,” she admitted. “But if he falls in love with you, too, then I’m sure it will all work out.”
I didn’t reply. I couldn’t.
Love? Callum and me?
She was wrong about that. I knew that. I was becoming okay with being around him, but love was too much. Too far. I needed to be stronger in my resolution to keep things from happening between us.
I wasn’t in love with him. Not even close.
