Page 18 of Gambling with Time

He gave a half shrug and pushed off the wall. “I guess I need to soak it all in before we leave then. I’ll give you two some privacy.” He winked at me, and I had a feeling he was leaving only for that reason and not to see more of the palace. Ty wanted me alone with his sister, probably hopeful that my memories would come back.

When the door shut behind him, Sammy slid her arms around my middle and laid her head on my chest. “Is this okay?” she asked.

I wouldn’t want her any other place. That was insane right? I couldn’t remember most of my time with her, but even my dragon knew she was important.

“Perfect.”

She inhaled deeply and then released a long sigh. “Rai, I miss you.”

“I’m right here.” I tightened my arms around her.

“I know.” She squeezed my waist in return. “But I want more than your body. I want your mind too.”

“Sammy wanting more than a body? You really have changed.” The teasing quip was out of my mouth before I could even think about what I was saying, and I snapped my mouth shut. Where would that come from?

She pulled back and studied my face, a smile playing on her lips like she was unsure if she should smile for real or not. “See, that is something the old you would say. Before all the recent stuff.” She tapped the side of my head. “The rest of you is in here. We will get it out.”

Her palm flattened on my cheek, and I closed my eyes to soak in her touch. Familiar and foreign all at once. The only real thought was I needed more. So much more.

“I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of you, Rai. But I want you.” She pressed against my obvious reaction to having her body close. “And it seems you feel the same. I can be loud for you. If you want–”

“I can’t lie and tell you there is more than the physical. And that feels dirty to me. You deserve more, and I know it is somewhere inside, but I don’t have a grasp on it yet. It is slippery, and I might never get any of it back.”

She blinked rapidly, and I could sense she was attempting to dry her eyes of whatever emotion my words caused. She nodded once and gave me a fake smile. “I do no strings, Rai.”

I had no doubt that those words were once true for the beauty standing in front of me, but they no longer were, and I couldn’t take what she was offering and not give her more.

My fingers curled over hers still pressed to my cheek. “No, you don’t.” I closed my eyes and lifted her touch off of me, missing it as soon as I did.

When I opened my eyes, a single tear tracked down her face. I brushed it away with my thumb; my heart ached for her. Everything inside of me wanted to promise her I would remember, but I couldn’t lie to her, because what if they never returned?

She rolled her lips between her teeth and stepped back. “I understand.” A swallow worked her throat, and she focused on my feet.

“Do you?” I asked, my voice thick with emotion.

She nodded but didn’t bring her pretty eyes back up to mine.

“Sammy–” I started, and she held up a hand.

“Rai, don’t try to explain. Okay? It isn’t you.” She laughed, and it sounded like she was holding back more tears. “It’s me.”

My brow lowered as I felt the full force of her emotions. Before I reacted, she passed me and slipped out of the dining room. Leaving my ears ringing with the silence and my dragon revolting inside of me. There had to be a way to get all of my memories back.

CHAPTER 11

Samantha

My heart was breaking. Was this how Alastor felt before my memories had returned? Hopeless and lost. Rai was my rock. He was always there when things were hard.

With both him and Lex missing memories, I felt torn. Happy Bellamy and Alastor were fully mine, but still missing the pieces of my heart I’d given to the other two.

My comfort and my rock, how would I survive in a world without them?

I wouldn’t.

Tears stained my face for the second time that night as I wandered through the halls, no destination in mind. I could go back to the bedroom, but I didn’t want to wake them.

Passing an open door, I peered in to find a library. It was the sort of place Brook would drool over, and I wondered if she found it last time we came here. We had been so focused on finding that ruby. If we had never found it, we might have defeated the mage already.

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