Chapter Twenty-Five
Torran
“You’d think it was summer out there,” he complained, wiping sweat from his brow as he walked into the master suite he and Lilly shared.
“Working up a sweat?”
He froze, stopped in his tracks by the purr emanating from the bed itself. Turning his head slowly, he took in the sight that lay before him.
Lilly was sprawled out on top of the covers, wearing a lacy…a lacy…well, it was a lacy thing that hid parts of her, and absolutely didn’t hide other parts of her. The name for it was suddenly unimportant. It was a dark shade of purple, and it drew him in like a fish to a lure.
“I hope you aren’t completely out of energy,” she teased, biting down on the tip of one finger.
His heart, which had just began to calm, revved back into overdrive, pumping all the blood straight between his legs. “For you, never,” he growled. “Though you may wish to let me shower first.”
“I might.” She shrugged, causing all sorts of interesting movement of her body. “I might not.”
Torran’s throat was suddenly dry. “Oh.”
She grinned. “You look kind of hot like that, all drenched in sweat. Your body is glistening, your every muscle contoured. It makes me ache to have you inside me.”
“Uh-huh.” He took a step closer, mesmerized by her half-naked body, ready to rip the lingerie from her so he could see the rest of it, yet tempted to tell her to keep it on so that he could enjoy being teased at not being able to see all of her deliciousness. It was a fight that he couldn’t win…but he also couldn’t lose. Either way, he benefitted.
“Besides, if you do your job properly today, you’re going to end up looking like that all over again.”
“I have another job, do I?” He stepped closer, noting the way she tensed as he approached, wary of his predator-like nature and yet ready to succumb to him anyway.
“You certainly do. You’ve neglected it all day,” she pouted.
Boy, she could do a damn good sexy pout. Big lips all bunched up, eyes lowered as she looked up at him through her lashes. It was an impressive feat when he considered she was lying on her back and he stood at the foot of the bed. It didn’t do anything to improve the ache between his legs.
“Well, I wouldn’t want to keep you waiting any longer, now would I?” He wiped the shirt across his face and then dropped it on the floor, climbing onto the bed as he did.
“I should hope not.”
He grinned and kissed her, enjoying the way she was already softly moaning at his every touch. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you,” he whispered, letting his breath play across her ear, watching as she shivered slightly in response.
“What’s that?”
Torran steeled himself. This was the reason he hadn’t pleasured her in the morning before he went to go start work. It was the reason he’d been a little distant the past two days. He’d been waiting for the right time, the right place, to work up the courage to tell her, and now he had.
“Well? I sure hope your tongue hasn’t stopped working. I was kind of looking forward to it,” she teased, seemingly unaware of the gravity of what was going on in his mind.
“Lilly, I…” his voice caught.
She sat back, suddenly aware that things had gone beyond playful. They had gotten serious. “What is it?”
He looked up at a pair of eyes, brown mixed with a dull red, like clay. They shifted left and right as she returned his look, trying to understand the sudden change in mood. Concern warred with curiosity. Just what was it that he was trying to say? The question was written on her face.
“You should know...” He paused.
Just say it already! Spit it out, you know it’s how you feel. Whether or not she agrees isn’t going to be changed by you stammering like an idiot.
“I love you, Torran.”
He jerked back in surprise. “What?”
Lilly followed him, sitting up. “I. Love. You.”
He pouted. “That’s not fair. You used my hesitation to say it first.”
She laughed and tackled him to the bed, not caring about his sweaty nature. “Say what first?” She pinned his arms to his side. “Say it!”
He laughed. “I love you, Lilly Jordan. With both my hearts.”
She frowned. “You have two hearts?”
“My human and my dragon!” he explained, laughing.
“Oh, yeah. Of course. Well, I’m glad we got that out of the way.” She leaned down to kiss him, doing a very thorough job of it.
After enjoying that for a moment he put enough pressure on her chin to push her head back slightly. “We didn’t. Not yet at least.”
“What? I love you. You love me. I’m happy to finally say it, you’re happy to hear it, and vice versa. I love you. What else?”
He blushed. “With dragons, when mates express their love, the male often gives the female a token of his personage.”
“A what of his what?”
“I want you to wear a piece of jewelry with a bit of me in it.”
“Well why didn’t you just say that! Of course I will.”
Torran held out his hand. “Most dragons use a piece of their power. Flame. Lightning. Acid. I wanted to do something different with you.” Slowly he uncurled his fingers, one by one.
Lilly stared in shock, her eyes wide. “Torran,” she whispered, picking up the ring. “It’s beautiful.”
“It’s diamond-encrusted around the edges, and in the middle is one of my scales.”
“One of your scales? You grow them this tiny?” She looked at the ring. “I thought they were all massive things the size of a shield.”
“Not quite,” he laughed. “Around the edges and near my snout and tail they get quite small.”
“It’s gorgeous. And you want me to wear it?”
“If that’s acceptable to you, yes.”
“IF? Are you nuts? Of course!” she slipped it onto her right-hand ring finger. It fit perfectly. “Wow.” She turned the ring left and right, admiring the way the scale and the diamonds flashed in the light. “Now that is unique.”
He grinned and kissed the side of her neck as she looked at the ring more closely. “I’m glad you like it.”
Lilly giggled as he nipped at the skin. “I love it. Like I love you. Now come here and let me show you.”
It wasn’t until after they had finished and Lilly had fallen asleep in his arms that Torran realized it had been a long, long time since he thought of Lilly as human. Now he just thought of her as his.
It was amazing what love could do to change a viewpoint.