Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Taking his place on the bed beside her, Grandmother seemed strangely demure today. “Honey, I don’t think you are still sick. I think this is about something else.”
Eira sat quietly, not saying anything.
“It’s time for you to go live your life now, honey.”
What? The pit in her stomach made her want to throw up. She couldn’t believe she had heard her right, but her grandmother’s face told her she had. How could she leave her frail and old grandparents now?
“But—”
“We will manage,” she assured her with a loving smile, knowing exactly what she was going to say. “We’ve lived our lives, and now it’s time for you to go live yours.”
Defeated, Eira’s shoulders slumped. She only hoped Ryu wouldn’t hear her confession on the other side of the door as she whispered, “I’m scared.”
“Oh, Eira. Do you know how I know you’ll be fine?” she asked with tears welling in her proud eyes.
Eira simply shook her head and, for the first time, her grandmother didn't retract her touch when her withered hands cupped her scarred cheek to remind her of something important.
“Because you are the bravest person I know.”
And for another first time, Eira didn’t pull away either. Instead, she leaned into it, welcoming the touch as they both cried like babies they had claimed her not to be anymore. The beautiful moment didn’t get ruined until her grandfather walked in.
“Can I help you pack?”
“Ryu, I need to be packing,” she said, stomping up behind him on the small trail.
“You don’t want to go back to the place we met?”
“I mean, yes, of course, I do, but I also don’t want to leave my grandparents to do all the work packing …” Who was she kidding? “I mean, my grandmother.”
“She was the one who suggested we go for a walk, remember?”
“Right.” She shook her head. The pressure of everything hitting her at once was making her crazy.
“So, relax,” he told her cooly, taking her hand as they got closer to the edge. They both sat down on her favorite spot where he had caught her sleeping.
Looking out at the little island, she couldn’t believe that was her future home, and also that it was even inhabitable in the first place. Shutting her eyes, she fell back onto the earth then opened them to look up at the big blue sky. “I’m going to miss this.”
“I know,” he whispered back, lying down with her. “I promise I think you’ll like your new home.” Turning his head to look at her, he was even sincere when he said, “And if you don’t, then you can come back.”
Eira laughed, sensing how painful that had to be to say, but it truly made her feel better. “Thanks.”
Letting go of her hand, he moved her chin to look at him so his lips could capture hers in a searing kiss, and when they parted, she could feel the slight stinging.
This time she kissed him to take the pain away, and it took only a second before lust consumed her.
Ryu pushed into her body, feeling his own need and deepening the kiss. She could feel just how heavy he was, yet he still restrained himself by not giving her his full weight. His mouth traveled to the scars on her cheeks, kissing them tenderly before his lips finally went down her neck.
“Oh my …” she hotly whispered in a steamy haze.
Taking back her mouth and silencing her before she could think too much, he held her hips in a tight grip as he spun them to his back with her on top of him.
Her eyes grew wide at his brazenness, and then she was suddenly aware of the power she held to be above a dragon. In control, she took her own liberties, kissing him like he had her. She kissed down his neck, and, feeling a rush of bravery, she sucked on the tender flesh.
“I’d stop before you go too far, darling.”
Eira immediately did at his rough tone.
Sensing the sudden power shift, and the hardness under her hips, she realized she never actually held any power at all over Ryu and that he was simply letting her feel like she was.
“Sorry,” she said, rolling off him before she got more than she bargained for. Eira wanted nothing more than to give in to her needs, but that was her body full of mating hormones talking, not her. She wanted her own mind to be certain that she wanted Ryu wholeheartedly.
“It’s all right,” he assured her, still trying to get himself under control. “You can only tempt the dragon so far.” After taking a few moments for himself, he finally stood and held out his hand to help her up. “You ready?”
Eira looked confused. “For what?”
“To go home.”
“Sure,” she said with a bittersweet smile, knowing it was probably their last time here, but she needed to get back to helping her grandmother pack.