Page 39

“Is that what we are to each other now?Because you feel like so much more to me,” Saint murmured, putting an arm around me.Goddess, was hetryingto melt me?But I had to stay firm—I couldn’t take another day like the one I’d had today.If he wanted to be together in our room at night, we also had to be together during the day.

“Yes, that’s what we are,” I said firmly.“So you need toactlike my boyfriend and not just in this room at night—out in public where everyone can see us.Is that a problem for you?”

“I’m wearing your Mark, aren’t I?”he demanded.“Tell me how to be what you want and I’ll try, Avery.How do I act like your boyfriend?”

I thought of all the ways I saw my Coven mates acting with each other every day—the easy affection between them, the sweet, loving touches and glances.I wanted that—I’d wanted it for so long that the longing had almost worn a hole in my heart.But I still wondered how Saint would feel about giving it to me.

“If you want to be a good boyfriend, you have to sit with me at mealtimes—not at the far end of the table,besideme,” I emphasized.“And talk to me—people in a relationshiptalkto each other.And hold my hand and put your arm around me and let me put my arm around you.And…” I sighed.“Look, if you want to know all the ways of being a good boyfriend, all you have to do is look at Megan and Griffin, or Ari and Kaitlyn, or Emma and Bran and Lachlan.It’s not hard—there are examples all around you here!”

“I’ll try…” Saint sounded hesitant.

I frowned at him in the dimness.

“You don’t want to do this, do you?Are you nervous about PDA in public?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to touch you,mi Corazon,”he said earnestly.“It’s just…that I am not used to it.To touching and being touched, I mean.”His voice dropped, becoming low and rough.“Do you know that the hug you gave me the other night was the first time anyone has willingly touched me inyears?”

“What?”I stared at him, uncomprehending.“But…how can that be?”

Saint shook his head.

“Think of it—I’ve been cursed since my birth and an outcast ever since my Drake slaughtered the females who had been gathered to try and tame him.Even Jalli—who is so sweet and affectionate—is careful around me.Not because she thinks I will hurt her—she knows I never would.But because she fears my Drake—everyonefears my Drake.”

I wished that I could tell him thatIdidn’t fear his cursed Drake, but that would have been a lie.I felt able to be closer to it than most people probably did because I knew that it really,reallyliked me.But at the same time, did I want to be around when it came out completely and Saint was nowhere to be found?

No.No, I did not.

But the cursed Blood Drake wasn’t what I was most focused on—Saint was.The idea that no one had touched him in years—not even to pat his back or rub his shoulders or hug him—was so sad I felt tears stinging my eyes.

“Oh Saint,” I said, and put my arms around him.“I’m so sorry.I didn’t know.”

It took him a minute but then he hugged me back, wrapping both long, muscular arms around me and pulling me close to his chest.I could smell the masculine spice and the bonfire smell that always seemed to accompany him wherever he went.It smelled really good and his body was extremely warm against mine.But warm—not hot—and he didn’t squeeze me too hard.Clearly he found it much easier to be gentle when his Drake was sleeping inside his head.

“Dios,this feels so good,” he murmured in my ear.“Thank you, Avery.I was afraid you’d never want to touch me again.”

“Idowant to touch you,” I admitted.“As much as you want to touch me.But there have to be limits—we’re not going to have sex.Not right away.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything of you that you don’t want to give,” he rumbled.“Besides, you’re not of age yet, are you?”

“No,” I admitted.“I’m not.”

“Then I will wait to claim you completely until you are of age,” Saint told me.“Thank all the powers that ever were that Marking you was enough for my Drake—I wouldn’t want to have a rape added to my many sins.”

I shivered at the thought.That would have been much harder—if not impossible—to forgive, even if he had been driven by his Drake to do it.

“What do you mean you’ll wait to claim me?”I said, concentrating on the other part of what he’d said.“What makes you thinkIwon’t want to claimyou?”

“We can claim each other when the time is right,” Saint promised, and there was a rumble of amusement in his voice.“But for now, I just want to hold you and kiss you.”

My heart started pounding again.

“You sort of did the other night, when you healed my lip,” I pointed out.

“Not nearly as much as I wanted to,” he murmured.Cupping my chin, he turned my face up to his.“Avery, I want to kiss you more—much more.I want to taste your mouth.”

“Goddess…” I whispered.“All…all right.Kiss me, then.”

Saint’s mouth was as warm and soft as it had been when he healed me.