Page 26 of Marked By Moonlight

Marius strode on, a tsunami looking for a shore to decimate. Nearly a block later, I caught up and tapped on his shoulder.

Bad idea, because catching a tightly wound dragon off guard was downright terrifying. Fire blazed in his eyes, and he drew back a fist, ready to punch.

“Hello, Marius,” I said, forcing the jitter out of my voice.

His lips parted in shock, and I had to battle the overwhelming urge to kiss him.

“Mina,” he whispered.

His eyes bored into mine, going warm and fluid. Then he jolted a little, grabbed my shoulder, and hustled me into a side alley.

“What are y—” I started.

He stuck up a hand, and his eyes darted around, checking the area for…Celeste? Gordon? A gunman itching to spray the neighborhood with bullets?

He scrutinized our surroundings before gritting his teeth and looking at me.

And, oh.

Time slowed, and my heart beat so hard, I was sure he could hear it. His eyes continued to blaze, but the furious hue turned into something warm and yearning. I rolled onto my toes, fixated on his lips, and—

Everything that had happened in the past few days rushed into the forefront of my mind, and I raised my fist, then hesitated.

“Go ahead,” he said gruffly. “I deserve it.”

Did he? And was this really the best way to communicate?

“No, you don’t.” I lowered my hand and looked up at him.

I must have caught us both off guard, because I found myself staring deep into his unguarded soul — and into a pool of hope, joy, and yearning.

Marius loved me. He wanted me. He wanted forever. But a jungle of long, creeping vines surrounded that pool, locking it in a tangle of danger and complications.

Then he blinked — or maybe I did — and his inner shutters came crashing down again.

I swayed on my feet, as I often did after one of those brushed-by-moonlight moments when the magic of one of my ancestorswelled up in me — in this case, the ability to secretly peer into a person’s soul.

“Dammit, Mina…” He checked the area again, searched for words, then gave up, and went for a totally unexpected alternative.

A hug. A fierce, powerful dragon hug that nearly cut off my circulation. I ended up pressed hard against his chest, seeing, smelling, sensing nothing but him.

It was heaven.

I worked my arms around his broad torso, feeling like I’d found a treasure trove along with absolute, total certainly that everything would be all right as long as I stayed put. No one could bother us, and the future would be bountiful and glorious.

He was mine, and I was his. It was that simple.

Except it wasn’t, and I knew it. Something stood between us — something as big and looming as the Eiffel Tower.

Slowly, I pulled back, gently stroking his cheek. Marius closed his eyes and leaned in, just as he had all those mornings we’d spent in bed together. Then his throat bobbed, and he took a deep breath, looking around.

“God, Mina. What are you doing here?”

I wove my fingers through his. “Looking for you.”

He sighed as if I’d said,Looking for trouble. Then he shook his head. “You can’t be here.”

“And yet, here I am.”