Page 35 of Marked By Moonlight

My breaths grew slower and deeper, my shoulders a little less tense.

Mina had once confided to me that she’d inherited such a mix of magic, she didn’t know what it — or she — was capable of. But somewhere in her supernatural ancestry, there had to be a siren who lured sailors into cliffs — or away from them, if she took pity on the poor soul.

Like me?

Not magic,my dragon said with conviction.Destiny.

Either way, I found myself looking over my shoulder less frequently and glancing at her face instead.

“See? Much nicer,” Mina murmured, pressing closer.

Very nice,my dragon agreed.

She stopped under a tree and faced me, whispering, “We can even do this.”

And she kissed me. Soft. Long. Deep.

My eyes slid to half-mast, and that surveillance system I found so hard to switch off instantly shut down.

Mate,my dragon murmured dreamily.

And, shit. Even my human side agreed.

Then a moped zoomed by, and we broke apart.

Mina sighed, watching it go. Then she blushed and stuck a finger at me.

“I’m still mad at you, you know.”

“Obviously.”

We stared at each other for another few seconds, then fell into another deep, hungry kiss. A full minute later, I caught myself and broke away again.

“Stop. We can’t.”

Mina shook her head, refusing to release my hands. “We can. We did. What’s changed?”

I opened my mouth, then closed it again. How could I ever explain?

Mina huffed in frustration. “I don’t understand. None of this. It’s like you switched off. Don’t you want me any more? Don’t you wantus?”

I fumbled for words. “I want, but I can’t. We can’t. Not any more.”

“You’re saying you can’t touch me?” she murmured, nestling closer.

I shook my head miserably.

“Can’t kiss me?” she whispered.

My lips quirked, and I gulped hard.

“Not here…or here…or here?” She pressed kisses to my cheek, jaw, and neck.

Every muscle in my body strained as I tried not to respond.

“No more stripping each other naked and sliding into bed…” she continued, smoothing her hands over my chest. “Never?”

I went hard all over. Yes,allover, in the best — er, most inappropriate — way.