Page 37 of The Mating Claim

At his praise, she smiled, but her smile dropped as she thought of their future. “When will we be together forgood?”

“Soon,” he promised. “Soon as I can arrange it so we will be wed and Emer does not know. I will make you my mate and no one will separate us. Now, tell me about your day. Have you tried any more spell-casting?”

With a sigh, she told him about the failed bread. Drust chuckled and kissed her cheek. “You have not failed at one spell, my love. You put a spell on me, on my heart, for it belongs to you only,always.”

Then he kissed her and as they reached to undo each other’s clothing, Minda forgot everything except the urgency of baring her body next to his… feeling him deep inside her…the incredible bliss of her Drust making themone.

Nothing would ever partthem.

Not even, as he said, the sting of death. And yet after they made love, Minda could only lie in his arms, fearing for the future, their future. A sense of doom hovered in theair.

She could not fight it. They did not have long to betogether…

“No.”Tears streamed down Lacey’s cheeks as she struggled to free herself from the heaviness of dream sleep. “No, don’t go! Please don’t leaveme!”

A light snapped on, illuminating her bedroom. And then two strong arms wrapped around her, holding herclose.

“It’s only a dream,” a deep voice soothed. “Just a dream. Hush. Wake up. You’re here now and all iswell.”

A warm palm wiped away her tears amidst more soothing words. Lacey blinked rapidly and gradually became aware of her surroundings, as well as the man who heldher.

Drust.

“You were in my dream,” she blurted out. “We were lovers, only I wasn’t me, I was someone else. We were in the woods, there was a structure made of stone, with lots of moss coveringit…”

Blue eyes, blue as the sea, regarded hers as he blinked as well, as if the realization startledhim.

Ornot.

“I had the same dream,” he saidquietly.

Heart racing, she scrubbed her face free of the tearstains. “It couldn’t be. I thought wizards were immortal and needed nosleep.”

“Most times we do not. But it is different for me, as I am fairly new to my powers. I do sleep at times, especially when I am relaxed andcomfortable.”

Lacey licked her lips and stared at him, trying to clasp at the cobwebs of memories that faded even now. Dream images that she wanted to cup in her palms and hold close, andremember.

She knew by morning everything wouldfade.

“You were nice to me,” shewhispered.

A smile touched his own mouth. “I can be quite nice…. when Iwish.”

The dream had been exhilarating and joyful, but the thought of his leaving brought tears to her eyes. She’d lived her life now celibate and shunning men. Lacey never wanted a man in her life. Untilnow.

Not a man. A wizard. Judging from the heat in his gaze, he wanted her aswell.

When he cupped her cheek, she leaned into the caress, not fighting her feelings anymore. Drust wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. Lacey felt herself respond, her breath quickening, her heart racing with deliciousanticipation.

His gaze locked to hers and she saw the desire flaring there in his blue eyes. Lacey skimmed her hand over his taut jaw, feeling the bristles of his short beard, then trailing her hand down his throat to the blue dragon mark. Matching marks. It must mean something. Perhaps they had been united in thepast.

The past no longermattered.

Right now, right here,did.

Drust tilted her chin upward and lowered his head. Yes, she thought.This.

His kiss came on a hushed whisper. “Lacey.”