Chloe Cole(17)

Then, he turned, giving her an unimpeded view of his back. What she wouldn’t give to dig her fingers into him as he slid into her, taking her to the place that had been haunting her since that first night…

Would she give up her freedom?

Her ability to choose?

Was that what being with him would mean? Losing herself and surrendering to a fate decided for her?

Drake picked that very moment to turn and they locked gazes through the window. She used every ounce of brainpower to will him closer. To lure him back under the glass wall to come to her. But he stayed stock-still and her pulse pounded out of control as the puzzle pieces all fell into place. He wasn’t turned off by her bite, or unaffected at all.

“I need the words this time, little wolf.”

He’d said it himself from the first night. He wasn’t going to sleep with her until she came right out and told him she wanted him.

Sober. Awake. And without excuses.

She was at a crossroads, and some part of her knew with absolute clarity that her choice here would change everything. She thought of her mother, and then her father. Then she thought of Grey and Maggie, and the rest of her packmates. It already seemed so long ago. Like the distant and fuzzy past.

This was her present. Did she want Drake in her future? Her emotions were too volatile to know for certain. But she was tired of wanting. Sick to death of needing and coming up empty. In this moment, all she could think of was Drake.

She shut off her human brain and listened to her wolf instincts. And then, she shimmied to the edge of the bed and rolled to her feet.

Drake never took his eyes off her as she padded, barefoot across the floor to the edge of the pool. She let her lids drift closed as she reached down and grasped the hem of her nightshirt, lifting it over her head in one motion and then tossing it aside. Her pajama bottoms quickly followed, and a moment later, she was as naked as the day she was born.

Probably, she should feel shy. Probably, she should at least make an attempt at modesty and cross her arms over her chest. Instead, she found herself letting her eyes drift open to meet Drake’s hungry gaze.

Look at me. Drink me in.

His muscles flexed as she took the first step into the pool. The water was warmer than the air around her and she gasped in pleasure as it enveloped her to mid-calf. She’d barely made it to the second step when Drake dove beneath the glass wall again and came at her.

He stopped five feet in front of her and stood, water sluicing down his face and chest.

“You should go.”

There was an edge to his voice she’d never heard before. Something that made her shiver with a heady mix of nerves and anticipation.

She took another step down.

“Look, I know your game. We’ve played it before, and I’m telling you…” His green gaze raked down her neck and over her breasts before flicking back to meet hers. “Not tonight. I can’t do it.”

She swallowed hard and gripped the handrail as she took the last step, submerging herself in the water up to her waist. Then, she waded toward him until he was close enough to touch.

She reached out a hand and laid it on his chest before drawing back with a gasp.

“Why is your skin so hot? And your eyes…they’re so glassy.” A sizzle of fear snaked through her. “Drake, are you sick? What’s happening to you?” Shifters blood ran hot, but this was something else.

“You,” he bit out finally. “Being near me. I guess you haven’t gotten that far into the books yet,” he muttered with a bitter bark of laughter.

“What do you mean?”

“Dragons.” He blew out an unsteady breath and clenched his hands at his side. “We’re not like other creatures. Sexual desire…need affects us in a much deeper way. To covet and have it right in front of you like this and not have is like a sickness. A fever.”

“Oh my god.” She held a hand to her mouth as her stomach clenched with guilt. “Drake, I didn’t know.”

“It’s not your problem. I made a promise to you and I am going to keep it, but just for tonight, I need you to give me a break. I’m hanging by a thread right now and I can’t be held responsible for what I might do if you push me.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” she demanded in a horrified whisper.

“It’s for me to handle and I’m handling it.”

“By suffering?”

“It wasn’t this bad at first. I was able to take the edge off myself, but it’s getting harder every day. I just need some space.”

“No,” she said softly, stepping in close enough to feel the heat radiating from him.

He winced and pinched his eyes closed. “Jesus Christ, Willa, please, don’t.”