He looked away from the sorrow reflected in her eyes and wished he knew something to say to make her smile again. Instead, he opened the door and got out with Denae doing the same. With her by his side, they walked around the side of the house. As soon as he saw the view of the water with the sun setting, he remembered why he had chosen such a spot.
“This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Denae said.
He faced her then, wanting her to know the truth. “The monks didna drive me away. I missed my dragons, I missed flying whenever I wanted. I missed hearing the roars. And answering them. Every time I looked at a human I saw my dead Bronzes.
“Each day it was a chore no’ to lash out at them, to yell … to kill. And then, the man raped and killed the young girl. I didna even stop and think. I just reacted.”
“I think I’d have done the same. The man gave you his word. He lied and killed.”
Kellan looked to the skies. “The dragons are gone. Forever. You can no’ possibly know what it means to lose something you love.”
“Right, because you Kings have a monopoly on grief, sorrow, and anger.” Her words were clipped and full of annoyance.
He took a step toward her. “How would you feel if your family was sent away and you were left behind?”
She smiled wryly, the iciness of it slamming into him like a fist to his jaw. “Do you ever listen to me? Or is it just background noise you hear when I talk?”
“I doona know why you’re getting defensive.”
He was trying to calm her, but his words seemed to set her off instead. Her chin lifted and her shoulders squared, much as they had done when she was fighting Matt in his cave.
“You don’t know…” She trailed off and pursed her lips together. “My family is gone, dead, you asshole. I’m all that remains.”
Kellan couldn’t believe he had forgotten that fact, but it still didn’t measure up to him losing his dragons. It might be the same if the entire human race disappeared, leaving only her, but he didn’t think mentioning that now would be in his best interest.
“Denae,” he started.
She gave a shake of her head and turned on her heel to start back to the vehicle. “Don’t even try it.”
He glanced at the sunset and knew the peace he wanted to experience with Denae would have to wait. Kellan lengthened his strides to catch up with her.
She altered course and went to the back door, but it had the same lock as the gate. He reached around her and unlocked it.
“Denae…”
Without a glance, she pushed past him and walked into the lodge. Anger rose within him. He had promised to protect her, had even used his dragon magic to pull the bullets from her. How had she repaid him? By getting upset while he had been trying to explain his love of the dragons and how much he missed them. He had shared with her what he hadn’t spoken about with a single individual. Just her.
Kellan knew he should go to the opposite side of the house. Instead, he followed her up the stairs and into one of the bedrooms.
She reached for the door as she passed it, but he caught it before it could slam in his face.
“What—” she started when she turned to find him there.
Kellan grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her against the wall. Desire surged, rose like a tidal wave. It engulfed him, consumed him.
All the raw emotions he hadn’t known how to sort through turned into a blinding, dazzling flame of yearning. And it was focused on one woman.
As soon as her lips parted, he knew he was lost. He took her mouth in an unrestrained, brutal kiss full of burning need and alluring desire.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Denae wanted to push him away. She wanted to turn her head. But she couldn’t. Because she was getting what she had wanted since the first moment she’d laid eyes on Kellan—and let him into her head.
Her body melted against his, her lips eagerly parting for his kiss. His hard body trapped her against the wall while he deepened the kiss.
It was fevered, frenzied. He stole her breath the same time his kisses aroused and enthralled. Denae dug her fingers into his shoulders to remain upright.
Her world was spinning out of control, and at the center was Kellan—steady and solid.
Never had a kiss been such sweet seduction, such tantalizing persuasion … such enticing inducement. All that potent virility about Kellan was unleashed fully upon her. She was no match for his commanding potency, his masterful touch.
Her chest heaved when he lifted his head and his celadon gaze speared hers. No longer were his pale green eyes cold and devoid of emotion. They burned with desire, scorched her with the intensity of the need he let her see.
Chills raced over her skin, but it didn’t frighten her. It only made her passion rise higher.
He confused and confounded her. He made her long for his touch, crave his kisses. He made her ache for something she didn’t dare voice, something she thought could never be hers.
Denae couldn’t keep her hands off him. She traced the hard line of his jaw and his square chin. And, finally, she gave into the need and slid her fingers into the cool strands of his long, caramel-colored hair.
There were no words between them.
There was no need.