Lily’s eyes were so full of … eagerness that Rhys found himself watching her to see the play of emotions on her face. There were times she hid her feelings well, but others when she wore them on her sleeve for the world to see.
Tonight, they were visible, and he was glad. One by one the other occupants reached their floors. When the lift arrived at her floor, Lily glanced at him and walked out when the doors opened. Rhys followed, appreciating the sway of her hips—and thankful for the dress that no longer hid all of her beautiful curves.
It wasn’t until the door shut behind him in her suite that she laughed. “Shall we resume our conversation now?”
Rhys wanted to continue his perusal of her—with her clothes off. Desire ran thick and hot in his veins. It was a mistake to think he could be alone with her in her room. He’d nearly taken her last night on the trail. There was no one to interrupt them in her suite, no one to stop him from marking her as his.
“Rhys?” she called his name, a small frown marring her face.
He looked beyond her to the living room and the numerous bags that filled the space. She followed his gaze and groaned aloud.
“I can’t imagine what this looks like. I haven’t done anything like this in years,” she said while shoving aside bags so they could sit on the sofa.
Rhys stopped her and gave her a little push so she sat. He walked to the bar area and claimed a stool. The broader the distance the better if he was going to have to think and carry a conversation. “Forget the clothes. Let’s continue where we were below.”
“All right.” She sat back on the sofa and crossed one leg over the other after she kicked off her heels. “Tell me something about yourself.”
“I have enemies.”
Her gaze lowered to the half-empty glass of champagne in her hand. “So do I.”
Now that wasn’t something he had expected her to say. “What do you fear?”
“Not finding my courage when I need it.”
Once more he was taken aback by her words. “Why would you need courage?”
“My enemy, remember,” she said with a wink. But the truth was there in her words. “Your turn.”
Rhys wanted to ask her so many more questions, but he’d begun this game. “I fear that I willna gain back part of myself that I’ve lost.”
“Hmm,” she said with a nod as she drank. “I can relate. What do you hope for?”
“To vanquish my enemies.”
“I want to be free.” Her voice was full of wistfulness.
He thought over his next question for a moment, then asked, “If you could be anywhere, where would you be?”
“Here. With you. You?”
He stared into her eyes, his balls tightening with need. “Right here.”
“Tell me something you’ve never told anyone else, a secret we would share between us.”
Rhys set aside his warm champagne. He couldn’t tell her his biggest secret—that he was really a dragon. But he wished he could. “That I’ll fail those who need me most.”
“My given name is Lilliana Eleanor Ross, the Earl and Countess of Carlisle’s third daughter.”
“You’re nobility?” he asked in shock. That certainly wasn’t something he saw coming. It explained why she wore the clothes as she did, as well as her elegance.
Lily bowed her head of black hair and pushed the length off her shoulder. “I am. The friend I saw today called me Lady Lily. I just knew Denae was going to ask about it, but she didn’t.”
“That’s no’ her style.”
“No, it’s not.”
“That is some secret,” Rhys said. “I feel my response was quite inadequate.”
Lily laughed and finished off her champagne before she set it on the coffee table. “You could tell me more.”
“My friends count on me. I … I’m no’ as I once was. I’m more focused on vengeance.”
“You’re still there for your friends. That’s what matters.”
Rhys glanced away, because he knew that unless he could shift, he was useless in the coming battle. But he shoved those thoughts aside as he remembered who he was with. He thought of her new tattoo and the scar Cassie mentioned seeing. Suddenly, he wanted to see the scar himself. “Show me something no one else has seen.”
Lily held his gaze for several seconds as she swallowed nervously. Then she rose gracefully and walked to him. She turned her back to him and moved her hair. “Unzip me, please.”
Rhys hesitated, his hands shaking at the thought of touching her bare skin. He revisited their kisses every night in his dreams. He couldn’t have her this close and not take her, but if Cassie was right and Lily was once abused, he had to let her make the first move.
He grasped the zipper and slowly pulled it down. The neck of her dress gapped and creamy bare skin became visible. Then he saw her red bra. He swallowed, desire riding him hard.
Lily shifted so that the dress fell from her left shoulder. Rhys saw the vertical mark that ran over four inches from her shoulder down her back, spanning about an inch wide. The scar was leathery, indicating it was a burn.