6. Aries
Aries
“D estroyed?” I nearly growl it, anger heating the blood within my veins. Has this petite woman slaughtered innocents who, like me, were ripped from their homes—their worlds—through no fault of their own?
The moment that thought crosses my mind, though, I dismiss it.
The expression on her face is not one of malice or guilt.
Rather, she looks distressed. This is not a woman who has ever taken a life, evidenced by the horror reflected in her soft brown eyes and the fact that she is hiding me in her tiny home.
“Yes,” Paige replies.
And though her tone is grave as she answers me, I cannot help but notice my own body’s reaction to her presence.
A reaction I’ve been ignoring since the moment I landed in this strange world.
Paige is beautiful with her honey-colored hair and piercing yet innocent eyes.
But it’s more than her beauty that stirs my blood—that stirs my dragon.
The very sound of her voice is music to my ears. She calls to me, beckoning to a part of me no female has reached—until now. The beast in my veins desires her. But his need to claim her makes no sense.
This woman is not from my world. Therefore, she cannot be mine .
“What types of creatures were they?” I question, hoping to keep my mind from the very clear mistake my dragon has made. Trapped here in this strange world, the last thing I need is to become distracted by lust.
“I don’t know,” she tells me as she pushes her glasses up her nose and begins to pace. “I was too young to remember, but based on what Mag has told me—”
“Mag.” The anger returns. “The one you feared would harm you?”
She shakes her head, letting out an adorably frustrated sigh. “He won’t hurt me. At least, not on purpose.” Paige turns to face me, her arms crossed, which sends her delicious cleavage nearly spilling from the top of her shirt.
My cock hardens, and I take a seat on her plush couch since these damned pants do nothing to hide my clear arousal. Not that she notices; far too wrapped in her own worries, Paige stands and begins to pace.
Something I am quite grateful for since it gives me ample opportunity to study her flawless, round ass. Its shape is set on perfect display in the tight pants that are apparently custom for females in this land. Damn this temptress. Was she lying? Is she a witch who has enchanted me?
“I was too little to remember the Extrication, but Mag told me that there were dozens of creatures on the loose. Said it took them weeks to track them all through the library.”
The picture she paints yanks me from my distraction, and I glare at her.
“Innocent lives taken because they were ripped from their worlds? Were they even a threat? Or simply in the wrong place?” I snarl along with the words.
My thoughts instantly shift to the people of my world.
To the knowledge that they would be hunted and slaughtered all because they were unknowingly pulled from their homes.
She stares at me blankly. “I—I don’t know. From what I’ve heard, they were all highly combative. A word Mag used,” she adds.
“Not something I can blame them for,” I retort. “In fact, I would almost enjoy seeing this Mag try to—how did you put it?—destroy me. I think I would be rather combative if someone were trying to slaughter me as well.”
Paige pales slightly. Whether it’s my challenge or the risk to this Mag that caused it, I don’t know. But I cannot be bothered to find out. Not when I have a home to return to and a kingdom to run.
“He’s not going to get the chance,” she says. “Because he’s never going to know you’re here.” The woman crosses toward me and drops to her knees at my feet.
My blood stirs, lust shooting through me like a punch. How easy it would be to pull her into my lap. To claim those plump lips with my own. Or let her stay where she is, sliding my pants down while she lowered her mouth onto my—
“Please, just give me time. I need to find a way to get you home safely. The people here, they’re only doing their jobs, but if they find you—”
“Their job is to kill me. You’ve made that quite clear.”
Paige takes a deep breath. “Please, Aries.”
Nearly shuddering at the sound of my name from her lips, I consider her request. While I do not believe anyone here possesses the power required to match me in strength or speed, this is a world I am unfamiliar with.
I have no weapons, no allies. Therefore, challenging anyone could be a potentially deadly mistake.
Getting home to save my family outweighs my prideful desires. “Very well. I will allow you time to find a way to send me home. But I must return,” I add, staring into her depthless gaze. “My family is counting on me. My world is counting on me.”
Paige swallows hard. Her gaze flicks down to my mouth then back up to my eyes so quickly I nearly miss it. Mine. The single word runs through my mind, but I beat it down.
Coming here must have fucked up my senses because, in my world, in my home, this woman is not my mate. She cannot be. And there is too much at stake should I choose wrong.
“Thank you.” She stands and crosses to her kitchen to fill a glass of water from the tap.
I follow, transfixed by the clear water pouring from the silver tube. “What magic is this?” I reach around her to turn it on then flick it off again. The water stops and starts with the move of a lever. It’s magic, though I’ve never seen an enchantment quite like this before.
“Umm, running water?” Her close reply catches me off guard, so I look down, surprised to see she’s standing between me and the sink, a mere breath away. Her eyes lock on mine, her warm gaze traveling over my face just as mine does hers.
This woman is beautiful chaos. I’ve known her for less than an evening, and already I know that she is the exact opposite of the mate my mother has described me needing.
But when I see her—
My thoughts die in that moment because Paige grips my neck and yanks my mouth down to hers.
Her lips are soft and pillowy. Inviting, even as all logic dictates I pull away.
An inner warning that disappears as her tongue runs along my lips, beckoning them to open.
My beast stirs as I sweep my tongue over hers and forget all the reasons why this is unthinkable.
In fact, I stop thinking at all.
Reaching down, I grip that perfectly round ass and set her on the counter. Moving between her legs, I keep my mouth firm on hers, my hands sliding up her sides and skimming those perfect breasts I long to hold in my hands.
Her nipples are hard as I graze them through her shirt, and she leans further into me. I slide my palms up her neck, cupping the sides of her face, and bury my fingers in the thick strands of her sunlit hair.
Paige is an explosion of flavor. Heady cinnamon with a punch of Captain Morgan’s ale. My cock is so hard it’s damn near painful. And when the delicate scent of her arousal slams into me, I nearly lose the battle to resist my urges.
Mine.
Paige moans, soft and throaty. I press up against her hot core, my promise of what’s to come.
At my intimate touch, she stills. Her mouth leaves mine, and she squeezes her eyes shut as if the separation pains her. With both hands, she presses against my chest and shoves me back. I stare at her, our breathing ragged.
Her eyes open, her gaze colliding with mine. Immediately, her cheeks redden, and she covers her face. “Whoa! Holy shit, I am so sorry,” she wails.
“Sorry?” I echo, thoroughly confused.
She jumps down from the counter and shakes her head. “Stupid, stupid, stupid,” she mutters to herself. “Gotta stop listening to those audiobooks.” Muscles quivering, she continues to shake. Fear pushes through my lust.
What if she is ill? Where is the nearest healer in this world? How will I help her? “Are you all right?” I question, reaching for her. “Do you need to see a healer? Is something wrong?”
“Wrong?” She looks back at me, dazed, lips swollen from our kisses. “Ugh.” She shakes her head and mutters, “My nipples are so hard they might shred this shirt, but—oh fuck, I did not just say that!” She shakes her head, her gaze darting everywhere but mine.
I study her, trying to understand the reason for her misery. Lips puffy and red from our kiss, she looks utterly delectable. Already I yearn for another taste.
“Listen. That was a mistake. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
I don’t reply, both dumbfounded by the fact that it was she who stole the kiss in the first place and the fact that the bond I feel for her just grew tenfold after touching her just once.
Now it’s my turn to feel the cool claws of fear. What if—
“Use the blanket from earlier. You can sleep on the couch,” she says, interrupting me.
Paige starts to go and then turns back, adding, “Please don’t leave while I’m asleep.
” Then she spins on her heel and marches across the room to the bed chamber where she’d had me dress.
She slams the door behind her while I remain standing, staring after her like a fool.
In the long moments that follow, I realize she’s not coming back. Not tonight. And the realization leaves me strangely lonely. I’ve kissed women before. Shared the beds of willing females even as we both knew it was going nowhere. But this? This is the first time a woman kissed me .
The first time I’ve felt with absolute certainty that a woman was meant to be mine. Even though, realistically, I know she cannot be.
It makes no sense. Why would my beast choose someone who can never be mine? Why put us both through the misery of a bond when nothing can come from it?
I cross over and sit on the couch, staring at the shadowy wall across from me.
Paige and I are worlds apart, and I’m not sure even my dragon can remedy that.