16. Pain & Hormones
16
Pain it will work,” he assured her when she still didn’t seem convinced.
The sight of Ryu turning into a dragon suddenly popped into her head, making her feel silly to think otherwise. Oh, it’ll work, all right.
Taking another sip, she peeked through the open door, wanting to make sure her grandparents were still in the kitchen, drinking their nightly tea. Even though they were, she kept her voice to a whisper.
“You won’t leave my side till I fall asleep, will you?”
“No, I won’t,” he promised with a smile, cupping her cheek again.
Eira started to relax and molded into his comforting touch. When their skin met, it was unlike anything she’d ever felt, and she could only describe it as an all-consuming fire scorching across every inch of her skin, and not until his touch met hers was the fire able to smother in a caressed, melting, icy touch.
At their first touch, the fire wasn’t but a kindling, but by the time they had made it down the mountain to her house, they couldn’t part, always needing to keep skin contact from the yearning burning inside. She remembered her grandmother’s face when they had come in as her jaw had dropped to the floor in complete shock that she could be touched.
Her cheeks had blazed in embarrassment from them seeing her touch a boy for the first time, causing her to drop her hand from his and the flames to burn brighter through the evening. But now that they were alone again and able to touch, it calmed the fire inside.
Well … slightly.
Desperately, she asked, “Is it always going to be like this?”
Ryu shook his head. “When we have fully mated, the feeling will dull. It’ll only return this strong again if we don’t touch for a while.”
“So, we won’t be able to ever leave each other?” The thought of that possibility made her happy inside.
Ryu thought for a moment, clearly thinking deeply through memories. “I never saw my parents too far away from each other growing up, so no, I don’t think so.”
Eira looked at him through heavy lashes, sensing something. “And now?”
“My mother is no longer with us.”
Her stomach dropped at his words. “I’m so sorry, Ryu,” she said, taking a hand from her warm cup to place over his.
“It’s okay. I was a child when she passed, so it’s been many years.”
She noted that it didn’t matter how many years ago it had been, time still didn’t diminish the sadness in his voice when he spoke about his loss.
Suddenly needing to fix her dry throat, she swallowed while she thought about his other parent. “Your father … he doesn’t still feel this , does he?”
Solemnly, he shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. I believe that part in him died along with her.”
Again, the pain in his voice almost killed her, and as small of a relief as it was, it still was a relief to find out his father didn’t feel the burn of the yearning touch, as that would have been simply cruel. She’d hate if something happened to her and Ryu was left like this. She felt bad enough as it was that she hadn’t let him touch her, and he’d been like this for only days without her knowing.
“So”—she gulped, already almost knowing—“how do we fully mate?”
“Well, darling”—Ryu smiled seductively, letting her know it was exactly what she thought and that he appreciated the change in subject—“I don’t think you’re ready for that yet. Let’s get you to your new home first.”
Even with almost fully deaf grandparents, there certainly wasn’t anything of that that could go on here, even if she were ready. But she wasn’t, no matter how much it burned. It wasn’t totally unbearable, yet …
“This is my home,” she whispered, knowing it was his duty to go back home, but she couldn’t. She wasn’t ready for that yet, either.
He contemplated for a few moments. “Would it make it easier if they gave you their blessing?”
“I’m not sure,” she answered honestly, truly not knowing. With each passing second, it seemed like their bond grew stronger, so how could she not go with him either?
“Eira, they can’t come. They aren’t from my village.” He told her the harsh reality, but then his voice softened. “Our magic won’t allow it.”
“How am I—” A frustrated Eira broke off, crying.
“Let’s not worry about it tonight,” he said, wiping away the tears that had fallen. “Let’s worry about it tomorrow.”
Sniffling, she nodded before taking the last sip of her tea then lay back in her bed, feeling the sudden exhaustion hit her.
Ryu was right; that could be tomorrow’s freaking problem.
Wiping the last tear off her cheek as she started to drift to sleep, Ryu knew she was simply tired and overwhelmed by the day. She had, after all, found out his dragon-sized secret, witnessed him killing— or should I say eating —Kenshi, and that they were fated mates all in a single day.
And if that wasn’t enough, the hormones being unlocked, coursing through her body, was surely enough.
His father had warned him when he’d find his fated mate, there would be a significant feeling of lust upon his first look, and for her, her first touch. He remembered his father telling him it was best to fully mate as soon as possible before the pain and hormones could kick in.
Unfortunately, it didn’t matter how much his father had prepared him, because nothing could have prepared him for his fated mate. Eira had turned everything they knew about being mated upside down, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Ryu let his thumb hum over the markings on her skin as if they were the most precious words ever written in braille.
There was only one thing left he needed to do before they left for home, and it was time to find out what had caused Eira’s own nightmares.