Chapter 28 Last to Know
“So that’s what my premonition showed me. That you’d been sealed away and couldn’t come to me.” Reiya dug her fingers into his chest and leaned her head deeper into him. “It was because of me, then. I’m the reason you weren’t there in the future.”
“Reiya, the future is always changing. Besides, it isn’t because of you.
This …” He squeezed her waist with his hands.
“This is us. Our decisions in the future gave you the premonition you saw. Xander and I already worked that detail out together. We figured that’s what your vision meant, since there’s no way I wouldn’t be there if you were in danger.
I’m not going to lie, though. Your premonition did give me hope.
It gave me promise that you chose to be with me at some point, and I was being punished for being with you.
When I left you earlier, I told Xander and the Sage that I’d marked you.
We were deep in discussion on how to proceed, and we came up with the plan that you and Xander would feign a relationship together, for now, while I try to work on the deity council.
You have a dragon mark on your neck, and some dragon is going to have to claim it.
Xander is the safest one to do that. And the Sage said there’s also an ace in the hole that he’s trying to iron out if negotiations fail.
” Lee chuckled quietly. “There’s so much to discuss, but right now, I …
” Lee inhaled deeply near her neck. “I feel like I’ve been torturing myself for years for no reason. ”
“You could have talked to me, you know? Though I don’t know how you couldn’t know how I felt about you. You really were completely clueless.” Reiya smiled into his chest. She couldn’t believe that what she’d wanted all along was becoming a reality.
“It’s not like you came out and told me you had feelings for me either …
well, until today, that is,” Lee chuckled.
“I couldn’t let myself hope for it. I was honestly trying to tune everything out and avoid being with you too much.
I didn’t want to be too tempted and go too far with you.
I kept counting down the days, waiting for you to be able to sense your mate.
I just wanted you to choose me for yourself and not because I …
well, I didn’t want to take advantage of you.
You were just sixteen when we first met, and …
it was hard, Reiya, because I wanted to be with you.
I planned to keep waiting, but in the end, there was just no more waiting.
Apparently for either of us.” He smiled into her hair as he held her tightly.
“I felt like I was doing something wrong. The way I felt about you and thought about you ... I couldn’t wait for my wolf to show herself either.
I wouldn’t have those thoughts about you anymore.
I didn’t want to have these feelings for someone that I couldn’t have.
I never thought I would actually be able to be with you.
You were so close, yet so unattainable. It was so difficult to keep these feelings inside.
Then, little by little, I hated the idea that you only viewed me as a little sister.
I didn’t want to be your sister. So, I just snapped.
I didn’t know what to think when everyone was saying that I’d been marked.
Was it just an accident? There was no way you marked me on purpose.
I honestly thought you only kissed me because you felt sorry for me.
I had no idea that there was more to it …
to any of it. Then, with Xander always implying that I was his mate, always touching me—”
Lee let out a growl. “I can’t stand it when he touches you. He gets some sort of sick satisfaction out of it. And he’s always tried to throw others off about you, which is why he did that from the beginning. I could have killed him when he refused to let you leave.”
“So, why did he do that?” Reiya glanced up at Lee.
“Because he knew. Xander and the Sage already knew you were my mate. I had told them. Xander knew I wasn’t going to do anything about it, so he kept you here for me so that I could see you every day.
He was hoping to push the relationship along, or at the very least make it a bit easier for me.
Still, it was none of his business. That brat refused to concede, though.
I wanted you back in Elysia, but he did have a good point.
You would be safer here, but I hated to do that to you.
It wasn’t my call, though. Xander is the king.
I don’t interfere in the ruling king’s decisions.
Well, I usually don’t.” Lee chuckled lightly.
“You should have seen your father, though. He was ready to destroy the place in the conference room. There was no way he was leaving his baby girl here. It wasn’t until I popped into the room and told them I was your mate that he settled down.
He still didn’t like it, but he could hardly refuse to leave you in the hands of your mate. ”
“Wait! So my mom and dad know you’re my mate?” Reiya asked, a bit shocked.
“Well, they know that I at least view you as my mate. We’re still waiting on the verdict from that wolf of yours.” Lee smiled down at her.
“I told you. I don’t care who my wolf claims, because I’ve chosen you.”
Lee smiled down at her warmly. This was exactly what he’d always wanted to hear. “Brody knows too, by the way.”
“He WHAT?!”
“We asked them all not to say anything. I told them I want you to choose for yourself and didn’t want you influenced into choosing me. Don’t be upset with them. That day I went for a walk with Brody, I explained everything.”
“I guess the faith he had in you and Xander when I found that map of Elysia makes sense now.”
“Wait, you found the Sage’s map? You thought we were using it for ill purposes?” Lee frowned at this.
“I decided to have faith in you. At first, I was shocked to see it, but I figured there had to be an explanation. I felt dumb for my blind faith, but I felt like I could trust you and Xander. I’m glad my judgment wasn’t wrong.
” Reiya pressed into Lee and tiptoed up, placing her arms around his neck.
“I trust you, Lee. It’s always been you.
You’ve always been the only one who ever existed in my mind.
” With a newfound confidence, she pulled herself up and pressed her lips against his, knowing she affected him just as much as he affected her.
His hot lips began to melt hers as they moved together in sync.
She slightly parted her lips, and he immediately obliged her invitation.
Soon their tongues were dancing passionately together.
She wasn’t as clumsy as she was the first time, also playing and nipping at his lips.
He made a throaty groan at her little nips, which only encouraged her more.
She reached her fingers into his hair and tangled his strands around them, pushing him into her as their passion intensified.
His hot breath sent shivers down her spine.
This was all she’d ever wanted. She’d always wanted Lee, and he had marked her.
On purpose! He’d claimed her as his mate.
That was exactly what she wanted to be .
.. his mate. Now, they only needed to complete the mating ritual.
His kisses were making her delirious. Their battling tongues were fighting for dominance, the feelings of urgency and need intensifying.
Their chests heaved in tandem as they struggled for air between kisses, only to dive back into each other’s mouths with even more fervor.
His hand ran down her spine, tracing the curve of her waist before resting on her hip.
She arched into the touch, pushing herself against him.
His free hand moved up to cup her face, cradling it gently before trailing down to explore the line of her jaw and neck.
She let out a soft gasp when he nipped at her earlobe, sending tingles down her spine.
She felt a thrill of excitement course through her veins as his lips crashed into hers once again.
Their tongues tangled and danced, and she found herself giving in to the sensations, willingly surrendering to his touch.
His lips tasted like honey, and she couldn’t get enough of them.
She pressed herself closer, feeling his hardness against her, the heat radiating off him seeping into her core.
The scent of fresh rain and honey mixed in the air as she breathed in his scent.
It was as if the very elements themselves were celebrating.
The pounding of their hearts echoed off the walls around them, drowning out all other sounds as they lost themselves in each other’s embrace.
She moaned softly into the kiss, a low rumble that vibrated through his chest and sent a jolt of desire down his spine.
His free hand slipped underneath her shirt, tracing patterns on her back before finding its way up to cup one of her breasts over her bra.
As he groaned against her mouth, she could feel his erection grow even harder against her stomach. She let out a little whimper, pressing her body against his hardness. Her body wanted more, and she was desperately seeking more.
Their tongues wrestled as their lower bodies ground together, seeking release from the unbearable tension.
She ran one hand up his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath her fingertips as he let out a throaty growl of approval.
But when she bit his bottom lip, his entire body shuddered, and his arms tensed as he forced himself to an abrupt halt.
He pulled away and looked down at her as the two of them panted for air. “Reiya … we should stop.”
“Why?” Reiya pressed the front of her body against him as she took a step into the tiny gap he’d formed.
His eyes were hooded as he looked down at her. “Because, any further and I won’t be able to stop.”
“Why do you have to stop?” Her voice was coquettish as she gently traced a finger over his lips.
Lee let out a low growl and nipped at her delicate fingers, causing her to giggle. “I think we should wait, Reiya. I know you say it doesn’t matter, but I don’t want this to be a regret. If you have a different mate out there … I don’t want to do that to you, Reiya.”
“Lee, why are you the only one who gets to make the decisions here? What about what I want? How I feel? I already told you … I don’t care. I want to be with you.”
“It warms my heart to hear you say that, Reiya. It really does … but more than that, it lights a fire inside of me. Still, I know you’re …
inexperienced, and I don’t think we need to rush this.
Let’s just enjoy this moment. Let’s relish the fact that I love you, my sweet, beautiful fairy, and I am completely and utterly devoted to you and you alone. ”
Reiya smiled up at him. It was cute that he was trying to deny himself of her.
Sure, she was inexperienced, but her heart knew what she wanted.
She trailed her finger up his chest, raising the shirt she was wearing, exposing her bottom cheeks.
“Inexperience is not synonymous with indecisiveness. I know what I want, Lee. My heart isn’t going to change.
I know that I love you, and even if I have a different mate out there, that will never change.
I have loved you for years. I don’t only want to warm your heart, Lee.
I also want to warm your bed. But we can just sit and enjoy this moment for now.
If you’re not ready for an intimate relationship, I can wait for you.
” She gave him a wry smile as she felt the low rumble in his chest. Sure, she was playing with fire.
The thing is, she didn’t mind. She actually wanted to get burned.
She didn’t mind it, as long as it was by him.