“You’re not a dragon,” he admitted softly.
“How much of a problem?” It made her nervous to think he might not explore something just because of what she was. And if that was the way all dragons were, then it wasn’t really his fault. Even if it did suck.
“I don’t know.”
“Is it going to change how you want to act around me?” Her voice cracked a little, and she was surprised by the emotion that was lurking there.
“I don’t think so.” He didn’t sound so sure.
“But...”
He turned to her, his dark eyes boring into her and looking pained. She lifted a hand and left it hovering above his cheek. She wanted to touch him. And she wanted to kiss him, to see if there really was anything between them, but something held her back. Or, not back as such, but it was making her particularly nervous.
Drey’s eyes flitted down to her lips, and something clicked inside her. She wasn’t going to know for sure until she actually did something about it.
She leaned forward, almost not believing she was actually doing this. It wasn’t out of character as such, but she just wasn’t normally interested like this. Instead of just being a kiss, whatever this was leading up to felt like more. It was important, she could feel it with all her being.
Slowly, she drew closer to Drey, and hovered with her lips just in front of his. All it would take was another small movement and they’d be touching.
Neither of them moved, their breath mingling between them and enhancing the importance of the moment for Aledwen. She wanted this. She needed some answers. Or more like confirmation really. If there really was something like a mating bond between them, then she’d have the answers anyway. She just needed the confirmation that she was right about that.
Taking a chance, she closed the small gap between them and pressed her lips against his. Within seconds, he was returning the kiss, soft and sensual rather than hot and demanding. Aledwen’s eyes fluttered closed and she let herself got lost in the kiss.
One of Drey’s hands snaked around her waist, pulling her closer to him. She smiled into their kiss. That wasn’t the reaction of someone that wasn’t interested. And from what he was saying, that meant they really were mates. Maybe there’d be some problems to come with that, but she was certain they’d be able to work through them.
She shuffled even closer to him on the sofa, not breaking the kiss as she did. She didn’t want to lose contact with him unless she absolutely had to. The kiss they were sharing really was one to get lost in, and a large part of Aledwen was satisfied by that.
After what seemed like an age, but nowhere near long enough, Drey pulled away, and looked down at her with hooded eyes. There were a few moments of bliss before panic seemed to take over, and he pushed her away.
She slumped back into her seat, a rather unprincess-like position. She hated that he’d just rejected her so casually. Well, not reject, but definitely not accept the kiss they’d just shared.
“Drey?”
“I’m sorry, Dwen. I have to go.” He pushed up from the sofa and strode towards the open balcony doors. Leaving her completely flabbergasted.
“Why?” she demanded, her voice coming out far stronger than she’d expected. Hurt would likely come later, but anger seemed to be her predominant emotion.
“I need to sort some things out.”
“No. You need to sort this out, Drey. This isn’t something to run away from.”
“You think I’m running away from you?” He seemed hurt that she’d even suggest that, but given the current situation, she didn’t think he had a leg to stand on.
“You’re giving off that kind of impression.”
“I’m not, Dwen. I just...have to sort some things out.”
“But won’t say what those things are, or why they suddenly appeared the moment we kissed.” Her voice was almost raised. It would have been, if her royal training wasn’t quite so thorough. That was all there really was standing between her and a shouting match. She wasn’t even sure why it bothered her so much. She barely knew Drey still, there was no way she couldn’t take this one personally.
“I can’t tell you.”
“Of course not.”
“I’m sure there’s fae secrets you can’t tell anyone but your mate,” he pointed out.
“Not really. I’m the princess, I’m not bound by those oaths.” She’d always found that one odd too. Surely she was just as capable of spilling sensitive secrets as any of the other, more common, fae.
“I just can’t yet. I need to sort something out.”