The day had grown dark around them while they’d set up camp and cooked their dinner, and now the small fire cast long shadows across Caleb’s face, making him look serious and, somehow, even more handsome than ever.
Kira swallowed as she stared at him, unable to tear her eyes away.
“Kira…” Caleb started, turning toward her, his blue eyes dark in the low light. “You said you thought we had a connection, right?”
Kira nodded. “I did. Um. Sorry if that sounded corny or too forward. I just –”
“No, no, it didn’t at all,” Caleb rushed to reassure her. Seemingly unconsciously, he reached out to cover her hand with his, sending a delicious fizz of electricity over Kira’s skin, which settled in her belly. “What I meant to say is, that isn’t just you imagining things. We really do have a connection.”
Blinking, Kira gazed up at him. “We do?”
“It’s… hard to explain,” Caleb said. “I’ve always known, being a dragon. So it just seems a very natural thing to me. But I can understand that to a human, it might take some getting used to.”
Kira couldn’t think of a single thing to say to that, so she simply stared at him, mute. What is he even talking about?
“I’m just going to come out with it,” Caleb said. “Kira, being a dragon means I share a mated bond with someone – someone who was made just for me, just like I’m made just for them. We never know when we’re going to meet the person we were fated to be with, and no one really understands how it happens. It’s lost magic, but it’s never really faded away. It’s all part of being a dragon – though other kinds of shifters have fated mates as well. But we do always know when we find them. And Kira – my fated mate is –”
“Me?!” Kira burst out, unable to hold back. Her mouth popped open as she stared at him. “Are you – are you sure?!”
She felt like her head was spinning. First dragons existed – and now this? Kira wanted to tell Caleb he must be mistaken, but somehow, in her heart, she knew he wasn’t. Compared with the fact that just a few hours ago he’d turned into a dragon right in front of her, this seemed like kind of small potatoes.
Except it’s not,Kira thought, feeling her heartbeat thudding in her chest. It’s the most important thing anyone has ever said to me. That I’m Caleb’s fated mate.
She stared up into his eyes. There was no doubt at all in them – just something that made her stomach clench and her heart flood with warmth.
“I –” she started, before her voice cracked. “I don’t know what to say.”
“I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t want to hitch your life to someone who was under a bad luck curse,” Caleb said. “It’s not exactly the most convenient way to live your life.”
“What? No!” Kira said, shaking her head. “That’s not what I meant at all! I was just… a little stunned, that’s all. I mean, I thought we had a connection, but I wasn’t thinking it was a real, actually magical one! I just thought you were hot! And kind. And interesting. And kind of just… all-round amazing.”
She laughed, realizing she was babbling, and a moment later, Caleb joined in.
“But Kira, I can’t ask you to stick with me if – if this doesn’t work,” he said, serious again after a moment. “It wouldn’t be fair to ask that of y—" Caleb cut himself off as she lifted her hand, pressing her palm against his cheek.
Well,she thought, here goes.
If Caleb wouldn’t take her words as evidence that she didn’t care about any stupid bad luck curse, then she’d clearly have to resort to actions instead.
Leaning up, she pressed her lips against his.
Oh… oh my goodness…
Kira could pretty confidently say she’d never experienced a kiss like this before.
It felt as if warm sparks of electricity were flowing between their lips, making her skin tingle, her heart leap in her chest, and her stomach clench.
Unable to help herself, she groaned a little into Caleb’s mouth, her arms winding around his shoulders. She felt Caleb’s arms around her, warm and strong, drawing her closer as they deepened the kiss, her breasts pushing against his chest, making her gasp.
“Okay – okay –” she breathed out when at last they broke apart, her head swimming, her breath short. She felt dizzy – but it was with a delicious, warm, throbbing desire that seemed to fill every part of her, from the top of her head down to her toes.
And looking at Caleb, with his swollen lips, desire-darkened eyes, and heaving chest, Kira had a pretty good idea he felt exactly the same way.
“Okay, if I don’t take a moment, I think I may faint,” she finally managed to gasp out.
“Do you want to stop?” Caleb asked her, concern tinging his expression. “I get this might be a little fast –”
“No, I definitely do not,” Kira blurted out before she could stop herself, before laughing. “I mean… just let me catch my breath. But no – this is fine. More than fine. I mean… I’ve never felt this way before. Is this all because of the – the what did you call it?”