Page 163 of Dragon 7

The bond throbbed again.

His rage.

His sadness.

His guilt.

The three emotions braided together and pressed against the inside of my chest.

My mouth was dry. My tongue stuck. My teeth wanted to chatter. I set my jaw against them.

I looked at him across the tile and did my best not to sneer. “I don’t want to talk about the sacrifice, Kenji."

He watched me and remained silent.

A nervous tremor started in my knees, traveled up the bones of my legs, and settled in my hips.

"Tora. . ."

I turned away. Sweat prickled at my hairline. A drop slid behind my ear and down the side of my throat.

No. I’m not doing this.

I headed off to leave the room, and he watched. When I walked past him, I gave us a wide berth of space so he wouldn’t grab me. My legs moved toward the double doors. I did not know where I was going, just that I was getting my ass out of there.

As I continued, I heard him move fast behind me.

Hurry.

His massive hand closed on my arm.

Fuck.

Slowly, he turned me to face him and then. . .he pulled me against him.

His body was hard everywhere mine was not. His muscular chest was a wall against my cheek. His strong arms wrapped around me before I could set my hands to push him away. His grip held me in.

He inhaled at the crown of my head.

Long.

Slow.

He drank the air off my hair.

Kenji lowered his head, and his mouth found the skin near my ear. He brushed his lips against my flesh and groaned.

The sound vibrated through me.

Tears left my eyes.

I quickly wiped them away.

He inhaled again along my hairline. He dragged his mouth down the side of my throat. His hands opened at my back and then gripped me even harder.

His lips brushed against the bite marks on my neck he’d made days ago.

Shivering, I sank into him.