Chapter Fifteen

Emma

"I 've detected a shortcoming of this bond," I said as we headed down the trail toward the beach and the village beyond.

"Oh, and what's that?" Rhyse asked, his voice floating down from the heavens.

The man was so tall . It was like talking into a different area code sometimes. I could swear his voice literally felt distant.

"I can tell when you're lying, but I can't get the actual answer I want from it."

"Which answer is that?"

I elbowed him. "The one I've been asking since we left. Where are we going?"

"Somewhere fun," he repeated.

"See, there we go again. I know you're not lying, but you aren't telling the truth either. Totally mixed signals. Talk about a typical male."

"You're confused. Sending mixed signals is the woman's thing."

"Excuse me?"

He shrugged. "Men are just pigs and only want sex. That's our thing."

"Oh, is that it? You just want to fuck me?"

Rhyse grunted but didn't reply. He didn't have to. Try as he might, he was unable to hide his desire for me. Or my body. The link his scale had created between us—which I'd learned was something that happened with all dragons, I wasn't some sort of freak—couldn't clarify all that he desired. His attitude, however, made it lean heavily toward just my body.

Which, I found myself idly thinking, wouldn't be the worst thing. He was gorgeous, and all those muscles could just throw me around so easily, something I absolutely loved . It would be—

Shit. You're doing it again.

I cut off my own arousal, trying to return to the topic at hand.

"Back to the point," I said, failing miserably at pushing away the images of him on the edge of the bluffs in that skintight suit. "You're full of shit. This isn't something for me."

Rhyse grunted. A standard noise of agreement from him, I was learning.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I said, not holding back my sigh of frustration. "It's like pulling teeth to get answers from you sometimes. Seriously, is it so hard to use words?"

The instant the question was out, I knew the answer I was getting.

"Yes," he said bluntly.

My anger must have been what he wanted because he took pity on me as I balled my hands into fists.

"Let's say that while I'm not thrilled about having to bring you with me where we're going, I also suspect you will, if nothing else, find it very interesting."

That rang of complete truthfulness. Both parts of his statement.

"You really don't like me, do you?" I asked, shocked to discover I was hurt by this revelation. Wanting to be alone was one thing, but actively disliking me? Was I really that bad of a person to be around?

The veins in Rhyse's jaw popped out as he clenched his jaw. His eyes, as green as emeralds in the bright sunlight, were focused straight ahead. Never wavering.

But it didn't matter. I staggered slightly as an absolute torrent of emotions cascaded through my mind far too quickly for me to process. So strong, so clear, and so completely different. For a moment, I thought a third person had joined the link. Like a telephone call.

The whole experience left me with a mild headache, it was that intense.

"This thing sucks," I mumbled, holding my head.

"Trust me, I know."

There was truth there, but a trickle of—

"Awww. But you're glad I'm not dead. That's so kind of you." I reached up to pat his shoulder as he inhaled slowly, his eyes rolling back as if he were fainting.

"Come, let's go," he said, picking up the pace slightly and forcing me to hurry after him.

"Where are we going?"

"Shopping."

I perked up. "Come again? Shopping? For what?"

There was a long pause. A hint of mirth spread through my mind. I couldn't see his face, but I knew he was smiling—or wanted to.

"You."

I stopped dead. He was taking me shopping? Rhyse? Me ? What was going on?

The giant dragon man lost his control and did something I hadn't thought I would hear anytime soon. He laughed.

"Come on!" He waved between chuckles.

I raced after him to catch up.

"You're taking me shopping? Really? For what?"

"I thought that might get you moving," he said, still laughing softly to himself.

"Duh. Why didn't you tell me that earlier? Of course I'm up for shopping. Especially if it's for clothing. I appreciate you lending me yours, but …" I gestured at myself.

Unsurprisingly, Rhyse's clothing had been far too big for me. We'd modified one of his shirts, cutting off nearly half its length and tying a large knot in the back to help tighten it up. His pants had holes sliced around the waist, and a piece of fabric had been threaded and then tied up as a belt.

It looked like the tracksuits of the ‘90s had come back with a vengeance. In sweats material. Whatever anyone said, it wasn't a good look, and I was desperate for some proper clothes.

"That's not the goal of this trip," he said. "But we'll see what we can do."

"What else do I need?" I asked, frowning.

"A bathing suit."

I scoffed.

"What?"

"You just want to see me in a bikini," I said. I started to roll my eyes at him but stopped short as a wave of something hot and intense washed over me. Thick, powerful, and—

Oh my god. Is he getting turned on at the idea of me in a bikini?

Rhyse snarled audibly, and the heated blanket that had begun to wrap itself around me disappeared in an instant.

"You're fucking confusing," I said. "Make up your mind. Do you hate me or not?"

Then I walked past him, leading the way until we entered the village.

"This one," Rhyse said as we neared the market at the center.

He pulled open the door and gestured for me to proceed inside.

"Pick whatever you want," he said just a bit grumpily. "Janos will come out in a moment. He's always slow."

"I can hear you," a voice called from the back as a barrel-chested dragon with a thick black goatee and an unruly mane of matching hair strode from the back, clad in a brilliant yellow and turquoise shirt.

"Janos. Whatever she wants, put it on my account, okay?"

The shop owner blinked. "Of course."

"I need to get some other supplies for our trip," Rhyse said. "Get what you need, but nothing more. We're traveling light. Got it?"

"Not really. I mean, I understand that, but I still don't understand why," I said.

"You'll see," he said, then he was gone.

I stared after him. Was it my imagination, or had he just winked at me?

"So, what can I help you with?" Janos asked, a big grin on his face.

"Bathing suits, apparently," I said with a shrug. "That's what I was told."

The shopkeeper looked me up and down.

"Don't say it," I said. "I know I look terrible."

"Maybe some clothes, too. Rhyse can afford it. Come, let's get you looking good!" He clapped his hands and gestured for me to follow.

I allowed Janos to help me select two outfits. In the end, I also ended up with a pair of swimsuits in completely opposite styles.

I stared at the one, a purple and black option that would … suit me well. Would Rhyse like it? Would he think I—

What do you care what he thinks? He's made it clear he doesn't like you.

So, why did he get so turned on when I mentioned he wanted to see me in a bikini?

Confusion reigned.

But I didn't put the bikini back on the rack.