Part 30 (1/2)

As the last tear fell, Rya stepped out of the baths and wrapped a terrycloth towel around her naked body. Then, heading into her bedchamber, she considered whether or not she could force herself to eat.

She wasn't hungry despite the hours since her last meal, but she knew she had to keep her strength up if she wanted to join the mission to rescue her mother.

Still undecided, she stepped into the large room that was designed in a traditional Chinese style. The doors and windows were decorated with golden latticework motifs, each of them reflecting harmony between man and nature. There were several crimson-painted pillars and a door that led to an inner courtyard decorated with carved dragons and a koi pond with a tiny bridge built across it.

And in the center of the room was a large lacquer bed with a crimson satin cover and a matching armoire.

Lost in her thoughts, it took a second for Rya to recognize the heat that was pulsing through the air. With a frown she turned her head, her heart coming to a painful halt at the sight of Torque standing just a few feet away.

Dear G.o.ddess.

He was so gorgeous.

Not handsome like Baine, but his sternly chiseled features and brilliant sapphire eyes were so strikingly perfect Rya found that she couldn't look away.

Or maybe it was just the fact that she'd a.s.sumed she would never see him again.

Licking her dry lips, she was jerked out of her dazed sense of disbelief as he broke the silence.

”h.e.l.lo, Rya,” he drawled, strolling forward. Like her, he'd recently bathed. She could catch the scent of soap on his warm skin. And he'd changed into a pair of jeans and soft blue sweater that matched his eyes. ”Did you think you could hide from me?” he demanded as he came to a halt directly in front of her.

”Torque.” She was forced to clear her throat. ”How did you get in here?”

His lips twisted. ”I threatened to have Baine turn this place into a barbeque joint if I wasn't allowed to speak with my betrothed.”

She shook her head. Although the harem wasn't as fiercely protected as her father's inner lair, Torque must have terrified the guards to let him past the front doors.

”We're no longer betrothed,” she reminded him in stiff tones.

Without warning he was prowling around her, his fingers lightly brus.h.i.+ng over the tattoo that was exposed on her upper back.

”This marking says differently,” he murmured.

She hissed, caught off guard by the shocking pleasure that jolted through her.

His touch wasn't supposed to make her gut clench or her pulse race. Not anymore.

”You heard my father,” she muttered.

His fingers trailed over her shoulder as he continued to circle around her. Sparks and smoke rose from her bare skin, revealing her intense response to his touch.

”I did,” he admitted.

She s.h.i.+vered, longing and pain churning through her. Why was he doing this to her?

”He's convinced that the treasure we were fated to discover has been found,” she reminded him, as if he could have forgotten the staggering revelation. ”You're free.”

He stood in front of her once again, his fingers tracing the top edge of her towel.

”Good,” he murmured.

The soft word felt like another sucker punch.

Rya clenched her teeth, wondering how her toes could be curling in bliss at the same time that her heart was breaking.

”Yes, it is good.” She swatted away his hand. ”Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get dressed.”

His gaze lowered to the soft swell of her upper b.r.e.a.s.t.s that were revealed by the towel. Heat crackled through the air, sizzling over Rya's skin even as her inner dragon purred in antic.i.p.ation.

A slow, wicked smile curved his lips, then at blinding speed, he bent down and swept her off her feet.

Rya made a choked sound of astonishment.

How had she once thought this male incapable of emotion?

Right now the entire room shuddered with the force of his desire.

”Torque, what are you doing?” she breathed.

Holding her wary gaze, he cradled her against his chest.

”Don't you want to know why I'm happy Synge decided my father's debt is paid?” he demanded.

She ignored the voice in the back of her head that warned she should struggle against his possessive hold. He didn't have the right to touch her as if she was his mate.

She didn't want to be released.

Not when her heart was thudding and her entire body was zinging with excitement at the feel of being wrapped so tightly in his arms.

Desire, white-hot and intoxicating, flowed like lava through her veins.

”You don't need to. You never wanted to mate with me,” she forced herself to mutter. ”Now you can return to your life as a warrior and I don't have to worry about being a burden-”

Her words were cut short as he lowered his head to press a silencing kiss to her lips.

”Hush,” he commanded against her mouth.

She stiffened. Okay, Torque might be surprisingly good at sweeping a female off her feet, but that didn't give him the right to interrupt her. ”Hey.”

He nibbled at the corner of her mouth before brus.h.i.+ng feather-light kisses over her cheek.

”I'm happy because I want it to be crystal clear that our mating has nothing to do with visions,” he murmured, his lips tracing the line of her jaw. ”Or obligations.” He once again found her mouth, kissing her with a tender yearning that she felt to her very soul. ”Or duty.”

She tilted back her head, groaning when his lips took advantage of the new angle to skim down her throat.

”There is no mating,” she reminded him.

Or maybe she was trying to remind herself.

With a slow movement, Torque lifted his head, his dragon smoldering in his eyes as he gazed down at her.