took a shaky breath and crammed the last response back deep into her brain. “I’d be fl–flattered.”
His smile vanished, replaced by a frown. “No, you’re not. You’re frightened.” Sighing, he stood and offered her his hand. “The only way off the caldera is to fly. I’ll take you home.”
She took a deep breath, the easiest one she’d had since drinking sake on her balcony. Koishi had an uncanny talent for stealing her breath away. Shouldn’t a woman have that in her life? A person who she’d never thought would desire her taking notice and sweeping her off her feet, in her case, literally.
But this was Ishi, the guardian of the East. She hadn’t been told too much of the other gatekeepers, except they existed, and were tougher than any mortal army, let alone a soldier.
Yet, Koishi had tried to make her coffee and almost poisoned himself. He’d been taking her on a date when all this happened. He’d kissed her.
She placed her hand in his and allowed him to aid her to her feet.
His large hand engulfed hers, and she pictured how a dragon’s personality could do the same to hers. They weren’t equals. They’d never be. An attraction doomed before it even began. Why should they even try?
When Koishi met her gaze, the sparkle that had danced in his eyes each time he’d teased her had vanished. That sparkle had been in Ishi’s gaze earlier today as she sung on the mountainside. His dull stare made her heart ache.
He infuriated her and pushed her to do idiotic things, but she had enjoyed their small adventures. It was the most fun she’d ever had. She didn’t have any excitement in her life, and she’d discovered a new longing for more.
She didn’t let go of his hand as he led her from the bedroom. “Why can’t we teleport like before?”
“I can’t do that. It’s the gate that transports me when it’s breached.”
Stopping, she waited for him to face her. “So that’s why you can travel away from it and aren’t stuck in this den.” Hope fluttered in her chest. “Is there a limit to how far you can travel?”
He shook his head.
“Maybe you can come visit me?” The question was out before she’d thought it through. He wasn’t looking for a long distance relationship, just a little nookie.
“I’d like that. I’ve always wanted to see your world.” The smile on his face held a touch of sadness.
The flutter in her chest died. “But…” She was such a fool to open herself up for rejection.
“But the gate’s transport is one way. If I were in America I’d be returned here when the gate needed me, then what? Fly back only to be transported again?”
“So, you’re trapped here?’
“In essence, yes. The same principles apply in Outremer. At least there, I can fly in my dragon form and not rely on flimsy machines.”
She followed him through the gateroom and into another set of confusing tunnels. “I don’t know how you find your way through here.”
He shrugged. “I created most of them and have lived here long enough to know them blindfolded.”
She slowed her steps and stared at the high, smooth ceiling carved out of the volcano. “I thought lava created these.”
“It did, but I guide the flow, one of my many talents. The island shook for weeks afterwards. Great clouds of ash rained over everything.” He winked. “I made sure the natives were gathered in one area so they’d remain safe.”
“Natives?” Her eyes went wide. “How long ago was this?”
“A very, very long time ago.”
They exited onto a large ledge facing the less populated side of the island. The moon gleamed on the ocean’s surface and a cool breeze cut across her skin.
She shivered. A long time ago…he was ancient.
Koishi took off his shirt and settled it across her shoulders. “I don’t feel the cold.”
And neither did she, not after he bared his chest and cut abs. God, why was she returning to the hotel? The image of the handles carved in the headboard of his bed
His smile vanished, replaced by a frown. “No, you’re not. You’re frightened.” Sighing, he stood and offered her his hand. “The only way off the caldera is to fly. I’ll take you home.”
She took a deep breath, the easiest one she’d had since drinking sake on her balcony. Koishi had an uncanny talent for stealing her breath away. Shouldn’t a woman have that in her life? A person who she’d never thought would desire her taking notice and sweeping her off her feet, in her case, literally.
But this was Ishi, the guardian of the East. She hadn’t been told too much of the other gatekeepers, except they existed, and were tougher than any mortal army, let alone a soldier.
Yet, Koishi had tried to make her coffee and almost poisoned himself. He’d been taking her on a date when all this happened. He’d kissed her.
She placed her hand in his and allowed him to aid her to her feet.
His large hand engulfed hers, and she pictured how a dragon’s personality could do the same to hers. They weren’t equals. They’d never be. An attraction doomed before it even began. Why should they even try?
When Koishi met her gaze, the sparkle that had danced in his eyes each time he’d teased her had vanished. That sparkle had been in Ishi’s gaze earlier today as she sung on the mountainside. His dull stare made her heart ache.
He infuriated her and pushed her to do idiotic things, but she had enjoyed their small adventures. It was the most fun she’d ever had. She didn’t have any excitement in her life, and she’d discovered a new longing for more.
She didn’t let go of his hand as he led her from the bedroom. “Why can’t we teleport like before?”
“I can’t do that. It’s the gate that transports me when it’s breached.”
Stopping, she waited for him to face her. “So that’s why you can travel away from it and aren’t stuck in this den.” Hope fluttered in her chest. “Is there a limit to how far you can travel?”
He shook his head.
“Maybe you can come visit me?” The question was out before she’d thought it through. He wasn’t looking for a long distance relationship, just a little nookie.
“I’d like that. I’ve always wanted to see your world.” The smile on his face held a touch of sadness.
The flutter in her chest died. “But…” She was such a fool to open herself up for rejection.
“But the gate’s transport is one way. If I were in America I’d be returned here when the gate needed me, then what? Fly back only to be transported again?”
“So, you’re trapped here?’
“In essence, yes. The same principles apply in Outremer. At least there, I can fly in my dragon form and not rely on flimsy machines.”
She followed him through the gateroom and into another set of confusing tunnels. “I don’t know how you find your way through here.”
He shrugged. “I created most of them and have lived here long enough to know them blindfolded.”
She slowed her steps and stared at the high, smooth ceiling carved out of the volcano. “I thought lava created these.”
“It did, but I guide the flow, one of my many talents. The island shook for weeks afterwards. Great clouds of ash rained over everything.” He winked. “I made sure the natives were gathered in one area so they’d remain safe.”
“Natives?” Her eyes went wide. “How long ago was this?”
“A very, very long time ago.”
They exited onto a large ledge facing the less populated side of the island. The moon gleamed on the ocean’s surface and a cool breeze cut across her skin.
She shivered. A long time ago…he was ancient.
Koishi took off his shirt and settled it across her shoulders. “I don’t feel the cold.”
And neither did she, not after he bared his chest and cut abs. God, why was she returning to the hotel? The image of the handles carved in the headboard of his bed
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