The Silver Dragon Read Online Free PDF Page B

than life itself. In fact, as odd as it seemed, he’d finally come to realize he wanted Iris Flowers more than he wanted to seek death. It was why he stood here, staring at the woman who now couldn’t be bothered by a man who could break her heart so easily.
    “While you can apparently turn off your emotions, I can’t.” She turned to face the window, her head bowed. “I can’t take the pain of your rejection again. I don’t like the person I become when you make me feel less than I am because you don’t want me.”
    But I do want you.
    Oh, God, he was too late. He was too late to make things right. He squeezed his eyes shut, wishing he’d done things differently.
    Kiss her. Kiss her, you idiot. When you do, she will know about us. She will understand your reticence and she will forgive us...I hope.
    As silently as he could, Luc moved closer. By the time he was nearly touching her, he couldn’t wait to pull her into his arms and hold her there. No matter how much she might protest.
    He’d heard about the dragon’s kiss. Something about it changed a dragon and his mate forever. He had never experienced it. He hadn’t hoped to experience it. Luc hadn’t been born a dragon. In fact, he had no idea that he could come to love a woman destined to be the beast’s mate.
    Dying, he’d struck the deal with the Silver Dragon in hopes of living long enough to fulfill his destiny. After more than a thousand years, he’d fathered at least seven sons and those sons had, hopefully, fathered sons of their own.
    After waiting so long, he’d assumed that his visions were inaccurate. Perhaps he had made the deal and lived so long for nothing. Until four days ago, he couldn’t bear to think of going on for another month. Now he wanted more. He wanted Iris Flowers more than he had ever dreamed possible to want or to love a woman and he’d ruined it with his selfishness.
    Gently, he rested his hands on her shoulders. She stiffened, her spine ramrod straight. “Please.” He bent, murmured the words in her ear. “Turn around and we’ll find out now, if you’ll allow it.”
    Turning, Iris stared up at him through her tear-filled eyes. His chest hurt, his heart aching. He had done that to her. He had reduced this proud and beautiful woman to tears and it shamed him.
    “Will you allow me to kiss you? Will you let me finally put our hopes—our fears—to rest?” For the first time in years, he felt hope. Her hope. He only prayed she couldn’t feel his fears. He did fear. He was afraid that she wasn’t his mate and he would lose the tenuous grip he had on that one small sliver of faith he held dear.
    Their kiss, one kiss, would either break their hearts or send them soaring. It was a step he wasn’t sure he had the courage to take.
    Kiss her! The low growl of the dragon drove him on. Cupping her cheeks, he brushed her lips with his thumbs before dipping his head to press his mouth against hers.
     

Chapter Eleven
     
     
    Iris stood still. Her heart pounded, her knees grew weak as she watched his head grow closer and closer. The urge to run made her shake when she resisted. She wanted this. She had wanted it since the night they met.
    Maybe he wasn’t her mate. There was always the possibility that they could kiss and nothing happened. It had happened to one of her sisters. Ginger had been positive she’d found the dragon of her dreams. However, it turned out that she wasn’t his mate, after all. He’d returned to Italy or wherever he’d come from without a word.
    Since then, Ginger had been a bit cavalier with her dealings with everyone. She acted as if she didn’t care, but Iris knew better. Finding out the man wasn’t her mate had broken her heart. Iris was terrified that the same thing would happen to her. Still, she couldn’t stand by and do nothing while Luc withdrew more and more, never knowing for sure.
    Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes as he drew closer and closer. She couldn’t stop the