Dragonfury 02 - Fury of Ice

mate in every way and…
    Stay with him forever.

Chapter Twenty-two
     
    After walking in on the Killers R Us convention doubling as Black Diamond’s kitchen, Rikar’s bedroom was as quiet as a crypt. As chilly as one, too. But the cold suited Angela just fine. The cool air calmed her down, made her less edgy, allowing her to handle the situation without freaking out.
    A shiver rolled through Angela as fear flung her into uncharted territory. The rat-bastard could track her. Find her. Hurt her again. The thought pushed her up against psychological boundaries not meant to be approached and…goddamn it. There she went again, imagining the worst.
    She banished the memories, refusing to act like a sissy. No sense repeating her performance in the kitchen. God, talk about needy. But she’d been unable to help herself. Had needed Rikar’s arms around her like she needed legs to stand on. Too bad his friends had witnessed the whole mess, watching while she clung to Rikar and soaked up his reassurance.
    Lovely. Nothing like acting like an idiot to start the day.
    The Nightfury crew probably thought she was a lightweight now. One who cried at the drop of a hat. Angela rubbed her hand over her heart, combating the ache, trying to shore up her confidence. Not an easy feat considering the mother of all surprises she was about to drop in Rikar’s lap.
    Or try to anyway.
    But even after making the decision, the follow-through tripped her up. She kept swinging back to the memory. To the sights. And sounds. And the pain.
    Stupid black-eyed son of a bitch.
    He’d taken more than her body; he’d killed her confidence. Slashed at her self-esteem. Decimated her courage along with her know-how. But with Rikar, she wanted to believe she could get it all back. That recovery was possible. That bravery and self-belief hinged on the fact he desired her. Even knowing another had hurt her, he wanted her all the same. And his acceptance made all the difference.
    The door clicked closed behind her.
    Her hand still laced with Rikar’s, she glanced over her shoulder. The man meant to be hers gazed back, serious, patient…beautiful. She smiled at him. Not a lot, just a subtle curve of her lips, but her message was clear. Alone at last. And though she was happy to have him that way, the irony of their situation wasn’t lost on her.
    All the way up in the elevator she’d fantasized about it. About dragging him into some dark corner, imagining what she would do to him. How she would turn him on, roll him as Mac had so ineloquently put it. But now that they were alone, all she wanted to do was cry. Twist the knob on her internal pressure cooker and let loose. Mourn the loss of her old life and get on with the new one because…yeah. She could never go back.
    The realization should’ve freaked her out even more.
    Somehow, though, it didn’t. Rikar made the idea of staying in his world—of joining the team—appealing. And even as the brain cells staked out at her intellectual base camp said, “whoa, Nelly,” her heart accepted the truth. Angela didn’t want to go back. She wanted to be with Rikar. For as long as he allowed her to stay.
    Forget the freaky magic. Forget the dragon part of the equation. Forget the Meridian and her connection to it. Rikar was all that mattered. So screw it. She was going for it…and him. Case closed. File it under done.
    “Angela,” he murmured.
    Her eyes drifted closed. Hmm, his voice. She loved the way he said her name. Smooth. Deep. Rich with promise and hidden delight that said mine . And as she felt his presence, his strong body at her back, she prayed that’s what he meant. That she was his. That he was hers. That they belonged together.
    With a sigh, she leaned back against him. He hummed, accepting her weight, enveloping her in the richness of his scent as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. Pulling her in tight, he settled her back to his front. His chin brushed her hair a second before he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
    So sweet. So gentle. So flipping hot.
    Even in the midst of uncertainty, she craved the comfort of his body against hers. Murmuring his name, she wrapped her arms over his, ignored the gun digging into the base of her spine, and hugged him back.
    “Thank you,” she said.
    “For what?”
    “Holding me together back there.” Shifting in his arms, she glanced over her shoulder, forcing him to lift his head. As Rikar met her gaze, she asked, “Lothair wants to