Heart of a Fighter (Rocky River Fighters 1)

Relaxing back into his arms, she nodded. Everything he said made sense, and though it felt like there was something he wasn’t telling her, she couldn’t deny what he spoke was the truth.

“I love you too,” she said softly, trailing her fingers over his abs. In the two weeks since he began training, he’d already packed on more muscle. She sometimes found it hard not to touch him, but she forced herself to stop for a moment, lifting her head to meet his eyes. “I fought it at first. Fought you, period. And I’m still not convinced I’m any good for you, that I was right when I gave into the heat between us. Being with me could cost you your life. But for myself, meeting you, falling for you, was the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you more than you could ever know.”

The amount of love and awe filling his gaze stole her breath. Leaning in, he kissed her long and slow before he pulled back, saying huskily, “I promise I will always strive to be worthy of your love. Always.”

Nipping his bottom lip, she whispered, “You already are, Alex. You already are.”

Laying her head down on his chest again, she listened to his heartbeat as his breathing deepened and became slow and steady. Suddenly remembering he wanted to talk tonight, she started to lean up to ask him about it, but stopped and quirked her lips in amusement as he let out a soft snore.

Her smile faded as the last couple of days came back to her mind. Something was going on with Alex. He said he went for a drive, hoping to find answers. His voice was truthful, and yet like so many other things today, it didn’t feel like that’s all there was to it. She knew, after tonight, that he wasn’t having second thoughts. Not only did he make love to her like she was all he’d ever want, but he told her he loved her. Those weren’t the words and actions of someone who was planning on bolting at the first opportunity.

She hoped he wasn’t thinking of doing something drastic or desperate in regards to her hunted status. She couldn’t think of anything he could do about it, but the thought still worried her. Nibbling her bottom lip, she wondered if he was thinking of breaking his promise that he wouldn’t try to fight another dragon. He could be psyching himself up for it, for training harder so he had a shot. Freezing for a split second, she thought back to when she first asked him not to take on a dragon for her, ice filling her veins when she realized he never promised not to. When they kissed, every thought flew out of her head, and she didn’t think to press for it again.

Forcing herself to relax, she vowed to get his promise tomorrow. He had to realize now, after being around shifters so long, he couldn’t hope to take on a dragon and live a few moments beyond that decision. Getting his promise would surely be easy.

Maybe she was worrying for nothing. It was probably just him looking for answers about his past. She couldn’t imagine not knowing her background, not knowing who she was beyond a few weeks worth of memories. Glancing up at him, she studied his face. He looked peaceful, his mouth open slightly, and she realized now, as she noted their absence, that he’d had lines of strain and worry etched on his face for a couple days now.

Snuggling back into his arms, she placed a soft kiss on his chest, her lips lingering for a few moments. That was probably it. He hadn’t seemed too bothered or frustrated by his lack of memories, though she knew he had to have been. It was probably catching up to him now.

Eyes getting heavy, she let them slide closed, satisfied with the conclusion she came to. Despite the uncertain future, she felt bone-deep happiness and contentment fill her as she slid into a peaceful sleep.

Jerking awake, Cammie’s eyes popped open, instantly alert and searching for a threat. Frowning when she came up empty and wondering what woke her, it took a few moments before she realized the mattress was trembling softly. Her frown deepened as she rolled over and saw Alex sitting up beside her, back tense, frozen except for the tremors wracking his body. That was the cause of the mattress shaking.

“Alex,” she said softly as she placed her hand gently on his back. He didn’t move, or acknowledge her in any way, and worry filled her as she sat up, pulling the sheet over her naked breasts and tucking it under her arms. “Hey, babe. What’s wrong?”

There was still no reply. His eyes were open, but it was like he was staring into nothing, unaware of her and the room around him. The sun was beginning to rise, and the room was filling with light. She used it to study him, cocking her head.

Maybe he was having some sort of weird sleepwalking episode. It was like he was awake, but not, at the same time. Remembering something she heard once about not startling someone who was sleepwalking, she didn’t speak again. Instead, she laid her hand on his trembling back, hoping he would somehow know she was there.

It felt like hours before he suddenly drew in a gasping breath, shoulders slumping as he panted. She rubbed soothing circles on his back as he drew his knees up and buried his face in his hands.

“Fuck!” he exclaimed, the word muffled but still loud enough in the silence of the room to make her start.

“Were you sleepwalking, or some form of that?” she asked, keeping her voice low and soothing.

Keeping his face in his hands, he shook his head. “No, just a bad dream.”

Her hand stilled and she frowned at the off notes in his voice. “I know that’s a lie, Alex. I can hear it in your voice. What’s going on, and why would you try to lie to me?”

Freezing for a second before forcing himself to relax, he cursed under his breath. Shaking his head and looking up, he glanced over at her. The breath rushing from her lungs in one go, she saw his lips moving, but she had no idea what he was saying. A deafening roar was sounding in her ears, and ice filled her veins as she looked into his eyes. They were a blazing pale silver with swirls of light gold, and she watched as his pupils flickered, elongating and shrinking before repeating the process.

A hiss escaped her throat, and she scrambled away from him, throwing herself off the bed and grabbing her pants and shirt off the chair by the bed.

“What’s wrong?” he asked as he watched her jerk her clothes on.

Inhaling deeply, she looked up at his concerned face, glaring at him. “How about I ask the questions? Like why the fuck you have dragon eyes right now?”

His eyes widened, and he held his hands up, like he was trying to show he was no threat as he slowly got off the bed. Even though the bed was between them, she automatically backed up a step, and it pissed her off even more. She didn’t back down from anything or anyone, ever. Yeah, he was a dragon, but she always told herself she wouldn’t do it when a male found her either.

Looked like she was just as much a liar as Alex was.

“Cammie, sweetheart, it’s not what you think,” he said softly.

“You don’t get to fucking call me sweetheart. You lost that privilege the second I found out you were lying to me.” She ran a hand through her hair, laughing bitterly. “I don’t even understand how you lied this whole time without me hearing it, but maybe that’s your shifter gift. Lying without detection. Sure was convenient for you, wasn’t it? And what was this, some elaborate, sick game? You thought it would be more fun to play games, make me fall for you, instead of taking me by force like a typical dragon?”

“You have this all wrong—”

“I don’t think I do. Man, that amnesia story was brilliant. Brilliant! Let me guess, soon you would have tried to talk me into running from this place, getting me away from the fighters so you could take me easier. Hell, maybe training was part of the plan. You probably knew I could take you, and you wanted to learn the same moves I know, so you had a fighting chance of taking me down.”