A Dragon Revealed by Dahlia Rose Page B

that they didn’t know about. The few they managed to capture and interrogate said nothing. Everything was so frustrating that Michelle wanted to scream.
    “There’s nothing else we can do tonight,” Mursi said, tossing the body of the Shen he had just broken in half aside.
    She’d actually felt a jolt of arousal when he did that, the bones snapping under his massive grasp and at that moment covered in Shen slime. Mursi was definitely hot… Dear god let this end! Michelle thought. She wanted to feel normal again, without wanting to drop her panties in the middle of a damn fight.
    “You’re looking at me very oddly,” he murmured.
    “It’s this damn cycle I’m on, when does it end!” Michelle threw her hands up in the air and gave him a helpless look. “We both stink to high heaven and are covered in Shen blood and all I’m thinking is how you took me from behind and how hard I came.”
    “I’m up for doing that again and again.” His voice was a sexy rumble. “Thanks for reminding me, that’s number one on my list tonight.”
    Her lips twitched in amusement. “You’re not helping the situation by being cute.”
    Mursi stepped closer. “Honey, this cycle has to run its course and then you’ll go back to your old self, but I’m more than happy to take the journey with you into our forays of pleasure.”
    “Is that all we are, forays into pleasure and bed buddies so our dragons are sated?” Michelle turned away, hoping to hold back tears. She’d hoped being mated would bring her more happiness instead of only sexual gratification.
    “You know that’s not true,” he said, rubbing some dirt from her cheek. His hands were filthy so she knew he didn’t help. “You’re my mate and I am yours.”
    “Yet you can’t say the words I love you,” she pointed out.
    ‘You haven’t said them either,” Mursi said.
    “Because I don’t want to put you on the spot, because I don’t want to be stupidly in love with a man who can’t love me back,” Michelle retorted.
    “I need time Michelle,” Mursi said. “We’re doing good just the way we are right now, can that not be enough?”
    “That’s a complacent route and a line human men tell their women to keep them submissive,” Michelle said angrily.
    “I don’t feel that way and you know it,” he answered.
    “Do I Mursi, do I?” Michelle said. “Be careful. By the time you decide to love me it may be too late. My dragon may miss you but I’ll surely walk away.”
    She turned her back on him and walked back to the SUV they took into the city to search for the Shen cell Mike and two of her people had found. She got in on the driver’s side and waited patiently for him to get in on the passenger side. She silently held out her hand for the keys and he dropped them into her palm. She drove away, and they were quiet the entire way back to the dragon house. She walked inside and heard Kiara and Bior in the kitchen and poked her head inside the door.
    “Hey, we’re back,” she said.
    Kiara looked up and smiled. “I’m making chili and yes, corn bread. How was the hunt?”
    Michelle frowned. “Found that small cell Mike tracked, but again it’s too small for the number we saw moving when he came to Florida. Something is up.”
    “I’ll leave word for Hawke and the others abut the developments, we’ll have reinforcements on standby if necessary,” Bior said. “Where is Mursi?”
    “Out soaking his head for all I care,” Michelle snapped and then sighed. “I’m heading upstairs to shower and stuff. Thanks for the chili, Kiara, I’ll grab some later.”
    She let the door close and heard Bior say, “Trouble in Paradise once more.” It wasn’t paradise if she was unhappy just as much as she was elated. It wasn’t paradise if she didn’t know where she stood. It wasn’t paradise if she couldn’t tell if he loved her or still mourned secretly for his lost wife. No, she was living in uncertainty and it was hell. Upstairs she went into