Tianna Xander Read Free Page B

he reached for her and rested her hands on her hips. “Then
tell me I’m your mate, Armand. Look me in the eye and tell me that
I am your mate and that you are mine and you will never look at
another woman ever again.”
    Tansy almost laughed as the color
drained from his face at the prospect of telling her he would never
look at another woman.
    “ See what I mean?” She waved
her arm. “Would you even hesitate to claim me if I was really your
mate?” She turned to Antonio. “I don’t know what it was about
that…that drug, or whatever it is, but I couldn’t seem to control
myself until you walked into the room.”
    Taking a deep breath, Tansy gathered
her courage about her, knowing that what she was about to say would
effectively imprison her in a relationship with Antonio Saladino,
but something compelled her to tell him.
    “ I think the only reason I
can control it now is because you’re here and…” she paused to look
away, unsure of whether she wanted to see the look in his eyes when
she said what she had to say. “Like it or not, Antonio Saladino, I
think I’m your mate. She had no doubt he would like it, but the jury was
still out on her opinion of the situation.
     
    * * * *
     
    “ Tony, call me Tony. Only my
mother calls me Antonio anymore.” He looked down into her beautiful
green eyes, shot with gold flecks that were so different from his
own and felt his dragon back down. It no longer sat ready to strike
Armand with a killing blow.
    Finally leashed, it sat waiting,
watching as he stared down into her expressive face. Why had the
plant worked on her the way it did while it seemed to have no
effect on her sisters? Tony saw a mixture of shame and
embarrassment on her face and it further tamed his
dragon.
    Reaching out, he slid his finger over
her cheek, catching the tear that fell from the corner of her eye.
His gut clenched at the thought that she could feel shame for
something that wasn’t her fault and he wanted nothing more than to
take her in his arms and tell her everything would be
okay.
    “ I didn’t mean to fall for
him, Tony. I really didn’t.” She swiped her arm over her eyes and
looked away. “I don’t know what came over me.”
    “ I think I do,” Tony said as
he turned his attention back to Armand. “Armand here, found a way
to make more money, didn’t you?” He glared at the other man who
returned his stare without guilt.
    “ I have no idea what you are
talking about.”
    It was interesting that Armand’s accent
grew thicker with the accusation. Could it be that he was wrong and
Armand had no idea he’d come in contact with the plant?
    “ When was the last time you
were at the botanical gardens, Armand? And do not lie to me. I can
find that out well enough on my own. I merely ask you out of
courtesy and to save time.”
    It was easy enough to gain access to
the gardens and easier to watch the surveillance video, so long as
he hadn’t managed to circumvent it as Viktor had.
    “ Botanical gardens?” Armand
shook his head and stiffened his spine. “There are botanical
gardens here?” Was his look of confusion real or feigned? “Where
are these gardens? I demand to know! How can you keep such
knowledge from me when you are aware that my breeding would demand
to know these things?” Armand’s stance was stiff, his natural
arrogance causing him to thrust his chin in the air.
    This self-important ass was the Armand
he knew. Tony shook his head and grinned. “No one kept it from you,
you arrogant Frenchman. We merely forgot to inform you of its
existence.”
    Armand huffed, his nose in the air. “I
am not arrogant, you…you cretin. I am French. It is time you
learned the difference.” Armand waved his arm in a dismissive
gesture.
    “ If you have never been to
the botanical gardens, how did you come in contact with the
dragon’s desire?”
    “ You tell me.” Armand smiled
at Tansy and batted his eyes. Tony shook his head at his antics.
His actions were almost