Why is he scenting me?
His body tenses and he pushes me sideways, away from him and out of reach of the figurine. The strength in that small motion leaves me sprawling on the marble floor before I bounce up into a standing position. I freeze when I come face-to-face with the man most only speak of in whispers. The man that people say is a dragon.
Kalos. I don’t know if it’s a first name or a last name, or if he is one of those one-name wonders in our world. The ones who are old enough and rich enough not to have to worry about the trappings of mortals. He’s just as scary as I’ve heard.
And beautiful, in a terrifying way. Like how I’d imagine a fallen angel to look, if that angel had glittery black scales to accompany his cutting, light-colored eyes.
“An acrobat, are you? Is that how you got in here?” he asks like he doesn’t expect answers.
I’m no stranger to adrenaline. My heart should be thundering in my ears now, my body preparing itself to run, but it’s not.
My eyes take in the man in front of me like I’m at a buffet instead of on death row.
The robe he’s wearing is black and silky and doesn’t do enough to cover his body. He’s mostly humanoid in appearance and the peak of masculine beauty with smooth skin and defined muscles. The glittering scales keep him from passing as a human. They cover talon-tipped hands and line the sides of his ethereal face, blending into his dark hairline.
I swallow. The pounding of my heart is a full-body sensation; a drum roll as the heat that caught in my core builds even higher.
“How did you make it past the wards?” The tone of that question makes it clear he wants my answer and snaps me out of whatever trance he’s putting me in.
Alarm is a distant sensation, and I dig deep for survival skills I know I have.
Can I make a run for it? Kalos must catch me glancing around for an exit because he makes a sound with his teeth that has me freezing. A warning.
I shiver, my body drawing tight and easing in a confusing way.
“Sometimes… wards don’t work around me,” I admit.
He narrows his eyes. “Sometimes?”
I shrug. “When I walk through them.”
“You have the ability to just pass through them as you wish?” His voice is a smooth roll that I want to touch even as his eyes narrow on me.
I shrug again, and the movement draws fabric over sensitive skin. A whimper builds in my throat no matter how I try to focus.
What the fuck?
My eyes widen. “You’re doing something to me.”
The accusation would be silly since I’m the one violating his space, but the way my body wants to approach the predator in front of me is alarming. I can admire a sexy man as much as the next person, but it’s never gotten in the way of my focus.
I’ve never been unmercifully aroused by a random guy, dragon or not.
“It’s merely a side effect.” Kalos’s lip curls in a snarl. “Only a portion of what I’m suffering with.”
A portion of what he’s suffering with? The heat that cascaded off his body when it pressed against mine. The burn of his scowl as if both annoyed and… hungry.
The observation is a shining light on the other side of a tightrope.
This is how I get out of this alive.
“That must be painful,” I say, my mind running through scenarios, working through and discarding each one until there’s only one left on the list.
He scoffs. “It’s enough to drive a mortal mad.”
“What is it?” I ask, breathless. “Some sort of spell?”
Kalos’s eyes go unfocused, but his attention is still heavy in my bones. “Merely a phantom pain from a previous life.”
A phantom pain that makes me horny as hell?
Do dragons go into heat? I don’t dare ask that question, but… I think we can make a deal after all.
“Would it be easier if someone helped you?” I ask.
His gaze sharpens on me, and the power behind it has me flinching.
“You think I’d want help from the likes of you?”
The words shouldn’t cut as deep as they do, but I’m nothing if not durable.
Kalos continues, “You belong in a Council’s holding facility. I doubt I’m the first being you’ve tried to steal from.”
My body freezes now. “Don’t do that.”
Fear that isn’t flavored with heat licks at my mind. I’d rather him eat me than be trapped behind bars. The Council that rules the paranormal world is not known for being kind to those who disturb the peace… or are unique. Nemo always warned me that people with rare abilities go missing. The best protection is secrecy, and being brought forth by the Council and charged is anything but secret.
Kalos stiffens at my tone, and I push on. “I think you’re in pain… and you like my scent enough to not have killed me yet.”
I let that sink in before getting to terms.
“I help you in exchange for what I want.” I keep my tone light, not wanting to offend him.
“An exchange?” he asks, his eyes narrowing. I have his attention now. His attention and consideration.
I swallow. “You let me leave, no involving the Council… and I get the figurine.”
I might as well bargain for everything I need off the bat. Merely bargaining for my life doesn’t solve Nemo’s issue.
Kalos glares at me. “And what will you give me?”
“Whatever you want—tonight,” I add. “Whatever will assuage… your pain.”
2
KALOS
BREED HER.
The instinct of my beast, no matter that it’s impossible, is ludicrous.
This is ludicrous.
Madness on every level.
Collect her. Keep her. Hoard her.
But my beast doesn’t care about madness or the fact the woman propositioning us is a thief. The heat racking my body is bone-meltingly fierce. It’s a pain I’ve suffered alone every year for the centuries since my mate’s death.
I’ve had sex casually, but never have I wanted to have a partner to assuage this. This pain is to remember that I no longer have a mate, and I will spend the rest of my days that way.
I grit my teeth. It doesn’t matter that the taste of this thief’s skin intrigued my beast. That her subtle scent of blueberries and a touch of linseed oil has my mouth watering for more. I’d only wanted to scare her. Take whatever perverse pleasure I could in tormenting her for daring to trespass. Her fear was a brilliant distraction to the pain, and now the urges plaguing me are making everything worse.
The foolish woman takes a step forward, offering sweet absolution. I tense my entire body to keep from pouncing on her. I’ve never been so tempted.
“I don’t think you know what you’re asking for,” I say.
“I’m not na?ve,” she says, snark making an appearance past her fear. “Or inexperienced. Sex is sex.”