As soon as the doors started to open, Victor stepped forward using his strength to force them further apart and stride inside while tugging Flint’s coat off and throwing it to the floor. Finally, his eyes dropped to Kimber’s, soaking in her beauty, albeit she was rather bedraggled, her eyes blinking in the harsh light of the elevator. “There you are,” he said softly, trying hard not to scare her when all he wanted to do was crush his lips to her mouth and devour her whole.

Her eyelids fluttered a few more times before her glorious green orbs locked on his, her mouth pouting in a perfect circle before she cocked her head to the side. “You’re sure I’m safe here? Because if not, I’ll have to leave soon before anymore hunters find me.”

Victor’s hands tightened on her, his stomach clenched at the mere thought of her leaving, and a growl broke free unbidden, the sound reverberating around them in the enclosed space. Her eyes widened and one of her hands reached up to land on his chest in a calming touch as he shook his head. “No! You’re going nowhere, baby. I’ll have men protecting the building and I’ll ensure you’re safe. No fucking hunter is getting anywhere near you. I’ll tear them apart and throw them off the top floor to send a message to anyone else who thinks they can come after you. You’re mine and I protect what’s mine. I meant what I said earlier . . . I’ll destroy this damn city to protect you, Kimber, and I’ll not think twice about doing so.”

Flint let out a long whistle then a soft chuckle. “He means it. I’ve never seen him so worked up. Mr. Calm, Cool, and Collected has well and truly been smitten and lost his damn cool.”

“Shut up, Flint,” Victor snarled. “Now isn’t the time for your joking.”

Kimber turned to look over at Flint, arching her eyebrow with a twinkle in her eye. “I don’t know, I think now might be the time because you seem entirely too worked up. It’s rather daunting.”

Victor frowned, realizing how he must be coming across to the woman in his arms, staring hard at her, he noticed how fragile and young she was. Shit, she wasn’t more than a girl. “How old are you?” he snapped. His words sounding curt even to him.

“Pardon?” Her head swung back to him as she struggled to be free of his arms. “You can put me down now.”

“I asked how old you were and no, I’m not putting you down . . . not yet.”

“I’m twenty-four, although that’s a rude question to ask me, and I wasn’t asking you to put me down . . . I was telling you to put me down, now. I’m more than capable of standing on my own two feet. I’ve been doing it for long enough.”

“You look younger,” Victor muttered, gazing upon her face that looked so very young to him, still holding her firmly in his arms, refusing to release her.

“Well, I’m not. I know how old I am and you’ve still not done as I’ve said.” Kimber frowned, the skin between her eyes puckering as she glared up at him. “Why?”

“Because I like the feel of you in my arms, and against my body. It must be this Bloodmate thing that’s going on but I have no inclination whatsoever to release you. In fact, I want to . . .”

The doors pinged open and Nellie’s excited yell interrupted them. “You found her! Oh, I knew you would! Come away inside and I’ll get you something to eat and drink. Just look at the poor thing. She looks like she’s been on the run for weeks and needs a good feed.”

Victor huffed out a long breath knowing what Nellie said was true. He’d felt how thin Kimber was, seen how pale she was beneath the blood and grime that covered her face, and despite his need to lose himself inside her, he had to take care of her needs first. He’d have to put her needs before his. He was off to a bad start taking care of the most important person in the whole damn world. Shaking himself mentally he stalked into his home . . . no, it was no longer his, it was theirs.

“Something to eat and drink is in order,” he managed to get out as he held onto her body, still refusing to relinquish her.

“I’ll be back in just a jiffy.” Nellie dashed off down the hallway leading to the kitchen, muttering to herself.

“A jiffy?” Kimber looked at him perplexed.

“She’s originally from the UK but she’s also Fae and says some strange things, it means she’ll be back soon,” Flint said as he strode past them. “Victor, you’re home, she’s safe, I think you can put her down now.”

“Yes, Victor, you can.” Kimber prodded his chest before her head swung away, her eyes widening as she took in the large area of his home. “Wow, this is huge. Where are we, exactly?”

Reluctantly he placed her down, his arms feeling empty and his body immediately aching at the loss of her against him as she padded around, her head swinging this way and that as she took in the lounge area. “This is my home. It’s on the top floor of one of the buildings I own . . .”

She interrupted as she stopped in front of the floor to ceiling window, gasping. “Is that Central Park? That’s the Zoo, isn’t it? I can see the Zoo!”

“Yes,” he joined her, looping an arm around her waist and pulling her back against his chest.

“I spent some time there . . . at night when I felt it was safe,” she whispered softly, her voice fell over him, his skin tingling and reacting to every syllable.

“What?” he perked up when her words made it through the haze. “You were in the Zoo at night? On your own?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “I’d go to swim there. It was so peaceful and I—”

“You what?” Victor’s heart sped up, fear and a host of other emotions for her safety fighting inside him. “Where exactly did you swim?”

“Mostly in the sea lions’ enclosure, the penguin one was a bit too chilly for my liking.”

Spinning her around by her shoulders, and pinning her in place, he speared her with a ferocious glare. “What were you thinking? You could’ve been killed. Those beasts are large and dangerous. You’re tiny and vulnerable and I can’t even begin to imagine what could’ve happened to you in the dead of night in that place.”

Kimber shook furiously to release herself. “Don’t you dare speak to me like that. I’m not a stupid girl and I was in no danger whatsoever. They protected me while I was there! They looked out for me while I took my swim and alerted me if there were any threats nearby! I’m a Dragon! I have an affinity with animals of all kinds. I was never in danger when I was there, not from any of the animals anyway. The only damn threats when I was in that park came from Wolves and Vampires!”

Victor stepped back, her words hitting him full in the face as if she’d punched him. She stood glaring up at him, hands on her hips, nostrils flaring and eyes blazing with fire. She was right, of course. Clarence had already warned him that there’d been Vampires in the park and he’d already met the Wolves.

“All right, you two, why don’t you just calm down and . . .”

At the same moment, they turned and yelled at Flint who’d tried to intercede. Victor growling, “Back off, Flint.”

While Kimber said, “Shut up!” before she turned back to him breathing hard for a few seconds before she exhaled one long harsh breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. But you were being rude and overbearing and it annoyed the hell out of me. I’m used to being on my own and doing what I want to. When I want to. Without answering to anyone.”

They both heard Flint muttering, “Remind you of anyone, Victor.”

Victor ignored his comment, focusing on Kimber and attempting to calm her madly beating heart that was stampeding like a herd of wild horses in her chest. He reached out, running a finger softly down her cheek. “I apologize for acting like an ass. I can’t quite explain how I’m feeling right now but it’s like nothing I’ve come across before. I’m not used to being so out of control and I’m certainly not used to anyone answering me back. I guess we both have a lot to learn about each other.”

“I guess we do.” Kimber tilted her head and cocked her eyebrow. “I can see from all this that you’re not just any man, sorry, Vampire, but I’m not going to allow you to boss me around. I won’t let anyone do that. It’s not the way of my people and my parents brought me up to be a strong Dragon and that’s how I will always be, so don’t try to change me because if you do, I’ll be out that door before you can blink.”

Flint let out a long and loud laugh, spluttering out, “Oh man! I can’t wait to see the sparks fly between you two.”

Victor rounded on him, spitting out, “If you don’t shut the hell up then you can leave . . . now!”

His friend held his hands up, palms out. “Fine. I’ll be quiet but I’m going nowhere. I’m your best friend but more importantly I’m your Head of Security and your personal bodyguard. I’m staying right here, Victor.”

Victor returned his attention to Kimber, taking a deep calming breath and reaching for her. He needed to feel her, ached to have her in his arms, and if she pulled away from him he wasn’t sure what he would do. His dark side was still there, hovering just under his skin, waiting and pushing to be released. He’d fought it and so far, had conquered that side of himself that had reared its head again when the Thirst had taken over him. But he knew without a shadow of doubt that the beautiful Dragon before him was the remedy to defeating it forever. If he could only have her right this very moment in his embrace then he could temper it for a short while longer. At least he hoped so because he feared it was about to break free.

Kimber looked up into his eyes. Eyes he knew were filled with his tortured soul and more than likely had started to burn red. Her emerald green beauties darkened before she stepped toward him, her hands tangling in his clothes. “Are you all right? I can feel . . . something. Inside me. I don’t understand but it’s hurting me. It’s painful, Victor. What’s wrong?”

“I need you, Kimber.” Victor grabbed her roughly against him, wrapping his arms around her and running a hand through her long dark hair. “I can’t explain fully but it’s to do with our being Bloodmates and I’ve been suffering from something called the Thirst.”

“I see,” Kimber mumbled against him. “Well, I don’t but I feel your pain so if you need to hold me then go ahead.”

“Oh shit. Do you want me to get you some donor blood, Vic?” Flint strode over, asking worriedly.

Victor didn’t respond, losing himself in the feel of Kimber. Her scent invading his very soul, her honey and wildflower aroma slowly calming his darkness until he felt he was under control once more. Still, he kept her in his embrace, allowing himself the pleasure of roaming her body with his hands, feeling her softness beneath his palms and the curves of her ass . . . until she looked up, her face red with embarrassment when she felt his growing erection.