Farrah knew she was playing with fire. Literally, when it came to her dragon.

But when he’d held her, sheltered her with his wings, she hadn’t been able to deny it any longer. She was falling for Arsenic.

She even liked his full name better than the shortened version.

She liked the way he dressed, the way he acted, the way he overthought everything, and how his possessive eyes watched her. How he was always there to catch her, how he scolded her out of worry.

How he looked pleased when she complimented him. How he seemed to understand how she felt about having a tough life.

She wanted to know more about him, and she wanted to have him again.

All the way this time, without holding back. Without pretending it was simple relief.

He’d deposited her inside the house and gone out to do his nightly patrol around the house. It always made her feel safe and protected. She couldn’t imagine a time when he wouldn’t be around. Then again, at that point, she wouldn’t remember he’d existed, so hopefully it wouldn’t hurt.

She took her time washing her makeup away, putting aside the crystal headband she’d been wearing, and changing into a comfortable nightgown and robe.

Then she sat at the top of her stairs, waiting for her dragon.

Somehow, her normal life no longer seemed to be what she wanted.

She wanted to be a dragon heart. Wanted to be someone who fit in his world. Wished she’d told the oracle she wanted to date a dragon. Would that have made any difference?

But back then, she hadn’t known any shifters could be so wonderful. She hadn’t known a surly, grumpy dragon could steal her heart so quickly.

When the door opened and he came in, dusted by snow, she felt her heart give a little thump. When she looked at his face, she couldn’t imagine ever not being able to see him.

After only a few days, he’d become so necessary.

Given how easy he was to fall in love with, how had someone not snatched him up before this? Oh, right, because he had a mate somewhere out there, waiting for him. The lucky bitch.

She slumped with her chin in her hands as he shed his jacket and brushed the snow out of his hair. Then he looked up at her, green eyes heating as he took in her dress and her position on the stairs.

She rubbed her knees together and then stood, taking a step back toward the bedroom and beckoning for him to follow her.

He came forward as if an invisible force was drawing him and was up the stairs and pulling her into his arms before she knew it. Then he was pressing kisses to her neck, her shoulder, her face as he pushed her back into the bedroom, backing her up until her legs hit the bed and she fell back onto it.

He whipped off his shirt, wasting no time getting naked. His bare chest was something to behold, with multiple scars, smooth, tan skin, and rippling muscles that bulged and flexed with every move. She wanted to lick every one.

She didn’t want to just feel alive; she wanted to feel alive with him.

Memories of the delicious orgasms he’d given her before burned through her, and she licked her lips as he reached for the belt of his pants and quickly undid it.

His pants fell to the floor, and she gasped as she saw that her dragon apparently went commando.

He crawled onto the bed with her, powerful body totally naked, large member firmly erect, but for some reason, it felt totally right. She didn’t want anything between them, not when they’d already decided to completely embrace whatever this was.

He helped her remove her robe and nightgown, then waited for her to unhook her bra and helped her slide that off as well. It was silent between them as he slowly hooked a finger under each side of her panties and slid them off her legs.

When they were both naked, studying each other’s body in the low light of her lamps, she didn’t feel the distance between the worlds. When they were together, bare and vulnerable, it didn’t feel like he was a dragon and she was a human. She was just a woman and he was a man, and she just wanted him to make love to her.

To come inside her.

She pulled him forward, loving the silky feel of skin against skin, the increase in his breath as her nails raked softly over his bare back and down to his butt, feeling the tense muscle there.

Their bare hips were together, and she could feel his hard sex pressed to her belly. He ignored it, however, continuing to kiss over her face, her temples, her chin, her lips, her ears, her neck. Any piece of skin he could find as his hand reached down to feel her clit once again.

This time there was nothing between them, and his hand could explore lazily over her mound, playing in her curls and dipping into her heat to play before coming up to wetly circle her clit as her body swirled closer to oblivion.

He kissed her on the lips, sealing his mouth over hers and claiming her blatantly with his tongue, swiping and playing at every part of her mouth until she was sure there was no place he hadn’t been. Her tongue entwined with his, tangling as he let out a groan, his fingers continuing to play.

She squeaked as he slipped one finger in her, then another, feeling her body eagerly pull him in as deep, warm sensations ran through her. He slid in and out a few times, testing her as he continued to kiss her, keeping her relaxed.

When she felt her body couldn’t take any more teasing, he came back to her clit and pressed down, circling slightly, and she orgasmed, screaming and digging her nails into his back as her body clenched, as he slipped his fingers back inside her to feel her wet heat spasming around him.

It felt unbelievably erotic, heady and exhilarating, even as it immediately put her in mind of something she wanted more.

“Inside me,” she said, pulling herself up to murmur in his ear. His expression grew dark, his eyes like two glimmering emeralds lit by pure fire, and for a second, she was sure she saw the pupils change.

Was that his… dragon?

Before she could think more on it, he was spreading her legs with his knee, pushing closer to her entrance. His tip teased her, and she squirmed, too overtaken by the moment to care about anything but him coming inside her.

He nudged and then pushed slowly inside her, joining her slick heat with his iron hardness. She gasped and then sighed deeply when he was seated all the way inside her. She looked up at him, noting the way they felt joined from hip to chest, the way their bodies were totally connected, and the feeling of electric heat between her legs.

Her center was lit up with pleasure, and that was before he started moving. Once he moved, it was pure, slick heat. In and then out. She gasped to keep from screaming and put one fist in her mouth, biting down to distract herself from the sensation. She wasn’t ready to come yet. She wanted more of this, to do it longer. To feel him inside her for an endless amount of time because it felt so damn good.

She wrapped her legs around him so she could have some control of the movement, thrusting against him so he could come deeper each time. She couldn’t believe she could hold him, yet as his length stroked every nerve, filled her completely, she didn’t think she would ever find a better fit.

As if they were made to come together.

And when the build became too much, she threw her hands back to the bed, twisting them in the sheets as release overtook her, making her thrash against him, the sensations all the stronger with his hard length inside.

He looked at her with a pleased, flushed sensation, and she hoped neither of them would regret this. That regardless of what happened, they could be grateful for this moment of pure pleasure. Oneness.

He brushed her sweaty hair off her forehead with one hand, his expression smiling and tender. “You all right?”

“Yes,” she said. “All right.” Because all was right. Her body was fine. Her heart was protected. Her world was contained in just this few yards of space she took up with her love.

Because she was in love with him. She knew it as he began to move again, a look of concern on his face as he listened exquisitely to her body, worried only about what she wanted.

Improbable as it was after what she’d been through, and after only a few days, she was in love.

She didn’t question it, just wrapped her legs tighter around his waist and went on the ride with him, letting him carry her to greater heights of ecstasy than ever before. Her body became more and more sensitive from his strokes, until she finally came again, and this time he went over the edge with her, his expression tightening as his body jerked.

She screamed at the pleasure of his vibrations going along with the rhythmic waves of her sex, the feeling that they could be in heaven for a moment together.

“Arsenic,” she said, holding on for dear life, digging her nails into his back as if she could claim him forever just by holding him close.

“Farrah,” he murmured back, still jerking with the last of his release.

There was nothing else said between them. Nothing else to say. She could have said she loved him, but she knew it was pointless. Perhaps he would know some of what she felt just from the response of her body. That was all he really needed to know.

She wouldn’t think further than this moment, with this beloved man—dragon—in her arms.

As his breathing calmed and he rolled over with her, tucking her against his side, she sighed in relief. Perhaps so many orgasms in one day was a little too much. But perhaps not, she thought, reaching up to stroke his face tenderly.

He looked at her, puzzled, but let her do as she wished.

She curled in against him, unable to look him in the eyes right now and not want more than she should.

Curse his mate, who was out there somewhere, not knowing how lucky she was going to be. Curse that bitch for all she would have.

It wasn’t the first time Farrah had been jealous of dragon hearts, but it was definitely the worst.

“What are you thinking?” he asked. “You’re looking upset. Did I do something wrong?”

“No,” she said, pushing away those thoughts. She had no right to be jealous, and besides, she shouldn’t let it ruin a beautiful moment. “It’s nothing.”

“Are you sure?”

She rolled onto his chest and stroked a finger over one bulging pec. “That was wonderful. You always continue to amaze me, you crazy dragon.”

“And that’s a good thing?”

She nodded against his warm skin, never wanting to let go of him. Then she thought of something she’d totally overlooked while caught in the heat of the moment. “Wait, we didn’t use protection… I… Oh no.”

But before she could panic, he put a hand in her hair, shushing her and stroking her gently. “I can’t get you pregnant because we aren’t mated, and you can’t catch any diseases from me. I’ve heard the others talk about it. I’m sorry for not using something if it worries you, though. We can next time if you want.”

She smiled and shuddered deliciously at there being a next time. “No, it’s fine. I trust you. Besides, it was nice to just feel you against me. To be totally one.”

“Nice doesn’t even begin to describe it,” he said. “It was out of this world.”

“Literally, I guess,” she said, smoothing her palm over his skin. “With sex this good, how are we ever going to leave the bedroom?”

“Well, as long as you’re still afraid of needles, you can’t work, so I guess your schedule should be open,” he teased, and she laughed and reached up to swat him.

For some reason, talking about it openly was easier now, and after she’d chased him around the bed a bit, he simply curled around her and rolled onto his side on the bed, spooning her in front of him.

“Rest now, silly human,” he said. “You’ll need your strength to deal with me tomorrow.”

“That’s for damn sure,” she mumbled, feeling herself get drowsy as she yawned.

But truthfully, every day with him around made her feel stronger. He gave her strength, rather than took it away from her.

After tonight, she was sure.

She wished they could stay together forever.

Screw forgetting everything and staying in this world.

She’d rather have a dragon’s heart.