I can tell she doesn’t believe my story.

I’m not an idiot. I get why she’s nervous. I can smell the fear on her almost as strongly as I can smell the innate scent of her, the one that calls out to me.

It takes everything I have not to just haul her into my arms and hold her. I wouldn’t even need to kiss her, although I’d a kiss would be wonderful, too. She’s even more gorgeous now that she’s awake. I’d just touch her. To hear her heartbeat. To know that she’s safe.

I have a feeling she’s not going to appreciate me trying, though. She’s looking at me like I just kicked a puppy.

“All right, ma’am, let’s just…”

“It’s Rebecca.”

Rebecca. I like it. Rolls off the tongue. “Rebecca. Let’s get you down to my crew and we’ll find you a place to stay. Would you like for me to carry your bag?”

I’m struggling to treat her the way I would any other rescue. Normally I’ve got no problem being polite but businesslike. Like the woman earlier at the fire station proved, people can get extremely attached to a rescuer of either themselves or a loved one. It’s a false connection if you ask me, and it’s better for everyone if I just maintain a certain level of detachment.

But Rebecca, she’s mine. I know she’s my mate. I can feel it. Just being close to her makes my blood sing. Her scent calls to me, whether she knows it or not, and it’s so hard to ignore it.

Rebecca hugs her bag closer to her. “I’m good, thanks,” she says, her tone clearly saying back off.

Wow. I’d been sort of wondering how such a pretty girl stayed a virgin now I have a good idea it has something to do with an acidic tongue.

I like it. She’s sharp, too. I almost want to tell her good job. Most people would be way too shaken up to even think about the fact that, well, that it’s pretty damn suspicious how she got out. I know my excuse was… lame. She caught me off-guard.

And what can I say? I’ve always been a sucker for a smart woman.

I start walking, gesturing for her to follow me. She does so, but reluctantly. She’s eyeing me up and down, like she’s looking for something.

I knew I shouldn’t’ve been watching her while still in dragon form. She saw me, and now she’s got questions. I kind of want to transform in front of her right now to show her, but that might scare her away. I have to go slowly.

But she must be feeling the connection between us. The way that we’re drawn together. Mom says she knew right away when she met Dad. Whatever suspicions Rebecca has, I know it’ll only take a nudge or two to get her to realize that we’re meant to be together.

“So, what brings you all the way out here, Rebecca?” I ask. It’s important to know what kind of family ties and such that she has. Her life will change as my mate, and it’s best if I know all the potential pitfalls from the start.

“Research,” she says curtly.

“What sort of research?”

Rebecca’s eyes narrow. “Why do you care?” Now that she’s awake, I can see that they’re hazel, and surprisingly warm and big despite how grumpy her tone is.

“Just making conversation. Would you rather we walked in silence?”

“Yes,” she snaps.

I have to hold in my laugh. I don’t think she’d appreciate it if I admitted that I find her crankiness to be endearing. “So, are you a scientist or a ranger or…?”

“I’m a biologist,” Rebecca says. Her tone makes it clear that she doesn’t like that I’m getting this information out of her. “I’m studying invasive species.”

I almost want to laugh because, well, some people might call dragonkind an invasive species. “Sounds fascinating. Pretty lonely, though, all the way out here.”

“It’s great,” Rebecca replies. “I don’t have to talk to anyone.”

I can take a hint, but I can ignore one, too.

“Your family doesn’t mind?”

Rebecca rolls her eyes. “No family.”

“I’ve got five siblings.”

“Fascinating.” The sarcasm is practically dripping.

Man, this is harder than I’d thought. I might have to work pretty hard to win her over. Mom had—at least according to her and Dad—been actively looking for love when they’d met. Seemed like all this woman wanted to do was get away from people. I wondered if it had anything to do with her not having a family. Had they died?

In any case, I’d have to kick it up a notch. Present her with some traditional wooing gifts and initiate a proper courtship. My instincts are already screaming at me to spoil her, to load her down with presents and hunt for her, to take her back to my home and show her my hoard. To let her know how I’d provide for her, how she’d never have to want for anything as my mate.

Start slow, I tell myself.

There’s a group of wildflowers nearby that the fire hasn’t touched yet. They’re small, pink, and look perfect. I pick one and present it to her.

Rebecca stares at it like I’m offering her a hissing viper. “What is that?”

“It’s a flower. I thought you might like it. To remember when we first met.”

Rebecca alternates from staring at the flower to staring at me. You’d think I just told her I ate a rattlesnake from the way she’s looking at me. “Um.”

I hold it out to her. “I’d appreciate it,” I tell her.

She takes the flower. Reluctantly. “Do you give, uh, stuff like this to all of the people you rescue?”

“Just the special ones.”

Rebecca rolls her eyes. Again. “Sure. I’ll keep this, but because it’s our only meeting. There’s a bed and breakfast in town, if it hasn’t burned down. I can stay there and you can go back to… I don’t know, fighting fires.”

“The town’s okay, or was the last time that I checked.”

“Fantastic.” Rebecca starts walking a little faster. “Let’s try and get there before I die of starvation, hmm?”

Yo, bro, where are you? Vyn asks me through our bond.

I have to hide my grin. I found my mate!

You found what? Vyn doesn’t sound all that pleased.

My mate. Her name is Rebecca. She’s beautiful.

Great, Malek says.

Um, no, not great! Vyn replies. There’s a gigantic forest fire we’re still trying to put out here! You better not be making out while we’re fighting the fire! Xerxes!

I’m not making out with her, I haven’t even started the proper courtship yet. Jesus, Vyn.

...what is the proper courtship? Malek asks.

Um.

Right.

About that.

...Vyn you remember what we’re supposed to do once we find our mates, right?

Have sex with them, I presume.

Besides that, stop thinking with your dick for two seconds.

I realize, with a slow, sinking feeling of horror, that I’ve been so focused on finding my mate and finding ones for my brothers that I never actually stopped to think about what I would do once I did find her. Maybe I just thought she’d jump into my arms and profess her undying love. She didn’t. Now, I’m at a total loss.

I could kiss her, maybe, but I have a feeling Rebecca would punch me. She looks like the punching type. Which I like. It means she’ll be a strong mate, that she can defend our clutch and our lair. But I’d rather not be the one on the receiving end of her anger.

Presents? Malek suggests. Dad buys Mom presents.

You should bring her home, Vyn says. Show her your hoard, make her dinner. Take care of her.

Coming from Vyn, that’s actually… surprisingly thoughtful.

Her cabin burned down, so she’s got nowhere to go, I tell them. Perfect.

Why make Rebecca pay for a hotel room, or a B&B anyway? My place has plenty of room. And I can show myself off a bit, show her just what she’ll be getting as my mate. A little candlelight and some wining and dining, and then…

I almost growl out loud as I imagine all the ways I want to touch her. Nobody except Vyn and Malek knows where I live and those two will know better than to interrupt us. I can take my time learning all the ways to please her, showing her all the sensations she’s never had before. I want to get my hands and mouth on her so badly I can taste it in the back of my throat.

Rebecca gives me an odd look, but she’s still got the flower and she hasn’t thrown it to the ground and stomped on it. I’d say that’s a victory.

“So, no family.” I try to get the conversation going again. “What about friends?”

“Nope.”

“You’re very talkative,” I say, testing to see how she’ll respond to teasing.

“You’re very observant,” Rebecca replies.

“Nobody, then? No boyfriend?”

“Oh, yes, I’ve got a plethora of lovers that bother to make the drive all the way up here,” Rebecca replies, her voice dry, tone deadpan. “And what about you, huh? You’ve got the whole hot firefighter thing going on. I’m sure there are plenty of other women who’d be more than happy to have you interrogate them.”

“You think I’m hot?” I ask, grinning. Yes, that primal part of me whispers. She’s attracted to you, of course she is. You belong to each other.

Not. Yet. I stamp those thoughts down.

Rebecca rolls her eyes again, but I can see a faint blush coming into her cheeks. “Figures that’s the one part you single out.”

“I think you’re quite beautiful,” I tell her.

Rebecca looks surprisingly stunned at that. “I—you—what?”

I look her in the eyes. “You’re beautiful,” I repeat, and watch a faint blush creep into her cheeks. I wonder, does she not know how beautiful she is? She must.

“Oh my God,” Rebecca mutters to herself. To me, she says, “You don’t just say that to people out of the blue.”

“Why not?” I dare to take a step closer and watch how her blush deepens. “It’s true.”

For a moment, Rebecca looks genuinely astonished. Her eyes become wide and warm gazing up at me, and her lips are ever so slightly parted. I want to kiss her so badly. I want to sink into her as she opens and we merge as one …

Then Rebecca takes a shuddering breath and steps away from me, her expression becoming shuttered once again. “Let’s go! I need a shower and a food. Standing around flapping our gums will get me neither.”

She starts walking again but I can’t ignore the buoy of hope that floats up in my chest. For just a moment there, we almost connected. She was connecting. I could see it in her eyes. Even if it was just for an instant, she felt our mating call that sings in our blood.

I’ll woo her. I’ll make her my mate in mind and body.

I will accept nothing less.