Alek couldn’t let go of Talia’s body, despite knowing it was the right thing to do.

He didn’t know who he was, but by his guess, in his former life, he’d been a cad. He’d been selfish, caught up in his own privilege, his perceived sense that he was better than anyone else.

Protecting people had been his excuse, but it still wasn’t right.

When he protected Talia, it was different. She wasn’t a vassal or a peasant or just a human that happened to be in his vicinity. She was something else to him. Something more.

Something that made him want to kiss her and hold her and make all her worries go away. Made him want to fight off anything that threatened her, create a palace of ice where she’d be safe from anything outside.

If anything, this odd room was her palace, and it felt strangely personal to be here with her. He hadn’t had any intentions when he’d agreed to come to the lab with her. He’d had a perfect night with her in the snow, feeling more alive than he ever had since waking up.

And kissing her, it was more euphoric than anything he’d ever experienced, and he was sure that would be true no matter what he remembered in the future.

He could sense that nothing in his past compared to Talia, and it was the strangest thing in the world to be sure of when so much else in his mind was vague.

But despite the pain in his head as mysteries swirled around him, having Talia nearby grounded him. Her perfect little hands on his chest, her breasts so close he could almost taste them, her soft little back and hips so pliant under his hands.

He breathed in her scent, like honey and cinnamon, so warm and inviting he just wanted to devour her. He reached up and pulled her hair free from the band holding it in its usual ball, and waves of black silk fell free.

He caught her hair in his hands, returning the favor of stroking her scalp gently as he pushed it back from her face. Her already flushed face grew heated, and she mewled softly at the touch.

If possible, he went even harder at the sound. The way her head tilted back softly, yielding to his hands. He ran a thumb over her soft, parted lips and loved the way she let out a little shudder at the touch.

Her body was so sensitive, and one thing he was sure of after watching her “examine him”—she wanted him just as much as he wanted her.

He didn’t understand what was between them. He was a dragon newly awakened, and she was a logical, smart woman who seemed to know everything in her world.

Yet he didn’t seem to be the only one awakening as he ran a hand down her neck to her shoulder and her breath began to speed up.

He slowly pushed her coat off her shoulders, then pulled her soft sweater over her head. Her breasts were revealed, cased in some kind of soft, cupping garment that held them trapped.

Clearly, he needed to free them, and not just because he needed that soft, tanned, glowing skin in his hands. He pulled the straps down and she reached behind to unhook something, and the garment came free in his hands, leaving her perfect breasts bared.

The sight made him salivate, and he immediately cupped both in his hands, trapping them. Yes, he was the only one who could trap her. Possess her. Touch her.

She was his.

She arched back, pressing her perfect, pointed nipples into his hands, clearly agreeing with him.

He moaned inwardly, then cupped her back with one hand as he bent to take one of her breasts in his mouth.

She moaned, grabbing onto his hair as he suckled her nipple, gently grazing with his teeth and flicking his tongue over and around the nub until she was a squirming, moaning mess in his arms.

He smiled as he released her breasts. His mate was sensitive.

Mate?

He sat up suddenly, trying to remember the meaning of it, but nothing came. Perhaps it was just something between him and Talia. His expression softened slightly.

She was still barely maintaining her hold on the stool, his hand supporting her trembling body.

He reached forward with both hands and scooped her onto his lap, holding her gently.

She felt so small in his arms, though her body was generously proportioned. Every part of her felt soft, warm, heavenly.

He didn’t think he would ever experience anything as amazing as her again.

He kissed her forehead, unsure what had inspired such a tender response, even as his body still burned for her. “I want to go slow with you,” he said quietly, running a hand over one exposed breast and down over her soft waist to play at the waistband of her pants. “But I don’t know if I can.”

“Screw slow,” she said, wriggling against him. “Get these off of me.”

He smiled as he undid the button on her pants and then pulled them down, revealing a silky little scrap of material at the apex of her legs. He ran his hands down, stroking her softly right over the center.

She shivered slightly, and he didn’t think it was from the cold.

Her dark hair was splayed over her shoulders and breasts, and he brushed it back so he could scatter kisses over her neck and jaw and collarbone. Then he turned her so she was straddling him, face to face.

He kissed her again, unable to get enough of her, and groaned as he felt her grinding up against him.

He looked around, knowing they were in a lab, a place inappropriate for what they were doing. But looking at his mate’s flushed face, he was just grateful that she seemed to be too interested in what they were doing to care about that.

“What are you doing?” she murmured against his neck, breaking the kiss to dip lower and kiss the cords of muscle there. “Are you the lord of winter? Aren’t you supposed to take what you want?”

He was. He used to be. Before, he wouldn’t have cared how or when things happened. But with her, he wanted something else.

When she let out a mew of impatience, he decided he could at least give her something to tide them both over for now.

He ground his length up against her, loving the moan she let out as she put her hands on his shoulders and arched back. He loved the power he felt as he stroked up against her, holding both breasts in his hands, kneading and tweaking the nipples, then leaning forward to suckle them in turn.

Loved the way her passion seemed to be building, like it was too hot to contain in any room. Her small, soft body was taut with tension, the skin glowing with sweat, her hair becoming more mussed as she thrust up against him with increasing speed.

He braced one hand on her back, just in case she was in danger of losing her hold on his shoulders, and went to work on her neck, suckling gently then more fiercely as she moaned in response.

He wanted to mark her. Wanted everyone to know she belonged to him. He’d never felt this way for anyone. He never would, even if he lived any number of years.

She let out a squeak of surprise, and he pulled back quickly as she raised a hand to her neck. “You gave me a hickey,” she said breathlessly, her voice full of playful accusation.

He just shrugged. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” she said. “Might as well act like teenagers since I feel like a teenager with you.”

“What do you mean?” He resumed kissing (more gently this time) along her neck and shoulders, continuing to grind up against her, taking her closer to the edge as her eyes closed in anticipated pleasure.

“I just… can’t control myself. As a woman, I’ve learned to think with my brain. You… you’re different.”

“Of course, I’m—”

“I know, I know,” she said, voice becoming more strained as she continued to move up against him. “Lord of winter.”

“I was going to say unlike anyone you’ve ever met before,” he said simply.

She looked at him blankly and then bit her lip as he surged up against her, and her eyes rolled back in her head. “Oh God.”

He wrapped both hands around her as she jerked against him, flailing in his arms as pleasure took over. He watched every second of it, propping her up so he could see her beautiful breasts, her sweat dampened body, her lashes on her cheeks as her eyes pressed closed, her muscles clenching in rhythmic response.

All of it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He wanted to do it again, immediately. He flipped her over to cradle her, as she was still breathing heavily, eyes wide with shock over the strength of her own orgasm.

His fingers moved between her legs and pushed down the silky material covering her. He found her folds, dipped into her wetness, then explored up to the small, sensitive button just above. When he stroked over it, she went crazy in his arms, bucking backward, but his hand around her waist kept her immobile, forced to accept any pleasure he could give.

“Oh God,” she said. “Don’t stop.” Her body bucked from the sheer sensation of it, but as long as the little scientist wanted it, he was going to bring her as much pleasure as she could stand. “Feels so good. How do you do this to me?”

Because I have feelings for you.

The thought startled him, and his finger paused, poised over her clit.

Feelings for her. With a shudder, he knew that was something that had never happened to him. It was as unfamiliar as a name he’d never heard before. And yet it made so much sense.

Something about her had always called to him. And yes, he’d been trying to figure out this world and how to rule it, but all along, what he’d wanted most was to have Talia around. Since he’d awoken, he’d just wanted her not to leave him. Felt empty when she left the room.

She sat up slightly, body still glistening. “Is everything okay? We don’t have to keep going if you don’t want to.”

He let out a hiss and restrained her again, putting his finger down over her so that she arched with a moan. “Of course I want to.”

It’s just more complicated than I ever would have thought.

I still don’t know who I am.

But as he stroked her gently, then more fiercely, loving the way she kicked and bucked, utterly helpless and loving it, he decided those things didn’t matter. Who was he? The man pleasing Talia. The man… making love to Talia.

The man looking at the most beautiful sight in the world. When he looked at her, the past didn’t matter. All he wanted was a future with her. He suddenly didn’t care about being lord of winter as long as he was lord of her heart.

It was a silly thought, but it made him harder than ever as he continued to stroke her, pausing to play with her breasts, then her stomach, enjoying every part of her stunning body.

And it wasn’t just her body. It was her sparkling intelligence, her patience with him, the way she was deep down in her heart.

Everything called to him.

With one last flick, she came over the edge, and he pressed his lips to her forehead as she let out a shout and curled forward in shock. He pulled her tightly in against him, letting her ride out her release in the peace and safety of his arms.

When she was finally sated, panting, her hand on his chest, her body leaned into him, he looked down at her possessively. Though he hadn’t found his own release, it didn’t matter to him at all. This woman who’d found him was perfect, and he didn’t care if he never came again as long as he could put that look of sheer pleasure in her eyes.

He gathered her even closer, as if afraid to let go. After a few moments, she struggled against him.

“You okay?” Her hand found his member. “You want me to…”

He didn’t want her to even finish the sentence. He just wanted everything to remain just as it had been.

Perfect.

“I’m fine.” He raised her hand to kiss it, and she sat up slightly, looking out at the lab.

“Oh God, we did it right in my workspace.”

He laughed. “Sometimes things just happen.” Like him awakening in her time and falling for her. Like her finding him attractive. Like both of them being a perfect match, at least in his mind.

She let out a sigh. “We should… go home before anyone finds us.” She reluctantly got up, letting him steady her, and began to gather her clothes. When he’d helped her dress, he put on his own garments, feeling alien in the clothes now that he’d been able to be skin to skin with her.

Hopefully, the next time, they’d be in a more appropriate environment where he could share even more of himself. But he didn’t want to do such a thing with his mate for the first time amid such cold, sterile surroundings.

She deserved a place as lush and warm and wonderful as she was.

When they were both done and had their coats on, they walked out of the lab, and he waited as she locked and checked the door. Then he scooped her up in his arms and headed down the hallway.

She laughed but then pushed against his shoulders. “People are going to stare. Stop.”

He shook his head. “They’re going to stare anyway, so we should just do what we want.”

She sighed and relaxed against him. “Sometimes I think I could learn some things from you about not caring so much.”

He frowned as he walked back to her apartment, trying not to think about the fact that somehow she had taught him to care much more than before.