After Cain left, Eve staggered to the shower on legs that still quaked from the aftermath of that sizzling exchange. She was still so turned on, still so wet. Her pulse raced, breath coming in short gasps as if she had run for miles.

Every part of her screamed that she should turn back, go to him, and jump him.

The water poured over her, sending pinpricks of desire racing over her sensitized skin.

The arrogance of the man. No one dared speak to her like that, no one.

Anger rippled over her skin, leaving reluctant sparks of lust in its wake.

When he’d declared his intent in that calm voice, his big body all tense, it had sent a thrill coursing inside.

Adrenaline pumped through her blood, and her chest felt light. It was the same feeling she had when she was challenged to a fight. Only difference was, there was a simmering flame in her lower belly. She clenched her thighs to stop the need that lurked between them and made her wet.

What would it be like to have his big hands on her breast, to have him rub his beard over her waist, on the insides of her thighs where the skin was sensitive?

Standing under the hot spray, she trailed her fingers over her skin.

How would it be to run her palm over the hard planes of his chest, over that concave stomach, to curl her hand around his arousal and watch him grow hard?

She slipped on the wet tiles. Cursing, she wrenched her thoughts back and shut off the scalding water. Some of the aches from the beating had lowered to a dull thud.

The heat that tugged her lower belly had cranked up several notches.

Wrapping the towel around herself, she stepped out of the bathroom and came to a stop. On the bed was a folded pair of jeans, a shirt, and a pair of boots next to the bed.

She swiveled her gaze to Vance, who stood by the window.

“Thank you.” She crossed the floor, flinching as her legs protested.

When she reached for her towel, Vance turned his back to the room.

Once she’d shrugged into the clothes, she sat on the bed and pulled on the socks. “Your girlfriend’s clothes?”

“Lana’s.” Vance glided toward the bed, dropping into the chair next to it. “She wanted to come by and thank you, but Max was having nothing of it. Which only led to the two of them fighting again.” He raised his hands before letting them drop.

Her lips twisted. “I know who won that one.” She sat up, hands dangling loose between her knees.

“You strong-willed women.” Vance slid around, making himself comfortable. “Lana is very grateful. If you hadn’t been there today…” His voice turned serious. “Those shifters are local bullies. They had it coming. Though how you managed to recover enough to walk out of here and take those men on, I don’t know.”

“I’m a dragon.” Eve pushed back the wet hair from her face.

“I know you recuperate faster than other shifters—yet your recovery is remarkable.” Vance laced his hands in front of him.

Reaching for the towel, she rubbed it through her long strands. “My healing powers accelerated once I regained consciousness. Seeing the girl in trouble gave me the impetus to push myself to get back on my feet. Only—” She couldn’t bring herself to complete the sentence.

“You still didn’t feel your dragon, even though you put yourself in danger. You had to depend on your human skills to rescue her.” He tilted his head. “Remarkable.” Vance’s body was relaxed. His forehead furrowed as he surveyed her.

“I’d come to depend on the dragon energy to the extent that I’d forgotten my human form has its strengths, too.” She chuckled. “Perhaps my dragon is telling me to appreciate the woman I am.”

“How do you feel?”

Eve ran a mental check over her limbs. “A little tired. Thanks to Cain, my dragon feels much more alive.”

The doc tapped his fingers together but didn’t respond.

“My dragon reacts to him. She draws energy from him.”

“That’s why you keep running away?” The vampire’s stance was casual.

A snarl boiled up in her throat, but Eve knocked it back. Hands loose by her side, she faced the doc.

“Cain’s the kind of man you want on your side in a fight.”

His jaw firmed. “He’s also the kindest, most generous of all the men I’ve had the privilege of knowing.”

“You two are close?”

“We are two misfits who found a home with the Guardians of this city.” He let the words hang in the air.

“So, you are close.” Picking up the comb, she ran it through her hair.

“His lion is fixated with you.” Vance lifted his shoulders before letting them drop. “Doesn’t mean I’m going to let you walk all over his feelings. Tread carefully, Alpha, for if you hurt him, you’ll have me to deal with.”

It shouldn’t concern her what the doc thought of her intentions—she didn’t intend to stay around long enough for anyone to find out, least of all herself. Sure, she was attracted to Cain, but that didn’t mean anything, did it?

“You have it all wrong.” Eve flicked a speck of dust that had settled on her shirt. She didn’t want the vampire to see how much his words were affecting her. “I have no intention of taking advantage of his feelings for me.” She’d make it clear it was all one-sided, when the truth was that since she’d seen him, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking of him.

Her dragon was as fixated as his lion.

“The faster I leave here, the better it is for both of us.” The thought of never seeing Cain again had her throat closing.

“You can leave any time.”

It took a second for his words to sink in.

“Your body is mending itself at an exponential pace. As for your dragon, she is in temporary stasis. All she needs is the right trigger to come back.” He shuffled his feet on the floor. “Get a good night’s sleep. I’ll tell the nurse you’ll sign yourself out.”

A sound at the door had her swiveling her head. Lana hobbled in on crutches.

“You gave Max the slip?” Vance ruffled the girl’s hair on his way out. “I’ll let you two catch up.”

“Thank you.” The girl’s face was pale. “You saved my life.”

“And Cain saved mine.” Eve gestured to the chair. “It’s what warriors do. We come to each other’s help when we most need it.”

Lana sat down. “How do you manage Cain’s attentions?” She propped her crutches against the armrest.

Eve chuckled. “Don’t mince your words, eh?”

“The way he watches you reminds me of Max.” Her lips slanted down at the sides. “How do I manage that?”

“If you want advice on how to rein in a man as dominant as you, then you’ve come to the wrong place.” One side of her lips inched up in the semblance of a smile. “Growing up, I fought against my instincts to be an alpha female. On dates with male dragon shifters, I always held myself back. Except once.”

“What happened?” Lana supported her neck against the chair’s top rail.

“It ended when I showed the true strength of my will.” Eve realized that was the reason she was holding herself back from Cain.

He was the first man who’d matched her in dominance. Yet he’d been so gentle toward her. He’d held his strength in check and treated her like she was something to be cherished. That confused her. It made her re-evaluate what she wanted in a mate.

Not just someone who was her equal, but someone who was sensitive enough to never let her down. Cain was secure enough in his strength. He’d always treat her with care; he wasn’t like the other dragons she’d encountered so far. He wouldn’t be threatened by her.

She very much wanted to understand the essence of this man who called to her. She was also treading in dangerous space. She’d defeated many stronger than her in fights. But in the face of Cain’s gentleness, she was lost.

This was one fight where the outcome would have no winners. It’s why she’d turned him away. It’s why she was going to leave.

“It won’t be easy, to be what you are.” Eve folded her hands in her lap. “But it’s best to not pretend. Best to let everyone see what you feel inside. So when you choose friends and lovers they’ll know exactly who you are and what to expect from you.”

“You come across as who you are. A strong, proud dragon shifter, the alpha of your people.” Lana slouched deeper in the chair. “One who won’t hesitate to risk her life to save her own sister.”

Eve splayed a hand against her chest, fingers spread out. “Cain accepts what I am. He is not threatened by me. But he can’t be my mate.”

“Surely going against your instincts is only going to hurt you both.”

She hugged her arms around her waist. “It’ll keep him alive.”

“So you’re going to leave without saying goodbye?” Lana looked at her wide-eyed.

Eve jabbed a finger at the girl. “Don’t imagine I don’t know when I am being set up.”

But Lana was right. Cain had saved her life. She had to say goodbye before leaving. It would show him he didn’t affect her, let him know she was leaving without any regrets.

“He goes for a run on the beach most mornings.” Lana got to her feet. “When he’s not watching over you, that is.” The girl smirked over her shoulder.

She yelped and dodged the pillow Eve threw at her. She ran for the door.

“Smart ass.” Eve’s lips twitched into a smile.

Of course the entire community had noticed Cain taking care of her. All the more reason to break off whatever there was between them and leave.

Tiredness dragged at her limbs. Her eyelids grew heavy. Tomorrow she was going to find him and tell him she was leaving.