“But…all of your people…and Earth,” she hesitated, staring into his eyes. “Don’t we need to go fight?”

Taurian chuckled and nuzzled her neck. “Let me know where the Tryn will strike next and I will rip it apart to keep you safe and protect your planet. As for my people, I cannot shift into my dragon.” He closed his eyes, concentrating on his Renjerian form. The one he’d been born with and lived for thousands of years, but it was silent. Not long ago, this would have terrified him. But he’d faced worse fears…like walking away from his dragon shell…like potentially losing Dena when he saved her life by binding them.

“What?” She pushed against his chest. “Let me up. We need to do a blood sample. Compare it to the one we took before. Figure out a way—”

He dipped his head, his mouth tasting hers in a searing kiss fueled from gratefulness that she was alive and cared so deeply for him and his people. Part of him expected her to freeze and stiffen beneath him. She hadn’t said she loved him too or that she wanted to mate with him.

“But you’re blood—” she moaned under his lips and lust shot through him.

“Later. I need to be with you right now.” He’d been in too many battles to know opportunities of love were fleeting and to be cherished. As much as he wanted to get back to his people and help them, he had no way to do so now.

She kissed him, matching his intensity with her own. Sliding upright, he tore at her singed clothing. Desperate to touch her soft curves and see her body. Her shirt ripped apart and she let out a gasp.

His figures trembled, tracing over the lace dual cups hiding her breasts. “Do you want to stop?” Please, whatever is holy let her say no. He waited for her answer. Wanted her to desire him as much as he did her, but he would leave her alone if she asked. No matter how much his cock throbbed against her thigh.

“If you stop, I’ll throw you on this bed and kiss you until you beg for me.” Her cheeks flushed, but she met his stare with eyes full of lust and desire. He planned to kiss every inch of her, worship her and show her how much he loved her.

Their ordeal with the demon scorpions was too raw and he had to touch her, taste her, and prove to himself that she was safe. Forever protected for as long as he lived. Forever his.

Her hands shifted down to her pants and he eased off her. In slow movements that made his lust for her spike, she pushed down her pants. Then she unhooked the garment covering her breasts and laid back down, naked. Her lip between her teeth as she waited.

She was perfect. Breasts, even though there was only two of them, high and pink. Her stomach dipped down to her hips and her dark hair was a reverse triangle. Just seeing her naked made his hardness swell even more.

Her eyes widened at seeing him. “God, you’re big.”

His ego puffed up and he smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll make you nice and wet for me.”

“I already am.” Her voice was breathy. She reached over and grabbed his cock, stroking him with light touches at first, then firmer ones.

“Keep doing that and I won’t be able to control myself,” he said.

He laid down beside her, kissing her and brushing his thumbs over her nipples. They pebbled underneath his touch. She made mewling sounds. Her hands, her kiss, all of her drove him insane with need. His body burned to claim her, be inside her, bring both of them to ecstasy. He could breathe her in constantly and never have enough. Her musky scent tickled his nostrils. As much as he wanted to bury himself inside her, he wanted to taste her everywhere first.

Breaking off their kiss, he whispered, “I’m going to make you orgasm before I take you.”

She nodded, her eyes were wide and dark with passion as she let go of him. The loss of her touching him made a moan of regret bubble in his chest, but he took her nipple into his mouth, suckling softly at first, but then harder when she squirmed underneath him and her breathing turned to pants. Then he moved to the other breast and let his hand trail down her stomach to her tight curls. She arched against him.

Intoxicating. Just drinking her in. Touching her and hearing the hitches of her breath and knowing that he was causing her to feel this way.

“You’re mine, Dena.” He reached up to kiss her lips again. Long, drugged kisses to sear his claim on her body and soul. “I will not allow you to make me an ex. Forever, I will do everything in my power to make you happy, no matter what. I love you.”

She pushed up quickly and clipped his chin with her forehead. “Ow!”

“Sorry.” Had he said too much? Was she not ready for commitment with him? His insides burned from anxiety butting into his mind. All his life, he’d mated with females and walked away. But even without doing so with Dena, he wouldn’t be able to walk away this time. Never. Not unless she told him to. If she did, he’d die inside but he’d obey her wishes.

She rubbed her head and chuckled. “It’s okay.” Her gaze never left his. “Taurian, I didn’t get to tell you before…at the complex…with all the scorpions attacking us and everything. But,” she paused, her cheeks blushing, “I’m not even sure how it happened, but I love you too.”

She loves me? He scooped her up into his arms. Both of them sitting up on the bed. Her weight shifted, and she rubbed her sex along his.

The urge to spill his seed was so strong that he shook his head to clear the urge.

“You don’t like this?” Her breath was breathy. “I just need to you so bad right now it hurts.”

Before he could answer, she slipped down onto his bulging cock. She was so wet and tight. Her body stretching to adjust to his size. Lightning shot through him and still he wanted more. He massaged her breast with one hand and guided her hips back and forth with the other. Their climax building so hard and fast that he couldn’t stop.

“Taurian!” she screamed, her sex tightening around him.

He let out a roar that shook her ceiling fan over them. She hunched against him, shivering and he thrust into her harder, several more strokes, before finding his own release.

Gently, he laid her down on the bed and brushed her hair out of her face.

“Wow.” She smiled, then gasped. “Shit, what about pregnancy or diseas—”

He covered her mouth with his thumb, running it along her lower lip. “Renjerians are immune to sexual diseases.”

“Well, that’s handy. But what about pregnancy?” She touched his cheek. “I mean I do love you, but I’m not ready for kids yet. Would like to spend more time with you first.”

He nodded. It wouldn’t bother him if she became pregnant with his child right now, but he understood what she meant. He was just getting to know her and he was selfish by not wanting to share her with anyone else yet. “Renjerians are only fertile, both male and female, during the full moon. It’s our planet’s way of birth control and keeping our population down.”

“Really?” She pushed up on her elbows. “You mean like female ducks or lions? How they can stop pregnancy or ovulation?”

Always the animal doctor. “Something like that, yes,” he grumbled. “But I’m a Renjerian or dragon if you prefer.” At the word dragon, his inner one stirred. He gasped.

“What, what is it?” she asked.

“I don’t think I’ve lost my dragon form.” He grabbed her hands and kissed her knuckles. “I think during our battle with the scorpions, it took all the damage and is healing itself.”

“Like its hibernating?” Her voice was full of hope. “So you’ll be able to transform again and return home?”

“Feels that way.” His heart sang. Here he had his love and he might be able to return to his home once he’d fully healed. And Dena was alive and in his arms, he couldn’t wish for anything more.

“Uh, Taurian?” She stared down at his sex. “Looks like you’re getting hard again. Is that a dragon ability? To be able to make love so soon after?”

“No.” He drew her to him so that they were laying side by side on the bed. “It’s all you, I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.”