Dena bent over the microscope to examine Taurian’s blood again. Microscopic organisms were speedily mutating his red blood cells. Why, she didn't know. It was different than the sample of Kohl's blood she’d inspected or the alien fragment of the spear. And she wasn't a specialist to know exactly what was in his blood or what it was doing. If she had some of their father's blood, then she could do better comparisons.

“What do you mean, I'm dying? We Renjer live thousands of years.”

She straightened her back and glanced over at him as he puffed up his chest.

“I'm not sure.” She moved back from the microscope to let him look.

Frowning, he peeked, but stood back after a second and shrugged. “Fix me, then.”

Heal a dragon? She wouldn't even know where to begin. Sure, if he was just a reptile, maybe. But he was human right now and according to him, he'd never been in this form before. The least she could do was let him crash at her place. Where else was he going to go? He had no identification, no money, and didn’t know anyone. She’d hope if she were stuck in some foreign galaxy, someone would let her stay with them. Moreover, she owed him for shooting him too.

“I'll do what I can, but I don't know if it will help.” She rubbed her eyes and went back to study the slide. “In a few hours, we can take another sample and that might shed more light on what's going on with you.”

He placed a hand on her shoulder and warmth spread through her. “It's late and you are tired. Get some rest.”

“What about you?” she asked, leaning back in the chair and stifling a yawn. “I only have a spare twin bed and you're too tall for the couch.”

“Are you allowing me to stay here with you?” His eyes widened and the silver-blue in his eyes made her breath catch.

“Sure, of course.” She stood and eased back a step from his closeness. Guess on his planet, personal space wasn't an issue. And dude still had his shirt off. His sculpted muscles rippled as he moved. All she had to do was lift her hand a fraction or lean forward and she’d be touching him. “Besides, I have to protect you again if the demon returns.”

He laughed and the deep sound made her smile back. It was a relief that he wasn't crazy. What was it like on his home planet? Kohl had told her fragments, but she'd love to visit. Her childhood evenings had been filled watching Star Trek episodes from the stairwell when her parents thought she was in bed. Then later the next day pretending she was the spaceship's doctor with her stuffed animal collection.

“I know it’s late, but are you hungry?” She felt like she could eat a ton. Must be all the earlier adrenaline. “I can make us some sandwiches.”

“Sure. Don’t think I’ve never had one before.” His deep voice sent a shiver through her.

Calm down, Dena. He’s just a guy…well, dragon turned man. A very muscular, handsome and walking sex dream kinda of man.

He went into the kitchen with her and sat on a stool. His posture rigid, but she didn’t remark on it. No need to make him even more uncomfortable than he already seemed to be in human form. But if he was going to stay that way for a while, she could work with him on getting more at ease with his body so he didn’t stand out so much.

“Mayo or Mustard?” she asked, pulling both from the fridge.

He frowned. “Those things? Which do you like?”

“Both.”

“Then make mine how you like yours.” He shrugged. “I’m used to eating what I can find so I’m sure whatever you make will be digestible.”

“Oh, thanks for that vote of confidence.” She rolled her eyes. After she smeared mayo on two slices, she covered the two remaining with mustard. She layered the sliced roast beef, cheese, lettuce and tomato on both. “Here ya go.”

“Why is mine thicker than yours?”

“Cause you’re bigger than me.” She yanked out two water bottles from the fridge and tossed one at him. Without flinching, he caught it with one hand. Nice reflexes.

Together they ate their meal and she leaned against the counter as a barrier against him. Her mind filling with too many lustful images of exploring his body and kissing him. She was a doctor, damn it. An animal one and Taurian was an alien…dragon. What did it feel like to fly? To have the power of fire and be the top of the food chain. His kind could’ve devoured humans for dessert in medieval times ‘cause what good would swords and arrows do against their tough, scaled flesh. Kohl, in his dragon form, had been about fifteen feet high and ten feet long. She doubted even her shotgun would have given him any problems in his dragon form.

“What’s it like on your planet? Is it very different from Earth?”

“We have rivers, lakes, and oceans like you.” He rubbed his chin in thought. “Mountains and valleys. But we’ve more cave systems running throughout our planet and have two moons. Our sky is purple and we’ve many different types of animals and planets there.” He paused, then added, “And we have a ton more thunderstorms. Daily, in fact.”

“Sounds so interesting. I used to dream of traveling to other planets and solar systems.”

“Oh?” He raised his eyebrows.

“When I was little, I used to sneak onto the stairs and watch through one of the cutouts in the wood while my parents watched Star Trek.”

At his questioning expression, she laughed.

“It’s a SciFi television show about a crew who travels through space to boldly go where no man or woman has gone before. Seek out new civilizations and all that.”

“Tele-vis-on?”

“I’ll show you later sometime.” She went back to her sandwich.

Taurian finished his sandwich and she quickly made him another. When she handed him the second one, he was nearly half done with it before she sat back down. He placed a hand on his chest and grimaced.

The reminder she’d shot Taurian filled her with guilt. “Uh, how’s your chest?”

He glanced down revealing a drop of mustard on his cheek. “Fine. Nearly healed if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Sorry.” She blushed and choked on her next bite. “Sorry I shot you.”

“Not a problem. You were protecting yourself and your home.”

When she reached over the counter to wipe his face, he pulled back.

“You’ve got mustard on you.” Her voice was breathless. What the hell is wrong with me?

He eased forward, and she brushed off the yellow condiment. Her fingers tingling from the contact. She rubbed her hand against her jeans and hoped he didn’t notice. Otherwise, what would she say? You’re turning me on and we haven’t even kissed and I don’t even know you. What if he had a wife or wives on his planet?

“Are you married?” she blurted out.

“Pardon?”

Did they even have weddings where he came from? “Married. Um…do you have a woman back home? A partner for life?”

He looked amused as he gave her a crooked smile. “No. I used to visit planets in our galaxy to sate my needs.” Then he sobered, his eyes darkening. “Before the Tryns that is.”

She inhaled a shaky breath and took a big gulp from her drink. So, he was a player. Just like her ex. She threw away her trash and straightened her shirt.

Watching her, he took the last bite of his sandwich.

“Finished? Let me show you to the guest room, but I'll let you pick the small bed or the couch.”

He followed her down the hallway, her skin prickling at his nearness.

“Here ya go.” She opened the door a bit too quickly and stumbled forward, but she held onto the doorknob to keep from falling inside. “There's a shower and toilet room if you need it. And a change of clothes in the closet...though they may be tight on you.”

“You have many male visitors that you keep clothing for them?” he rumbled behind her.

Her blush heated her cheeks which only infuriated her. She wasn't some innocent teenager, she was a full-grown woman. “Not that it's any of your business, but they belong to my ex.” She pushed against him to get him to move out of her way and stop blocking the damn doorway.

“Ex? What does that mean?”

“It means that I had a husband and I am no longer married.” She crossed her arms. Her foot tapped as she waited for him to move aside so she could get past him.

“On my planet, we just fry them if they won’t leave us alone.”