Dena handed Charlie the rat back to Chelsea. “Just keep these two separate for now. Gradually, you can move their cages closer together and then completely together with supervision.” Dena scratched the iguana’s chin as it rested on her shoulder. “I'm sorry Sarah tried to eat Charlie, but she has to learn over time that he’s not food.”

The young girl blinked up at her with tears in her eyes. “Do you think Charlie's tail will grow back?”

“Sorry, sweetheart, but no.” She gave Chelsea a hug.

Even before Taurian made a noise, the hairs on the back of her neck and arms stood up. It was as if a huge predator filled the room. The rat squealed and Sarah dug her claws into Dena’s shoulder.

“Who are you?” Chelsea’s eyes widened. “Are you Dr. Dena’s boyfriend?”

Taurian bowed to the seven-year-old. “Not yet, but if you were older, I'd pick you some flowers.”

Chelsea giggled. “I'll be eight in February.”

“I wish I was eight.” Taurian smiled.

The little girl beamed and curtseyed while Charlie squirmed in her hands, its fear making its body pulse with each heartbeat.

Before Dena could suggest Chelsea put Charlie back in his carrier, Taurian stepped back.

“I think your rat wants to go home, little one.” Taurian cocked his head to the side. “Perhaps he is hungry?”

“Yeah, he wouldn't touch his breakfast this morning since Sarah tried to eat him last night.”

“I think that's wise.” Taurian stooped to her level. “Feed Sarah well before you introduce them again. Charlie, too so he doesn't take a chunk out of her for retribution.”

“What's retribution?” she asked.

Dena cleared her throat. “Getting even.”

“Got it.” Chelsea waved bye. “Thanks, Doc. Mom's waiting in the car.”

“I'll help you out.” Dena walked with Chelsea to her mom's car while Taurian stayed inside.

After she put Sarah in her cage in the back, she helped the little girl get Charlie situated in the front seat.

“What do we owe you, Dena?” Chelsea’ mom leaned out the window.

“No charge.” She smiled. “Didn't do anything except a quick exam and offered advice.”

“Thank you.” The rusty station wagon rattled down the road.

“Do you normally give away your services for free?” Taurian asked behind her, and she jumped.

“Sometimes, when I know the family can't afford it.” She tucked her hair behind her ear to keep the wind from blowing it across her face. “I'd rather them spend money taking care of their animals.”

“That's very gracious of you.”

She shrugged. Her ex used to berate her for it. Telling her she was stupid not to charge everyone the full amount. Which is why she had a second mortgage on the house and tons of credit card debt. She needed more money and soon. Too bad the demon from last night got away. She could've used money from a scientist wanting to study it.

“I do what I can for people.” She went back inside, and he trailed in after her.

His musk and spice scent carried inside along with the warm spring sun. It made her knees weak. The guy was a walking sex bomb. His kiss alone had left her breathless. Last night she tossed and turned, imagining all kinds of things they could do with each other. But she'd dated too many men like him. Having her heart broken more times than she cared to remember.

Inside, a thud followed by a metal scraping sounded from her kitchen.

“What’s that noise?” she asked.

“Oh, your washer of dishes wouldn’t shut off and made a mess.”

“And you didn’t come get me?” She skidded to a halt at the gigantic mound of bubbles oozing over the cabinet and onto the floor. Son of a—She shut off the faucet and glared at him.

“I take it this isn’t what it’s supposed to do?” Taurian blinked like he was innocent of any wrongdoing.

“No. The water and soap are supposed to stay inside the sink. Geez how much soap did you use?” The dishwashing liquid bottle was empty. Lovely. She waded through two inch soapy water to the pantry. After she grabbed a bucket and a mop, she handed the former to him. “Here, help me clean up.”

Two hours later, the excess water was removed and her kitchen floor had never been cleaner. Taurian put the bucket and mop away and she went to her office to catch up on emails.

At her vet entrance, Mr. Davis stood with his German shepherd, Butch.

“Come on in,” she called.

“I thought you were with another patient.” Davis nodded to Taurian.

“Um...no, he's a...friend.” Though if he was in his dragon form, she could handle him better and not have her insides twisting with desire. Even put him in a cage if necessary. She smirked at that thought and bent down to Butch’s level. “Now what's this handsome guy's problem?”

“He keeps me up all night howling. Ever since Meissen died. I'm thinking he misses her.”

“You're probably right.” She checked in Butch’s mouth and ears. Then did a full physical on him. “He seems fine. But I bet he’d love a new companion.” She stood and scratched Butch behind the ears. “Why don’t you take him with you to the pound? Let him tell you who he wants to play with?”

“Well, don’t you think he’s getting a bit old for all that?” Mr. Davis asked.

“No. I mean he’s middle age for a dog, but they can still have fun and love and do all the things they used to…just might take a longer nap.” She smiled. And maybe Mr. Davis would meet her friend Maggie who worked at the pound. Dena was pretty sure the two would get along—even if they only stayed friends.

As Mr. Davis and Butch left, Dena felt Taurian’s stare on the back of her neck, but she ignored it to text Maggie to be on the lookout for Butch and Davis. That way her friend would be expecting them, but not that Dena was setting her up.

She smiled to herself at seeing Maggie’s reply of a picture of a chocolate lab who appeared to be a year or two younger than Butch. Looking down while she walked, Dena’s phone and chest collided with a muscled body.

“Is that porn you’re watching?” he asked and the way he said porn sounded both foreign and dirty.

“Ah, no.” She flashed him the picture as she stepped back. “Just an animal at a shelter. I’m hoping Butch will choose her for his playmate or maybe another animal.”

Taurian studied her with his silver-blue gaze and she felt her pulse speed up. Yup, the sooner she could get Taurian home the better. She wasn’t used to having someone in her home for longer than a typical vet visit. Yet, she couldn’t turn him loose in the streets either. This was why she had to say no to strays…otherwise, she’d have a zoo filled with every animal within a fifty-mile radius that needed a home.

“And what about you? Do you need a companion to…play with and such?” His voice dipped low and sent a shiver of desire coursing through her.

“None for me, thanks.” She tapped on her laptop to check her schedule and break eye contact with Taurian. Truth was, she could stare at him all day. To the way his hair spiked up slightly, to his muscles, to his crooked smile with those full lips. “I’ve had my fill of playdates.”

He snorted, and she opened her calendar. No more appointments until after lunch. She checked her watch. It was ten a.m. now, so maybe she could squeeze in an appointment with Jazmine who worked in a medical research lab. Jaz would keep it quiet and she owed Dena for saving her cat’s life when he got his tail caught in a car’s engine last winter. Her friend might be able to help Dena figure out what was going on with Taurian and how to change him back. Afterward, they could grab a late lunch and be back in time for her two o’clock appointment.

Over her shoulder, Taurian whispered, “Aren’t you curious what games dragons like to play?”

His sudden nearness made her jump, banging the top of her head under his chin.

“Sorry.” She spun a little too fast and wobbled, falling backward onto her desk.

Taurian reached out and stopped her fall, but now his groin was pressed up against her sex and her legs were on either side of his thighs. Not good. So not good.

“Thanks, but you’re too close.” She pushed against him, but he didn’t move.

“I can’t stop thinking about our kiss last night. That’s what you humans call it, correct? I’ve seen it done before in the past, but never been able to do it with a human before now.”

Her insides melted. She couldn’t stop dwelling on their kiss either. All last night, her lips felt hot where his mouth had been. Not unpleasant, just there as if he’d seared her…claimed her and she couldn’t get him out of her mind. Instead of giving into her lust crawling into her belly, she scooted to the side, knocking him back a step. “We’ve got work to do. First, another blood sample, then we’re going to get your blood checked with an expert and see—”

He snatched her hand, and she paused. “No need to meet with anyone else. You’re my doctor and I trust you’ll find a way to help me.”

“Sure.” Was all she could say because a wave of warmth spread from where he touched her to her entire body and mind and soul? He was depending on her to figure out how to transform him back into a dragon. Why? He didn’t even know her. The amount of trust he was putting in her to fix him swayed her. But what if she couldn’t? What if he was stuck in his human form and on Earth forever? She shoved aside her worries, knowing that they never changed anything. So he didn’t want to meet Jaz. Okay. What else could she do? She might be able to analyze his blood on her own. It was worth a try. Then maybe she could show him that they needed to have an expert look. If he still refused, she could at least ask Jaz for advice…hypothetically.

She pulled her hand from his and shuddered from the loss of contact. Did he have that much faith in her? “All right, let’s get another sample of your blood and see what changed.”

His head swiveled to her back door and scowled.

“What is it?” she asked, her stomach lurching into her throat.

“Do you hear that?” He paused at the door. “Stay here.” Before she took a breath, he was out the door, it slammed shut behind him.

No, I will not stay behind. Not on your life.