Shock and then hunger reflected in Amy’s sweet, forgiving eyes. He was her obsession and temptation just like he’d been for hundreds of other women. She’d go off with him. Do whatever he wanted. Marry him.

She just needed a little push.

“Say yes,” he pushed.

She licked her lips and tucked her loosened hair behind her ears. Her gaze flashed behind him at the noises of humans stomping on the stone. “This is sudden.”

“You know my situation.”

“Why me?”

“Because you know me.” He nuzzled her. She smelled so good, like flowers and feminine arousal. “You know all about me. Come away with me now to Las Vegas.”

“Vegas!” She jerked back. Unhappiness marred her features. “Vegas is … people drink on the streets and gamble. It’s not a good place.”

“It’s a great place. Marry me.”

She blinked. “I can’t.”

Of course she could. “Why not?”

“I don’t have any clothes, anything ready—”

“I’ll take care of that.”

“And I, um, can’t.”

“Amy—”

“I can’t talk now.” She pushed him back a step. Worry fought with determination. “I have to finish teaching the afternoon’s classes.”

“Forget classes.”

She snorted as if he’d made a funny joke. “I have to go. You have to go. Security guards are coming.”

His scales shivered under his skin, crackling for a fight. “Let them.”

“No! This is a very elegant school, Pyro. And you will only raise the wrong kind of questions.”

He cracked his knuckles. “I don’t mind answering.”

“You cannot jeopardize my job. Go.” She pushed him. “I’ll meet you.”

The urge to tease her fought with the self-preservation to take off and make her happy. He lifted off. “Tonight.”

“Tonight!” She waved and turned to meet the trio of guards. “Hi. Sorry about the disruption. My friend was unaware of school rules.”

Friend.

The guards looked around, never bothering to glance up as Pyro hovered barely over their heads.

She knew and wiggled her eyebrows at him to go.

“Visitors need to be announced at the main office,” the lead guard said, his voice full of censure. “No exceptions.”

“I know. I told him. He only dropped by for a moment.”

“No exceptions.”

“It won’t happen again. I promise you.”

The guard leaned forward. “We don’t tolerate deviations from the rules here.”

“I understand.”

“I don’t think you do.”

“No deviations. You have my word.” She eased into the building, basically running from the guards, until they finally backed off. Her last glare at Pyro was filled with warning.

Eh. Fine.

Pyro flew from the school.

It irritated him that she had to basically apologize for his existence. Such was the lot of a low-class dragon. Aristocrats did as they liked. Lower caste got out of the way. Apologized for living. Endured the worst.

It wasn’t that different, whether human or dragon.

On the other hand, look at how easily he’d earned her forgiveness. A few sweet words, heartfelt promises, and she was back to swooning with arousal.

Amy wasn’t hurt by the warehouse incident. Probably she’d gotten an offer from Sard out of it. He couldn’t trust her.

But he also couldn’t stop the curling hope that he was wrong. That she was different.

And, dammit, that was the whole reason he was angry to begin with.

He killed time with Darcy while he waited for school to get out.

“Tired of your stalker?” Darcy rested on a stool facing the loud sports bar. His dark beer sweated against the coaster. “We finally changed locations.”

Pyro tossed back his whiskey in one gulp. The fiery amber liquid burned his throat. “I’m marrying her.”

“Congratulations. Where’s my invitation?”

“I’ll send you a postcard.”

“Lame.” Darcy smiled into his drink while Pyro ordered his third shot in the hour. “I am glad, though. You finally found the right woman.”

A sliver of unease curled around his spine. Darcy would pity him again if he confessed that no, he was just taking the first offer to make his siblings happy. He tightened his grip on his shot and said nothing.

They talked about other things until Darcy had to leave, and then Pyro finished his drink and pushed back from the bar. Reaching for his leather jacket, he slid his hands into the pockets and felt paper.

Notes. Invitations. Offers to take his mind off the long night, the empty apartment, and tomorrow.

He crumpled them.

Why couldn’t he stop his secret hope that there was more to life than just pain? That someday, he would meet Darcy’s “right woman” and find the love he had always been denied?

That Amy might just possibly be that woman?

No. He couldn’t even hope for such a thing. That was way too dangerous.

He dumped the notes unread into his glass and headed out. Not home. Not a louder bar, a more desperate clientele, an armload of women intrigued by his alien attributes and all too willing to “try him out” for a night.

To Amy.

His cock pulsed.

Probably because he hadn’t slept with her. Once he slept with her, he’d get over this weird fascination. She’d reveal her avarice, just like the others, and disappoint him once and for all.

If she didn’t…

No, she would. Keeping a hold of this belief protected him when it happened. That protection was the only way he’d survive.

She was just stepping foot off the school grounds and getting into the passenger’s seat of a white Mercedes when he landed in front of her. “Amy.”

“Pyro!”

“School’s out.”

She hugged her bag to her chest. “Um, I was thinking we’d meet at home.”

He stepped forward. “Why wait?”

Her lips parted. The flush of hunger and scent of arousal made his own cock clench. She might protest but he knew the truth. He had her. Right where he wanted her.

“Amy?” The driver, an older woman, leaned across the wide seat. “Who’s this?”

“A f-friend.” She tucked her hair behind her ears as she looked between the two of them, flustered. “Don’t worry, Corrine. He’ll give me a ride home.”

“Are you sure?” Corrine’s gaze raked him head to toe, and her expression pinched. She clearly disliked him on sight. “I’ve never heard of this ‘friend’ before.”

“It’s fine. Sorry. Thanks.” Amy closed the door, sealing Corrine inside, and strode to Pyro.

He pulled her to his chest and flew into the air, taking her breath away and keeping it.

“You stuttered,” he noted, stern.

“Well, I didn’t know what to call you.”

Irritation surfaced. It wasn’t the first time a person he’d liked or trusted had struggled to introduce him as someone who mattered. “Oh?”

“You proposed, but I didn’t say yes, but that’s more than a friend, and we’ve kissed, so yes, I didn’t know what to say.”

Her flustered self eased the tension knotting his shoulders. “So make it easy. Say yes.”

“But I hardly know you.”

“You stalked me for weeks.”

“One week. And that was different, and I already apologized for invading your privacy.”

He twirled them in the air, oriented on their destination, but flying more gently than their last wild ride. “What are you so afraid of?”

She bit her lip. “You’re making fun of me.”

“Why would I make fun of you?”

Her eyes darkened. She shrugged and rubbed her cheek with the back of her hand. “I’m nothing like the women you normally date.”

“That makes you special.”

“Why?” She squinted at him with worry. “Why am I special?”

He was stuck for an answer. The lines he used without thinking failed and he was forced to confront her very real, very honest question. “Because you asked that question. And because you are.”

She didn’t look reassured. “You tricked me once before. How can I ever trust you again?”

A stripe of pain lashed his heart.

He hardened. “You’ve got no choice but to trust me. Or don’t. Tell me right now whether you want to go or whether you want me to drop you right here.”

She rested her hand on his shoulder, under the leather jacket. Her cold fingers branded his skin.

Their shadows were the only thing that moved on the desert wilderness below.

“Where are we?” she asked.

“Decide.”

“Are you really going to drop me in the middle of nowhere if I say no?”

An angry part of him wanted to say yes. He’d do it. Just drop her. Since she thought that’s the kind of jerk he was, he’d prove it to her.

The other, more intentional part gnashed its teeth. “Just say yes or no.”

“Can we just…”

He tightened, preparing for her answer.

“Can we just go on a date?” Her cheeks flushed and her eyes gleamed with hopeful liquid. “Like, out to dinner; maybe see a movie, grab dessert. We can talk. Be awkward like everyone else. You know?”

“A date?”

“A normal, ordinary date.”

He picked up the speed. “We can do whatever you want.”

“Great.” She relaxed in his arms and was suddenly much more delicious to squeeze against his hard body. He snugged her closer. His jaw brushed her ear. Her breath caught.

Oh yes. He could enjoy this.

“Um, where are we?” she asked. “It looks like Eastern Washington.”

“Somewhere over Idaho.”

She gasped. “Where are you going?”

“My house.”

“But … I mean, where do you live?”

“The top of the Stratosphere.” In the vast distance, the outline of the Strip appeared. “Las Vegas.”