He cradled her against his chest, his heart thudding under her cheek.

Sweat trickled down his temple. She wanted to reach up and wipe it off. She curled her fingers into her hand.

From this angle, she could see the thrust of his chin, the makings of a dimple at the base, which she’d never noticed before. His attention was fixed on a point ahead.

The tension vibrated off his big body.

He was avoiding her.

What did she expect? She’d pushed him away. He’d taken care of her, and she’d insulted him and told him to leave.

She squeezed her eyes shut, the blood rushing to her face. Her actions made her seem heartless, just like the ruthless alpha she was meant to be.

She didn’t owe him or anyone else an explanation.

It didn’t stop her from cuddling closer. He felt so big and sexy, he was all around her.

A shiver ran over her skin, and she realized just how much she’d pushed her still-recovering body, how much she needed him. She was aware of his strength, his tall brooding presence.

Walking into the entrance of the infirmary, he took the steps two at a time, stalking down the corridor to her room as if she weighed nothing.

She wasn’t heavy but not a lightweight, either. Her dragon bones were hollow yet solid enough to lend power to her punches.

He was so much stronger than her in human form. He could hold his own against her.

Heat tugged her belly.

She flicked out her tongue, touching it to her lips, only to taste that spicy flavor of his which lingered from their earlier kiss.

Placing her on the chair, he walked into the bathroom, then returned with a wet cloth.

He squatted in front of her, placed her bare foot on his bent knee, and ran the cloth over her heel.

Heat sizzled from his touch all the way to her center. She felt empty in a way she hadn’t realized before. Her thighs clenched. The hair on the nape of her neck firmed. She moved around in the chair.

Clutching the armrest, she yanked at her foot.

“Hold on, just want to make sure you’re not hurt.”

His voice curled around her, setting off little pinpricks of delight over her skin.

His hands were large, his palm wide enough to engulf her entire foot. His touch was gentle. That threw her again.

She couldn’t reconcile his tenderness with the bloodthirsty warrior she’d just seen in action.

Next to him she felt delicate and feminine. She’d never experienced this with any other male.

When she’d faced the wolf shifter on the beach, her strength had ebbed. For the first time since she’d become the alpha of the dragons, she’d experienced a shudder of fear. She’d come to depend on her dragon in a fight.

She’d been using her dragon to turn away from the woman in herself. The part that Cain brought out by being just who he was—raw, unadulterated male.

“You’re barely recovered. Whatever made you pick a fight?” His growl shivered over her skin. He sounded furious.

Pick a fight? She resisted the urge to grind her teeth.

Her dragon quivered.

His head was bent, that thick hair of his brushing his shoulders. She wanted to rake her fingers through it. Pull his head back and lick the column of his neck. That hot desert sand scent of his was driving her a little mad.

Heat flushed her body, and her nipples pebbled. “I had it under control, until you interrupted.”

He snorted. His shoulders shook. “You only see what you want to, don’t you, kitten?”

She couldn’t see his face. Was he laughing at her? No one laughed at the alpha of the dragon shifters.

Reaching down, she gripped his wrist and pulled.

He didn’t stop his attentive care of her foot.

Frustration twisted her stomach. She dug her nails into his skin. “Look at me when you speak, lion shifter.”

He threw aside the cloth and raised his head. “Cain.” He snarled.

The power of those amber eyes slammed into her, golden sparks swirling around in a vortex that had her mesmerized. His beast was so close to the surface. Why hadn’t she noticed it before? It called to that part of her she’d never thought anyone could reach.

“Say it.”

“W-what?” she stuttered.

“My name.”

The command in his voice had her hackles rising. Adrenaline pumped.

She looked at him through half-closed eyelids. “No.”

Silence.

His lips parted in surprise. A flush of red heightened those cheekbones. The amber in his eyes flared. “I am not one of your clan. Don’t expect me to bow down or obey you.”

“I’m counting on it,” she muttered. She didn’t expect him to hear her. But that insane part of her that only seemed to come to life when he was around hoped he would.

She wanted to push him, to see what would happen when he snapped. She wanted to see the beast he’d carefully hidden behind the veneer of civilization he’d drawn around himself.

The next second, he coiled his fingers around her ankle and tugged.

She squeaked as she lost her balance and fell against that chest.

His lips captured hers.

It wasn’t just a kiss. He was taking her, absorbing her into him, showing her exactly how it could be between them.

He thrust his tongue into her mouth. She opened for him. Let him swirl that hot taste of his over her inner lips.

A moan built from somewhere deep inside, rolling up and through her mouth.

He captured that, too. He was eating her up.

Gripping her thighs, he spread her legs wide and brushed his hardness against her melting core.

To her utter shock, she found herself wanting much more. She wrapped her legs around his waist, locking her ankles at his back so she could feel every inch of that throbbing part of him that she wanted inside her.

A growl of frustration rumbled up his chest. It echoed the heat that was tearing her insides. Driving her to plaster her breasts to his chest.

She plunged her fingers into that thick hair she’d been wanting to pet for so long. Meeting him thrust for thrust, she danced her tongue over his. It wasn’t half enough.

A snarl bubbled up. She bit down on his lower lip.

“Putain.” He tore his mouth from her.

His chest rose and fell, his lips swollen and clearly throbbing. He looked like how she felt.

Aroused—and wanting and frustrated.

Those amber eyes were dilated to sheets of gold. She saw herself reflected in them.

She licked her lips. “Consider that a thank you for services rendered.” She was a tough alpha woman. She hated what she was going to do to him, to her, to what they could be.

This crazy attraction between them could only end in one thing. Their mating. His death.

She dropped her hands to her sides.

His jaw hardened.

She had to do this before she lost courage. Had to show him that she didn’t care for him. That he was just someone who’d happened to be there at the right time to help her out.

“When I’m back in Mauritania, I’ll make sure to reward you properly.” There. She’d snubbed him.

If she thought she’d seen him angry, that was nothing.

His shoulders heaved, and his hands balled into fists at his sides. Nostrils flaring, he peeled his lips back to show his teeth.

There it was...his beast. She’d stripped him of the mask he’d worn so far.

He’d fought for her.

How would it be to fight with him?

A shudder of sexual awareness skittered over her skin.

She was shocked to find herself go wet. She had to get away from him before her body gave itself away, before he sensed how turned on she was, not just by his desire but also by his fury.

She unwrapped her legs from around him. He slid to his feet. The lack of contact instantly made her shiver. Like she’d lost a part of her. It convinced her she was doing the right thing.

“You should leave.” Rising, she sauntered to the shower on unsteady legs.

“You should...realize something.” His tone was polite.

The hackles on her neck rose. She’d turned her back on a dangerous predator. Apprehension jolted her spine. She spun around. Her heart hammered against her ribcage.

His biceps rippled. He placed his hands on his hips.

Her pulse raced. The chemistry between them turned up another notch.

He looked big and strong and so fucking sexy. He looked...delicious.

A bead of sweat rolled down between her breasts. She wanted to fling herself back at him and beg him to take her, to finish what they’d started, what she’d just tasted. Her breath hitched.

Cain tossed his head, every inch an alpha dominant male. “You’re not leaving this city without making love with me.”