Kyan stilled as his female once more declared her attraction with a soft, loving kiss.

Her confusion and hurt had startled him deeply. Not because her wishes were unwelcome. He had fantasized about peeling off her clothes and claiming her. Licking her body until he knew every taste and she writhed in ecstasy. Bury himself, finally and completely, in her tight, wet, warmth. Giving himself to her just as completely.

But it was impossible.

She pulled back and met his gaze with a tender smile. “Breathe.”

He sucked in a huge gulp.

She stroked his cheek. “Do you want to marry your empress?”

His answer stuck in his dry throat. He cleared it. “No.”

Her smile grew, then faded to seriousness again. “Do you want me to be your mate?”

“Yes.”

Her smile glowed. Sunshine in a dark storm. She nuzzled him. “Okay.”

Her fingers trailed to the hem of his shirt. She pulled, untucking from his pants. He peeled his shirt off one-handed and tossed it to the floor.

Her gaze dropped to his pectorals and continued across his abdomen to the rim of his jeans. “It’s smooth.”

“The attackers targeted my face.”

Her gaze returned there. “Can I see your dragon form?”

He shook his head. He didn’t want to ruin this moment with a vision that would sear into her mind and turn her stomach.

“Is it necessary to see your dragon to count as mates?”

“No.” He cleared his throat again. For some reason, every time she said that word, his throat filled with a painful lump and his heart squeezed as though she had stuck him with a pin. “Human form is enough.”

She accepted his answer and lifted her hands. “May I?”

He nodded.

She rested on his nude chest. Her fingers were cool and gentle on his burning hot flesh. She spread across his broad muscles, studying the mountains and valleys, as though truly enjoying his naked torso. His cock, iron-hard since he’d entered the room, filled tighter with heat.

She took a deep breath. Her breasts strained the blouse. “Turn around.”

He did.

Her soft touch claimed his lower back, his waist, his shoulder blades, and the curve of his spine. Up to the back of his neck, she skimmed across his knotted shoulders. And then she snugged her arms around his chest and pressed her soft breasts to his back. The pearled nipples rubbed a sensual torture over his shoulder blades. Her femininity teased his taut buttocks.

He sucked in another breath. Oxygen deprivation was the reason for his light-headedness. Not because she claimed him.

Right. Oxygen deprivation.

She unbuckled his belt, unzipped his jeans, and slipped her fingers under the rim of his briefs.

He clenched his teeth on his groan.

She felt like his dream. He wanted her so hard his scales threatened to burst over his skin.

“You’re shimmering.” She pulled one hand from his briefs and stroked the scales jumping under his bicep. “It’s beautiful.”

His heart pierced with another pin.

She made him vulnerable in ways he couldn’t guard against. And instead of protecting himself, he wanted to draw her close and hand her more pins.

Laura pushed on the briefs. The elastic swelled over his enormous, throbbing cock. He eased the fabric lower.

She paused. “Oh. Your boots.”

He did not have time for boots. Flexing, his calves elongated, hardening with scales. Razor claws burst the denim. They shredded his boots and the bottoms of his jeans.

“Oh!” She laughed. “That surprised me.”

“Sorry.”

“No, it was neat.” She stroked his distinctly inhuman form. “I’d like to see more.”

Was she referring to his face again? His arousal flagged. She would not like to see more, no matter what she said. He allowed a few exploratory strokes of the scales and then he flexed back to human skin.

Her breathing changed. Hotter, faster, as her fingers contacted his nude, hard-muscled thigh. “That was so cool.”

Her uneven tone made his cock harden right up.

“You can turn around again.”

He obeyed, stepping free of what remained of his soles and kicking off the shredded jeans.

Her lips parted and her eyes glistened.

He stood before her entirely bared. His half of the mating ritual was complete.

She focused on his arousal.

He swelled for her.

She swallowed and put her fingers to the buttons of her blouse. Then, she hesitated.

Nerves twinged. “What?”

“Is it okay if I undress myself? Or do you have to?”

Have to? “Either way.”

“I thought maybe.” She laughed self-consciously as she began to part the buttons and reveal her satiny bra. “But I didn’t want to do it wrong again.”

He watched her natural, totally unselfconscious strip tease with his arousal thickening and throbbing. “There is only one rule. Honest acceptance of male and female.”

“And light.” She slipped her blouse from her shoulders. “And nakedness.”

Those “rules” only expanded on the original.

She unsnapped her bra, releasing her gorgeous breasts, and let the satin fall to the carpet. Then, she unbuttoned and unzipped her trousers, revealing a slip of satin. Bending over to remove her boots gifted him with a deliciously naughty image to treasure.

She removed the last article, pulled something out of her trousers pocket, then stepped forward and took his lax hand in her empty one.

Her hopeful smile filled his chest with another pin of pain. “We’re both completely naked.”

His throat went dry.

“Turn around,” he said hoarsely.

It wasn’t necessary. He just wanted to see all of her as she had seen all of him.

She did as he asked, her head turning and golden curls fanning over her shoulders as she lost and sought his gaze again.

She was so beautiful. All creamy curves and luxurious softness. Her vee was topped by a thatch of gold just like on her head.

Stopping in front of him again, she stepped into his embrace. The object in one hand crinkled.

His hard cock brushed and then pressed into her silken waist.

She rested her empty palm on his pectorals, gently squeezing. “Now we make love?”

Yes.

He caressed her from shoulders to thighs, filled his palms with her derriere, and squeezed. She moaned and tipped back her head. He claimed her mouth and then her jaw, her cheek, her slender neck, and her delicate collar.

Resting her hand on his shoulder, she arched her back and offered her breasts.

He took her invitation, kneeling down and pulling her to rest on his knee. She was wet, so wet he couldn’t stop his moan.

He took her sweet nipple into his mouth and rolled it with his tongue. Then, he suckled the other.

She rocked on his knee, pleasuring herself as he gave all he had to feed her hunger.

He squeezed her thighs, loving the way she tightened on him, and careful to keep away from the vee she had forbidden.

She captured his hand. “It’s okay … for you … to touch.”

He rested his palm against her mons.

Her belly tightened, and she opened her eyes to meet his, but he didn’t move, and her gaze softened into trust.

She canted her hips and gave him easier access.

He swiped his gentle thumb across her glistening pink. She sighed, opening herself and moving to his rhythm.

More. He wanted more. He wanted all of her.

He wanted to taste.

Rolling backward, he laid on the carpet, knees bent, and she straddled him. Bringing her wet cleft to his mouth, he—

“Wait!” She grabbed his hair, stopping him. Fear shone in her eyes.

He froze.

“I just — I’m not — I’m ready. Without that.” She laughed nervously. “Sorry. Next time.”

He released her, allowing her to sit back on his abdomen.

She feared him.

Fear.

He had frightened her.

Kyan swallowed. He didn’t know what to do. Lying on his back, flinching like he was a dragonlet all over again, he went limp and waited for it to be over.

Her brows drew together. She cupped his face, raining kisses on his lips, his cheeks, his eyelids. “It’s not you. You’re the one I like. My favorite. I’ll get better. You’re beautiful. Sexy. Strong. Controlled. And I love you.”

Her tender words, along with her soft, earnest kisses, tingled in his chest like a healing balm.

She lifted her head. Her worried eyes searched his. “Kyan?”

His arms came up of their own will and crushed her to him. Their lips met in a tangle of hunger and need.

He was her favorite? She was his. The only woman he would ever desire. The only one he would ever need.

She wiggled down his body and cupped his hardening cock, encouraging him with long strokes and hot gasps to return to his full arousal.

He felt stronger. More controlled. Clear-headed, like he was going on a mission.

His mission was her.

She grabbed the crinkly packet she’d dropped at his head and unrolled the plastic barrier across his powerful erection. Then she positioned herself and sank onto his hard, long cock.

Sweet oblivion.

Pleasure soaked her smile and clenched his balls.

He fought for control. Her moans, her shimmies, her scent, and her smile all urged him to spill his seed.

He thrust into her tight, wet core. Timing his thrusts with hers, he watched closely. Her cheeks reddened and her moans increased. She arched her back, bucking against him. And then her channel clenched his cock, and she screamed.

His release poured into her.

She collapsed on his chest, breathing hard. Neither spoke.

He did not dare.

She was the mate he wanted. The female he craved. The only being in this entire universe who flayed open his vulnerabilities. Only she could sew up his wounds or rip out his heart.

He rested a hand on her back.

Such a small, fragile, beautiful back. The gentle curve had been targeted.

Because of him.

His life would always put hers in danger.

When he most wanted to protect her, like tonight, being with him brought her fear.

That was why he must leave her.

Soon.