Kelan held his breath. In the close proximity of the car, he could smell the scent that belonged exclusively to Michelle. The odor of cleaning chemicals and sweat from hard work couldn't cover the sweet, womanly smell of Michelle. It caused a hunger in him that he couldn't fill. He should be ashamed for thinking along those lines. The poor woman had been through torture, a beating, and the shock of discovering her boss was a weredragon. Yet, here he was wanting more from her. Her lover was in jail, and Kelan couldn't think of anything better than to take his place in her bed. What had come over him? Michelle wasn't the type to fall in and out of love on a whim. Nor was she the love them and leave them kind. A relationship was a long-term thing for her, maybe even a forever commitment. Kelan was leaving soon, not just to a far-off city, but to another planet. Getting involved with her would be a mistake. It would bring pain and loss to them both. His hands itched to touch her anyway. So, Kelan held his breath and drove faster.

Michelle sat silently in the passenger seat. Once in a while, she would squirm as if she was uncomfortable. It wasn't the car seat. They were the most luxurious available. He hesitantly broke the silence. "Did we overdo it? Are you hurting?"

Michelle jumped at the sound of his voice. "No, I'm fine. A couple of aspirin and a hot shower and everything will be great. It felt good to get rid of the past."

Kelan pulled into the parking garage, and they stepped out, allowing the automated system to return the car to its proper space. He steered Michelle away from the regular elevator to a mysterious door beside it. He opened it with a code. Inside was a brightly lit hallway with a private set of elevators. He pointed and said, "The one on the left goes directly to my office. This one, on the right, goes exclusively to the penthouse. I call it my escape hatch."

"I didn't know the building had secret passageways. It's like a spy movie or something,” she replied.

Kelan laughed, "You have no idea how many secrets this building is hiding. I might show you someday. But, you've had enough shocks for today, yesterday, and even last week."

Michelle joined in his laughter. "You can add last month and last year to that list. Take me home. I want a shower."

Kelan did exactly that. He showed her to the guest bath where huge, sweet-smelling, soft towels hung on warming racks and bottles of the creamiest shower gels and expensive shampoos were ready for her use. "There's a bathrobe on the back of the door or I can bring you one of my shirts to wear. It will come down almost to your knees, like a gown."

"The robe will do for now. I'll take the shirt to sleep in, if you don't mind."

Kelan nodded and backed out, closing the door behind him. He went to his room and retrieved a soft t-shirt from the drawer and put it on the bathroom doorknob. Then he headed for the master bath and his own shower. He made it a cold one to diminish the heat in his loins that had absolutely nothing to do with being a weredragon.

Kelan was in the kitchen, scrambling eggs and making toast when Michelle came out dressed in the too large robe. She had tied the belt as tightly as possible to keep it from falling off, but the shoulder kept sliding down, exposing her creamy skin. Kelan's hands stilled over the stove. So much for the cold shower.

"You can cook?” Michelle inquired.

Kelan cleared his throat and replied, "A little. Scrambled eggs or grilled cheese sandwiches are my specialties unless you prefer something burned. I don't know about you, but I worked up an appetite. There's fruit in the refrigerator if you will get it, please."

Michelle obliged. As she bent over to slide out the bowl of fruit, the robe gaped open at her chest. Kelan was given a clear sightline from her neck to her pierced bellybutton. The spatula in his hand dropped to the floor scattering bits of eggs on the tile. Michelle stood up and turned to see what the commotion was all about. Kelan whipped his head around and pretended to check on the toast. However, he couldn't hide the blush on his cheeks. "Let me finish those,” Michelle pointed to the eggs. "You look overheated. Get a cold drink, and I'll have this on the table in less than a minute." She picked up the spatula and washed it off in the sink. Kelan raced to the refrigerator, grabbed a cold bottle of water, and rubbed it on his red cheeks. He was acting like a teenager, for goodness sake. He needed to get it together and control his raging hormones.

Michelle placed two plates on the table filled with fluffy eggs and buttered toast. Not a word was said as they both dug in. Clearing the house had been hard work, and the intense attraction bouncing between them added a whole new level to their hunger. In three minutes flat, the plates were empty. Kelan jumped up and declared, "I'll wash them. Why don't you find something on television or turn on music? There are books on the shelves or magazines if you prefer." He realized he was rambling and quickly shut his mouth. She must think he had lost his mind. Kelan had never shown her any side of himself, except the always unruffled, put together businessman. This Kelan was a foreign entity, even to himself.

Soft music emanated from the living area. Kelan expected to find Michelle quietly sitting on the sofa reading a book or magazine. Instead, she was perched on a barstool. The bottom half of the robe was open enough to let one bare leg show from her toes to her hip. Both shoulders were uncovered, the robe sagging on her upper arms. She didn't try to cover herself or make excuses for her appearance. The sultry look in her eyes said it all. She felt the connection between them too. Kelan opened his mouth to protest, to cite all the reasons he had given himself in the car, but she reached out a hand for him. That was his undoing. With halting steps, he walked toward her. He wanted to give her a chance to change her mind. She didn't.

Michelle spread her legs, so he could stand in between them. Kelan's hands stroked her swollen face. His head lowered and he kissed each bruised eyelid, then her cheeks, and finally her lips. His hands moved down to glide over the purple and black marks on her neck, easing the pain. Michelle's lips parted and Kelan's tongue dove inside her warm mouth, meeting her own probing tongue. Moans escaped them.

Michelle was surprised to taste smoke on Kelan's tongue. She had never seen him with a cigarette, and it didn't taste quite the same. It struck her like an atom bomb. He was a dragon. He breathed fire. She was tasting the very essence of the man, and it was an instant turn on. Her body heated all the way to the core. She was wet from just a kiss.

Kelan's hands continued to roam. One slid beneath the robe and cupped her plump breast. His thumb gently rubbed across her nipple as his kiss went deeper. He took a step closer, allowing his hardness to bump into her soft core. The robe and his sweats separated them, but the heat could be felt. He placed his free hand on her firm, toned thigh. Inch by inch it rose higher until it was a hair's breadth from her center. She squirmed, trying to force him to touch her where she ached. He denied her that pleasure and backed up a tiny bit. He bent down and took her pointed nipple into his warm mouth, sucking and licking.

Michelle's need was off the charts. She had to touch him or die. Her palms slid under his t-shirt, over his abs and upward. His chest was sculpted with muscles and as slick as marble. His nipples were hard and distended. Her nail scraped across one causing Kelan to groan and encourage her exploration. Growing bolder, she shoved at his head, raising it from her breast. She tugged the shirt up and over, exposing his torso. Her eyes staring upward into his, she flicked her tongue over the exposed nipple and grazed it with her teeth. Kelan's eyes widened and darkened, becoming almost feral. He ripped open the robe, letting it fall around Michelle. Her hourglass curves and soft, creamy skin were bared to his gaze. The dark patch of hair at the apex of her thighs matched the loose curls that hung to her waist. Their dampness sparkled in the lamplight.

Kelan's thumb stroked the exposed nub. Michelle's legs widened in invitation. His thumb slid through the wet curls and into the heat. She was hot and slick, ready for action. He replaced the thumb with his middle finger. The stool banged on the floor as she bucked against his hand. Kelan sank to his knees, blew hot air over her core, then added his burning tongue to the mix. Michelle exploded into worlds outside her body. She screamed and writhed in ecstasy. The climax seemed never-ending. By the time she came down to Earth, Kelan had torn away his sweatpants and released his engorged member. It stood at attention, pulsing and eager. Michelle licked her lips in anticipation and said, "Yes, please."

Kelan didn't require a second invitation. He rammed his hardness deep into her softness. Her body welcomed him home. He was enfolded in sweet, hot, silky flesh. Michelle wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, making their sweaty bodies meld as one. Kelan placed his hands on her hips, keeping her steady while he began to move. She pleaded with him to move faster and deeper. He obeyed. Their heartbeats sped up, and they were soon panting for air. The stars aligned perfectly and they went over the edge together. Kelan felt a completeness he had never imagined possible as he filled Michelle with his seed.

Michelle was still curled against his chest and joined to him when he lifted her, stumbling toward the bedroom. Never leaving her body, he placed her on the bed and started moving once more. The tension was building all over again. The impossibility of it was shattered by the emotions and hunger coming from the pair. Their hands entwined above Michelle's head. Their eyes remained open, staring into the deepest parts of each other's minds. They watched as their pupils dilated and Kelan's transformed into a shape not quite human. His movements were slower and more deliberate this time. He took her higher and higher. The room spun, lights circled their bodies, and Kelan lost his control. He shoved his hardness to the hilt and roared in victory as he filled her once more. Michelle followed his lead, oblivious to the green tint of his skin.

Kelan was horrified. He had come very close to breaking his promise and transforming into a dragon. The depths of their passion had brought him to the brink. It hadn't ever been an issue with any other female. It was both frightening and exhilarating. Thankfully, Michelle had closed her eyes and fallen into a gentle slumber. He extricated himself and went to stand under another cold shower. Where had those deep emotions come from? Michelle completed him in a way that he didn't understand. This had been a mistake, just as he knew it would be. She was human. He was a weredragon. She lived on Earth. He was leaving for Talonia very soon. He couldn't stay, and she couldn't go. How foolish it was to start this relationship. She deserved better. She needed a man who could stand by her, love her, and cheer her on as she finally became the strong woman she was meant to be. He wasn't that man. Not that he wouldn't like to try. It would be heaven to watch her grow and learn how wonderful she really was. But, he wasn't human, as his body had reminded him moments ago. As much as he would like to stay, he couldn't betray his planet. He had a duty to his species that held him in check. Pain tore through his chest as his heart protested against leaving Michelle. He pounded on the shower walls with his fists until the tiles cracked. It wasn't fair. Michelle had reached his soul, and he would have to rend it in two, never to be whole again. He sat down under the freezing water and let his tears fall.

Unknowing how much time had passed, Kelan climbed to a standing position on shaky legs. He dried his shriveled skin and slowly made his way to the bedroom. Michelle lay on the bed, curled into a ball. She was cold. He laid down beside her and pulled a blanket over them. Drawing her close, he kissed the top of her head. His heart was aching. He had made a difficult decision. The time he had left on Earth would be spent loving Michelle. He would spend every possible moment making love to her and teaching her how she was supposed to be treated. It would make the pain of leaving her far worse but give them both memories to cherish once they parted. She would find another to love her. He would not. No one could reach a severed soul.

Michelle must have been dreaming. She turned over and kissed his chest, right over his heart. She mumbled his name, and her hand wandered to his muscular backside. She squeezed it and tugged him closer. His loins responded. Half awake, she felt his hard member pushing at her stomach. She raised her leg up and over his, opening herself for their joining. Kelan carefully entered her, afraid she would be sore from their previous activity. She moaned and plastered her chest to his. No two people could get closer than they were at this moment. She sighed contentedly and went back to sleep. Kelan held her, unmoving and joined with him, until the sun was high in the sky on a new day. He never slept, just stared at her for all those hours, imprinting her on his brain.

Kelan rose from the warm cocoon of the bed, dressed for the day, and wandered into the living room. It was his intention to begin the process of settling his company to continue thriving without him. There were phone calls to make and papers to have drawn up by lawyers. He would leave Rankin World Defense in the competent hands of his manager and Michelle. His ownership would be transferred to her. She would be able to do anything she wished without the interference of another abusive male.