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Three days later Was it possible to crawl out of your skin from sexual frustration? Mia was almost certain it was. She’d been at the most beautiful, secluded artist’s retreat for three days and Tiber hadn’t kissed her once.

Had barely touched her at all. It was almost as if he was ignoring her.

And maybe that made her a contrarian but she only wanted him more.

“Whatever you’re sketching, I love the ragey vibe,” Aki said as she approached Mia.

She’d set up in the large studio the painters of the group tended to use. There was also a studio for sculptors and then a much larger one for what she would have called mixed media back home.

The artist’s retreat was like nothing she’d ever been to before.

On the top of a small mountain (small being relative, but compared to the beasts surrounding it, it was), an enclave of stone and wood homes in random shapes created a makeshift circle, with the various studios in the middle of everything.

And all the little homes had tons of glass for natural light and inviting porches encouraging the artists to interact with each other.

They also had indoor plumbing, something she was grateful for.

She’d been on retreats before in mountainous or desert areas and they’d all stayed in tents and basically roughed it.

Mia could admit that she liked her creature comforts and modern conveniences.

She looked up from her canvas, where she’d started sketching the scary beast from days ago and gave Aki a wry smile. “I’m not sure what I want to work on and I think it’s making me a little manic.”

“Go relax then. Or hike, or check out the springs or… anything. You’re here to reconnect with nature. You don’t have to work if you don’t want.”

“I feel like I should say something cheesy like painting isn’t work.” It was, technically. Because her paintings took time and effort, but they also fed her soul.

“It’s work that fills us up,” she said, mirroring Mia’s own thoughts.

Aki, an avian shifter of some kind, grinned.

Her midnight dark hair was pulled up into a long braid and she wore a cream-colored sweater with loose wool pants.

Her feet were bundled into thick boots, and her scarf was wrapped around her neck three times, telling Mia that she wasn’t as warm-blooded as dragon shifters at all.

They’d met months ago at Xenia’s gallery right as Aki was about to leave on her journey here, and she simply adored the other woman.

“I saw that big dragon of yours heading for the springs. Maybe you can catch him.”

She didn’t correct Aki to tell her that Tiber wasn’t hers. Because she didn’t want anyone else coming on to him while they were here. “The springs, really?”

Tiber had been working nonstop since they’d arrived; fixing one of the kilns, then securing two of the homes built off the side of the mountain to make sure they would remain secure, and about fifty other small jobs that had piled up.

He’d been working from before she woke up, until after sunset.

He’d joined her and the others for tea and breakfast this morning, but then he’d disappeared when she hadn’t been looking.

He’d barely said a word to anyone except to ask for what needed fixing.

“I’m just as surprised as you that he took a break,” Aki said with a laugh. She glanced around, then lowered her voice to a whisper. “No one else will be there if you two want some alone time.”

Only one way to find out if he actually wanted alone time with her. She couldn’t ask for a better opportunity. “Maybe I will join him.”

She set her pencil down on the ledge of her easel and pushed back in her seat. She’d been mindlessly drawing anyway, just trying to get inspired for her next work, when she wanted nothing more than to get naked with Tiber.

If he regretted their kiss, then fine, he could at least tell her, not ignore her. As she made her way to her cabin, she waved at Ilmari who was posing for one of the other artists, one wing up in a silly pose. He gave her a little wave and chirped happily before going back to his “serious face.”

At least one of them was having a good time here.

In her cabin she stripped off her clothes, then slipped on her thick robe and slippers, twisted her hair up into a bun and headed out.

It was cold up here, but not icily so. The way this place had been carved out somehow avoided whipping winds.

Not to mention the hot springs added to the luxury of it.

There was one hot round-ish spring half the size of an Olympic pool, then fifteen more below it that were basically stacked on top of each other along one of the mountainsides.

Each small pool was cerulean blue with white puffs of steam rolling off them.

Someone had built a railing at the very bottom of the final three pools, likely for any non-shifters and she was grateful for the extra security.

She followed the magically lit stone steps past the last house, anticipation building in her as she made her way to the springs and hopefully Tiber.

But disappointment punched into her when she reached the big pool and didn’t see him anywhere.

As she set her towel down, however, she heard the faintest rustle and out of the corner of her eye saw him shimmying down from one of the higher rock faces.

He was in human form but she had no idea what he might be doing.

Even so, she decided to take the opportunity to lure him into one of the pools.

Or that was the plan.

She’d never been a seductress, but she was tired of whatever was going on between them. If he made a move now, she’d know. And if not, then she’d also know—and drown herself in sweet treats later.

Feeling bolder than she ever had, she dropped her robe onto one of the lounge chairs and strode naked to the big pool. Her nipples tightened under the cooler air, but more than that, she could feel Tiber’s hot stare on her.

Maybe it was wishful thinking, but she swore he tracked her every step as she approached the bigger pool, slipped off her sandals and then slid into blessed heat.

She sighed as the warmth enveloped her even as she hoped he would follow her. She swam to the far edge and looked below at the rest of the pools, all stacked on top of each other in a little waterfall of color. Whoever had designed the pools was brilliant.

“Mia.” The deep timbre of Tiber’s voice made her turn and she realized he was only a few feet away from her.

“Finally taking a break?” Her words came out far more tartly than she’d intended, but come on, she’d been aching for him ever since that kiss.

He blinked in clear surprise, then his amber-gold eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “Are you upset with me?”

“Just wondering why you’ve been ignoring me for three days.”

He blinked again, somehow still surprised. Seriously, how was this a surprise to him?

“Look, I get it if you regret our kiss, but—”

He moved faster than she could track, pinning her up against the edge of the pool and oh… oooh, he was rock hard, his erection insistently pressing against her abdomen.

She sucked in a breath at the feel of his reaction, glad she wasn’t the only one feeling this chemistry, this connection.

“I could never regret kissing you.” His voice was a deep rumble as he leaned down, buried his face in her neck and inhaled.

Warmth flooded between her legs at the way he was breathing her in while barely touching her—his erection notwithstanding because sweet honeysuckle, he was thick. But everything about this was intimate and real.

Feeling out of her depth, she slid her fingers up over his chest and savored the way he shuddered under her touch. “Why have you been ignoring me?” she whispered.

Raising his head, he looked down at her, all heat and hunger. “I’ve been trying to give you space,” he practically gritted out.

“Space?” When had she asked for that?

“I didn’t want you to feel crowded or pressured.” Again, he seemed to be trying to force the words out, as if he was holding onto his control.

“I didn’t ask for space.” And please, he could crowd up against her anytime he wanted. Her nipples beaded even tighter at the feel of all this skin to skin, at the way he was pinning her in place as if he was afraid she’d bolt.

“I… am aware of the physical differences between us. I’m trying to…”

She wasn’t sure what he wanted to say but could guess.

“You’re worried that I’ll freak out if we have sex and then expect more?

” she murmured, sliding her hand down lower, lower, until she skated her fingers over the head of his thick length.

They could enjoy each other without getting hung up on the future or commitment.

Maybe he was worried she’d be all clingy?

He shuddered, his amber-gold eyes starting to glow.

“I promise I’m okay with just having fun with you.

No promises or expectations. Just fun.” Okay, she was lying a little because she wanted more than that, but it was clear that he was worried about her.

Probably because she was human. But she wanted him and it was clear that he wanted her.

There was no reason they couldn’t enjoy some pleasure for a while.

He growled low in his throat as he crushed his mouth to hers. But instead of pinning her against the hard wall, he wrapped his arm around her to block her back from scraping against the stone.

She didn’t even have to think about it, she wanted to touch him everywhere. Instead of just teasing him, she wrapped her fingers around his thick length and started to stroke, but he pulled back, breathing hard before she could get into it.

“Not yet.” Another growl, this one more pained as he took her hand, and slid it up to his shoulder. “No touching… yet.” His eyes were still glowing and she wanted to ask him about it.