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Tiber stripped off his tunic, neatly folded it and placed it on a stone bench. There was plenty of seating in between the artists’ residences and he’d found a perfect spot to shift and still be close to Mia’s house.

He heard her before she spoke, but he stilled, waiting as she moved in behind him. He’d scared her before even though he’d made plenty of noise when he’d come up behind her in that alleyway. It was clear he’d have to be careful not to startle her.

“Tiber?”

He turned, saw that she was still in her dress and she looked nervous. Unlike the fear from before, this was a different scent. Tart and wild. Frustration and nerves, he thought. “Yes?”

Her mouth did a sort of pouty thing and he wanted to get on his knees and worship her, but he remained still as she clearly battled with something.

Finally, she cleared her throat. “This is sort of annoying, but Jonothon isn’t here, and everyone is still at the auction…

And I can’t get the ties free.” She pointed behind herself, then turned around, giving him her smooth, creamy back.

The dress dipped low, exposing an expanse of pale skin he wanted to caress and kiss. And there were indeed thin, fine straps tied across her back in a couple places.

“I think he knotted them, but I can’t tell.”

“He?”

“Oh. Jonothon. He helped me secure it earlier.”

Tiber only realized he was growling when she turned her head to look at him. “Is something wrong?”

So many things. But he simply shook his head. “I can untie the straps. It’ll just take a minute.”

Nodding, she turned back around and he had to take a minute before he started working on the top strap. Otherwise, he would tear them right off.

Mate , his dragon purred.

You are mistaken.

No, you are stupid.

I’m not having this conversation again. A delicate human is not our mate. When would his dragon ever listen?

Wrong. Mate. And she smells good. It’s too bad she doesn’t shift because I could easily woo her. Unfortunately, she’s stuck with you. Which means we’ll never be mated and will be alone forever. I’m going to die alone, pining for a mate right in front of us.

“Oh sweet goddess, shut up!”

Mia whipped around and he almost ripped the tiny strap. “Excuse me?”

“I… wasn’t talking to you.”

She blinked, then frowned. “Oookay. Who were you talking to?”

“My dragon.”

Her eyes grew even wider, but she simply turned around.

Now you’ve done it. I take back what I said. I can probably convince her so just shift and—

Shut. Your. Mouth.

His dragon grumbled but at least went blessedly silent.

Tiber skated his fingers against Mia’s back as he worked on the silky material. Did he take longer than necessary simply so he could bask in her orange blossom scent? Absolutely. Did he enjoy feeling her soft skin against his fingertips? Goddess above, he would give up his hoard to touch her again.

When he was finished, he cleared his throat. “I’m done.”

“Thank you.” She didn’t turn around as she hurried back to the house, and he figured he’d blown things even more with her.

If that was even possible.

Sighing, he finished stripping and shifted, the ancient magic coursing through him soothing as his beast finally took over.

Then he scooted closer to Mia’s house.

If anyone thought to bother her, he would simply eat them for a snack.

***

Mia stayed in the shadows of her house behind one of the curtains, but was pretty sure that the giant, gorgeous beast outside could see her anyway.

Probably because Neptune was sitting on the windowsill shamelessly watching him. Not that she could blame her baby.

Tiber’s dragon was gorgeous.

There was no other word for him.

Or maybe there were a lot of words for him, but gorgeous, stunning… oh god, she wanted to paint him as he was. Something she could never, ever tell him.

The gold-amber of his scales shimmered under the moonlight in a truly magical sight. A full silvery moon hung in the sky and each time clouds drifted in front of it, it was like he retreated into the shadows, his scales becoming almost impossible to see.

She wanted to step back out into the cold to see if her eyes were playing tricks on her, but she was too nervous. Her understanding of dragon shifters was more than most humans, but there was still so much she needed to learn.

Because, apparently, Tiber talked to his dragon half? Out loud, it seemed.

And she knew how he felt about humans and figured that his dragon half would view her as a snack.

So she was going to stay inside… and simply watch the big animal slumber. Both her and Neptune.

His eyes finally drifted closed, but she was under the impression it wouldn’t matter. That he would hear or scent any intruders.

That knowledge gave her the ability to finally slide into bed and close her eyes—Neptune didn’t follow her. She didn’t put thoughts of her ex completely out of her mind, but deep down, she knew Tiber wouldn’t let anyone get inside her house.

Not even a charming vampire who was used to getting his way.

He might not like humans, but right now, Tiber had given her peace of mind. And that mattered.