Page 68 of Captured By the Scaled Outlaw

Turning on her heel, she walks hand-in-hand with Guy, who remains sheepish in Lowell’s presence. Although he towers over Ginny, he presses himself into her like a helpless animal.

I make eye-contact with Ginny, her glare easing into a forced smile. The moment her back is turned to Lowell, she drops her voice to a whisper. Her mouth holds stiff so that no one will see her lips move, her jaw locked in place. “Hurt him and you’ll never see light again.”

I say nothing, her threatening aura enough to keep my words in my throat.

For some reason, I know what type of hurt she means, as if she understands the situation better than I do. There is not a person in this room who could win against Lowell, even in his condition.

Ginny bustles past me, knocking my shoulder as a warning.

The door closes behind me and I stare at my feet, my heart feeling heavy. “You need medical attention, Lowell. I don’t have anything else to say to you.”

Shifting his weight from arm to arm, he stays in an awkward sitting position. “I don’t like how we left things.”

I sigh. “Does it matter? In a few hours, we’ll never see each other again.”

A loud silence drifts between us, but I dare to look up.

Lowell’s gaze melts my heart. His eyes are soft and loving, devoid of the anger or rage I have seen from him this entire trip — or even themoments before with Ginny.

You’re too soft on her, Lowell.The words replay in my head, the connotation clear.

Butterflies in my stomach flutter.

I keep still, my fingers flexing against my bicep. Now is not the time for these feelings, even if they are difficult to ignore.

“Come closer,” he beckons.

Despite my better judgment, I tentatively step forward, unable to read his intentions.

“I’m not joining you,” I say while rolling my eyes, keeping him at arm’s length. “You can keep asking, but I’ll keep saying no.”

Lowell seizes my arm, jerking me to his chest. He descends his head to my ear, his snout blowing steamy breaths. His soft scales against my skin draw a sigh from my lips.

I’m embarrassed by how easily I give in to him, but maybe I’m soft on him, too.

“The only thing I love more than your eyes is watching them roll.” His slick tongues swipes across my lips.

A blush spreads across my face, his saliva hot and sticky. I moan softly when his tongues poke past my lips into my mouth, quickly retracting when they bump my tongue.

Placing my palms on his chest, I push him away, my knees weakened. “Enough. What did you want to talk to me about?”

His claws stroke my arm, his eyes the color of a rich pool of honey. I’ve seen this look from him before, and it sends a bolt of electricity down to my core.

“I never had any intention of talking,” he smirks.

I swallow, my pulse thundering in my chest. His skin on mine feels like molten lava, the waves of cold air from the vents brushing against my skin and hissing upon contact.

“Lowell… we shouldn’t—”

“Let me be selfish, yeah?” Lowell whispers, pulling me towards him again.

I hate how good his embrace feels.

“You’re always selfish,” I quip.

“I always make sure you finish, don’t I? Yet you cruelly call me selfish.”

I gasp, unable to stop a self-conscious giggle. “You’re a lunatic.”