Page 25

TWENTY-FIVE

When they finally touched down on the ground, Eden was too lightheaded to see straight. Maybe the champagne had finally gone to her head – that, and the crazy flight from the top of the tower to wherever this was. Blaze's arms closed around her, carrying her inside out of the cold, and a door clicked shut behind them.

Her bare feet landed on the carpet of an upmarket motel room, all shades of grey and white that no one in reality ever would have chosen for themselves, because it was impossible to keep clean.

Her vision cleared, to find Blaze standing in front of her, gripping her arms.

"Are you okay?" he asked huskily.

She looked him up and down. A minute ago, he'd been a dragon, hot and massive and scaly between her thighs as they flew through the air, the wind whipping her hair. Now...

"You're naked!" It came out as a squeak. She instantly felt like a fool. "I'm sorry, it's just–"

She shook her head. God, this was so embarrassing. She was with the hottest – no pun intended – guy she'd ever met, who'd saved her from a sexual predator and an impossible situation. She should be thanking him, and more besides, when all she could do was stare at his...well, everything really.

One thing she did know for certain, though. Dragon or not, Blaze had saved her, and she was pretty sure that warranted another kiss.

"Can I kiss you again? I promise not to bite you this time," she said.

He laughed. "Eden, you can bite me all you want. The only problem is that the more you do, the more I'll want to bite you back. So you'd better be ready for that."

Eden wasn't sure if she was terrified or turned on. Maybe a bit of both, which made absolutely no sense.

She let out a nervous giggle. "I'm not sure what I'm ready for. This is all new to me."

He nodded slowly. "We can take things at your pace. I'd never push you to do anything you're not comfortable with."

Oh god, she was going to have to tell him. "That's the thing, I don't know what I'm comfortable with. I've never properly been with a man."

"Would you like to be with a man?" Blaze asked. He ducked his head. "Because if you allow me to, I'll worship you so thoroughly, you'll remember this night forever."

So sweet. Not the sort of thing you expected from a dragon, or any man, really. She'd only known him a few hours, but her heart was already melting. Possibly along with her underwear.

"Gods, yes." Eden took a deep breath and raised her eyes to his face. "That sounds wonderful, Blaze. If you really want..."

He grinned. "Oh I want you, Eden. And if you've never been with a man before, I need to make it special. You're beautiful, and deserve to be treated like a goddess."

Eden's cheeks grew hot. No one had ever called her beautiful before – she'd seen her own reflection, so she knew why. Even in the foster homes, there'd been guys who saw girls as little more than fresh meat, their own private property, with the kind of predatory expression Eden knew could only be wiped away with a well-placed punch or kick that told them she wasn't prey.

But the way Blaze was looking at Eden now – with longing and awe – ignited a fire within her that she didn't want to go out. Not ever.

"Let me pleasure you," Blaze said, reaching out to cup her face. He kissed her softly. "Let me worship you, and we'll take things as slow as you want."