Outside the stained-glass windows, the dark night sky flashed with brilliance as lightning stabbed across overhead, sheets of it flickering and rolling past. Seconds later, thunder rumbled violently, the sound masking my growl as I waited for my answer.

The bartender glanced at me, following my unwavering gaze.

“What she is,” he said, returning to his drink pouring duties, hands moving in practiced motion, “is off limits.”

I arched an eyebrow. “Your mate?”

“What?” The bartender looked up, confusion at my words scrunching up his face. “No, she’s not mine. But every guy who’s gone over there has been shut down. Hard. I wouldn’t waste your time. Even as fancy looking as you are.”

“Hrngh.” It was a wordless response, relaying both my disagreement with his thoughts about the woman and acknowledging his remarks about my outfit.

There was no doubt I was overdressed. The custom-fit suit was more tailored for the cocktail bars and clubs of the entertainment district. Which was where I was supposed to be.

But I couldn’t leave. Not now. Not with her there.

The woman looked up at that moment. I watched as her gaze swept across the bar. Like she was waiting for something. Or someone, perhaps?

Her eyes landed on me, and I stared right back, my dragon breathing fire through my veins. She was gorgeous. I should look away, avoid being rude, but I didn’t. I couldn’t. She had the attention of my entire being, and at that moment, I wanted nothing more than her.

All of her. Every inch of her sun-darkened skin. I wanted to breathe the fire of my breath over her body as I kissed my way across it, listening to the tiny gasps I knew that perfect shaped mouth would produce. My hands twitched, eager to run up her sides, squeeze her waist, pull her close.

Her face widened, and I knew I had gone too far, let too much show. My dragon was pushing through. It had to be showing.

“This ought to be good,” the bartender muttered under his breath as I pushed off from the bar and walked around it, heading for the far corner.

I almost stopped long enough to snarl at him while my eyes flashed with flame, but nothing would distract me. Not now.

“Hi,” I said as I walked up to her table, every step of my approach watched by her eagle-eyed stare.

“You’re wasting your time.” When she spoke, her voice was even and relaxed, without any of the sharp, acidic terseness I might have expected from someone who didn’t want to be bothered.

It was also the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard. Soft and smooth like silk and honey, her words flowing in a symphony of sound. My dragon dug its claws in deeper, trying to control me, push me into her orbit.

“How do you know?” I responded calmly.

“Because I’m not interested in talking. And you didn’t even bring a drink over for me,” she pointed out, returning her attention to her drink. “Every other guy has.”

I snorted. “And every other guy has walked away, it seems.”

“As you will, too. As I said, you’re wasting your time.”

“Unless that was part of my plan all along,” I pointed out.

She looked up sharply. “You came over here to waste your time?”

I shrugged, watching her eyes drop to my shoulders as they pulled the suit tight with their movement. “Isn’t that what we’re all doing here? Passing the time in one way or another because we don’t want to deal with whatever is waiting for us out there?”

Her face narrowed in suspicion. “How do you know what’s waiting for me?”

“I don’t,” I acknowledged. “But I’m also in here. Drinking. Alone. Doesn’t take a genius to figure out something is bothering you.”

She leaned back, crossing her arms over her stomach. I kept my eyes on her face as she did, not wanting to stare. But that didn’t stop my cock from twitching as her movement pressed her breasts together and up slightly. Not enough that I thought she was doing it on purpose. But enough for my dragon to notice and appreciate the swelling underneath her shirt.

It rumbled hungrily at the sight, too beastly to realize it wasn’t an invitation.

“So, if you’ve got me all figured out, then why did you come over here?” she asked.

I held back a smile at the tinge of curiosity in her tone.