Page 22 of Dragon Detective

“Why?”

I ran my thumb beneath the taut waistband of the sweatpants I couldn’t wait to get rid of, and she spun fast.

“You could warn a woman, you know,” she muttered.

“I asked.” I peeled the torn clothing off and tossed it toward the trash. After grabbing a light throw off the back of the sofa, I wrapped it around my waist, securing it in a knot at my hip.

“You can look now,” I said with a laugh.

She pivoted slowly; her eyes half closed. “You’re wearing my favorite sofa throw.”

I went for the knot. “Want it back now or in the morning?”

Her breathing came in little bursts. “The morning will be fine.” She couldn’t drag her gaze off my chest, and as much as I’d hated wearing her ex’s clothing, I adored having her check outmy body. All those workouts paid off in my line of duty, but I appreciated this side effect just as much.

“Thought so,” I said. “It’s safer to fly with a dragon than in a plane. Or stand on a five-foot ladder, for that matter.”

Her head tilted. “Are there actually dragon crash accident stats?”

“No dragon has ever crashed or hurt a passenger.” I didn’t point out that I might be the first dragon to give a human a ride. But she was my fated mate. This wouldn’t be the last time she’d ride with me.

But I could tell she was scared, and I didn’t want to force this. “We could walk.”

“How far is it?”

“A few miles.”

“We could take my car.” Her gaze sought the window. “It’s dark.”

“While a vampire has recently moved to town, he assures us he only drinks donated blood.”

Her breath caught. “There’s a vampire in town?”

“A new hire at Monsters, PI. He’s a decent guy.”

“How old is he?”

“Why does that matter?”

She came over to stand beside me. “I’m curious,” she gushed. “Vampires are incredibly sexy. I assume it comes with the territory since they’re all old. Daddy kink and all that.”

Irritation coiled through me. “Why do you think they’re all old?”

“The young ones get killed easily. He has to be old, or he’d be dead by now.”

“You do know that’s a cliché? He looks about my age.”

“Then he was turned when he was about your age.”

“He’s a born vampire.”

“I didn’t know they could have babies.”

“There are lots of misconceptions about monsters in general, not only vampires.”

“Will you introduce me to him?”

I didn’t like the excited gleam in her eyes. “Why?”

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