“And you’re wasting your time.”
Henrik nodded. “I got that. But there are other dragons in the world. Hell, there are other dragons here in Miami. Someone is going to notice her heartstone, and then what?”
“They won’t notice her. She’s human.”
Henrik met his gaze. “And fucking gorgeous.”
Ash snarled, his lip curling. “Don’t look at her.”
“That’s what I thought.”
Ash glanced over at the curvy woman who was answering a police officer’s questions. Her hands were wrapped in gauze, but since she hadn’t been loaded into an ambulance, there must not have been permanent damage. She was gorgeous and strong. He couldn’t believe she’d been trying to help one of the poor souls who were on fire. She could’ve been seriously injured or worse. Anger bubbled inside of him. Why did she put herself in danger? She was fragile. Breakable. Human.
He wanted to storm across the way, haul her over his shoulder, and fly away with her.
But that would only make things worse.
She wasn’t his. He wasn’t going to have a mate.
As soon as Finley finished with the police, Ash steered her away from the crowds again. He didn’t like how exposed she was. Even surrounded by human law enforcement, he didn’t like that she wasn’t safely at home. Naked in his bed.
After a while, Olivia came up. She’d just finished her giving her statement.
“Let’s go home,” Olivia said to Finley.
She nodded, but she glanced over at Ash. Was she waiting for him to say something?
And then he was moving toward her, like a zombie with only eyes for her. He didn’t know what to say to her, but he was never going to see her again after tonight. He was going to say good-bye, even if his dragon, his body, had much dirtier ideas.
She looked up at him expectantly. “Thank you for pulling me out of there.” She held out her arm with the tourmaline wrapped around her wrist. “Do you want this?”
“Your bracelet?” Olivia asked, turning to look up at him with a questioning look.
He wrapped his hand around her wrist. With very little effort, the bauble came off in his hand. Ash heard her small gasp. His gaze flickered to hers and then he looked down at the dainty thing as the glow dimmed and went out completely.
Finley frowned and looked down at her bare wrist.
“I gave that to her,” Olivia barked.
Ash hated the sight of her bare wrist. He didn’t like that she didn’t have anything there. She looked naked, vulnerable. No one would know she belonged to someone.
She didn’t belong to him though. She would never be his, she couldn’t be his, never his.
That meant she was someone else’s.
Ash growled and reached for Finley’s hand. He tugged her gently to him, more gently than he’d expected even from himself, until her body was almost touching his and slipped the bracelet back over her hand until the stones were once again wrapped around her wrist.
“Keep it,” he growled.
Henrik approached the three of them, sliding his phone into his front jeans pocket. “I called us a car. It’ll be here in a few. We’ll give you ladies a ride home.”
“That isn’t necessary,” Olivia said. “I can call my own car service.”
“I have no doubt you can, but it’s already done.” Henrik lifted a brow in a challenge.
Olivia relinquished. “Fine. I appreciate it, thank you.”
Henrik grinned. “Any time. It’s my pleasure.”