Page 25 of Dragon Exposed

“Back to New York. We needed supplies, if we’re going to stay here a while, and I had to see if I could find out why someone would want to expose dragon shifters.” He set my plate down again and ran his hand through his long hair, tousling it up some. “I couldn’t find any prescriptions or anything in your apartment to indicate that you might need any specific foods or medications, but if you need something, just tell me and I’ll make sure we have it.”

The way he kept saying “we”, like we were just so obviously a couple, or connected as more than kidnapper and kidnapped, sent a shiver tickling its way down my spine, but this time it wasn’t one of fear.

Whatever else Levi was, I felt in my gut that he was sincere, that he legitimately didn’t want to hurt me, even if he was more than capable of it.

“I need my computer, my cell phone. If I’m going to be away from work, I need to be able to do things remotely.”

His eyes flicked over to mine, as if he were trying to decide just how serious I was about it. “The news, every station and every channel, has deemed you as a missing person, a victim. If you go back to work like nothing happened, there will be questions. Questions that neither of us have the answers to right now. I get that you don’t want to lose your job, but I’m asking you to take some time. Let me figure out who’s responsible for this, and what they want from me, from my kind, before you jump back into your job.”

“If I don’t log in, if I don’t do the work, Hal will find someone else to do it, and I’ll be out of a job. Hell, he might’ve already written me off, and I’ve only been gone a day.” I shook my head at Levi. “Please, you have to let me reach out to them. At least put in for vacation time.”

“If that’s how your boss treats you when there’s footage of you being carried off by a dragon, filmed by your own camera crew, then you don’t want to be working that job, Izobelle. If you want to work, we’ll find you something better, somewhere that you’ll be treated with the respect and power you deserve.”

I rolled my eyes, knowing we were at a stalemate.

It wasn’t even that I wanted to work, necessarily. Hal and his misogynistic attitude toward me, toward every woman on the staff, could fuck right off. But there would be people who would miss me. People who would worry.

“You don’t want me to tell anyone that you didn’t actually kidnap me and turn me into a late-night snack?” My brow furrowed and I picked up my coffee mug, carrying it across the kitchen to refill. “Are you sure you’re not the one who wanted dragons exposed? Maybe this was your plan all along.”

He moved so quickly, I gasped as I felt his body press against mine, pinning me against the counter. “I won’t deny the fact that I like having you here, all to myself, and I won’t deny that I’ve imagined what you’d look like, all spread out on my sheets, wet and ready to take my cock deep.” His fingers skimmed over my arm, and even though the sweatshirt was thick enough I couldn’t actually feel his skin touching mine, it still was enough to make my knees tremble slightly.

Levi was bigger, faster, stronger, than any man who had ever looked in my direction. Even Viktor, who was definitely a threat I didn’t want to ever face down again unarmed, hadn’t been interested in me. I wasn’t the reason he was there. I was, at best, collateral damage.

Something in my mind told me I should be scared of him, should be concerned with what he could do to me. But that voice was so much softer, so much quieter, than the need I had to feel his lips again, to feel his touch.

“I never would’ve done any of it this way, though. I had every intention of courting you, of wooing you, of making you fall for me, before I revealed everything about who I am. I want you, Izobelle Denison, and there’s no doubt in my mind that you’re my mate, but I never intended to kidnap you. I won’t force anything you’re not ready for.”

God, the more he talked, the more he kept those thick thighs, his hips, his pelvis, pressed against my ass, the less I noticed the throbbing in my head. Instead, I was entirely too focused on a different sort of ache, one that I had no doubt he’d help ease if I asked him to.

But I still couldn’t help but wonder, especially since he mentioned the word “mate”, why me?

10

Crumbs in the Bed

LEVI

Icould smell her arousal, starting to build slowly around her, around us.

With a growl, I stepped back, giving her space again. “I should go get your painkillers. Is there anything else you want? We’ve got a fully stocked kitchen, and my mother taught me well, so anything you’re craving, I could make it for you.”

I knew it was a hollow offer, compared to what she’d already asked for and what her body was asking for now, but it was something, at least, that I could give her without completely taking advantage of the fact that she was here, in my house, with nothing and no one to interrupt us.

At least, nothing until my brothers hunted me down and demanded answers for my swan dive off that building.

Declan would only be able to keep them at bay for so long before the heat on us all brought Ash down on me.

“Do you have to go right now?” Izobelle turned around, still leaning against the counter, still looking entirely too tempting, even in the oversized sweatshirt that hid her delicious curves. “My headache isn't so bad right now. Maybe you could just come upstairs with me, hold me while I try to sleep it off? That usually does more good for me than aspirin anyway.” She seemed unsure of her own request, like she wanted it but there was still something holding her back.

I wanted to. Gods, so badly I wanted to take her to bed, even if it just meant wrapping my arms around her while she tried to sleep. But if this was a headache caused by magic twisting her mind, no amount of sleep would help. Not even mortal painkillers would do much good, but at least they might be able to ease it off until I could get Syrena to tell me what cure she found for vampire thrall and their damned drugs.

If I were a dragon with more self-control, I might’ve denied her and left for the nearest town to pick up more food and supplies.

But I never claimed to be a dragon with self-control.

“Do you want to try to eat any more before you rest? Maybe a muffin?” I didn’t like that she hadn’t eaten hardly at all, or that she was in pain, suffering, because I brought her here. Coffee was hardly a food group, and even though I was more than happy to keep her well caffeinated, she needed to eat too.

She eyed the box on the counter, and then smiled softly. “I guess I could try a muffin.”

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