Page 68 of The Dragon's Mate

“Are you, though?” he said.

“Yes.”

“What kind?”

“Grizzly.”

“Like Bishop,” he said.

“Yes.”

He continued to study her, and she lookedaway. “I’m a grizzly shifter, Bren.”

“Fine. You’re a grizzly shifter.” His toneof voice said he knew it was complete bullshit. “A grizzly shifter who is toostrong for me and would hurt me if we had sex.”

She flushed. “That’s right.”

“You think I’m a fragile human,” he slippedout of his jacket and left it in the grass outside of the training circle, “so,let’s fight. If you win, I’ll stop asking you to explore whatever this is that’shappening between us. But if I win – you go on a date with me.”

“You’re joking,” she said.

“I never joke about dating. Dating is aserious business.”

She sighed. “I’m not going to fight you,Bren.”

“What’s the matter – afraid the puny littlehuman will kick your – incredible, by the way – ass?”

She couldn’t stop the grin from crossing herface. “Buddy, I would sweep the training circle floor with you.”

He laughed before moving to the middle andbouncing on the balls of his feet. “Is that right? Why don’t you show me whatyou’ve got then?”

Her dragon purred as her need to win, herneed to conquer, started to rear its head. “You really will accept that we can’tbe anything but friends when I win?”

“Ifyou win,” he said, “and yes. Iwill accept that we can only ever be friends.”

“Fine.” She walked toward him, letting herfangs drop and her eyes glow as she grinned at him. “Don’t worry, I’ll go easyon you, puny human.”

He gave her his own wide grin. “Ditto,pretty lady.”

* * *

“Admit it,” Panting lightly, Bren circledaround Kaida, “I’m better at fighting than you thought.”

“You’re better at avoiding getting your asskicked than I thought,” Kaida said.

Bren laughed before making a little bow. “I’lltake that as a compliment.”

The last five minutes had passed in a bluras Kaida had attacked him again and again. He’d managed to fend off her blowsand even attempt a couple of his own, but he’d be lying if he didn’t admit shewas much stronger and faster than he suspected.

Kaida’s smile widened and Bren’s dick twitchedagainst his jeans. The shifter was gorgeous in general, but when she wasfighting? The flush of her pale skin, the way her eyes glowed… it was goddamnsexy as hell.

It was how she would look when they werefucking. The realization gave him an immediate semi. He grimaced at thepressure. He couldn’t keep thinking about –

He grunted in surprise. Taking advantageof his momentary distraction, Kaida had hit him like a freight train. He wasknocked backwards onto his ass, the air exploding from his lungs. The softsand cushioned his head and he made another grunt when Kaida pounced on him. Shestraddled his hips, her hands yanking his arms above his head and pinning them tothe ground as she leaned over him.

She smiled at him, her fangs flashing inthe sunlight. “You lose, human.”

“Did I?” he said with his own grin. “I’ve gota beautiful woman straddling me, that’s always a win in my book.”

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