B013U5A18C (A) Read Free Page A

effect her touch had on him and she was enjoying it. “Syringe.”
    He waited a beat to commit Jane’s scent of vanilla and female to memory before handing her the syringe. “Do it quick.”
    She raised an eyebrow. “Is someone afraid of needles?”
    “Don’t be ridiculous.”
    Grinning, she looked back toward the exposed top of his arse. “Good.” She stuck him, pushed the medicine into his body, and removed the needle. She gave his bum a pat. “Good boy.”
    He frowned. “I’m not a boy.”
    Jane looked from his eye, to his cock pressing against his boxers and back again. “I agree.”
    His dragon spoke up. We must think of the best way to tease her when we’re well. We have some time to think about it.
    Yes, and they’re going to be the longest hours of our life.
    Good to see you’re not denying you want her.
    She knows about Maggie and didn’t blink an eye. I want time to know her secrets, too. I know she bloody well has them.
    Then just make sure to not scare her away. She is ours.
    Jane reached around him to her bag of supplies. “Here are your special dragon-shifter strength pain pills. Take them and then go to sleep.”
    He took the pills and swallowed. “I’m also hungry.”
    “Then I hope you have something easy because I’m not a very good cook.”
    The image of Jane in his kitchen, burning her latest attempt to cook breakfast, made him smile. “I know how to cook, but I’m too tired to do it. Sid probably knew that. Look in the medical bag. She usually packs me protein bars.”
    Jane rummaged around until she pulled out two carefully wrapped protein bars. She sniffed them and shook her head. “They’re not poisoned, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
    “Don’t be silly. I’m trying to figure out if they’re human-friendly. The last thing I need is to eat something that is the equivalent of a billion calories.”
    “A billion, huh? You clearly don’t know anything about dragon-shifter metabolism.”
    Jane glared. “I never said I did.” She shook her hand with the bars. “If you want one, then tell me if I can eat one too. I’m starving.”
    His dragon growled. Our female should never be hungry. Feed her.
    I like teasing her first.
    Not this time. The sooner we sleep, the sooner we heal.
    Right, and then you can have Jane naked.
    Exactly.
    Mentally shaking his head at his beast, Kai focused back on Jane. “They’re the equivalent of one human meal. Now, may I have one?”
    His question eased the frown from Jane’s face. “You being polite makes me uneasy.”
    He growled out, “You didn’t want me to be an arsehole, so I’m trying. Make up your mind, Janey.”
    No one had called her Janey since she was a child. But for whatever reason, she liked it when Kai said it.
    With a smile, Jane handed him one of the protein bars. “Good. Just checking.”
    He murmured, “Bloody female,” before tearing off the wrapper and taking a bite.
    Jane did the same and she made a face. “What flavor is this?”
    “Roast beef.”
    He waited until Jane took another bite before doing the same. As they ate in silence, Kai was relaxed in a way he hadn’t felt in over a decade. For so long, he’d never expected to share a quiet, mundane moment with a female. 
    He didn’t want it to end.
    Kai was afraid that if he let Jane leave his sight, the ease and playfulness would disappear. He knew it was fucked up, but after what had happened the last time he’d set his sights on a female, he was afraid Jane would run away, too
    After finishing his protein bar, Kai tossed the wrapper aside and cupped Jane’s cheek. When she leaned into his touch, both man and beast hummed in contentment. He murmured, “You’re fed, but you still look exhausted. How about you sleep with me?”
    “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”
    Kai wasn’t one to tiptoe around the truth. “Because you don’t want to?”
    “No, because it might be too much of a temptation.”
    “For whom? You or