“Gross.” She made a sound of disgust, but her cheeks were flushed and the scent of her desire threaded the air. She might not like it, but the fierce awareness sparking between them was too powerful to deny. “Could your head get more bloated?”
“Probably.” He held her wary gaze. “Where did your powers come from?”
There was a tense silence before she heaved a resigned sigh. “Fine. My mom was a fortune teller in a traveling circus and—”
“Stop,” Azh interrupted the ludicrous story. “Tell me about the cave.”
“A specific cave. Or caves in general?”
“The one that always is included in your wild tales.”
She flashed a taunting smile, but she lowered her lashes to hide her stunning lavender eyes. “I don’t know what you mean. There’s never been a cave in my charming folktales.”
Azh lowered his head, brushing his cheek over the smooth blond hair. Someday very soon he was going to release those satiny strands from her braid to watch them fan over her naked body.
“Stubborn.” His voice was rough as his body hardened with need. It’d been a very long time since he’d indulged his most primitive passions. He had no doubt when he finally claimed this woman it was going to be epic.
“Not stubborn...bored,” she insisted, pushing against his chest. “Time for me to move along.”
He chuckled, skimming his lips down her cheek before burying his face in the curve of her throat. Flames danced over his skin as he absorbed her essence.
“You don’t smell bored.”
“Gah. Don’t sniff me.”
“You smell...hungry.”
“Impossible. I just ate a yummy donut.”
“It’s not food you’re hungry for.”
Her lips parted to deny his claim, but the violent shiver that raced through her body ruined her pretense of indifference.
“You’re burning me,” she instead accused.
“No I’m not. My fire is created for pleasure, not pain. If you’re overheating it’s not my fault.” He licked the skin above her pounding pulse at the base of her throat. She tasted of warm female temptation, rich magic, and dragon. He didn’t know how it was possible, but it was an intoxicating combination. “Or maybe it is my fault.”
Her head tilted back, as if inviting his touch. But before Azh could wrap her in his arms, she sucked in a sharp breath, as if suddenly coming to her senses.
“No,” she rasped.
Azh didn’t hesitate. Stepping back, he allowed his flames to fade. The finest treasures were always the most difficult to obtain, and he didn’t doubt for a second that Wynn would be worth any amount of effort.
Besides, he couldn’t allow himself to become distracted by his intense attraction to this woman. His people depended on him to keep them safe.
“This is the last time I ask nicely. Tell me where you got the power.”
She stuck her chin in the air. Defiant to the end. “I don’t know anything about the magic or the power you’re looking for. I’m just an average woman trying to scrape by. Something that would be a lot easier if you would leave me alone.”
He folded his arms over his chest, pleased when her eyes widened as his muscles rippled beneath his silk shirt.
“If you’re not lying—which seems unlikely since you lie about everything—I would think you would be eager for my assistance.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ve been taking care of myself for a very long time. Why would I need your assistance?”
“I have the answers to the origin of the magic.”
“If that was true, you wouldn’t be harassing me.”
