“Kael,” I begin, trying to get his attention, “I’m not sure—”

My words break off in a gasp when his gaze captures mine in the mirror. There’s a look of stark, sultry pleasure on his face. It’s the look of an extremely aroused male, covetous and sexual all at once. And he’s watching me in the mirror, like he’s noting my reactions to his touch. As I realize this, his big hand flexes on my stomach, and I suck in a breath when it slides up to cup one of my breasts. One thumb-claw grazes over my nipple in a gentle exploration.

And always, his gaze is locked on mine.

I can’t help the whimper that escapes my throat. It shouldn’t feel this good, should it?

He goes still against me. As I watch, his nostrils flare. “Clau-dah,” he growls, voice ragged. His other hand moves to cup my other breast, and as I watch in the mirror, he begins to play with both, stroking and teasing my nipples into hard points.

Of course I respond. The feel of the big, protective male pressing against my back and his hands caressing my breasts? The knowledge that this is wrong and slightly dirty because he’s the enemy and dangerous? It all makes me incredibly aroused. A little moan escapes my throat, and I close my eyes, leaning into his caress as he continues to tease my nipples ever so gently with those big, scary claws. I can feel myself growing slick between my thighs.

Kael inhales deeply again and then says my name once more. “Clau-dah.” He’s practically purring.

“Yeah, I know,” I murmur, both turned on and embarrassed at the fact that he’s smelling the wetness of my pussy on the air. It’s not like I can stop it, though. Not with how intensely he’s watching me in the mirror. Like my pleasure is the only thing that matters.

And that is an incredible turn-on.

Because I’m turned on, maybe my natural instincts to be wary around Kael are falling away. Because I want to touch him, too. I slide a hand backward, reaching for that thick, unusual mane of hair. He buries his face against my neck, inhales deeply, and his fingers drag over my nipples again. God, I am getting so wet from this.

“Clau-dah,” he murmurs again, and in the mirror I watch as his hand leaves my left breast and slips between my thighs. One big, thick finger parts my pussy lips and slides along my flesh, then dips into my core. I know I’m wet and ready—I can practically feel my juices sliding down my thighs. And I wonder what he’s going to think of that.

His eyes are black slits, but instead of being scary, it’s fiercely, incredibly sexy. The possessive look is stamped onto his face, and I watch as his big hand cups my pussy, and I can feel his claws playing against my folds. He’s incredibly careful, though, and when one thick fingertip presses against my core, I give my hips a little flex.

His snarl of pleasure makes me even hotter, and he presses his face against my hair. He purrs my name again and then pulls his hand away…and I could just cry at how empty I feel at the loss. But he only raises his hand in the air, turning it and admiring the glisten of my arousal on his skin.

Then he lifts his hand to his mouth and licks his claws, tasting me. I’m fascinated as his lip curls in a feral snarl. He pushes me forward against the sinks, his hips pressing against my own. One leg wedges between my own, and he pushes my thighs apart, his weight pinning me against the counter.

He’s going to take me, right here, right now.

Even though I’m turned on, I panic. “Wait! No!”

Kael stops, but he snarls again, looking furious. His fingers go to my pussy and he dips them in again, dragging them along my wetness as if to prove that I’m aroused. “Clau-dah. Kael.”

I moan at the touch, but I still find the strength to somehow shake my head. Very carefully, I push his hand away even as he tries to touch me. “You’re moving too fast. Slow down a second.”

He cocks his head, watching me, and the black swirls furiously in his eyes. Every muscle in his big body vibrates with barely restrained tension. I need to fix this, or he’s going to throw me down on the counter and fuck me whether I want it or not.

So it’s best if I really, really want it. And I do. God, I do. I just need a bit more preparation. I have to show him that. “Kael,” I murmur, my voice low and soothing. “I’m not rejecting you. I just need to show you how to make Claudia ready for you. Understand?”

But he doesn’t speak English, so of course he doesn’t understand.

I push his hand away and turn slowly. When he reaches for me again, I take his hand and place it on my cheek, leaning in against his palm. “Kael, I do want you. Claudia wants Kael. But let me show you what I like first, okay?”

Those not-quite-human eyes are mesmerized by my coaxing tone of voice, and I feel him shiver as I press a kiss to the palm of his hand.

Just like that, I’m in control of him again.

I lock my eyes to his and then hop backward onto the bathroom counter, evening out our heights just a bit. I pull Kael forward until he’s between my legs, and I put my hands on his chest, noting rock-hard muscles under that dappled amber skin. He’s strong and lethal, his power barely leashed. As I touch him, I can feel him jump with awareness, but he doesn’t move away.

All right, I’ll try kissing him, then. My hand goes behind his neck, and I pull him in, gently.

He stiffens, retreating. His eyes narrow. “Clau-dah,” he growls, grabbing at my hips and pulling me forward on the counter, his cock resting against my sex. He thrusts slightly, pressing the head of it against my pussy.

“I know,” I tell him, and drag my fingertips along the lines of his neck and collarbone as if he’s not trying to be all bossy. “That might be how dragons do things, but I’m a human, and we like to take a bit more time. So let me do things at my pace, hmm?” I brush my fingers over the seam of my mouth and then place them against his lips, indicating that I want to put mine there.

Kael’s eyes narrow, and he snaps his teeth at me.

I jerk back, startled. “No biting. I just want to kiss.” Though looking at his sharp teeth again, I’m starting to have my doubts. I purse my lips, thinking, and then take his big hand in mine. He lets me, his eyes going to gold with pleasure again. All right, progress. With my gaze locked to his, I take his thumb into my mouth and gently suck on it.

That gets his attention. He makes that low, sexy growl in his throat again, but he doesn’t pull away.