Whatever Chase's flaws—and they were many—at least he was fast. Dai barely had to wait five minutes before a duffel bag thudded out of the sky like a meteor, narrowly missing hitting him. He glanced up, catching a brief flicker of Chase's black wings occluding the stars.
*Thanks,* he sent to the other shifter. *I owe you one. Unfortunately.*
The only response was an amused whinny, drifting down from the sky as Chase shot away again. Dropping the mental connection and picking up the duffel bag, Dai went back inside. Virginia was sitting on a chair in the lounge, wrapped in a fluffy bathrobe, drying her hair with a towel.
"I put a blanket and a pillow on the sofa for you," she said, slightly muffled from the depths of the towel. She flipped it back over her shoulder, scrunching her fingers into her glorious halo of dark hair. "Was that your friend? Didn't he want to come in?"
"Just a flying visit." Dai had to look away from the sight of her flushed, damp skin as his dragon reared up again, fighting his self-control.
He busied himself unzipping the duffel bag, and discovered that Chase had thoughtfully packed him a box of forty-eight condoms, prominently displayed on top of the folded clothes. He thrust them into the depths of the bag. "You should go get some rest."
Virginia yawned, getting to her feet. "No kidding. I feel like I could sleep for a week." Nonetheless, she hesitated at the door to her bedroom. "Are you sure you're going to be all right?"
He caught her gaze with his—and this time, she didn't flinch as she met his eyes. "I've got everything I need," he said. A slow smile spread over his face. "You go sleep. I'll keep guard here."
See? he told his dragon. Patience. Everything's going to be fine.
Chapter Five
The dragon pinned her down. The bone-white claws dug into her chest, the weight of the beast pressing all the air out of her lungs. She could taste the reek of its breath, a foul mixture of carrion and ash. Its glowing orange eyes were filled with cruel delight at her helpless struggles. The dragon's nostrils dilated as it inhaled; the smirking jaw dropped open. Virginia looked into the gaping maw, and saw the burning flames rushing up the dragon's throat, right into her face—
"Virginia! VIRGINIA!"
Virginia fought like a mad thing against the hot weight pinning her to the bed. She raked her fingernails down—skin? Not scales? She gasped for breath, and tasted clean air rather than smoke.
"It was a dream. Just a dream." Dai's soft Welsh voice in her ear brought her fully out of the nightmare. He was lying across her, on top of the bedclothes. "You're safe. You're safe now."
"The dragon." Virginia swallowed a sob, her breathing still harsh and ragged. Tears streaked her face. "I thought it had me—"
"Shh. I know. Just a dream." He eased his weight off her, releasing her wrists. He pulled her up to a sitting position in the bed, steadying her with an arm around her shoulders. "I'm sorry I scared you. I ran in when you screamed. You were thrashing around so much, I was afraid you would hurt yourself."
Virginia leaned gratefully against his chest. She could hear the deep, reassuring beat of his heart. Her own racing heartbeat started to slow in response.
"I should be apologizing to you." She leaned back a little, tilting her head to look up at Dai. The dim light of early dawn filtering through the blinds was enough to show her the red scratches she'd cut into his cheek and neck. Without thinking, she reached up to trace the marks. "As if you haven't already been injured enough in the course of protecting me."
Dai went perfectly motionless as her fingertips brushed his face. Against her side, Virginia felt the hard muscles
of his chest tense, although his grip on her shoulder stayed feather-light. Virginia could hear his strong heartbeat speed up, even as the rest of him went utterly still. Heat radiated from him like a bonfire—but it was a good sort of heat, clean and protective.
That heat kindled an answering fire in Virginia's own body. She'd never had such a strong reaction to a man before. Every fiber of her being yearned for him, like a moth drawn to a flame. She wanted to bury her face in the junction of his neck and shoulder, to drive away the memory of smoke in her lungs with his scent. She craved his skin on hers, his body in hers, burning away her nightmares.
Consumed by that desire, she twisted upright to face Dai, and kissed him.
His lips were motionless under hers for the barest moment. Then he made a low moan, deep in his throat. He flung himself into the kiss like a parched man finally finding water after uncounted days alone in a desert. His strong hands twined in her hair. Virginia ran her own hands down his chest, feeling the hot, solid lines of his muscles through the softness of his T-shirt. She tugged up the hem of the shirt, slipping her hands underneath, glorying in the intoxicating heat of his skin. Her fingers traced the line of his spine, over the tattoos she'd seen earlier.
Dai gasped, jerking his head backwards and breaking the kiss. His eyes were wide and dark, just a thin rim of gold and green showing around the edge of his dilated pupils.
"Virginia," he said hoarsely. "We—first—I should tell you—"
"What?" That brief taste of him had only fanned the flames of her desire. She traced the line of his jaw with her mouth, exploring and nibbling, the slight friction of stubble teasing her lips.
"I—" He shuddered as she bit lightly at his neck. His hands clenched in the thin material of her own nightshirt. "Oh God. Later. Virginia, oh, Virginia."
With a quick jerk, he ripped her shirt from her body—literally, as she heard the fabric tear. She would have laughed in surprised disbelief, except that he'd already dipped his head down to her freed breasts. Virginia arched her back at the unbelievable sensation of Dai's tongue spiraling over her nipples.
His fingers slid under her panties, caressing her slick folds. She pulled at his T-shirt, desperate for more of him. He backed off just long enough for her to pull the shirt over his head, exposing his bronzed chest and hard nipples, then bent back to tease her breasts once more. His tongue left trails of fire over her skin. Virginia ran her palms over the taut curves of his shoulders, savoring both the feel of the solid muscles under her hands and the way Dai's breath hitched at her touch.
His strong fingers circled her clit. Somehow, without any guidance, he seemed to know exactly how to caress her. Virginia's hips jerked as her orgasm built into an unstoppable wave. She clung to him as her climax shook her, biting down on his sweat-slicked shoulder to stifle her cries.