Despite the odd situation, Lilah found herself smiling. Her lips were pressed tight to hide her laughter.
“What’s so funny?” His brows fell together.
Lilah gestured to the table, to him, to the town below. “This is not how I expected my night to go. I left the house late for work and lost my job, but now I’m sitting at a fancy table with a…” She struggled to say dragon out loud. It felt like something she had to keep hushed, a secret.
She didn’t know why she was acting this way. It wasn’t as if there was anyone around to hear her. She swallowed and tried again. Before she could utter a syllable, the door opened, and the bartender appeared with a tray in hand. He set down two glasses and left the bottle on the table.
The dragon shifter gave a curt nod, already reaching for the bottle as the door closed behind the bartender. The amber liquid glugged into the glass, and Lilah thought she heard a sigh escape him. Just when she thought he would bring the glass to his lips and down it all at once, he pushed the glass toward her.
She waited for him to pour his own glass, feeling the ball of tension in her chest constrict. The fragrance of the whiskey reached her nose, sweet and sharp. This was no cheap stuff. It was top shelf liquor, and he was sharing it with her. The idea that he was sharing such a rare treat with her warmed her chest. The knot began to loosen.
When he raised his glass in salute, Lilah mirrored him. The whiskey went down like a trail of blazing fire, all in one gulp because that was the kind of night she was having, further loosening the knot that had taken control of her chest. She let out a breath, savoring the fire in her throat and stomach.
“Is this what it feels like?” she asked without thinking.
He cocked his head, taking her in. She realized her question had no context but couldn’t bring herself to say more. After a few silent moments, he let out an ah and nodded.
“Breathing fire,” he said. “That’s what you’re talking about?”
Lilah nodded, a bit embarrassed.
He grinned. It was an unexpected sight that stole every semblance of a thought and left her mind blank. A dimple graced one cheek, just one, and the street lights illuminated his silver eyes. They’d yet to go back to the soft blue-grey they’d been when he first stopped to talk to her.
He looked down at his glass, tipping it back and forth. “It’s like a good whisky, but much, much hotter. This is like breathing a spark or an ember, something small. A fireball, on the other hand, is like chugging a bottle of ghost pepper sauce.”
Lilah found herself laughing. The air that had been thick around them was thinning and she felt like she could breathe again. This wasn’t an awkward first date. They were just two people sharing a drink after a long day.
“So, why are you drinking?” Lilah asked.
Before he answered, he poured her another drink. She thought nothing of the consequences as she lifted the glass to her lips again.
“I can’t stand most of my family,” he confessed. His lips twisted to the side, as if he regretted what he’d said. “Of course, I love them. They’re family, but the gaps between us have grown a lot wider as of late.”
Lilah felt warmth curling in her stomach. The warmth made her fingers tingle and her head lighter. She parted her lips, intending to ask more when he suddenly changed the subject.
“What about you? What’s your reason for drinking?”
Lilah groaned dramatically. She set her glass down and ran her hands over her face. While she expected the dragon man to laugh at her display, he remained silent. It was a small gift. It allowed her to center herself before she spoke.
“I lost my job today. It was probably a long time coming and tonight was the final straw, but that didn’t make it any easier.” Lilah threw back the rest of what was in her glass. “My sister has a habit of coming and going. She likes to disrupt my life every time she appears, which is more often than not. Because of her, I was an hour late to work for the fourth time this month.”
She furrowed her brows. This was more than she’d intended to say. The glass in her hand was empty. It had to account for nearly four shots of whiskey. It was no wonder she’d let slip far more than she should have. Lilah had to change the subject before she revealed too much.
He didn’t need to know about her life. It was her struggle. Hers alone.
Well, that wasn’t entirely true. It was a family thing, something both she and her sister struggled with.
“You haven’t told me your name, yet,” Lilah mentioned.
She regarded the whiskey bottle for a long moment but decided to hold off for the time being. Any more of the magical liquid and she was sure to say more than she meant to.
“I’m surprised you don’t already know. There was a whole piece about my family in a magazine, recently. We were declared the most eligible bachelors of Aurum Bank.” He seemed to roll his whiskey around his mouth before continuing. “The funny thing is, I’m the only bachelor left.”
The mention of Aurum Bank birthed butterflies in Lilah’s stomach. Excitement fluttered through her, thoughts of dollar signs flashing behind her eyes. She tried to shake it off, but the allure of his worth was undeniable. With money like that, Lilah could buy a new car. She could pay off her long-overdue phone bill. Any other obstacles in her way could be resolved.
She stole a moment to breathe through her nose. The man was not a bank. He wasn’t going to open up and hand her whatever she needed. Besides, it was wrong to use people that way. He deserved better than that.
“Griffin,”’ he said.
Her head perked up. He watched her closely, probably taking in her conundrum as it danced over her unguarded face.
“My name is Griffin.”
She liked the sound of it. The regal, mythological beast suited him. He had the feathery hair and hawk-like eyes. On any other man, it wouldn’t have worked. On Griffin, it reminded her of the majestic creature that lived inside him.
Her breath caught in her throat and she looked away. This was a dragon man. Lilah had to remind herself once more that he was dangerous. She shouldn’t get mixed up with someone like him. Especially considering the curse that followed her around.
It was only asking for disaster.
“Do I have to pour you another glass in exchange for your name?”
Her head snapped up. She tried to offer a smile, even though her head felt like a mess. Griffin watched her. His gaze felt penetrating, like he could see through every layer to the truth that lurked inside her. She wanted to close around it and hide it from the world.
No one need ever know about her problems.
They were hers and hers alone.
“My full name is Delilah, but I prefer Lilah.”
“It suits you. Lilah, I mean.” He grinned shyly and the barrier she threw up between them shattered. It was amazing that just the sight of him disarmed her so easily.
His grin faded, replaced by a look of thoughtful consideration. She wanted to know what was going on behind his silver eyes but didn’t dare ask. Not while his gaze left trails of fire along her cheek and down her neck. He took her in like no one had ever done before.
She was used to her sister getting this kind of attention. Now that it was focused on her, she was struggling to find words. All she could think of was the searing feeling that swept over her skin without a single touch.
He moved to pour her another drink, but she held her hand over the glass.
“I’ll never make it home if I drink any more,” she said.
“I had no intention of bringing you home with me, if that’s what you are worried about.”
Somehow, the words punched her in the gut. She offered a wan smile without meeting his eyes.
“That’s not exactly what I meant.” Griffin poured himself another glass. “I was trying to reassure you that I didn’t plan on taking advantage of you. Because of the whiskey. There’s nothing wrong with you. I didn’t mean to say that I didn’t want to take
you home.”
“Wow. You are great at rambling. Do you not interact with women or are you just this bad at expressing yourself all the time?”
“I am horrible with everyone. Especially women.” Another glass of whiskey disappeared. She watched the bob of his throat as he swallowed, feeling her core stir once more.
The desire to trace the lines of his neck surfaced. It was a surprising feeling, one she had not been prepared to feel.
***
“You could…” he paused. “We could work on an…arrangement.”
Lilah knew this should have sounded strange, but she listened eagerly, her mind loosened by the expensive whiskey circulating her system. Griffin looked up from the table and met her eyes. The silver intensity of his gaze stole her breath and sent a chill through her that cleared her mind.
This was a dragon shifter. Not just any dragon shifter, but second in command to the king of the mountains. He was strong and dangerous. His fire could burn down half the town in the blink of an eye. He could reach out and crush her hand without a second thought.
Lilah had to mind herself and the boundaries she was crossing. Flirting with a man like this would ultimately lead to disaster. Given her family curse, it could only end in flames.
She leaned back in her seat. His expression faltered as she closed herself off, but he didn’t stop.
“Everyone else has found a mate. It can be quite tiring to be the only man without a woman. I’d be willing to pay you if you presented yourself as my girlfriend.”
“Are you asking to buy my love?”
“No one can buy love. What I’m asking is to buy a performance. If you can act like you have some feelings for me, then I’ll pay you. Think of it as a job. Who knows? It could be the beginning of a long acting career. You certainly have the looks for it.”
“Wait,” Lilah said, caught on what had to be the wrong part of what he’d just said. “Did you just call me pretty?”
He laughed. The sound filled the night air with warmth, a warmth that bloomed inside her as well. Lilah realized she enjoyed his presence. It wasn’t just the whiskey. It was the way he smiled, like it was just for her. She liked the way his eyes teemed with desire when he looked at her.
She knew she should chalk it up to dragon shifter hormones. A man like him probably rutted everywhere he could. She was just another name on a long list. While Griffin might not seem like the kind of man to bring a woman home, that didn’t stop him from having relations with women. Now, he needed one he could bring home to his family.
He was probably out of options. How many women had he humped and dumped, as they say? If his list was long enough, he no longer had anyone else to ask. Lilah was just a woman he caught on the street. She was a face he didn’t recognize.
Anything she could have felt for him would be tainted by the offer. Money formed a wall between them. She would have to be a great actress to pretend to love him when she was really after his wallet.
***
Lilah stood. It was clear he’d crossed the line. The offer had been foolish, a crude way to ask her to be a part of his life. When he’d thought of it, he’d only intended to fix her problems. He never meant to reduce her to the kind of woman who could be bought.
It was no wonder he couldn’t find a mate. He was horrible at interacting with anyone, let alone a woman.
Especially a woman he found irresistible. The dim light of the rooftop bar gently illuminated her soft face. Her eyes were creased with worry, with annoyance. He wished he wasn’t the cause of it, that he could reach out and ease the lines away. He wanted to see joy on her face. The desire was sharp and sudden, surprising him.
“I never meant to…” He stood with every intention of stopping her. He pulled back, realizing that it would only anger her more. He had no right to keep her there.
Griffin knew he was making a fine mess of this. The night had started off alright and he felt a connection to her that could have become something else, but he’d gone and wrecked any future chances. Lilah was looking for the exit, guilt lining her face.
He stepped back, as much as he wanted to be closer to her, and gave her the room she wanted. The desire to pull her into his embrace and show her just how he felt was strong. The beast in him fueled the desire. It was like adding gasoline to a bonfire. It shook him and brought one foot forward.
“Look,” Lilah began. “Thank you for tonight. I needed a drink after all that’s happened, but I think it’s time we go our own way.”
Griffin’s beast wanted to argue. It took every ounce of control Griffin had to keep his lips pressed together, to keep from letting the beast frighten her away. He’d never felt so strongly about anything in his life. The only feeling that came close was the bitterness he felt when he looked at Jasper.
Unable to control himself any longer, he called out. To his surprise, Lilah stopped. She turned toward him, but her face was unreadable from this distance. If it held anything, she’d managed to school her expression by the time he reached her.
“Call me if you need help with anything,” Griffin said as he slid a card into her hand. “Or, if you miraculously change your mind.”
He thought, for a brief moment, that she would throw the card over the edge of the building. Lilah stared at it and, finally, tucked it into a pocket in her purse. When she looked back at him, he thought she might have something to say, but she only shook her head before disappearing through the roof door.
This tore him apart almost as easily as Jasper’s razor-sharp claws. It gripped him and ripped as she stepped away from him. Griffin resigned himself to the sensation. He’d lived with worse. He knew what it was like to want and never receive. If Lilah wanted nothing to do with him, he could at least give her that.
The beast growled in anger, not quite agreeing. Lilah already belonged to the beast. It had set its sights on her, on the sway of her ass as she walked away, on the cascade of silken hair that tumbled down her back. The beast had never asked for anything in his life.
Now, he was watching the one thing that could have made him happy walk away.
Chapter Three
Lilah froze.
The eight by eleven piece of paper taped to her front door filled her with cold dread. She knew what it said before she even approached it. The notice on her door was unreadable from the road, but there was no denying the ominous aura of the blocky red letters.
She was being evicted.
After what felt like a year, she managed to make herself move forward. She approached the door with nervous reservation. Reaching out, she slid her key in the lock and let out a sigh of relief when it turned. She ripped the eviction notice off the door and stepped inside.
Her cat approached with an affronted meow before winding between her legs. The air still smelled of the sage her sister had burnt, for all the good that had done them. Lilah shut the door behind her and reached for the nearest light switch. When it turned on, she felt another knot of tension release.
Looking at the paper in her hands only brought it back, tighter than before. She had five days to move out. Her rent had been overdue for weeks. Just before her sister arrived, Lilah had been preparing to pay what she owed. Then, her sister had taken off with everything Lilah had saved.
“Oh, Bumble. What are we going to do?”
Bumble, the main coon cat, didn’t care. He yowled for food, leading her over to the dish that had been cleared in the few hours that she’d been gone. Lilah checked his food supply. The dry kibble was getting low. While she had plenty of cans of wet food to ration, it wouldn’t be enough. Bumble was a big cat.
Without a job, she couldn’t buy more food for Bumble, let alone herself. She trudged to her bedroom and flopped onto the bed. Her cat leapt up after her and curled into the small cavern of space near her stomach.
Maybe it was the whiskey in her system. Maybe it was just desperation. She rolled the offer around her mind, turning it over and looking for t
he pros and cons.
On one hand, she could take it a step further and move in with Griffin while they put on their performance. It would put a roof over their heads while she searched for a new job.
Yet, she couldn’t help but consider what might happen when it was all over. No one had put a time limit on the agreement. Did Griffin see an end to the charade? Or, did he want her to go on with the act for the rest of their lives? Lilah knew that dragon shifters found mates eventually.
Most of them did, at least. If Griffin could find his true mate, then she would be released from the agreement. The thought was useless. She didn’t know when or where to find his mate. Griffin might never find a mate, locking her to the agreement forever.
If she agreed to it.
The thought was so tempting. Earlier, she’d been mildly offended. It’d felt much like soliciting a sex worker, though he hadn’t mentioned sex as part of the deal.
Her core warmed, mind tumbling into dangerous territory at the thought of sex. She mentally stripped Griffin. Her breath caught and her core throbbed. He was probably great in bed. She imagined holding onto his shoulders while he rode her to blissful climax. For a single moment, Lilah considered adding sex to the deal.
Then, she shook her head. Griffin wouldn’t want a woman like her. She was too thick in the middle and too small on the top. Men didn’t like her the way they liked Vivienne, her younger sister. Vivi had curves in all the right places, natural breasts that rivaled the size of the fake ones, and a laugh that was like the chime of little bells.
Lilah was not so elegant or well endowed. She knew her dating pool was filled with the kind of guys Vivi would never glance at. They were the only ones who bothered with Lilah, because they knew being adjacent to Vivi was as close as they would get.
“Well, Bumble. At least I won’t have to change the locks. I think changing houses will be enough to keep Vivienne at bay for a while. Don’t you?”
There were still boxes left over from her last move and a few hours left in the day. Some things had never even been unpacked. She went about stuffing her life back into the boxes and stacking them near the front door while she considered her options.
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