Mine.
He rolled his fingers into his palms and tried not to growl out loud. Instead, he walked toward her as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
Her head snapped up, and her gaze — hazel eyes — met his. Those luscious lips, the ones he’d kissed so long ago, fell open. She tried to hide the surprise on her face but failed miserably. Within seconds, his boots carried him to her table where he stopped in front of her. So many things he wanted to say but where to start?
“So, you leave me for him?” He jerked his head at the guy sitting across from her. It took every ounce of strength not to grab him by the throat and choke the living shit out of him.
“It’s not what you think.” She shifted in her seat.
The woman had no idea what he thought or what swirled around in his mind right now. The pictures his active imagination conjured were of things she might be doing with this jerk, and a red haze dropped over his vision. However, he wasn’t so blind to not notice the dark circles under her eyes and her pale complexion. She was unwell. Either that or this asshole was mistreating her, for which he’d have to kill him.
“Well, sweetheart, what exactly am I thinking?”
“Jenna, who is this guy?” the jerk across from her questioned.
She licked her lips, cast her gaze down at the table, and played with a french fry. “My fiancé.”
Jerk face nearly choked. “You didn’t tell me you were engaged.” The guy slid out from the booth, stood, and stuck out his hand. “Hey, name is Derrick. Jenna and I work together.”
Okay, not what he was expecting from Jenna’s boyfriend, and he debated grabbing the man’s hand and crushing every bone in it. Instead, he did the right thing. Accepted the handshake and gave a nod of acknowledgment. “Connor. Nice to meet you. You one of the firefighters?”
Derrick sat back down. “Yeah, I am.”
Connor was taken by surprise when Jenna slid over. “You’re welcome to join us.” She jabbed another fry into the ketchup and shoved it in her mouth. He wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip by, so he moved in beside her. His thigh touched hers, and he let her warmth seep into him. Christ, maybe that was the wrong thing to do. Her heat had him wanting to pin her to the seat. Kiss her until they were both breathless.
“So where you from?” Derrick asked.
“Up north. Minnesota to be exact.” He looked over at Jenna, who continued to ignore him and shovel food into her face. “I got called down here to help investigate some arsons.”
A look of surprise flashed across Derrick’s face. “Really? Is that a specialty of yours?”
Connor rested his arms on the table and leaned in slightly, the need for posturing took over his common sense. “You could say that. I’m a shifter, so I’m pretty damn good at tracking.”
Jenna stopped mid-bite and turned to look at him. “Yes, you’re an excellent tracker. It says a lot about you.” She looked away and went back to eating. Her tone cut like a double-edge sword, and he wished he knew what the hell she’d meant by it.
Chapter Six
Jenna wasn’t sure if she wanted to scream or hit him. Part of her was glad to see him. The other half was full of fear. She was afraid he wouldn’t give her what she wanted. Then again, she was so damn confused being near him. She wanted him to give her up, break their bond. She longed for him, desired him to pull her into his arms and kiss her. Tell her how much she meant to him. However, she doubted he’d do any of that. Her statement about him being a good tracker was accurate. If he had really wanted to find her, he could’ve done so with relative ease. Showing up a year later told her he hadn’t wanted to locate her. Maybe by now he’d found someone new. For some reason, the thought nearly crushed her. She shoved it aside. Jenna would get over him if it was the last thing she did.
“Actually, I’m glad to see you, we have some things we need to discuss,” she stated.
He refused to look at her, and damn she wished he would move his thigh away from her. “Yes. Yes, we have lots to talk about.” The tension rolled off him, and she was grateful that Derrick — being human — wouldn’t feel it.
The waitress strolled over. “Sir, can I get you anything?”
“No, I seemed to have lost my appetite,” Connor replied.
“What about you two, can I get you anything else?”
“Jenna? You need more food? Something else to drink?” Derrick asked.
She shook her head. “No, I’m fine, thank you.” She shoved the last bite of her burger into her mouth and tried to ignore both men. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d felt more uncomfortable, but she refused to let this get the better of her.
“Derrick, thanks so much for helping me out tonight. Connor and I need to talk, so you wouldn’t mind if he gives me a ride home?”
“Not at all.” Derrick put his focus on Connor. “She rescued an unborn infant tonight. Unfortunately, the mother was lost.”
Connor looked at her. “I’m sorry. Had I known you needed help...” He drifted off. One thing about Connor, he would know how much she hurt right now. He’d always understood her; he just never loved her.
“I understand there was no helping the mother,” Derrick responded. He slid out from his seat. “I’ll take care of the check and head home. See you at the station, Jenna. Connor, it was nice meeting you, and I’m sure we’ll run into each other again.”
“I’m sure we will, and thanks for taking care of Jenna.”
Jenna waited until Derrick had paid the bill and walked out before she turned to Connor and glared. If she could make arrows shoot from her eyes, she would pin him to his seat.
“Let’s not start our discussion here. I’ll drive you home,” he growled as he stood and held out his hand to help her. She refused, of course, and pulled her way out of the booth.
Walking next to Connor to the door, she caught the waitress staring at him. A tinge of jealousy ripped through her, but she reminded herself she had been the one to walk away from their relationship. He was free to pursue any woman he wanted. Not that she could blame the other female. After all, Connor stood a good six feet five and had muscles stacked on top of each other. His eyes were the richest brown she’d ever seen. Add to it the scruff on his face, the tight as hell tee he wore, and the oh so sexy she wanted to trace every line dragon tattoo on his right bicep. It brought her right back to their last night together. She licked her lips remembering what lie beneath his clothes.
Damn it! Heat ran straight to her core.
****
Connor opened the door to his truck and helped Jenna inside. Touching her made his jeans so fucking tight it was painful. His mood soured, and he realized his Kamirth drew even closer.
Just fucking wonderful.
He’d suspected it was his Jenna who was the shifter they referred to at the station and thought he was prepared to see her. He’d been dead wrong. How the hell was he going to keep his mind on his duties and still face the woman who’d ripped his heart to shreds?
He climbed into the driver’s seat and started the truck. “I’m pretty sure I drove by the accident you were at tonight.”
“Oh?”
“You could have reached out for me, and I would have helped you.” They had started to develop a telepathic link before she left. After she’d gone, she’d slammed the door on that too.
“How was I to know you were here?” Her tone was void of any emotion; she simply sounded tired, but damn it. Didn’t she realize he could have channeled his power through her? However, that wouldn’t have been necessary. He’d been here, only blocks away. He would have broken the elder rules and shifted if that’s what it would have taken to get to her.
“I guess you wouldn’t.” He simply left it at that and resumed silence.
She muttered directions. Otherwise, they both remained quiet.
As promised, a few miles down the road she had him turn off onto a gravel drive. He followed the twisting, turning lane until it revealed a brick ranch home at the en
d. He was immediately impressed with her taste in houses, but quickly reminded himself he was not happy with her. He pulled the truck up by the garage, killed the ignition, and hopped out. Before he could round to the other side, she had the door open and was out of the truck.
“It’s late, and I’m tired. How about if we talk later,” Jenna stated.
Oh, he was not about to let her brush him off again. “So you can try and disappear again? I don’t think so.” He watched, rather amused at the irritation on her face.
“Fine.” She slammed his truck door and headed toward the house. “I have no idea if my roommate is home or not, so we’ll need to keep it down.”
Suddenly he had visions of her screaming, naked body beneath him, and he followed like a panting puppy. Pushing open the door, she escorted him across ceramic tile. His boots made enough noise to wake the dead. So much for a possible, sleeping roommate.
“So, is this roommate of yours male or female?”
She stopped abruptly, spun, and faced him. “Screw you.”
“I don’t get it, Jenna. What the hell did I do to piss you off? Where did I go wrong?”
She tossed her purse on the kitchen table then flipped on a light over the sink. “We’re just not going to work, Connor. You need to forget about me, move on, and break the bond we have already.”
He leaned against the counter, arms crossed over his chest. “That is not a valid answer. So unless you can give me a real good reason, it’s not happening.”
****
She stared at him. All-powerful muscle and sexiness leaning against her counter, and she wanted to slap him. Not because of the answer he gave her. No, it was because he dared to be so damn hot and cause her desire to flare. There was also something else about him. She narrowed her gaze and studied him, and then dawning hit.
“Holy shit, you’re entering your Kamirth.” She did the quick math in her head. How could she forget the mating lust a male dragon entered every fifty years?
“What of it?”
Well, at least it explained his mood, which was a tad on the ugly side. Connor had always been easygoing and never quick to anger, at least not that she’d ever seen. “Even I paid attention to the teachings. I understand what happens when a male dragon enters that stage and left to his own devices for too long. Do you plan to be home in time to take care of this?” She also remembered how she had tended to his needs herself when she’d become old enough. Heat rose up her neck and to her cheeks.
His brown gaze studied her, seemed to penetrate her soul. “I have no idea how long I’ll be here. The job’s done when it’s done, and I certainly can handle a little sexual tension.”
She couldn’t help notice the punctuation he put on the word sexual. Was he possibly referring to their relationship? Had he been unhappy with her? Had there been anyone since she’d left? Part of her was happy to think he might have stayed celibate, but he was all male. It would be unlikely he’d wait for her to return.
“Why are you being such an ass?” She pulled out a chair, realizing it was a stupid question but waited for his answer anyway.
“You left me with a note. What the fuck do you expect from me?” He pushed off the counter and moved in closer. A predator stalking its prey. “You didn’t even have the decency to talk to me face-to-face. Tell me what it was I did wrong so we could work it out.” He shook his head. “You seemed happy. What the hell happened?”
She wanted to tell him. Wanted to blurt out every little word, but what good would it do? It would only serve to open the well of pain she’d capped and buried deep. Yeah, call her gutless, but she wasn’t about to tell him the real reason she fled. That she couldn’t take the chance he would follow the rules of the elders and banish her if she was unable to give him children. That she wished she’d been born anything but a halfling. Their society left her kind feeling worthless. She was half dragon, yet she was nothing.
“I realized I didn’t love you,” she lied, and the pain reflected in his eyes, before he quickly regained his composure, cut straight through her.
“You were betrothed to me as a child. We don’t choose our partners for love and you know that.”
His words stung the opening wounds and proved she’d been right in leaving. He was correct, though. She’d been raised knowing the reasons behind the rules, even if she thought them stupid and barbaric, and they left her feeling helpless. The dragon species had been on the decline, and fertile females were like gold to them. Still, that didn’t mean those who weren’t should be cast out and forced to live without their families. Was she wrong in her thinking? She remembered the look of hurt in her father’s eyes when she’d told her parents how she felt and was packing to leave. They’d stood by her but had tried to convince her she should talk to Connor. She’d refused, knowing he would have changed her mind.
“I’m fully aware of the rules and they suck. They’re stupid and belong in the dark ages.” She crossed her arms. “Find a new female.”
He cocked a brow. “Do you desire that Derrick?”
She stood and moved further away from him. Across the kitchen wasn’t far enough. “None of your business.” This wasn’t going as she had planned. Before she knew what was happening, he had her pinned against the counter. His mouth on hers. Crushing her lips and demanding she submit. Her will gave way and she opened. Hints of dark chocolate and spice danced across her tongue. He tasted as she remembered.
Damn him for making her remember.
She pushed on his chest, and finally he broke the kiss with a nip to her bottom lip. However, he still had a strong arm firmly planted on either side of her, and she couldn’t move away from his hard body or the erection that pressed into her belly.
“You want Derrick?”
Her temper flared. “So what if I do!” Do I? Or am I just trying to hurt Connor? Why the hell did either man have to come into the picture and confuse her further?
“Fine, then take him but in the end you are mine. You will always be mine.”
She managed to hide her shock but before she could respond, Kate bounced through the door. “Oh. Sorry Jenna, I didn’t know you had company. I’d heard that you had a tough night and wanted to come and check on you.”
“You’re not interrupting, Kate. This is Connor, and he was just leaving.” Jenna managed to slip around him and head toward the door to try and make her point. She was tired, unable to think and really needed him to leave. Thankfully, he got the hint because he moved across the kitchen and stopped in front of her.
He dipped his head to her ear. “This conversation isn’t done.” Then he nipped her lobe before he disappeared into the darkness. She shut the door, slumping against it.
Kate raised a brow. “So, who was that perfect male specimen you’ve obviously been hiding?”
Jenna sighed. “It’s a long story, and I really need some sleep.”
“Get some rest, but later you spill.”
Chapter Seven
Connor stormed to his truck, cursing the entire way. He was surprised his fury didn’t ignite the nearby vegetation; he was so pissed. He climbed into his vehicle and slammed the door.
“What a fucking idiot!” He dropped his forehead to the steering wheel. “I just handed her off to another man.” He hadn’t meant to utter the words, but he’d been pissed and desperate to give her anything that would make her happy. The thought of Derrick, or any other man with their hands caressing her naked body, was like a stack of dynamite under his emotions. It threatened to explode, and his dragon would come out with it ready to battle. The urge to shift and claim the woman who belonged to him caused him to clamp his jaw so tight it throbbed.
He loved her. All he wanted was her happiness, which apparently wasn’t going to come from him. Turning over the engine, he shoved the truck into reverse and backed into the turn-around. Within seconds, he was heading down the long drive. When his phone rang, hope leapt into his heart. Maybe Jenna had changed her mind. After all, he could swear she softened in
to him when he’d kissed her.
He looked at the display, and his hope was quickly dashed. It was the detective. He hit the button to accept the call over the truck’s speakers.
“Connor here. You got something for me?”
“Maggie Smith. She owned a small coffee shop in town. Her file says she was born in New York state and recently celebrated her thirtieth birthday.”
Connor turned back onto the main road. “Nothing unusual about her. Did she have a boyfriend?”
“None anyone knew about. However, it took some deep digging since she did a good job of hiding her past...”
The detective had Connor’s full attention. “And?”
“I hope you’re sitting. Her real name is Sarah Dunne, she wasn’t born in New York, and you can add a few zeros to her age. She was a halfling.”
Connor slammed on the brakes, his truck screeching to a halt. “What did you say?”
“I thought that would grab your attention. Seems she was trying real hard to hide her past. I’ll email you her file.”
Scratching the scruff on his face, he mumbled, “Yeah, do that.” He stomped on the gas and headed toward his hotel. This case had just taken a twist he didn’t like. Not one fucking bit. The name Sarah Dunne rang a bell, and he prayed to his ancestors he was wrong. Jenna had a cousin Sarah that had been cast out by her mate and the elders when she proved infertile. Jenna had been a teen at the time, but he remembered how strongly it had affected her.
Dallas Fire & RescueHis Burning Desire Page 4