Her dragon felt connected to Aaron somehow.
It would only make the parting—and they'd have to part—that much more difficult, for both woman and dragon.
Best to stop it before it started.
Besides, she didn't want to hurt him.
She didn't know this man, so why was she so affected by him? Enough to care about his emotional well-being. It didn't make sense at all.
She pulled back, her action so sudden she bumped into the person behind her.
"There, there, darlin’." Hands gripped her waist, straightening her.
Hope turned and looked up, and up. The man was so tall he could only be a shifter.
He grinned down at her. The smell of alcohol from this one was so strong she could have lit his fumes on fire.
There was a growl.
The Guardian slid his body between her and the other drunken male. His warm and very masculine arm snaked around her waist, holding her flush against his back.
Awesome. Typical male domination.
The two were getting ready to go head to head in a bar. Not quite conducive to the low profile she'd been trying to keep.
The scent of eucalyptus and pine surrounded her. It was as if she were transported to an open hillside. A wildness to the smell sank deep into her soul. It called to that untamed part of her. The one that had her breaking rules to come to this city.
Faced with a back so broad it blocked off the rest of the bar from sight, she watched the muscles bunching under his shirt. She flattened her palm against those muscles, and they shifted under her touch.
"Get your hands off her, Cain," the Guardian growled at the shifter male.
His voice rumbled, setting off tiny vibrations over her skin.
Hope peeked around in time to see Cain fold his arms over his chest.
He was as tall as her Guardian and broader. The shifter was an absolute tank of a man.
"Says who?"
Anger was clearly a sobering emotion. Both males stood tall, chests thrust forward, ready to beat the hell out of each other.
"Says me."
Hope came around to stand at right angles to both.
Slapping a hand on each of their chests, she shoved. Muscles straining with the effort, she managed to hold both of them back.
Each man was bigger than her, yet she'd stopped them. She'd given away how powerful she was even in human form.
Hope darted her attention from one man to the other. Their gazes were fixed on each other, fists curled by their sides.
Her breath whistled out in relief.
They were too engrossed in their macho game of out doing each other.
Amber eyes glowing bright, Cain's gaze dropped to her. He canted his head, nostrils flaring.
He must have caught her scent. He knew she was not human, that she was a shifter.
Stepping back enough that he was out of her reach, Cain raised his hands. "Sorry, bro." He grinned at the other man.
Huh? He was backing off?
Cain clapped the Guardian on his shoulder.
Right, so they knew each other.
"Good to see you looking more like yourself, Aaron."
Aaron. So that was his name. Both the dragon and the woman inside her jumped at that small intimate piece of knowledge.
The Guardian grunted. His muscles vibrated with tension, reminding Hope her palm was still flat against his chest. His very male ripped chest.
She let her palm stay there a second longer before letting it drop to her side.
"What are you doing here? Did the Council send you to keep an eye on me?" Aaron thrust his jaw forward.
"Why would they do that, hmm?" Cain grinned, transforming him into a charismatic male.
No female stood a chance.
Good thing she wasn't attracted to him.
Her head was too full of the other complex, brooding man whose gaze was focused on her face. She had her hands full with the Guardian.
Cain widened his stance, lips twisting in a smirk. "You are more than capable of defending yourself, immortal warrior and Ascendant that you are."
Her gaze swiveled back to Aaron.
Immortal warrior? Ascendant?
Not only had she almost given away what she was, but she had also made contact with the Council of the City. Everything her leader had forbidden her to do.
“Besides," Cain flicked his gaze to Hope, a wicked glint in his eyes, "I think that you've found someone to take care of. You're going to have your hands full. Heed my words, bro, she's not as innocent as she seems."
"Hold on!" Who was this shifter? And why was he presuming any connection between her and the Guardian? "I'm still here, you know." She waved her hands in front of his face.
Cain just smirked, blinking slowly.
"You were never drunk, were you?" She realized in a flash of insight: "It was all an act to get a rise out of your friend."
"He damned well succeeded."
Her attention darted back to Aaron's face.
Those cobalt-blue eyes narrowed.
Why was he was so angry? "You're jealous? Because your friend touched me?" Hope looked back, only to see that Cain—the traitor—had melted into the crowd.
That left her with one irate immortal who had the ability to twist her insides, with an emotion she didn't quite want to name.
When she turned back to Aaron, his eyes were clearer. Perhaps he was beginning to see just how illogical his actions were?
Swooping down, he brushed his lips across hers.
Okay. Perhaps not.
To find out what happens next, get Inception here
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Laxmi is a New York Times Bestselling Author who writes paranormal and contemporary romance. She lives in London.
Her pen name Scarlette Brooke writes dark romance with a twist.
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