When he looked up, she was looking at him funny. She was looking at him like she was only noticing him for the first time. As in, devouring him with her eyes. Her gaze moved downwards. Her eyes flared as they landed on his c.o.c.k. Oh h.e.l.l, he still sported a semi. It couldn't be helped. Her mouth fell open and she gasped. Then she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing.

He waited for a reprimand, which never came. Interesting. At least, if nothing else, the coming weeks would not be boring.

Coal seemed genuinely concerned for her wellbeing. He placed her on the ground and moved so that he could lift one of her feet. Okay. Julie pushed her dress down so that, things, stayed properly covered. She'd told him that they were sore and he was inspecting them. It was sweet. Not savage behavior at all. Then again, he was probably just upset that they wouldn't be able to make good time back to his lair. Thing was though, he did look really concerned.

There were two frown lines between his eyes as he moved her foot so that he could get a better look. Coal touched her heel and she winced.

"You have some scratches and bruising." His jaw worked. "Your feet are soft and delicate." He shook his head, looking angry. Okay, so he was really worried about her. Something warmed in her.

"I'm a human. We normally wear shoes."

"Foot coverings. It was an oversight on our part. I'm sorry. Dragon shifters do not wear shoes very often. We do not need them. I'm sorry this happened."

Caring and sweet. This guy was an enigma. She had been chased and hunted down like an animal and now, this. He turned his dark eyes back to her foot which he inspected some more. She took the opportunity to a.s.sess him. Short black hair, an angular jaw, full lips. His nose was too thick to be considered good-looking. It did fit with the rest of him. Coal definitely wasn't handsome. Not in any cla.s.sic sense of the word but he was attractive. There was no denying it. He licked his lips. Those muscles on the sides of his neck screamed look at me, look at me. His tattoo was even more beautiful in the light of day. The way the golden lines caught the rays of the sun was breathtaking. It had nothing to do with his pecs or his abs... what the h.e.l.l was that?

Okay, she knew what it was, but what the holy h.e.l.l was that thing? It didn't even look like it was properly erect. Not by a long shot, yet... not a chance that was fitting. Maybe in a glove compartment but not in her. She suppressed a laugh. Not that it was funny.

It was a pity. She'd decided that maybe breaking her dry spell while here in dragon land wasn't a bad idea. Coal was hot and sweet. As sweet as a savage could be. She had planned on seeing if he meant it about not forcing her and looking after her and if he did, well, she planned on making hay while the sun shone. Julie was the kind of person that made lemonade when life threw her lemons. Only, that lemon was too big to make lemonade.

She had changed her mind. No s.e.x. She wouldn't give him any ideas. s.h.i.t! She realized that she was staring and looked away. Her cheeks felt hot.

Coal had just finished looking at her other foot, he put it down. He grabbed ahold of his pants and tore them. There was a loud ripping sound.

"What are you doing?" She sounded a bit panicked. Well because, she was a bit panicked. Why was he tearing off his pants?

"I will make you foot coverings. I can also carry you if you need me to."

Julie shook her head. "Make me shoes and I'll walk. Just, maybe leave certain parts of yourself covered... please."

He smiled. "I didn't think you would like the idea of me carrying you." His smile widened and turned a little arrogant. "I saw you checking out my c.o.c.k just now. Are you sure you don't want me naked? It would mean more material for your feet."

"I was not checking out your... I..." Her cheeks heated... again. d.a.m.n him. "I can't help that you put that thing in my line of sight. Kinda hard to miss." She mumbled. "I definitely don't want to see it. Thank you very much."

"Whatever you say, Julie." He handed her one of his pants legs and began tearing the other one off. A s.h.i.t eating grin covered his face. Note to self, do not check this guy out again. Coal had an ego about a mile wide.

His thighs were a thing of beauty though. Not looking! The a.s.shole chuckled as he handed her the other pants leg. She narrowed her eyes at him as she took the material. Julie began wrapping it around her foot. Coal was a savage. His people had abducted her against her will. She needed to hold onto that.

"We are almost there." Coal looked at her with sympathy. She wanted to feel sorry for him, but couldn't allow herself to feel that way. The dragon shifters had abducted her. It was his fault she was in this sorry state. He looked perfectly fine. He looked like he could sprint up the mountain and back without breaking a sweat. She was holding him back, dragging him down but he deserved it. a.s.shole!

Julie limped. The undersides of her feet throbbed. Her muscles ached. Her knee was puffy and didn't bend properly. "What's your definition of almost?" Her breath came out in pants. There was a lump on her head where she'd hit the pavement but her headache was gone. The only thing that was looking up. Yay!

"Another mile, two at the most."

Julie allowed herself to fall onto the gra.s.s. She sat with her head in her hands. Two miles, might as well be a hundred miles. Her eyes stung with the need to cry but she held back the tears. She wasn't a quitter or a moaner. On a heavy sigh, she started to get back up when Coal put his arms around her and lifted her off the ground.

"Put me down." She wriggled to prove a point. "I can walk on my own." She couldn't.

"Like h.e.l.l," he growled. Coal began to walk in big strides.

"Put me down." She said, a little bit more harshly. The truth was that his arms felt good around her. She felt comfortable and safe but she shouldn't and it irritated her. She was also quite capable of hobbling the rest of the way on her own. Maybe.

Coal put her down and took a step away. He towered over her. The big savage folded his arms across his chest. "I am a strong, fierce warrior. I'm more than capable of carrying you."

"I'm sure you are." She tried not to sound too sarcastic and failed. It was clear he was strong. His muscles had freaking muscles.

He narrowed his eyes. "No, you don't seem to get it, I'm very strong."

"Good for you. I'm still okay with walking."

"You're not okay. You're far from it. I don't know why you won't let me help you." His muscles bulged. Thin, thin cotton pants now shorts - ruffled in the light breeze.

Coal sucked in a deep breath. He turned and walked away and for a second she thought that he was leaving her. She sprang to her feet, although, sprang wasn't really the right word. It was more like staggered to her feet. After everything, now he was leaving her, right now? The b.a.s.t.a.r.d!

"Where do you think you are going?" She shouted after him. "Hey! You can't just leave me here."

Coal kept walking and her heart sank like a stone. Just as she was about to run... okay hobble... after him, he stopped next to a small outcrop of trees and kicked his toes against a large felled tree. It was black with charred branches. It had probably been struck by lightening. He kicked it a second time. There was a loud thud. What was he doing?

Coal reached down and wrapped his arms around it's ma.s.sive trunk. Even a big guy like him had trouble getting his arms around its immense girth.

What the h.e.l.l!

She heard a creaking noise. No way! No d.a.m.ned way! The trunk lifted. Slowly but surely, Coal lifted the thing. His biceps bulged, his back muscles were... who even knew back muscles like his existed. Next thing, the trunk was above his head. As in, arms out stretched, up high above his head. No way!

With a gentle shove, he threw it back down to the right of where it had been. So, he was strong. Very strong.

It didn't seem like Coal was done. He looked around and then made for an outcrop of rocks. Next, he picked up a large boulder, lifting it above his head. It didn't look like it was any effort for him. He lowered and extended his arms a couple of times, grinning at her all the while.

Her mouth hung open, it couldn't be helped. Wow! It was barbaric. It was nuts. It was also pretty hot.

Coal threw the boulder several feet away from himself, in the opposite direction to her. He clapped his hands together and walked back to her. His muscles looked pumped. His pecs did that jump thing and his abs looked bigger than they were before.

Oh G.o.d! She was ogling him... again. Giving him ideas and feeding his ridiculous levels of arrogance. Not a good idea.

"Okay, so you're strong." She shrugged. "I'm sure that's normal for a dragon shifter."

"I will carry you, female." His eyes were locked with hers. "I don't want you to argue. You are under my protection and you can't walk right now so it is up to me to help you."

What the h.e.l.l did she say to that? "Um... okay. If you insist."

This time when he picked her up, she didn't protest or try to wriggle free. Coal cradled her close and began to walk. Sheesh, but the guy was fast. She had to close her eyes to stop herself from feeling nauseous. That's how fast the ground pa.s.sed beneath them.

"I'm glad that you were so upset about my leaving you." His chest rumbled. "You didn't want me to go, did you?"

When she glanced up he was smiling.

Jerk! "I... um... I didn't want to be left out here all on my own, not with sore feet and a swollen knee. It had nothing to do with you per se."

"If you say so, female." She could hear that he was still grinning.

Let him smile. Whatever. She knew it had nothing to do with this arrogant caveman shifter. She didn't know him. She didn't trust him and she didn't want anything to do with him.

Julie planned on seeing her time here as a holiday. A little break from the real world. She'd have food in her belly and a roof over her head. In a couple of weeks, she would have to go back to Walton Springs and then she'd have to worry about her future. Not right now though. She hooked her arms around his neck. "No ideas," she said.

Coal chuckled softly, his chest vibrated.

There was no room for a guy in her life. Besides, she was a city girl and she still needed to see the world. A hole in the ground in the middle of the mountains would not cut it, forget it.

"There it is," Coal said. "My lair."

Oh joy!

Julie lifted her head from his shoulder. A sheer cliff loomed up ahead. It was immense and at a right angle from the ground. The views from up there must be breathtaking. She looked around the base. There must be a hole leading to his lair. She tried not to wrinkle her nose. At least it was a shelter. She'd experienced worse. At least they wouldn't have to share with a whole lot of other shifters. At least she hoped not. Julie took a deep breath. She would deal with whatever came her way.

"Isn't it beautiful." Coal growled, his voice filled with awe.

"Sure." She muttered, glancing up at him. Julie felt herself frown. Coal was looking up. Way up.

She followed his line of sight, squinting as the sun caught her eyes. Something reflected. Surely rock wouldn't reflect like that. There was another glint to the right and more across and above that first one. Then the whole top part of the cliff face glinted. What?

Gla.s.s. It couldn't be. Julie put a hand over the top of her eyes. Yes, it was gla.s.s. The whole upper half of the cliff was made up of enormous gla.s.s windows. "That's your lair?" Her voice was filled with amazement. "Wow! The views must be spectacular," she said, almost to herself.

"Lair, castle..." He shrugged. "One and the same. We are dragons so I prefer to call it by the traditional term."

"F.Y.I, lair does not do it justice."

"I'm going to put you down now." He said, his arms tightening around her which was at odds with what he had just said.

"Okay." Julie craned her neck to look back up at the tall cliff face. "How the h.e.l.l do we get up there?"

Coal chuckled. It was a rich sound. His dark eyes sparkled. She found herself smiling as well. "I am a dragon shifter." His chest rumbled against her as he spoke.

"And that means what exactly?" She asked, even though she could guess.

"We are here." He turned with his arms outstretched. "I am therefore permitted to shift and fly us to the top, unless you wish to hike around the mountain and slowly ascend from the other side. I estimate that it would take us"-his eyes moved upwards in thought-"two, maybe three days."

Julie swallowed thickly. She'd been carried by a dragon before...twice. Once, she'd been unconscious and the second time she'd been blindfolded. She wasn't sure she was ready to watch him... what was the right word for it? Change, maybe?

"I will remain in complete control while in dragon form. I am an extension of my dragon and he of I. We are one and the same. You will be quite safe, I a.s.sure you." He gently put her on her feet, keeping his hands on her hips.

Julie still wasn't sure. "You plan on picking me up and carrying me up there?" She pointed to where the windows were. Way, waaaay up there. Eagles probably built their nests on the window ledges. It was crazy high.

Coal squeezed her hip. The gesture was strangely intimate. He pulled his lower lip between his teeth for a beat. "You do know that a dragon took you from up there to the drop-off point, right? You were up there just yesterday."

"Oh." Really? "I didn't know. We were kept in a room with no windows. We were blindfolded and treated like prisoners."

His eyes clouded and his jaw tensed. "I'm sorry. I will inform my king. Scarlet and Ash will pay for the lies they told you. I can't imagine how afraid you must have been. No wonder you took such risks with your lives." He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbed. "You are safe with me and will come to no harm."

Julie nodded once. "Okay then." Could she trust him? What choice did she have?

Coal released her hips. "I'm really big in my dragon form. I look fearsome but do not be afraid. Stand very still and I will pick you up in my talons. Do not panic. I will slowly ascend." He took a step towards her. "I need to take you through the great hall as is tradition. There will be many males. You need to stay close. I may be challenged."

"Why would someone challenge you?"

He looked solemn. "Females are scarce. Some of the males will be jealous and angry. They may try and take you for themselves."

Oh s.h.i.t! Her heart skipped a beat or two before racing. "I thought you said I was safe. I don't want some a.s.shole taking me from you." Some jerk who wouldn't be as considerate. Maybe some other guy wouldn't have any reservations about forcing her.

"We are not without honor." He put a finger under her chin and tilted it so that she was forced to look him in the eyes. Coal didn't look worried. He also looked eager and as arrogant as ever. "You carry my scent. Not as much as I would've liked but it should be enough to keep them away."

"Should be?" Julie didn't like the sound of that. "That makes me nervous. How do we get more scent on me?"

"Rutting is the best way," Coal stated, matter-of-factly.

Julie choked on her saliva.

"Touching, kissing, any type of contact." He gave a one shouldered shrug. Like it was nothing.

She sucked in a deep breath, her eyes watered a little. "Oh..." A squeak. "Hopefully my sleeping in your arms will have been sufficient."

"I'm sure it will be." He shrugged, like it didn't matter to him. It should matter.

"I don't want someone else taking me. I've only just gotten used to you. I've only just started..." She wanted to say to trust him, but couldn't bring herself to do it.

He raised his brows. "You trust me?" He smiled.

"I didn't say that."

"But you were going to and I'm glad." His voice deepened. "Stay very close. If someone makes the mistake of challenging me, I will fight them. You will need to move away if a fight breaks out. Don't worry, I will make the male bleed." His eyes seemed to darken. His frame tensed. "I will work quickly and effectively so that you will not be alone for long. I will make a good enough example so that there will be no more need to fight after that."

Holy hotness. Hearing about him making other guys bleed shouldn't be this attractive. Was there something wrong with her? He was just so sure of himself. So d.a.m.ned s.e.xy. It was a pity s.e.x was off the table. If only he wasn't double her size, in all ways.

She realized that he was waiting for her to reply. "Okay. Sure thing. I'll stay close and if anyone tries anything you'll make them bleed."

He nodded. "Then you move away but only just until I'm done."

"Okay." Her heart beat faster. This barbaric, caveman s.h.i.t was pretty exciting, just as long as it ended with her being dropped off where they'd nabbed her she'd be happy.

Coal finally nodded once before peeling his shorts off. It was like, one second they were there and the next they were gone.

h.e.l.lo c.o.c.k!

h.e.l.lo big, thick, extra long c.o.c.k. The guy was hung like an ox. No, he was hung like a dragon. He and his dragon were one and the same...um... yeah they were.

"Julie," a rough growl. "Don't look at my d.i.c.k like that. I'll get hard and shifting is uncomfortable with a hard c.o.c.k."