Chapter 27

TWENTY-SEVEN

W ithout thinking, Quinn reached for his hand. He threaded their fingers together, his warmth seeping into her skin.

“Is that why you’re so overprotective?” she asked. “Because you couldn’t save him?”

“Partly.” He traced patterns on her palm with his thumb. “Though you inspire an entirely different kind of protective instinct.”

“Because I’m human?”

“Because you’re you.” He looked down at her, eyes flickering with golden light. “Brilliant, fearless, completely immune to common sense when it comes to your own safety.”

“Hey!” But she laughed, the heavy moment lightening. “I’ll have you know my common sense is perfectly intact. I just choose to ignore it sometimes.”

“Often.”

“Occasionally.”

“Daily.”

She elbowed him, but he caught her arm, using the momentum to pull her closer. They ended up face to face, her hands braced against his chest, his arm curved around her waist.

“Hi,” she breathed, suddenly very aware of how intimate this position was.

“Hi.” His free hand came up to cup her cheek. “Still wanting to ignore your common sense?”

She should say no. Should maintain professional distance. Should...

“Maybe just this once,” she whispered and pulled him down to her.

This kiss was different from their first—slower, deeper, with an edge of desperation that made her head spin. His hands roamed her back as she pressed closer, wanting to memorize the feel of him. The barrier dome’s soft light painted patterns across his skin as she pushed his shirt up, needing to touch more of him.

“Quinn.” Her name emerged as a growl against her lips. “If you keep touching me like that...”

“Maybe I want to.” She nipped at his bottom lip, delighting in his sharp inhale. “Maybe I’m tired of overthinking everything.”

His eyes blazed pure gold. “Be sure. Because if we start this, I won’t want to stop.”

In answer, she pulled him down for another kiss, pouring all her pent-up desire into it. He groaned, rolling them so she straddled his hips, his hands spanning her waist.

“You drive me crazy,” he murmured against her throat. “Do you know that? Every time you challenge me, every time you put yourself in danger, every time you look at me like I’m a puzzle you want to solve...”

“Less talking.” She rocked against him, drawing another growl. “More kissing.”

He obliged, and for a long while, the only sounds were their breathing and the soft hum of the barrier dome. Outside, the aurora painted the sky in ribbons of color, but Quinn’s attention remained firmly on the dragon beneath her.

Later, wrapped in thermal blankets and each other, Quinn traced the tattoos on Kai’s chest while he played with her hair.