Page 72 of Draco's Defiance

“Imagine?” She smiled, breathing in his intoxicating scent as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I found it rather pleasant in there.”

“You weren’t bound to a chair and made to urinate in a pot.” Draco’s brow rose. “Although, we could still arrange that...”

“Stop it, sir.” She tapped his chest playfully. “You need me, remember? Someone’s still got to resolve your contract problem for you.”

“Hmmm.” The glint in his gaze told her that contracts were the last thing on his mind. “I haven’t forgotten, little girl. It just turns out that since meeting you I haven’t been so hung up about the contract anymore.”

“Oh, really?” Her heart sped up. What does that mean?

“I don’t know what it means.” His blue gaze burned into her. “Except that I love spending time with you, and I want much, much more...” Hesitating, his stare threatened to engulf her. “Plus, anyway, I thought you’d given up law these days?” His tone had shifted from sensual to sarcastic.

“No,” she corrected him. “I’ve just taken some long overdue holiday leave while I figure out what’s next for me.” Reaching on her tiptoes, she kissed his chin. “I’d already established I needed a new job. You just gave me the impetus to make it happen.”

She wasn’t sure what Draco’s change of heart about the contract meant, but she didn’t deny the excited butterflies in her stomach as she considered it. She had no plans for marriage, but couldn’t imagine a future without her dragon-shifter hero. Maybe their futures were entwined together?

“You’ll get no argument from me.” His thumb stroked the loose strands of her hair from her face. “You are way too good for that place, little girl.”

An excited shiver dashed along her spine as the term of endearment left his tempting lips. Draco had understandably been in too much pain to take her to bed the first few days after the ordeal, but recently, his libido had returned with a vengeance.

“How is your leg now, sir?” She glanced down between them as he thrust the growing bulge in his pants against her hip.

“Which one?” He arched one eyebrow at her.

“You know which one!” Laughing, she leaned into his hands. “Some of us are worried about you.”

“There’s no need to worry,” he assured her. “It takes a lot more than a few bullets to stop me.”

“So, I see.” She couldn’t be happier that he was right.

“And now that I’m better, I want to talk to you about something else...” His voice trailed away as his expression hardened.

“Oh?” What does that look mean? “What’s that, sir?”

“It’s personal,” he murmured, lifting her from the ground and hiking her skirt up around her hips as he placed her gently on the edge of the counter. Parting her legs, he moved between them and held her against him. “For you, I mean.”

“Okay.” Now, she was really concerned, her throat drying as she waited for him to go on.

“It’s about the guy who hurt you.” He paused, watching her responses carefully. “I think you said his name was Alex.”

“Oh.” Her eyes squeezed closed at the unwelcomed name, an image of the guy who’d tried to force himself on her bursting into her brain. Silent panic stretched across her chest, threatening to cut off her oxygen supply. “What about him?”

“I want to talk about him.” Draco kissed the side of her face. “About what he did...” Again, he hesitated. “Or, if you don’t feel comfortable talking to me, then perhaps you can speak with Eden. Cole says she’s an excellent therapist, and the two of you seem to get along.”

It was true; Moira had been spending more time with Eden when Draco let her out of his bed, and she did like her, but she’d never considered seeing Eden—or anyone—professionally.

“Can I ask why?” She pulled in a breath, conscious of how her pulse had elevated since Alex’s name was mentioned. “Why do you want me to talk about him?” She couldn’t bring herself to say his name.

“Because of this.” Draco’s voice was soft.

“What?”

“This,” he gestured to her, his brows knitting. “The way you react when he, or the event, is mentioned. I want to help you, little girl, and that means you need to heal just the same way I have.”

“I’m not a dragon,” she countered, “and I haven’t been shot.”

“You know what I mean.” His voice was firm. “Will you let me help?”

“Is this because you want to fuck my ass, sir?” She couldn’t help but chuckle at her impertinence, the distracting question releasing some of the tension she’d been holding onto.