Page 41 of Real Scale Blazer
“You think my abs are impressive?”
“I think you’re deliberately missing the point.” She replaced the blood-soaked bandages with clean ones, her touch gentle despite her sharp tone. “These need proper cleaning. The palace has medical facilities?”
“Yes, but?—”
“No buts. Unless it’s yours moving toward the infirmary.”
“Did you just make a joke about my?—”
“Medical terminology only.” But her lips twitched. “Though I suppose I should document all aspects of dragon shifter physiology. For science.”
“Of course.” He caught her hand as she finished with the bandages. “And what other aspects require scientific observation?”
Her breath caught as he pulled her closer. “I... that’s not... I mean...”
“Yes?” His other hand cupped her cheek. “Please, continue your scientific analysis.”
“You’re doing it again,” she accused softly.
“Doing what?”
“Looking at me like... like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you want to devour me.”
His eyes shifted to molten gold. “Perhaps I do.”
The air between them crackled with tension. His thumb traced her bottom lip, and she swayed toward him unconsciously.
“This is a bad idea,” she whispered even as her hands settled on his chest.
“Probably.” He leaned closer, his breath warming her lips. “Should I stop?”
Instead of answering, she closed the distance between them. The kiss started gentle, almost hesitant, but quickly blazed into something more. Her fingers threaded through his hair as he pulled her closer, mindful of his injuries but unwilling to let go.
When they finally broke apart, she rested her forehead against his.
“That was...”
“Scientific observation?”
She laughed softly. “Shut up and kiss me again.”
He happily complied.
The walk back to the palace took longer than necessary, punctuated by frequent stops that had nothing to do with Kai’s injuries and everything to do with the magnetic pull between them. Each kiss grew more heated, more desperate, until they barely made it through the palace doors.
They traipsed through the castle, seeing almost no one on their way to his quarters. “Your wounds,” Quinn protested weakly as he backed her against the wall of his chambers. “We should?—”
“Already healing.” He traced kisses down her neck, drawing a soft gasp. “Dragon metabolism.”
“That’s not scientifically—” Her words cut off in a moan as he found a sensitive spot beneath her ear. “Okay, maybe we can study dragon biology later.”
His laugh rumbled against her skin. “I look forward to your thorough investigation.”
She pulled back enough to meet his eyes, her own dark with desire but also uncertainty. “Kai... this changes things.”