Page 17 of Cash

7

Cash

A light tappingsounded at my door while I was in the middle of push-ups.

I groaned softly, resting on my knees before standing. She was the reason I was working out like a demon. Anything to get my mind off her, to prevent me from going back out there just to be in her presence again.

She was like an exotic blossom. I wanted to watch her, just for the pleasure of being in her company. I had been without a woman for far too long.

“Yes?” I called out, breathless.

“My analysis is complete. Are you able to come out for a few tests?”

I got up, went to the door. Opened it.

Her eyes went bigger than usual when she saw the sweat running down my face, then over my bare shoulders and chest. She let her gaze linger there for a moment before snapping her attention back to my face.

“I’m sorry to disturb you,” she breathed.

My dragon and I could both hear the effect we had on her. See the way her pulse quickened in her throat. The way her skin flushed.

Yes, I was aware of all of it. I’d be a fool to miss it, or blind. Likely she had as little contact with men as I did with women.

“You’re not disturbing me.”

Not in the way she meant, at any rate. How much harder would she blush if she knew what she did to me inside? The things my dragon wanted me to do to her? She didn’t even know I was a dragon. I would bet anything, even the contents of the deepest cavern in the mountain I called home, that she was unaware of the existence of creatures such as myself. I would’ve offered up the treasure. I was that certain.

“Oh. Good.” She tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ears. “As I said, I’m ready to run a few tests.”

“Do you mind if I take a shower first?” I asked, looking down at myself. “Unless it doesn’t matter if I’m sweaty.”

She bit her lip—hard—and backed away with her gaze trained on the floor. “Please. I think it would be best if you were… clean… while running tests. To eliminate all outside factors. Biologically. You know.”

“Yes. I think I know.”

I knew all too well.

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