Not His Dragon by Annie Nicholas

breath.
    “I heard that.” He took another drag from his cigarette but didn’t look in her direction.
    “I can’t afford to play this game. My schedule is full and I have rent to pay.”
    “So seven o’clock again?”
    She set her hands on her hips and glared at the sidewalk. Beth had all the contacts. The omega would know which shifter would be desperate enough for cash to work for Eoin. Beth wouldn’t come to the shop with Eoin staked out front in that mood. He may as well be in dragon form.
    “You could make three months’ rent by finishing the job.” Eoin made small rings float through a bigger one. Her nails dug into her fisted palms. He knew exactly why she didn’t want to return. Their mutual attraction would destroy her. To Eoin, she’d be a short distraction but he’d ruin her for any other man because they’d never compare.
    He turned toward her still leaning against the building. “You still want me to leave?”
    She hesitated then whispered, “Yes.”
    He sighed. “There’s more to you than just your scent, Angie.” He pushed off the wall to leave.
    Her stomach plummeted. She’d never see him again except from clips on the television. “Eoin?”
    He tossed her a questioning glance over his shoulder.
    “Pick me up at seven.”
    “Flying or driving?”
    “Driving. No trunks.”
    Eoin smirked. “Never.” He strode toward her, pulling at his earlobe. “Here.” He held the ruby earring between his fingers.
    “I won’t accept that.”
    “Consider it a down payment.” He fingered the fake gold loop hanging in her ear and grimaced. “This is almost blasphemy.” Removing the piece of jewelry, he replaced the loop with the ruby stud. “Now you can’t break our contract.”
    He knew she wouldn’t renege on their agreement; otherwise she would have done so already. Angie twirled the gem in her lobe, sensing the new weight. Words flowed from her so easily when angered, but at the slightest kind gesture they vanished.
    “I’ll see you tonight.” He bent closer.
    Angie held her breath.
    He hovered where her neck met her shoulder and inhaled. “Still smell like she-dragon.”
     
     
     
    Eoin couldn’t resist the urge to take a lungful of her scent. The prickly spice stung his nostrils and made his mouth water. She smelled better than two days ago, even though a trace of garbage clung to her scent. What had she been doing in the back alley?
    Angie cleared her throat. “Stop that.” The offense in her voice was a lie. She didn’t make any effort to distance herself from him. If she truly wanted nothing to do with him, then she would have let him leave.
    Purring, he stroked her cheek. “It’s okay to like me. I won’t be offended.” She had reacted to his pheromones last night. Not the way he’d expected, but she sensed them nonetheless. A human wouldn’t have flinched. Dragon traits ran stronger in Angie’s blood than he’d suspected. He wouldn’t test it in this manner again unless he wanted her to run away.
    Maybe she owned other undiscovered characteristics like producing smoke or breathing fire. She said she couldn’t shape shift, which was a magical process. Her link to those powers could be blocked by her human DNA.
    A flush of color brightened her face. “This is why I don’t want to return to your castle. No matter what attraction you are imagining, I’m not looking for a boyfriend.”
    “That’s good.” He breathed a dramatic sigh of relief for her benefit. “I’m terrible boyfriend material.” Pinning her against the wall with his body, he relished the way her breasts pressed against him as she breathed in deep. “I’ve been told I’m very selfish.”
    “This is sexual harassment.” She didn’t sound convinced.
    “Two days ago you called it assault. I don’t think you know what these words mean.”
    “What would you call it then?” A cute snarl followed her question.
    He chuckled. “Flirting.”
    She set her hands on his chest and did her best to