She searched his eyes as she asked, "So what changed?"
He moved a fraction closer, forcing her to tilt her head further upward to meet his gaze. "I don't know myself what bloody happened, but soon you were more than an enemy. You were interesting, clever, and so very sad. But instead of wallowing, and begging, and another multitude of things you could've done, you were determined to share the encoded data with us. Not to mention you showed patience with my nephew and his friend. And then you looked too bloody beautiful in the blue dress from our mating day."
She blinked. "You noticed my dress?"
One of his arms moved to her upper back. Without thinking, Ivy leaned into the touch, loving the heat of his hand through the material of her top. "Yes, and your hair, and lips, and the deep blue of your eyes. You were supposed to be my enemy, and I resisted for as long as I could. But you're more than the years you spent inside the Dragon Knights, and I want to believe you'll do everything possible to help my clan going forward. Not just for forgiveness, either, but because you think it's the right thing to do."
She swallowed and bobbed her head. "I do. It was easy to hate a nameless mass. But to have something happen to Freddie, or Nikki, or even Bram? It's unbearable. They all risked so much to help me, get to know me, and treat me as a person instead of an enemy." Moving a hand to his chest, she rubbed it back and forth, wishing it was his skin instead of his shirt. "And I didn't say you in that example because whilst I try to be strong, if something happened to you, it'd break me a little inside."
With a growl, Zain hauled her flush against his body and moved his mouth to her ear. "You'd better not be toying with me, Ivy Passmore."
"I'm not," she whispered. "I promise."
Zain nuzzled her cheek with his own, and Ivy melted against him. His husky voice filled her ear again. "My final answer is this. If I could, I would kiss you right now, Ivy, before licking every inch of your body. You started as my duty to protect. But now, you're mine, human. Don't ever think of trying to leave me."
Maybe someone else would be offended at his claim, but the carefully constructed walls around Ivy's heart tumbled down, allowing the yearning and desire she'd had for her dragonman to rush forth.
Yes, she—someone who had hated dragons to the point she'd given up her life to try to eradicate them—had fallen for a dragon-shifter.
Looping her arms around his neck, she said, "I'm not going anywhere."
"Good." He kissed her cheek for a few beats before flicking her skin with his tongue. She moaned and leaned more against him. Zain growled, "And you'd better believe I'm going to harass Sid and Gregor every chance I get about finding a cure for you."
Emboldened by Zain's words and actions, Ivy kissed his jaw, loving the slight prickle of his late-day stubble. "You won't see me complain."
He laughed, something she'd heard only a handful of times, and it made her heart skip a beat in a good way. He finally replied, "Until then, come sit on my lap, Ivy, and let me make you come with my hand."
She sucked in a breath as the image of Zain's fingers between her thighs flashed into her mind. Wetness surged between her legs. However, the response only reminded her of why she couldn't do it. "No, I don't want to poison you by mistake."
"I have gloves, Ivy. I'm the sort who's always prepared."
She raised her brows. "Prepared to give someone who could possibly poison you an orgasm with your hand?"
"Maybe not for that reason specifically, but now it's all I can think about."
She hesitated. While Ivy wanted Zain more than anything, even the smallest risk of hurting him was too great. "The glove could rip if your talons come out."
"I'll be careful."
"I don't want to risk it, Zain. If you become sick, or worse, because of me, I couldn't live with it. So just share my bed and hold me close. How about that as a start?"
One of his hands moved to the back of her neck and squeezed lightly. "For you, I'll even wear clothes to bed. But just so you know—once you're cured, I always sleep naked. And you will, too."
She laughed. "I think that could be arranged." She traced his jaw, down his neck, and over his shoulder. She continued until she reached the tattoo peeking out from his shirt and traced the design with her fingers. "But the bigger question is how the clan will handle it."
Zain grunted, and Ivy met his gaze again. "You keep helping us to take dow
n the Knights, and they'll have to accept it. If not, they'll have to deal with me and my entire family. Because I think after today, you can see that they are your family too."
She bobbed her head. "I know."
"Good. Now, I'm going to carry you upstairs no matter what you say. I think tonight should be an early night."
Zain moved until he could swoop her into his arms, and Ivy leaned against his upper body, a protest the farthest thing from her mind.
While she should be on cloud nine about Zain feeling the same way about her as she did him, worry niggled at the back of her brain. Because if she couldn't help take down the Knights, it would be more than a little troublesome. Too many people might think she was deliberately holding back information to protect the Knights.
So first thing the next day, she was determined to find the ad hoc office space inside the cottage that Zain had mentioned was hers and get to work.