His eyes narrowed. “Stop that. You do know that dragons heal at an alarming rate, so even if you were to harm me…” He pulled a face like the possibility was too remote to contemplate. “I would heal too quickly for it to mean anything?” His nostrils flared. “You’re nearly in heat.”

“Don’t even think about it. You barbaric piece of shit.”

“We should rut. I am a skilled lover. I have made humans weep from the sheer pleasure.”

Julie pretended to yawn. “Tell someone who cares. I wouldn’t have sex with you if you were the last person left on the planet.”

“I am not looking for love.” His eyes clouded and he frowned. “I”—he swallowed thickly, pausing for a moment— “we… could work. No love or any of the other emotions. Let’s test compatibility. We could mate and procreate. I would look after you. It could be a win win.” He looked totally serious.

“More of the same bullshit!” She yelled. Then she choked out a hysterical sounding laugh. “You assholes are all the same. What’s so wrong with love? Why don’t you want it? Love is amazing. It’s wonderful. To feel like that about another person is—”

“Heartbreaking,” the water king growled. His face contorted in pain. “To let someone else in enough to break you. No. It is a mistake. One I will not make again. Get on the bed. We are rutting now.”

“Heartbreaking.” She looked up in thought. “Yeah, I suppose there’s that too.” Why had she forgotten that part? “You don’t want to have sex with me.” She spoke more softly this time.

“I do. You are almost in heat. You have a delectable scent.” Torrent glanced out the window and then ran a hand through his hair. He sucked in a deep breath.

“You really don’t.” She couldn’t help but notice that he wasn’t in the least bit interested in her unlike Coal who sported a hard-on for the last week and almost non-stop.

The big shifter clenched his teeth. He looked distraught.

“What happened with Candy?”

He growled, the sound anguished. “I don’t wish to discuss it. She is gone and you are here.”

“Oh my god. You’re in love with her.” A lightbulb went on. He was being a guy and trying to forget about the person he really wanted by sleeping with another.

His eyes burned more brightly. “No. I feel nothing for her.”

“Rubbish. What happened between the two of you? Maybe I can help.”

“It doesn’t matter. She is gone. She’s not coming back.” He moved to the nearest sofa and sat down heavily. His shoulders were slumped.

“It wouldn’t help, you know? Sex with me.”

He glanced her way before looking at his hands, which were interlaced on his lap. “I feel empty inside.”