“My name is Julie.” Why the hell had she said that? He didn’t need to know her name. She was still going to escape. Okay, maybe escape wasn’t an option at this time. She’d get through the next couple of weeks and then make him take her home. She must be a complete nut because she believed him when he told her that he would protect her and that he wouldn’t force himself on her. It didn’t mean that she fully trusted him though, now that would be looney tunes.

“Julie.” He said her name with that deep rich baritone that reminded her of melted chocolate or mulled wine. It was the manliest voice she had ever heard and it fit him perfectly. Rough, rugged and savage. “Eat,” he commanded.

She ignored him. “What makes you so special? There are two females in the whole of…” She looked around. Not because she could see anything beyond the small circle of light that the fire gave. “Here and you get to have at them both?”

“They are not the only females, there are still a few elderly females and one or two mated females. They are the only unmated females in their prime within the fire territory though.” Whatever that meant.

“In their prime.” Julie rolled her eyes. “You do realize that you are speaking about them like they’re cattle, don’t you? A quality breeding heifer in her prime.” She made her voice deep and growly.

He remained serious. “I didn’t mean it like that. I told you earlier that I do not see females as I would cattle, and for the record, neither female is fertile, so your breeding comment is incorrect.”

Julie laughed. “I was teasing you.”

Some of the tension eased from him. “I am a fire prince. My position of royalty has meant that I have certain privileges.”

“You bastard!” She yelled. “You abused your position of power to have sex with them didn’t you?” No wonder Scarlet had all those awful things to say. No wonder she was the way that she was.

His eyes darkened up a whole lot. Maybe she had gone too far. Every muscle on him tightened… oh shit! His mouth pulled into a hard grimace and he growled. It was a deep rumble, reminding her of the sound a lion would make. A hungry, angry lion.

“Why do you insist on thinking the worst of me?”

“Maybe because I don’t know you and you, kind of, kidnapped me.” Her voice was timid. She felt exposed and vulnerable.

“Scarlet and Ash came to me. I am the strongest, fiercest warrior in my kingdom. My flames are scorching and far reaching. My scales gleam gold. He rubbed a hand over the markings on his chest. I do not need to chase females. They chase me.”

“Arrogant much?”