Wait just a minute with the mine shit. She was about to say something when he cleared his throat. “If anyone asks, you are mine. Do not dispute it or you will be fair game.”

“Oh… shit! Okay. I’m yours.” It felt weird saying it. She had never belonged to anyone before. No parents, no siblings, no sense of belonging. Not ever. Till now. It was horrible and oddly comforting and all at once.

Coal squeezed her side. “Don’t let go of me unless I—”

“Yeah, yeah, unless you have to make someone bleed.” Her heart was pounding. She could hear the roar of the blood as it rushed through her veins.

Coal sniffed and then gave a chuckle. “You like the idea of me fighting. You may not want to admit it but you’re enjoying this.”

“Um… no.” Half-hearted.

He smiled down at her. “You like the idea of me fighting for you. You are a strange female, Julie.” Oooh the way he said her name. It gave her butterflies. It shouldn’t give her butterflies.

He leaned in. “You say you don’t want me. You don’t like that I called you mine…” he paused. “I felt you tense when I said it. Yet, you like looking at me naked and you want me to fight for you. You like my dragon as well.” He said the last like it was important to him.

She shrugged. “I like animals and I’ve always enjoyed watching wrestling and those cage fighting matches. I told you, if you let it all hang out there, I’m looking. Aren’t you going to get dressed now?”

Coal shook his head. “I left those tattered rags at the base of the cliff.”

She giggled. “Isn’t it dangerous to fight without pants?”

Coal grinned. He was really cute when he smiled. “No. Dragons are honor bound. We would never purposefully hit below the belt.”

“Purposefully?” She raised her brows.

His smile widened. “Accidents happen but we are able to heal and regenerate quickly.”

Julie choked out a laugh.

“The thought of my dick being ripped off or badly burned amuses you?”

Julie put up a hand. “Why is it that every conversation we have is about your… man part?”

“I don’t know; why do you think that is?” He raised his brows, his mouth quirked up at the sides and his eyes were bright with amusement.

“Oh no…” She huffed. “Don’t turn this around. Forget it.”

He leaned in close, his mouth was close to her forehead. “I think…”

The door to the terrace opened. “Are you going to hang here all day?” A tall, blond guy with a broad smile stuck his head around the jamb. He had the most beautiful blue eyes and was good looking in a preppy kind of way.