He nodded. “Only if Candy the Second agrees.” He smiled.

“Whatever.” She gave him a swat on the side of the arm. “And Torrent.”

“Yeah.”

“Thank you. This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me.”

He nodded. “I’m going to start an adoption program and I’m hoping you’ll help me, since your medical career is out the window, on account of you being squeamish about blood.”

She had to laugh. He was right. “What did you have in mind?”

“These guys”—he pointed at the dogs who were exploring the apartment—“sparked a ton of interest amongst my people. I want to try and find homes for some of those animals at the pound. Why not here with us? Maybe even with some of the other species.”

“You mean the vampires and the other shifters?”

He nodded. “Why not? I thought the animals might be afraid of us but they’re not.”

“What about Candy the Second? She doesn’t seem to like shifters.” Candy laughed. “We’d better think of another name really quickly before that one sticks.” She added.

“I think it’s too late for that.” He choked out a laugh. “She only reacts to me. She didn’t mind any of the others touching her, holding her. She doesn’t seem to care either way.” He smirked at her.

“Love and hate.”

“Not hate exactly.” He winked at her.

“More like extreme irritation.”

“I’m hoping if I try hard enough, she’ll come around.” He kissed Candy on the temple. “Let’s take the dogs for a walk.”

“That sounds like a really good idea.”

It felt weird to walk out of the room together. Torrent had Candy the Second on a leash and she had her puppy. She needed to come up with a name and soon.

Torrent grabbed her hand. It was like the most natural thing ever. It felt right. “Is this okay?” He touched his shoulder against hers.

“Yeah.” She squeezed his hand.

They passed some big burly warrior types. They glanced their way and greeted them but otherwise kept on going. They made their way through a maze of vast hallways. They were huge. Torrent explained that the areas within the lair needed to accommodate a dragon in full shift. Dragons hated cramped spaces. They were claustrophobic. Which made sense.

They walked and talked. It was nice. It was really nice. It was also really comfortable. Underneath all of that niceness and comfort was a raging inferno that was her libido. And by the huge bulge in Torrent’s jeans earlier, she would say that he was feeling the same. Candy needed to find some serious resolve. She needed to make him wait just a little bit longer. They had a long future ahead of them and she needed to be sure that he never pulled that kind of shit again.

Chapter 22

The next day…