Candy swallowed hard. For whatever reason, she didn’t feel comfortable talking to him about Ellis and what she did for a living. Not yet. If she was honest with herself, she felt ashamed. She was worried about how he would react. What would he think of her? She’d never been ashamed before. Why now?

“Okay.” He must have sensed her reluctance. “Start with something simple. Tell me something about yourself.”

She took a sip of the water and put the glass back down. “Well, you already know my favorite foods.” She smiled widely. “I try and eat healthy though. I exercise every day. I love being outdoors…”

His whole demeanor stiffened. “I’m sorry you’re stuck in here.” He smiled. “Maybe I can take you out tomorrow. We would need to sneak out though, I don’t want anyone following us, or accidentally catching your scent.”

Out! No way! “That would be amazing. I would love to go to the beach.” She had a thought. “Could you add a bathing suit to the list of items. I would love to go swimming.”

Torrent’s eyes darkened. “I could do that.” He cleared his throat. “No problem.” It didn’t help, his voice came out sounding just as rough. “I would love to take you swimming. I might just be willing to kill to see you in a bathing suit.” He said the last more to himself than to her. “What else?” His eyes snapped back to hers.

“My favorite color is”—she lifted her eyes in thought— “green. I’m a nature and an animal lover,” she added. Most people liked blue or red. People hardly ever love green.

“Of course it is.” He smirked and gave his chest a rub, smoothing his fingers over his golden tattoo. It had beautiful green swirls within the golden depths. It was truly beautiful. “I like that green is your favorite.”

“A complete coincidence.”

“Is it?” His gaze was intense and disarming. She could drown in those eyes of his.

“I didn’t know they could make tattoos that color. It’s really amazing.” The need to touch, rose up in her but she suppressed it.

Torrent smiled. “They don’t. We’re born with our markings. Royal dragons are born with gold. I’m a water dragon, that is why I have green markings within the gold.”

“That’s interesting. We’ve been told very little about your species. How long do you guys live?”

He smiled. “I think my answer would scare you.” He took a bite of his burger.

“Why? Are you an old man beneath all of that muscled exterior?”

Torrent swallowed. “By human standards, I’d already be dead… a couple of times over.”

She had to laugh even though she felt a little breathless at his statement. “I’m only twenty-four.”