Not His Dragon by Annie Nicholas

like it.” He purred as she put more muscle in her hits.
    None of her neighbors peeked out into the hallway. They were used to domestic disputes and this was mild in comparison to the Rodriguez couple in two-twenty-three. Angie squirmed and kicked and tried to bite.
    “Fuck, Angie, keep this up and I’ll take you back to my place instead. Fuck the dragon too.”
    She stilled. “You wouldn’t dare.”
    He chuckled and slapped her ass.
    “Ryota, we’re through. Done. Caput. No more.” She elbowed him in the back of the head.
    “Ow.” He rubbed the spot.
    “You will not touch me again.” She dug her claws in his ass with all her strength and punctured through his jeans.
    “Whoa.” The alpha half-shouted and laughed. He jumped and wiggled until they reached his car where he opened the trunk.
    “You fucking wouldn’t dare!”
    “Well, I fucking wouldn’t let a hell-cat like you loose in my new car.” He dropped her inside, pressing her head down so he wouldn’t knock it as he closed the trunk door.
    What a fucking gentleman.
     
     
     
    Clinging to the parapet on his castle, Eoin watched the silver sports car pull up to his front door. His black scales blended in with the night sky and as long as he didn’t move the passengers wouldn’t see him.
    Angie had said she’d find her own ride to his home but Eoin bared his teeth when the werewolf alpha climbed out of the driver’s side. He’d been at her shop yesterday. The alpha’s reputation with females was legendary. Angie could do better.
    Eoin leaned forward, stretching his neck toward the car. Where was the petite not-dragon?
    Ryota circled to the trunk and popped it open.
    Angie sat up. Even from this distance he could see the fury carved into her features.
    Chips of stone tumbled from the castle as Eoin’s claws jabbed deeper into the wall. The alpha had locked her in the trunk? Eoin roared and stormed down the side of the building head first, lashing his tail to release his battle spikes.
    Angie clapped her hands over her mouth. Her eyes had gone so wide Eoin could see clear through to her retinas.
    The alpha spun around. As he focused on Eoin, he shifted to his beast form in his clothes and pulled the torn rags off his furry body. “Peace, Eoin.” He shouted and raised his hands, claws retracted.
    Eoin landed next to the car, his wings extended fully as he loomed over them. His bedroom could use a fur rug and Ryota was the perfect shade of black. “How is it peaceful when you bring my new caretaker to me in your trunk?” Fire rolled within his chest and smoke drifted from his nostrils. He wanted to sear the alpha’s body and suck the marrow from his heat-cracked bones.
    Angie’s scent coiled around Eoin and he shuddered as it filled his lungs. She made him react instinctively. That was dangerous for all of them. He needed a dunk in the glacier lake to cool off before he did anything stupid like leave New Port’s werewolf pack leaderless. She’s not a dragon. She’s not a dragon . He glanced back at her and sighed. Fuck, she wasn’t a dragon.
    Angie climbed out of the car. “When did I become your caretaker?” Her question caught Eoin off guard and extinguished his fire.
    “Uh, you’ll being caring for my scales?” What other title could he have used?
    “So that makes me your official caretaker?”
    “It’s not like we’re married or anything.”
    Her eyes roved over his form, traveling over his shoulders to his wings.
    Reflexively, he extended them fully and flexed his chest so his wings wouldn’t quiver from the strain. A dragon’s best asset was his span. Maneuvering his body between her and the werewolf, Eoin managed to guide her closer to him. “Are you injured?” He asked her without taking his eyes off the alpha.
    “Slightly bruised.”
    “Why did you treat her this way?” He lowered his head to meet Ryota’s gaze. The werewolf smelled of fear. Like he should. Even though the different races ruled themselves there was