He cut his eyes at her as they climbed together. She smelled so good and looked so pretty. “Too much celebration.”

Her arm was around him. It was a nice feeling. “But your friend got engaged. If there was ever a time for too much celebration, that was it.”

“Da, that was it. But still, maybe, too much.”

“You’ll be fine in a couple hours. Dragons have impeccable metabolisms.” She got him onto the landing and let him lean on his crutch.

He scowled. “Not with venom in my system.” That stupid bite had ruined everything.

“Oh, yes, right. I forgot about that.”

“Is why I am p’yanyy.”

“I’m going to assume that means inebriated.”

He smiled and winked at her. She was so smart. And pretty. “You learn Russian very good.”

“Thanks.” She laughed again, dipping her head so that her hair partially covered her face.

Her coat looked thin to him. She must be cold. “We should go inside.”

“We should,” she agreed. “But you have to unlock the door first.”

“Mmm, da…” He wrapped his good arm around the porch post as the floor beneath him seemed to tilt. Damn venom. “Key in pocket.”

Her brows lifted as she looked at him. “Are you asking me to get it out?”

“Da. Right pocket.”

“I’m not sure you’re that sloshed, but seeing as how you’re an injured man…” She pursed her lips, then gave him a stern look and came closer. Her fingers wiggled into the pocket of his jeans, sending a bright jolt of electricity through him. She pulled her hand free, stepped back, and her stern expression deepened. “There’s nothing in there.”

“Other right.”

Frowning at him in a way that made him want to laugh, she came close again and dug her fingers into the opposite pocket.

He felt them hook the key ring and drag it out. Before she could step away, he turned his face into her hair and inhaled. “You smell good.”

Her hand left his pocket, but the rest of her stayed where she was. “Thanks. You smell like smoke. But I guess you know that.”

He nodded. “Does it bother you?”

She shook her head slowly, her sparkling green eyes alive with something needy. “No. I…like it.”

And he liked her. Very much. Impulse took over. His pulse amped up at the thought of what he was considering. It was reckless and foolish, but he’d done worse in his life, and the drinks he’d had said go for it. So he did.

He bent his head and brushed his mouth over hers. The barest hint of a kiss. A test, really. To see what her reaction was. And if she’d let him do it again.

He watched her, his heart thumping, heat rushing through his system like gasoline had just been dumped on his internal furnace. That wasn’t the vodka, that was Lisa.

She blinked her eyes open and stared at him, her lips slightly parted and her cheeks flushed. She didn’t say a thing. But she didn’t push him away either.

So he tried it again.

This time, she kissed him back. She pressed her mouth to his as a gentle moan left her throat.

The sound spurred him on. He put his free hand on the small of her back and pulled her closer as the kiss deepened. The world spun around him, but he was focused on her and her alone. She was as soft and sweet as he’d imagined.

Her tongue traced the seam of his mouth, teasing him, then she suddenly sucked in a breath and stepped back. Her eyes flashed with light for a moment as she put her hands on his chest. “We shouldn’t do this. This is supposed to be a business relationship.”

He smiled. “Says who?”

“Says the League. I’m here to rehabilitate you. Not climb into your bed.”

Now there was a thought that gave him pause. Did her saying that mean she was thinking about it too? “I feel very rehabilitated right now.”

She shook her head. “You’ve had too much to drink. And I’m on the borderline. We should just get inside and go to sleep.”

He grinned.

“Separately.” She turned around, key in hand, and unlocked the front door, giving him a chance to admire her backside. She pushed the door open, and Grom came charging out. She pointed toward the yard. “Go ahead, go do whatever you need to.”

Finally, she looked at Van again. “I’ll stay out here and watch him. Unless you need help getting in?”

“Nyet. I can do it.” A new idea filled his head. “But maybe help changing.”

She snorted. “Nice try.”

“Just with brace. That is all I mean.” He limped past her into the house and turned around. “Cross my heart.”

“I guess I can do that. But we do it on the couch, not your bed.”

“I am happy to do it wherever you want.” He was on the edge of laughing, his mind putting far more meaning into her words than she was implying. He knew what she meant—and most certainly what she didn’t—but in the moment, he just wanted to enjoy teasing her.

She gave him a look that said she was wise to what he was thinking. “Okay, fine. Just let me get Grom in.”

“Good. Spasibo.” He made his way to the couch, leaving the door open, but didn’t sit. When she turned around to keep an eye on Grom, Van went over to the fireplace and lit the logs inside. Nice of Norma to get a fire ready when she was here earlier. It was almost like she knew he was going to need to set a romantic mood. The flames leaped and crackled, the sound soothing him.