Surrendering to the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons 5)
Page 52
But all that was in the future. In the present, he needed to focus on the dragonwoman next to him.
Cupping her cheek with his free hand, he gently kissed her and said, “Is that what your nightmare was about? The death of your fellow Protector?”
Chapter Thirteen
Nikki blew out a breath. “Are you sure you want to talk about that? It’s not a happy story.”
Moving his hand to thread his fingers through her hair, Rafe tugged lightly. “I don’t care if it’s happy or not. As long as it helps settle your mind and gives you a better chance at a happier life, then I will gladly listen to whatever you need to get off your chest, Nikki.” She opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off. “And you do need to get it off your chest. Don’t try to deny it. Whatever was haunting your dreams sits heavily on your shoulders.”
Her dragon chimed in. He is right.
You keep saying that.
I don’t want to since I like to be the one who is right. However, I need his help to sort out your stubborn arse.
“Does your dragon side with you or me?” Rafe asked.
She shot him a glance. “How do you know what we’re talking about?”
“Call it a lucky guess.” She narrowed her eyes and he chuckled. “Okay, whenever it comes to something you don’t want to do or talk about, your pupils start flashing. My hunch is that you two argue a lot.”
Her dragon preened. He is clever. And is usually on my side. I want to keep him.
Ignoring her beast, she muttered, “You’re too bloody perceptive.”
“Of course. It’s my job to be perceptive.” He lowered his voice. “It just means you’re going to have to work harder to fool me.”
Rolling her eyes, she sighed. “Maybe I was wrong before. Your arrogance alone is like a dragon-shifter’s.”
“It’s not arrogance when it’s fact.”
Nikki battled a smile but gave in. “Too bad you can’t fly, or you could challenge Marcus King of Clan Skyhunter. Maybe then the southern English dragons would join forces with Lochguard and us.”
Releasing her hair, he lightly brushed her shoulder, her waist, her hip. “How about you stop trying to change the subject and tell me what’s bothering you? That’s more interesting to me right now than devising a plan on how to take over a dragon clan.”
His intense gaze made her draw in a breath.
Her beast spoke up. Talk to him and then we can jump him.
What are you talking about?
You want sex. But he won’t give it to us until you tell him.
Unlike you, I can restrain myself.
Her dragon snorted. Right. Then tell me why there’s wetness between our legs, and an ache waiting to be filled.
Tired of her beast’s too-observant nature, Nikki tossed her dragon into a mental prison.
Meeting Rafe’s eyes, she half-expected to see impatience. But there was curiosity and a calmness she wished she had in the present.
Squeezing her hip, Rafe murmured, “I’m going to wait until you’re ready, but you’re not going to sleep again until I have the truth.”
“I could kick you out into the cold and then go to sleep.”
He grinned. “Then I’d just find a way back in. I already have several options ready to use.”
“Stubborn bastard that you are, you’d just keep coming back, wouldn’t you?”