Loved by the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons 4.50)

Chapter One

Evie Marshall changed her position in the bed for the hundredth time in the last hour. While she’d had eight-and-a-half months to come to terms with her swollen body and overabundance of hormones, she usually had Bram’s warm, comforting presence at her back.

But not tonight.

Over the past few weeks, Bram had been spending a lot of time with Kai Sutherland, Stonefire’s head Protector, and Finn Stewart, the clan leader of the Scottish dragon-shifters. The trio was working on plans to track down the dragon hunters with the help of a human soldier named Rafe Hartley. The rational side of Evie’s brain knew protecting the clan was a top priority and that Bram wanted nothing more than to be curled up at her back. Yet her pregnancy made her rational side sit in the time-out corner three-quarters of the time so it could make a fuss.

All she knew was every fiber her of being ached for Bram’s touch.

Tears prickled her eyes and Evie brushed them away as she cursed her bloody pregnancy hormones. Whoever said they loved being pregnant had to be lying. Throwing up, gaining weight, and losing control of her true self was the worst experience of her life. And considering she’d been kidnapped and held prisoner for several days by a group of dragon hunters, that was saying something.

Then her baby kicked and Evie placed a hand on her stomach. Sorry, little one. Mummy loves you, truly. But if you could make your exit sooner rather than later, it would be much appreciated.

Her baby kicked again. Given their child’s stubborn father, the little one was probably not saying yes. It was more likely he or she wanted to hang out in the little swimming pool inside her body for as long as possible.

With a sigh, Evie rolled over and glanced at the glowing white numbers of the bedside clock. Three minutes had passed since the last time she’d checked it. Maybe if she counted dragons flying overhead, she could settle long enough to fall asleep.

Just as she reached three-hundred-and-forty-two, she heard the front door to hers and Bram’s cottage slowly creak open. Taking hold of the cricket bat next to the bed, Evie scooted off the mattress and moved to stand to the side of the bedroom door. It could be Bram, but given all of the attacks and danger during her months on Clan Stonefire, Evie wasn’t taking any chances.

Someone ascended the stairs and stopped in the hallway. Since Evie was only human and didn’t possess keen dragon-shifter eyesight, she could only make out a large, tall shape in the darkness. Tightening her grip on the cricket bat, she waited to see if the intruder would speak.

A familiar teasing voice filled the air. “Since you have the bat at the ready, should I protect my cock, love? I don’t recall doing anything to upset you, but I could be wrong and want to be prepared.”

Evie sighed and flipped on the light. After blinking a few times, she made out Bram’s dark hair, blue eyes, and tall, muscled form in the hallway. “Maybe I should give you a taste of what I’m going to endure in a few weeks’ time, if your ‘wee Evie,’ ever decides to come out at all.”

Concern flashed in Bram’s eyes and he crossed the space between them. After plucking the bat from her hands and tossing it aside, he engulfed her body in his strong arms. “Are you hurting? Do I need to call Dr. Sid?”

Evie pushed back until she could meet Bram’s eyes. She frowned. “For the millionth time, if I need a doctor, I’ll let you know.” She tilted her head and studied his eyes. “The bigger question right now is why are you back so early? I expected you to be out all night again.”

“Finn was irritating the hell out of me, so I hung up on his video conference call.”

Evie tried not to smile. “One day you will admit he’s like the brother you never had.”

Bram growled. “If he’d truly been my brother, I would’ve killed him as a teenager. Be glad that he isn’t, because then I would be serving a life sentence in prison and wouldn’t be able to do this.”

Bram nuzzled her and lightly nipped where her neck met her shoulder. As he licked the light sting, Evie leaned into his touch. “At some point, that is going to stop working on me.”

His breath was hot against her skin when he murmured, “If that ever happens, love, then drive a stake through my heart because my life wouldn’t be worth living.”

Her heart thumped harder and tears prickled her eyes again. “Bram.”

He leaned back and his pupils flashed to slits and back. “You know my dragon doesn’t like you crying, love.”

Evie sniffed. “Tell your dragon it’s his fault then for impregnating me. I hope little Murray and the new baby are enough to complete our family because I don’t think I can do this again. I can’t help the clan or try to locate my missing friend, Alice, when the merest action turns me into a blubbery mess. As it is, it takes all of the energy I have not to break down in public.”

~~~

Bram Moore-Llewellyn caressed his mate’s cheek. “I’m not sure if two babies are enough.”

Evie blinked. “What?”

His dragon growled. Don’t provoke her. It’s not good for the baby.

Evie crying and feeling sad isn’t good for the babe. I have a plan.

His beast merely shook his head and waited to see what Bram would do.

Bram answered, “Two isn’t enough. We should have three, maybe four.”

Evie narrowed her eyes. “You find a way to carry a child for nine months and birth them, and then we’ll talk about it. Until you do, it’s not going to happen.”

The corner of his mouth ticked up at her growly voice. “I’m sure I have ways of convincing you.”

Evie looked around. “Where’s that bat?”

“After all, there are a lot of half-dragon-shifter babies in the world who are looking for parents.”

His mate met his eyes again. “Are you talking about adoption?” He nodded and she lightly slapped her chest. “Then why the bloody hell didn’t you say that from the beginning?”

Grinning, he pulled Evie close. “Because I love how your cheeks turn pink when you’re angry and determined to change my mind about something.”

“Bram Moore-Llewellyn, I am eight-and-a-half-months pregnant and chock-full of hormones. Under normal circumstances, I would be able to restrain myself from killing you. But right now, it’s starting to look like the better option.”

Bram winked. “You know you love me.” She growled in response, and he leaned down to her ear to whisper, “Besides, you’re no longer about to cry. You really should be thanking me, love. I know how you hate to cry.”

As he kissed her cheek, Evie let out a sigh. “Sometimes, I wish you weren’t so bloody exhausting.”

“Then you’d be bored.” Brushing her cheek with his own, he murmured, “I’m sorry I’ve been away so much lately.”