Nikki stepped away and he let her. Putting a hand on her hip, she said, “Do you want to get yourself killed? Because father of my child or not, I’m not going to stop them from clutching you in their talons in dragon form and dropping you into one of the lakes. If you hit a rock, it’ll split your head in two.”
“But without me, you won’t have anyone to champion you doing anything but sitting and growing a baby. Admit it, you need me alive.”
Sighing, she rolled her eyes. “I guess you are more valuable to me alive than in a coma somewhere.”
Rather than reply, he reached out and pulled her to him. Tickling her side, she shrieked with laughter. “Stop it, Rafe.”
“Admit you need me, and I’ll stop.”
Nikki resisted, and he used both hands for his attack. Finally, she said breathlessly, “All right, all right. You’re the best partner for this mission, okay? Now stop tickling me!”
Ceasing his actions, Rafe gave her a quick, gentle kiss. “Right, then with that settled, I suppose we should reach out to your bastard boss.”
“Hey, my bastard boss is about to become your brother-in-law. Maybe I’ll mention to Jane how you and he need some male bonding time.”
“Don’t even tease me about that.”
Nikki giggled, and he couldn’t help but smile at the sound. Sometimes he needed reminding that Nikki was still a young dragonwoman; she needed more than war and conflict in her life.
And Rafe wanted to be the one to give it to her.
Before he could think too much on that thought, Nikki’s voice filled the room. “Regardless of what you think, we need to tell Kai. The sooner we do, the sooner we can convince him and Bram to let us go to Ireland.”
“Agreed. But I really think you need a shower.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Are you saying I stink?”
Nuzzling her neck, he murmured, “Always thinking the worst of me, I see.” He nipped her neck and continued, “I want you to take a shower with me, Nikki. That way I can soap up your body before rubbing you down. Maybe I’ll even pay extra attention to the area between your legs.”
Her breath hitched and satisfaction coursed through his body.
Clearing her throat, Nikki answered, “I suppose it would save water to shower together.” He growled, but amusement danced in her eyes. “To truly save time, we should soap each other up.”
Nikki slipped away and ran up the stairs. Rafe raced after her. For that, he was going to make sure he washed between her legs very slowly, until she begged for more.
Chapter Ten
An hour later, Nikki’s mind kept wandering to her shower with Rafe. Taking time to enjoy all the lean, hard muscles of his body had been brilliant. It was hard to believe he was merely human.
Wait, that wasn’t right. Rafe wasn’t “merely” anything.
The male in question’s voice filled her ear. “If you don’t stop smiling, Kai and Jane will question you incessantly until you give up the details. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want them in my bloody business.”
She smiled. “It won’t bother me, but I’d rather not have to break up a fight between you and Kai.”
“I’d win,” Rafe stated.
Shaking her head, she tugged him the last few feet to Kai’s door and knocked. Jane opened the door with a grin. After looking at them, she motioned inside. “Come, come. The sooner you tell us what’s so important, the sooner I can badger you for details.” Jane looked at Nikki. “I hope Rafe hasn’t been acting like an arse.”
Nikki beat Rafe to the punch. “No, although his arse is quite nice.”
Rafe pushed gently against her back. “Stop nattering on about my arse with my sister.”
Raising her brows, Nikki met Rafe’s gaze. “But it’s so much fun.”
Rafe glared, and Jane laughed before saying, “Good to see you two teasing instead of always fighting.”
What Jane didn’t say aloud was conveyed with her eyes: You two seem to be getting along, but how well?