Aiding the Dragon (Stonefire Dragons 7)

We’ll see her naked tonight. That should count for something.

Maybe.

He snorted at his dragon’s tone. Priorities, dragon, priorities.

You seem to think about her a lot.

It was one of the reasons Aaron had been glad of the extra duties; he could forget Teagan while he was distracted with work.

However, her smiling face flashed inside his mind for the hundredth time. He shouldn’t care, but he kept wondering what she had done for the day. Maybe he could help her with something.

His beast huffed. We will find out soon enough. Besides, we need to make sure she eats properly.

Of course we will.

Thankfully he reached Killian’s office so Aaron’s beast couldn’t reply. Aaron knocked on the door, and Killian’s muffled voice said, “Come in.”

Aaron entered to find Killian sitting at his desk and an unfamiliar male sitting across from him. Killian motioned toward the fair-haired male who was probably a few years older than Aaron. “This is Colm MacDermot. He’s helping with planning the leadership challenges.”

Colm smiled. “Nice to meet you, Aaron.” He looked to Killian. “I should be going anyway. I still have lessons to prep for tomorrow.”

Colm took his leave. When they were alone, Killian spoke up again. “Did your team find anything?”

“No, but there must be another reason you wanted to see me since we already reported our findings, or lack thereof, not that long ago.”

“There is.” Killian leaned back in his chair and placed his hands on the armrests. “Why did you leave my sister’s house late last night?”

Shit. He’d been seen. “She’s a grown woman. It’s none of your business.”

“As her brother and head Protector, it is most definitely my business. She can’t afford to be distracted right now.”

Aaron decided to screw it and be forthright. “Everyone in your family keeps claiming to be protecting Teagan, yet you do so behind her back. Why don’t you fucking sit down and talk with her? You might learn something that way.”

Killian rose and closed the distance between them. “You being here is a privilege. I can send you back to Stonefire tomorrow.”

A few days ago, Aaron would’ve jumped at the chance to return to England. But he wasn’t ready to go back just yet. “Try it and I’ll appeal to Teagan. She can then decide my fate.”

Teagan’s voice filled the room. “Why do I need to decide anything? You two look about ready to go a few rounds. Maybe we should schedule some training time together. Male bonding and all that. Beating each other to a pulp should make you best friends.”

Aaron turned to look at Teagan, and it took everything he had not to rush up to her and kiss her. With her hair dancing around her shoulders and amusement dancing in her eyes, she was so fucking beautiful.

She cocked an eyebrow and Aaron focused back on the situation. He motioned toward Killian and then to her. “Ask your brother. Maybe he won’t chicken out and will actually talk with you.”

Teagan met her brother’s gaze. “What’s going on, Killian? I leave for a few minutes and all hell breaks loose.”

Killian grunted. “I’m just trying to protect both you and the clan.”

“What’s going on?” she demanded.

Killian waved toward Aaron. “I saw him leave your cottage late last night. I was trying to figure out why.”

She shrugged. “He lost a few challenges and now is paying up his debt by cooking me supper. He’ll be at my cottage fairly often.”

His dragon perked up at that remark, but Aaron focused on the conversation at hand. Killian sighed. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? I know you want the alliance with Stonefire to work out, but we know little about him.”

“I’m standing right here,” Aaron drawled.

Killian met his gaze. “I’m aware.”