Page 8 of Her Enemy Dragon Captor (Dream Team Shifters #5)

CHAPTER 8

A lex paced outside the cabin door at dawn, phone pressed to his ear. He'd been awake most of the night, his dragon restless within him, pushing him to return to Jane. His sleep had been restless and fitful at best. He had awoken in a sweat with no explanation.

As if the pressure of needing to save the world does not explain it...

"I understand the urgency, Jack," he said, keeping his voice low. "I am making progress, I think... you need to trust me?—"

"Trust you?" Jack's voice was sharp through the speaker. "You have had months and months! The jaguar separatists are gaining ground by the day, and we still don't have a solid defense against the Krita. Your unmated status is the excuse they're using to undermine everything we've built. "

A crash followed by a string of colorful curses erupted from inside the cabin. He could make out muffled cries for help, but was pretty sure they weren’t discernable as such over the phone.

They better not be.

"What was that?" Jack queried.

"Nothing," Alex said quickly. "Just a... dog. A stray I found... a stray passing by I mean..."

"A dog? You have a —"

"I'll be at the meeting this afternoon," Alex interrupted. "I have to go."

He ended the call before he could dig himself in deeper, and took a deep breath before unlocking the cabin door. Inside, he found Jane standing amid the remains of what had been the small table, looking decidedly unapologetic.

This difficult little gecko will be the death of me.

He pushed away other thoughts that tried to surface.

This was no time to go soft. He couldn’t afford it.

"Oops," she said flatly. "Accident."

Alex surveyed the damage, struggling to keep his temper in check. "Was destroying furniture part of your federal agent training, or is that just a personal hobby?"

She glared at him. But despite her attempts to appear tough, he was sure he detected something else...something softer. A recognition? Almost a searching... as if she were looking for something in their gaze. But no sooner had he thought he noticed it, than it was gone. For a moment it almost reminded him of something... but then as she spoke that too disappeared from his mind.

"First, I was going to try to make a lever out of a table leg – but then I heard you on the phone. What? Am I not being compliant enough for you?” Jane said, crossing her arms. "Thought maybe you could be talking to someone with a conscience. Failing that, figured maybe I could pry open a window. What do you think of my plan?"

Despite himself, Alex felt a flicker of admiration for her persistence. His dragon stirred in his chest, rumbling with what felt disturbingly like approval.

"I brought breakfast," he said, holding up the bag he'd carried from the compound kitchen. "And some other things I thought you might need."

“You’re not going to punish me for misbehaving?” Was that a challenge in her eyes?

“I am not what you think I am. Here.” He set the bag on the counter.

Jane eyed the bag suspiciously. "More 'exceptionally soft' pillows?"

"No," Alex said, as he began to unpack it. "Fresh clothes, I think they are your size, some books, and toiletries. The shampoo is lavender. I thought it might be... calming."

"Calming," Jane repeated, as if testing the word for hidden meanings. “What are you on?”

Alex sighed. "Look, I'm trying to make this situation as comfortable as possible, given the circumstances."

"The circumstances being my illegal detention."

"The circumstances being your discovery of information that threatens everything we're working for." Alex countered, then caught himself.

Lester's words from yesterday echoed in his mind.

More flies with honey.

But he remained unconvinced.

She is a liar. And a sneak. And on top of that has admitted to working against the team.

Still, he did not fully trust his usually rock-solid instincts. They served him well as a warrior. Exceptionally well. But in matters of the... in matters of mates, he trusted them less.

I shall try to follow Lester’s words.

"I brought coffee as well," he said, gesturing to the thermos.

Even if it feels strange.

At the very least it can only help to get her to trust me while I figure this mess out.

Right.

"And there are pastries from the local bakery. The blueberry scones are... not terrible."

Jane's stomach betrayed her with an audible growl. Alex noticed she hadn't touched much of the food he'd brought yesterday—too busy plotting escape, no doubt. Reluctantly, she stepped toward the counter, giving him a wide berth.

"This doesn't change anything," she said, reaching for the coffee. Their fingers brushed as he handed her the cup, and that same electric jolt shot through him. He saw her jerk back, nearly spilling the coffee.

"Careful," Alex said, his voice coming out oddly gentle, surprising even himself.

Jane stared at him, clearly confused by the softness in his tone. "What's your game here? Good cop, bad cop? You're playing both roles?"

He felt a strange pleasure wash over him.

I have pleased her. Calmed her.

But just as quickly he felt his guard go back up.

Alex moved to the window, needing some distance between them to clear his head. His dragon was practically purring at her nearness, and reveling in it’s little victory as her would be protector. It was becoming harder to ignore his own desire to just hold her. To see her smile.

Safe. In my arms...

"No game. Just trying to be... civilized."

"Civilized would be letting me go."

"That's not an option," he replied, feeling an unexpected pang of regret. "Not yet, anyway."

He watched as she took a cautious sip of coffee. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise.

"How did you know?" she asked.

"Know what?"

"How I take my coffee. With milk, no sugar."

Alex shrugged, not wanting to admit he'd watched her at the warehouse when she first arrived. He hadn’t even realized until now that even then he was studying her. Even before she came up to his desk. "Lucky guess."

She didn't look convinced, but grabbed a scone instead. As she bit into it, a small sound of appreciation escaped her throat. The noise sent another unexpected wave of pleasure through Alex.

A smile tugged at his lips. "Not terrible, right?"

Jane took another bite of the scone, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You know, where I come from, it's not exactly polite to body-shame someone."

Alex blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

"Yesterday. You called me 'skinny' like it was an insult. And let's not forget the gecko shaming." She crossed her arms. "For someone preaching about some grand mission to save humanity, you're awfully judgmental."

Alex felt heat rise to his face. "Gecko shaming? I wasn't?—"

He struggled to find words, but realized this little human had rendered him quite speechless.

"Not that it got to me..." She straightened, and Alex found his eyes involuntarily tracking the lean, defined lines of her body. And he realizes he had been wrong to an extent. She did have curves...

"Geckos are not completely useless," he allowed, surprising himself with what he considered quite an admission.

“Oh gee, thanks.”

Why does she roll her eyes?

“And, I will admit. Your body, is rather... alluring. Athletic, that is. But this changes nothing.”

Arrrgg.

His dragon even brought a claw to cover his head.

Why had he said that? ‘Alluring,’ really? And, of course this changes nothing. She is a hostile agent. Not to be trusted.

Or admired.

Or undressed... or, caressed...

His mind’s eye flashed to their earlier confrontation. He had her pinned against the wall, feeling her soft flesh beneath his hands.

But this time he doesn’t stop himself. He tears at her shirt, ripping it open...exposing her soft breasts. He grabs at her ass, pulling her against his hard cock. She kisses him hard, grabbing at the back of his head, even as she rips at his clothes...

They are both pulling off their clothes before he presses her against the wall. He can smell her... he wants to devour her... Right away he is between her legs, licking...tasting ...sucking as she bucks and moans...

Stop.

Gods, get it together Alex...

With an effort, he got his suddenly raging desire under control.

He looked around, startled.

What was that?

Thankfully, other than a brief glance around, all that he had displayed was a little shuffle in his stance, and perhaps a conspicuous gulp.

Jane regarded him with suspicion. "And I'm actually very open-minded, contrary to what you seem to believe." Her voice took on a passionate edge. " Too open-minded, according to some of my colleagues. I believe in seeking truth, not just accepting what the world wants you to believe."

Something in her intensity resonated with Alex. His dragon stirred—not with desire this time, but with recognition.

Okay, and maybe desire too.

"Your mission is important to you," he observed quietly, refocusing on her words.

"Of course it is," Jane said. "I've seen what happens when vulnerable people get manipulated. My sister—" She stopped abruptly.

"Your sister?" Alex prompted gently, all of his attention keenly focused on her, his own dilemma momentarily forgotten.

Jane hesitated, then sighed. "My sister got involved with a group a few years back. Not furries," she added quickly. "One of those 'we have the answers to the universe' types. They isolated her from family, drained her savings, convinced her to cut ties with everyone who questioned them."

Her voice hardened. "By the time we got her out, she was a shell of herself. Still is, in some ways." She looked directly at him. "I won’t let you or anyone else put another family or vulnerable person through that suffering."

For the first time, Alex truly understood the source of her resolve, or at least thought he did. It wasn't just stubbornness; it was a mission as sacred to her as his own was to him. Perhaps they weren’t as different as he had once thought.

"I'm sorry about your sister," he said, meaning it. "But, I have told you, we're not what you think. We don't take advantage of people, we help them discover who they truly are."

"The most dangerous cults are the ones where everyone believes they're doing good," Jane countered, but her voice held less certainty than before. "They all think they're helping."

"And we don't ask for money," Alex said quietly. "We don't isolate anyone from their families. And no one stays who doesn't wish to be with us."

"Except me," Jane said pointedly.

“Well, you’re special.” Alex surprised himself with the line.

And he couldn’t tell if Jane were about to laugh or protest again. He quickly rephased it. "That is... you’re... different. You've seen things you shouldn't have. And you said yourself you want to “take us down” or whatever. I can't allow that."

"And I can’t allow innocent people to be exploited. That’s why I joined the FBI in the first place." Alex sensed there was more to it, but what she had shared already spoke volumes about her character.

He found himself moving closer, drawn by the conviction in her words. "We are not your enemy Jane," he said softly. "We too protect the innocent. That is all I can reveal."

For a moment, something passed between them—a fragile recognition of shared purpose, despite their opposing sides. His dragon hummed with satisfaction. This female was indeed strong. Principled. Dedicated.

Maybe... could it be possible he had misjudged her?

Well yes that much was clear.

But his mate?

The thought no longer seemed nearly as absurd as it had just yesterday.

Quite the opposite in fact.

He had to physically restrain himself. Suddenly the urge to pull her into his arms was almost overpowering.

And what, force myself on her. Absolutely not.

She would be terrified...

But his absolute desire for her was so intoxicating...

No, not like this.

I need time... to clear my head. To be sure...

"I must go," he said with effort.

He realized with surprise and some alarm that his manhood had swollen to the point of discomfort, locked as it was within the confines of his jeans.

No. Gods. Stop this nonsense.

Alex left the cabin with his mind churning. He'd almost told her everything—had been on the verge of revealing truths no human was supposed to know.

What is wrong with me?

It was one thing to consider the situation, but another to lose all control and start blurting out all their carefully guarded secrets.

For a moment he almost headed into the forest to relieve his need. His cock still pulsed at the thoughts that played at the back of his mind. To have her. To dominate her. To penetrate, thrust...he wanted her.

No.

With an effort he commanded his mind to stop.

His dragon roared its disapproval, but he asserted his command over it.

He forced his feet to carry him back to the compound.

He went over the defensive plans in his head, mentally counting through the forces they had, totaling figures... Anything to shift his focus off of her.

He was mildly successful. At least enough to move forward with his responsibilities for the day. As he entered the main building, Dylan and Jack were waiting, their expressions grim.

"There you are," Jack said, crossing his arms. "Hopefully you’ve been seeking out a mate?"

"You could say that," Alex muttered, averting his eyes. He would not lie, so a half-truth would have to do.

Dylan stepped forward. "Good, about time. Let’s hope your prowess as a warrior carries over to your skills in securing a mate."

"I tire of this topic..." Alex caught his temper rising, but forced himself to relax. His brother’s doubts were not unfounded.

“As do I. Get the job done,” Jack said plainly. Before Alex could reply he continued. “We have other things to discuss anyhow. The latest word from Oncara is hardly encouraging. There's a rumor spreading that there isn't any invading army of mutants at all—that the whole thing is a fabrication to consolidate power and drain resources."

"No invasion? That's ridiculous," Alex growled.

"Maybe to us," Jack said. "We have seen the creatures first hand. But the planets are far removed. The doubts are gaining traction. We need that alliance locked down now more than ever."

Alex felt the pressure mounting from all sides.

"And be on alert," Jack added. "There have also been rumors of spies trying to infiltrate us."

You don’t say?

While the others carried on discussing the latest threat to their precarious plan, his mind drifted to how he was going to pull this situation out of the fire.

By now he couldn’t deny the truth of it any longer. As they had sat in their meeting flashes of his dream had returned to him. He could not deny the truth any longer. But now it was obvious.

Jane is my mate.

So how do I convince her that her very world is about to be destroyed by mutant aliens from a distant world we like to call “The prison planet?”

Oh, and by the way, I’m a dragon shifter from another world myself.

Ready to make babies?