Page 68

HARLEY

I woke up feeling warm all over, and honestly, a little sore—the good kind of sore, the kind of sore I’d missed desperately.

I was on my back, and Steph’s face was pressed into the curve of my neck.

His arm was a warm, comforting weight over my waist, and his chest was pressed to my body like he couldn’t get close enough.

I raked my fingers through his hair, and he responded with a low, pleased rumble.

Dragons were a lot like cats in that way—they loved to be petted.

I smiled to myself. Definitely weren’t telling him that any time soon.

“Morning,” he murmured against my skin, his rough voice sending a shiver of desire down my spine.

“Good morning to you,” I said. “Sleep all right?”

“Better than ever.” Steph raised his head and pressed a kiss to my lips.

I melted back against the sheets and let my hands drift over his shoulders and the strong plane of his back.

His kiss traveled from my lips to my jaw, then down the curve of my neck. He nuzzled me there, then sighed. “My dragon didn’t sleep too well, though.”

“Why’s that?” I asked, though I was pretty sure I knew the answer.

“He wants to claim you. We both do. Badly.”

Another shiver rolled through me. I’d felt it last night when his kisses and bites kept returning to my neck and shoulder.

It was as if I could feel his dragon right under the surface, desperate to be even closer to me.

I couldn’t deny that I wanted it on some level.

Wanted to give in to him, let him possess me, claim me, make me entirely his.

“I know. I’m not against it. I’m just… I’m not ready.” There was too much danger surrounding us. Too many unknowns. I couldn’t give my whole life to Steph like that, not until I knew my son and I would be safe. “I’m not going anywhere, Steph. I just need time.”

“I’ll give you all the time you need,” Steph said immediately. “I can control my dragon. He’s just a bit of a bastard when he really wants something.”

I laughed, then shoved him onto his back. I climbed on top of him, then leaned down for another searing kiss. His hands slid up my thighs, and he rumbled into the kiss.

We lost ourselves in each other for a few long moments, then Steph squeezed my thighs with a warm laugh. “I could stay here all morning, but I think I hear a hungry nine-year-old waking up.”

“Oh, God. Ever since his first shift, I can barely keep up with his appetite.”

“I better start making the eggs, then,” Steph said with a grin. He gave me another kiss, then we both got dressed and headed downstairs.

I made the coffee while Steph scrambled enough eggs to feed an army, and Cassidy made Dylan’s favorite cinnamon toast in the oven.

The four of us sat at the table and ate, while Striker stuck with coffee and started on the dishes.

Honestly, I was getting used to having the extra enforcers around—they helped out with the chores a hell of a lot.

“I spoke to Blakely yesterday,” Steph said.

Cassidy and I snapped our gazes to Steph. “You did?” I asked.

“Text only,” he said. “She agreed to meet this morning at the café downtown. It should be public enough that she doesn’t try anything insane.”

“What do you mean, insane?” Cassidy asked, glancing between us. “Just how bonkers is this woman?”

“Pretty bonkers,” I said.

“I want to go with you,” Steph said.

“No,” I said immediately.

Steph sighed. He’d clearly expected that answer. “All right. I’ll send Rome with you.”

“Deal.” I leaned to the side and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Thanks for understanding.”

“Gross,” Dylan said, then stood up. That kid could seriously inhale some breakfast. “I’m going to help Striker with the dishes.”

“If a few smooches makes you do chores, you better get used to seeing them,” Steph said with a grin. He turned back to me with a more serious expression. “If you think this’ll make life in Lakeview easier for you, then I support you all the way. Even if I want to be the one chewing her out.”

“Like I said, the whole reason she won’t give this up?—”

“Is because she thinks she can walk all over you,” Steph finished for me. “I know. And I think you’re right. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“I’ll come with you,” Cassidy said. “I want to see this bitch in person and give her the smackdown she deserves.”

“No one’s giving anyone any smackdowns,” I said with a fond shake of my head. “I appreciate it you wanting to come with me, but I need to do this myself, or she’s never going to leave us alone. I don’t want any violence. I need to prove to her I won’t put up with any more of her bullshit.”

“It’s not you I’m worried about—it’s her,” Steph said.

“And that’s why Rome will be with me,” I said, and patted his arm.

Steph huffed, but nodded.

“Auntie Cass!” Dylan called from the kitchen. Dishes were still being done, albeit inefficiently, since at some point Dylan had climbed onto Striker’s back. “Remember how I showed you my claws yesterday?”

“How could I forget?” Cassidy propped her chin in her hand, smiling fondly at Dylan and Striker. There was a little more fondness there than usual, so maybe it wasn’t just Dylan she was looking at.

“Striker said we could go flying today,” Dylan announced. “Do you wanna meet my dragon for real?”

Cassidy let out a theatrical gasp. “A full shift? Dylan, I’d be honored to meet your dragon.”

“Really? You want to?” Dylan grinned, huge and excited.

“Of course, I do.”

“You can fly with us, if you’d like,” Striker said warmly. “I’ll be shifting as well, so I could carry you.”

Steph knocked his foot against mine under the table. I met his eyes and raised my eyebrows minutely.

Cassidy’s lips quirked into a small smile, which then widened. “You know what? Yeah. That sounds pretty fun. Is it dangerous?”

“Yes,” I said, at the same time Striker said, “No.”

Cassidy looked at Steph with one eyebrow raised. “So-so,” Steph said, waggling his hand side-to-side demonstratively. “But if there’s any dragon that’ll take good care of you, it’s Striker.”

“Then while you’re beating Blakely’s ass, I guess I’ll be watching from above,” Cassidy said. She wiggled in her chair. “Ooh, this is so exciting!”

“Don’t have too much fun without me,” I said. “Guess I better go get dressed.”

“Rome’s ready whenever you are,” Steph said. “I’ll handle the dishes.”

By the time I was dressed, Rome was waiting for me outside the house. I’d let him chaperone me, but I wasn’t going to let him drive me around like I was totally helpless. I kissed Steph, told Cassidy and Dylan to be safe, and then climbed into the sedan that’d quickly become my daily driver.

The café was downtown next to an old bar and restaurant. There wasn’t much to it, just a coffee bar, a few overstuffed chairs, a long communal table, and a little back patio filled with potted plants. As I approached the big glass windows, I saw Blakely’s unmistakable red pixie cut.

“Where do you want me, Miss Harley?” Rome asked. He was a young, skinny man with a stylishly shaved head, but it wasn’t like I was that much older than him.

“Oh my god, please don’t call me Miss, it makes me feel a hundred years old,” I said with a smile. “Just wait out here, and I’ll signal if things go sideways.”

Rome nodded. He posted up by the door in a way that was extremely obvious, but I didn’t mind. It was probably best if Blakely could see him.

The bell over the door chimed as I walked in. “Hi, Blakely. I see you already got a coffee. I was going to offer to buy one.”

“I don’t need your handouts,” Blakely hissed. She was holding a giant hot coffee drink with whipped cream, and there was some on her lip, which made the threat a little less scary.

I ordered a plain coffee, then turned back to Blakely. “Should we sit down?”

“I’m fine standing.”

Awkward, but fine. We stood at the end of the communal table.

“So, what the hell do you want? Got another smart plan to ruin my life? Or are you finally ready to admit that Ace is mine?” Blakely snapped.

“No. I want you to stop trying to ruin mine,” I shot back. “I know about your stupid plan to make it look like Steph was cheating on me.”

Blakely narrowed her eyes, but said nothing.

“You’re acting like a child. You’re not the genius mastermind you think you are. You’re just a petulant little kid. You are way too old to be acting like we’re in middle school.”

“I’m just trying to take back what’s rightfully mine,” Blakely said with a sneer. “Life was perfect until you showed up.”

“Was it really perfect? Because it sounds to me like you were just hanging around the clubhouse waiting for whichever shifter decided they wanted an easy fuck.”

Her face paled, and she stepped back like I’d slapped her.

“It’s pathetic,” I continued. “And it makes me sad. Truly. Because it shows me how little you value yourself. A woman who really valued herself and wanted a partner to value her wouldn’t be acting like this over a man who doesn’t want her.

Steph has made it clear dozens of times that he doesn’t want a damn thing to do with you.

So why do you keep trying to crawl back? It’s degrading.”

“You—” Blakely sputtered. “You—You don’t know anything about what Ace wants! You’ve done enough damage here, and it’s time for you to get the fuck out of Lakeview and go back to where?—”

“This isn’t a discussion,” I interrupted in a firm voice, like I was talking to a whiny child instead of a grown woman. “I’m not here to give you options. I’m here to tell you what’s happening.”

“You’re just another one of Ace’s flings. He’ll get bored of you and come back to me.”

Blakely’s arguments weren’t even threats. They were just pitiful delusions. It made me feel bad for her.

“Blakely, you need to move on. Steph hasn’t come back to you because he doesn’t want you. Whatever you two had is over. It’s been over for a long time, and you need to accept it.”

Blakely scowled fiercely at me, but she actually looked like she might be listening.