Page 17

Chapter Seventeen

A ntony had just finished talking with Dr. Turner about the gas released in the street when a key turned in the lock of the flat’s door. This place had an outer door and a series of inner door “flats” that were dummies. And since only a handful of people had access via the palm print scanner outside his location, he didn’t reach for the weapon in his lap.

Max walked through, with Iris right behind him, and Antony relaxed. “I hope you’re not expecting me to cook, Max.”

His brother grinned and came to meet him. “You’re a shite cook, anyway.” He raised some bags. “I nabbed us some food, so we don’t starve. Because Iris said whilst she can cook, she’s not going to.”

Antony finally met Iris’s gaze, and a mixture of relief and desire rushed through him. He’d hated not being able to meet her in the forest. He was aware that she could take care of herself, and yet, after talking with Dr. Turner, Antony was a teensy bit more worried about their enemies.

Iris cleared her throat and moved to stand next to Max. “Aye, well, I’d rather work on finding Zoe and the others. Please tell me you have some news. Max didn’t find much today during his initial walk around Birkwood Castle, and I need to think about something other than dirt layers and what they mean.”

Antony quirked an eyebrow at his brother. “The obsessed archaeologist came out again, then?”

His brother shrugged and headed toward the small kitchen. “It’s what they expect of me. Besides, like Iris said, I didn’t find much.” He put one of the bags on the counter and then went to stand by the door. “However, I don’t need to hear all the details. To be honest, it’s probably safer for me if I don’t. Have a nice dinner, you two. Maybe light a candle or two to set the mood.”

Max winked and exited the room before Antony could scold him.

He’d told his blasted brother not to interfere. But then again, Max didn’t always listen if he thought he knew better.

Something else they had in common.

Iris unpacked the food, and he went to help. For about a minute, they worked in silence. But it wasn’t strained. No, it was more…domestic and comfortable and something he’d once dreamed of having, but thought that had died with Lisa.

He envisioned him and Iris living together, doing this every night, and he smiled. Iris’s voice broke through his dreams. “Why are you smiling at me like that?”

“I was just daydreaming.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Daydreaming? The great Antony Holbrook?”

Even though he should focus on what he’d learned and their shared enemies and the mission, he couldn’t help but reach out and tickle her side. Iris yelped, moved away, and glared. “That wasn’t fair.”

“Why not, my dear?”

“Don’t ‘my dear’ me right now. You still haven’t told me what happened after I left the town.”

“And I will, as soon as we sit down to eat. You can take a few minutes to unwind.”

“Being tickled is unwinding?”

He raised his arms and gestured toward his sides. “Come try and find out.”

“Some of us are adults.”

“Oh, come on, Iris. You know you want to. Besides, then we’ll be even. Think of it that way.”

She glanced down at his chest and Antony resisted undoing his buttons to tease her some more. He wanted to bring out the slightly playful version of Iris, the one he rarely saw but knew existed.

He twirled once and said, “Your chance is going away in ten, nine, eight…”

As he counted down, he wondered if he’d misjudged the situation. But in the blink of an eye, Iris rushed over and danced her fingers along his ribs. Antony barked out a laugh and tried to move away. When she followed, he gently took hold of her wrists and stared into her dark brown eyes.

Her hot breath danced across his face, making desire rush through him, straight to his cock. What he wouldn’t give to be able to lift her to the counter, spread her thighs, and make her relax even further. Well, mostly, until she started digging her nails into his scalp and begging for release.

“Antony.”

“Yes, Iris?”

Her gaze searched his, and he almost missed the dance of emotions there—uncertainty, worry, desire, and yearning.

So she wanted him just as much as he wanted her.

Leaning in, he nuzzled her cheek. “Tell me what you want, Iris.” He kissed her neck. “Ask me for anything.”

He released her wrists, and her hands gripped his shoulders. After a beat, he ran his fingers down her sides. Slowly, inch by inch, and this time, she sucked in a breath instead of laughing.

“I want…”

Her voice died down as he moved to nuzzle her other cheek. “Yes?” Antony moved back until he could see her eyes again. For once, her guard was down. The soft, heated look made him want to growl.

And yet, Iris had been hurt. Badly. There would come a time when he didn’t need to be so patient. However, she wasn’t quite there yet.

Since her pupils didn’t flash, it meant she still had the blasted contacts in. And yet, he swore she was talking with her dragon.

As he lightly caressed her hip, he waited to see if his dragonwoman was ready for more. He could wait if he had to. But Antony hoped he could finally see her gorgeous naked body, drink in every inch, and start winning her with more than words.

Iris had fully planned on avoiding Antony’s childish games to focus on the mission.

However, at his twirling and showing the playful side he usually hid from the world, she hadn’t wanted him to bottle things up and go back to being secret agent Antony.

So she’d tickled him. And when he’d taken her wrists, a thrill shot through her. Not fear. Oh, no, far from it. Desire and need and wanting.

And now he waited for her to say what she wanted.

Her dragon spoke up. Tell him to strip. I want to see him. Then he can undress us and help us relax.

I can’t risk him kissing us on the mouth.

Then tell him not to. Antony is different from other males. He won’t lose control and start a frenzy.

How she wanted to believe that. I’m not sure if we should go that far. I still don’t know what he found out earlier, and we could be needed at any minute.

Kai and Trina are watching Birkwood, and the others should be arriving soon as well. We can take an hour off.

As she eyed Antony, standing so close she could feel his heat, she teetered. It’d been a long time since she’d been naked with anyone. And while she wasn’t embarrassed about nakedness, it would make her vulnerable. The most vulnerable she could be, apart from having Antony inside her as she orgasmed.

Antony gently brushed her cheek with his fingers, up to her forehead, and down the bridge of her nose. The light touch soothed her, and he murmured, “Don’t feel pressured, Iris. Tell me to sod off, if you want. Not that I’m giving up, mind you. But I never want you to do something you don’t want to do.”

Her dragon said softly, Let him in a little bit more. Have some fun. Be something other than a Protector.

She’d been close to giving in, and her beast’s words were a type of permission. So she laid a hand on Antony’s chest and stroked, back and forth, loving how his breathing picked up and heart raced. “I want to see your body. Show me.”

The corner of his mouth ticked up. “As you wish, my dear. But come. We need more space.”

He took her hand, gently tugged her to the living room area, and gestured toward the sofa. “Sit down. Feel free to touch yourself, if you want. I won’t mind.”

She snorted. “You make it sound as if you’re a professional stripper.”

“You have no idea what I’ve had to do over the years. I once had to take off my clothes in front of a hen party. I ended up with far too many penis necklaces around my neck by the end.”

As she gaped, he winked and moved a few feet away.

Her dragon spoke up. Don’t be jealous. Just sit down and enjoy.

I’m NOT jealous.

You are. And that’s okay. But I want to watch our male.

Iris didn’t even argue with her beast. As soon as she sat down, Antony started humming some beat. She was about to ask what the bloody hell he was doing when he undid the first button on his shirt, and the next, and she forgot about everything but the skin he revealed.

By the time he finished the last one, she itched to caress the dark hair mixed with gray on his chest. His rather firm, defined chest, crisscrossed with a few faint scars.

Damn, he was sexy.

As he tossed away his shirt, revealing his upper half, he made an exaggerated flexing motion, as if he were a bodybuilder, complete with an expression that looked as if he were constipated.

Iris burst out laughing, and Antony grinned. “What?”

“You really don’t want to know because it’s not the least bit sexy.”

“Now I’m curious.” He stepped closer, squatted down, and put a hand to either side of her hips. Without his shirt, his heat and scent surrounded her. And she wanted to pull him close, feel his skin against hers, and do more than tease.

But she couldn’t go all the way, couldn’t risk a mate-claim frenzy. So she told the truth. “You looked like you needed to take a shite, is all.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Whilst I was going for comedy, I try to avoid bathroom humor.”

Her lips twitched. “Aye, I can’t see you playing fart sounds with your hands and armpits.”

He leaned in until his face was only a few inches from hers. “Is that what you want, Iris? Fart sounds?”

“Of course not. I heard more than enough of that during my time with the army. Men in their late teens and early twenties find bodily humor the funniest thing ever.”

He chuckled. “Men of all ages, I’m afraid.” He moved a hand to cup her cheek, and Iris leaned into his touch. “But all that matters to me is you laughed. And it’s part of my new mission to make you do it as often as possible.”

Her heart raced as his heated gaze never moved from hers. Some people said Iris could be intimidating, but Antony wasn’t fooled.

Her dragon spoke up. He understands us better than most.

He frowned as he caressed her cheek with his thumb. “I hate those blasted contacts.”

“I could take them out.”

“Normally, yes, I’d say do it. However, in this moment, I like having you right where I want you.”

“And where is that?”

His free hand moved to her upper thigh and stroked back and forth. Each pass made her heart pound and her pussy pulse. He whispered, “Wanting me.”

She could make a quip, say he was cocky, and mention how their food was getting cold.

And yet, as he continued to stroke her thigh, she widened her legs more.

Antony chuckled as he moved closer, until he nearly touched her. He moved his head to her ear, nibbled her earlobe, and then said, “Let me take off your jeans and please you, Iris. Let me lick and nibble and make you squirm.”

The pulsing between her thighs increased, and her breasts grew heavy. Before she could change her mind, she whispered, “Aye.”

“Aye what?”

“Aye, do as you said.”

“Then stand up, love. And let me help you out of those jeans. As much as I love how they highlight your arse and thighs, I want to see your beautiful skin.”

He was smooth, almost too smooth. And yet, she heard nothing but truth in his voice.

Her dragon spoke up. He fancies us. Don’t second-guess it.

For the first time in a long time, Iris embraced her emotions over her brain, and stood. She moved to undo her jeans, but Antony took her hands. After kissing the palm of each one, he released her and undid the button and zipper. He tugged, and she wiggled, and after a rather ungraceful dance, her jeans finally lay on the floor.

“Look at that little bow.”

Damn, she’d forgotten about her underwear. “Just because I have a job mostly done by males doesn’t mean I can’t be girly with my underthings.”

He traced the bow at the top of her underwear, back and forth, never quite touching her skin. “Of course you can. My boxers have little slices of pizza on them. Everyone is more than what we show to the world.”

She blinked. “Pizza slices?”

He never took his gaze from the strip of skin between her top and her underwear. “That’s a story for another time. I don’t want to talk about my brother right now. I want to do this.”

His lips brushed against her skin, and Iris’s hands went to his head. As he did it again, the pounding between her legs increased, and she nearly pushed his head down.

As he spoke, his hot breath caressed her skin. “So warm and soft. I need to see more. Tell me I can.”

Without hesitation, she whispered, “Aye.”

Antony’s patient movements vanished as he tugged down her underwear. As soon as she stepped out of them, he nuzzled the short hair at the apex of her thighs. She swore he said, “Mine,” but before she could ask, he gently pushed her down and she plopped onto the couch.

His hand stroked her legs as he met her gaze. At the heat and desire there, her heart pounded.

“Open them for me, Iris. Let me see that pretty pussy of yours before I devour it.”

Her dragon hummed. Let him do that. I want to feel his mouth. Don’t say no.

At his look, Iris didn’t think she could say no for anything, so she spread her legs.

Antony’s fingers moved to her inner thighs, stroking back and forth, never quite reaching where she ached for him most. She growled. “Stop teasing me.”

He ran a finger through her center, and she nearly moaned as he murmured, “So wet and ready for me, Iris. Normally, I’d be more patient. But I need to taste you, love. Say I can.”

“Please, Antony. Hurry.”

He nodded, pushed her legs wider, and lowered his head.

Antony had planned to draw out his first time with Iris. Bringing her close, backing off, and doing it again until she was sweaty and desperate and only then would he watch her fall apart and maybe even lower down her guard a little more.

But as he stared at her spread thighs, her pussy dripping for him, his legendary control snapped. After spreading her wide, he lowered his mouth and ran his tongue through her center. At the musky yet sweet taste, he groaned and his cock got even harder.

He lapped and nibbled and even fucked her with his tongue. However, he managed to hold back from teasing her clit. He sure as hell hoped this wasn’t the only time with his dragonwoman, but he was determined to drink his fill of her sweet taste while he could.

Eventually, Iris dug her nails into his scalp and said, “Antony, please.”

Lifting his head, he met her gaze, loving how her usual guard was down. Instead, she was a slightly disheveled woman with need burning in her dark brown eyes. For him. “Please, what? Tell me what you want, Iris, and it’s yours.”

She raised her hips. “I’m so close, Antony. Make me come.”

Her words shot straight to his dick, and for a split second, he wanted to strip and take her right there on the sofa.

But he pushed down his own desires. He could have more of this, he was certain of it, as long as he didn’t fuck this up and rush things.

So he rubbed her thighs and settled back between her legs. “This flat is soundproofed, so scream for me, love. Let me know if you like it.”

After running his tongue through her center, he flicked her hard little bud, and again, loving how she arched into his touch. He thrust a finger into her pussy as he suckled her clit. He swirled his tongue, and nibbled, and suckled again, until Iris finally broke apart. She cried out as her pussy squeezed and released his finger, over and over again. He drew it out, his mouth continuing to worship her, until Iris finally slumped and came down from her high.

Antony slowly raised his head, removed his finger, and licked it clean. Iris watched him, smiled, and then closed her eyes.

Needing to feel close to her, even if he couldn’t be as close as he wanted, he crawled up beside her, pulled her body against his, and smiled as she snuggled into his side.

Seeing Iris naked from the waist down, her hair falling out of her ponytail, as she stroked his chest with her free hand, did something to his heart. It would be so easy to love this complicated woman, if he let himself.

Before he could think too much about it and all the dangers that came with it, Iris spoke. “I want to say something, but I know it’ll make you cocky.”

He kissed the top of her head and nearly crowed when she didn’t complain or scold him for it. “I can’t be cocky if it’s true. So let’s hear it, love. What do you want to tell me?”

For a few beats, she merely stroked his chest, playing with his chest hair. Eventually, she replied, “Your mouth is good for more than talking.”

He laughed. “Well, it’s here to serve you whenever you wish, love.”

For a second, he thought he’d fucked up. Iris hadn’t committed to anything, might not want him as much as he wanted her. But then she snuggled more into his side, and he mentally breathed a sigh of relief.

She said, “I’ll keep that in mind.” Lifting her face to his, she added, “But what about you?”

His dick twitched at her words, but Antony did his best not to sound desperate or eager. “What about me?”

She arched an eyebrow. “Don’t be obtuse. You’re a clever male, aye? You know what I’m talking about.”

“Aye, I do.” She narrowed her eyes at his accent change, and he went back to his regular one. “I wasn’t mocking you, I promise. It’s called teasing.”

Without another word, her hand went to his crotch and stroked his trousers over his cock. Antony sucked in a breath and barely heard her words as she said, “Two can play at that game.”

As she gently squeezed, Antony moaned. “Tease me as much as you like, love. I want all of it.”

Quicker than he thought she could, she’d undone his trousers and exposed his boxers. She snorted. “There really are pizza slices on your underwear. Is it to get me hungry before seeing your cock?”

“Hmm, does pizza make you starving and ready to eat some nice sausage?”

“Did you really just say that?”

He winked. “Yes, yes, I did.”

She rolled her eyes, but her twitching lips made him keep going. “Just don’t slice it into pieces for pizza. My brand of sausage is better eaten whole.”

“It’s a good thing you didn’t go into comedy.”

Unable to resist, he rolled until she was on her back on the couch with him nestled between her thighs. His dick throbbed in his boxers, but he did his best to focus on Iris and the moment. He wanted more than a quick fuck—he wanted a future. “I’m quite funny, I’ll let you know.”

“Says who?”

“I made you laugh.”

She looked stern a second before she smiled and raised a hand to cup his cheek. “Aye, you did. I don’t know why, but your bad jokes are somehow charming.”

He ached to kiss her, to taste her lips and explore her mouth, but knew he couldn’t. Not with a dragon-shifter. At least not with one who hadn’t said yes to a possible mate-claim frenzy.

So Antony nuzzled her neck instead and lightly nibbled. “You taste fantastic.”

One of her hands went to his back and lightly stroked. The slow motion, up and down, relaxed him. She murmured, “I wish we could do this properly, Antony. But…”

“I know, we can’t.” He leaned back, searched her eyes, and said, “Not yet, at any rate. Maybe someday?”

She hesitated. Just as he was ready to say never mind, she nodded. “Aye, someday. I’d like that.”

A thrill shot through him. “Good.” You’re mine , he didn’t say.

Instead, he sat up, tugged Iris into his lap, and looped his arms around her waist. She moved to get more comfortable. Her arse brushed against his cock, and he groaned.

“Let me up, Antony. I’ll return the favor and make you come, too.”

He hugged her closer to him and laid his head over her heart. “Later. For now, I just want to hold you like this. I know it’s so simple, and yet…”

“And yet, it’s been a long time. Aye, it’s the same for me, too.”

He twisted his head a little to see her face. They stayed like that, his head on her chest and staring at one another, for nearly a minute before she bit her bottom lip. While she obviously debated something, he asked, “What is it?”

“I don’t want to ruin the moment, aye?”

He tightened his arms around her waist. “When it’s just you and me, ask or say anything, love. I mean it. We both have to be strong and controlled a lot of the time, hiding our true thoughts or opinions, and I don’t want that here. Not between us.”

She ran her nails through his hair, and he nearly hummed. “I’ll try, but this is hard for me, aye? Sharing myself, my true self, isn’t easy. Not even with my parents.”

“Why not with them?”

She looked away. “My mum wanted a different future for me, a safer one. And whilst my dad was better, he worries as well. It was easier to share news about the lighter side of my job, the easy assignments, like with babysitting your brother. That kind of stuff.”

“Babysitting Max for his public-facing persona. Yes, that is entirely accurate.”

She smiled and met his gaze again. “When he lets down the act, he’s a lot like you, in some respects. Which makes sense when…”

Her voice died down. “When, what?”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to ruin our little bubble of peace and happiness.”

Antony ignored the happiness part—which made him rather proud—and kept them on topic. “Tell me, Iris. I don’t want there to be secrets between us.”

As soon as he said the words, he mentally cursed. Iris required patience, not him saying they should bare all.

However, she didn’t jerk back or try to get away. Instead, she traced his collarbone and blurted, “Max told me how you raised him after your parents died, but not much more than that. Such as how you managed it, after everything else.”

Of course, Iris had figured out the timeline of his life. He yanked the blanket from the back of the sofa and spread it over his and Iris’s lap. “There. Now you won’t get cold.”

Her gaze softened. “Thank you. Now, tell me.”

As he debated what to say, she took one of his hands and threaded her fingers through his. He stared at their clasped fingers, and in that moment, Antony knew he would one day love this dragonwoman. And he needed to do everything he could to win her and not hold back because it might be painful someday.

And so he tightened his grip around her waist and debated where to start.