Page 24

Chapter Twenty-Four

T he next month flew by for Iris. Between visiting Antony, helping the other Protectors and Wicked security team members question the dragon prisoners, and staying in the loop with the DDA, she barely had time to eat and let her dragon fly for a bit each day.

However, as Antony’s team shared more responsibility with her, she earned their trust bit by bit.

The hardest part had been keeping Antony from leaving his hospital bed too soon. However, his stubbornness and crankiness weren’t any worse than a dragon-shifter male, and the doctors had handled him deftly.

But today was the day he would finally arrive on Lochguard. Iris had come home ahead to get everything ready for him. Unfortunately, that meant her mother sat right next to her as they waited for Antony to arrive at Lochguard’s Protector building.

Iris glanced at her mother, who was knitting something for Antony that looked to be like a jumper with a dragon on it. A purple dragon, which was the color of Iris’s.

Her inner beast spoke up. I can’t wait to see him wear it.

I might burn it before that happens.

Oh, come on. It’ll be fun to see the put-together, charismatic secret agent in a homemade dragon jumper. Maybe we should suggest she knit wings on the back, too.

Don’t even think about it.

Her dragon sniffed. You’re no fun.

Her mum’s voice prevented Iris from replying. “I won’t stay long, like I promised. But I need to meet my future son-in-law before the rest of the clan.”

“I told you, we haven’t discussed mating yet. So don’t bring it up, aye?”

Her mother glanced at her before looking back at her needles. “Even Finn speaks well of him. He’ll stay, I think. And mate you, too.”

“Just because you say it doesn’t make it true.”

“Maybe. But you want him—both to stay and mate you—so I’m going to wish with my whole heart for it to become reality.”

Sometimes she forgot how perceptive her mother could be. “Thank you, Mum. I do love him, but it’s still early days.”

“Don’t worry, if he hurts you, I’ll get the sons of my friends to teach him a lesson.”

“Mu-um, no!”

Her mother smiled. “You are so easy to rile, Iris. I’ll wait until after I know him a bit better before I ask my friends’ sons. But it’s always an option.”

As Iris tried to think of how to dissuade her mother—telling her to stop would probably make her dig in—there was a knock on the door and Cooper walked in, with Antony right behind him.

Everything faded away as her eyes met Antony’s. He winked at her, and she stood and rushed over to him. He engulfed her in a hug, and uncaring about the others watching, she merely listened to his heartbeat as his presence eased her tension away.

Her dragon spoke up. We should definitely mate him.

Cooper cleared his throat, and Iris raised her head. Her friend smiled. “I’ll leave you to it, then. And don’t worry, I’ll take over your liaison duties with the DDA for as long as you need. Spend some time with your male.”

With that, Cooper left, and Iris took a deep breath. Because now she would have to deal with her mother.

Stepping back, she turned and gestured toward Antony. He immediately took her hand as she said, “Mum, this is Antony Holbrook. Antony, this is my mother, Jhanvi Mahajan.”

Her mother put down her knitting and studied Antony. He bowed and said, “Delighted to meet you, Mrs. Mahajan.”

Her mother snorted. “Iris said you were a charmer. Come here, son, and let me get a good look at you.”

Antony gave Iris an amused glance before going over to her mother. Jhanvi was short for a dragon-shifter, at about five-foot-nine, making her quite a bit shorter than Antony. And yet, she wasted no time taking out a tape measure and wrapping it around Antony’s chest.

“I need to make sure the jumper I’m making you will fit. Now, stand still.”

Iris bit her lip to keep from laughing as her mother measured Antony’s chest, arms, neck, and waist. The whole time he attempted to look stony-faced, except his lips twitched every now and then.

Once her mother finished, she stepped back and nodded. “For a human, you’re a nice, strong male. Good. Let’s hope that means you’ll give me strong grandchildren, too.”

Antony quirked an eyebrow as Iris groaned and then said, “Mother, stop. You promised.”

Her mother waved a hand in dismissal. “Your father is getting on in years, Iris. I don’t have time to beat around the bush.” After patting Antony’s arm, her mother gathered her stuff and said, “Make sure he comes to dinner tonight. Your father wants a turn to question him, although I think he’ll do, as the Scots like to say.”

Before she could think of how to reply to that, her mother left. As soon as the door clicked closed, Antony chuckled, came over to her, and hugged her close. After kissing the top of her head, he said, “I like her.”

Iris laid her forehead against his chest and shook her head. “Please don’t encourage her, aye? Otherwise, it’ll only get worse.”

He tightened his arms around her. “I assure you, I can handle your mother. Former secret spy, remember?”

She lifted her head and met his gaze again. “You say that, but you clearly underestimate my mother’s ability to observe or guilt-trip or quietly manipulate things to the way she likes. Not in an evil way, but still.”

“Then I look forward to the challenge. Maybe I should recruit her for Wicked security…”

“Don’t you even dare!”

He laughed. “I won’t, I promise. Now, how about you show us to our new home?”

Iris had been the one to suggest Antony stay with her. However, her heart still pounded as she led him out of the Protector building.

Her dragon spoke up. It’ll be fine. There’s always the extra bedroom, in case you need to kick him out of our room for a bit.

Antony’s voice prevented her from replying to her beast. “If you’ve changed your mind, Iris, that’s fine. I hear there are some young dragonmen with a spare room these days. MacAllister brothers, I believe.”

“How in the world do you know about Ian, Connor, and Jamie MacAllister needing a roommate?”

“Spy mastermind, remember?”

She rolled her eyes. “We’re going to have to set some rules going forward, aye? Lochguard is to be our home, so no spying, unless you think there’s a threat.”

He sobered. “I know, love. I learned about the MacAllister brothers after working with Emma and Logan. Logan moved out, and well, no one has moved in with them since.”

She softened. “Sorry. My mum put me on edge today. And whilst I’m glad she seems to approve, you still haven’t met my dad yet. Or, the rest of the clan.”

He took her hand, threaded his fingers through hers, and brought it to his mouth to kiss the back of her hand. The brief contact sent a little thrill through her.

Her dragon spoke up. We should skip dinner and eat alone with Antony. Maybe he’ll kiss us.

Soon, dragon. When it happens, it happens. I’m not planning anything.

Her beast sniffed. Well, I hope it happens before dinner, aye? I want him.

Antony squeezed her hand in his. “Is your dragon saying good things about me? About how handsome and strong and clever I am?”

She snorted. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

He tugged her off to the side, behind a tree, and gently pinned her against it. His hard, lean body against hers made her heart race and lips ache to kiss him. He lowered his head, nuzzled her cheek, and said, “I think she’s remembering my little strip show for you, love, and what happened after. Even now, I crave your taste and heat and the little sounds of your moans.”

His words shot straight between her thighs. “Antony.”

“I love the way you say my name, Iris.” He raised a hand to fondle her breast, and Iris arched into his touch. “I’m curious how it’ll sound when you come apart whilst I’m inside you.”

Her dragon hummed. Kiss him. Now.

Not until we’re somewhere private.

Then hurry!

Iris took Antony’s face in her hands and stroked his cheeks with her thumbs, loving the late-day stubble against her skin. “I want to kiss you, but not here. Last chance—are you willing to risk a mate-claim frenzy?”

“I’m ready, if you are.”

“Aye. Now, come on.”

She pushed against his chest. He stepped back, and Iris took his hand before nearly jogging down the pathway to her house.

Maybe she should wait until later, allowing Antony time to settle in, but seeing him again, holding him, and him interacting with her mother, made Iris want to kiss and finally claim him.

And if there was a mate-claim frenzy and a child? She was okay with that because Antony wouldn’t abandon her.

So she hurried the male she loved toward her cottage, eager to do something for herself and not for the clan. While she loved her job, wouldn’t have any other, she was done burying herself in work and hiding from life.

It was high time to embrace it, starting with Antony Holbrook.