Page 6

Lucan

Aggressive Cuddles

She hurts.

My dragon landed on the roof, opening his maw to roar as he sent away the molecules of his form and released our human skin. Riley’s tear-filled eyes shot up in my direction from where she lay crumpled into a heap on the path leading out of the gardens.

A terror unlike any I’d ever known seized my chest as I dropped the duffle bag and cat carrier.

I’d kill whatever hurt her.

“What’s happening?” Kieran circled above. His blood-red scales reflected the morning sun.

“Give me a minute,” I spoke through our familial link, praying my words would penetrate his thick skull. The shadows of my wings refused to disperse as I leaped off the roof, clinging to me as if preparing for battle at any moment.

If Kieran refused to listen to my command, I wasn’t sure if I could contain the protective rage of my beast.

No wonder he’d been so aggressive when our roles were reversed.

But I didn’t worry about that now. My singular focus was on Riley. She needed me.

I landed on an azalea bush, not caring that it crushed under my weight. Though it would’ve been smart to put on pants. My gardens I’d cultivated, weeded and pruned for the last century, meant nothing if something happened to my mate.

Riley scrambled to her feet and wiped at her eyes as I approached. The sight of her wearing nothing but my shirt had blood rushing to my lower region.

If it wasn’t for the pain on her face, I might’ve felt inclined to comment on her state of dress.

As it was, I could hardly contain the rage working its way through my being.

“Are you all right?” My voice was thick with the beast. “Did something hurt you?”

My angry tone had Riley taking a cautious step back. Her pupils widened in fear. That spicy scent of hers was tainted and muted into something sickeningly sweet.

Idiot, my dragon cursed.

I sent away the shadows of my wings and tried to control the dominance pulsing from me in waves. “What happened?”

Yet she still cowered backward. Her eyes were wide and blown in the classic fawn response.

I couldn’t take it anymore.

I pulled her into my arms, sweeping her legs from under her and cradling her against my chest.

Maybe aggressively hugging her wasn’t the best response to a shot nervous system, but I was working with beastly instinct.

“Put me down,” she commanded with fire in her voice. That I could take. It was the fear I never wanted to see again.

“Not until you tell me what happened,” I said, trying to keep my tone soft.

“You happened, you big oaf!” Riley cried as she slapped her palm against my chest.

My pectoral muscle flexed at the contact and I had to bite down on the smile I was sure wouldn’t be welcome in the moment. “Me?”

“Yes, you.” Her breath hitched. “I didn’t ask to be kidnapped and stuck in the middle of nowhere away from my friends and my cat. And it’s the stupid apocalypse and you smell so good and it pisses me off because I already know I have the worst taste in men.”

Her words rang in my ears and I stared into her beautiful, tear-filled eyes as her chest heaved with panicked breaths. I held her delicate body closer, not letting her get away as a grin spread across my face.

“You smell good too.”

“That’s not the important thing to take from this conversation.” Riley pushed back, gasping as she saw the dragon in the sky. “Is that Kieran?”

I held in a growl at hearing the sound of relief spoken with another male’s name. But I wasn’t noble enough to let him be the hero.

“I asked him to come,” I explained. “And I asked him to bring your friend.” I held Riley closer, unashamedly redirecting her focus to me. “I’d hoped to surprise you with your own belongings before you got out of the bath.”

“You flew all the way back there?” The awe in her tone took some of the wind from my sails.

I wouldn’t lie to get her respect.

“I called him last night after I tucked you into bed and asked if he’d bring your personal items.” I turned back to the house, still not setting Riley down. She fit nicely in my arms. “They flew out early this morning and I met them at the border of my property while you were soaking.”

“Why didn’t he just come up the road?” The fight had gone out of her voice, but the tears were drying on her face.

“No one other than the guardian, Malachy, can enter my territory without my permission.” I resisted the urge to bury my face in her hair as I carried her through the gardens. “My property is marked by wards. It’s a part of my skillset, crafting magical boundaries. Like I told you this morning, there’s nowhere else in the world as safe.”

“It’s truly safe?” The way she questioned it had my dragon ready to prove himself in battle.

But I’d already shown enough pride for one day. “Yes. You’re safe here with me.”

“With you?” She stared into the distance as I carried her to the house. “As your mate?”

“As whatever you’ll have me as for now,” I explained as I reluctantly set her on her feet. “You’re not a prisoner here. I do apologize for your abrupt arrival, but when I thought you’d mated Kieran, my beastly impulses overacted a bit.”

“Why would you think that?” Her brow furrowed as she slid down my body, keeping her hands on my arms to stabilize herself.

“I’m not sure I’ve had a clear thought since the minute I scented you.” I shivered as her fingernails gripped my forearms, missing a breath as I stared down into her expressive eyes.

Her lips were so soft.

I could only imagine tasting them.

“The other day when you landed at Kieran’s house. I couldn’t focus either.” Riley shook her head as if that was an afterthought, breaking the spell between us. My heart soared at her admission anyway.

She stopped touching me, but I’d take the small victory of her not cowering away. “I’m not a prisoner, even though you kidnapped me?”

“What can I say?” I grinned as I pushed open the French patio doors that led to the living room, unashamedly enjoying the way she brushed past me as she walked inside our nest while wearing nothing but my shirt. “I’m not that much of a beast.”