Page 8

Lucan

Keep You Close

I didn’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t for Riley to tuck in close to my side and wrap one arm around my waist, waving Kieran and Ember off like we were a domesticated couple.

Not that I was complaining.

She fit next to me perfectly.

A puzzle piece I hadn’t known was missing.

All mine. My dragon basked in the joy of having her alone again.

My cousin and his mate had stayed through lunch and past dinner with Kieran taking over the grill to make burgers, insisting on feeding Ember more meat. I’d thought they’d never leave.

“I heard you tell Ember that you wanted to stay here with me,” I said to Riley, barely containing the happiness of my beast.

“Don’t say anything else,” she spoke through clenched teeth, smiling so big my cheeks ached in sympathy for hers as she continued to wave.

Kieran took to the sky with his mate clinging to his back.

“Can I talk now?” I asked, amused.

When the dragon flew past my wards and out of view, Riley stepped away.

The cold was instant.

She covered her face with her hands as her shoulders curled in. “I’m tired.”

“Let’s get you to bed then.” I smiled as I opened the door.

“I don’t want to stay here.” The sharpness of her words rattled my dragon.

Fine. I’ll take you wherever you want to go.

But I was confused. “Why did you say you wanted to stay?”

I’d felt it in our shared looks all night. The way she turned to me for support when Kieran and Ember got a little too open. Her body angled towards mine, seeking connection between us. It was more than instinctual. She’d been acknowledging our bond, and now she was cutting it off.

“Because Ember and Willow have done so much for me, I can’t ask them for more,” Riley whispered.

Despite the resigned frustration in her tone, her eyes told a different story. That look was pleading with me to understand.

I leaned against the doorframe, keeping my limbs relaxed as I considered her words. “They’re like family to you.”

“Yes.” Riley bit her bottom lip as she looked over her shoulder and took a tentative step back.

She wanted to run.

As much as I loved that game, my beast would terrify her if she acted like prey.

We needed more time. More trust to repair that which was broken and strengthen the ties between us.

I tightened the reins on my beast and focused on keeping my voice soft. “And your friends like family, they consider you a burden?”

Anger flashed in her eyes as she turned back to me. There she was. My fighter.

“They would never.”

I shrugged with one shoulder. “Either they’ve made you feel that way or you make yourself feel that way. Which one is it and why?”

Color flushed her cheeks and fire danced between us. My dragon wanted to unfurl to meet the challenge, but I commanded him to behave.

It took everything in me not to smile as Riley marched forward, shoving her pointed finger into my chest.

“You don’t get to do that,” she said.

“Do what?” I reached up and caught her wrist, holding it soft enough so she could escape, but firm enough to let her know I was here.

“That.” Her breath caught as she looked away. “Psychoanalyze me. It’s none of your business why I am the way I am.”

I inhaled deeply, tasting her sweet scent as the bitter hint of fear faded. “Anything that concerns you is my business.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t want your concern. Or your pity. Or your…”

I licked my lips and she quieted, looking at my mouth.

“Or?” I prompted.

A frustrated sound came from her chest.

Such a precious growl. My dragon grinned.

Quiet now. I held back my smile.

“Is this some kind of dragon magic?” Riley blinked, focusing on my eyes again.

Still, she didn’t back away.

“My magic only works to keep people out,” I teased as I set one foot in the house, gently guiding her with me. “But you’re tired and it’s late. Let’s get you to bed.”

I wasn’t expecting her to give in so easily, but my Riley was full of surprises. My beast rumbled his quiet approval as she walked through our nest, making her way to the bedroom. I’d clear out more space for her needs as soon as she let me know what she desired.

“I don’t know whether I should hate you for kidnapping me or thank you for being so kind,” Riley muttered as she walked down the hall. “Does your dragon make a habit of taking things without permission?”

If I want them…

I smirked. “I take it you don’t know much about dragons.”

Riley paused outside the bedroom door and shook her head. “A few weeks ago, none of us knew you existed. Then Kieran and Ember hooked up and, well, there was the ceremony and some talk about the prophecy and the random magic tattoo.”

Her fingers brushed her neck.

My vision narrowed on the spot. “I know Kieran thinks this is a part of it, but I don’t want you to worry about that.”

“This?” She arched a brow.

“You and me.” I pointed between us.

Riley took a step back. The bitter scent of fear tainted the air.

“Anyway,” she redirected. “We were learning more about your kind when you showed up all…”

She flapped her arms in the air and roared. “Then kidnapped me.”

Is that how I looked?

This time I couldn’t hide my smile.

“Dragons are territorial,” I explained, hating the way she tensed when I stepped into her space. “We keep what’s ours close. My dragon didn’t like the idea of you unprotected and outside of our territory.”

“Because I’m your mate.” Her gaze dropped to my lips again. I resisted the urge to lean closer, to close the distance between our lips, as I reached for the doorknob.

“Because he knew you needed us.” I pushed open the door to the bedroom.

Riley sucked a breath through her teeth as she ducked under my arm.

“About the mate thing,” she said. “I don’t know that I’m really yours or you’re mine or however that works.”

Does she not feel it?

I ignored the stab straight to my dragon’s heart, soothing my beast with thoughts of a hard-won future once we defeated our mate’s demons.

“It’s a good thing I have enough conviction for both of us,” I said, keeping my tone light.

She’d been frightened enough for one lifetime.

I didn’t bother telling her what became of dragons who denied their fated mates. That was my cross to bear. But I wouldn’t die for lack of trying.

And I was just getting started here.

“What are you doing?” Riley picked the fluff ball of a cat off the floor and held it in her arms as if the meowling beast would keep me at bay.

I opened the top dresser drawer and pulled out a pair of clean boxers. “Getting ready to sleep.”

Her eyes widened as she looked around the room. “Not in here.”

“And why not?” I pulled the shirt over my head, flexing a little when her eyes dropped to my chest and she visibly swallowed. “It’s my room.”

“I can stay in the guest room.” She tore her gaze away and hugged the cat tighter to her chest.

“The guest room is off-limits for now,” I explained gently. “It’s full of shelves with my hoard, but I’ll move things around for you soon. I already cleared out half the closet and these drawers for your use.”

Her pulse quickened as I reached for the button on my pants.

I slowly eased them off and tossed the wadded material into the hamper. It was getting harder to control the twitch of my muscles as she studied each part of my body. The boxers I wore were the only thing separating her eyes from the completeness of my bare human skin.

“Your friends said you only had the one suitcase. Tomorrow, I’ll take you shopping to get you whatever else you need.”

“Huh?”

“Riley,” I teased, holding perfectly still. “My eyes are up here.”

With a panicked cry that went straight to my cock, she looked up at my face again.

Color flushed her cheeks. “Where are you going to sleep?”

“Right here, of course.” I pulled back the duvet, motioning for her to climb under the covers. “I only have one bed.”