Page 14 of Vex (Dragon Brides #12)

Luisa's laugh was too tittering as she responded to Maera's nonsense about her dress. The dress was fine, functional. Vex ignored how it hugged Luisa's curves and reminded him of her pressed against his skin.

The last thing he needed was to remember that.

But his body had other ideas. The memory of her naked beneath him was just there, how she'd felt wrapped around him, slick and tight and perfect. The sound she'd made when he'd buried himself inside her, that breathless cry that nearly drove him to his knees.

His cock stirred, and he shifted to hide his reaction.

Something had settled in his chest when he'd claimed her.

Like he'd found the missing piece he hadn't known he was looking for.

The dragon in him rumbled with satisfaction.

Mine. The word echoed with absolute certainty, and he fought the urge to reach for her, to remind everyone exactly who she belonged to.

He forced his thoughts away.

They were on the job.

And Maera Daxkar was a snake.

"You can't just let us girls chitchat, Lord Vex.

" Maera smiled, pulling him into the conversation.

Her expression was carefully crafted warmth and feminine conspiracy, but her eyes remained calculating.

"Tell us about your holdings back on Vemion.

I'm sure Luisa would love to know." Maera gave her a conspiratorial wink.

It took a beat for Luisa to respond with her empty laugh.

Something was off with her, and it wasn't the sex.

The morning had been awkward, but Luisa had been all work, going over her data like she'd been born to read it. Only after he'd gotten out of the shower were things off.

Why?

There hadn't been time to ask.

"What do you want to know about the old heap?" He summoned his most dissolute voice—the angry, greedy lord who wanted more and would do whatever it took to get it. "I'm a second son. I've been forced to make my own fortunes."

"And he's made so much." Luisa didn't miss her cue this time.

Her fingers traced the necklace at her throat. His only regret about last night was that she hadn’t been wearing it when he took her.

"Oh, is that—"

A knock interrupted, and an Oscavian with dark purple skin and pink hair stuck his head in.

"What is it, Zymon?" Maera sounded unhappy about the interruption.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. I thought you wanted an update on the …" The Oscavian's gaze swept over Vex and Luisa with professional assessment, cataloging their faces.

"Later." The harshest he'd ever heard her. With him, she'd been cloying sweetness and soft edges.

Zymon disappeared.

"You'll have to forgive my head of security. He's eager."

Head of security. Vex would bet his title that the interruption hadn't been accidental. She wanted her man to see them in person. Sometimes a security scan didn't do faces justice.

"Now, tell me about this heap. I've never been to Vemion, but I've heard stories."

"Oh, yes, please." Luisa clung to his arm. "You never let me visit."

He leaned back, adopting the bored posture of a man discussing property he took for granted.

"It’s nothing impressive, a bit of hunting land and a house with good bones.

Old Vemion style, stone and timber, built for winter storms. There's a tower where I can shift and take flight without neighbors complaining.

The city quarters are convenient for court business but cramped.

Three rooms overlooking the financial district, so I can walk to the banks when I need to move credits.

" All true. No reason to lie about mundane details when truth served just as well.

"Don't feel bad, dearie," Maera told Luisa. "He can't bring his mistress around the house his wife will oversee."

Luisa stiffened. Her expression drooped and, for a second, looked real. Pain flickered across her features, before she caught herself. Then she recovered. "Vexy says he can't live without me."

Vexy.

He wasn't sure whether to strangle her for the nickname or burst out laughing.

He settled on an indulgent eye roll.

"My uncle will make an issue of it someday. He favors some royal matchmaking charlatan. She matches nobles according to hoard size and whether the king favors them."

He watched Daxkar closely. Her eyes lit up.

Jackpot.

"You're looking for an alternative way of matching."

He stroked his fingers down Luisa's neck and gave her a look he feared was too affectionate. He couldn't afford to feel anything for her. Not here. Not ever.

And yet.

"I won't be allowed to take who I want as a bride," he lied, staring at Luisa.

Her eyes softened. She gave him something almost like a real smile.

"But if there was some way to prevent my uncle's meddling …"

"I meet the most interesting people in my work," Maera said. "Perhaps one could help." She didn’t add more.

The conversation drifted to safer waters after that. Maera steered them through discussions of the casino, the latest scandal from other worlds, and which nobles were currently feuding over mining rights.

Luisa played her part perfectly, giggling at the right moments and making vapid observations about fashion and jewelry.

But Vex could feel the tension radiating from her body where she pressed against his side.

After another twenty minutes of careful verbal dancing, Maera finally released them with promises to meet again soon.

The knowing gleam in her eyes suggested she thought she had them exactly where she wanted them.

In the elevator, Vex kept a firm grip on Luisa. "What was up in there?"

"Maera's buttering you up to sell a bride profile. I didn't think she'd work that hard just to resell data." She kept her gaze fixed on the display panel, watching floor numbers with striking intensity.

"That's not what I'm talking about." His jaw tightened. She was deflecting, giving him professional assessment when he needed truth.

"Then what?"

"You seemed distracted."

"Don't I have reason to be?" Her eyes flicked to his lips.

"You weren't distracted this morning." The memory hit him hard and fast. Her taste, the way she'd arched beneath his hands, the perfect heat of her body welcoming him home.

Now she was cold. Distant.

"Everything's fine, Vex. Don't worry."

The door opened, and she darted out before he could say more.

He watched her retreat, every instinct screaming that she was lying. Something had spooked her. She was running from more than just the intimacy between them. His dragon stirred restlessly, protective urge warring with the knowledge that she wouldn't welcome his interference. Not yet.

But he was going to find out what was wrong.