Reawakening the Dragon Read online

  Glancing at Nikki, he asked, “Why are you saying this?”

  “Because I once watched a human male just like you’re watching Jane. If it wasn’t against the law, I would’ve gone after him. You don’t have that worry and you deserve someone. You’re one of the best males I know.”

  Studying the younger dragonwoman, Kai saw more than a soldier or a kidnapping victim. Nikki had been denied a love, just like Kai had. On top of that, she had wanted a human.

  Since female dragon-shifters were much rarer than males, they still weren’t allowed to mate outside the dragon clans, not even on Stonefire, who had the public’s good graces.

  Or, at least, that was how things stood so far.

  Clearing his throat, Kai answered, “Mention your predicament to Melanie and Evie. Given how stubborn they are, they’ll find a way to change things for you.”

  Nikki shook her head. “I’m over the male now. But maybe you could mention it for the future and then that way, I wouldn’t have to put up with Mel and Evie’s scrutiny.”

  Kai nodded. “Once the hunters are no longer a threat, I’ll talk with the females.”

  The car fell into a comfortable silence. Well, for about thirty seconds and then Nikki smiled. “This is nice.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “What is?”

  “You actually talking about something other than work.”

  With a grunt, Kai looked back out of the car window. The talking had helped him forget about Jane, but as the human male named Jeff moved his hand to Jane’s lower back and guided her down the footpath, Kai couldn’t prevent growling.

  Before Nikki could stop him, he exited the car and walked toward the humans.

  ~~~

  Jane was going to kill her brother, Rafe.

  Even if Jeff was as trustworthy as Rafe had declared, the man was a huge flirt and kept touching her. It was taking twice as long as it should to simply walk to the man’s car.

  Still, Jane kept a smile on her face. If she offended Jeff and he walked away before she secured the car, then they would lose precious time trying to find another nondescript vehicle. While the bus or Metro would take them to some parts of Gateshead, they needed the car to reach the farms.

  And Jane had learned the hard way that hiring a car was too easy to trace back to the person who signed for it. Since she didn’t condone stealing vehicles, Jeff was her best bet.

  The man in question rubbed her lower back in slow circles as they walked. Jane forced her voice to remain light. “Which one is yours?”

  Jeff waved toward a blue economy car that looked a few years old. “She’s gotten me out of a scrape or two.” Since Jane was about six inches taller, Jeff looked up at her. “I don’t care if I owe Rafe a favor or not. If you don’t bring her back in one piece, you’ll owe me.”

  Jane knew where this was going. “I’ll bring her back safe, don’t worry.”

  Jeff leaned close. “If you don’t, then you’ll owe me a date.”

  Jane opened her mouth to reply when Kai appeared in front of her and Jeff, blocking their path. Kai crossed his arms and met her gaze. “Is this man bothering you?”

  Well, at least he didn’t say human. The jumper hid Kai’s tattoos, but dragon-shifters had some unique phrasings that often gave them away. “You were supposed to wait in the car.”

  Kai shrugged. “You’re taking too long.”

  Jeff looked between Kai and Jane. “Is he your boyfriend?”

  Jane had an idea of how to speed things along. Moving away from Jeff, she leaned against Kai’s side. “Yes. He’s a former colleague of Rafe’s.”

  Jeff eyed the snug material around Kai’s bulging biceps and his face went neutral. “Then maybe your boyfriend can find you a car.”

  “You owe Rafe your life.”

  As Jeff stared at them, Kai wrapped an arm around Jane’s waist and encased her in his marvelous heat. She would never go cold with a dragonman at her side.

  Not that she would ever have a dragonman of her own.

  Jeff finally held up his keys. “Take them. But if you damage her, then you’re paying to repair it.”

  “Fair enough.” Jane swiped the keys. “We’ll even bring it back with a full tank of petrol.”

  Before Jeff could reply, Kai turned them around and moved toward the car. She half expected Kai to let go of her waist and move around to the driver’s side. Instead, Kai squeezed her tighter against him.

  She really should protest. But the feel of his hard body next to her made her belly clench. She could only imagine what would happen if Kai brushed his fingers against her bare skin.

  Kai growled. “Stop doing that.”

  Frowning, she looked over at his profile. “Doing what?”

  “Wanting me so much I can smell it.”

  Jane’s cheeks flushed, but she quickly recovered. “Sorry if my scent offends you.”

  He glanced at her. “It doesn’t.”

  She blinked. “Then why bring it up? It’s not like I can control how attractive you are.”

  They stopped in front of the car and Kai turned her to face him. There was approval in his eyes. Maybe she should’ve lied about him being hot, but if she lied, then it provided an excuse for Kai to do it, too. The easiest way to write her story was to keep the dragonman honest.

  Kai lowered his head and her mind went blank as his firm lips moved closer to hers. Stopping just short of kissing her, he murmured, “Because your scent drives me crazy and tempts me to do something I shouldn’t.”

  He moved a hand to her back and pressed her close. Between his heat and the desire in his eyes, Jane’s heart rate kicked up. Even to her own ears her voice was strangled. “What do you want to do?”

  Kai nuzzled her cheek, the roughness of his almost-whiskers sending a thrill through her body that ended between her legs.

  Shit. The dragonman would take her arousal as encouragement.

  Kai’s husky voice caressed her as he answered, “I want to kiss you again.” He pulled back to meet her eye. “Although, if I’m playing the role of your boyfriend, I probably should kiss you. It will make the ruse more convincing.”

  Her heart thumped harder. “Not all couples kiss in public.”

  Kai’s voice was husky as he replied, “Maybe for humans.”

  As Kai’s pupils turned to slits and stayed that way, Jane stopped breathing. Did the change mean his dragon was in charge? And if so, what would he do?

  In that second, she forgot all about the dragon hunters or her quest for a good story. She wanted to find out more about the dragon-half of the man in front of her.

  And foolish as it was, she then wanted him to kiss her. To keep up their ruse, of course. Nothing more.

  Maybe if she said the lie enough, she’d actually believe it.

  Determined not to lose her nerve, Jane leaned into Kai’s touch and asked, “What is your dragon saying to you right now?”

  ~~~

  Kai’s dragon growled. Tell her I want to lick every inch of her body. Then bend her over a table and brand her pussy with our dick.

  That will scare her away.

  His dragon paused a beat. Are you finally admitting that you want her?

  Rather than admit his dragon had been right earlier, he merely replied, Any straight male would want her.

  Then tell her we want her.

  I won’t equate attraction with more. She may get the wrong idea.

  Jane’s voice interrupted his conversation with his dragon. “Answer me, Kai, or I’ll walk away and leave you panting after me.”

  He frowned. “I don’t pant.”

  A playful twinkle filled Jane’s eyes. “Does that mean sex is as efficient as everything else you do?”

  His dragon hissed. Definitely not.

  Kai pressed Jane’s body closer. When the human drew in a breath, Kai murmured, “With a dragon in charge, you will tire long before I do.”

  Jane’s heart rate kicked up and he nearly smiled.

  The female cleared her
throat before replying, “You still haven’t told me what your dragon has been saying. I have a feeling it’s about me.” She raised her chin. “I have a right to know.”

  Moving a hand to Jane’s face, Kai traced her cheek bone. The human’s skin was so soft. “As equals, I should tell you.”

  “I sense a ‘but.’”

  “But you didn’t win against my dragon. He wants another form of payment.”

  Jane tilted her head. “Let me guess, he wants sex in a car?”

  Kai’s dragon grunted. Cars are too small. I want her in a field. There are several nearby.

  Blinking, Kai forced his voice to work. “Is it a secret fantasy of yours to have sex in a car?”

  Jane grinned. “Not necessarily. I just like confusing you. I need to do it more often.”

  Kai growled. “Enough teasing. My dragon wants a kiss.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Does he, now?”

  He moved a hand to her right arse cheek and squeezed. “Yes.”

  Jane’s scent grew stronger and he wished he could strip off her jeans and taste the honey that kept tempting his nose.

  The human stared at him for a few seconds. Uncertainty filled her eyes, but she finally nodded. “Okay, but not in view of Jeff.”

  “I don’t like his name on your lips.”

  She slapped his chest lightly. “Don’t get any ideas about telling me what I can or cannot say. I’m not a thing to be controlled.”

  His dragon chimed in. Stop wasting time. She agreed. Find a place to kiss her properly.

  Reluctantly, Kai released his grip on Jane. Taking her hand, he tugged her toward a nearby alley. “No more talking.”

  For once, Jane didn’t fight him. Judging by her strides, she was as anxious as he to kiss again.

  He liked the fact Jane wasn’t hiding or blushing. It was the opposite of what he’d had with Maggie.

  His beast spoke up. Don’t bring up the other one. I want to only think of Jane.

  Kai wished he could turn off his memories as easily as his dragon. But the image of him trying to coax a kiss from Maggie and her turning her head and asking him to chase her flooded into his mind. For all that Kai’s dragon had wanted Maggie, Kai had never had the chance to kiss her. She’d been afraid of the mate-claim frenzy, and at the first sign of hardship, Maggie had run to another.

  He glanced at Jane. Nikki’s words from earlier had made him believe he could at least have a chance with the female. He wondered if kissing the human was a mistake; it would only make both man and beast want her more.

  Given his track record, Jane might even abandon him at the first sign of trouble.

  His dragon sighed. It’s just a kiss. Enjoy it and worry about the future later.

  That’s what you said before.

  This time is different. Jane is no blushing virgin flirt. Enjoy this kiss.

  If it will make you shut it, then fine. I’ll do it just this once.

  After all, once he could stop thinking with his cock, he and Jane had work to do.

  As soon as Kai guided them into the alley and around a corner, he stopped and tugged Jane against his body. As he leaned down for a kiss, he forgot about the future. For the first time in over a decade, Kai was going to steal a few minutes for himself.

  Chapter Six

  There were a million reasons why Jane shouldn’t waste time kissing Kai Sutherland in a private alley. But as his lips moved toward hers, she forgot about all of them. Her whole body was on fire and Kai Sutherland was the only one who could feed the flames.

  His warm, firm lips touched hers gently at first before he took her bottom lip between his teeth and nibbled. Then he tugged and released. She leaned forward for more, but Kai retreated an inch and moved a hand to her breast. Even through her bra and top, his touch sent a tingle through her body.

  As he traced her hard nipple, he whispered, “Later, I’m going to touch you properly.”

  “I never agreed to any such thing.”

  His eyes turned predatory, reminding her he was half dragon. “You will.”

  Never one to back down, Jane leaned into his hand and traced her fingers down Kai’s chest to the waist of his trousers. Moving her hand under his jumper, she touched the warm, hard planes of his stomach and Kai sucked in a breath. As she rubbed against the trail of hair above his waist, she wanted to touch what lay at the end of it.

  Kai’s voice was rough when he added, “I don’t have time to fuck you, Jane Hartley. But just know that my kiss is a preview of what’s to come.”

  “I didn’t—”

  The dragonman shut her up with a kiss.

  As his tongue found hers, Jane moaned. She would never get enough of the heady male taste that was Kai Sutherland.

  Then the dragonman ran his hand up under her top and she gasped as his large, rough hands brushed against her skin. The pulse between her legs increased as she waited to see what else he would do.

  But damn the man, he removed his hand and fisted her ponytail. She should be offended at the caveman-like action, but each gentle tug only made her wetter. Craving any kind of relief, Jane hooked her leg around his and rubbed against Kai. The friction brought her closer to the edge.

  Kai broke the kiss, spun around, and pushed her behind him. Jane blinked a few times before she realized what happened. “What’s wrong?”

  The dragonman put up a hand. Anxious to know what was happening, Jane peeked around the solid mass of dragon-shifter in front of her, but the alley was empty.

  After Kai scanned the sky, he took Jane’s hand and tugged. “Let’s go.”

  Keeping her voice low, Jane asked, “Are you going to tell me what happened?”

  Kai remained silent until they were almost out of the alley. Glancing at Jane, he raised an eyebrow. “As much as I wanted you to come against my leg, someone was climbing on the roofs.”

  “I didn’t hear anything.”

  “My hearing is better.”

  When Kai didn’t elaborate, part of Jane wanted to kick him in the shin. She knew he was remaining quiet for their safety, but she hated being in the dark. She whispered, “Is it safe to move?”

  “I don’t know.” Kai glanced around until his eyes landed on a metal skip bin behind them. “When I give the word, hide behind that skip and send a text to Nikki. Ask her to come to the alley.”

  “Fine, but don’t do anything daft.”

  Kai briefly met her gaze. “I ask the same of you.” Before Jane could reply, Kai ordered, “Go, now.”

  Knowing Kai would better handle the situation than she, Jane ran toward the skip. The second she reached it, the sound of someone jumping onto the cobblestones echoed through the alley. The urge to check on Kai was strong, but he was trusting her to have his back. Jane wasn’t a soldier, so she followed Kai’s orders and sent a text to Nikki, asking for the dragonwoman’s help.

  She trusted Kai’s abilities, but who knew how many men and women could be waiting on the roofs of the surrounding buildings.

  The wait to find out what was happening was going to kill her.

  ~~~

  Kai tensed, waiting for the threat to appear.

  What he hadn’t told Jane was that the footsteps were still audible; someone kept shifting their feet against the roof tiles.

  At least the female had listened to his orders and would hopefully remain safe. The possible threat had taught him a lesson, though. Females were distractions. If he hadn’t been kissing Jane, Kai would’ve picked up the sounds straightaway.

  He wouldn’t be so reckless again.

  A male jumped down in front of him and remained crouched low. From the height and build, there was no way the male was a dragon-shifter.

  Kai flex his hands. Taking out one human wouldn’t even wind him.

  Kai watched the male, waiting for him to make the first move. Eventually, the human stood up and drew a knife.

  Normally, Kai would extend a talon or two and easily finish off his opponent. But he couldn’t risk expos
ing he was a dragon-shifter to the human before him, especially since he still needed to track the hunters and find a way to take them down.

  As they stared at one another, a car pulled into the end of the alley. From the corner of his eye, Kai could see it wasn’t Nikki.

  Right, he needed to take this male down before he had a group attacking him. If that happened, he couldn’t guarantee Jane’s safety.

  His dragon growled. Take care of them. We must protect her.

  Kai faked a lunge and the knife-wielding male moved to the side. Drawing on his speed, Kai rushed the male, hitting him in the stomach before he could swing his knife.

  The weapon clattered to the ground. Kai adjusted his grip and slammed the male’s head against the wall. Tossing the unconscious human aside, Kai turned toward the car.

  Five men stood in front of it.

  The odds might actually be even now.

  Drawing them further down the alley was his best chance at picking them off one or two at a time, so Kai moved a few feet backward.

  Then the five bastards pulled out guns.

  Fuck. It was time for a new plan.

  Running, Kai jumped and gripped the edge of the gutter and pulled himself up onto the roof. Aware that he needed to draw the guns away from Jane, he ran in the direction of the men on the ground below. If he could just make it to the edge of the roof and jump off, the men should follow.

  He half expected the men to shoot at him, but they didn’t. If they didn’t want to draw attention to themselves, then Kai was dealing with something much more than a random gang. He wondered if they were Carlisle hunters. They were the only dragon hunter group to possess such restraint.

  Kai paused at the edge, waiting to see what the men would do. However, they moved further down the alley. Could it be they were after Jane?

  His dragon roared. We must protect her.

  Giving a sweep of his surroundings, he spotted Nikki running toward his location. But then the human named Jeff darted out from a hedge and grabbed her. Since Kai trusted Nikki to handle herself against one mere human, Kai ran back toward the alley. He’d deal with the male later.