Which was funny since Tristan and Xander looked practically identical.
Especially since Xander had cut his hair short, on Kelsie’s advice that it would look more clean-cut for Janet.
“Is she your mate?” Tristan asked, sitting forward with his hands clasped as he looked at Xander. “Because if not, you might want to just let it be.”
“She is,” Xander said. “I felt that before I even knew it was allowed for us. Whether she was or not wouldn’t matter. She’s the only one I want.”
Kelsie sighed. “That’s really romantic. Have you told her that?”
“Wouldn’t that sound even more like a stalker?” Xander asked. “I’ve told her I want her, but—”
Kelsie made a little squeak of excitement when she unlocked her phone. “Hey! I actually have a text from her! She’s been pretty quiet, saying she wants to give me space to honeymoon with my new man.”
“Your only man,” Tristan said possessively.
Kelsie grinned at him, practically glowing. “Of course. My only dragon too.”
Tristan flushed, seeming pleased by that.
Xander loved seeing his brother happy. He loved that Kelsie and Tristan had found each other. He loved that life seemed to be fresh and new all around him.
He just wanted his new life to begin as well.
Kelsie turned back to her phone and frowned. “Actually, I need to go over there. She said she’s hurt and she needs me to bring some stuff.”
Xander stood up so fast the couch rocked behind him. “Hurt? What stuff?”
Kelsie gave him a placating smile. “I think she’s okay. Just her ankle. She needs a brace. Some bandages maybe. Pain killers.” She thought about it. “You know, maybe I should go stay over there tonight. It sounds like she can’t get around well.”
“She’s hurt? I knew it.” Xander had to fight back his anger at the fact that she hadn’t let him help. That she’d been hurt and hadn’t told him.
Then again, she hadn’t even been able to call out to him in the parking lot when she’d been surrounded by threatening men and completely in over her head.
He sighed, thinking about her hobbling around her apartment or falling or—
He looked over at Tristan, who was getting up to come over to hold Kelsie, who looked distraught, and had a sudden idea.
“I’ll go,” he said. “I can even stay over in case she needs something in the middle of the night.”
Kelsie bit her lower lip, standing in front of Tristan, who had his arms around her. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea…”
“Come on, if you go, Tristan’s going to go too, and then she’ll have to deal with more people in her space. This way, I can carry her around or get her anything she needs.”
Kelsie smiled with one corner of her mouth. “I think Janet would rather die than let you carry her.”
“I don’t care,” Xander said. “I’ll convince her to let me help. Look, I can do more than you. Unless you want Tristan to help her, which means she’ll be yelling at the both of you.”
Kelsie looked up at Tristan, then sighed. “I don’t know.”
Xander put his hands on his hips. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll go, make my offer, see if I can get her to see reason, and then if not, you two can still come help.”
Kelsie put her hand on Tristan’s arm. “What do you think?”
“I think it could be a good opportunity,” Tristan said. “For both of them maybe.”
“Hmm,” Kelsie said, considering it.
Please. Please. I’ll make Jan the happiest—
Kelsie broke out laughing. “Oh my God, I can hear your thoughts, Xander. Fine.”
Xander grinned back at her. She’d gotten the silver dragon’s power upon mating Tristan and blood bonding, and as such, she could read thoughts and move objects with her mind.
Jan would probably get a power if they mated, since she was clearly a dragon heart, given her recklessness in the hallway.
Kelsie pinned him with a serious look. “But if she texts me saying you’re a jerk or wanting me to come over…”
“Got it. Not a problem,” Xander said, already jumping up and going over a list of things he would need to grab from his room.
When he was done and his overnight bag was slung over one shoulder, Kelsie stepped up to put a hand on his arm.
He looked down at her quizzically. “What?”
“Look, even when she texted me, she only wanted some supplies, and I’m sure she would have pushed me out after I brought them. So whatever happens, don’t take it personally.”
“I won’t,” Xander said.
“Remember,” Tristan said. “You can’t help someone who doesn’t want to be helped.”
“Watch me,” was all Xander said as he grabbed his helmet and headed out to his bike.
Chapter 5
Janet tossed aside her book, irritated that even pure, unmitigated smut couldn’t seem to distract her from her throbbing ankle.
She eased herself off her bed and limped into the living room, sighing in relief when she reached the couch and could sink onto it, removing the weight from her foot.
Her phone was on the coffee table, and she had to try hard not to hate herself for having to bother Kelsie.
In all the years they’d been friends, Janet had been the supportive one. Kelsie had tried to help here and there, but Janet was the organized one who liked taking care of people. The one who kept her friends from getting in too deep.
Tonight she’d been in too deep and had to rely on someone.
Xander, of all people. The man she’d already decided was a hot douche, the bad guy in her books.
When he’d shown up, he’d been more like the hero. It made her feel odd to think of him standing up for her in the parking lot or holding her on the dance floor, whispering hot words in her ear.
She groaned when she looked down at her phone and saw no reply from Kelsie. Was there a way she could take an Uber to a drugstore to get crutches or a brace or something?
Her ankle was swollen and tough to walk on, but she was pretty sure it would be better in a couple days with no medical attention. As long as she got it wrapped and iced before it swelled more.
And stayed off of it.
Driving home had been agony, even though it wasn’t the foot she used on the pedals.
Sometimes she hated herself for being so independent, but when she thought of the alternative… her whole body seemed to be falling very fast, even though she wasn’t moving.
Jan let out a sigh as she heaved herself off the couch, hopping to the kitchen for some water and maybe a sandwich bag she could put some ice in.
Then she heard the distinctive sound of a motorcycle.
In her quiet neighborhood? At this time of night?
She froze, listening as the sound got closer, then stopped. No one living here had a motorcycle. What was going on? She limped to the door and looked through the peephole, but whoever it was must have parked to the side where she couldn’t see.
She was about ready to head back to the couch when she heard thumps on the metal steps headed up to her floor.
She blanched, wondering who was coming. What they wanted. Those were heavy steps.
Her fear from earlier came back to her. The fear she didn’t usually let herself acknowledge. The fear that she really might not be able to take care of herself. Because there were people bigger and stronger.
Her heart began to race.
She hated feeling helpless. Hated feeling panicked. Hated that she kept remembering the man’s gray eyes in the parking lot—whenever she wasn’t distracted by her ankle.
What she hated most was thinking about what could have happened if Xander hadn’t come…
A loud knock thumped on her door, shaking it. Janet was looking around for something to hit someone with, in case of an intruder, when a pleasant voice called out.
A familiar voice.
“Janet, you in there? I have some stuff from Kelsie.�
��
Janet limped over to the peephole again and looked through it to see Xander standing there in that stupidly hot leather jacket, holding bags in both big hands.
Why did he have to be so handsome? She loved his shorter hair. The shaved sides really brought out his masculine features, and—
“Look, I know you kind of hate me, but can we call a truce? I’m just here to help you. Besides, I needed a break from the PDA, so you’d actually be doing me a favor and—”
She hesitantly pulled the door open. “Why isn’t Kelsie here?”
“She’ll come if you want her to, but I thought I would probably be more help. I’m taller and stronger.” He wiggled his eyebrows, but she didn’t laugh. “Come on, Janet. Can’t you at least let me help as a friend? You did say we could be friends before.”
She bit her lower lip, cursing herself for her soft moment. Then again, she did owe him. “We can, but we can’t start like this. I already owe you for—”
“You don’t owe me anything,” he said, his vivid blue eyes making it hard to breathe whenever she looked at him. He rubbed the back of his neck. “To be honest, I wanted an excuse to get out of the house anyway.”
“Why?”
He looked to the side, biting his full lower lip, looking genuinely abashed. “Kelsie and my brother. They live with me now. They’re always…” His cheekbones flushed, tinged with pink, and Janet couldn’t help smiling.
“They’re always…?”
His eyes met hers. “Don’t make me say it.”
She snorted. “Okay.”
“So I had a proposal.” He looked down at her foot, then back to her face. “I can stay with you for a couple days. Help you get back on your feet, since it’s partly my fault you were hurt.”
“Your fault?”
“Because you were distracted by my gorgeous face and not watching where your feet were going,” he said. “Anyway, in return, I get to stay in Kelsie’s room, which I assume is still vacant, and get away from the constant PDA torturing me day and night.”
Janet laughed at his genuine exasperation and stepped back, opening the door. When she accidentally put her hurt foot down, she winced, but before she could even think straight, she felt Xander scoop her into the air.
“No more of that,” he said sternly, carrying her in and kicking the door closed with one booted foot. “If you don’t want me here longer, you need to stay off that thing. If you need something, let me get it for you.”
She felt her face go red from embarrassment. “I don’t… It’s not that bad.” She didn’t know if she’d ever been carried before. She was so big and—
“Not big, perfect,” he said, passing the couch to head down the hallway. “Where’s your bedroom?”
She pointed, and he went to the door and nudged it open with his toes. As he moved over to the bed and set her down on it, she was suddenly embarrassed by the books and few articles of clothing on her gray carpet. “Get out.”
He nodded, turning back to face her when he reached the door. “I’m going to get the bandages and the ice packs. Then we’ll take care of you.”
Janet opened her mouth to argue, but a stabbing pain lancing through her ankle made her shut her mouth. “Fine.”
Xander grinned down at her. “Atta girl.”
She grabbed a book lying by her pillow and threw it at him, missing by a hair as he ducked out of the doorway with a smile.
Chapter 6
So far, things were going better than Xander expected. Janet was surprisingly willing to let him pull up her pant leg to inspect her ankle, and when he saw the mottled, bruised swelling there, he understood why.
“Should we go to the hospital?”
“No,” she said. “Just a sprain. It’ll heal.”
He placed an ice pack gently over the area, and when she hissed in pain, it physically hurt him as well. “I’m sorry. It might hurt a bit, but it’ll help the swelling go down.”
“I know,” she said tersely. “I’m the one who asked for…” She trailed off, and her beautiful green eyes softened as she looked back up at him. “I appreciate the help.”
It looked like it took a lot for her to say that, so Xander just nodded, pleased. “Not a problem.”
She was flushing, her vibrant copper hair setting off her reddened cheeks. Her lips looked full when she wasn’t pursing them, and Xander had the sudden instinct to lean in and kiss away all her troubles.
An instinct he ignored because he wasn’t a douchebag.
He removed the ice pack and wrapped her foot up to keep the swelling down. When he was done, he set it down gently.
“There,” he said. “Need anything else?”
She shook her head. “No, thank you. You need me to show you around the apartment? To your, um, bedroom?” She flushed again, and Xander had to fight hard not to grin about it.
“No, I’m fine. I brought an overnight bag.”
“The bed is made up with clean sheets,” she said. “I’ve been keeping it ready, just in case a co-worker needs it.”
Xander slanted her a look. “You’re really used to taking care of everyone, aren’t you?”
She nodded. “I’ve been doing it since I was little.”
He froze at that. “What do you mean?”
She shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. Anyway, it’s best if I get to bed. Rest will help my foot heal.”
“Are you calling in to work tomorrow?”
“Yes. Why?”
“I have some things to do, but I’ll help you before I go. And when I’m back.”
She waved a hand. “You don’t owe me anything. And as long as you don’t make trouble for me, the room is yours.” Her green eyes shuttered. “It’s the least I can do to thank you for earlier.”
“No thanks needed,” Xander said, putting away the supplies at the side of her bed where she could reach them. “I did what I wanted to do. Anything else I can do before I go?”
She stared up at him from the bed, her eyes almost nervous as he put his hand on the doorknob to go. “I…”
He waited, wondering what she might want.
She turned away from him, shaking her head. “It’s fine. I’m good.”
But now his interest was piqued. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” she said, though her cheeks were flame red now. “It’s fine. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He cocked his head. “I’m sorry, but I’m having a hard time believing you when your face looks like a tomato.” It was tempting to read her thoughts, but he’d already decided to respect her privacy.
It wasn’t his fault that the horny thoughts sometimes got by.
Still, whatever she was thinking now wasn’t a horny thought, so he had no idea what it could be about.
She pushed herself back on the large king bed, using one leg and keeping the other lifted. Realizing she probably needed help getting under the covers, he quickly came over to move them out of her way.
She said nothing as she curled up on the sheets, and he pulled the blankets over her.
He wanted to insist on hearing what was bothering her, but he knew he had no right. She wasn’t his mate yet. She didn’t want him. Didn’t need him.
It was almost enough to make him think he was a crazy dragon for thinking—
Then her hand caught the cuff of his jacket just as he was turning to leave.
“Wait,” she said, looking up at him.
When he looked down, he saw fear in her uncertain green eyes. Her red hair was loose around her face in long, soft waves, and her pale skin was freckled.
She was also white as a ghost.
He stopped, looking down at her hand on his wrist. It had been like this since he had met her, this push and pull. Her wanting him and seemingly hating him at the same time.
Her cheeks went even more scarlet. “I just… Don’t turn out the light yet.”
He frowned as she released his hand and curled up under the blankets, pulling them up around her face.<
br />
She might be tall for a human woman, but she was small and fragile compared to him.
“Janet…”
“Just go. I’m fine. You can even turn the light out,” she said. “Just a little freaked out from earlier. It’s all good. I don’t even know what I was asking.”
He looked at the bedroom door, still askew from when he’d been there, and shook his head. “But I do.” He moved away from the bed and shrugged out of his jacket. He flicked the light switch, then moved around to the other side of Janet’s bed and climbed on.
Before she could so much as let out a squeak of surprise, he pulled her in against him, holding her to his chest.
It was the only thing he could think of to make her less afraid.
And after what she’d been through earlier, despite her bravado, she had every right to be.
She’d faced down three full wolves like a warrior.
He stroked her hair back, barely believing she wasn’t going to push him away. Instead, she muttered to herself but snuggled in closer.
Xander didn’t think he could ever be happier.
She was warm, and he could feel her curves against his body. Her gentle breathing. “You won’t… You won’t do anything, will you? While I’m sleeping.”
“Nothing but stay here and keep you safe,” he said softly, continuing to stroke her hair.
She nodded against him. “Then you can stay. And… thank you.”
“It’s nothing,” he said, but he knew that was a lie.
Being here with her, being trusted by her, wasn’t nothing.
It was the most he’d had in his entire life.
* * *
Janet moaned, seeing Xander’s wicked blue eyes between her thighs, looking up at her as he devoured her.
“You’re mine, Janet. Mine. Forever,” he grated out, flicking his tongue out to tease her already tortured clit.
She jerked, bucking her hips against him, but his hands restrained her thighs and he lazily stroked a finger up her slit.
“Mm. Wet. Perfect. I’ve been waiting for you, Janet. Only for you. I only want you…”
As he kissed her deeply between her legs, sucking her clit between his lips, she arched back, and suddenly, the world seemed to fade around her, zooming past and growing fuzzy as if—
Dragon Meets Girl: Forgotten Dragons Book 2 Page 3
