Doctor Dragon: Earth Dragons Series: Book 6

by Hartnady, Charlene

  “I never expected this. I suppose you are human, so there’s that.”

  “Why would that make a difference?” The words were out before she could stop them.

  Topaz cocked her head, scrutinizing her. “You don’t know what happened, do you?”

  “No, not yet.”

  “You’re not that close then?” Topaz licked her lips. She wore a cute little strappy pink dress.

  “Oh, we’re plenty close.”

  “If you were close, you’d know.”

  “We’ve put the physical aspect of our relationship on hold to learn more about one another. He’ll be ready to tell me soon. Again…not that it’s your business.”

  “Oh, I see.” Topaz smiled. “You’re just friends then. Shew!” She clutched her chest. “I thought we’d entered a parallel universe or something.”

  Why was her having a relationship with Druze such a big deal, and what had happened in his past? He needed to tell her, or his people were not going to believe they were actually together. “We’re not just friends. We’re seeing each other exclusively.”

  “But you’re not having sex?”

  Brittney choked out a laugh. “It’s not really your business what—”

  “What’s going on here?” Druze returned with a couple of menus under one arm and a glass of wine in each of his hands.

  “I was having a friendly chat with your friend over here.” Topaz winked at her.

  “You mean my girlfriend.” Druze frowned, looking angry. His face softened as he looked at Brittney. The hardened up again as his eyes locked with Topaz again.

  Topaz stood. “Okay, your girlfriend, whatever you say.”

  “Give us some space, we’re trying to have a nice dinner together.” His voice was gruff. It reminded her of how he normally spoke to her

  “Fine. Whatever.” Topaz sauntered away.

  Druze put a glass of wine in front of her and one where he was going to sit. “Sorry about that.”

  “That’s fine. I guess we’re a point of interest, so,” she shrugged, “this kind of thing is bound to happen.”

  He sat down next to her and squeezed her thigh just above the knee. “There is nothing between Topaz and me.”

  “I know.” She nodded. “You apparently don’t date or have sex ever, and I’m supposed to know about something that happened in your past. Something you haven’t told me.”

  He pulled his hand away. His whole stance became tense. “That’s not something I think we should talk about. Not here at any rate.” His eyes were stormy. “Let’s just enjoy our meal together.”

  “We are supposed to be getting to know each other better.”

  “Taking things step by step.” Druze picked up a menu. “We haven’t reached that particular step yet, Buttercup.”

  She raised her brows.

  Buttercup. Really?

  Druze smiled at her as if to say, ‘Yep, really!’

  “Fair enough, Snookums.” She winked at him. “I understand.”

  Druze tried to hold back a smile but failed. It was the first real one of the night. Britt both loved and hated that she had put it there. What was wrong with her?

  Chapter 20

  One week later…

  Craig stuffed a big handful of popcorn into his mouth. There was some or other fight scene playing out on the television.

  Britt had to ask. It was eating her up. “What happened to Selenite?” She grabbed a handful of popcorn of her own. “I thought you two were quite tight.”

  Craig shrugged. “She stopped returning my calls a day or so ago.”

  Brittney turned to face him, pulling her legs underneath her on the couch. “Oh no, I’m so sorry. The two of you were seeing each other every night for a while there. I was kind of shocked when you showed up at my door this evening.”

  Craig shrugged again. He reached into the bowl and snagged himself some more popcorn. “It’s fine. I guess it ran its course. We had fun while it lasted.” He grinned. “There are more fish in the sea. I noticed one of the she-dragons looking at me with interest today.”

  “You men!” she pushed out, feeling irritated.

  “What about us men?”

  “You can just jump in and out of bed with different people and feel nothing. It’s like you don’t have hearts or something. Sex is just a game to you.”

  “Whoa there.” Craig put the bowl down between them. “I get the distinct impression this isn’t about me at all. Selenite and I were quite clear that it was just about the sex. Sometimes you click with a person on a deeper level and sometimes you don’t. I’m okay with not seeing Selenite again. It was also her choice to end it.” He scrutinized her. “This whole situation with Druze is eating you up.”

  “Is it easy to see?” She felt her throat clog up. Felt her eyes sting.

  “Yes and no.”

  “What does that mean?” she countered.

  “You act like the queen of ice during the day at work. You don’t say anything unless it’s work-related. You’re short with Druze.”

  “I’m not short, I’m professional.”

  “You’re short with him. You’re clearly very angry, which comes through loud and clear. You’re the complete opposite of who you really are as a person. That’s how I know you’re struggling with this setup.”

  Craig knew all about what had happened. He knew they were pretending to be together. There was no way they could playact during working hours, which were long and hard. “I am struggling. We’re doing such important work. I feel like we could be on the verge of a breakthrough. I don’t want to quit, and Druze won’t quit…that much is clear.”

  “Yep, I think you’re right on the money there.” He rubbed his chin. “You know when I said to sleep with Druze in order to get him out of your system?” He raised his brows.

  “Yes.” She nodded.

  “I was wrong!”

  “So very wrong.” She laughed. They both did.

  “I’m sorry I gave you such bad advice. The two of you are still just as attracted to one another, only there’s bad blood mixed in there as well now. A terrible combination.”

  She sighed. “I wish I could say you were wrong, but I can’t. It’s like my mind and my body are in complete disagreement with one another. The fact that he’s so nice to me outside of work is starting to drive me a little mad. It’s confusing.”

  “You want it to be real.”

  “No,” she blurted. “Of course not!” Britt licked her lips. “Okay, fine, there is a part of me that wishes it was. He hurt me when he fired me like that, especially right after we had been intimate. I felt like a piece of used gum he’d just spat out and accidentally trodden on. Like he was forced to put me back in his mouth, chew and pretend to like it.”

  “Druze runs hot and cold. I still see the looks he gives you.”

  Britt widened her eyes. “Yeah, we’re not having sex again.” She shook her head. “Not ever. So he can stop with the lust-filled stares.”

  “That’s just it.” Craig grabbed another handful of popcorn. “He does look at you with lust. He—”

  “Druze can go and jump in the lake if…”

  “Hold up!” Craig leaned forward. “He also looks at you with longing, like maybe he feels something for you.”

  “Rubbish!” she yelled, jerking back so that the bowl of popcorn spilled. “Oh shit!” she began scooping the snack back into the bowl. “I think you’re wrong.” There was no way Druze felt anything for her. She’d even worn that blasted red dress once or twice and hadn’t caught him looking at her in any way. He did when they were out in public but that was all a show. They were less than two weeks away from Vicky’s due date. She was all set to arrive the next day. Her and Talon were all packed and ready to move in to the lair.

  Craig got down onto the carpet and helped pick up the popcorn.

  There was a part of her that wanted to quit and walk away but she couldn’t do it to the couples counting on her. On them. They were still working fr
antically to cover every possible scenario. They were formulating plans to deal with every eventuality. There was no way someone else could take over at this late stage of the game. It would be too risky.

  “I’m sure you’re wrong, Craig. If he felt even the smallest thing for me, why would he have treated me the way he did?”

  I had you and now I’m done with you.

  It was a moment of weakness.

  His words still stung.

  “That’s just it. I think he pushed you away so harshly because he does feel something and…”

  There was a knock at the door.

  “Expecting someone?” Craig asked.

  “No,” she frowned. “Definitely not.” Britt turned down the television.

  A knock sounded again, almost immediately.

  “Person’s impatient,” Craig chuckled. He got up and walked towards the entrance. “I can get it for you?” he raised his brows.

  Britt paused the movie. “Why not. They probably have the wrong apartment. Tell them…”

  Craig had already opened the door. She heard Druze’s voice. “I came to…visit with Britt.”

  Oh great! He was in fake mode. He still only used her first name in public. There must have been someone in the hallway.

  “Oh…sorry!” Craig stammered. “I didn’t know you guys had plans.”

  “I could say the same about the two of you,” he sounded irritated. Situation normal then.

  Britt walked over to the door. “Hi, Snookums.” She winked at Druze.

  “Buttercup. It’s good to see you.” He laid it on thick. Would have kissed her too if Craig hadn’t been in the way, she was sure. She needed to thank him later.

  “It’s only been two hours.” She raised her brows, giving him the evil eye even though she sounded upbeat. No one would see her from in there.

  “May as well be a lifetime. That’s how much I missed you.”

  She rolled her eyes. Couldn’t be helped.

  “Can I come in?” His jaw was tight.

  “I have plans with Craig, angel-cakes.” She tried to think of silly names to call him. All the while hoping he hated it. Loathed them even.

  “We can hang out together…the three of us. I had to come over. We can chat about our weekend plans.” He winked.

  “We’re working tomorrow, babes.”

  “So, we’ll go to bed early. Maybe you’ll let me stay over.” He threw her a grin that would work on most women. Okay, every other woman on planet earth…but her. It would not work on her.

  “Maybe I won’t,” she realized how tense and short that sounded. Craig was right! “Now, Snooks, you know my feeling on this.” Much better.

  Craig took a small step back. Mistake!

  “Only too well.” Druze used the gap to push his way in. He pulled the door shut behind him.

  “What the hell?” she whispered. “This is my time and in my space.”

  “Exactly!” Druze walked further inside. “I’m your boyfriend and I’ve only been in your apartment once.”

  Her whole body lit up at the memory of that one time he was there. As she remembered exactly what had happened. Namely sex. Twice. Hot sex. Brittney hated him all over again. “I don’t care. I don’t want you here,” she said, sure to keep her voice down.

  “Well deal with it, Buttercup, because I am here and I’m staying,” he countered, turning to Craig. “I’m afraid that three is a crowd.”

  Britt panicked. She didn’t want to be alone with Druze. “Stay! Don’t listen to him.”

  Druze turned hard eyes on her. “They’re talking.”

  “Who is?”

  “Topaz, Selenite…the whole gang are hitting on me again. I heard one or two males talking about going after you since you and I are not an item.”

  “But we are an item.”

  “You can’t just say we’re an item, Dr. Baker, you have to show it too.”

  Britt hated it when he called her that. “We have been showing it. Almost every day. Out there.” She pointed at the door.

  “We’ve obviously been doing a bad job because no one is buying it.”

  “I think you I should go.” Craig was backing up towards the door.

  “Yes,” Druze growled.

  “No don’t,” she pleaded.

  “We need to spend the evening here together. You and I. No third wheel.” His voice became even deeper. Even more gruff. Druze clenched and unclenched his fists which…which…looked bruised. Yes! Druze’s right hand was scraped open although it looked to be healing.

  “Did you get into a fight?” she grabbed said hand, which he pulled away.

  “It doesn’t matter. Point being, they don’t believe we’re an item. We need to work harder. It needs to start now.”

  “I’ll go,” Craig said, turning and heading for the door.

  This time she didn’t stop him. “Bye.”

  “See you guys in the morning,” Craig said, without looking back. He closed the door behind him.

  “Okay fine, but I’m going to my room. You can hang out here until it’s time to go.”

  Druze gripped her hand before she could turn away. “We need to find out more about one another.”

  “You don’t have a favorite color. You find such things trivial. You don’t like watching television. You prefer reading and then only autobiographies. Your favorite food is steak…no ribs…” she looked up in thought. “It’s one of those two.”

  * * *

  Brittney wore grey sweatpants, black socks with purple bunnies on them and an oversized, faded shirt. Her hair was in a messy ponytail. There was no make-up on her face. She’d never been more beautiful than in that moment.

  Druze felt the burning need to leave. Unfortunately, he felt an even stronger need to stay. Irritation still caused his scales to rub. That male had been there. They’d been hanging out. Was there more between them? He didn’t think so, but it still rubbed him raw. “I like meat in general, so you’re not wrong. Both steak or ribs would have been a good choice.”

  “See. My point exactly. I’m getting to know you. There is no need for this.”

  “We’re dating and I’ve never been to your house, except for that once.” He tried not to think about that day. Failed. Then tried instead to stop thinking about it.

  “You’re here now. I’ve resided myself to that fact, but we don’t have to hang out or anything.”

  “Does Craig often come to your apartment?”

  “What does that have to do with anything?” she put her hands on her hips.

  “If we were really dating…” he would never date a female. This was an almost impossible situation. “…for real, then…I would struggle to accept another male coming over.”

  “Craig and I are just friends. You know that.”

  “Of course, I do,” he pushed the words out. “But…they won’t see it that way.” He pointed at the door. “Craig can’t come over here again. You can’t hang out at his place either,” he quickly added.

  “Forget it.”

  “You made a promise to Stone. We both did. We need to take this seriously. We need to work harder to make our fake relationship believable, starting right now. I had to beat up on those males.” He looked down at his hands, flexing them again.

  “Oh shit! I thought so. Are you okay?”

  “Yes, them not so much. I hated having to do it,” he lied. The fuckers had it coming. “But I did what had to be done. This…right now…has to be done whether we like it or not. We will watch that movie together and then I’m going home. That way if anyone asks us independently about our evening, we will have uniform answers.”

  “I suppose.” He could see her thinking it through. “I thought you hated watching the TV.”

  “I’ll live, Britt.”

  Her mouth fell open. “You shouldn’t call me that. We’re not in public. It’s not right!”

  “We’re technically play acting…to a degree. It’ll be better if we stay in our roles, mostly.”

&
nbsp; She pushed out a hard breath, clearly not liking the idea at all. “Fine. Do I need to grill you a steak? I might have some jerky in the kitchen.” She looked like she wanted to cook for him like she wanted a hole in the head.

  “No, it’s fine.” He shook his head. “I already ate. Thank you,” he added at the end, trying to be…cordial. They did need to pretend, and it would help if Britt didn’t hate him quite so much because she did…big time hate him, and he couldn’t blame her. “Where were you sitting?” he asked, not wanting to take her spot. There was some popcorn spilled on the two-seater, so he suspected Britt and Craig had been sitting there. Together. Something tightened in him. This play acting was striking chords. Druze found he didn’t like the idea at all.

  Britt pointed at the two-seater and that tightening increased. Yep, he had been right.

  “After you.” He gestured to the chair.

  She looked at him for a few long seconds before finally going and sitting down. Druze sat down next to her.

  She instantly tensed.

  “What were you guys watching?” he asked, trying to sound neutral. Calm. Easy. One hundred percent fine. Happy go fucking lucky.

  “A romantic comedy about a…”

  “A romantic comedy,” Druze chuckled. “Does Craig actually have balls?”

  “Craig is nice. He’s a sweet guy who let me pick what I wanted to watch. Why? Was there something else you would prefer to watch?” she tried to hand him the remote, but Druze didn’t take it.

  One thing was evident, Craig wanted to get into Britt’s panties. “No, a romantic comedy is fine by me.” He grabbed a handful of popcorn, putting a few pieces into his mouth.

  Britt’s mouth twitched. She watched him, in fascination, although he couldn’t say why.

  “You like popcorn?” she asked when he swallowed.

  “Yes, I like popcorn. Especially popcorn with salt, butter and…” he tasted the inside of his mouth, not sure what he was picking up. Druze took some more and ate it.

  Britt smiled. She all out smiled. “I hate to tell you, but most of that fell onto the floor just before you knocked.”

  “Wool fibers. I was wondering what that taste was.” He grimaced.