Red Hot Dragon (Dragon Heat)

by Lolita Lopez

  A guttural sound emanated from his throat. He tore his mouth away from hers. Forehead to forehead, they panted and shuddered. Finally, Griffin spoke: “We do this my way.”

  She licked her lips and stared into the eyes of the man who had awoken such need within her. “What way is that?”

  “I’ll help you save your line, but I will not bond with you. I don’t want or need a mate.”

  His words shouldn’t have hurt her. She hadn’t come here looking for a mate, after all. Still, they struck a raw nerve. She’d always been the unwanted one. It wouldn’t be any different now. It’s only sex, she reminded herself.

  “I won’t bite you,” she promised. At the confused look on his face, she explained, “Among the Naga, a bite and exchange of venom is required to seal a true mate bond.”

  “You have fangs?” He tilted his head for a better look at her mouth. “I didn’t feel them.”

  She shook her head. “I only have them in my serpent form.”

  “I see.” His fingertip trailed her jaw. “If this works, I’m not walking away from my child. There is no way in hell I’m playing the role of absentee father.”

  His assertion troubled her. She wasn’t kidding earlier. She didn’t want the interference of another parent in her life. Single motherhood appealed to her for a few very personal reasons. “But I don’t want—”

  He silenced her with a kiss. Leaving her breathless, he said, “This isn’t up for debate, Avani. These are my terms. Take them or leave them. Now—do we have a deal?”

  Overwhelmed by his commanding heat and strength, Avani was powerless to say no. She found unexpected reassurance in his penetrating, unwavering gaze. His offer wasn’t the most palatable, but there was plenty of time to convince him to give her exactly what she wanted. “All right. We have a deal.”

  But as Griffin carefully lowered her to the ground, Avani couldn’t shake the feeling her well-laid plans were about to be shot to hell by this ridiculously sexy beast of a man.

  Chapter Two

  You are out of your mind.”

  Griff stopped repacking his gym bag long enough to glance at Mad. His cousin leaned against the wall of lockers and shook his head in disbelief. Griff didn’t blame him. Away from Avani’s enticing scent, he was starting to have second thoughts, too. His gaze skipped to the closed door as he thought of her waiting for him. Was she feeling the same uncertainty about her brazen plan? “She made a good case.”

  “A good case?” Mad scoffed. “She asked you to give her a baby. That’s not a little favor done between friends, Griff. That’s a lifelong commitment.”

  “She doesn’t want a commitment. She just wants the baby.”

  Mad’s appalled face mirrored Griff’s feelings on the subject. “Please tell me you didn’t agree to that.”

  “No. I reacted in much the same way as you. I made it clear that if this plan of hers works, if we’re able to keep her line alive, I will be involved.”

  Mad rubbed the back of his neck. “A baby, Griff? Have you really thought this all the way through? Have you considered what Ignatius will say?”

  Griff grunted. “I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. It’s likely this won’t even work. We’re not exactly a species known for high fertility rates.”

  “But you’re still going to give it that old college try.”

  Griff ignored Mad’s juvenile gesture. “Don’t be crude.” He considered what kind of courage it had taken for Avani to come into the gym of her family’s sworn enemy and ask for this kind of help. “She’s trying to save something precious. What she’s attempting is no different than what you or I or any of the Brothers do any time we’re called on to protect dragons from the Knights.”

  Mad looked properly chastised. He touched his chest and lowered his gaze in the way of their tribe. “My apologies.”

  Griff accepted the apology with a nod. He finished packing his bag but hesitated before finally admitting, “I’ve been thinking about children for some time.”

  Shock filtered across Mad’s face. “You never said—”

  “I know,” Griff interrupted. “It’s not the kind of thing I felt comfortable discussing, but seeing Stig’s happiness with Cora has made me rethink some of my priorities. Now that Ignatius is opening the floor to debate on some of our stricter laws and covenants, I’m hopeful we’ll see some softening of the restrictions on families for membership in the Brotherhood. Think of all we’ve survived over these many years, Mad. Can you imagine being killed tomorrow without the knowledge that some part of you lives on?”

  “I’ll admit to thinking of our line dying out with you and me or the handful of cousins who belong to the tribe. It’s a…difficult fate to accept.”

  “Maybe we don’t have to accept it,” Griff countered. He glanced at the door and thought of the dark-eyed woman nervously awaiting his return. In his long life he’d come across numerous female dragons, but never once had he experienced this powerful attraction toward one of them. “I never expected that my chance to father a child would come to me like this, but I’m not about to throw away the only chance fate may grant me. I’m grabbing this with both hands and not letting go.”

  Mad shoved off the lockers. He squeezed Griff’s shoulder. “You know you always have my support.”

  “Thank you.” Griffin lifted his bag onto his shoulder. He remembered the conversation they’d been having when Avani arrived. “Mad, promise me you won’t go looking for the source of these dreams alone. You’ll need backup, and that’s me.”

  “I promise.” Mad spoke without hesitation or obfuscation. “I won’t do anything stupid until you’re free of your mating heat.” Looking a bit conspiratorial, he lowered his voice. “Did the rumor about the sword she possesses factor into your decision to say yes?”

  Griff didn’t even try to deny it. They were at war with the Knights, and destroying the swords they possessed was the ultimate goal. “Partly.”

  “If it’s true that she got her hands on one of the swords that killed her family, we’re one step closer to destroying all of the swords that give the Knights power.” Mad let his voice drop to barely a whisper, just in case Avani had an acute sense of hearing. “Perhaps you could make it a condition of this trade.”

  Griff’s jaw tightened at the idea of such a cold, nasty thing. “I’m not going to trade a child for a sword.”

  “We’re at war, Griff. We’ve done uglier things than this.”

  “A child—my child—is worth more to me than some damn sword!”

  Mad put up both hands. “Don’t bite my head off! I was simply pointing out the realities of the situation.”

  “They aren’t the realities to me. You can be damned sure I’m going to ask her about the sword, but I’m not going to horse-trade. If she wants to give it to the Brotherhood for disposal, fine. If not, at least we’ll know where it is and we can keep it secure.”

  “Understood.” Mad eased back and tilted his head. He gestured to his eyes. “Your control is starting to slip. I swear your hackles raised just now.”

  Griff stretched his neck, the muscles in his back and shoulders starting to pull tight. “I think it’s Avani’s scent. She’s tempting my primal side. I feel on edge already, and it’s still two hours to sunset.”

  “You should go. Get underground.” A trace of anxiety colored Mad’s voice. “With the two of you in heat, your combined scents will be overpowering at night. It won’t take much for the Knights to get one of their trackers on you. I worry that even sunlight won’t burn the smell off you.”

  Griff shared that concern. “Avani assured me her underground facilities are secure and well-stocked.”

  “Text me when you get there. Let me know if you’re going to need supplies or manpower. I don’t mind standing guard.”

  “The Knights wouldn’t dare break the rules and attack us at her home. They consider that rule sacrosanct.”

  “Maybe,” Mad replied, unconvinced. “This new generation of Knights is d
ifferent than the ones we’ve faced in the past. They aren’t afraid to massage the rules a little.”

  Griff grunted in agreement. He left the locker room with Mad a few steps behind. Out in the gym, he caught sight of Avani near the entrance. Her skittish gaze met his. There was no mistaking her nervous gulp. Just as quickly as that bit of anxiety showed, she schooled her features and became the cool, collected woman who had first walked through that door. She slipped her sunglasses into place and pivoted on her heel, presenting her fine backside as she left the gym.

  Mad laughed and slapped Griff’s back. “Good luck, cousin. You’re going to need it.”

  *

  Sitting across from Griff sometime later, Avani tried to get a handle on her wildly vacillating emotions. Even seated, he seemed impossibly huge. Her dining room was so big and spacious, but Griff somehow made the space seem claustrophobic.

  His enticing scent grew stronger with every passing minute. It filled the room and invaded her senses, leaving her knees weak and her belly trembling. She could feel the pulsing heat radiating from him, and she tried to deny her body’s reaction to his closeness.

  Looking a bit self-conscious, Griff swallowed his final bite of the dinner she’d prepared. She’d never seen any man consume a pile of rare steaks so quickly. He dabbed at his mouth with one of her perfectly pressed napkins. “Sorry.”

  “For?” She picked up her wineglass and took another sip.

  “Eating so much and so ravenously,” he explained with a sheepish smile. “I promise you I’m not usually so beastly.”

  “It’s the forced change coming upon you. We all have our quirks when our inner beast threatens to overwhelm us.”

  He eyed her plate and the remnants of her light dinner. “I can see that gorging yourself on red meat isn’t one of them.”

  “I never eat red meat. My mother might have strayed a bit from her family’s Hindu beliefs, but she maintained the traditions and customs.”

  A bright flush painted his neck and the tips of his ears. “Sorry. I should have remembered about your mother’s roots in India.” He paused and stared down at his empty plate. “You didn’t have to go to the trouble of buying me special food.”

  “It’s fine.” Amused, she waved her hand. “Finding a good butcher who could stock my freezer on such short notice turned into a nice little adventure.”

  A flash of guilt crossed his handsome face. “Don’t let me inconvenience you, Avani.”

  Her eyebrows lifted in surprise. “If anyone should be apologizing, it’s me. I’m the one who propositioned you, remember?”

  His eyes glinted with hunger. “Oh, I remember.”

  Dropping her gaze, she tried to pull their conversation back to a lighter topic. “Lotion,” she said finally. “My quirk is slathering my skin in lotion and oils. I tend to have issues with peeling when I shift back and forth. It’s not exactly the most glamorous thing in the world, but there it is.”

  Griff shot her a sinfully sexy grin. “I’d be more than happy to rub down your naked skin tonight.”

  Avani choked on the wine she’d just sipped. Griffin’s laughter didn’t win him any points. She set down her glass and glared at him. “Maybe you could wait until I’ve swallowed to make cracks like that.”

  He parted his lips to make another teasing remark, but she stopped him with her raised hand the second she realized what she’d said. “Don’t even think about it!”

  “Oh come on!” He smiled mischievously. “You walked right into that one.”

  She couldn’t deny it. “Does everything have to be a dirty joke with you? What are you? Twelve?”

  “I’m only trying to lighten the mood.” He leaned back in his chair. “You look tense. I know this was your idea and you’ve got it all planned out, but it will probably go easier on both of us if you let me take the lead.”

  A wicked heat flared to life within her at the idea of surrendering control to Griffin. She’d never been the kind of girl who let men have the upper hand. Her lower belly clenching with need, she shook her head and rose from her seat. “We’ll see.”

  Griffin’s burning gaze followed her as she left the dining room with her dishes. He gathered up his and joined her in the kitchen. As if trying to set her on edge, he purposely brushed against her body as she loaded her things into the dishwasher. She gritted her teeth and tried to slow her racing heart.

  “Thank you for dinner. I appreciate it.” He slipped his plate and silverware into the rack and basket.

  Avani saw the sincerity in his face. “You’re welcome.”

  “It’s usually the man that does the wining and dining, but I enjoyed this role reversal.”

  Letting his easygoing smile infect her with some of his silliness, she replied, “Well I am the one trying to get into your pants.”

  “I don’t think there’s going to be much trying involved.”

  He closed the dishwasher and took a step closer. As she did back in his gym office, Avani retreated. His mouth curved with amusement as he walked her backward. The lip of the marble countertop bit into her back. There was nowhere else to go.

  “Griffin, I think—”

  “You have a beautiful home.”

  She blinked. His statement surprised her, since she’d been expecting another blatant come-on from him. “Thank you.”

  “No staff?” He glanced around the kitchen. “With a place this big, I doubt you do all the upkeep.”

  “I don’t. I have two housekeepers and a cook. I hire a service for all of the landscaping needs.”

  He placed both of his hands on the counter, trapping her in place. “You’ve done very well for yourself.”

  “My parents found poverty romantic, but I didn’t. I knew I was going to rise above my humble beginnings.” She bit her lip with instant regret. Always so guarded and careful, she rarely spoke about her embarrassingly poor childhood. What was it about Griffin that made her want to be so open?

  “Drive is a good thing. You’re clearly very talented.” He touched her earring. “I like these.”

  She quirked a smile. “Wear a lot of women’s earrings, do you?”

  He chuckled and let his fingertips follow the outline of her jaw. “Are we going to be interrupted?”

  She shook her head. “I sent my staff away on paid vacation. I thought it would be safer.”

  “Good.” He looked to the window over the sink. “Your neighborhood seems safe, even if it is a bit heavy on the human population for my taste.”

  “I’ve spent most of my life with humans. My best friends are mortals. Besides, this is one of the most sought-after addresses in Houston.”

  He made a face. “It’s on a golf course.”

  “It’s quiet and pretty.”

  “I suppose. At least the security guards and gates make it less likely that the Knights would try to ambush us outside of your home.” He straightened up and glanced down at her. “Show me your lair.”

  “Lair?” She hated the word. “It’s not a stone dungeon, Griffin.”

  He held out his hand. “Show me.”

  Avani grasped his massive paw. She tugged him along behind her through the butler’s pantry and into the wine cellar. Her fingertips slid along the edge of a wine shelf until she found the springy spot. She pushed it hard and stepped aside. The heavy shelf popped free from the wall.

  “It’s a nice design.” He shoved the shelf to the right.

  “My father helped me with it.” She touched the wood and let the good memories come. “It was one of our last projects together.”

  He stepped onto the landing with her and tugged the shelf back into place, sealing them inside the entrance. She flipped on the lights in the stairwell and led him down the long metal staircase to the bunker beneath her home. With the rising popularity of survivalist websites and books, her request to have a bunker installed during the building of her home hadn’t raised the eyebrows of her contractor or architect. After meeting some of her neighbors, Avani was certain he
r home wasn’t the only one equipped to outlast Armageddon.

  Griffin whistled as he stepped into the living area. “Hell, Avani, this is nicer than most people’s homes!”

  “We may be forced into our primal states, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some creature comforts.” She swept her hand along the plush upholstery of a reading chair. “I don’t often endure the forced change. For me, staying underground during my mating phase is more about safety than the practicality of hiding my dragon state.”

  “You don’t change?” His interest piqued, he studied her. “How?”

  “Fasting and meditation,” she replied. “The first few nights, my body undergoes the shift, but by the third or fourth night I’m weak enough that it’s impossible.”

  Griffin didn’t look happy. “That’s dangerous.”

  She shrugged. “I don’t enjoy being a serpent. I try to avoid it at all costs.”

  He frowned. “It’s who you are, Avani. Your Naga form is simply another extension of you. You should embrace her and learn to use her skills and instincts to your advantage.”

  “I’m not a member of the Brotherhood, Griffin. I have no desire to hunt down or slay Knights. I just want to live my quiet life and design jewelry. This thing inside me?” She gestured to her chest. “It’s something I’d rather subdue than encourage.”

  “You may very well be a mother soon, Avani. You can’t expect your child to understand how to control and manage his or her Naga form if you can’t control yours.”

  A quiver of embarrassment pierced her belly. “Maybe.”

  “There’s no maybe to it. You know I’m right.”

  She ignored his assertion and turned her attention to the area she used as the bedroom. “There’s a locked cell across the bunker, but from what I understand we won’t actually shift tonight.” A blazing heat invaded her cheeks. “If we’re touching, I mean.”

  Griffin’s gaze fell on the big bed. “My friend, Stig, recently took a mate. Cora’s dragon blood is very diluted, but her touch affected Stig in the way you’ve described. Actually, he seems to have drawn her dragon essence to the surface, so to speak. She began to undergo the change.” He reached back and touched his shoulder. “She grew scales.”