“Aye, but I can resist as long as necessary. Your tricks won’t work with me.”
Fraser’s eyes turned concerned. “I don’t want to use my tricks on you, Fergus. I want to know how to help you, if you need it. Is the lass your true mate? Even if she’s pregnant, your dragon might still feel the pull.”
Fergus ran a hand through his hair and decided to trust his brother. “Honestly? My beast wants to claim her right now. But it’s not as if I can take the lass home and woo her. She’s pregnant with a dragon-shifter’s child, Fraser. I have the sense she’s running away from the father of her bairn.”
Fraser finished his thought. “And Lochguard has too many enemies already.”
“Exactly.”
“You’re an idiot, Fergus Roger MacKenzie.”
Fergus blinked. “Pardon?”
“I-D-I-O-T. Idiot. You’ve been fantasizing about finding your mate for years. I know you think you’ve hidden it most of the time, but I’m your best friend. I know you better than anyone in the world.” Fraser leaned forward and searched his eyes. “If Gina is your chance, don’t fuck it up.”
Fergus’s dragon preened. He’s on my side. That’s two against one.
It’s not a bloody democracy.
Yet a part of Fergus was starting to think he could at least try to woo the lass.
His dragon snarled. More than woo. Fuck, claim, and protect.
When Fergus didn’t answer his twin, Fraser rolled his eyes. “You’re always so bloody logical. I don’t know how your dragon puts up with you.”
“Gee, thanks, brother.”
Fraser ignored him. “If nothing else, it can’t hurt to talk with Finn. Considering what he did for his mate, Arabella, and for my Holly, he might be able to work some magic for you, too. All of the MacKenzie men deserve love.”
“Finn’s a Stewart, not a MacKenzie.”
Fraser shook his head. “Don’t start, Fergus. You know what I mean—everyone we love should have the gift of a mate. I’m sure even our stubborn-headed sister will find someone eventually.”
As he stared at the face so like his own, hope flickered in Fergus’s chest. His twin might have a point.
His dragon huffed. Will you listen now?
At his beast’s prodding, Fergus quickly tamped down his hope and used his logic again. “I don’t know how the lass even feels about me. She barely knows me.”
Fraser grinned. “Then woo her and kiss her. Even if she’s your true mate, there won’t be a mate-claim frenzy as long as she’s pregnant or breastfeeding. You might have a rare opportunity to get to know her before you fuck her.”
“You were always such a romantic.”
“Bloody right I am.” Fraser closed the distance between them and gripped Fergus’s shoulder. “You thought Holly might be your last chance at finding a mate. But what if you’ve been given another chance? The lass clearly likes you or she wouldn’t have allowed you in her cottage, let alone sat in your lap and let you touch her belly.”
“You saw that?” Fergus asked.
“Aye, through the window.”
With any other person, Fergus would explain away the situation. Yet as he looked into eyes the exact shape of his own, Fergus never wanted to lie to his twin brother ever again. “I’ll test out the waters first with Gina before I talk to Finn. I don’t want to give our cousin a new problem to solve if the human female feels differently from me and my dragon.”
Fraser slapped his shoulder. “Good lad.”
“But.”
Fraser sighed. “Is this where you have a million caveats to add to make everything more difficult than it has to be?”
Fergus grunted. “Not all of us toss caution to the wind on a whim.”
“I’m going to let that slide just this once since I promised Holly I wouldn’t start a wrestling match. I’m sure punching you would also land me in trouble.”
“Fraser,” Fergus growled.
“Fine, fine. I’ll behave. Just finish your bloody sentence so we can go back inside. It’s fucking cold out here.”
“My caveat is that I don’t want any interfering. I won’t ask you to hold the information from Holly, but don’t tell anyone else, not even Mum. If either of you try to meddle, I’ll tell Finn and Arabella about the giant hogweed you planted in their yard. Finn won’t take it well.”
Giant hogweed could cause a painful rash when rubbed on the skin and exposed to sunlight.
Fraser narrowed his eyes. “You said you’d keep that in confidence.”
He shrugged. “Then don’t meddle with Gina. It’s as simple as that.”
A gust of wind nearly blew off the material around Fraser’s waist. “Fine. Can we go back inside now?”
“You’re such a bloody lightweight. Dragon-shifters are supposed to be tough.”
“I am tough, but there’s nothing wrong with a little comfort. This isn’t the bloody dark ages.”
Fergus pointed over Fraser’s shoulder. “Oh, no. Some of the sheep jumped over the fence.”
Fraser whipped around. “Where?”
He laughed and Fraser realized he’d been tricked. Getting a hold of himself again, Fergus said, “Just because one of the rams hit you in the dick with their horns doesn’t mean all sheep are out to get you. Being afraid of the animals ruins your alpha image.”
Fraser gave him the two finger salute. “I’m going inside with or without you.”
His twin turned and dashed into the cottage. Taking a deep breath, Fergus followed.
As per usual, talking with Fraser had led to Fergus possibly causing trouble.
Of course, Gina could tell him to fuck off and then he wouldn’t have to burden Finn.
His dragon hissed. Not before you at least kiss her. One taste and you won’t be able to stop yourself.
You wouldn’t be able to, but I could. If she says no, I won’t force her.
She won’t say no.
I can’t deal with your cockiness right now.
Ignoring his dragon, Fergus entered the cottage. If he planned to see if Gina not only wanted him but was worth the trouble of asking for Finn’s help, then he wasn’t going to hold back. It was time to pursue the human and see how she handled it.
~~~
As Gina sipped her glass of water, she watched Holly jot down something in her notebook. While no one had told Gina whether Holly was a dragon-shifter or not, her gut said the woman was human. This might be a prime time to ask how Lochguard treated humans.
Before Gina could say anything, Holly glanced up with a smile. “I can feel you watching me. If you have any questions, hen, feel free to ask. As soon as the twins come back, I’m not sure if we’ll ever have a moment of privacy.”
Despite sensing an undertone to Holly’s words, Gina ignored it. After swallowing her water, she asked, “Are you human?”
“Aye, I am. I arrived on Lochguard as a human sacrifice a little over two months ago.”
Gina should try to be polite and work her way up to the bigger questions, but she’d never been good at restraining her mouth. She blurted out, “So are you pregnant, too?”
Holly gave a sad smile. “I was, but I lost the bairn.”
“I’m so sorry.”
Holly waved a hand. “Don’t worry about it. If Fraser has any say in the matter, we’ll probably have ten kids in the next ten years, if stamina equates pregnancy.”
Gina’s cheeks flushed. Sometimes, she hated being a redhead with fair skin. “He’s your true mate, then?”
“Aye, he is.” Holly paused. Her voice was gentle when she continued. “If Finn allows you to stay, you can always come talk to me if you need it. The MacKenzies are a handful and sometimes it’s nice to merely sit with a cuppa, a biscuit, and enjoy some human company.”
She was about to reply about how she’d like that when the twins waltzed into the room. A quick glance told Gina both had material wrapped around their waists. She instantly met Fergus’s eyes and the determined look made her shiver.
&
nbsp; Clearing her throat, Gina pushed past her attraction. “I see it takes company for you to cover yourself, Fergus.”
“Aye, well, Fraser threatened to walk around naked if I didn’t cover up. And if you saw him, then I’d have to kick his arse.”
Fraser shoved his brother. “More like I’d kick yours for showing Holly your goods again.”
As the twins growled at one another, Holly clapped her hands. “Enough, lads. Did you decide who's flying ahead and who’s riding with Gina?”
Fergus took a step forward. “I’m riding with Gina.”
His words held a sort of dominance, as if Gina should meekly obey. “Maybe I want Fraser to ride with me. He has yet to invade my personal space, after all.”
Fergus growled. “If he tries it, then he’ll deal with me.”
Holly frowned and looked to Fraser. Fraser nodded toward the hall. “Come here for a second, honey. I want to talk to you about something before I fly back to Lochguard.”
Holly’s gaze moved back to Gina. “Will you be okay in the room alone with Fergus?”
Fergus answered before Gina had a chance. “Of course she will.”
Picking up a pillow from the bed, she tossed it at Fergus. “Stop speaking for me. I have a brain and know how to talk. I can make my own decisions.”
His eyes flashed to dragon slits and back. “In this, I’m making the decision.”
She barely registered Fraser tugging Holly out of the room and shutting the door. Gina scooted to the edge of the bed with her glass of water still in hand. Narrowing her eyes, she stood up. “What’s wrong with you? If you’re trying to act macho and alpha in front of your brother, then I really don’t want to sit in a car with you for who the hell knows how long. I’m sure Fraser and Holly will protect me.”
Closing the distance between them, Fergus leaned close to her face. “I’m the only one who will be protecting you, Gina MacDonald.”
Her voice was faint as she asked, “And why is that?”
He brushed her cheek and it took everything she had not to lean into his touch. “I know you feel the attraction between us.”
Her eyes darted to his lips and back up again. “Attraction leads to trouble.”
Raising his other hand, Fergus cupped her cheek. “I will hunt down the bastard who hurt you later, Gina. But right now, you shouldn’t be thinking of another male.”
She should push Fergus away and call for Holly. Instead, she asked, “And why is that?”
Fergus’s eyes flashed and she swallowed. The predatory look in his eyes shot straight between her thighs.
Leaning a fraction closer to her lips, the heat of Fergus’s breath tickled her lips. “Because you should be thinking of me. Let me kiss you, Gina MacDonald. I can think of nothing else but your soft, sweet lips or your warm mouth.” He caressed her cheeks with his thumbs. “Kiss me and then decide what to do with me.”
Her heart thundered inside her chest. Between Fergus’s touch and heat, Gina was starting to forget why she should stay away from the dragonman in front of her. He wanted her. Not only that, thanks to him, she might have a future where she could keep her child.
Surely one kiss wouldn’t be the end of the world.
Before she could change her mind, Gina whispered, “Okay.”
In the next second, Fergus’s lips descended on hers. His warm, firm lips sent a shiver through her body. Then he placed a hand on her back and drew her body closer until her belly lightly brushed his groin. The heat of his body against hers made Gina moan, and Fergus slipped his tongue inside her mouth.
Each stroke only made her crave more. Damn, his taste was addictive. Never had a man tasted so good.
He lightly pressed her tighter and she could feel his hard dick. The touch only made her wetter.
Fergus moved his hand to lightly tug her hair and took the kiss deeper. Her knees grew weak and only leaning against his muscled body prevented her from falling over.
Realizing she still had the damned water glass in her hand, she tossed it to the side and it landed on a pile of clothes. As she fisted Fergus’s hair, the dragonman nipped her lips. She tugged and he did it again.
Her nipples ached and she moved until they brushed his chest. The fabric of her shirt only added to the delicious friction.
Growling, Fergus roamed a hand over her waist, her back, and finally gripped her ass.
Images of what his large, rough hands could do to her breasts and between her thighs flooded her mind.
Just as she was about to grip Fergus’s tight butt, a knock at the door brought her back to reality. Breaking the kiss, she raised her fingers to her lips and met Fergus’s eyes. They were full of heat and changing between dragon eyes and human ones.
The sight brought back a memory of another dragonman looking at her exactly the same way.
She was such a fool.
Turning her back on Fergus, Gina shut her eyes and took deep breaths through her nose. She needed to kill the problem with Fergus before it morphed into something dangerous. If he thought to kiss and fondle her in hopes of taking her to bed, he was in for a surprise. Gina MacDonald wasn’t about to be fooled twice. She wouldn’t trust her body, let alone her heart, with a dragonman again.
Fergus touched her shoulder and she flinched. His voice was neutral as it filled the air. “What’s wrong, lass? Is it the bairn again?”
She was saved from answering by a more insistent knock and Fraser’s voice. “Open the door, Fergus, or I’ll start listing the reasons why you locked it.”
With a curse, Fergus removed his hand. Gina let out a sigh. Without Fergus’s touch or presence nearby, her brain started to function again. Good thing as she needed to think of a plan to keep Fergus MacKenzie and his delicious kisses far away from her. It was the only way to protect herself from a repeat of what had happened with Travis Parker.
Chapter Five
Fergus clenched his jaw as he walked toward the door. The lass had flinched at his touch and he didn’t like it.
His dragon spoke up. We need to erase her bad memories. The American clan hurt her. We will need to replace those memories with good ones.
Humans, especially females, are different than you, dragon. They need time to trust again.
Time is what we don’t have. If BroadBay wants the bairn, it’s only a matter of time before they find her.
Not sure how to reply to that statement, Fergus unlocked the door and tugged it open. He met Fraser’s eyes. “What the bloody hell do you want?”
Fraser grinned. “My, my. Someone’s testy.”
Clenching his fingers into a fist, Fergus debated hitting his brother. But Holly stepped between them before he could act. “Fraser’s about to leave and just wants to check with Gina in case she has anything she’d like to pass on to Finn.”
Gina’s voice filled the room. “No need. Fraser’s riding in the car with us. Fergus can fly ahead.”
Fergus blinked and looked over his shoulder. “What? Why?”
Crossing her arms over her chest, Gina raised her eyebrow. “You have no say over me. I’m not your family or your wife. I appreciate your help in getting Holly here, but now it’s time for you to leave.”
Fergus barely heard his twin whistle as he turned toward his human and narrowed his eyes. “I’m not about to let the flirty bastard in the car with you. I’ll be riding in the backseat next to you. It’s the only way I can protect you.”
“I’m sure Fraser can protect me just as well. Unless you’re going to tell me your brother is a useless piece of crap who can’t take care of himself, let alone anyone else?”
Fraser walked toward them. “Hey now—”
Fergus cut his twin off. “After what just happened, I thought you’d want me to protect you.”
The second he said it, surprise flashed across Gina’s face. Then her jaw tightened. His dragon roared in the back of his head to stop it, but Fergus ignored his beast.
Holly moved to Gina’s side and wrapped an arm around her sh
oulders. “Fergus, fly ahead.”
He growled and looked to his sister-in-law. To her credit, she didn’t so much as raise an eyebrow. “No.”
“I’m the midwife and you’re causing Gina stress. Fly your arse ahead or I will involve both Finn and Lorna in this.”
Fergus didn’t back down. “I’m not a teenager. I’m not afraid of my mum.”
Fraser laid a hand on his shoulder. Fergus swiveled his head to the side. “Now is not the time to touch me, brother.”
“Bloody hell,” Fraser murmured. “Fly ahead, Fergus. You’re both frightening and pissing off your human.”
Gina spoke up. “I’m not his human.”
Fraser never took his eyes from Fergus’s. “If you want what we discussed, then leave. I swear on our mother’s life, I won’t touch her.”
Fergus’s dragon snarled. We can’t leave Fraser alone with her. He may try to claim Gina.
At the mentioning of his brother pursuing Gina, the angry haze lifted a fraction from his brain. He has a mate.
Maybe he’ll revert to what the dragons did a millennium ago and take multiple mates.
The ridiculous statement cleared his head further. Fergus glanced around the room. Everyone was staring at him, waiting to see what he’d do next.
What the hell had gotten into him?
Before his dragon could poison his thoughts and push him over the edge, Fergus gave a curt nod. “I’ll fly ahead.”
With one last look at Gina, Fergus stormed from the room. Her pregnancy may prevent a mate-claim frenzy, but it was clear his dragon wanted her. He’d thought she’d wanted him too.
Maybe he’d been too domineering. Fergus had always been the respectful and patient twin. Losing sight of that might have cost him his lass.
And yes, after Gina moaning into his mouth as she leaned against him for support, he finally agreed with his dragon. Gina was his female and true mate. After all this time, he’d finally found her.
However, the kiss had spooked her. Fergus needed to find out more about the bastard father of her child so he could think of how to handle the situation. While patience was usually one of his best traits, his dragon paced in the back of his mind. The action reminded him of what might happened if he took too long.
The Dragon Guardian Page 4
