by Rinelle Grey
How could he hide for a week or more? He wasn’t sure he could hang out in her bedroom for that long. Not without going insane.
Unless she was inside the room with him, naked. His body responded instantly to that idea.
Huh? Some of the numbness of discovering his clan had disappeared must be wearing off if thinking of her naked could stir his desire again.
With some of the detachment fading, he could once again think a little. He could find reasons to believe that his clan was still out there. If the Trima dragons were still here, if they were vigilantly guarding the Mesmer chambers after all these years, then it must be because they were afraid someone would try to get in to wake the occupants. And the only ones who knew of the chambers’ existence, and their precious contents, was his clan.
Meaning, they had to still be out there, right?
The pain of losing his clan wasn’t going to go away, but he could deal with it… until the Mesmer ritual was complete anyway.
There was nothing he could do to help his clan, or find out what had happened to them, until the ritual was completed and he was fully healed. If they were still alive, and he refused to accept that they weren’t, then he had no idea what he’d be walking into when he found them. He needed to be at full strength, which meant completing the ritual had to be his first priority.
He followed Rylee into the house. Neither of them said anything. Rylee stared around the kitchen, then heaved a sigh. “I’ll get some lunch and we can talk.”
Her words were comforting. A promise he could hang on to. One certainty in a very unstable world.
Rylee began to pull plates out of the cupboard. “Can you get some watermelon out of the fridge for me?” she asked, her back to Calrian.
Calrian was more than happy to oblige, except for one thing. “What’s a fridge? For that matter, what’s a watermelon?”
Rylee turned and stared at him in confusion for a few moments before realising. She gave a small laugh. “Sorry. The fridge is that big white thing. Pull the handle to open the door. The watermelon is a fruit. It’s large and red with black seeds. It’s near the bottom.”
Calrian nodded and pulled the handle on the big white box. It came open with a hiss, and when he reached inside for the watermelon, he realised it was cold. Very cold. He stared at it for a few moments, not quite game to touch it.
But Rylee had asked him for help, so he reached inside and lifted the cold slice of fruit out and brought it across to the bench for her. The door to the fridge hissed closed behind him. Calrian wanted to ask a dozen questions about the strange device, but right now, he didn’t want to distract her from more pressing matters. He put his curiosity aside to deal with later.
Instead he watched her cut up some food and put it neatly on a plate. He was temporarily mesmerised by watching her hands as she arranged the food into patterns. Something about it, her movement and the shapes, was soothing.
They sat in comfortable chairs, the plate on a low table in front of them. Calrian didn’t feel hungry, but he ate anyway, so that he didn’t make things any more awkward.
“So, where do we go from here?” Rylee asked with a sigh.
Calrian echoed her sigh. “I hate to impose on you, but… if I leave, we both know that isn’t going to go well.”
Rylee gave a shudder, and it took all Calrian’s willpower not to do the same. He’d almost died. And if he had, then she would have too. Leaving wasn’t an option.
She took a deep breath, then said quickly, “Look, I know… well, if we slept together, that would solve all this. But… I’m just not ready to do that.”
Something about the tone to her words, a nervousness, or maybe a sadness, triggered his memory. She’d said earlier that Rowan had lost his father recently. Did that mean Rylee had lost her lifemate? Calrian couldn’t even begin to understand the devastation that would cause. Dragons mated for life, and the magical bond they formed with their partners meant they would not survive the death of a mate.
He knew humans didn’t bond with each other the way dragons did, but many of them did mate for life. Or they had last he’d heard.
He wasn’t sure which would be worse—dying with one’s mate or having to survive without them.
He wanted to ask Rylee about it, to understand what she was going through, but it wasn’t his place.
“I understand,” he said instead. “And I wouldn’t dream of asking it of you.” He hesitated, then added. “My being here, that’s going to cause problems for you, isn’t it? With Rowan and your father?”
She heaved a sigh. “My father won’t understand. I’d prefer it if he didn’t know you were here. He… disapproves of everything I do. And since it hasn’t been that long since I left Eric…” she let the words hang.
Who had she left, and why? And why did her father object to it?
It took Calrian a moment to connect the dots.
“Eric was…” He hesitated to use the word lifemate. Obviously, if she had left him, they were not lifemates. Not anymore, anyway. “Rowan’s father?”
Rylee heaved a sigh and nodded.
Calrian’s curiosity was aroused even further. Dragons leaving their lifemates was unheard of. Once the mating bond formed, their feelings for each other never dimmed.
But there were some cases where dragons who had intended to mate had changed their minds. Very occasionally, there were children involved. Perhaps, for humans, it was like that too?
Either way, it was none of his business. It would not affect her ability to help him complete the Mesmer ritual, though it did add an extra layer of complexity. But not a significant one. He’d already decided that mating with her was not an option, so it made no difference if she still had issues with her son’s father.
“I understand,” Calrian said. “Just let me know what I can do to make this easier for you, and I’ll do my best to make it so.”
Rylee sighed again and ran a hand through her hair. Her fingers pulled it back from her forehead for a moment, then as soon as she released it, it flopped down to frame her face again. Calrian’s fingers ached to comb through it, to see if it was as silky as it’s suppleness promised. But he kept his hands firmly in his lap.
“That’s the problem,” Rylee said, completely unaware of his thoughts. “I’m not sure how that’s going to be possible. I might be able to hide you from my father, he visits infrequently, but there’s going to be no way to avoid Rowan knowing you’re here. And he’s going to wonder why you’re sleeping in my room.”
Calrian winced. He could see how it would look to her son. And the inferences he would draw.
He just didn’t know what else to do.
“We’ll just have to tell him the truth,” he told Rylee softly. “He seems to be a caring and loyal young man. I’m sure he will understand.”
Rylee smiled at his compliment, but shook her head and heaved a sigh. “I’m not sure how we can even begin to explain this to him. Although he’ll probably at least believe you’re a dragon more readily than I did.” She gave a soft laugh at that.
Calrian was glad she could laugh about it, that it hadn’t scarred her as much as it had affected him. He couldn’t even think of how close they’d both come to dying without shuddering. Better not to think about it, but to focus instead on what to tell Rowan.
“We just explain that I need close physical contact to regain my energy after my regenerative sleep,” he said matter of factly. “I can’t see how he’ll misunderstand that.”
Rylee raised an eyebrow. “Close physical contact? Combined with you sleeping in my room. Sure, he’s not going to misinterpret that at all.”
She had a point. “Well, does it do any harm if he does think that we’re mating?”
Rylee heaved a sigh. “I suppose we’re not going to have any choice. I’m just worried about him getting hurt again.”
Calrian echoed her sigh. The last thing he wanted was for the boy to get hurt. He’d been nothing but kind and understanding, and had helped hi
m out when he hadn’t needed to.
But he just didn’t see any way around telling him the truth.
Chapter 13
Rylee bit back a sigh. She knew they had no choice about telling Rowan, but that didn’t mean she had to like it.
She was just about to admit that when she heard footsteps outside.
She recognised her father’s step instantly and, not for the first time, regretted the fact that she’d told him he didn’t need to knock before coming in. She’d been feeling so grateful when he’d offered to let her and Rowan stay in the house rent free, that it hadn’t even occurred to her that it might get awkward.
She certainly hadn’t even considered the fact that she might have a reason to want some privacy.
“Quick, hide,” she whispered. “My dad’s coming.”
To her relief, Calrian didn’t hesitate, not even to ask further questions. He disappeared into her bedroom and out of sight more silently than she would have thought possible, just seconds before her dad walked into the room.
“I dropped by earlier, but you weren’t here.” Her father frowned as though she had no right to a life of her own, though he didn’t actually come out and ask her where she’d been. For once.
Usually Rylee tolerated his interference. She’d explain where she’d been just so he wouldn’t keep frowning. But then again, usually she had nothing to hide.
This time though, she wanted him out of here so she could get back to talking to Calrian. Even though she couldn’t see or hear the dragon, she could feel his presence like an itch in between her shoulder blades. One that she couldn’t reach to scratch.
“Did you want something?” Rylee asked her father pointedly.
Her dad’s frown deepened. Her unusual behaviour would probably arouse his suspicions. Why couldn’t she ignore Calrian’s closeness and just act normally? She braced herself for questions. For comments about how ungrateful she was.
But her father obviously had something more pressing on his mind. “Tom from down the road said he’d seen a strange man wandering around his paddocks. When you weren’t here, I thought something had happened to you.”
Rylee’s heart skipped a beat, but not because of any potential danger. She was pretty sure she could guess who had been wandering around late last night. She deliberately avoided looking towards the bedroom door that Calrian hadn’t closed. Hopefully he was staying out of sight.
“As you can see, I’m fine. Did he say what this man looked like?”
Her dad shook his head. “No, just that the dogs started barking, and he saw a shadow in the trees. By the time he let the dogs off, whoever it was had disappeared.” Her father crossed his arms. “You and Rowan shouldn’t be here on your own until this is sorted out. You can come up to the house and stay there until we find out who it is.”
Rylee bit back a laugh. “We’ll be fine,” she assured him. “I’ll make sure I lock the doors.”
She couldn’t really explain that she’d be fine because the very man who’d caused the disturbance was hiding in her bedroom.
And being a dragon, she was pretty sure he could protect her against anyone wandering around, even if that person didn’t happen to be him.
Her dad, of course, knew none of that. He was just convinced she couldn’t look after herself.
“Don’t be stubborn,” he said firmly. “It’s not safe, a woman living alone like this. Not to mention the fact that you’re putting Rowan at risk. What kind of a mother does that?”
Rylee bristled at his comments. As if she’d put her son at risk. “I’m not a child anymore, Dad. I’m perfectly capable of looking after Rowan. We’ll be fine,” she repeated, her voice stiff. “Was there anything else?”
Her father looked irritated. “What’s wrong with you today? Usually you’re more sensible than this.”
More sensible? What he meant was more compliant. How had she never realised how similar he and Eric were? How had she missed the fact that she’d left one controlling male for another? She wasn’t in the mood for that at all.
An irritated retort rose on Rylee’s lips, but she knew that uttering it would only make the situation worse, so she swallowed it down. “I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m sorry. I’ll keep an eye out, but I’m sure Rowan and I will be fine.”
Her father didn’t look convinced. “Keeping an eye out isn’t going to cut it if some crazy is wandering around. I can’t even hear you up at the house if you yell out. You shouldn’t be on your own.”
If only he knew. On her own was what she most definitely wasn’t right now. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell her father, just to see the look on his face, but it wasn’t worth the backlash.
“I have a phone you know,” she said instead. “And I’ll make sure I keep the doors locked.”
Rylee was glad to have an excuse for locking up. That would stop any more unexpected interruptions.
Her father shook his head and muttered something under his breath. Rylee was pretty sure it wasn’t polite. Then he shrugged and headed out without saying anything more.
Rylee was relieved to see him go.
She waited, watching near the window until he disappeared off in the distance, and then pulled the curtains and clicked the lock on the door. The sound was most satisfying. That should stop any more unwelcome interruptions.
“He’s gone, you can come out,” she called to Calrian.
He joined her near the window, peering through the curtains and up the path. “Your father seems concerned about you. I’m sorry if my presence here is making things difficult.”
Rylee shrugged. “It has nothing to do with you. My dad doesn’t approve of the fact that I left Eric. He thinks I can’t look after myself.” She gave a slight laugh. “I figure I’m pretty safe right now with a dragon in the house.”
Calrian gave a half-hearted smile at that. “I can assure you, you are perfectly safe while I’m here. I will not let any harm come to you.” Calrian stared up the road for a few more moments, then returned to the living room.
Rylee sighed, and followed him. She put her father’s bullying out of her mind. She had bigger problems right now. They still had to figure out what they were going to do next.
She sat down next to Calrian, her leg brushing up against his, and winced as desire flashed through her.
Really, her best option would be to just sleep with him, kiss him goodbye, and let him be on his way. They could be done in an hour, probably less. Then she wouldn’t have to risk her father seeing him or worry about what to say to Rowan.
There was no denying it would be the least painful of all the options. And it was what she desperately wanted to do. What this Mesmer bond drove her to want.
It would solve all her problems. Once they’d slept together, he would leave, and she’d be able to get back to her normal, everyday life. Her normal, boring, everyday life. Get back to listening to her father complain about her choices. Get back to trying desperately to find a job so she could get out of here.
Rylee took a steadying breath. She needed to do all that. It was important. She knew that.
But being around Calrian, helping him, that was so much more fun. He genuinely seemed to need her, like no one in her life ever had. Well, Rowan did, but that didn’t count, he was a child.
The trouble was, after a week of this, of having Calrian nearby, being so sweet and supportive, of feeling this way about him, of thinking of sleeping with him—she knew she wasn’t going to want to let him go, no matter how much she knew she should.
Would it be any easier if she didn’t sleep with him? If they kept their distance?
She wished she knew because neither was going to be easy.
But the reality was, if it weren’t for this strange bond that tied them together, she wouldn’t even be considering sleeping with him, no matter how hot Calrian was. She knew she wasn’t ready for it. Getting involved with someone, no matter how temporarily, before she’d figured out her own life, was a mistake.
She’d gone straight from home, where her father made all her decisions, to Eric, where her husband did. She had so little experience at making her own choices that she still struggled even to do something as simple as choose a different washing powder. Being at her father’s house wasn’t making it any easier.
It would be all too easy to fall into that pattern again. Especially with someone like Calrian. He might be sweet and kind, but he was an honest to goodness dragon. How much harder would it be for her to assert her own independence when he was so powerful? So overwhelming?
When she felt like she’d be ready to do anything to make him kiss her, hold her, touch her.
Make love to her.
Or as he would say, mate with her.
The thought sent a shiver up her spine. It sounded so exotic. So delicious. So irresistible.
But she had to resist. She wouldn’t risk losing herself again, or putting Rowan in that position.
“We’ll just have to explain to Rowan that this is temporary,” she said stoutly. “And try to keep the two of you apart as much as possible. That shouldn’t be too hard, since he’s at school all day during the week.”
Calrian frowned. “School?”
Rylee nodded. “Yeah, school. We send our kids to school so they can learn all the things they’ll need to know when they grow up.”
“You don’t teach them this yourself?” Calrian looked genuinely confused.
Rylee tried to explain. “The world, the human world, is complex. He’ll need to know mathematics, and science, and all sorts of things. Besides, I need to get a job so I can make money to look after us.”
That, at least, Calrian seemed to understand. He nodded solemnly.
“So, Rowan will be away during the day? It will be only the two of us here, alone?”
The words sent a jolt of desire right to Rylee’s belly. Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea after all.
No, she needed to stick to this. She was already wavering back and forth all over the place. All Calrian had to do was say the word ‘alone’, in that hot, sexy voice of his, and she was ready to melt into his arms. That was not independent and strong, and she would not give into it.
