Viv didn’t react. Not outwardly. But he got the impression the waitress had a target on her back.
“So, Julie.” Kage rested his arm on the back of Julie’s seat, yet another test to see how her assistant would react. “Tell me more about yourself.” He offered a casual smile. One designed to cultivate trust. “Running a P.I. business sounds intriguing.”
“It does…it is.” Julie nodded. “Very intriguing.”
“I’d love to hear more.”
“Yeah, sure.” Julie began pressing the pad of her thumb against the edge of the table as though trying to pinpoint how to spin her bullshit tale. “It’s…complicated.”
As complicated as not having researched her lie before telling it.
“Complicated, how?”
“Like, just…well, you know…”
He warmed his smile even more. “I’m afraid I don’t.”
Julie swallowed, her eyes glued to his as she tried to come up with something.
“It’s complicated because it’s detective work,” Viv cut in as the waitress plopped their drinks down, didn’t bother with a food order but flashed five fingers at him, winked then sauntered off. He supposed that meant she’d be available for sex out back in five.
Figure the odds.
“Well, then, tell me about detective work.” He grinned at Viv. “Is it as boring as it sounds?” A languid grin curled his lips. “Or can you make it sound exciting?”
He didn’t miss the catch of her breath.
“I suppose that depends on what you’re investigating,” she replied before she brought the straw to her lips and sucked.
He’d been around a lot of beautiful women who offered to do all sorts of creative things with their mouths, but nothing compared to the way Viv worked a straw. A bolt of lust slammed into him as her sexy-as-sin lips wrapped around that little bit of plastic and sucked up over half her drink.
There was no stopping his arousal.
Or his low growl.
He didn’t care who she was or if she might have been planted by the enemy, he wanted her. And it didn’t matter where. His eyes skirted from the bathrooms to the rear entrance to the damn linen closet. Then his eyes dropped to the table. All it would take was a little dragon magic, and he could bend her right over this. None would be the wiser.
And if she wanted to keep sucking on that little straw the whole time, who was he to judge?
Meanwhile, Julie’s eyes were wide as saucers on him, and Viv had gone perfectly still. Too still. That’s when it hit him. A scent unlike any other. Sweet. Spicy.
Female dragon.
But not just any female.
Her.
Vivienne.
How the hell had she hidden it from him before? How had she controlled her heartbeat, even the fire he knew she must have felt being around him?
“My apologies, Julie,” he said, his eyes still lingering on Viv before they returned to Julie. He touched his throat, flinched and tried to explain away the unseemly growl. “Guess I got something stuck in my throat.”
“Ah,” Julie murmured, clearly not convinced.
Kage took a deep swig of beer and tried to figure out his next move. Vivienne had to belong to Hallstein. She must be one of his. But what if she wasn’t? What if she was the impossible? A woman he had stopped believing existed.
His mate.
“So,” Julie murmured, her drink untouched and her eyes more firmly focused on his arms. Better yet the tattoos. “Dragon tats. Suiting.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“And some of those on the other arm are Nordic, right? Viking?” she murmured as Viv continued to suck down her entire drink.
“Yup,” he confirmed, not so surprised she had locked onto them. Or that she spoke for her silent partner. “But I don’t think it’s you who’s so interested in the Norse, is it, Julie? And I don’t think it’s you who’s so interested in me.”
It appeared based on the sudden steadiness in Julie’s gaze and the firm tone of her voice that the game they were all playing was coming to a swift end.
“Who are you, Kage?” Julie said.
Who was he?
Who were they?
“Excuse me, may I get another drink?” Vivienne called out as the waitress flounced past. When the woman ignored her, it seemed Julie’s mousy little assistant had just about enough. There was a faint threat in her voice as she didn’t call out again, but offered something else altogether. A softly spoken request laced with dragon magic that humbled humans damn quick. Maybe even frightened them a little. “Please get me another drink. Now.” She slid the menu to the edge of the table. “And we’ll take a platter of nachos. Loaded. Half of it as hot as you can make it.”
Fear flashed in the waitress’s eyes before she scurried back, grabbed the menu and nodded. “Got it.” Her voice shook. “And sorry about before. I was just busy is all.”
“I know you were, sweetheart.” Vivienne made a fluttering motion with her hand when the waitress hesitated. “Off you go then.”
A slow grin had crept onto Kage’s lips again as he watched Viv. If he wasn’t mistaken, she was done with pretending to be someone else.
“Hell, it’s hot in here,” she muttered after the waitress left.
What she did next really got his blood blazing.
“Fuck me,” Kage said under his breath as she pulled off the wig, fanned the back of her neck, then let a long, thick cascade of dark chocolate brown hair fall down her back. She removed her heavy wool business coat and revealed a low, fitted V-neck top. Her bronzed skin was smooth and satiny and her voluptuous curves well beyond sinful. Last but not least, the glasses went, and her number one weapon was revealed. A set of almond shaped, thickly lashed, dark and luminous eyes that challenged everything and everyone who looked her way.
But that wasn’t all.
Those eyes of hers possessed the sort of sensuality few if any woman ever achieved. The kind that made a man fall efficiently and likely forever beneath their alluring spell. If he could put any fantastical spin on them, he’d call them succubus eyes. Once you looked, you were done.
How many men had fallen to their knees in front of this woman?
Hundreds? Thousands?
“Okay, now that that’s out of the way...” Viv’s eyes met his, and her voice changed. It turned silkier. Sexy. “I think it’s time you answer Julie’s question and tell us exactly who you are, dragon.”
Chapter Five
KEEP YOUR EYES direct, your voice firm, and stay in control, Viv.
That’s what Vivienne had been preaching to herself since Kage released that delicious I-want-to-bend-you-over-this-table growl and all her magically induced self-control went out the window.
“Nice to finally see you, Vivienne,” Kage murmured, his voice low and his eyes a dangerous mix of lust and something else.
Something she needed to get to the bottom of.
“Who are you,” she repeated. Not a question but a demand. “Don’t make me ask again.”
She knew as that same old lazy grin crawled onto his face he was tempted to say, “Or else what?” but chose instead to bypass the cliché conversation and went in another direction. “I’ll tell you everything you want to know but not here.”
“Why? Dragon magic would give us plenty of privacy.” She gave the table a pointed look before her eyes met his again. “Or so said your thoughts a few minutes ago.”
He didn’t bat a lash but kept with that languid all-knowing sexy grin of his. “We both know the sort of information we need to exchange is a little too sensitive.”
It was. No doubt about it. Yet the way he said sensitive told her he wouldn’t just tell her but show her. And hell, why not? Then she’d continue on her mission to get closer to the enemy.
“What do you have in mind, Kage?”
A bed? Floor? Wall? Something more creative?
“I was thinking Virginia, Vivienne.”
A whole state? Sure, why not. Have wings,
will fly. But she knew what he meant. He had a place there. Somewhere he considered safe.
“Like I said, call me Viv.” She hollowed her cheeks just for him as she sipped from the drink their waitress delivered in record time. “And I’m up for Virginia.”
“I don’t know, Viv.” Julie cleared her throat and shook her head as she shot Vivienne a warning glance. “Maybe we should call it a night?”
Call it a night? She was finally face to face with her dragon mate, and he knew what she was. Maybe not the mate part but the dragon part. Even better? He wasn’t related to Hallstein but his own lineage.
A lineage she didn’t even know existed until now.
Gerri Wilder had rocked this set-up in more ways than one. Because if Viv knew nothing else, it was that the woman had a gift. Somehow she knew they were meant for each other. The unfortunate thing, however, was that they couldn’t be together.
At least not after tonight, anyway. Not if he was the bad guy.
Yet she knew by the look in Julie’s eyes that even one night was foolish.
“Maybe Julie’s right,” Kage murmured, his eyes never leaving Viv’s. “Maybe it’s best we call it a night.” He stood and held out his hand. “A quick dance first, though?”
“Don’t do it, Viv,” Julie said softly out of the corner of her mouth. “You walk into his arms now, and there’s no turning back.”
Oh, there was always a way to turn back. She might be keeping her thighs squeezed tight at the sight of him, but no man controlled her destiny. Mate or not, no man directed her.
She directed them.
“Yeah sure, cupcake,” she could almost hear Jules say. “You’re so in control you acted like a lovesick teen with your panties in a bunch when you watched this guy ride away earlier.”
“Just one dance, Viv?” he murmured, his eyes heavy-lidded and full of promise. “Then you can take Julie’s suggestion.”
To say no would be cowardly. So she whispered a chant that put her in platform stilettos, nodded and took his hand. Now, with her added height, she’d at least be eye level with his chest. Though—her lips curled up—she could think of parts of him she’d rather be eye level with right now.
“Look, the nachos are here,” Julie exclaimed. “Half super spicy and fiery hot!” Then her words became a mutter. “Just like dragons like it.”
“Be right back,” she mouthed at Julie as she followed him.
“Yeah, yeah,” Julie mouthed and rolled her eyes.
Some might say she was a bitch for bailing on her best friend, but Viv had already detected four men in the bar who were interested in Julie so she wouldn’t be alone for long. One Jules would send away immediately, but her confidence would be boosted. The other two she might flirt with for a bit, feeling even better about herself. But it was the fourth, the blond hottie in the corner, that would make her forget all about looking after lusty dragons.
So back to business.
Vivienne licked her lips and eyed Kage up and down as he pulled her after him. Hell, he was all kinds of hot, wasn’t he? From that confident swagger to the way he seemed to tactfully let women down before they even approached. Sure the dragon had something to do with it, but she knew the man did just as much. His raw sex appeal was not only his draw but a very effective weapon if used in the right crowd.
And it was that crowd—his crowd—she tried to focus on. Who were they? Was he truly in league with Hallstein? Was he the enemy?
All questions that needed to be answered as they reached the small dance floor and he pulled her into his arms. That’s when she had another one of those mini I’m-an-idiot moments. Again, what was she thinking? The second he pulled her against him and their bodies connected, her skin about lit on fire. That’s when she realized what a fool she’d been. What made her think for a moment she would be able to handle what combusted between them?
Hell and damnation.
Fire and dragon lust.
Yet so much more.
When her eyes shot to Kage’s, his hand rode up her spine and cupped the back of her neck. Red skirted her vision as his dragon gazed back. Cat-like, shimmering blue, they told her everything she needed to know.
You took my hand.
You followed me onto the dance floor.
You let us come together like this.
Now you’re mine.
Chapter Six
KAGE HAD HARDENED himself over time. He could withstand anything. Anyone.
Or so he thought.
It turns out nothing could have prepared him to finally meet the woman of his dreams.
Nothing could have prepared him to finally meet his dragon mate.
The way she felt in his arms, how perfectly they fit together, was fucking amazing. Yeah, she was gorgeous, stunningly impossible to look away from, but it was more than that. He leaned close and inhaled deeply. Her sweet, spicy scent was almost too much to take. But it was the moment their gazes met and her nearly black cat-like eyes locked on his that drove him straight over the edge. More than that, made him whisper a chant and had them standing on his balcony back home.
Usually, he needed to use a door but not this time.
Not now that they had connected.
“Shit,” she whispered and clenched her jaw, tearing her gaze away from his to look out over the ocean. “Where are we?”
“Virginia Beach.” His eyes never left her face. “Say the word, and I’ll bring you back to Julie…but I hope to hell you don’t.”
Her eyes returned to his, the dragon flickering but still there. He knew it was on the tip of her tongue to demand she be returned, but two things got in the way. Curiosity and lust. She wanted to know who he was. His story. His potential threat to her secrets. How else could it be considering she didn’t know what dragon lineage he came from? So they were both wondering about each other’s bloodlines.
Two lineages still existed in tenth-century Scandinavia and were known thanks to time travel. One was the Sigdir clan, the other Hallstein’s minions. Unfortunately, Hallstein’s lot had set up house both here and there. Mostly here, though. For now. The other tribe, Kage’s, had reawakened in this century. But Viv and her bloodline? Brand new. Or was it? Because as far as he knew only three dragon lineages traced back to the beginning of life on Midgard, or Earth.
“Where’s your bike?” she murmured.
“I’ll get it later.”
His motorcycle was about the last thing on his mind.
“I need a cell phone,” she said softly, her eyes never leaving his. “So I can call Julie.”
“To tell her you’re staying?”
“To tell her I’m safe and not to worry.” She lifted a meaningful brow. “Not yet anyway.”
So she would stay. Good.
Unless Julie convinced her otherwise.
Instead of giving her his phone, he decided he’d do his best to sway her ahead of time. So he kept his hand around the back of her neck, tilted his head and captured her lips with his. And it was just like that. As if he were eager to catch something before it flitted away and he might never get a chance to taste it again.
As a rule, he didn’t kiss women. It wasn’t his thing. Not really. Not unless it was absolutely necessary. But something about Viv made him hungry. He’d heard the theory of dragon mates. How desperate they became for each other. How irreversible it all was once it started. He never believed a word of it. He kept shit in perspective. Stayed detached. And it had always been easy.
Until now.
Now he’d started something that grabbed him by the rhetorical balls and didn’t let go. A kiss that tanked all others. When the feel of her mouth beneath his roared past tentative to desperate, he knew he was pretty much screwed.
Or wanted to be.
By her.
Right the fuck now.
A few steps later, he had her on one of his chaise lounges with nothing but soft sand and lapping waves nearby. Neither of them could catch their breath. It was fast. Furious. And he was too i
mpatient. Desperate. So he started yanking at things.
Her skirt.
His pants.
Anything that stood in the way of their skin connecting.
All the while, their tongues tangled as he touched anything he could get his hands on. Her breasts. Her sweet, full ass. All of it. All of her. Every last inch. Then there was that unbelievable feeling of her legs falling apart as she welcomed him between her thighs. That mind-blowing sensation of her drenched panties being the only barrier against his rock hard cock.
Heat steamed as they rubbed against one another. As they struggled to get closer.
The sooner he could sink inside her the better.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us, Brother?”
He ignored Erica and hoped she would go away. Just this once. But it wouldn’t matter because Viv stilled beneath him. Unlike most females caught in a compromising position, she cocked her head to the side and said, “Hi, I’m Viv. Sorry we had to meet this way.” She scrunched her nose. “Kind of classless.” Her brows shot up, expectant. “But I take it this isn’t the first time you’ve come across your brother like this?”
Kage’s eyes narrowed on Viv as she readjusted her clothing. Women never liked Erica let alone introduced themselves to her.
“I didn’t expect your blatant curiosity so early on, Viv,” Erica responded, but he didn’t miss the forgiving humor in her voice. “If you want to know if Kage sleeps around, just ask him, dragon.”
Leave it to Erica to figure out exactly what Viv was in record time.
“No need to,” Viv murmured before she stood, smoothed her clothes, held out her hand to Erica and properly introduced herself. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Do you have a name?”
“Erica.” She held out a beer to Viv. “Want one?”
“You bet.”
Erica grinned and handed it over as they sat on the veranda. “I take it you’re Gerri Wilder’s hook-up?”
“Sort of,” Viv said before she took a swig, her amused gaze on him as he chanted away a vicious erection, grabbed the beer Erica tossed him and plunked down across from them.
She didn’t know it yet, but his sister would be moving out tomorrow because of this.
Paranormal Dating Agency: Her Wounded Dragon (Viking Ancestors' Kin, Book 4.5) (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 3
