She could pretend that was the only reason to send him away. In truth, constantly having his heat nearby might addle her brain.
Tapping her fingers against her thigh, Jane pushed aside the memory of Kai’s hard chest at her back. The more pressing problem was that the hunters would run before she had a chance to pinpoint their location.
The car made a turn and soon stopped. Kai’s voice filled the car. “Take off the blindfold and follow me.” She opened her mouth, but he cut her off. “No talking until we step inside the safe house. That’s the rule.”
She wanted to tell him where he could stuff his rules.
Just a little longer, Jane. Then speak your mind. Taking a deep breath, she followed Kai out of the car. He gave the other dragon-shifter some directions and then motioned toward the front door. “This way.”
The second they stepped inside the house, Jane stopped in her tracks. “I’ve followed your daft rules. Now, tell me what you know and what you plan to do.”
Kai frowned. “I never agreed to tell you everything, only that I wouldn’t send you home.”
Closing the distance between them, she poked his chest. “If you think I’m just going to tell you everything I know for free, you’re out of your bloody mind.” She poked again. “As I mentioned, I was in the pub first. This is my story and you’re not going to take it away from me.”
“Stop with the ‘my story’ bullshit. While you’re aiming for glory, I’m trying to ensure the safety of my clan.”
“Don’t make me sound self-centered. I’ve done more than you will ever admit to help your clan. It’s my reports that have helped reveal how the dragon-shifters are more human than beast.”
Kai leaned forward. “Don’t sugar coat a pile of shit to make it taste better. You report to help your station and yourself. You have yet to prove you care about the dragon-shifters.”
Jane moved an inch closer, tilting her head up to Kai’s. “Listen, Mr. High-and-Mighty, just because I’m human doesn’t mean I don’t understand the animosity some feel toward dragon-shifters. From the second my interview with Melanie Hall ended, I’ve received death threats. People have also broken into my flat so many times that I moved not once, but three times. Not to mention the colorful insults people shout at me on the street on a daily basis.” She shoved against his chest. “If I were truly only looking out for myself, I wouldn’t put up with that shit. I’d find a nicer, safer position. But I don’t. I stick it out. So don’t pull your judgmental crap with me. I won’t put up with it.”
When all Kai did was stare, she pushed against his chest again. This time, however, he trapped her hands against his chest and his touch sent a shock of heat through her body.
It took everything she had to focus when he replied, “Tell me the truth of why you want this story. Give me an excuse, and I’ll send you packing.”
The way his gaze burned into hers turned her mouth dry. Kai might be a quiet man who liked to be in control, but she wondered what would happen when he lost that control.
Then he squeezed her hands and she pushed that thought aside. She definitely wouldn’t stick around long enough to find out.
He spoke again. “Tell me, Jane. And if you lie, I’ll know.”
Fighting him hadn’t worked very well, so she decided what the hell; she’d tell him. The worst he could do was throw her out on her arse, which he’d do anyway if she remained quiet.
Still, she wouldn’t let him be in complete control. “Release my hands first.”
His pupils flashed to slits and back. She wondered why he’d be talking to his dragon at this second. For all the reporting she’d done on Stonefire, she still had yet to truly understand how both man and beast worked together in one mind.
Releasing her hands, Kai stepped away. “Now talk.”
She raised her brows. “I’ll ignore your tone for once. As for the truth, well, of course this story would help my career. My boss sees me as a pretty face people want to see on TV rather than a serious journalist. I want to prove that I am one.” Kai remained silent, so Jane continued, “The other reason is that the dragon hunters are bastards who fly under the radar. They kill humans and dragon-shifters. All they care about is money. And as you know firsthand, the DDA doesn’t always do what it promises. A good exposé might be the final thing we need to convince the public that the dragon hunters are much more than troublesome gangs we just shake our heads at. The dragon hunters are murderers and criminals that we should all demand be thrown into prison for life.”
She waited to see if Kai believed her. As far as she knew, dragon-shifters weren’t walking lie detectors, but given his military training, he probably could tell she wasn’t lying.
After another few seconds, Kai finally nodded. “I’ll believe you for the time being. However, the second you start lying to me, I will have you removed and kept out of trouble. Are we clear?”
She raised an eyebrow. “If you’re expecting me to salute you as I say ‘Yes, sir,’ then you’ll be waiting a long time. You’re not my commanding officer or boss. We stand as equals. That’s my condition.”
Kai crossed his arms over his chest, which made his biceps bulge. Jane forced herself to move her gaze back to Kai’s face as he answered, “I’ll consider it. But first, I need something to merit keeping you around.”
“Keep me? Does anyone ever question you or tell you to stuff it?”
He shrugged. “Patience ultimately wins. Those who let their emotions cloud their judgement and reactions always make mistakes. I simply pounce on the opening.”
His words were a poorly veiled hint that Jane let her emotions get the better of her.
It was on the tip of her tongue to throw a quip back, but her curiosity and drive to find the truth of the dragon hunters won out. “Fine. Fetch me a map of the area and I’ll give you something worth keeping me around for.”
“Just tell me the location.”
“I need a map.”
After a beat of silence, Kai uncrossed his arms. “Follow me.”
As he walked down the hallway, Jane let out the breath she’d been holding. Dealing with the dragonman was exhausting. She wondered if he ever relaxed.
Since she wasn’t about to ask that question, Jane’s eyes fell to Kai’s shoulders. Even for a dragon-shifter, they were broad and powerful. As she had many times before, she could just imagine the muscles hidden beneath his shirt. How she’d love to trace his spine and make the alpha dragonman weak.
Then she looked down to his round arse, an image of her gripping the firm mounds as he fucked her flashed into her mind. All of that power and reserve focused on her only made wetness rush between her legs.
Kai turned into a room and Jane took a few deep breaths. Stop it, Jane. Dragon-shifters had a sensitive sense of smell. She couldn’t allow him to scent how attracted she was or he’d lord it over her. It wasn’t as if she would ever have the chance to see him naked anyway.
So Jane thought of a past assignment, when she’d had to report on abuse in nursing homes, and her arousal cooled.
Ready to face Kai again, she walked into the room. Kai was already unfolding a map on a table off to the side. Jane stopped and Kai tapped the map. “Point it out.”
“You don’t say more than the absolute minimum, do you?”
“No.” Kai tapped the map again. “Show me where the hunters are.”
Jane shook her head and leaned forward. Without her glasses, she couldn’t read tiny print close-up very well.
As she searched out the legend, she felt Kai’s eyes on her breasts. Unlike with the hunters back in the pub, her body warmed at the feeling and her nipples hardened.
While the bloody dragonman had probably already noticed her body’s reactions, she would distract him with something else. Jane looked up to meet his unreadable eyes. “The blokes asked me back to their place. When I inquired about how long it would take to get there, they said about half an hour by car.” Jane looked down at the map and made a circle with her
hand. “I calculated inside my head the distance and the time it takes to drive, which means they should be somewhere inside this area.”
“That’s still a wide area.”
Looking back up, she raised her eyebrow. “It’s a matter of deduction. As a head Protector, I figured you would know that.”
“It’s a lot harder to deduce and sort out the best choices when it’s a different species.”
He had a point, but it gave her an opening. Even if it meant sticking around longer than she’d anticipated, she would jump on it. “Which is why you need me. Promise you’ll allow me to stay on and help until I have my story, and I’ll tell you which areas to start with. Then I’ll dust off my investigative skills and get to work.”
~~~
Kai studied the human female.
He was honest enough with himself to admit he’d been focusing too much on her full breasts, the curve of her neck, or the rogue tendril of black hair that curled around her cheek and not on the map in front of him.
Allowing himself to be so easily distracted was unacceptable.
His dragon spoke up. The sooner we get her naked, the sooner we can fuck her and you can focus again.
Not dignifying his beast’s words with a response, Kai studied the map.
The human had pointed out a fifteen-mile radius from Newcastle’s city center. Since Kai rarely drove a car, he would have to take her guesstimate.
During his time in the army, he’d become quite accomplished at eliminating unlikely targets until he had a shortlist. The only difference in this situation was Kai didn’t know the area around Newcastle. He had a few guesses as to where the hunters would hide based upon their history, but it would be much easier to have Jane ask the locals about any unusual activity and further pinpoint the possible targets from there.
True, he had two prisoners who would be interrogated the instant his best interrogator, a Stonefire Protector named Zain, arrived. But each second he wasted waiting around for information was a second the hunters could move their location. The men from the pub might not have guessed Kai was a dragon-shifter, but kidnapping two of their men could lead to trouble.
No doubt, the hunters’ leader Simon Bourne knew this.
He would use any timesaver he could find, even if it came in the form of a delectable human female with dark hair and blue eyes.
His dragon hummed. Yes, she is delectable. She will taste good.
Why are you this insistent? You haven’t act this way around a human before.
They weren’t this human, his dragon stated.
Looking up at the female in question, Kai answered, “As long as you don’t become a liability, we’ll work together.”
Jane stood up and crossed her arms under her breasts. “As equals?”
“For now.” She opened her mouth, but he cut her off. “Trust takes time. I’m sure you’d agree.”
She studied him a second before tilting her head. “Considering how much you like to be in charge and give orders, that compromise must’ve killed you.” He frowned, which made Jane smile. “I’ll take it.”
“Good, now—“
“But if I find out you’ve been holding out any information from me, then I’ll leave. Understood?”
His dragon chuckled. She doesn’t have to take orders from you. I like her fire.
Shut it, dragon.
Kai put on his toughest looking expression. “As long as you don’t hold out on me. Cross me and see what happens.”
Jane rolled her eyes. “You sound like a bad movie hero. It’s not as if you’ll kill me. I know most of the major DDA rules by now, mister. Remember that.”
Instead of answering, Kai let out a high-pitched whistle. Then he asked, “Are you done with your threats?”
She raised her brows. “Are you done with yours?”
It took everything he had not to smile at the sight of Jane dismissing him in her skimpy dress, heels, and too much make-up. Buried beneath her beauty was a steel core.
His dragon chimed in. You always wanted a strong female. She can be ours. Are you sure you don’t want to coax her out of her dress?
No sex with the human. It’s—
I know, a rule. Maybe I should take control and go after the human myself.
Try it, dragon. You know what happened the last time you tried to take control.
His beast huffed. I wasn’t feeling well that day.
No, you were fine. You lost. Accept it.
Says the dragonman who won’t accept the possibility of a second chance.
Enough.
Kai shoved his dragon to the back of his mind and met Jane’s blue eyes. Rather than answer her question, he changed the subject. “Nikki will take you to the room you’ll be sharing with her. She’ll give you resources, although I’ll have one of my people monitor your internet activity. Don’t screw up.”
“Wow, you said more than one sentence. I’m impressed.”
Kai ignored her. “We’ll meet in the morning. Be ready to give me a report and to receive your assignment.”
“I’ll be the one to decide whether I take it or not.”
Since she already knew what he’d do if she refused, he let the comment pass.
After a brief knock on the door, Kai replied, “Come in.”
Nikki’s dark-haired head popped in. Her dark brown eyes looked to him as she raised her brows. “You called?”
Jane beat him to a reply. “I can’t believe you call her with a whistle like a dog.”
Nikki moved her gaze to Jane and shrugged. “With our hearing, it’s easier than using a cell phone.”
Kai interrupted, “Take Jane to your room and find her some clothes. Give her reasonable resources and then report back to me.”
Nikki walked up to where Kai and Jane were standing. The young dragonwoman turned to Jane. “Hi, I’m Nikki.”
Jane smiled at Nikki and a thread of jealousy spiked through Kai’s body. Jane had never smiled at him.
Even trapped in the back of his mind, Kai’s dragon was smug.
Jane answered, “Hi, Nikki. I’m Jane. Nice to meet someone who has some manners.”
Kai ignored her comment and focused on Nikki. “Once Jane is secure, I want to hear your updates.”
Nikki bobbed her head.
Kai looked to Jane. “We have lots of work to do, so we’ll start early. Be ready at seven a.m.”
Before Jane could answer, Kai left and headed toward the room he used as both his bedroom and his office. He would contact Stonefire and check up on things. Focusing on his work would help him forget about the human female.
Especially the fact that she’d be two doors down the hall from him.
Chapter Three
The next morning, Jane rubbed her eyes and willed for a cup of tea to magically appear before her. The protein bar and a bottle of water she’d been given for breakfast wasn’t cutting it. Surely some dragon-shifters also relied on caffeine to kick-start their mornings.
Well, except maybe for Kai. He probably went swimming in a cold lake to start his morning or some other such extreme.
Not that she’d complain about water trickling down his body, leading to the hair trail on his lower stomach, before dripping off his cock. After all, she’d seen something similar in her dreams the previous night, except in her dreams, she’d been licking him dry.
Damn him. Jane had hoped a night’s sleep would clear her head, but even her subconscious was a little obsessed with a certain dragonman.
Taking a bite of her protein bar, she made a face at the tasteless muck that passed for food. She’d almost think Kai was treating her as a prisoner on purpose, but Nikki had the same food laid out on her bed, telling Jane it was the norm.
Kai took efficiencies to new heights.
Taking another bite of her breakfast, Jane picked up her notebook and tried to focus on something other than the quiet dragonman.
Scanning the list she’d made last night, the five possible locations were still too ma
ny. As much as it pained her to admit it, she would need Kai’s help to narrow it down to a more manageable number before she could start interviewing the locals and pinpointing the location of the hunters’ base.
Nikki stepped out of the en suite bathroom. Jane looked up to see the dragonwoman smile. Nikki looked to the protein bar and back to Jane’s eyes. “Enjoying the breakfast of champions?”
Jane made a face. “Are you sure you can’t allow me downstairs to make a cup of tea? If I’m to put on my charm today, I’m going to need caffeine.”
Nikki went to a locked drawer next to her bed, inserted a key, and opened it. The action was a stark reminder that Nikki might be polite, but she was still Jane’s guard. “You’ll need to talk to Kai.”
“Then that means no.”
Nikki glanced at her. “He can be persuaded. Prove yourself and you might be surprised at the lengths he’d go to help you.”
“Isn’t telling me that violating some sort of enforced silence?”
The corner of Nikki’s mouth ticked up. “He never ordered me to be silent.” The dragonwoman’s face became serious again. “However, I’d never tell you anything that could hurt my clan. Besides, proving yourself works with just about any profession. As I understand it, you’re trying to prove yourself to your boss as well.”
Kai must’ve told her. “Yes, but my boss would never force me into a room and post a guard.”
Nikki shrugged. “Hey, I’m pretty brilliant as far as guards go.”
During her time reporting on Stonefire, Jane had learned bits and pieces about what had happened to Nikki with the dragon hunters. She wondered how much the young dragonwoman’s smile and cheery manner hid her true self.
Not now, Hartley. She wasn’t there to find out Nikki’s story. Not that it wouldn’t be a great story, but she wouldn’t expose someone’s pain just for recognition. It was the one thing Jane had vowed early, after one particular assignment at the start of her career.
Pushing aside her past, Jane stood. “You’d be even more brilliant if you could find me some clothes in my size. I’m grateful that you’re lending me some things to wear, but I’m two inches taller than you and you can see my socks.”
Reawakening the Dragon: Part One Page 3
