Evie answered before Bram could. “Oh, he will. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Evie…”
“No, Bram. You don’t need to prove how hard you work. Everyone knows it. A little help would do you good. You could also spend more time with the children.”
“Aye, to change their nappies, I suspect,” Bram answered dryly.
As the pair continued to banter, jealousy tugged at Gregor’s heart. He and Bridget had once had similar arguments. The only difference was that they had never had the chance to actually see their plans through. Gregor would’ve changed all of the nappies if it had meant Bridget and their son were still alive.
His beast chimed in. We will always love Bridget and the bairn. But even she would’ve wanted you to be happy. After more than a decade, don’t you think it’s time? Cassidy might be our last chance.
You’re being a bit dramatic.
Stop with the drawling and focus. Finding two true mates in a lifetime is a gift. Don’t be a stubborn arse and hide behind something you can’t control.
For a few seconds, Gregor’s reasons for staying away from Cassidy slipped and an image of her leaning against him, their entwined hands over her protruding belly flashed inside his mind.
His dragon hummed. If you want it, then you need to go after it.
Then an image of Cassidy in childbirth, screaming in agony as complications sapped away her life replaced the image and restored his resolve. No, dragon. Until there is a guarantee or way to ensure a female doesn’t have complications, I won’t risk another life.
His beast sighed. Then our second chance will soon slip through our fingers.
So be it.
As his dragon fell quiet, Gregor knew it wasn’t the end of it.
He removed the tube and needle before applying a bandage. Clearing his throat, he garnered Evie and Bram’s attention. “I’ll come back tomorrow to check up on you and to hear about your plans to reduce your stress load.”
“I’ll wear him down by then, Dr. Innes,” Evie answered.
Rather than stay to hear the couple argue, Gregor picked up his bag and exited without another word. He headed back to the surgery to check on Cassidy.
The happy image from before, with her leaning against him, returned and Gregor savored it the whole way back because it was the closest thing he would ever have to a mate again.
Chapter Four
Sid was half asleep when she felt something brush her temple. Opening her eyes, she saw Gregor looming over her with something clutched in his palm. “What the bloody hell are you doing?”
“Making sure your brain activity is normal,” he said innocently.
Narrowing her eyes, she stared at his clutched fingers. “Show me what you have.”
“No.”
She blinked. “What?”
“You heard me. I’ll go over your EEG readings with you after I have a chance to look over them. And before you toss out more orders, just ask yourself if you’d cave in to a patient’s unreasonable demands. Because I don’t and I suspect you’re the same.”
Damn the man; he was right. “My biggest concern is you drugging me without my permission.”
“I didn’t drug you.”
She frowned and resisted touching the things attached to her temple. “But you obviously had to put the electrodes on my skin. I’m a light sleeper and would’ve woken up at the first touch.”
“Aye, well, you must like my gentle touch,” he said as he winked.
“More likely I blocked it out because it was traumatic.”
Gregor chuckled. “Tell yourself that, Cassidy. You’re just upset you missed the whispers of my manly fingers.”
Not wanting Gregor to know how right he was, she changed the subject. “Speaking of which, why are your fingers so rough? Every dragon-shifter doctor I’ve met has soft hands.”
He shrugged. “I like to carve wood. Since I do it by hand, my palms had to roughen up over the years or they would always be raw.”
“You carve.”
“Yes,” he said with a grin. “Are you about to ask me to carve you in the nude?”
“I—of course not. That’s bloody ridiculous.”
He leaned in a fraction. “Someone doth protest too much.”
Sid’s cheeks heated and she mentally cursed the dragonman. The longer Sid was around Gregor, the more she yearned to feel his fingers caress every inch of her body. It would be even more erotic to have him caress her slowly with his eyes.
Get a grip, Jackson. Clearing her throat, Sid sat up in her bed. “Does everyone know about your naked statue collection?”
“Sadly, I don’t have any naked ones yet. I mostly carve animals and dragons. Lochguard is planning to have a fair later this year and I can finally sell off some of them. They take up an entire room in my cottage.”
Sid was grateful for the distraction and pounced on it. “The DDA might change their tune about your fair if the drone attacks continue or intensify. I’m fairly confident the drone is related to what happened to me.”
A few months ago, the new DDA Director, Rosalind Abbott, had encouraged dragon clans to hold gatherings with the local humans. Because of security concerns, Stonefire still hadn’t made any plans to do so.
“One random attack does not make a war. For all we know, it could be one local teenager trying to prove themselves,” Gregor said.
“Or, it could be a trial run for a bigger attack. You should prepare the staff for one.”
“I already have.”
“But you just said—”
“Just because I like to be optimistic doesn’t mean I’m not grounded. Lochguard was bombed last year. Believe me, I’m aware of the possible threats.”
When Gregor turned his back to her, Sid guessed it was to hide his emotions about the death of his sister and niece. As Sid knew too well, doctors rarely looked after themselves. No matter how much Gregor might goad her or irritate her, she couldn’t let him suffer unnecessarily. She needed to try and help him.
“Gregor.”
He turned, his eyes expressionless. “That’s the first time you’ve used my first name.”
She wasn’t about to be distracted. “Tell me about your sister.”
To her surprise, Gregor gave a sad smile and said, “Nora was quiet, especially for an Innes. She liked to keep to herself and either watch the birds or read a book. It drove our parents crazy because they could never get her out of the house.”
Sid smiled at the image of a bird-watching bookworm curled up in the corner of a cottage. “And given my experience with Lochguard, I bet she probably hated most clan gatherings. You lot are nosey.”
“Aye, she detested them. She usually hid in the corners of the great hall with a book. That’s where she met Harry, her mate. He’d been searching for insects and spiders. The odd male is known worldwide for his work with the creatures.”
“The bookworm and the insect bloke. That is quite the pair.”
“They were and spent most of their time away from everyone else. Nora helped him with his work, you see. And Harry understood what it was like to have a family try to discourage an interest. He always supported Nora.” Gregor gave a sad smile. “Their daughters grew up with spiders, dragonflies, and beetles painted on their bedroom walls and loved it. The only time I tried to visit my surviving niece, Fiona, after the death of her sister and mother, Fiona had scratched over each one with a marker. When I asked her why, she said the wee critters had died out one by one from sadness.”
“Oh, Gregor.”
“So, aye, I’m grieving, but my niece and brother-in-law are grieving harder. I’m strong for them and the clan. Me breaking down would benefit only myself.”
As she watched him turn to pick up her chart and his tablet, Sid suspected he was about to flee. If she was to ensure his health, she couldn’t let that happen. He needed to talk more until he felt safe enough to break down. Only then would he be able to move on.
So, she blurted out, “I did so
mething similar when my brother died.”
Gregor turned back around and raised his brows. When he remained silent, Sid continued, “I was a teenager and should’ve put on a brave face, especially since my grandfather always told me dragon-shifters needed to be strong, but when no one was looking, I would sneak into Wyatt’s room and nick one of his stuffed animals or toy planes. I then started putting them in boxes and burying them. It was stupid, but I felt that if Wyatt couldn’t have them, no one should. Eventually my dad stopped me, and that’s the day I finally let out all of my pent-up anger and sadness.” She tilted her head. “When you need to do the same about your sister and niece, come find me. Breaking down with me won’t affect your image. I’ll deem you my patient and thus we’ll have doctor-patient confidentiality.”
She fully expected for Gregor to wave his hand in dismissal and say dragon-shifters males didn’t need to break down. However, he merely nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
As they stared at one another, a sort of understanding passed between them. Both she and Gregor had so much sadness and loss in their pasts. They were a rare breed in that they understood one another better than most anyone else.
If only she had her dragon, she might hold him close and never let go.
The noise started in her head again, but on the third beat, it exploded. She grabbed her ears as she cried out. In the next second, Gregor was at her side. “Tell me what’s happening, Cassidy.”
“Noise, so much noise.” The sledgehammer turned into a wrecking ball. “Make it stop. Please make it stop.”
~~~
The sight of Cassidy in pain brought his dragon roaring to life. Help her.
I don’t know how.
There’s one thing that might help.
I can’t do that. There must be another way.
Not right now. Do it.
Sid fell into him and Gregor wrapped his arms around her. As he rubbed her back, each whimper shot straight to his heart.
He hadn’t had time to study her scans or brainwave readings. While he had his suspicions, Gregor had no proof of what caused the pain.
“Gregor, please.” Cassidy screamed and arched back.
With a curse, he laid her down and cupped her cheek. “Forgive me, but I have to try this. It might help.”
Leaning down, he placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
Lust and need shot through Gregor’s body, but he managed to keep his dragon at the back of his mind. He’d deal with the bloody beast later.
Cassidy relaxed and he swiped his tongue between her lips. Damn, the heat and her taste made him want to demand more, much more.
However, her wellbeing was more important. Drawing back, he searched her eyes. “Is the pain gone?”
“Yes and no,” she whispered.
“Care to tell me what the bloody hell that means?”
“Kiss me again.”
“What?”
“Gregor, please. Just do it.”
His dragon paced inside his prison, urging him to kiss her. She was theirs. They should claim her.
Ignoring his beast, he focused on the pleading in Cassidy’s eyes. He leaned down and took her lips in a rough kiss. To his surprise, Cassidy kissed him back as she placed her hand on the back of his head and pulled him closer.
With a growl, he explored every inch of her mouth since it could be the last time he ever kissed her. No matter what, he couldn’t allow things to go further than kissing.
His dragon banged against the invisible wall, but it held.
All too soon, Cassidy pulled away with a sigh. Keeping the disappointment from his eyes, he searched hers. “Well, care to tell me what that was all about?”
She smiled. “When you kissed me, the pounding turned into a hum.”
“Then I was right. The pounding is related to your dragon.”
“I want to accept that, but there’re still too many unknown variables.”
“Said like a true doctor.”
She ignored his remark. “I may need to keep you around to kiss me and stop the pounding when it crops up again.”
“Gee, glad to be of service,” he drawled.
“Stop it, Gregor.” Her expression faltered. “Unless you don’t want to kiss me again.”
“Och, woman, of course I do. But I need to lay something out right here and now.” His beast increased his tantrum, but Gregor wasn’t going to let him out. “I will gladly give such a beautiful female a few kisses. But.”
“But what?”
“If it’s your dragon and we succeed in freeing her, I will need to return to Lochguard straight away.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Mate-claim frenzies always result in at least one pregnancy. I killed a female once before with my child and I won’t do it again.”
His beast ripped a gash in the wall. I’m stronger. I will make it happen. She will be ours.
Gregor constructed a complex maze full of pits, fire, and dead-ends before tossing his beast inside. That would keep him occupied for a while.
Since Cassidy’s expression was free of any emotions, Gregor waited to see what she would say.
~~~
Sid’s excitement at what had happened inside her head was quickly replaced with confusion. She had no idea how such a rational male like Gregor could have such an irrational fear. Just because one female died in childbirth didn’t mean it would happen the next time.
Not that she would be having any children. Gregor’s kiss may have been the first time the pounding had morphed into something pleasant, but she still wasn’t looking for a mate. Until she had a sentient, talking presence in her head to guarantee her sanity long-term, Sid wasn’t making any plans for her own future.
Still, until Gregor left for Lochguard, she would have to add getting Gregor to share about his past to her list of things to do. Judging by his stance, he still hadn’t fully accepted his mate’s death or his own grief. Just because Sid might not have a future didn’t mean Gregor should be deprived of a happy one full of family. If she could heal him, then he might at least have a chance at it.
A low pounding started in her head, but it was manageable. She wouldn’t ask Gregor to kiss her until it became unbearable.
She focused back on him. Keeping her tone light, she shrugged. “Fine.”
He blinked. “Just like that?”
“I rather thought giving a male the license to kiss me—in private, of course—with no strings attached would be a welcome suggestion.”
After a brief pause, Gregor replied, “Aye, then I’ll help.” He grinned. “Although I’ll have to dole them out slowly, so you can enjoy them.”
She didn’t miss how he used humor to change topics. “Slow is good. That means I can document the changes more easily.”
“You mean ‘we’ can document the changes. If you’re using my lips to run an experiment, then I’m your research partner, end of story.”
Sid was used to working alone. “I suppose it will be good practice for when the Welsh dragonman arrives.”
“What Welsh dragonman?” Gregor bit out.
“Don’t start acting like a caveman. Dr. Trahern Lewis is going to be Stonefire’s junior doctor. Given how our species tends to have more males than females, it shouldn’t be a surprise that a dragonman is coming and not a female.”
“Of course,” he answered flatly. “But enough about the doctor. I want to hear from your lips that we’ll be working on this together.”
“But our lips will be working together.”
The corner of Gregor’s mouth twitched. “I think you’re trying to be funny.”
“Just because I’m a doctor doesn’t mean I can’t poke fun.”
“Aye, but when was the last time you did it with someone besides me?”
She raised her brows. “Since that has nothing to do with my health, I’m not going to answer that.”
He ran a finger down her cheek and the noise increased inside her head. “Retreat behind that defens
e for now, but just know that I’m going to enjoy both kissing and teasing you, Cassidy Jackson. In fact, I’m going to give you a freebie right now.”
Before she could reply, Gregor pressed his lips to hers. At the contact, the humming returned to her mind. Unlike the stabs of pain with the roaring and pounding, a sense of tranquility coursed through her body. Almost as if kissing Gregor was just…natural.
Ignoring the feeling, she nipped his bottom lip before pulling away a few inches. “Now, since I allowed the kiss, I expect to hear the results of my brain scan the instant you have them.”
He grunted. “Bloody woman, do you ever think of something apart from work?”
“Of course I do. But since I’d like to remain sane, the results of my scans are important.”
Gregor’s voice turned steely. “I won’t let you go insane, Cassidy Jackson. So stop teasing about it.”
Concern and determination flashed in his eyes. Despite their short time together, he cared greatly about her wellbeing.
But of course he would. Gregor was as dedicated a doctor as she was.
Something clawed the inside of her brain, and she winced. Gregor’s eyes turned concerned. “What’s wrong?”
“It feels as if something is trying to claw its way out of my head.”
“Aye? Then let’s monitor it. It may support my theory.”
“It won’t be my bloody dragon. Stop bringing that up.”
Gregor picked up an electrode and lifted it to her temple. “Until you prove me wrong, I’m going to bring it up as often as I like. If anyone deserves to have their dragon, it’s you, Cassidy.”
Tired of fighting him, she allowed him to affix the electrodes to her temples. “Then you owe me some cheesecake.”
“Cheesecake?”
“Your hearing is perfectly fine. That’s my price.”
He leaned back. “Well, if cheesecake is what the lady wishes, it’s what she’ll have. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to fly to New York for the best kind, so Stonefire’s bakery will have to do.”
Cured by the Dragon (Stonefire British Dragons Book 8) Page 4
