by Milly Taiden
Lara opened the door wide and Morgan walked. She immediately saw him. A massive tree trunk of a man with black hair and a beard that could make any woman whimper. She met his gaze, her belly doing all kinds of flip flops.
“Welcome,” Lara said and showed her to the table. “Morgan, this is Tor Drachen. He’s joining us for a few minutes. Tor, this is my daughter, Morgan.”
Morgan’s gaze jerked to her mother. Lara didn’t like letting others know she was her daughter. As far as anyone, including Morgan, was concerned, she had no children.
“Hello,” he said in a too deep voice she couldn’t help but want to hear again.
“Hi, Mr. Drachen,” she smiled, “it’s a pleasure.”
“Please,” he said again with that fuck-me tone, “call me Tor.”
“Morgan.” She sat to her mother’s right, which placed her between the two. “Lara has given me some basic details about your kind.” She pulled out a notepad and pen from her giant carry-on. “Frankly, I am surprised you guys are still alive seeing as there are no females.”
He nodded and steepled his fingers, an air of authority clung to his shoulders. “We’re able to live a long time, waiting patiently for a mate. We are still hopeful our kind will not die out.”
Her chest hurt for him and his people. To see the last of their own and wonder what would happen to them must be devastating. “I’m hopeful, too.” She glanced at her mother. “Lara told me you can have human mates, but that’s as far as we got.”
He raised a brow, his gorgeous dark eyes rooting her to the spot. Boy, she felt hot all of a sudden, like the temperature in the room went up fifty degrees. His lips curved up. And wow were his lips attention grabbing. Full even under his beard. Then there were his eyes, dark and commanding.
His deep red and orange aura colors spoke volumes to her. Much more than any words. The deep red said he was grounded with a strong will, power, passionate, and was survival oriented. The orange gave insight into another part of him. Told her he had incredible courage and vitality and was a creative man with stamina.
She didn’t need him to speak to know he took protecting his family seriously. Nor did she need him to come closer to know he’d feel warm to the touch and would make goose bumps rise on her skin. He didn’t need to say a word and her heart galloped in her chest like a racehorse sprinting for the finish line.
He slipped calloused fingers through his hair, disheveling the strands, giving him a true rolled out of bed look. He didn’t fidget. She noticed him glance around the office a few times before finally holding her gaze captive. He spoke with his eyes, and wow. If what she saw was true, it might be hard to give up this man she lusted after to find his mate.
“Our human females have been killed in the past before they got a chance to mate. There are five of us. If we can find mates within the time our mark is present, and get her with child, our kind will live on.”
She nodded her understanding. That sucked so badly for them. That they had to be dependent on finding a woman to love and hope they could mate before they died or she got the chance to bear him children. She raised a hand and placed it over his and something really strange happened—warmth filled her chest. It took her a moment to realize they were staring at each other. She pulled the hand back and cleared her throat.
“I’m not sure if my mother told you, but I can sense things.” She glanced down at her hands on her lap. “I’d like to help if I can.”
“What kind of things can you sense?” He stared deeply into her eyes.
“I’m an empath. I can look at people’s energies and know things, and maybe I can be useful to help your people find their mates.”
He glanced at Lara. She nodded. “Fine, I can take you to meet the others and we can go from there.”
FOUR
Morgan padded up the driveway barefoot. She’d had enough of her heels. Perhaps she should listen to Lexi, but she wanted to give a professional impression at all times. Lexi’s car was already in her driveway and she knew her best friend and roommate was eating pizza without her.
She mumbled at her aching feet and made her way into the house. “If you ate all the chicken pizza, I’m going to hurt you.”
Lexi came out of the kitchen with a giant pizza box at that moment. “Hey! Great timing.” She laughed. Man, she looked comfortable in her pajama bottoms, oversized Pikachu T-shirt and pigtails.
“You look like you’ve been relaxing.” She dropped her shoes, glasses and bag on a chair and proceeded to fall onto the nearest sofa, lifting her feet to the arm rest and lying back.
“I had the day off from the shelter,” Lexi said and placed the pizza box on the coffee table before leaving for the kitchen again. “You don’t even know what happened at work yesterday,” she yelled.
“What?” Morgan asked, sitting up and wincing at the throbbing in her feet. They felt as if they had their own heartbeat.
Lexi returned with a bottle of red wine and two glasses. “Remember Jennifer Santos?”
Morgan thought back, and their conversation came to the front of her mind. “Yes, the new one that wouldn’t say anything against her husband but didn’t want to leave?”
“That’s the one. Her husband showed up yesterday to ‘pick her up,’ he said.”
Morgan’s eyes widened and she took the wine-filled glass from Lexi. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
Lexi grinned, showing a dimple on her dark cheek. “I told him he was getting a foot up his ass if he tried to put a hand on Jennifer or her kids.” She opened the pizza box, the steam still coming off the pie, filling the room with its delicious scent.
“Did Jennifer actually try to leave with him?”
Morgan knew too many women were under the mental conditioning of the abusers and had a hard time saying no. Even while under safe custody.
“No. I wouldn’t let her leave with him.” She sighed and sipped her wine. “I told her point blank, if she left, he was probably going to kill her next time.” Lexi’s shoulders slumped. “That seemed to get her attention.”
It would get Morgan’s attention for sure. Of course, a man that abusive deserved to be hung by his balls and publicly flogged.
“I’m sorry, Lexi. That sucks.” She raised her wine glass for a toast. “To Jennifer choosing safety for herself and her children.”
Lexi clinked glasses with her. “At least for another day. I don’t know when he will get to her. The kids talk to him and afterwards she is always frantic. I wish she’d stop allowing that, but I guess she feels extra guilty since he’s their father.”
Morgan nodded. “That’s typical. I have a case of a little girl who was physically abused, but still managed to feel bad when asked if her abuser deserved to be punished.” She drank more wine. “You know what she told me? That she wasn’t hurt all that bad. All the bruises and broken bones had healed and she didn’t want her aunt in jail.”
Lexi shook her head. “Man, we picked some fucked up jobs.”
Morgan laughed. “Oh! I wanted to get home to tell you about my meeting with the Drachen today.”
Lexi picked up a slice of pizza and took a bite. She chewed and swallowed before speaking. “Woman, stop waiting and talk.”
“I met the one Lara says is the oldest of their group. Tor.”
Lexi grinned, the corner of her mouth dotted with sauce. “Tor. He sounds big and sexy.”
Morgan rolled her eyes but smiled. “Yeah, okay. He’s big and sexy, but this guy is going to get a mate. I can’t get my hopes up.”
Lexi raised her brows and wiped her mouth. “Are your panties wet? Come on, Morgan! He’s probably the most dangerous man you’ll ever meet. Imagine all the dirty sexual stuff he can do to you.”
“Believe me, I have. Once I was out of Lara’s office, all I could do was imagine. I don’t even think he’d live up to those daydreams.” She snorted.
“But is he single, that’s the question.”
“Technically, but that’s not the point. I’m
supposed to help him and his family find mates. How is it that I’m going to slip into his bed and have my way with him?”
Lexi curled her feet under her on the sofa. “Easy. You say, ‘Hey, Tor. I need to lie down, preferably on top of something warm and solid and naked. Are you available?’”
Morgan giggled at the ridiculous idea. “Maybe I’ll skip that suggestion. Anyway, I have to help them. I don’t know why, but after my dream last night, I know I’m meant to.”
Lexi knew about Morgan’s extrasensory feelings. She had some of her own.
“Good luck. I’ll be happy if I can go another day without seeing Jennifer’s husband or you might have to bail my ass out of jail.”
“Aren’t you dating that cop? What’s his name?”
Lexi shook her head and ate more pizza. “His name is Blake, and I’m not dating him. He’s just a friend.”
“Right. A friend. Like my pocket rocket is just a friend with benefits,” she snickered.
Lexi choked on her pizza as she tried to laugh. “You’re evil. And I’ll have you know, my toys are definitely my friends. What is it guys say? Bros before hos?”
Morgan chuckled. “Yeah, but in our case it’s batteries before bros.”
Lexi picked up a second slice. “So exactly how are you helping these dragon shifters that almost nobody knows about?”
“I’m going to see if by staying with them a few days, I can sense or see anything. Hell, I’ll take a dream, something to give them clues. I’m not able to let this go.”
“Your mom did a number on you, and I’m not talking about sending you to boarding school at four years old.”
Morgan shrugged. “Yeah, but this is more. I can’t not help knowing they need me. Not just anyone. Me.”
FIVE
Tor watched the house from his car. Morgan Polley would probably hate his guts if she knew he was watching her home. Too bad. It was part of the job. If she really was a Drachen mate, he couldn’t sit by and let Sayeh find her. One of his brothers could lose a chance to have a family.
Maybe even you.
No. Not him. Yes, he found Morgan attractive. Her beautiful sun-kissed skin, sleepy hazel eyes and that smile that warmed his heart had gotten to him. Hell, those lips of hers had made him think of nothing but ways to get her on her knees with his cock in her mouth, which was messed up with her mother in the same room. Not to mention she belonged to one of his brothers.
It was easier to think of her as someone else’s or he’d never get his fucking mind out of the gutter. As it was, all he wanted was to taste her lips and slide his fingers over her face. But he’d been burned badly once. The last thing he needed was to explain to his real mate why he was so bitter about women.
There was no other way. He’d have to watch her unless she was with him. He thought back to earlier that evening. She’d smiled and touched his hand and made him feel…something.
He should focus on the fact she might be for one of the others, but his dragon loved her scent and Tor couldn’t get her eyes or her gorgeous pouty lips out of his mind. He wasn’t ready to know which of his brothers she might belong to. He wanted to spend more time with her. To listen to her soft voice and touch her. Fuck, how he wanted to feel her skin and know just how soft she really was.
He slid his seat back and readied for a long night. His dragon would stay wide awake while his human side rested. It would alert him of anything happening near Morgan he needed to check out.
* * *
He slammed the door to the main house. He was tired, hungry, and needed a shower.
Ker greeted him in the kitchen. “What’s up, big bro?”
“Not a damn thing.” He went straight for the coffeemaker.
“So, did anything happen with the lovely Ms. Polley?” Ker asked with a waggle of his brows.
“No. Why? And how do you know she’s lovely?” He didn’t like that he’d felt an instant dislike for his brother thinking of her. Or that his dragon had roused, jealousy alive and well in the fire breather.
“I saw the file photo,” Ker said, his silly grin making it harder to get mad at him. “She’s got that whole hot schoolteacher look. Reminds me of my high school English teacher. She had the prettiest blue eyes and always made time to explain everything to me.”
“You do realize you never went to high school.”
Ker tapped his chin. “Or maybe I saw it in a movie. Whatever. The point is Ms. Polley is understated sexy. I like it.”
“Keep it in your pants, Romeo. I’m watching her.”
“But what if she’s my mate, Tor?” Ker asked, his brows rising high. “I think I like the idea.”
For fuck’s sakes. The last thing he wanted was Ker having some strange infatuation to the woman he’d have to bring over so they could protect her. Maybe he should do this on his own.
“Forget it, Ker. Until we know who she belongs to, hands off.” That went for himself as well. He needed to remember that Morgan was a human and didn’t understand mating ways.
“Hey, what’s going on in here?” Clacher asked, walking into the kitchen. “I’m out to the shop. You lazy asses doing anything interesting?”
“I’d like to say I’m going to check out how my employees are working on the new builds,” Tor grumbled, “but I’m just going to watch Morgan for a few days.”
“Heads up,” Ker said to Clacher, “I think she’s mine.”
Clacher raised a mug of coffee to his lips and grinned. “You never know, kid. You never know.”
“Listen up, you two. Jae and Drayden are traveling, we’ll have to watch Morgan.” He didn’t like how that sounded. “I’ll watch her. But I’ll be bringing her here to see if she gets anything she needs to share.”
Clacher nodded and headed out the door. “Fine with me. I’m gonna be at the tattoo shop, so just let me know if you need anything or if you need me to take a shift or something.”
Tor nodded and waved him away. He turned to Ker. “She’s not for you.”
Ker grinned. “I don’t know why you’d say that. Nobody knows. So it could be me.”
The kid laughed and Tor had to calm his dragon before he threw a couple of fire balls at him. Dumbass.
“She needs protection, not some lovesick fool, Ker.” He should just ignore him, but Tor’s dragon heated up, disliking the thought of Ker flirting with Morgan, much less mating her.
If the kid was her mate, he’d have to get over it, but until then, he’d protect her from him.
“Don’t worry, Tor. I know how to be patient. Besides, if she’s not, I have a long ass time before I get mine.”
Tor thought of Sylvana. He’d been just as young as Ker, full of life and in the belief that he’d get a mate and all would be perfect. Until she’d played him for a fool. Telling him she knew who he’d mate and it was her. Telling him because she was special, there was no mate mark. And he almost fell for it. Until he saw her with Sayeh. Then he’d known it had all been a game. He’d been a pawn and the one with the last laugh had been the dark dragon. At Tor’s expense.
SIX
Morgan hated driving at night. Living in a town that was so underpopulated and with so much forest surrounding their mountain, she always felt like she was in the middle of nowhere, alone.
Had her client shown up on time, she wouldn’t have had to stay late at work. At least she’d been able to use the wait time to research the Drachen family. Well, what little information there was on the Internet about them.
Owners of many businesses, the family was shrouded in mystery. Few knew they were dragon shifters. Ancient ones at that, but those in the paranormal world recognized each other. Not to mention, his eyes had given a flash of gray when he spoke to her. That didn’t happen in random conversation.
A groan left her lips. She wanted to take a nap. It was the second night in a row she’d had a horrible dream where a white and gray dragon came to her rescue. One dream had been worrisome, but two was some scary shit.
Her mind wandered,
but she was still nowhere near her house. The faster she tried to go, the slower her car went until her engine stalled altogether. What the hell? She had a half tank of gas. There was no warning light on her dashboard.
She grabbed her cell phone and dialed a local towing company, but they wouldn’t be there for at least an hour. She’d be alone in the middle of a dark fucking road without anyone else. Great.
She was sitting in her car when a call came through from Tor.
“Hello?” She wished she didn’t sound so excited to talk to him.
“Morgan, where are you?” There was worry in his voice and she grinned. Hot guy was concerned for her, how cute.
“I’m fine. A few miles from my house. My car died so I’m waiting for a tow.” Wait a second, why was he calling her? They weren’t supposed to meet up for another day. “Is everything okay? You didn’t change your mind, did you?”
“No, no. Everything’s fine. I was just in the area and wanted to see if you’d like to get some dinner.”
Oh. My. God. Was he asking her out? Her heart did the mambo while she couldn’t stop the stupid smiling. If her tiny clients saw her, they’d tell her she was acting childish, which was something she’d constantly told them only kids were allowed.
Heck, if Lexi saw her, she’d probably encourage her to get naked and wait for Tor in her birthday suit. To help him move things along, of course. “Um, sure. If you don’t mind coming to get me,” she glanced around, “somewhere on the main road toward my house.”
“Yeah, I can get you, no problem,” he replied. “Morgan, be careful.”
“I am. I’m just sitting here―” she stopped talking when she saw a giant black shadow heading her way from under the bright moonlight.
“Morgan?” he asked, urgency in his voice.
She gasped when she saw the darkness move. “What the fuck is that?”
“What, Morgan? What are you seeing?” His voice became more forceful.
“I don’t know,” she mumbled. “I don’t see anything but blackness.”
