Dinner had been a quiet affair, with Titus seeming oddly thoughtful since their portrait session.
She got the feeling he wasn’t often taken off guard, and he wasn’t that great at dealing with it.
Had posing for her been that uncomfortable, or was it just that he didn’t like hearing what he had about her mentor, Geoff?
She wasn’t sure. He had eaten and only answered her questions as she asked them, looking as if he were deep in thought about something most of the time.
Maybe he just felt more urgency about working now that he knew what was at stake.
But she just had the feeling that as long as he was in her life, she’d be safe.
On her end, she was just stunned by how painting him had made her feel. It was the first time in a long time she’d wanted to just get lost in her painting and her subject, and it had stunned her once she thought about it.
After the hard, complicated, but good day both of them had, a movie was just what they needed.
Titus was in front of her movie shelves, pulling different DVDs out to look at the back of them, shaking his head and replacing each one. “I’ve seen a lot of these,” he said.
“Really?” she asked. “I didn’t take you for the type to watch a lot of TV.”
“I’ve been kind of… housebound. Since we hadn’t had a customer in a while and I hadn’t taken a job. It’s hard to explain.” He finally picked one out and held it up. “How about this? I haven’t seen it.”
“You like romance?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Who doesn’t?”
She laughed. “A lot of manly men wouldn’t want to admit it.”
“Screw them,” he muttered, putting in the DVD and sitting on the couch across from the sofa she was on.
He had a distinct scent, and she wasn’t sure if it was because he wore cologne or not. It was fresh, spicy, like a mountain spring with plants growing around it. And something masculine layered over it.
And she really shouldn’t be thinking about it while he had his long body sprawled on her couch.
Biff loped into the room and looked around at his options. An incorrigible cuddler, he seemed keenly aware there was more than one human body to use as a cushion.
She was surprised when the huge, grayish-silver dog trotted over to Titus and stood on his hind legs to jump onto him. Ever more surprised when Titus allowed him to stay, rubbing the dog’s grateful head.
It was funny, but next to Titus, Biff’s huge size didn’t seem so ungainly. Just sort of… right.
Titus looked over at her, blue eyes amused, handsome face relaxed, and for a second, she didn’t see him as only a contractor. Instead, he was just a guy in her living room, sharing a movie with her, cuddling her dog with his huge, muscular body.
A body she couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to cuddle with.
He seemed to sense her attention was on him rather than the movie and turned to look at her, Biff following suit.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
“Nope,” she said tightly. “Nothing’s wrong.” Except the fact that she was fighting hard not to fall for her contractor, despite only working one day with him.
If something didn’t change, she was going to end up in bed with him. She just knew it. There was something so hot about a man who could handle a hammer, throw out your neighbor, and cuddle your dog while watching a chick flick all in the same day.
And she really didn’t need to fall right now, not when she was just getting to be independent.
“I think I’m headed to bed,” she said, pretending to stretch so she could look more tired than she really was. All she wanted to do was escape to bed and immerse herself in a book until sleep. Anything to distract her from the hottie in the living room.
“Did I do something wrong?” he asked as she got up and checked the lights and the locks on the doors so when he was done watching TV, he just had to turn off the living room light and head to bed.
“Nothing,” she said, giving him a wistful look as he sat up on the couch, forcing Biff to get off his lap and sit next to him. His braid was falling over his shoulder, a few sexy strands loose and hanging around his face, only emphasizing his beautiful masculinity. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
As she waved and then made a hasty exit toward her bedroom on the other side of the ground floor, she knew it was the exact opposite.
What made him truly dangerous was he was doing everything right.
Titus got to work on the roof the next morning with the odd feeling something was wrong between him and Bree, but he couldn’t put a finger on it.
When she’d gone to bed the previous night, had she just been jealous that he’d been the one to sit with Biff?
He wasn’t sure. He just knew something was off, and the way she’d rushed out of there hadn’t boded well for how he was doing in winning over his mate.
Oh well, today was a new day, and with luck, he could finish the roof and start on the disaster that was the wood on the outside of the entire house.
He wanted to fix everything well enough that she’d never have reason to worry, even though he’d be the one worrying about house issues from now on.
He heard someone ring the doorbell and wanted to set everything down and go down, but with how she was acting around him, he figured it was best to slow things down. Not interfere as much, unless she asked him.
She couldn’t think he was being too pushy if she was the one who asked for help, right?
He heard the door open and voices talking, fairly calmly.
Nothing to worry about, yet… that voice was awfully familiar.
His heart twisted painfully. Screw being patient; screw waiting for her to call him down. He set down his tools and ran to the trapdoor, jumping heavily onto the floor with her easels and then running for the stairs.
They shook as he traipsed down them, but he didn’t care. As he rounded the corner to see her standing at the door, and saw who she was talking to, his fears were totally confirmed.
His mate was talking to a dragon. Not one of his friends, either.
He locked eyes with Platinum and saw a smirk in his dark-gray eyes, like angry storm clouds or dull steel. He was the most similar-looking dragon to Titus, with long, dark-gray hair streaked with silver, shaved on the sides but long on the top and back, pulled into a long, warrior-like braid.
His grin spread as Titus walked toward them, standing behind Bree protectively and then pulling her behind him.
“Titus,” Platinum said, a sneer curling his lips. “Good to see you.”
What the fuck kind of game was he playing? The three noble metal dragons had interfered with Liam’s mate, but after being roundly defeated in battle, had retreated, and Titus and his crew had later found that the mercury dragon was somehow involved in that as well.
Now they were back. Well, one was. The one Titus had the most history with. He and Platinum, or Sever as he was also called, went way back.
“What do you want?” he asked, glaring at him as Bree pushed her way around him, looking up at him curiously.
“He said he’s here as your boss. A supervisor to look over your work,” Bree said.
Titus’s lips twisted as he resisted the urge to shout and throw the other dragon off his mate’s porch. Supervisor, my ass.
You could just tell her, Platinum responded, able to speak to his mind as they were both metal dragons. And then, you know, I could tell her you’re a dragon and you’re only here to mate her, and you’ve been lying to her from the moment you met.
Platinum had him there. Titus folded his arms. Why are you here? What do you want?
Same thing you want, a mate, Platinum responded.
This one’s mine. Back off.
Didn’t stop you with my mate.
Titus didn’t know what he was talking about. I don’t know what your problem is, but we used to be friends. Just because we went to different crews doesn’t mean you have to pull crap like this.<
br />
Don’t try to pretend that’s all you did, Platinum responded bitterly.
Titus wanted to argue further, but now wasn’t the time, with his mate watching avidly, growing more and more concerned. He didn’t need her to get paranoid and throw him off the job.
Fine, you can stay, Titus told him. But keep your hands off of her.
You should know better than to think I would force a woman. But if she prefers me to you… Platinum’s thoughts trailed off, the smirk on his face growing ever more irritating.
Shut up, Titus responded. She won’t.
We’ll see.
“Okay, Sever, you want to look over my work, come on up with me,” Titus said.
Bree looked surprised. Her strawberry-blond hair was back in a low ponytail today, and she was looking especially pretty. “That easy?”
“That easy,” he said, trying not to grit his teeth so much that it showed. If Platinum wanted to stay, he would be coming upstairs with him, doing manual labor, and staying away from Titus’s mate as much as possible.
Titus would guarantee it.
5
“Labor is boring,” Platinum said, resting against the wall while Titus worked on one of the last patches on the roof.
“You’re the one who chose to come here,” Titus said. “What has your crew been doing anyway, awakened in the modern world? They always were privileged good-for-nothings.”
Platinum’s eyes narrowed in a scowl. “At least they’re loyal, for better or worse. More than I can say for you.”
Titus took a nail from between his lips and hammered it into place. “Your choice to join their crew, leaving me behind.”
“You aren’t a noble metal,” Platinum said. “I didn’t belong with you.”
“That’s fine, brother,” Titus said. “Former brother.”
“I’m not your brother,” Platinum said. “I never was.”
“Could have fooled me, given how my clan, and my father, took you in when you had nowhere to go.”
“I was a child,” he said. “I didn’t know my place in the world. When I met Dante, I—” He glared. “Never mind. I don’t have to explain this to you. You’re the betrayer. You’re the one who is going to pay.”
Titus put blocks up in his mind so Platinum couldn’t read him. When metal dragons didn’t want others to read their minds, they could stop them.
His main priority was just keeping Platinum busy and away from Bree. He’d never thought of Platinum as the type to go after women that didn’t belong to him, but then again, he and his crew had kidnapped Liam’s mate. Even though they hadn’t done anything to her, it still counted as bad behavior.
“Stop scowling like that,” Platinum said. “I’m just here for the same chance you have.” He walked over and looked at Titus’s work. “Nice.”
“You used to take pleasure in labor as well. Hard work, not just sitting in castles, accumulating wealth and entertaining wenches.”
Platinum shrugged. “That was my old life.”
“Everything is our old life now,” Titus said. “How were you even awakened?”
“I’m done answering your questions,” Platinum said, walking back to sit against the wall again.
Titus tried to read his mind but saw the block there. For better or worse, they both had blocked out the other.
He heard footsteps, and then the trapdoor opened and Bree poked her head inside.
Good thing she hadn’t done that a moment earlier, when their conversation might have given them away as something other than ordinary handymen.
“How are you guys doing?” she asked, climbing up into the attic and setting down a plate with two sandwiches. Titus grabbed one before Platinum could take both and tore into it impatiently, wanting to finish it quickly so he could keep his eyes on his mate whenever she was in the same room with another dragon.
“Fine,” Titus said tightly, throwing the crust of the sandwich back on the plate. “We’re good. You can leave.”
She looked slightly hurt, and he regretted his harshness. Of course, there was nothing he wanted more than her there, but with the asshole platinum dragon running around, he needed her to stay separate. And safe.
Even if it meant he had to miss her presence.
Of course, there was always time together after Sever left. He wouldn’t be staying there, unlike Titus. And there were portrait sessions as well. More alone time.
“When do you want to do more on your painting, Titus?” she asked, and Titus let out a low growl as Platinum’s ears perked up.
“Painting?” he asked, looking over at her, having abandoned the sandwich, deeming it not worth his attention or consumption.
He and Dante and Adrien probably ate the finest steak all day or something.
“Yes,” Bree said, looking shy. “I’m giving Titus a portrait in exchange for the work he’s doing.” She bit her full lower lip, and Titus saw Platinum’s eyes not fail to notice the motion.
Titus’s hands tightened into fists.
Sever let out a snort. “Really?”
“Is that okay?” she asked. “Did he not clear that with the company?”
“He doesn’t have to,” Sever said. “Can I see this portrait?”
“Sure,” she said. “It’s just down here, if that’s okay with Titus.”
“I’m his boss, after all, so it’s okay,” Platinum said, giving Titus a smug grin.
Don’t beat him up. Don’t beat him up, Titus chanted in his head, forgetting to put up a block.
In your dreams, Platinum responded.
He forced himself to stay silent and followed Bree and Sever down to the loft where her studio was. She walked to the easel where the canvas of his painting was and pulled the cover off it.
Sever stood behind it, clearly trying not to laugh, and Titus wanted to walk over and slap the smirk off him.
“Will you paint me?” Sever asked.
She looked taken aback. “You want me to?”
“Aren’t you busy with my painting?” Titus asked, folding his arms.
“If you paint me, I’ll stay and help, and the job can be done doubly quick,” Sever announced.
She pursed her lips, cocking a curvy hip. “I don’t know. I mean, does Titus need the help? And isn’t it a little too good to be true, both of you working on my house without pay?”
“The company is just getting started,” Platinum said. “This will be a valuable reference.”
She was thinking it over, screwing up her little button nose in consternation, and Titus prayed she would say no.
But she didn’t. Instead, she put her hands up in defeat. “I mean, why not? I like painting portraits.”
“We can start now,” Sever said.
“We’re still working on the roof,” Titus insisted, hating the angry dryness in his voice that would be plain to anyone who knew him.
If only he and Sever could get out their weapons and take this outside right now, dragon to dragon.
But no, Sever had a leg up on him because he was still having to keep secrets from his mate.
“I’ll make this easier,” Sever said, shedding his shirt over his head and tossing it to the side as he walked over to sit on the stool.
Titus’s stool.
He scowled.
“Don’t mess up your face like that,” Sever scolded. “It looks horrible.”
“I’m not the one being painted now,” Titus said. “I have work to do, and so do you, apparently.”
Bree looked between them as she pulled on an apron. “We don’t have to do this right now if you don’t want to,” she said to Titus.
“Um, yes, since I’m his supervisor, we do. I make the rules.”
Titus simply glared at the interloper as Bree walked behind her easel and pulled out supplies. When she moved his portrait to the side to pull out a fresh one for Sever, Titus had never felt a stronger urge to beat the shit out of the platinum dragon.
And he’d felt the urge a few times.
; Sever simply smirked as she got to work painting him, and Titus felt something darken inside him as he watched the platinum dragon take advantage of his mate.
After all, she was doing this because she had to. Because she was desperate. Because she didn’t want to get caught by something worse if her house took too long to repair.
Was he just as bad as Sever? Was she only allowing him around because she had no other choices? Was she going to boot him the minute this was over?
And why was she more comfortable with the platinum dragon than she was with him?
It didn’t make any sense, and Titus hated it. All he wanted to do was get back upstairs and take care of his mate by taking care of her house. Instead, he had to be here watching her paint another man, watching her stare at him, so he could be sure another dragon didn’t make move on her.
Since when was finding your mate supposed to be this complicated?
He rubbed his hand over his head, wondering what on earth he was supposed to do with the situation.
He decided he had to call Aegis.
When Platinum had wrapped up his session with Bree, he told her he had to go take care of something on the next job and would be back tomorrow.
Titus let out a sigh of relief. He could get some things done and then spend the night with her and Biff, maybe even do some more painting on his own.
No, he thought darkly. He didn’t want to be painted right now. It just reminded him that she was painting Platinum. That she was letting another dragon take over their lives.
Their lives. Was he delusional? There was no such thing. He was just there as her handyman, and today had made that very plain.
He waited for Platinum to walk away into the tree line and then vanish, glad Bree was still inside so she didn’t get suspicious upon seeing a man disappear into thin air. Right now, Sever would be in dragon form, cloaked, and flying back to wherever his crew was hiding.
Titus dialed Aegis, hoping the other man answered.
“Hello?” Aegis’s voice on the other end was impatient. “Don’t tell me you’re already failing.”
Titus frowned. “Of course not. But there’s been a development I think you should know about.”
Titanium (Rent-A-Dragon Book 3) Page 4
