Ancient Enforcer

by Reus, Katie

  “Did you bring anything with you?”

  She patted her pants pocket. “Just my phone.”

  He thought that was all she’d had but he wanted to double-check. Taking her hand in his, he pulled her through the throng of people, nodding once at Prima and Arthur on the way out.

  They watched him speculatively but he ignored them. He was touching Avery. The world was right for these few moments.

  It didn’t take long to get to the roof where it was much quieter, even with the noise from the streets down below. There were far too many people here for his liking. He didn’t mind it at work; he liked putting things together, simply liked being with Avery. And he liked living with his brothers but…he could do without clubs or a “nightlife” as Riel had once called it.

  “What are you doing?” Avery’s pink mouth was slightly open.

  He noticed that she stared at him boldly, probably because of the alcohol she had imbibed. So he took his time, deciding to give her a show as he slipped his pants down his hips.

  Her eyes widened and she bit her bottom lip in the most sensual way ever as her gaze trailed along with the pants. Then his shirt. Her gaze landed on his chest again and then…she went lower.

  Dammit. He had to will himself not to get hard—well, harder than he already was. Her eyes were on him, he was getting a damn erection.

  Suddenly she spun away from him, though her cheeks were flushed as she turned. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare.”

  “You can stare all you want.” She could touch him too. Kiss, touch, stroke. Do whatever she wanted.

  She made a sort of squeaking sound but didn’t say anything else.

  In that moment he scented a hint of lust. It carried on the wind, growing stronger and, holy hell. This was the first time he’d ever scented something so strong from her. He’d gotten little hints every now and then but she’d always been so careful to keep her distance, to keep him in a little box where she’d categorized him as a friend only. This…was interesting. And he knew he needed to start pushing harder.

  He couldn’t sit on the fence anymore. He had to go for her whether he deserved her or not—and he didn’t deserve her. But if he lost her without taking a chance… He didn’t know that he would survive that. He’d lost so many people, so much of his family, but losing Avery? His dragon snarled savagely.

  Mikael called on the change, letting the magic overtake him in a burst of sparks and pain and pleasure all rolled into one. As soon as he’d changed, a sense of peace surged through him.

  Before he opened his eyes, he heard her gasp of surprise. As he peered at her, Avery was stock-still, staring at him in wonder. She’d seen him in dragon form before, but right now it was just the two of them under the city lights.

  It was hard not to preen just a little bit. He stretched his wings out, showing off for her. Then he stretched his neck, rolling his head from side to side so she could see all of him. Apparently he had a vain streak. We are glorious, his dragon reminded him. We are a fine specimen, of course she likes looking at us.

  “You are absolutely beautiful,” she whispered. “I think that every time you’re in dragon form.”

  He stretched out his wing so she could climb up, which she did, and only needed a little bit of help to settle on his back. He would have to be very steady in his flying tonight. He didn’t think she’d had that much to drink but clearly it had been more than enough for her slight frame since she wanted to return home.

  The flight back to their house would’ve only taken five minutes. He wanted longer with her than that so he took his time, circling around the city, savoring the pleased sounds she made as he coasted over the buildings and treetops.

  “It’s so beautiful up here,” she called out. “If I was a dragon, I would fly all the time everywhere. I would never come back down to earth.”

  Sometimes he felt that way too. She was the reason he always returned to earth.

  Half an hour later, he headed home and wondered when he’d started thinking of it as home. Because that was exactly what the house they shared was. They’d all made a home together. The yard wasn’t quite big enough so he landed in the street and waited for her to dismount. Once she did he called on his magic again and shifted to his human form.

  She made that squeaking sound again and turned away as he strode across the road completely naked.

  She handed him his clothes, still looking to the side instead of directly at him. He bundled them under his arm and headed up the walkway with her.

  “You’re not putting on your clothes?” She sounded scandalized.

  He lifted a shoulder, wanting her to look her fill. To see him as a desirable man, rather than just a friend. “You’ve already seen me naked. And I’m going to bed soon. I’ll be sleeping naked as well.”

  “Oh…” A pause. “You sleep naked?”

  “I do.”

  She made a sort of strangled sound as they headed inside the house. “I…if you want to hang out a bit before bed, you’re going to have to put pants on at least.”

  He smothered a grin and slid his pants on as she locked the front door behind them. “Nudity isn’t as big of a deal to my kind.”

  She eyed him, her gaze flitting to his chest then back up again. “So you wouldn’t care if I was walking around here all naked?”

  Oh, fuck. He cleared his throat. No words would come out.

  When he didn’t respond, she made a sort of humming sound and headed through the house, straight out the back door.

  They settled on the back patio, looking out at the brightly lit yard with its lush greenery and small garden. It seemed as if the house was empty. “Where’s Ivyn been?”

  “Not sure. With a female, maybe.” Both his brothers had been disappearing lately at all hours.

  She didn’t look too surprised, just pleased. “Good.”

  Now he was the one who was surprised. “Good?”

  “Yes. He deserves happiness. All of you do.”

  Warmth spread through his chest at her offhand remark. She was always so kind, seeing the best in people. “I don’t know that I deserve it.”

  She frowned at him as she stretched her legs out. “Why would you say that?”

  He took the blanket from behind his chair and leaned forward to drape it over her when she shivered. “My past… I’m not a good male, Avery.” Shut up, his dragon snarled. You’re ruining this! Mikael wasn’t even sure why he was telling her this.

  “I’m gonna call bullshit on that.” She yawned, pulling her blanket up higher and snuggling against the chair. “I believe in people’s actions. And you are a good male, Mikael.”

  He didn’t know how to respond, so he didn’t. He leaned his head back, looking upward. The moon was half hidden by the gray clouds, but it was a bright, huge backdrop tonight. Minutes later, he turned his head to say something and realized she’d dozed off.

  He watched her, drinking her in even as he stood and scooped her up. He’d done this so many times, and each time he committed it to memory. The feel of her molded up against him, her head on his shoulder. As always, the walk to her room was over too quickly.

  “Don’t leave me,” she murmured as he took a step away from the bed.

  He froze, not sure he’d heard right. “Avery?”

  “I don’t want to be alone tonight.” Her words were spoken so low that if he’d been human, he might not have heard them. And since he wasn’t a human male, he was not going to ask her if she was certain. She’d asked him. He was staying.

  Mikael slipped in beside her, scooting her over slightly as he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her back against his chest.

  He draped his arm over her middle and she placed her hand over his, linking their fingers together. He barely bit back a groan at the feel of her lush ass pressed up against his cock and had to will himself not to react. Sort of. It was a losing battle.

  He wasn’t sure what was going on with her tonight. All he knew was that he got to hold her.
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br />   Clearly her father showing up to see her, and then the Alpha, had affected her. So much so that she’d had too much to drink tonight and now she wanted him to comfort her.

  As a friend would do.

  “Go to sleep,” he murmured. Then he called her “my sunshine” in a long-dead language he knew she wouldn’t understand.

  She mumbled something, briefly squeezing his fingers before her breathing evened out and she fell into a light sleep.

  It quickly turned into a deep one, in which she completely drifted away.

  He stayed awake far too long, memorizing every moment she was in his arms. He didn’t even want to close his eyes, didn’t want to go to sleep at all. No, he wanted this moment to go on forever.

  Chapter 14

  Avery stretched, feeling the warmth of sunlight on her face. It was Saturday and she didn’t have to go to work. It was also her birthday and… She opened her eyes suddenly as the events of last night flooded her. And found herself staring into stormy gray eyes.

  Oh my. Not a dream.

  “Morning,” she murmured, fairly embarrassed how she’d acted last night. Oh God, she’d thrown her arms around Mikael and asked him to give her a ride home. And of course he had, because he was wonderful. God, he was so beautiful, all sparkling silvery gray under the moonlight. Then she’d asked him to stay in bed with her because she hadn’t wanted to be alone. Oh, wow. So she was going to die of embarrassment on her birthday. Awesome.

  “Morning.” God, he looked so delicious this morning. Well, every morning. But he was in her bed, sans a shirt. Yep, delicious about covered it.

  His bare chest was on full display as he watched her with clear gray eyes. There was a little scruff on his face that gave him an even sexier, more rugged quality. How was that even possible? She’d thought he was at one hundred percent max capacity for sexiness. Apparently he was in a different stratosphere now.

  She grabbed the covers and pulled them up over her mouth. “I have morning breath.”

  His forehead crinkled slightly. “Now you are the one being ridiculous,” he said, using a word she often did to describe him or his brothers. And her brothers.

  She still didn’t move the comforter. “I’m sorry about the way I acted last night. I’m pretty embarrassed.” And would mentally drown in her embarrassment later. She would replay herself asking him to stay with her, throwing herself at him, over and over, until she actually expired from pure embarrassment.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for. We are friends.”

  “True. Though friends don’t normally sleep in the same bed together. I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable.” Ugh. She hadn’t begged him to stay or anything, but he’d probably felt responsible or…whatever. He did this thing where he seemed to think he needed to take care of her.

  He looked confused for a moment. “I am not uncomfortable. I like sleeping with you. I like holding you in my arms.”

  Oh. Oh… She did not know what to say to that. He liked holding her? She loved it too.

  “I would have liked it more if we had been naked,” he continued.

  Wait…what? She stared at him, feeling a little crazy because she couldn’t even blink. Did he just say… Wait, was it possible she was still dreaming? Having a stroke, maybe?

  “You’re not blinking,” he said calmly.

  “Friends don’t sleep naked with each other.” Her voice had gone up a few octaves. Though the thought of being fully naked with him, pressing her body against his, experiencing full skin to skin and…more. Volcanic heat erupted inside her at the mere thought.

  “Maybe we can be more than friends.” He said it so matter-of-fact, and wasn’t freaking out the way she was. Internally at least—her head was pretty much exploding.

  Maybe he just wanted to have sex? He had been in Hibernation for a long time and he didn’t go out at night and sleep with other women. Or she didn’t think he did. She…hoped he didn’t.

  “Mikael…”

  “I like it when you say my name. I would like very much to kiss you now.”

  Oh hell. This morning had taken a wild turn. She bolted upright, shoving the covers off herself, feeling completely crazed and manic. She was still in her dress from last night.

  What was going on with him? Why was he saying these ridiculous things when she hadn’t even had coffee and her brain was muddled? Why was he saying any of this at all? Maybe she was still dreaming. Or having a nightmare.

  “Avery,” he murmured.

  “Nope. I can’t deal with this right now.” She stumbled out of bed, tripping once as she made her way to the bathroom and quickly shut and locked the door. Clearly the flimsy lock wouldn’t do anything if he wanted in, but she needed the distance and a small barrier between them. “I’d like to be alone now,” she called out.

  She groaned in embarrassment as she turned the water on. What the hell? Who just said stuff like that? He wanted to sleep naked with her, maybe do other things with her. She wanted it too, had fantasized about it, and yet it could never happen because it would destroy the dynamic of this household. She would end up wanting more—like she did right now!—and then get her heart broken. She covered her face with her hands.

  Now all she could think of was Mikael naked. Naked, naked, naked… Okay she could definitely get on board with that. But sex was so complicated. Or it would be with him. It would complicate things between them. It didn’t matter that she was attracted to him and apparently he was attracted to her. He must’ve been keeping his attraction on lockdown. Maybe he just wanted her because she was convenient?

  No! She had to stop with the eighty billion questions racing through her head at warp speed right now. She just needed to take a shower, clear her head, and then they would have a normal conversation over breakfast.

  And she would tell him he was out of his dragon mind.

  Avery took a very hot, fairly short shower—long enough to wake her up and remind her of more of her embarrassment. But she couldn’t hide upstairs forever. She was going to play things cool. Be like a freaking ice cube. Yep. Cool and relaxed. That was her. She would simply tell him that they would not be sleeping naked together and things would go back to normal.

  Gah!

  By the time she’d run a hair dryer—which was now missing one of its diffusers—over her hair so that it was only damp, and changed into jeans and a T-shirt, and brushed her teeth, she found Mikael, her brothers, and Ivyn and Cas in the kitchen. Oh, she was so happy to see them! They could be her buffer this morning because who was she kidding, she wasn’t going to be able to have a calm conversation with Mikael right now. She couldn’t even look at him right now. Not when her insides were a tight knot. And all this was happening on her birthday, no less.

  Both dragon brothers kissed her on the top of her head in that sweet way of theirs.

  She noticed that Mikael glared at them…which was a new development. Usually he was like her, more or less doting on his brothers as she was with hers. Though she didn’t think dragons used the word “doting.” Still.

  “Why do you guys all look like you’re ready to walk out the door?” she asked.

  “We promised we’d work at the jobsite until noon. Did you forget?” Anthony asked. He hadn’t even said happy birthday and she figured that her brothers had forgotten. Which kinda sucked but…it was okay. The world had imploded not too long ago. Not having a birthday acknowledged was nothing.

  She winced because yes, she had forgotten. She’d been so obsessed with thoughts of Mikael. And nakedness.

  “Crap, I did.” And she was starving.

  As if he’d read her mind, Mikael said, “I made you a breakfast sandwich. And a to-go coffee, doctored just the way you like.” Oh God, he was watching her now with those stormy gray eyes, heat simmering not below the surface anymore, but right out in the open.

  Her cheeks flushed and she wondered if everyone in the house could sense the shift between them and knew that he’d slept in her bed last night. Could
that hole open up and swallow her now please?

  “Thank you.” She really didn’t want to go to work, but she couldn’t ask for people to come in on a Saturday if she wasn’t willing to do the same herself. Besides, it would really help them stay on schedule and she didn’t like the thought of that delivery of parts just sitting outside in the elements until Monday.

  Anthony started texting on his phone as he and Riel headed out the door. Okay, so they had definitely forgotten her birthday.

  To her surprise, Ivyn wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Come on, let’s head out.”

  Ivyn and Cas definitely viewed her as a sister, and this excused her from having to talk to Mikael so she was going to take it. Ignoring Mikael’s gaze, she snagged the sandwich and to-go cup, murmuring a thank you.

  Behind her, Mikael honest to God let out a low growl, but she was definitely ignoring it.

  The bacon sandwich was absolute heaven, and for a few long moments all she did was enjoy the greasy mess, even as she cursed herself for drinking too much last night.

  Today was going to be very long.

  Chapter 15

  “Why are you so surly?” Cas asked Mikael as he hefted a bundle of pipes and headed for the building. Thanks to their supernatural strength, they should have everything hauled inside quicker than the original schedule said.

  “I’m not surly.”

  “I think you’re in what’s called denial.”

  He snorted, his gaze flickering over to the office trailer where Avery was. She’d gone in thirteen minutes ago and hadn’t come out. Not that he was counting or anything.

  “Did you stay in her bedroom last night?”

  He grunted in response. It had been one of the best nights of his life. Also one of the most torturous. She moved a lot when she slept, throwing her arms around him, turning over, shoving her ass against him. Heaven and torture.

  “That’s…interesting.” Cas’s gray eyes, a shade darker than Mikael’s, widened ever so slightly.