by Reus, Katie
“It’s not anything.” He didn’t like talking about Avery with anyone, not even with his brother, who he loved. “So where have you been disappearing off to, anyway?” He gave his brother a pointed look.
To his surprise, his warrior brother’s cheeks flushed and he looked away. He lifted a shoulder. “Just exploring the city.”
“Who is she?”
Cas paused, then sighed. “A human.”
“Is that a bad thing?” he asked as they stepped through the doorway into the mostly unfinished first floor of the four-story building. They’d come to a different complex today than the one they’d been working on because they’d promised to haul delivered supplies inside and out of the elements.
“She lost her family.”
“So did we.” It was hard, something he tried not to think about. All the loss and destruction. But it was part of life.
“No, I mean that she lost them in The Fall. Because of dragons.”
Ah. Well that made things difficult. “Does she know what you are?”
Cas cleared his throat. “She hasn’t outright asked. I think…she thinks I’m a bear shifter.”
“A lie of omission is still a lie.” Something their warrior mother had told him more than once. She also used to have this saying that would be translated to “liars should be punched in the dick” in this new language. Goddess, he missed his mother. His father too. They’d been such a guiding force in all their lives, and when they and his oldest brother had been murdered, he’d been left to lead his brothers.
“Please don’t quote Mother to me.” Cas dropped his bundle of pipes onto the floor, situating them with the others so they were all lined up neatly.
“Ooh, are you guys talking about Mom and Dad?” Ivyn bounded up to them in a ridiculously good mood.
“Don’t start with me,” Mikael growled. He still hadn’t forgotten the way Ivyn had wrapped his arm around Avery and kept it there the entire walk to the jobsite this morning.
Ivyn just grinned. “Why are you in such a sour mood? You slept in the same bed as your female last night.”
He glanced around, not wanting anyone to overhear them talking about Avery. She was everyone’s boss and it didn’t matter if they were sleeping together—which they obviously were not, unfortunately—but still, this was private. He could not imagine she would like people talking about the two of them. He didn’t understand everything about this new world, but he did understand that she was a human female running a crew of mostly males, supernatural and human. He didn’t want her to be the cause of gossip because of him.
“I’m simply wondering why some human males just went into her office trailer,” Ivyn continued when Mikael didn’t respond. “They haven’t come out yet,” he added before hurrying off.
“He’s just messing with you,” Cas said as they headed back outside to grab crates.
Mikael automatically shifted his gaze to the trailer and froze as two human males strode down the short set of stairs. One of them looked familiar but he wasn’t sure why. He didn’t recognize the other, however. Both tall, slender, brown skin, and one had to be older, likely in his sixties. Or seventies—he struggled to gauge human ages. Though the older of the two moved with an impressive fluidity. They were speaking to each other as they hurried out the front gate of the construction site, not giving anyone else a glance.
“I think she needs space,” Cas said as he hoisted up two of the crates as if they weighed nothing.
“I’m giving her space.” Mikael was now certain that he’d given her far too much space at this point. He’d scented her lust this morning, reminding him of a field in the middle of summer, the scent sweet and wild. Still she had run away.
Now that he understood her background fully, he thought he knew why. Her own father left her mother when she’d been ill instead of taking care of her, treasuring her. Shifters weren’t like that but Avery very likely did not understand that. Or trust it.
He needed to step up his game, to quote what he’d heard some human say before. Though claiming Avery wasn’t a game at all.
He hoisted two crates as well, not bothering to talk anymore. After hauling in the rest of the load, he couldn’t stand it anymore. He needed to see Avery.
Without bothering to tell his brother what he was doing, he strode toward the trailer, only to have Avery step outside as he reached the bottom step.
She looked down at him in surprise. “Hey, ah, how’s everything going?”
“We’re making good time. How are you feeling?”
Her cheeks flushed a bright shade of pink. “Ah…” She cleared her throat then shook her head as if she’d changed her mind about whatever she’d been going to say. “Did you need me for anything?”
Oh, he needed her for a lot of things. He’d started to respond when he spotted a necklace hanging over her T-shirt. He frowned at it. He’d never seen it before and she had not been wearing it this morning. A teardrop-shaped crystal of sorts, purple in color, hung suspended inside a triangle. The chain was slender and was a metal he thought was called rose gold.
Had one of those two males given her a necklace? That seemed…unlikely. Or did it? Today was the day she’d been born twenty-nine years ago, according to her brothers. They’d planned a surprise for her tonight and he’d been instructed not to say anything to her. Maybe…this was a birthing day gift?
“What are you scowling at?” She hurried down the rest of the stairs.
“Nice necklace,” he murmured, everything else he’d wanted to say dissipating into the wind.
Her cheeks flushed again and she tucked it into her shirt. “I’ve got some stuff to take care of. So unless you need me…”
He shook his head and she hurried off, an array of scents rolling off her, too many to sift through.
He needed to find out who those males were and why they had given her a gift. No male could give treasure to his female except him.
* * *
“Don’t ruin the surprise,” Ivyn muttered to Mikael as they stepped into the kitchen.
He glanced across the large kitchen with gray cabinets and white and gray countertops at both his brothers.
Avery’s brothers were getting her cake ready. They looked confused by Ivyn’s statement, and Mikael ignored all of them as he turned right back around and stalked out of the room. He didn’t want to be around them, didn’t want to be around anyone but her.
His dragon sliced at him, annoyed with both him and Avery. His beast didn’t understand why they simply didn’t get together. They had shared a bed last night. They should have been naked, as simple as that.
He was upstairs in record time and swiftly knocked on her door.
She opened it moments later, looking surprised to see him. Her hair was damp and she had on a lightweight robe—pink with yellow little flowers. It fell open slightly, the soft curves of her breasts visible. And she was wearing that damn necklace.
He growled.
“What’s up?” She tightened her robe around herself, her expression almost nervous.
His gaze flicked between her breasts. That stupid necklace intertwined with one of the necklaces she’d gotten back from that vampire. Both had a similar-colored gold chain.
“Did someone give you that necklace today?” he demanded. Smooth, his dragon growled. Very smooth.
Her cheeks flushed that delectable shade and his cock stood straight at attention. Because apparently he was that simple of a creature right now.
“That’s none of your business,” she rasped out.
Which was answer enough. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He stalked into her room, moving past her lightning quick before she could protest.
She let out a huff of annoyance and even that little sound got him hard—harder. Goddess, what was wrong with him?
“Yes, Mikael, please come into my room.” Sarcasm tinged her words. “What’s the matter with you?”
“Nothing is wrong with me. Okay, that’s a lie. I don’t like tha
t someone gave you a necklace. That a male gave you one.”
She sniffed slightly, settling her hands on her hips. “If someone gives me a necklace, it’s none of your business. I’m not your concern.”
That was not the right thing to say.
His dragon flared to life and he knew his beast was in his eyes. “You are very much my concern,” he growled.
Her breasts pushed out as she stood firm against him and all he wanted to do was tear her robe open and feast on every inch of her body.
“King didn’t put you here so you could watch out for me. It’s the other way around!” she snapped.
He knew that. King had entrusted him and his brothers not to hurt Avery or anything, but the Alpha had also wanted the sweet human to keep an eye on them since they were still adjusting to the new world.
Mikael stalked forward, every inch a predator in that moment.
She let out a gasp of surprise and took a step backward, then another. And another.
His dragon liked the hunt, kept pushing forward even as she stepped back until she was pressed against one of the walls by a window.
He caged her in with his hands on either side of her head as he looked down at her. Goddess, she was beautiful. She was breathing hard, her chest rising and falling in short little gasps as she looked up at him.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
He wasn’t sure. The only thing he knew was that he was pretty certain he’d lost his mind—but he didn’t care. “If I reached between your legs, would I find you wet for me?” Hell, he hadn’t meant to say that, but the words were out anyway.
Her eyes widened, and an overpowering scent of lust rolled off her so much it was like a punch to his senses. There was his answer. And it was beautiful.
Unable to hide a groan, he slid a hand down the front of her robe, waiting for her to tell him to stop, to shove him away.
She didn’t.
Instead, her breath hitched in her throat and she tracked his movements, her pretty green eyes wide. When she licked her lips and nodded, the scent of her lust intensifying, he knew he was doing the right thing.
“I don’t want anyone giving you jewelry,” he murmured as he dipped his hand in between the folds of her robe. Gently, he cupped one of her breasts, savoring the feel of her smooth skin, the fullness. He didn’t pull the robe back, couldn’t even see her nipple, but he could imagine what color it was.
She swallowed hard as he rubbed his thumb over the tight bud, over and over in soft little teases. That scent grew even wilder, sweeter. Her breaths sawed in and out as he slowly, slowly, parted the rest of her robe so that it was hanging open.
Goddess, she was beautiful.
Still watching her, he ran his palm down her flat stomach, enjoying the way she sucked in a breath, the way her whole body trembled under his touch. Because it wasn’t from fear, no, but pure desire. Her eyes dilated as he continued moving down, down, down, until he cupped her mound.
“Avery,” he groaned. He slid his middle finger along her soft curls. From this angle he couldn’t see if her hair was dark like on her head, but as he dipped into her folds, he felt how wet she was. “You’re wet for me,” he murmured.
She clutched onto his shoulders, her breathing growing even more unsteady. “What are you doing?” she whispered again, her gaze on his mouth. She licked her bottom lip as she watched him hungrily.
“I think that much is obvious. I’m going to make you come.” And he was making a claim, a statement. She was his. Then he angled his mouth over hers, tasting her, learning how she liked to be kissed even as he slipped a finger inside her. She was soaked, all for him.
This was definitely heaven.
She moaned into his mouth as he slipped another finger inside her. Her inner walls were tight, clenching around him as he gently moved in and out of her.
The scent of her desire was going straight to his head as he tangled his tongue with hers. He had to resist the urge to claim, to mate, to strip her completely bare and take her as rough as he wanted. No, he had to take his time, to earn her trust.
To give her all the pleasure she deserved. And she deserved everything.
He began thrusting his fingers in a slightly faster rhythm as she rolled her hips against his hand. She made little mewling sounds every time he pushed deep inside her, her inner walls tightening with each thrust.
The position wasn’t the best but he knew he could get her off. And if not, he’d toss her down onto the bed and bury his head between her legs. But he did not want to stop kissing her, devouring her mouth. Her taste was absolutely addicting, like nothing else in the world. And he worried that if he pulled back for even a moment, she’d come to her senses and order him out. That wasn’t happening until he felt her climax coating his fingers.
She still dug her fingers into his shoulders, holding on to him as if she was afraid he would leave her. No way in hell. Not in this lifetime or the next. Avery was his. He knew that. His dragon knew that. He just needed to convince her of it.
To get her addicted to him. To want him, need him like she needed her next breath. Because that was how he felt about her.
Her inner walls were clenching tighter around him the faster he thrust. So he focused the palm of his hand on her clit, moving it in tight little circles against her sensitive nerves.
She rode his hand as he moved, her moans making him light-headed. Harder and harder he thrust. Faster and faster she clenched around him.
Goddess above, she was so reactive.
He pushed his fingers farther inside her, setting her off even more.
She grabbed onto him, her back arching as her climax hit. He didn’t stop moving inside her, didn’t stop as she groaned into his mouth, didn’t stop as she soaked his fingers with her release.
His own cock was shoving against his pants, desperate to fill her, but it was too soon. Now was just about her. Her pleasure. Her needs.
Her entire body trembled as she came down from her climax. She slumped against the wall, her eyes a little dazed as she looked up at him.
Keeping his gaze pinned to hers, he withdrew his fingers from her slickness and slipped them into his mouth.
Her own mouth fell open slightly as she stared at him in shock. He didn’t think she was a virgin but she seemed very innocent and shocked by that action.
He also knew that if he stayed, he would say something stupid and screw everything up. So he brushed his lips over hers once again before he stepped back. “I’ll see you downstairs for dinner.” Yes, this was the right move. Bring her pleasure, then leave so she could obsess about him the way he obsessed about her.
She stared at him as he left, her eyes still wide as he shut the door.
Finally, you make your move, his dragon rumbled inside him.
Finally indeed.
Clearly he’d been handling things all wrong. He’d taken her off guard, let his jealousy control him. Something that had never been a problem before. But perhaps tonight the little overreaction had been called for. Because he still had the scent of her climax covering his fingers.
And he would definitely have to take care of himself before heading downstairs. Not like it would take long. Avery had him all worked up, and soon, very soon hopefully, he would finally claim her.
If he could just earn all of her trust.
Chapter 16
Avery felt out of sorts, that being the understatement of the century. What had just happened?
Okay, she knew what had happened: Mikael had given her a better orgasm than any of her exes. To be fair, she didn’t have many and her sexual experiences had been lukewarm. Still…he’d simply used his fingers.
How was that even possible?
Little trembles still rippled through her system. In fact, she could have sworn she’d even felt the earth slightly rumble, but that was just crazy.
Talk about the best birthday present ever. Not like he knew it was her birthday, but still. Now…what the heck was she supposed to
do after that? He’d just left before she could offer to return the favor or potentially freak out. Maybe both.
She felt like she was in so much emotional trouble right now. Because she had no idea how to deal with what had just happened. She wanted more, yes. She would be insane not to. But… She didn’t want a relationship of any kind. Other than friendship. Romantic entanglements were out of the question.
Ugh. She was getting way too up in her head right now so she threw on a striped blue-and-white summer dress that made her feel pretty, and a lightweight yellow cardigan over it. Yes, she was dressing up when normally she ran around in jeans and T-shirts but screw it, today was her birthday even if no one remembered.
“Avery, dinner!” her brother Anthony called down the hallway.
At that moment, she remembered that supernatural hearing was incredible so she could only hope that Mikael’s brothers hadn’t heard what they’d just done in her bedroom. She hadn’t been loud—she didn’t think anyway. Her mind was pretty much a blank from the moment he’d pinned her against that wall and taken her mouth with his. His hands had been everywhere and her entire body had felt like one giant nerve ending. And then he’d tasted her climax!
She was going to be thinking about that the next time she got herself off. Okay, time to stop thinking about him, she ordered herself.
As she stepped into the kitchen, her eyes widened to find a two-tiered pale blue and purple cake on the farm-style table. And there were what looked like twenty-nine candles on the top tier.
“Happy birthday!” they all shouted, including Mikael. He had the sweetest grin on his face too.
She looked at all of them and then back at the cake and burst into tears. They had remembered. And they’d clearly gone to the trouble to get her a cake made.
In the big scheme of things, she hadn’t even minded that they’d forgotten because the world had fallen apart, and she definitely wouldn’t expect her scatterbrained brothers to remember but…they had. And this was all too much.
“You said this would make her happy!” Mikael growled, glaring at her brothers.
“These are happy tears,” she said as she stepped farther into the kitchen, quickly dashing the wetness off her cheeks. “I can’t believe you guys remembered.”
