Protector of the Pride (Lions of Pride Island Book 3)

by Terry Bolryder

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “Dinner,” he said. “But it’s a secret.”

  She pouted. “Hm. Fine. I like surprises anyway.” But secretly, she really wanted to know. “So what happened with the tribunal?”

  “They’re going to look into it,” he said, sitting in his chair again with folded arms. “But I really don’t know what we’re going to do from now on. There simply aren’t enough dragons around to patrol all areas. Especially in pairs.”

  “But they have to stay in pairs to keep people from harvesting their blood, right?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, they didn’t used to. But for a long time, they have. I wish they could split up. Would be useful.”

  “Can they make more tigers?”

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea,” he said. “Messing with nature.”

  “We’re shifters,” she said. “We are the epitome of messing with nature.” She grinned. “Anyway, it’ll work out. The oracle keeps track of all of these things.”

  “Right,” he said. “But she doesn’t get all the angry, worried phone calls.”

  “You’re right,” she retorted. “Because she has to see all of that in a vision. You think that’s easier?”

  He looked over at her, gold eyes twinkling. “How did I get so lucky as to have you? You always make sense, you know that?”

  She laughed. “Good, because you rarely do.”

  He ruffled at that. “I make sense. To me, anyway.” He stood again. “I’m going to go upstairs and make a few more phone calls. You okay down here?”

  She nodded. “Just fine. I have the flowers to keep me company.”

  He looked around the room at her and then at the flowers. Then he rubbed the back of his neck. “This is weird, isn’t it?”

  She shrugged. “I think it’s a little unusual.”

  “I mean, you’re my employee. I shouldn’t be inappropriate. I should keep my distance.”

  “It was my idea,” she said. “And remember, it’s for the greater good, right?”

  His eyes narrowed slightly at that, turning a deeper shade of gold. Then he shrugged off whatever was worrying him and straightened to his usual, tall height. “Right. I’ll see you this evening, then. Six o’clock sharp.”

  She nodded. “See you then.” Her body tingled, and she let out a little shiver as she turned back to her computer and tried to remember what was on her to-do list.

  It was hard to think knowing she was going to see him again. That she was going to be wooed by a king.

  Axel called his brother Cain a while before he was supposed to go down and get Lucy for their date.

  He stared at his closet, puzzled as to what to wear. It wasn’t a casual date, but for some reason, it felt wrong to just wear a typical suit.

  “Hello?” a husky voice answered. “Axel? What’s up?”

  Axel took a deep breath. “I’m going on a date.”

  “Whoa!” Cain exclaimed. “Seriously? The oracle finally found a mate for you, then? About time.”

  Axel sucked in his cheeks. “No. I’m taking Lucy out.”

  “Lucy… as in your secretary?” Cain sounded genuinely shocked and hesitant. “Um, isn’t that dangerous?”

  Axel was quiet at that. It was dangerous. And so unlike him. He couldn’t explain why he was still doing it when that was the case. But he was.

  “I’m not going to question you because I’ve never known you to be reckless, but just be careful, dude.”

  “I’ve always been careful,” Axel said, feeling frustrated. “Maybe I’d like to be not careful for once.”

  “Look, I know the rest of us were reckless, so you didn’t get to be, but honestly, recklessness is overrated,” Cain said. “I never would have been reckless, picked the career and all of the dangerous things I did, if I had known how much more blissful peace was.”

  “I’m glad you’re happy,” Axel said. And he was. He’d been more than happy that both of his brothers had perfect mates picked for them that made them practically glow with contentment. But both of them had lived more than he had. Neither of them had his hang-ups or responsibility.

  Neither of them was basically incapable of wooing a woman. Though he was doing a good job so far. So why was he still going along with this? He felt uneasy about his motives for a moment but then brushed it aside.

  He deserved to be reckless for once, and Lucy wanted it as well.

  Cain sighed on the other end. “Look, I get it. I’ve seen how Lucy looks at you. I’m honestly not surprised. I’m just not sure how she talked you into it.”

  “How she looks at me?” Axel asked, stunned.

  “Like the sun rises from your ass,” Cain said, laughing. “And you look at her that way, too.”

  “Don’t be crude,” Axel said. “I’ve only looked at her as an employee.”

  “Doesn’t seem that way now, does it?”

  Axel put a palm over his face. “I don’t know why I called you. This is a mistake.”

  “No, no,” Cain said. “I’m sorry. What is it you need? Help with your date?”

  “What do I wear?” Axel said, feeling stupid even as he said it.

  “Oh,” Cain said. “Right. You probably only have suits and stuff, right?”

  Axel nodded, then realized Cain couldn’t see him. “Right.”

  “Yeah, that’s not good for a date. What are you doing?”

  “Dinner,” Axel said.

  “Where?”

  “I’m making it,” Axel replied.

  “Uh-oh,” Cain said.

  “What do you mean uh-oh?” Axel asked. “Cook assured me the dish I’m making is suited to my abilities.”

  “Nothing is suited to your abilities. You could make charcoal with an Easy Bake oven.”

  “I don’t appreciate you making light of it. I’m going on a sexy date with Lucy, and I’m going to charm her with my cooking prowess.”

  Cain was laughing so hard that Axel was tempted to hang up, but he didn’t because he still needed his brother’s help.

  “Well,” Cain said between laughs. “On the plus side, you can wear an apron to cover your stuffy outfit.”

  “This was a mistake,” Axel said.

  “No, no, I’ll help you,” Cain said. “There are some clothes in the guest bedroom I stayed in last. I always leave some stuff there. Some of the stuff might even have tags on. I always buy fancy stuff just in case there are meetings or official business or something. But even my fancy stuff will be business casual for you.”

  Axel sighed. “So?”

  “So go grab something from there. Put one of the high-end jackets over a nice tee and some jeans. You can deal with jeans, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good, then you’re set. But, Axel?”

  “Yes?”

  “Think about letting someone else cook.”

  “I can cook fine,” Axel said tersely. “In fact, I need to go start now if I’m going to be able to be ready on time for her to join me.”

  He heard his brother snorting with laughter as he hung up the phone and tossed it on the bed.

  He rolled up his sleeves and walked down the hall to his brother’s bedroom. Sure, he’d been a bad cook when they were growing up, and sure, he hadn’t had a lot of experience. But this was different. He was cooking for Lucy. That would work out, right?

  5

  Lucy looked suspiciously at the blob on her plate. It was a color no one should have to behold, and it was littered with little bits of black.

  She touched it with her fork and then looked over at Axel, who was watching her.

  She didn’t want to blow it with her reaction. He’d been so sweet when he’d come to pick her up from her room, extending a hand like an old-fashioned escort, being every bit the prince he was.

  She’d loved the feel of her hand on his bicep, firm and strong.

  And he was dressed differently than she’d ever seen him. In an outfit that was casual but dressy at the same time and,
above all, attractive.

  A fitted jacket rolled up to his elbows over a form-fitting white tee shirt and dark jeans that hugged his ass and thighs.

  He had a perfect body, and she was already eager to taste it again. Maybe tonight.

  But would she get to taste him without tasting his food? And if she did taste his food, would she live long enough for them to get it on?

  He poured her a glass of wine and then sat down across from her. His blond hair was perfectly tousled, his straight jaw relaxed as he looked over at her.

  He was the exact same man she’d worked with for months, but there was something different about them now. The way they were together.

  He was starting to open up to her.

  “Um, usually for a date, you take a girl out,” she said, looking around at their regular table.

  He flushed. “I didn’t know. After all, I cooked here.”

  “We could have done a picnic,” she said, knowing she was just stalling so she didn’t have to put the toxic concoction in front of her in her mouth.

  “Why don’t you try my casserole?” he asked. “I have a feeling you’ll feel better about us staying in together once you see what I can do in the kitchen.”

  Her stomach gurgled, and he grinned at her. He looked so pleased with himself that she didn’t know how to say no to him. He was usually so worried about everything, but tonight, he seemed completely confident in his cooking.

  She pushed it with her fork again and nearly gagged at the way it quivered.

  Still, he’d been so sweet today. With the flowers and the cooking, and she couldn’t disappoint him.

  Plus, she wanted to be with him tonight. Wanted things to keep moving between them.

  Maybe above all, she didn’t want to hurt his feelings.

  She knew she was falling in love with him as she cut a small bite off the blob and raised it to her mouth. Only an infatuated person would risk something like this.

  She stuck it in her mouth, and her eyes immediately watered as she chewed.

  He stood abruptly and knocked the fork out of her hand. Then he took the plate in front of her with a huff and marched out of the dining room.

  She blinked and tried chew the bitter food in her mouth. It was worse than she’d ever imagined. Bitter and raw and slimy at the same time. It was some kind of achievement that he’d made something so terrible.

  Unable to resist, she picked up her napkin, spit the remainder into it, and then went looking for him.

  She found him in the kitchen, cursing and dumping the casserole in the sink.

  When he caught her staring, he sighed. She gave him a hesitant grin, and he returned it.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’ve already called for takeout. We can go eat it on the lawn.”

  She bit back a laugh. “It’s okay. You look nice tonight. And you do get points for trying to cook. Just don’t do it again, please.”

  He groaned. “You know what? My brother tried to warn me, but I didn’t listen. I wanted to show you my domestic side.”

  “I’ve seen it,” she said. “You take care of all the domestic business on the island. That’s good enough. You don’t have to be Martha Stewart.”

  “Can you cook?” he asked.

  “Gosh no,” she said, walking forward to thread an arm through his. “So we’re even.”

  “We’ll starve,” he said.

  “We live in a castle.” She blinked. “At least for now. And as you said, there is always takeout.”

  “Right,” he said, tucking her arm in against him. They walked out onto the front steps and sat down. The sun was setting and it was a beautiful purple twilight color outside. “Anyway, I’m sorry.”

  She felt tingly just sitting next to him. Suddenly, it all just felt so right. Staying by his side. Watching out for him. Supporting him. Eating with him. Coming out here in the evenings after a long day of work on the kingdom and sharing thoughts as night crept up on them.

  “Anyway, you like Chinese food, right?”

  “Yeah,” she said. “The usual place we get for lunch?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, sorry.”

  “No big,” she said. “I always love the food you order in. You’re a good boss, you know.”

  “Even though I’m trying to date my employee?” he asked, looking down at her.

  “We both know it’s a different situation,” she said. “Not the norm.”

  He sighed and leaned back on his hands. He was so much taller than her, even when they were both sitting. “I guess so.”

  “Wait, did you say you called your brother?”

  “I did,” he said. “For help with the date.”

  She was oddly touched by that. He really was trying. If he was just trying to learn from her, would he be putting in that much effort? But her heart told her that was a dangerous train of thought. Their relationship had an expiration date, unless the slim chance of her being named his mate came to fruition, which she doubted.

  She’d never really pictured herself having a mate after all. She had no ties and she felt she never would, and that suited her,

  He scooted a little closer. “Thanks for trying the food. I appreciate your bravery.”

  She laughed. “It was pretty brave.” She nudged against him so he would lift an arm and she could scoot under it. She loved the feel of his body against her.

  Loved how relaxed he seemed in her arms.

  “I’m sorry I screwed up our first date,” he said. “The food will be here soon. That’ll fix it.”

  “You didn’t screw up,” she said, resting her head against his shoulder. “I think it was perfect. After all, you saved me from actually eating it.”

  “That’s because it was going to make you cry,” he said. “I never want to see you cry.”

  She laughed. “Good call. A woman crying is always a sign something has gone wrong in the courting department.”

  “Hey, even I knew that,” he said, putting up a hand and running it through her hair. “Hey, Lucy?”

  “Yes?” she asked.

  “Let me try again tomorrow? I’ll make it up to you.”

  “Nothing to make up,” she said. “You still get an A for effort, and I’m looking forward to Chinese. And the night isn’t over.”

  He stared at her, tilting his head, and then a grin spread across his lips. “Okay. Not over, then. Got it.”

  She bit her lip and tried not to smile like an idiot as she enjoyed snuggling against him.

  It was just so nice.

  Axel tried not to be humiliated by the failure of his cooking to impress her.

  He checked his watch with the arm that wasn’t around Lucy. The Chinese food would be here, fully ramming home his folly in thinking he was capable of cooking for her at all.

  Still, if this was what resulted, him sitting beside her, watching the quiet evening, enjoying the fresh spring breezes moving through, then maybe it wasn’t so bad after all.

  He could really see doing this with her forever. He wished there wasn’t a time limit on what was happening between them. Because from the moment he’d leaned into it, it had just felt perfect and right.

  Still, maybe that was just infatuation. It was hard not to be infatuated with Lucy. Her curvy, feminine shape, the soft clothes she wore, her curly hair that always waved around her face, driving him crazy.

  She was perfect. Of course he could fall for her. He’d been resisting it for months, and that kiss had been the last straw. In kissing her, he’d pulled his finger from the figurative dam and let the deluge come through.

  He sighed and looked over her. She was wearing a soft red sweater over tight black leggings. Red lipstick and minimal makeup on her tawny skin. She looked just perfect next to him. He saw a van pull up at the gates and stood up to go get the food. He motioned for her to stay where she was.

  Lately, his protective instincts with regard to her had been nearly uncontrollable, and he was as aware as anyone that anything could happen when it came to som
eone approaching the castle. No matter how much security they had, something could possibly get through.

  He wasn’t willing to risk that. Not with Lucy. At least while she was with him, he’d make sure she was safe. It kind of rankled him that he couldn’t just keep doing it forever.

  He walked back with the Chinese food after closing the gate, putting out an arm to escort her into the garden off to one side of the castle. There was a little iron wrought table and chairs there where it would be nice to eat, surrounded by lilacs and wild shrubs.

  He pulled out her seat and then put the food on the table. She helped him serve it, and it was comfortable and warm between them, despite the refreshing night air moving around them.

  When they were done eating, she leaned back, patting her stomach. “That was wonderful, thank you. See? Cooking not needed.”

  “My bad,” he said. “I was just trying to impress you.”

  “You did,” she said. “By admitting you were wrong. Not every man can do that.”

  “I can’t afford not to, with my responsibilities,” he said. “I have to accept help and advice wherever I can. After all, I’m only one man.”

  She nodded. “Well, you have me now.”

  “True,” he said. But did he? Or was he just borrowing her on loaned time?

  “What do you want to do now?” she asked.

  He scratched the back of his head. “I guess I should have planned something.”

  “If you didn’t, it’s fine. I can think of something.”

  Hm. She shouldn’t have to do that. He was already failing at this.

  “Don’t do that,” she said.

  “Do what?”

  “Look all stressed out and self-tortured,” she said.

  “Oh,” he said.

  She stood, taking his hands. “I have an idea. Follow me.” She let him go and started jogging out across the wide lawn to the side of the castle, in the direction of the woods where many private trails crisscrossed.

  “Where are you going?” he asked. “We should probably get back. I have work tomorrow, and—”

  She looked back at him, eyes glowing warmly, hair whipped by the wind, and grinned. Then she began to pull off her clothing.