The Dragon Finds Forever (Nocturne Falls Book 7)

by Kristen Painter

  Seemed logical.

  Grom whimpered and nudged his head forward.

  Van sighed and patted the bed. “All right, you big baby.”

  Grom crawled up, turned three times, then flopped down beside Van. Snores fluttered out of him within minutes. Van, on the other hand, couldn’t go back to sleep that easily. And not just because there was a beast of a dog now taking up half the bed.

  He slid himself out the other side, wincing as the movement caused fresh pain in his leg. Once he reached the edge of the bed, he put his feet on the floor and reached for his crutches. He kept a pair by the bed for emergencies, because there was no way he could get that brace on quickly.

  Hoisting himself up, he went out to have a look around. Maybe the flash had woken Lisa too. At least then he’d know it hadn’t just been in his mind.

  But all was quiet and nothing seemed disturbed. He stood at the bottom of the stairs leading to his bedroom that Lisa now occupied. Not a sound. Not even the faintest bit of breathing. That was odd. But maybe the covers were muffling them.

  He went to the windows on the side of the house and looked into the dark. Nothing unusual out there either.

  Maybe that flash had just been in his head. Seemed like it more and more. He should go back to bed. Sleep was important for healing.

  He was halfway through the living room when he heard a sound he recognized. The French doors on the upstairs balcony quietly opening and closing.

  His entire body went on alert just like Grom’s had at the flash of light. Could that flash have been related to something sinister? Only a fool would break into this house, but considering what the level beneath Van contained, the temptation existed. As did fools. And if Lisa had left that door unlocked…

  The thought of her in danger charged him to act. The stairs would take too long and cause too much pain. But there was another option. One potentially more painful. But it would be quick, and it would give him the element of surprise.

  He dropped his crutches onto the couch. Then he braced himself for the pain and jumped.

  The burst of movement took him up and over the second-story railing and onto the landing just outside the bedroom.

  Lisa shrieked and flattened herself against the French doors, her eyes sparking with the same flash of green he’d seen once before. Her scream set Grom off, filling the house with barking.

  She had only underwear on. Two small strips of black lace and silk.

  The sight caused Van’s breath to catch in his throat, and the pain in his leg became a memory. At least temporarily. Her skin was luminous in the dark. She was stunning. Like a wild creature. He somehow found his voice. “What are you doing?”

  She covered herself with her hands. “I should be asking you that question. Why are you up here?”

  “I heard the door.” He gestured to the balcony. Grom was still barking. “I thought someone was breaking in.”

  “Well, they’re not.”

  He yelled down for Grom to hush, before turning back to her. “What were you doing outside in your underwear?”

  “You could turn around, you know.”

  Turning would hurt. Instead, he stared at the ceiling. Didn’t matter. The image of her in those two flimsy scraps of black were seared into his memory now.

  She let out a frustrated sigh. “I was just getting some air.”

  “I see.” He didn’t exactly. She could have opened a window.

  “I thought you were asleep.”

  “I was, but—” Telling her what he thought he’d seen probably wouldn’t help him with whatever rehabilitation was supposed to be happening. “I woke up. Grom climbed on the bed. I was restless.”

  “Well, everything’s fine. You can go back downstairs now.”

  Except he wasn’t sure he could. Not without help. He glanced toward the steps. “I do not think I can.”

  “You jumped up here. Can’t you jump down?”

  “Too much pain.” He looked at her again, forgetting that he was supposed to be averting his eyes.

  “Right.” Her brows rose, and she pointed at the ceiling. “Do you mind?”

  “Prosti.” He lifted his gaze again. “I need my crutches. That is all.”

  “Where are they?”

  She was moving toward the closet. Getting clothes. “On the couch.”

  “Okay, I’ll get them.” A hanger chimed against the closet’s metal bar. “You can stop staring at the ceiling.”

  He did. Only to see she was wearing one of his shirts. A green and blue flannel that was worn soft from years of washing. One of his favorites. Never more so than now, with her long pale legs peeking out under the hem. It skimmed the tops of her thighs.

  She tugged at it. “I hope it’s okay I put this on. I forgot to bring a robe.”

  He nodded, lost for words. It was very, very okay.

  “I’ll be right back.” She jogged down the steps, returning a minute later with his crutches. She handed them over. “I’m sorry I made you think someone was breaking in. I won’t go out at night anymore.”

  “Go out whenever you want. Do whatever you want. I just didn’t realize…” He shrugged as he got the crutches under him. “My instincts are hard to ignore. I thought you were in danger.”

  She put her hand on his arm. “You jumped up here and endured that pain because you thought I was in danger?”

  He nodded, staring into her eyes and the depth of new emotion there. “I told you. I am a dragon. We are fighters, and we are protectors. You are in my house. My guest.” He hesitated. “My friend. I will not let harm come to you.”

  The muscles in the slender column of her throat worked as she whispered his name. “Van…” She shook her head, her eyes suddenly liquid.

  She planted her hands on his chest, leaned in, and kissed him.

  This kiss was nothing like the first. It wasn’t cautious or hesitant or the slightest bit timid. This kiss was hungry and needy and almost knocked Van off his feet.

  Heat erupted inside him, kindled by her demanding mouth and her hands on his bare chest. Three points of contact. Three brands burned into his skin. The heat turned into fire and lit him from within. His fire, her light. Together, they caused a combustion of his senses unlike anything he’d ever felt before.

  He leaned on the crutches for support so that he could touch her. His hands went to the curve of her waist, as comfortable there as if her hips had been under his grasp a thousand times before. And yet, touching her like that was utterly new, thrilling him down to his soul with the intimacy of it.

  She was warm beneath his flannel. Not at all like a woman who’d just come in from the cold. But very much like a woman who was as on fire as the dragon she was kissing.

  He lifted his hands to thread his fingers through the silk of her hair, and he whispered against her lips, “Lisa, you are so beautiful.”

  A soft noise, part sob, part gasp, left her. She eased back, sucking her bottom lip between her teeth. “I know I said no kissing. And I know I started that. But…”

  She took a breath and shook her head like she couldn’t quite find the words.

  He smiled gently. “No need to explain.”

  He expected her to back away, but she stayed close to him a little longer. “Thank you.”

  “You are welcome.” He wasn’t sure what she was thanking him for—the kiss? Trying to protect her? Not judging her after she’d told him there could be nothing between them? Whatever it was, it didn’t matter nearly as much as her being safe and happy. “Now you must go to sleep so you can rehabilitate me again tomorrow.”

  She laughed softly. “After seeing you jump up here, I think you’re probably capable of more than you’ve been letting on.”

  “Ah, but you have not seen me get back down.” That was going to be a lengthy, painful process.

  She glanced at the stairs, then back at him. “Can I help?”

  “I will be fine.” He kissed her forehead. “Good night, beautiful Lisa.”

 
She blushed. “Good night, Van.”

  He left her standing there and slowly worked his way down the stairs with his crutches. The pain was excruciating. But her kiss lingered on his lips, numbing the worst of it most pleasurably to the point that he was still smiling when he reached the bottom, still smiling when he climbed back into bed, and still smiling when Grom crawled up and joined him.

  The delicious aromas of coffee and bacon woke Monalisa, along with the hushed sound of voices. Van and Norma.

  Monalisa smiled and stretched and yawned. Everything about today felt better. And not just because she’d gone to bed with Van’s kiss still warming her lips. But that probably had a lot to do with it.

  And even though she knew that kiss had been the last one—it had to be—she was okay with that, because that kiss she’d taken for herself. The impulse had been so strong she’d been unable to avoid it, just like the impulse to shift and spend a few moments in her true form outside last night.

  She blinked up at the ceiling, but Van’s face was all she saw.

  No one had ever acted so selflessly to protect her. Yet, he had done it without a second thought. And he barely knew her.

  Kissing him had been the only way she’d been able to express how deeply moving that was. Words would not have done it. Words would have only revealed how lacking her life was. How sad and pathetic and awful.

  Although it didn’t feel that bad this morning.

  She’d fallen asleep in his shirt, so she left it on now as she got out of bed and padded to the railing.

  He was in his seat at the breakfast bar, his broad back to her, his crutches leaning on the counter. Unlike last night, he had a shirt on. But his body was no less amazing.

  An indulgent smile curved her mouth at the memory. “Morning,” she called down.

  Norma looked up as Van swiveled the barstool around. “Morning,” they both answered.

  Norma went back to stirring some sort of batter. Bacon sizzled in a pan behind her.

  Van stayed right where he was, staring up at Monalisa. He was in sweat pants and a T-shirt, both of which fit him remarkably well. And she wasn’t sure, but it seemed like he checked out her legs before meeting her eyes again. “How did you sleep?”

  “Good.” So good. “No brace this morning?”

  He shrugged one shoulder. “Not yet. Breakfast is almost ready.”

  “I’ll be right down.” No brace could be a good sign. Maybe he was feeling better. That would be wonderful. She put on some leggings and a pair of thick socks meant for boots, then took the stairs. She fixed a cup of coffee and sat next to him, elbows on the counter as she had the first sip. Delicious. And perfect, like this day was going to be. “What are you working on over there, Norma?”

  “Syrniki. They’re one of Van’s favorites.”

  Monalisa shook her head. “I have no idea what that is.”

  “Cheese pancakes,” Van said.

  Monalisa couldn’t stop herself from making a face.

  He laughed. “They are good. You’ll see.”

  Norma carried two plates over. Both held stacks of small, round pancakes that were toasty brown and drizzled with red sauce and a creamy syrup. “Cottage cheese pancakes, to be exact. With jam and sweetened condensed milk. Try them. If you don’t like them, I’ll make you something else.”

  “No, I’m sure they’ll be great.” They actually looked pretty good, especially the way Norma had prepared them. And there was always the side of bacon.

  Van gave her a look. “Grom loves them.”

  She snorted. “I’m not sure that’s a ringing endorsement. I’ve seen Grom lick his privates like it was an ice cream sundae.”

  His mouth twitched like he was trying not to smile. “Syrniki are very good.”

  “We’ll see.”

  Van dug into his with great enthusiasm, letting out a long, loud, “Mmm” as he chewed.

  Monalisa tried a bite. The jam was raspberry. And the pancakes were really good. Creamy and sweet and tender. She swallowed the mouthful. “Okay, I was wrong to be skeptical. These are great.”

  “Told you,” he teased.

  “Yes, you did.” She ate some more, and before she knew it, her plate was clean. “Wow, I can’t believe I ate all that.”

  Norma looked up from the dishes. “You want more?”

  “No, I’ll burst.”

  Norma looked at Van. “I know you do.”

  He held his plate out and smiled.

  Norma filled it, then added a single pancake to Monalisa’s plate. “Eat, you’re too skinny.”

  “I won’t be if I keep eating like this.” But she cut into it with her fork anyway.

  “That’s the point.” Norma smiled. “I’m doing laundry today, Lisa, so if you have any, I’m happy to add it to the load.”

  “No, I’m good. Thank you.” Even though Van had already seen her in her underwear, something about mixing them with his in the wash was far more intimate.

  “All right. I’ll let Grom in, then I’ll be in the laundry room if you need me. Unless you need anything else, Van?”

  “No. All good.”

  “All right. Holler if you need me.” Norma went to the front door to get the dog, who came galloping in a few moments later. He walked over to Van as Norma headed to the laundry room.

  Monalisa leaned toward Van, who was scratching Grom’s head. “She’s not going to spend all day in the laundry room, is she?”

  “Only until the laundry is done. There’s a television in there and a nice chair. She likes to watch her stories while she works. And sometimes, she naps.”

  Monalisa laughed. “That doesn’t sound so bad after all.”

  “She gets her work done, so why should I care?” Van pushed his plate away and wiped his mouth. He turned his head to look at Monalisa. “I suppose you want me to walk today.”

  “I do. But I also think you really need to get on that stationary bike.”

  He frowned. “It is downstairs.”

  “But the stairs can be part of the therapy. You live in a house full of them, so you need to get back to using them anyway. Plus, the more you do, the faster you’ll heal. And really, don’t you want to sleep in your own bed again?”

  “I do.” A wicked gleam passed through his eyes. Like he was imagining himself in that bed, and not alone.

  She cleared her throat, but let it pass. Then she realized that her father might have been a little bit right. Unfortunately. But using her feminine wiles wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, especially if they got Van to exercise and heal. And regardless of whether he ever fought again, she should help him to get better if she could. It was her fault he was in this mess to begin with. “Well, I’ll be downstairs, then.”

  He scowled. “What?”

  She got off the barstool. “Yep. Downstairs. Waiting for you. It’s the door right across from the pantry, right?” It was only a guess. She didn’t really know.

  He put his hands flat on the counter. “No one goes downstairs.”

  She edged toward the door in the kitchen. His response had pretty much told her this was the right one. “And you’re going to stop me how? Run after me with your crutches?”

  “Lisa, I mean it.” His eyes glowed red, and his brow furrowed.

  It was enough to stop her in her tracks. He was really serious about this. It couldn’t be that he was just that dead-set against getting on the exercise bike. “What’s the big deal about downstairs? You afraid I’m going to break your precious gym equipment?”

  “No, I…” He huffed out a breath. “I will walk the deck as many times as you—”

  “Is there even any gym equipment down there?” She crossed her arms and decided to test him a little. “You’re not hiding some weirdo porn collection down there, are you? Or a freaky sex dungeon? What is it down there, all red velvet and black satin with matching his and hers whips and chains?”

  “No.” Van looked flustered. “Nothing like that.”

  She nodded and p
ursed her lips. “If you say so. Wait, are you secretly into Hello Kitty? Do you store your massive collection downstairs?”

  He stared at her. “Hello what?”

  She held her hands up. “No judgment.”

  “What is downstairs is very personal.” Then he narrowed his eyes a little. “Just gym equipment.”

  Something smelled. “Gym equipment is personal?”

  He sighed. “I also keep some valuables down there.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I don’t care if you keep all the gold in Fort Knox down there. I just need you to work out and get better.”

  His eyes widened at the word gold, then he regained his composure. “Why?”

  “Why do I want you to work out?” She shrugged. “Just like your urge to protect me last night when you thought I was in danger, I have this drive for you to get better so that your life improves. So that you’re not in pain. We’re friends now, right? I want to help you. I feel compelled to. I don’t want my time here to be wasted.”

  His eyes narrowed like he was thinking that over. Then he nodded. “You are a healer?”

  That was the last thing she was, but what else could she say? “Sure. I like that. For you, I’m a healer.” She smiled brightly. “Does that mean we can go downstairs and get a real rehab session in?”

  He sighed and shook his head and was about to answer, when a sly look came over his face. “With one condition.”

  “You need to put your brace on first?”

  “No.”

  “Then what’s the condition?”

  His grin expanded as he got up, grabbed his crutches, and made his way around to her side of the counter, stopping only when he was right in front of her. “Kiss me again.”

  That wasn’t a hardship, but it also wasn’t part of her plan. “Van, I don’t think that’s such a great idea.”

  “It is a very good idea.” He paused, brushing a strand of hair off her cheek. His touch sent a shiver through her. “Or did you not like kissing me as much as I thought?”

  Oh, no, she’d liked it very much. She smiled and felt her cheeks go warm, among other parts of her. “No, I liked it.”

  “Then why is more a bad idea?”

  Because there was so much at stake. He was already going to hate her when he found out the truth. How much more would he despise her if he felt like she’d led him on? But if it got him to work out and exercise that leg… She made herself smile. “I just don’t want you falling for me, that’s all. You know, a therapist and a fighter. It’s just not done.”