by Julia Mills
Pulling the glove off his left hand and extending it, he winked as he introduced himself. “Name’s J.D. I have a thing for damsels in distress and I also just happen to be the Unktena you were askin’ about.”
Chapter Two
Hand hanging in the air, the seductive scent of honeysuckle mixed with warm cade, pink pepper, and gorgeous woman driving both him and his Dragon to near distraction, J.D. was thankful his mirrored sunglasses hid the fire he knew was dancing in his eyes. Moving a half step closer, needing to touch her more than he needed to breathe, he acted as cool as possible and snickered, “Unktena means Dragon in Cherokee.”
Watching a single curl, the perfect combination of gold, burnt orange, and red, fall across her forehead as she slowly nodded, his heart skipped a beat. Oh, to be that soft length of hair, touching her silken skin, bathing in her scent, marking her with his, making her…
“Pardon me?” He cleared his throat, snapping out of his daydream while being forced to admit he’d missed what she’d said.
“Are you Cherokee?” Her smoky contralto flowed through him like well-aged scotch, warming him from the inside-out, not to mention the way just the tip of her nose crinkled and softened her features to perfection when she grinned at his faux pas.
“Yes, ma’am.” He looked at his hand, still outstretched, and bit back a groan of his own when the beautiful lady’s lips formed a perfect ‘O’ as she hopped forward and slid her hand into his.
Bolts of lightning, flashes of color, images of a wild horse flying across the desert as if she owned it overwhelmed and excited both man and Dragon. One touch, a simple joining of hands and J.D.’s entire existence had been wonderfully, irreparably altered in the best possible way.
Wrapping his fingers around the back of her hand, his animal instinct said to pull her to him, kiss her silly, throw her over his shoulder, and take her back to his bed – something the Dragon King, Pwyll, with whom he shared his soul was one-hundred-percent in favor of. Then his brain kicked in and the little voice that never ceased to kick him in the ass at the most inopportune time, griped, “Have you lost your freakin’ mind? Do you want to scare her off? Or worse yet, lose your family jewels? This woman is wild, free, and independent, with a bullshit meter that will sniff out your sad game in two seconds flat. Tread softly, you big dumb oaf.”
“About half on my mom’s side,” J.D. added, trying to get her talking again. “You?”
Still slowly nodding her head, her emerald eyes as big as saucers, she answered, “Same, but on my dad’s family.” Unfortunately pulling her hands from his, he watched as she instantly took control of herself before going on, “Name’s Dax.”
Alright, pretty lady, if that’s the way you want to play it, I’m game.
“Nice to meet you, Dax.” He shoved his hand back in his glove as he motioned towards her Jeep. “I can have a look, if you need me to.”
Indecision coupled with what he immediately recognized as pure, old bull-headedness crossed her lovely face before she finally turned to the side and acquiesced, “Sure, I’d appreciate it.”
Walking past her, he couldn’t help but take another deep inhale of her enticing scent. Dammit, if this woman didn’t have it all, good looks, sexy curves, and an iron will he didn’t want to tame, but speed alongside.
Snatching the dark blue bandana out of his back pocket and folding it in a square, he laid the cloth over the cap on her radiator before pushing and turning it with the heel of his hand. Lifting his head as tiny puffs of steam jumped from the opening, he reached down and grabbed one of the gallons of water sitting to the side.
Slowly pouring the liquid, he swore, “Shit, that’s not good,” when the tell-tale sizzle of cool water striking hot dirt reached his ears. Standing up, he set the jug on the ground and got to his knees. Holding onto the bumper, he ducked under the front of the Jeep.
Shaking his head while secretly being glad it was Saturday afternoon and the closest auto repair was closed until Monday morning, J.D. schooled his expression as he climbed to his feet and turned towards Dax. Just as it had been the first time he looked at her, the second time was even more explosive after just a few seconds away, his heart skipped a beat and Pwyll roared, “Mine,” as J.D.’s eyes met hers.
Taking off his favorite, well-broken in, brown felt Stetson, he ran the side of his gloved index finger across his chin a couple of time before breaking the news. “You’ve got a pretty good sized hole in your radiator.” Motioning over his shoulder with his thumb, he asked, “Do you remember running over anything? Hearing a loud noise or a thump or a bump before it conked out on ya’?”
A tiny blush painted the tops of her cheeks highlighting her cute little freckles just before she shoved the fingers of her left hand through her hair, and her right into her pocket before giving a half-hearted chuckle. “I really wouldn’t know. I had the music blasting and was singing along.” She grinned, her chuckle becoming more natural. “Typical girl move, right? Not payin’ attention to where I was goin’ or what was happenin’.”
“No, not really.” J.D. rushed to ease her embarrassment. “Hell, I’ve done it myself.”
Okay, yeah, I’m lying, but dadgummit, I love that little grin of hers.
Hurrying on he added, “When the song’s right, it’s right and ya’ just gotta sing.”
“See, that’s what I’m always tellin’ Bryn.”
Sure, he wondered who the hell Bryn was, but he’d find out later ‘cause Dax’s laugh was music to his ears. It was brighter than the sun, sweeter than honey, and made him want to know if she was ticklish.
Something I plan on findin’ out as soon as we’re alone.
Forcing himself to pay attention to what she was saying, he wasn’t surprised when she asked, “There doesn’t happen to be a garage that’s open on the weekend and isn’t a hundred miles away, is there?”
“The good news is that Shorty’s is about fifty miles south,” he slapped his hat against his leg as he went on, “And the bad news is, he doesn’t open ‘til Monday at seven am.”
Glad that she closed her eyes and let her head fall forward so he could catch his breath, J.D. could feel Dax’s unease and irritation as if it were his own. Opening his mouth before he engaged his brain made him immediately realize that he would do anything to calm her nerves, even subject himself to his brothers’ ribbing.
“There’s nothing to worry about.” He grinned as her head slowly raised. “Our ranch is a mile-and-a-half over that ridge.” He pointed to the right, loving the swish of her loose ponytail as she followed his finger. “Mom and dad would skin me alive if I didn’t bring you back with me.”
Spinning towards him, her eyes once again wide as she put her hands up in surrender and shook her head. “Oh no, I can’t impose. That’s just not cool.”
Putting his hat back on his head and his boot on the fender of her Jeep as she continued with a list of reasons she couldn’t come back to his house that he quite frankly wasn’t listening, J.D. jumped in when Dax stopped to take a breath and snickered, “Well, the nearest hotel is sixty-five miles south, and the last time I went by there the only guests were roaches, ants, and about a hundred or so scorpions.”
Leaning his elbow on his leg and scratching the stubble on his chin as he watched Dax come to terms with her situation, he then explained, “Look, you’ll be perfectly safe. There’s three spare bedrooms in the big house. My brothers and I all live in our own homes on the far side of the horse barns.”
Seeing she was actually considering coming back with him, J.D. went in for the kill. “We get locked out at nine pm every night even if we haven’t been fed.” With a wink and a snickered, he added, “But don’t feel bad, momma leaves leftovers in Tupperware on the back porch.”
Smiling so wide his cheeks actually hurt when Dax laughed out loud and teased, “Sounds like my mom.” Biting her bottom lip, another thing that nearly made J.D. jump right out of his skin, she took a deep breath and as she exhaled she nodded. “As lon
g as you’re sure your parents won’t mind, I’d love to take a shower, get something to eat, and get some sleep. This heat and the stress over Daisy Mae nearly blowing up has me wiped out. Oh shit,” she stopped, looked at her Jeep, back at him then back at her Jeep before asking, “But what about her?” She pointed towards her vehicle. “Will she be alright out here ‘til Monday?”
Putting his foot on the ground and standing tall, J.D. assured, “Tree and I’ll come get ‘her’ in the morning,” he winked as he called the Jeep a girl then went on. “As you can see, this road doesn’t see much traffic. I was actually gonna ask how you ended up on it.”
Shrugging and letting her head fall to the side, Dax hit him with another of her thousand-watt smiles as she sniggered, “I have no earthly idea.”
“Alrighty then. Let’s just call it Fate and get you up to the house.” Walking around to the side of the Jeep, he pointed to the soft black top folded up in the back. “You don’t have to bother with that either. No rain in sight and no one’s gonna touch a thing, promise.”
Cause I’ve sent out the warning to everything within a hundred-and-fifty-miles that if they touch your stuff, I’ll set their ass on fire.
Reaching in and grabbing her blue and white stripped duffle in one hand and the tan leather overnight bag in the other, he looked over his shoulder just in time to catch a glimpse of her fine round ass as she leaned in to get her purse.
Good Lordy, at this rate, I’m gonna need two cold showers and an ice pack before dinner.
Wanting to see her smile just one more time before the ride home, J.D. looked forward and headed towards his tan and black filly named Sugar, asking the one question he was sure would get a rise outta Dax. “Ever ride a horse before?”
“Ride a horse? Cowboy, I am a Horse.”
Chapter Three
I played right into his hands…and what very nice hands they are.
He’d known she was a Fire Horse just as sure as she’d known he was a Dragon. Sure, she hadn’t known the Cherokee word for Dragon. Had never had a reason to learn it, but she recognized the smooth-talking, hotter than homemade sin Cowboy as one of the Universe’s chosen Warriors at first glance.
Standing three feet from J.D. had been hard enough, but with her front tight against his back, her hands wrapped around his waist, and the filly they were riding on’s lope rocking her hips against his butt, Dax was sure she was about to go supernova before they reached the ranch. Needing to distract herself, she leaned forward and started asking questions into his ear.
“Who’s Tree?”
“What was that?” He asked, turning his head slightly to the side and smiling.
I will not kiss that dimple. I will not kiss that dimple. I will not…
“You said ‘you and Tree’ would go back and get my Jeep in the morning. I just wondered who Tree is? It’s an interesting name.”
Oh,” he chuckled. “That’s my older brother Demetrius. When he was little mom tried to get Deme to stick as a nickname, but Gage, our oldest brother who was two at the time, had already started saying Tree. The name stuck, and all these years later that’s what everyone calls him.”
“How many of you are there?”
“Already tired of me?”
His smile widened as he leaned his shoulder back just enough to bump her chest and cause the lacy material of her bra to tease her already taut nipples. Unable to control her shiver of excitement, Dax tried to look away but the concern in J.D.’s voice when he cursed, “Dammit, you’re cold,” warmed her heart more than she was ready to admit.
Stopping the horse and jumping to the ground, he made quick work of opening the saddle bag just behind her thigh and whipping out a leather jacket. Her fingers grazed his as she took the coat, touched even more by his immediate attention to what he thought she needed.
Wonder if he’s that perceptive in other areas…
Putting her arms in the sleeves, wrapping herself in the scent of amber, warm birch, and wild Dragon, she sunk into the well-worn leather imagining it was J.D. Snapping her eyes to his when his hand landed on her thigh, Dax forced herself to stay still when her every instinct was pushing her to jump into his arms.
“How’s that? Better?”
The genuine concern in his voice and the look in his eyes that said he was willing and able to do absolutely anything to see to her comfort tapped away at the hard shell she’d built around her heart. J.D. was something special, there was no denying it, but…
“Yeah, I’m great. Thank you.”
And thanks for not realizing I want to jump your bones – right here, right now.
Back up in the saddle, he clicked his tongue and gently tapped the filly’s sides with the heels of his boots. “Hold on,” was the only warning Dax got before they were galloping across a huge patch of the dry, brown desert grass.
Letting her head fall backward, she pulled the scrunchie from her hair and reveled in the feeling of freedom and abandon as the cool evening air blew her curls backward. Time seemed to slip away and all too soon, the filly was slowing down as the scrumptious aroma of steaks with all the trimmings filled her senses.
Thankful for the extra layer of material covering her body, hopeful that it hid her undeniable attraction to J.D., she lifted her head and opened her eyes just in time to spot an absolutely stunning two-story red brick home. Not only did it have the wrap-around porch she’d always dreamt her perfect home would have, but the white trim and black shutters were perfect accents.
It was not only beautiful but also huge. She imagined the interior as they got close enough for her to see what she could only assume was J.D.’s whole family standing on the porch.
Five tall, muscular, dare she say, drop-dead gorgeous men – all different versions of the one she was still holding onto – stood in different relaxed poses, each sporting shit-eating grins and twinkles of mischief in their eyes.
In front and closest to the steps, smiling openly with a warm welcome, was an older, but still incredibly handsome as all get-out, male Dragon who had to be J.D.’s dad. At his side, holding onto his hand with an ease that only comes from years and years together, stood his mom. Bright blue eyes, long, straight black hair with a touch of gray that looked more like highlights than signs of age, and magic floating around her like the twinkling lights on a Christmas tree, she was one of the most captivating women Dax had ever seen.
She felt an instant kinship both magically and instinctually. Her Fire Horse raised her beautiful head and gave a happy snuffle, reaching for the woman with trust and confidence.
Alright, Girl, give us a chance to at the very least meet her before you go all stalker-filly.
Sitting still as J.D dismounted, Dax was unable not to show her shock when he reached towards her waist and nodded. “Come on, let’s get up down. Momma’s about to jump outta her skin wantin’ to meet you. You’re one of the first and only girls any of us have ever brought home.”
“Brought home? Whoa, Cowboy, I’m hopin’ you don’t…”
“Just come on. Stop thinkin’ so hard about everythin’.” He cut her off with a stifled whisper and an exaggerated roll of his eyes that had her simultaneously swooning and wanting to slap him silly.
Holding her breath, refusing to show any signs of the effect his hands on her waist had on her treacherous body, Dax stepped back and straightened his jacket, refusing to take it off, no matter what anyone thought. Turning towards his family, she smiled as sweetly as she could while the feel of his hand on the small of her back felt so natural that for a split second she relaxed into it.
Jumping to attention, bowing her back just enough to let J.D. know she was no pushover, Dax stopped when he did at the bottom of the steps and waited while he went through the introductions. “Mom, Dad, this is Dax…umm…
“Sparks,” she helped, biting the inside of her cheeks to keep from laughing as the long, tall Dragon blushed.
“Ahem, Sparks,” he continued with a nod. “Dax, this is my mom and dad, B
arbara and Owen MacAllen.”
Looking back to his parents, the Dragon continued, “Her Jeep has a hole in the radiator and stopped working past the northwest pasture right before Mule’s Crossing. Tree and I’ll go get it after supper and then take it to Shorty’s on Monday morning.”
Dax felt him glance at her before hurrying on, “I told her it was okay to bunk with y’all ‘til then.”
“Absolutely,” Barbara beamed, moving so fast from her place on the porch that Dax was wrapped up in a warm, welcoming hug before she knew what was happening. Something deep inside, something small but very significant shifted into place, making her realize the same thing, only on a much larger scale, had happened when she’d shaken hands with her Cowboy.
Returning Barbara’s genuine smile, Dax barely got to breathe and say, Thank you,” before Owen had taken his wife’s place and was giving the Fire Horse a hug of his own. Stepping back and sliding his hand into his Barbara’s, the patriarch of Clan MacAllen welcomed, “You are most assuredly welcome to stay as long as you like. We’ve got lots of empty bedrooms and lots to eat.”
Motioning for Dax to follow as he turned both himself and his wife around, Owen called over his shoulder, “Come on in. Get washed up and comfortable. Barbara’s got a feast all cooked up and ready for us.”
Listening to the hint of a Scottish brogue mixed with Owen’s smooth southern drawl made Dax feel even more welcome – a welcome reminder of home even if she hadn’t been back to Scotland in forever. These people were what her dad would call ‘salt of the earth folks’. The kind you could depend on to have your back no matter what the situation.
Stopping just a few feet from the door, she was introduced to the ‘brothers’. Starting with the farthest away, J.D. went down the line, “That one there is Gage, the oldest, and next to him is Tree.”
As J.D. said their names, they all walked up and gave her a hearty handshake before disappearing into the house.