Joe and his men had just started talking about how far away they lived from their favorite pub when Kai had shown up. How dare he call her his woman. No doubt, he thought she needed rescuing.
Bloody daft dragonman.
When this was finished, she would give Stonefire’s head Protector a piece of her mind. While she rarely interacted with him, the quiet dragonman always managed to get what he wanted. She had no fucking idea why he was here, but if he was also after the hunters, he would have a wakeup call. Jane Hartley didn’t give up a lead for anyone, not even a growly, hot muscled man who could shift into a giant gold dragon.
Kai’s voice echoed down the alley and answered Joe’s taunting. Since Jane was taller than most of the men, she turned her head to watch.
“No weapons. That’s my only rule,” Kai stated.
Joe answered, “Who says you get to the make the rules? I’m only agreeing to fight because you might actually be a challenge and it’s been a while since I’ve had one. If you weren’t, me and my men would’ve taken you out by now.”
Jason at her side murmured in agreement and Jane wondered if all of the dragon hunters had guns.
“No weapons,” Kai repeated.
Despite how angry she was with Kai Sutherland, the steel in his voice made her want to obey.
And if she were honest, every time she heard it, his voice made her shiver in a good way.
Not that she was going to waste time thinking about Kai’s deep, sexy voice. She was more concerned about the hunters figuring out he was a dragonman. Kai’s jumper and trousers did a good job of helping him blend in with the humans in the area, but very few humans could thread so much dominance into their voices.
Joe moved his hand away from under his shirt. “I like a challenge. You look ex-army, am I right?” Kai merely nodded and Joe continued, “Then let’s see if what they teach you nancy boys stands up to what we learn on the streets.”
In the blink of an eye, Joe moved to the side and swung a fist.
Jane held her breath, but then Kai stepped out of the way. Even in the half-darkness, Kai was graceful as he moved. It was almost as if he were dancing.
Blinking, Jane pushed the ridiculous thought out of her head. The dragonman had ruined everything. She would not think positive thoughts about him, and certainly not wonder if Kai was just as graceful out of his clothes as he was in them.
Stop it, Jane. She’d wondered too many times over the last few months what Kai would look like naked. But she couldn’t afford to see any man naked. At least, not until she’d finished her story and secured her reputation as a true investigative journalist.
The hunter at her side, Jason, murmured, “Tell me you want the bastard to lose.” He caressed her upper arm with a finger and she barely resisted punching him in the jaw. “We were getting along so well before. I’d like to take you back to my place and show you what a real man is like.”
Must. Not. Roll. Eyes. Jane flashed a coy smile and looked down at Jason, who was a few inches shorter than her. “That sounds nice. I’ve always wondered what a British man would be like.”
Desire flashed in the man’s eyes. He moved toward her as if he were going to kiss her, so she added, “But I want to watch the fight first, okay, sweetie? I want the stranger who claimed to be my man to be punished for his lie.”
“Don’t worry, Joe will take care of him.” He caressed her arm some more and her stomach rolled. “But we’ll stay. Watching a fight will only make me harder.”
Ew. Pushing aside thoughts of the man naked and hard, Jane bobbed her head. “I can hardly wait.”
“Then watch the fight, love. If you’re like me, and I think you are, it’ll make you wet.”
Only her stubbornness kept the smile on her face. Someone really needed to smack this man once in a while. That was definitely not the way to win a woman. “Maybe.”
Before he could spout out any more crude comments, Jane looked back to Kai. He and Joe were circling each other. Neither one appeared winded, nor did they have any visible injuries on their faces.
She wondered what Kai’s strategy was. He needed to hurry the hell up so she could ditch the pervert at her side.
Yet Kai took his time circling his partner and dodging one punch and then another. He acted as if he had all the time in the world.
Joe went for an uppercut, but Kai sidestepped and punched him in the kidney. In the next second, Kai turned around and clocked him on the jaw. Joe went down with a thud.
Everyone held their breath, Jane included, but Joe didn’t get up again.
Kai’s eyes sought out hers and she shivered at the mixture of heat and triumph in his eyes. That look made her want to strip naked and offer herself up as a sacrifice.
Blinking, Jane nearly frowned. That was twice now she’d fantasized about Kai being naked in the span of a few minutes. If she wanted to find her story and advance her career, she couldn’t afford to sleep with any dragon-shifter. The second she did, her opinion would be deemed biased.
She’d had to repeat that mantra over and over again the last few months. Being surrounded by a clan of hot dragonmen had been temptation itself. And who the bloody hell knew why, but she’d always had the strongest pull toward Kai, although she’d managed to stay clear.
Luckily, Mr. Tactless at her side spoke up. “Did you want me to get rid of him for you, love?” He reached down and took hold of what she assumed was a gun. “His fist can’t hurt us this far away.”
She was trying to think of how to respond when Kai bent over and took Joe’s gun. His supersensitive dragon-shifter hearing must’ve picked up Jason’s words.
Flicking off the safety, Kai pointed the gun at Jason. “The woman is mine. Let her go.”
The men stared at one another and Jane decided to fuck it. These men would never talk to her again anyway.
Turning, she kneed Jason in the balls and took his gun. Before the other men could draw theirs, she pressed the muzzle against Jason’s temple and flicked off the safety. Not wanting to completely break her cover, she kept up her American accent. “I don’t think so, guys. I’m not a prize to be fought after. Besides, I’m American and we love our guns. You won’t win against me. I suggest you run far, far away before I show you my skills.”
Jane was careful to keep her face stony. In truth, she was horrible with firearms. She only knew the basics because of her older brother, who had all but forced her to learn them a few years earlier. But the hunters didn’t need to know that.
Pressing the muzzle harder against Jason’s forehead, the man’s strangled voice ordered, “Do as she says.”
One of the men spoke up. “What about Joe?”
Kai’s voice drifted from behind her. “Leave him.”
Jane nearly turned her head and frowned at the dragonman. If he wanted to help her, he could surely muster more than two words.
As the men waited for Jason’s confirmation, Jane murmured, “Tell them to leave or I won’t be so gentle with your balls next time.”
Jason yelled to the others, “Go. Joe can take care of himself.”
Not waiting for another word, the group of men left, except for Jason, whom she still had under the gun. Before she could tell the man to flee, Kai was next to her. After hitting the man on the back of the head with his gun, Jason fell to the ground.
She hated the fact she had to look up to meet his eyes, but she did it. “Why the bloody hell did you do that?”
“Good to hear you’re British again.”
She frowned. “That is probably one of the least important things you could say right now. How about telling me why you’re here? You ruined everything.”
“All of that can wait.”
Kai kneeled, flipped Jason over, and tied his hands with plastic zip ties from his pocket. Putting the safety back on her gun, Jane asked, “Care to explain a bit more?” She lowered her voice. “I can’t read minds, dragonman. You sure as hell shouldn’t be here.”
Rather than answer her, Ka
i took out his mobile and sent a text. Jane was tempted to pluck the phone from his hands and toss it onto the roof of the pub.
Sadly, before she could execute her plan, Kai tucked his phone into his pocket as he stood up. His expression was as unreadable as always as he answered, “Stop demanding and just listen. Let’s go somewhere safe before the hunters come back with reinforcements.”
Jane’s curiosity won out over her irritation. “How do you know they’re hunters?” When Kai merely stared, she put a hand on her hip. “In the amount of time you’ve stared so far you could’ve explained half a dozen sentences about what’s going on. I get it, you’re the big, bad head Protector. But you can let that image slip with me. I won’t tell anyone.”
“Says the reporter.”
If she were on official business for work, she’d have to smile and say nothing. But she wasn’t, so she narrowed her eyes. “You know what? Fuck you. I don’t need to put up with this. I’m leaving.”
Jane walked two steps before Kai came up behind her and trapped her against his chest. For a split second, all she could think about were the hard muscles and broad chest at her back. It had been a long time since she last had a man’s arms around her in a non-slimy way. Being a female reporter wasn’t glamorous most of the time; too many men liked to cop a feel. Kai’s arms around her, on the other hand, actually made her skin hot and tight, which rarely happened.
His heat at her back was better than any dream she’d had of him over the last few months.
Realizing she was going off on a tangent, she forced her brain to focus. “A scream from me and the pub patrons will spill into the street.” She tilted her head up until she could see Kai’s blue eyes. “If I tell them a dragon-shifter is causing trouble on the streets of Newcastle, that would definitely be a big enough distraction to allow me to slip away.”
Kai remained silent. The second she opened her mouth to scream, Kai released her and she swore she saw a flash of irritation in the unshakeable dragonman’s eyes.
However, the look was gone in the next breath. Kai merely shrugged. “Do what you wish. But does your boss know you’re out here wielding a gun and rubbing elbows with the hunters? You should be behind a desk.”
“I’m a journalist.”
He shrugged. “If you say so.” He turned toward Joe. “I have a job to do. Go home and let me handle the hunters.”
Jane clenched her fingers. “I found them first. This is my story and I won’t let you brush me off.”
Kai met her eyes again. “Go home or I will send you home.”
A million ideas raced through her head. Given what little she knew of Kai Sutherland, he could be carrying chloroform or who the hell knew what that could knock her unconscious. And he would use it, too.
Before he had a chance to do any of that, Jane would play her only card. “You can send me home and waste your time interrogating the hunters for information, or you can work with me. The men were quite chatty before you rudely interrupted. Give me access to a computer with internet and I can point out the possible new living quarters of the former Carlisle gang.”
Kai studied her, but despite the butterflies banging around in her stomach, she didn’t so much as fidget as she waited for his response.
Chapter Two
Kai knew it was only a matter of time before the hunters sent reinforcements. He needed to get the hell out of the alley and back to his temporary safe house on the outskirts of Newcastle.
The easiest way to accomplish that was to drug Jane Hartley and drop her off somewhere safe. The damn female had already complicated his investigation. Hell, her actions might cause the hunters to move bases again. If that happened, he’d have to start from scratch.
She was definitely a pain in his arse.
Yet as she stood up to him with fire in her eyes, his dragon roared and clawed at his mental prison to get out. His dragon wanted her.
Not in the way his dragon had lusted after their true mate all those years ago, but it was pretty fucking close. Even without a mate-claim frenzy, his dragon wanted the human naked and under them as soon as possible.
And a small part of Kai agreed. His cock was still hard from holding the human female in his arms, with her tall, soft body against his chest.
No. He wouldn’t let his dick control his brain. His entire clan’s safety was riding on his actions. Until he took down Simon Bourne, Clan Stonefire would always be a target. Even with heightened security, it wouldn’t be long before more of his Protectors would die.
Jane raised an eyebrow and asked, “Well? Are you going to just stand there or are you going to reply?”
His mobile phone vibrated in his pocket with a text message, which meant his ride would be here in two minutes.
Kai needed to make a decision.
His dragon finally broke free. She comes with us.
Not if you’re going to lust after her constantly.
She has information. Once we plot our next move, then we can fuck her.
No fucking the human. End of discussion.
When you stop lying to yourself, I’ll be ready.
His beast fell silent and Kai mentally cursed. Being near Jane Hartley was a bad idea, yet he couldn’t resist finding out what she knew. Her intel could save him a few days if the hunter bastards proved resilient, and that could make all the difference in the world. “Come with me, but no more talking until we’re some place safe.” She opened her mouth and he cut her off. “That’s the rule and it’s non-negotiable. Nod if you agree.”
Anger flared in her eyes, but for whatever reason, Jane nodded.
At the gesture, his dragon preened. Good. I can’t wait until the anger in her eyes turns to desire. Then I will make her scream.
Ignoring his dragon, Kai moved to Joe, pulled out one of the pre-filled needles inside a case in his pocket, and pumped the sedative into the dragon hunter. Hefting the unconscious man over his shoulder, an SUV stopped at the opposite end of the alley. Nikki Gray, one of his junior Protectors, waved from the driver’s side and exited the car.
Kai motioned his head and looked to Jane. “Get in the car.”
Jane clenched her jaw and moved toward the car. His dragon spoke up. I don’t like her so quiet. Hurry up so I can hear her voice again.
Now you only want her voice? I think you’re planning something else.
Maybe. But admit it—you love her voice, too.
As Kai loaded Joe into the back seat, he replied, Why do you bring it up? You already know the answer.
Because I want to remind you of how much you want her, too.
True, Kai had listened to every report of Jane’s he could find over the last few months. The rise and fall of her voice had relaxed him. For the first time in eleven years, Kai had been able to temporarily forget about the female who should’ve been his mate.
But he didn’t have time for a female. Jane’s voice was all he could allow himself to have.
Shutting the car door, Kai moved to the passenger seat and retrieved a long, black scarf from the glove box. Turning to Jane, he held it out to her. “Put it on.” She shook her head. Bloody stubborn female. “You agreed to remain silent until we arrived someplace safe. Arguing with your eyes isn’t going to change my mind.”
She glared and stuck out her tongue before swiping the cloth from his hand. His dragon whined, Why didn’t she touch our skin? I want to feel her warm, soft skin again.
Not replying, he watched as Jane tugged off her wig and tied the scarf at the back of her head. When she finished, she put out her hands with a flourish and Kai couldn’t help but smile.
Nikki finished loading the other human into the back and climbed into the car. “Why are you smiling? You never smile.”
With a grunt, Kai answered, “Drive.”
Nikki turned on the car and changed gear. As she moved the car down the narrow streets, she added, “So much for a thank you, boss. One of the men who guarded me during my time with the hunters is in the back seat. Being in the
same car as him isn’t exactly easy.”
Kai snapped his fingers and pointed toward Jane. Nikki sighed. “Right, the reporter. I’ll keep quiet for now.”
Stonefire’s clan leader, Bram, had suggested Kai bring someone else to help him with his mission since Nikki was young and inexperienced. But ultimately, Kai’s argument had won. After all, Nikki had seen a large number of dragon hunters while she’d been imprisoned by them earlier in the year. She had details Kai would need. Not only that, she could identify members by sight.
Helping to bring them down should also bring a sense of closure to the young dragonwoman.
However, Nikki would serve another purpose now that the human was with them. As long as one of his subordinates was around, Kai should be able to keep his emotions under control. And more importantly, he could keep his hands to himself.
His dragon chimed in. That’s what you think.
Kai didn’t like his beast’s smug tone.
Glancing back at Jane, he decided he would get rid of her once she gave him the information he needed. Considering he had kept his distance from his true mate for years without touching her, he could spend a few hours with Jane Hartley and act normal.
~~~
The silence in the car rubbed Jane the wrong way. Since she’d watched Kai inject Joe with some kind of drug, and had a feeling the young dragonwoman had done the same with Jason, Jane was fairly certain they would be unconscious for a while yet.
Not only that, but over the last few months she’d learned how cautious Stonefire could be about sweeping for bugs or any other sort of anomalies. She’d bet her life savings that the car was clean.
There was no bloody reason to waste time in silence. She should ask a question, but her gut told her Kai would carry out his threat and discard her somewhere. And she needed to stay on his good side long enough to find out what he knew.
Then she could slip away and continue her investigation on her own. A tall, brooding dragonman constantly looking over her shoulder would only bring suspicion and scare away the locals.
Reawakening the Dragon: Part One Page 2