“Then go already. I swear it takes Scottish dragons ten times as long to leave a room as someone from Stonefire.”
“I can’t help it if we light up the room.”
She shoved his side. “Go before I start rolling my eyes again.”
He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. “As my lady wishes.”
Sid should scold him, but she couldn’t stop smiling.
Gregor kissed her hand one more time and murmured, “Remember, I have a surprise for you,” before exiting the room.
As Sid lay back on the bed, she stared at the ceiling. Despite her mental exhaustion from both her dragon exercises and dealing with Gregor Innes, she was almost afraid to fall asleep. Because when she woke up, Sid may no longer be in control and it became a question of whether she would ever regain it again or not.
No. She couldn’t think like that. If Sid wanted a chance with Gregor, she needed to fight for him. There was no bloody way she would give up now when happiness was on the horizon.
Her dragon would have to deal with her.
Chapter Twelve
Dr. Trahern Lewis took a deep breath before entering the room of his first patient on Stonefire.
As much as he loved medicine and the ability to heal others, he didn’t care for small talk. Some said it was poor bedside manner, but Trahern saw his lack of conversation as devoting his energies on a patient’s health.
Since he’d butted heads with Snowridge’s senior doctor, Stonefire’s call out for a doctor had been the opportunity he needed. Or, so he hoped. Only time would tell if it worked out.
Luckily his first patient was someone he’d met not long ago, when she’d accompanied the human named Rafe Hartley to Snowridge.
Nikki Gray met his gaze and smiled. “What are you doing here, Trahern? I know I made you laugh at Lily Owens’s dinner, but you’ve come a long way to thank me.”
He adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat. “I’m Dr. Jackson’s new junior doctor.”
Nikki raised her brows. “Really? You think someone would’ve told me about this. I’m going to have a word with Kai when I see him.”
“That’s unnecessary.”
He opened Nikki’s chart and scanned the contents. The dragonwoman filled the silence. “There’s nothing wrong with me. Pregnant women fall all the time. Maybe you’ll realize that and let me go. I swear Dr. Innes would confine me to my bed for the remainder of my pregnancy if he could. I already have to deal with Rafe. I don’t need to battle another male’s overprotectiveness.”
When he finished reading the chart, he looked to Nikki. “If it were up to me, I’d release you.”
She frowned. “Then why don’t you?”
“Because no one has cleared me to do so.”
Nikki grunted. “Then I’m going to look into that as soon as I’m out of this bloody bed. Otherwise, what’s the point?”
Trahern agreed but wasn’t about to speak ill of the others doctors until he knew them. Rashness was the opposite of his personality. Not to mention he wanted the chance to learn about Stonefire’s medical practices. He might even luck out and be able to communicate with Lochguard in Scotland, too. His clan leader in Wales was of the mind to keep to himself, but Trahern wasn’t the only one who saw change coming, even to somewhere as remote as North Wales.
He removed the stethoscope from around his neck. “Let me examine you and add my notes. Maybe the confirmation will help sway the others’ opinion about your release.”
Nikki sighed. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”
As he listened to her baby’s heartbeat, he wondered how much of the little one’s dragon personality had developed. Trahern was in the minority that believed dragon halves were present and sentient far sooner than most believed. He had a theory about dragon-shifter hormones, but had never had the chance to test it out despite the fact Trahern’s dragon was much quieter than most dragon-shifters he’d met.
Even now, he poked but his beast yawned and went back to sleep.
He’d just have to be careful that the Stonefire dragons didn’t learn of his secret or they may see him as less of a dragon-shifter, which was dangerous for a doctor dealing with dragons in various states of temperament.
Standing up, Trahern moved his hands here and there around Nikki’s belly. “Everything sounds and feels normal. I’ll make sure to stress that.”
Nikki smiled. “Brilliant. Maybe I can get out of this bed sooner. Stick to the facts and you’ll win over the females of the clan in no time.”
He nodded and jotted down some notes. Before he could finish, someone knocked. “Nikki?”
It was the voice of the Scottish doctor from earlier.
Nikki shouted, “Come in.”
Gregor Innes opened the door and looked to Trahern. “We need to talk.”
“Not until I’m finished with my notes.”
Gregor growled. “Forget the bloody notes. This is more important.”
As the tall, blond dragonman glared down at him, Trahern knew that if he gave in now, the Scottish doctor would forever see him as weaker. And since Trahern was determined to make a new start on Stonefire, he couldn’t have that.
Trahern shrugged. “In a minute. I’m not about to neglect my patient.”
Gregor took a step closer. “Nikki is fine.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? Then I can release her?”
Gregor waved a hand. “She can go as soon as her mate comes to collect her. I don’t want Hartley challenging me to a fight if she breaks a toenail on the way home.”
Nikki jumped in. “Hello, I’m right here.”
Trahern flipped his papers until he reached the page of the release form. “Sign this and I’ll go with.”
Swiping the pen and clipboard, Gregor signed. “Done, on provision Rafe collects her.”
Nikki clapped her hands. “Oh, Dr. Lewis, you’re going to do well here.”
He smiled at the enthusiastic dragonwoman. “I hope so.”
Gregor grunted. “Now, let’s go.”
As Trahern followed, he handed off the clipboard on the way to the nurse named Ginny. “Nikki Gray’s release.”
However, before the older female could reply, Gregor dragged him down the hall into his office. The second the door clicked closed, Gregor rounded on him. “I admire you standing up for your patient and doing your job, but you need to know something. Dr. Jackson is my true mate and we both need your help.”
He tilted his head. “With what?”
“You’re supposed to be a whiz with biochemistry. I need you to identify the compounds in a particular chemical and determine if there’s a way to neutralize it.”
“Show me what you have.”
Gregor blinked. “I was expecting a fight.”
“If there’s one thing you need to know about me, besides my dedication to my patients, is that I love nothing more than to spend hours in a laboratory to solve a puzzle.”
“Aye, well, let’s put that love to use because the sooner you can find a way to neutralize the chemical, the better.”
“Care to tell me why?”
Gregor shook his head. “I can’t. Talk to Bram and see what he says.”
As the Scot showed Trahern the data and what samples they had, he tried not to smile. His first day on Stonefire was going better than expected. And if he could spend the next few days locked in a room with his microscope and other tools, it would be heaven.
Unlike back on Snowridge, he might be able to convince the dragon-shifters on Stonefire that research was just as important as practicing medicine. He might even be able to make a difference.
~~~
Sid awoke to a sharp pain in her brain. Sitting up, she barely noticed the dark room or large bed under her body.
Her dragon was awake and banging against the bars of her prison. Her beast snarled. Out, out. Let me OUT.
Ignoring her, Sid concentrated on mending any cracks or bent bars. But as the minutes waxed on, she knew it wa
s only a matter of time before her dragon escaped. There was no way Sid could keep up the repairs indefinitely.
Her beast roared. I need out to claim our mate. I can’t let anyone else take him. I want him.
Lust shot through her body and she cried out. The prison may keep her dragon from taking control but didn’t lessen the urge to mate.
It seemed Sid would have to fall on her backup plan and participate in the frenzy.
Not that she didn’t look forward to it, but she wished it could’ve been under better circumstances.
She shouted, “Gregor,” before replacing another bar on the prison. She hoped her dragonman was nearby.
The light flicked on and Sid barely noted she was in the bedroom of her cottage before Gregor was at her side. “What’s wrong, love? Tell me.”
She grabbed his arm as she tried to keep her dragon contained. “Frenzy, please.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she murmured as she worked even harder to keep her dragon in the prison. She didn’t want Gregor to be forced and she would give him one last chance to back out.
However, Gregor shucked his clothes and quickly went to work undoing her hospital gown. Each movement of the material against her skin only made her burn hotter. The pulsing between her thighs was almost unbearable; if she didn’t have Gregor’s cock inside her soon, she might burst.
Gregor took her wrists and pinned them over her head as he laid on top of her. His voice was husky as he whispered, “Let her out, love. I’m ready.”
Sid took a second to memorize Gregor’s face. She would never forget he put aside his fears to help her.
As her dragon thrashed, Sid finally released her beast. As her dragon took control, the pulsing lust increased tenfold, and Sid was aware of her body rubbing against Gregor even though she had no control.
Her dragon was in charge.
Gregor released her wrists before he kissed her and her beast grabbed his shoulders to pull him close. Despite the rough nips and strokes of her dragon, Gregor met her in urgency. No doubt, his dragon had come out to play, too.
As he moved a hand to her breast and gently squeezed, every nerve in her body tingled. She wanted, no needed, the male above her. Only he was worthy enough to father their child.
Gregor released her breasts and lightly brushed between her thighs. Sid moaned and hooked a leg around his hip. The change in position made it easier to rub against his hard cock.
Her beast roared. “Why aren’t you inside me?”
With a growl, Gregor brushed her folds a few times before thrusting into her. Sid arched her back at his fullness and raked her nails down his back. A voice not quite her own ordered, “Move.”
Gregor nipped her jaw before he retreated nearly all the way out and then slammed back in. “Yes,” her dragon hissed.
“Mine,” Gregor murmured before he moved in a steady rhythm.
Grabbing his arse, Sid-slash-dragon dug in their nails and Gregor increased his pace. Her beast didn’t understand why he delayed his orgasm. They needed his seed to conceive. Maybe they should flip him and ride him.
As if reading their thoughts, Gregor took hold of her hips and lifted slightly before pounding in and out. The feel of his hard length at a new angle hit just the right spot and she moaned, “Harder.”
Not fighting her, Gregor complied for a few more beats before he stilled and roared her name. As he came, pleasure exploded and her core gripped and released his cock.
Soon, we will carry his child. More, her dragon stated.
Once she’d wrung the last drop from Gregor, Sid’s dragon flipped him onto his back. “My turn. You’re too slow.”
Gregor’s pupils were slitted. He hissed, but as Sid’s dragon moved their body again, taking care to circle their hips, Gregor groaned and took her breasts in his hands. His rough palms against her nipples sent a tingle down her spine.
A small part of Sid yearned for him to suck and play with her nipples, but then her dragon pushed it aside. All that mattered was another orgasm, and another, until they carried both Gregor’s scent and his child.
As her dragon increased the movements of her hips, Sid merely enjoyed the sensations. She was too exhausted to fight her dragon any longer. With any luck, once the frenzy was complete, she could finally learn to live with her beast.
But then another orgasm hit and Sid lost any rational thought.
Chapter Thirteen
Twelve days later, Gregor lay with Cassidy snuggled against his side and he battled a mixture of happiness and fear.
His lass’s dragon had been a lusty thing, but even so, the frenzy had taken longer than most, probably because Cassidy was older. Still, his doctor currently carried his scent, which meant she carried their child and that pleased his beast.
His dragon was half asleep as he murmured, Of course it pleases me. The others will stay away. We can also have a family again.
Gregor pushed aside his doubts. Completing the frenzy is only part of it. We still need to help Cassidy control her dragon.
I’ll leave that to you, his dragon muttered before yawning and curling up in a ball. The bastard was asleep within seconds.
Well, at least with his dragon being exhausted, Gregor could simply hold his female and revel in the brief moment of happiness. Because no matter what happened later, he wanted to be a father.
For so long, he’d hidden the desire. To even think it equated betrayal in his mind.
But looking down at the relaxed features of Cassidy Jackson, a child signaled a future and new start for them both. He couldn’t feel guilty for that. He’d just have to remember her words about risks in childbirth were slim for most dragon-shifters.
If he lost another mate, Gregor would never recover.
Pushing aside his thoughts, he focused on the positive and merely kissed her forehead.
Cassidy rolled over and he held his breath. As much as he wanted to share the news, he needed to brace himself in case her dragon was still in control.
The mother of his baby opened her eyes and slowly looked over to him. He nearly breathed a sigh of relief at her round pupils. Brushing a strand of hair off her face, he smiled. “Good afternoon.”
She frowned. “We’re both in our right minds again and all you can say is, ‘Good afternoon.’”
“You’re a clever lass and know full well the frenzy is over.” He placed a hand over her abdomen. “You carry my child.”
She tentatively put her hand over his. “A child.”
“Yes, a child. Although in our case, there’s a bigger question looming. How’s your dragon doing?”
Cassidy sighed. “She’s asleep for now. I won’t know for sure if she’s tame until she wakes up.”
“She was determined, I’ll give her that.”
Sid rolled onto her side and propped her head on a hand. “As if yours was any less so.”
He grinned. “I think he did brilliantly.” He sobered a fraction. “But are you all right? I haven’t contacted anyone yet to let them know the frenzy is over, but if you need a doctor, I’ll call Lewis.”
“No, I don’t need a doctor. But I’m afraid to say anything until I know how my dragon behaves. To be honest, I’m tempted to ask you to tie me up.”
“Normally, I wouldn’t pass up that opportunity. But I will just this once since sorting out your future is more important.”
Sid leaned against his shoulder. “A future is something I dare not hope for. At least, not yet.”
Gregor growled as he pulled Cassidy onto his chest. “You will have one, Cassidy Jackson. And you’d better start believing it or I will tie you to this bed until you do.”
“And that’s supposed to accomplish what? Besides call into question your heritage? Maybe you have some Viking blood in your veins.”
“Don’t deflect, woman. Anything you say won’t push me away. I’m in it for the long haul, no matter what happens.”
She met his gaze. “Why? We haven’t known each other long.�
��
“I know enough. I haven’t felt this at ease with a female for a long time, and not just because you’re my true mate. We can discuss medicine one moment and you can tease me about naked statues the next. I’m not sure I can go back to a life where all I do is work and carve alone in my cottage. I want you in my life, Cassidy. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you can start fighting for our shared future.” When she hesitated, he added, “Are you having second thoughts?”
“No, not second thoughts. It’s just that after thinking for decades I would be alone my whole life, I still can’t believe I might have someone to share it with.”
He rolled them over until he could trap Cassidy with his body. “There’s no ‘might,’ lass. I’m here and we’ll work through this together.”
As his doctor blinked back tears, Gregor wondered what the hell he’d done wrong.
~~~
Sid’s exhaustion was doing strange things to her. She usually wasn’t emotional and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d cried. Yet as Gregor vowed to stay by her side and help her win her fight, she wanted to sob in relief.
She hadn’t lied about her dragon sleeping, which meant Sid still had no idea what her future held. But knowing Gregor would be there made her want to fight harder for it.
Not just for herself, but their unborn child as well.
Still, as Sid pushed Gregor until he was on his back and held him tight, she knew she’d have to be strong for him, too, when the time came. He would need reassurances that she wouldn’t die at the faintest sign of a sneeze or nausea up until she gave birth.
“I’m fine,” she murmured.
Gregor stroked her back slowly. “You looked about ready to cry, love. And believe me, if there’s one way to put a male on his guard, it’s to cry right after the frenzy.”
Old Sid would’ve brushed everything aside and kept her thoughts to herself. However, new Sid trusted the male under her cheek. If it was to work with them, she needed to be honest. “It’s a combination of exhaustion and happiness.” She propped her chin on Gregor’s chest. “I’m so close to having a happy future I can taste it, yet it could still be ripped away from me at any second.”
Cured by the Dragon (Stonefire British Dragons Book 8) Page 11