Her heart rate kicked up. Had their shared glance stirred up suspicion?
Calm down, Holly. Even if anyone had noticed, Holly hadn’t done more than talk with Fraser and share a few glances. She hadn’t violated her contract.
And she would make sure she never did.
Holly’s determination renewed, she touched Fergus’s bicep. “Would you pour me some wine?”
Fergus finally looked from his brother’s face to hers. “Of course.”
He reached for the nearest bottle of red wine and poured her half a glass. The second he handed it to her, Holly took a sip and then another. She needed all of the liquid courage she could muster if she had to spend the next however many minutes not looking at Fraser.
Faye chimed in. “Can we eat now, Mum? The longer the food sits on the table, the higher the risk of a food fight breaking out and I’m pretty damn hungry.”
Lorna clicked her tongue. “Language, Faye.”
Faye muttered something Holly couldn’t hear, but Fergus chuckled at her side. “Just wait until I leave and it’s just you and Fraser in the house. Mum will have more time to focus on you two with me gone.”
From the corner of Holly’s eye, she just made out Fraser shrugging. “I probably won’t be home much, either. Without you around, brother, I’ll have more lasses for myself.”
Fraser’s words were a stab to her heart. She must’ve read too much into their shared glances and near-kiss in the greenhouse.
Fraser MacKenzie clearly wasn’t worth her time or worry.
Using her newfound determination, Holly glanced to Fraser. Yet as soon as he met her eyes, Fraser looked away and smiled at his brother. “This may actually be your last potential food fight for life. Holly doesn’t strike me as the type.”
Arabella’s voice chimed in. “You mean she acts older than a teenager.”
Holly took a sip of wine and then turned toward Fergus. “If a food fight breaks out, will you shield me?”
The corner of Fergus’s mouth ticked up. “That depends if you start it or not.”
Holly leaned closer. “I was thinking more of you starting it by hitting your brother with a cooked potato.”
Fergus grinned, making his eyes crinkle at the corners. “I like your way of thinking, lass.” Fergus leaned down and whispered, “It’s best to wait until Fraser isn’t expecting it. But no worries, I have a few tricks up my sleeve. I’m the food fight champion.”
Fraser growled. “He’s lying, Holly.”
Lorna clapped her hands. “Now, now children, let’s play nice.” Lorna’s voice turned to steel. “Let’s eat.”
Holly hid her laugh by taking a drink.
Things were going well with Fergus. Each minute in his company helped relax her. Especially ever since Fraser pretended his meeting with her earlier hadn’t happened.
As Fergus lightly bumped his shoulder against hers, he murmured, “I’ll shield you, Holly. Always.”
She forced a smile. The words were meant to be romantic, yet they didn’t stir any flutterings or heat. Maybe with time the heat and awareness would come.
Glancing at Fraser one last time, he met her eyes. Heat flared briefly before his expression turned to a slightly cocky yet carefree one.
The flare of attraction only reminded Holly of what was at stake. Nothing would keep her from returning to her father.
Fergus slid a few slices of roast onto her plate and Holly focused on her food. The sooner she ate, the sooner she could convince Fergus to take her out of the room. She needed to sleep with the dragonman as soon as possible. Maybe even tonight.
Holly couldn’t afford to stay on Lochguard any longer than necessary or a certain auburn-haired, blue-eyed dragonman would get her into trouble.
~~~
Fraser gripped his knees under the table. His dragon was roaring and trying to claw his way out of the maze. Fraser wasn’t sure how much longer he could restrain his beast.
Yet if he left supper without eating, Finn, his mother, and maybe even Fergus would try to talk with him and see what was wrong. If there was one thing that was always true in the MacKenzie household, it was that meals were never missed and all of the siblings fought over the food. If someone missed supper, they either had a bloody good reason or something was wrong.
As long as he could make it through dinner, Fraser could spend the rest of his time working on the warehouse project and clearing Finn and Arabella’s garden. He wouldn’t have to see Holly again until after she’d slept with Fergus and possibly carried his brother’s child. By then, his dragon might even give up.
Fraser gripped his fork so tightly his fingers turned white. Who was he kidding? If his dragon’s tantrum was anything to go by, seeing Holly pregnant with anyone’s child but theirs would set his beast off. He needed to think of a plan to get him away from Lochguard. He might even request to be fostered at Stonefire. He could meet an English dragon-shifter female and forget all about Holly Anderson.
He just needed to make it through dinner first.
Faye plucked the basket of rolls from in front of him and piled three on her plate. Reinforcing his mental maze one last time, he decided to play his part and swiped one of his sister’s rolls and took a bite. “Thanks, Faye.”
Faye glared. Even when she’d been pitying herself after her injury and had been stuck in a wheelchair for four weeks, his sister had always been protective of her food. “You have five slices of roast and a heap of potatoes. Eat those first. You know rolls are my favorite.”
Fraser took another bite and replied with his mouth half-full. “But they’re warm.”
A pea bounced off his cheek from the other end of the table. Fraser glanced to both Finn and then Fergus. “Not now. We have a guest.”
Holly took another sip of wine and he watched the red liquid slide between her lips before she swallowed. The human had slender, pink lips he would love to nibble and then taste.
Before he was caught staring, Holly lowered her glass and spoke up. “Fergus here said he’d protect me. So, don’t hold back on my account.”
Fraser raised a brow. “Oh, aye? Did he, now?”
Fraser tossed the remainder of his roll in Holly’s direction, but Fergus snatched it out of the air. “You’re going to have to do better than that.”
As Fergus and Fraser grinned at one another, Fraser nearly forgot about Holly coming between them.
Then the bloody human took the roll from Fergus’s fingers—did she have to brush her fingers and linger so?—and tossed it back in his direction. “How about we eat first and play later?”
Fraser’s dragon snarled and tried harder to escape Fraser’s maze. No doubt, the beast had his own ideas of play.
Before he did something daft, Fraser poured some wine and took a swallow.
It was Lorna who broke the silence by tapping her knife against her plate. “I call a time-out. I didn’t slave away in the kitchen all day so you could toss my food across the table. If this is how you appreciate all of my hard work, then next time I’ll take the easy route and make fish, chips, and mushy peas.”
Finn smiled. “That’s not much of a threat, Aunt Lorna. You know that’s my favorite.”
Lorna sighed. “Okay, then how about I order some frozen human foods that taste like cardboard and then reheat those?”
Fraser scrunched up his nose. “That is an actual threat, Mum.”
Lorna readjusted her bum in her chair. “Good, then eat and postpone the food fights for later.”
Everyone but Arabella and Holly murmured their assent.
Lorna turned her head toward Holly. “So, lass, how fares your father? Is he doing better?”
Holly swallowed her bite of potato and answered, “The doctors think so. But his recovery is going to take a while and they’re going to monitor his body for the further growth of any cancer cells. The treatments are experimental, but if they succeed, the process has a far higher survival rate than regular chemotherapy.”
Lorna smiled. �
��I’m glad you were able to help your father. When he’s feeling better, maybe he can come visit. I’m sure Finn can arrange it.”
Holly blinked. “I didn’t think human visitors were allowed.”
Finn answered, “The DDA and the Home Secretary office are issuing a few visitor’s passes to both our clan and Stonefire in England. I’m sure I can work something out, provided your father’s health is strong enough.”
Holly’s eyes lit up and Fraser sucked in a breath. Hell, when the lass was happy and excited, she became even more beautiful.
Fraser wanted to try and make her happy as often as possible.
Stop it, Fraser. He took another sip of wine and half-listened as Holly and Finn talked about visitation passes. Their conversation gave Fraser a chance to study the human more closely without being overly obvious about it.
He loved how her long, dark hair tumbled past her shoulders to nearly her elbows. The gentle waves of her hair softened her face and if Fraser had a say in how she wore her hair, Holly would never wear it in a bun ever again.
Although the idea of him tugging out the pins and releasing her hair had its own appeal.
Resisting a frown lest he give away his thoughts, Fraser took another swig of wine. It was going to be a long evening. How he would survive watching Holly and Fergus for the next six months or more, Fraser had no idea. Fostering with Stonefire was his only real option.
His beast banged against the top of his mental maze at the thought of leaving Holly behind and the structure gave a little.
If his beast acted this way with Fergus merely touching Holly, Fraser hated to think what would happen once Fergus started sleeping with the lass.
Finn kicked his leg under the table. “Earth to Fraser. Are you listening?”
Damn. “What did I miss? I was too busy concentrating on this fine glass of wine.”
Finn merely raised his brows. Fraser’s cousin was unconvinced.
Bloody hell, if Fraser didn’t get his act together, he would be cornered and interrogated before the night was over.
Holly answered, “Don’t worry, it wasn’t important.”
Fraser should resist looking at the lass yet again since everyone was watching him at the table, but he turned his head. The human’s cheeks were flushed from the wine, laughter, or both. Combined with the sparkle in her eyes, all he wanted to do was tug her out back, pull her close, and kiss her.
His dragon roared again.
Holly finally looked away from Fraser and to Fergus. She touched his brother’s bloody bicep again. “I need to use the toilet.”
Fergus smiled. “I think you’re just trying to escape the madness for a bit.”
Holly winked and Fraser dug his nails into his thighs as she said, “It is a bit exhausting having dinner with your family, if I’m honest. Of course, for all I know, it’s like this with all dragon-shifter families.”
Arabella snorted. “Definitely not. If you ever meet my brother, then you’ll see what I mean.”
Fergus whispered, “Ignore Arabella. Her brother’s a bit of a bastard and she knows it.”
Arabella growled. “Watch it, Fergus. I’m not even two months pregnant yet. I can still kick your arse if need be.”
Fergus grinned. “I would, but Finn would have my head. We can have a rematch in about five years, when you can send your kid to school.” Arabella rolled her eyes and Fergus met Holly’s gaze again. “Go up the stairs and turn left. The toilet’s the first door on the right.”
Holly squeezed Fergus’s arm. “Thank you.”
As the lass exited the room, Fraser’s dragon finally succeeded in breaking through the top of his mental maze. Go after her. Now is our chance to kiss her. She will choose us.
No way, dragon. She isn’t ours.
His beast snarled. Then you leave me no choice.
His dragon pressed to the front of his mind. Fraser pushed back, but his dragon’s need to kiss Holly and brand her with their scent was strong enough to hold Fraser off.
Dropping his head into his hands, Fraser closed his eyes. No, we can’t.
You had your chance. We’re going after her. I won’t allow Fergus to take her. She is ours.
Wait—if you don’t want to make the others overly suspicious or instantly follow us, then let me give them an excuse.
His beast paused and then replied, I give you two minutes. Try to stuff me back into a maze and next time, I won’t pause before I take control.
Afraid his dragon might scare Holly, Fraser had little choice but to answer, I won’t.
Two minutes.
His dragon relinquished control and moved toward the back of Fraser’s mind, ready to pounce if Fraser showed the first sign of deceit.
With his beast no longer growling and snarling, Fraser finally heard Faye’s voice asking. “Fraser, are you okay? What’s wrong?”
Taking a deep breath, he lifted his head. “I think I drank too much wine too quickly. I’m just going to splash some water on my face.”
Finn wasn’t smiling, but his tone was light. “Or, put your head in a toilet.”
Aware the clock was ticking, Fraser merely nodded and stood. He looked to his mother. “Sorry, Mum, but I’ll be right back.”
Not wanting to give his mother a chance to read his face and guess what was happening, Fraser quickly grunted and exited the dining room.
As he ascended the stairs, his dragon’s voice boomed, Find her.
I will, but allow me to explain what’s going on, first. Otherwise, she might run.
She had better say yes.
Trust me, dragon. I can get a lass to kiss me.
Despite the confidence in his tone, Fraser’s stomach rolled. Never in a million years had he expected to trick his true mate into kissing him. With any luck, Holly wouldn’t hate him afterwards.
It wasn’t as if he had a choice. Unless Fraser left the clan, his beast would want Holly as long as she was nearby. And given how Fraser had spoiled his dragon over the years, what his beast wanted, his beast would take.
He couldn’t allow his dragon to scare the lass. Fraser could take her hate later, but he never wanted to see fear or tears in her eyes when looking at him.
An idea hit and Fraser said to his dragon, Let me talk to Fergus and Finn, first. They might be able to help us.
No. You waited too long. I need to kiss her and claim her. She is ours.
If you would give me five minutes—
His dragon roared. No. Kiss her and talk later.
The need to kiss and fuck Holly rushed through Fraser’s body and his step faltered. You said I could talk to her.
That was before you tried to make excuses and prevent us from kissing her.
Fine, I’ll kiss her. But let me prepare her first.
His beast paused a second before replying, This is your last chance. Kiss her or I will take control.
Understood.
As his beast went back to pacing, Fraser cursed at his future being stolen from him. Yes, he was attracted to Holly and would love the chance to woo the feisty lass. But not with trickery and his dragon driving his actions.
That sort of deceit would only solidify the rumors about dragon-shifters being beasts. Not to mention Holly would probably flee Lochguard as soon as she’d birthed his child. Even knowing how important family was to her, Holly would probably try to find a way to take her child away from Fraser, the monster.
Taking a deep breath, Fraser pushed aside all of his doubts and fears. He couldn’t risk his dragon taking over his mind and running amuck. If that happened, the Department of Dragon Affairs would probably hunt him down and lock him up.
There was no bloody way he would allow that to happen.
He reached the toilet door just as Holly opened it. She blinked. “Fraser? What are you doing up here?”
He could make up excuses about needing to use the loo, but each second he wasted talking was a second more that Finn or Fergus could come check on either one of them.
Reaching for her hand, Fraser tugged her into his room across the hall and shut the door. His dragon hissed. Pin her against the wall and kiss her.
Not yet.
Hurry.
Fraser leaned against his door as Holly frowned at him. “What the hell are you doing, Fraser MacKenzie?”
He clenched his jaw at the thought of what he was about to do.
~~~
Holly’s heart beat double-time. One second she’d been exiting the toilet and the next she was alone in a room with Fraser.
With no one else with them, Holly could do nothing but stare at the blue-eyed dragonman who kept invading her thoughts. Surely he wouldn’t try to flirt with or touch her again. After all, Fraser had dismissed her at the dinner table.
Hadn’t he?
The dragonman’s pupils flashed to slits and back. Something was going on with his dragon, but she had no bloody idea what.
Not one to back down from getting answers, she frowned and willed her voice to be strong. “What the hell are you doing, Fraser MacKenzie?”
He growled out, “Do you know what a true mate is, Holly?”
Holly nearly did a double-take at the strange question. “Yes, the DDA told me. A dragon-shifter’s true mate is their best chance at happiness. Why?”
Locking the door, he took a step toward her. “What else did they tell you?”
Her heart raced faster. She took a step back and her legs hit the edge of the bed. “That if a dragon-shifter kisses their true mate, it starts a frenzy.” She swallowed. “Why are you asking me this? Fergus is waiting for me downstairs.”
Fraser curled his upper lip. “Don’t mention Fergus.”
Taking a deep breath, Holly straightened her shoulders. She wasn’t about to let Fraser frighten her. “He’s the one I’m here to be with, Fraser. You know that. Now, let me go.”
Fraser closed the distance between them until he was only a few inches away and placed a hand on her back. Despite his flashing eyes and alpha attitude, heat flared at his touch.
Fraser smiled. “I’m the one you want, lass. Not my brother.”
The Dragon's Dilemma (Lochguard Highland Dragons Book 1) Page 6