“We like her,” Alek said. “But the fact remains that she tends to get in trouble.”
“I could help her as well as Luka,” Dmitri insisted, folding his arms. “And anyone who says otherwise is going to challenge me.”
“No challenges!” Alek said sharply, getting up in Dmitri’s face. “We are in the modern world, and we don’t challenge one another here!”
“Um, is everything okay out here?” A soft, feminine voice interrupted them, and all three dragons turned to see Talia and Chelle standing at the entry to the living room.
They seemed curious and worried, but not upset, so Dmitri was pretty sure they hadn’t heard anything he’d been yelling about.
He glanced at Chelle, and she looked away, avoiding eye contact.
Goddammit, as the humans would say.
Alek walked forward to hug his mate, burying his head in her shoulder for a moment before pulling back from her. “So what did you and Chelle decide?”
“Which one of us would you like to stay with you?” Luka asked patiently.
Dmitri gave a cold stare to his friend. “If any at all.”
Chelle shook her head. “No… I mean, I don’t want to stay alone.” She bit her lip, looking between Dmitri and Luka. Every time her eyes rested on him, he felt on fire.
Could she sense the way he looked at her? Was that what made her uneasy about him? If only he could turn off his feelings somehow, just long enough to gain her trust. Though he liked her, he’d never do anything she didn’t want him to. He didn’t know if that was what made her nervous or how to express that to her, though.
She took a deep breath and exhaled nervously. “Um, if I have to choose one, I guess… Luka? I think we’re a better fit, and—”
“Absolutely not,” Dmitri said, stepping forward. Dammit, he was supposed to be acting fine. Arguing with cool logic. Instead, he felt as if he were stepping into battle.
Chelle took a nervous step back, and it killed him that he’d made her feel less safe. “Um, I’m sorry? Did you both want to stay with Alek?”
“No,” Luka said. “I’m tired of hearing their newlywed activities.”
“Not exactly newlywed,” Talia grumbled. “Just newly together. And I can’t help it if the lord of winter is voracious.”
Alek wrapped his hands around his mate’s waist as he stood behind her, resting his head on hers. “Nor should you have to.”
Chelle tapped her foot on the ground, clearly trying to come up with a quick solution. “I mean, this all caught me off guard, too.” She faced Dmitri bravely. “I mean, you matter in this, too. What do you want?”
Dmitri was a bit surprised. Aside from cooking dinner or watching movies together, he wasn’t sure she’d ever asked that of him. “I…” He trailed off because he was sure he couldn’t say what he wanted to.
I want to live with you, alone. I want to show you I can be your mate. I want Luka to move out and leave me alone with you. I want to be the only one to keep you safe and save you from scrapes.
He took a deep breath. “I just don’t want you living here alone with Luka.” It was all he could say that was truthful, and he hoped it didn’t give away anything.
Chelle looked between him and Luka, puzzled, and then seemed to come to some sort of conclusion, because she smiled. “I know. You can both stay here, then.” She shook her head and laughed. “I misunderstood all along. I don’t know how I missed it.”
She walked over and put her arm through Dmitri’s, making everyone in the room stare because she’d never touched him that much. “Of course you don’t want to be away from him. You can both take the spare room.” She looked up at Dmitri, blue-gray eyes shining. “I’m glad nothing has to change.”
Dmitri stared at her in shock. Was he missing something?
She winked at him and leaned up on her toes to whisper conspiratorially, “I understand now.”
Did she? Did she finally? Did she know his feelings? If so, why wasn’t she nervous about it?
Dmitri let out a sigh of relief, because either way, nothing had to change now. He wouldn’t have to leave, and Luka wouldn’t be alone with his mate.
Talia and Alek were looking at him, Luka and Chelle hopefully, as if certain everything had been worked out.
“Works for me,” Luka said with a shrug. “As long as I don’t have to move over there.”
“Me, too,” Dmitri said, though he still felt something was off.
“And me,” Chelle said. “In fact, I think things are going to be better now.” She looked at Alek and Talia, beaming. “Now, let’s get you all moved.”
She rolled up her sleeves to show puny human arms that were more soft than muscled, and Dmitri shook his head as she led the way into the hallway, knowing he’d probably have to rescue her from a box before long.
At least she no longer seemed to be scared of him.
Chapter 3
Dmitri was in love with Luka.
Chelle suppressed a giggle, wondering how she hadn’t seen it before, as she walked down the hall to the storage closet that contained some things Talia would need.
Talia and Alek would want to pack up the bedroom, but she could help with some things like this.
She could hear Dmitri’s pounding footsteps behind her, but for once, she wasn’t worried about him being close. She’d never been able to pinpoint the intensity she always felt from him.
He was always staring at her. Was he wondering if she liked Luka? She had always found him attractive but considered him only a friend. It explained why they were so close, always hugging and slapping each other on the shoulder. She’d thought it was just something men from their time did, but now she saw maybe it was more.
It explained the jealousy when she was alone with Luka, and it explained the outburst over her and Luka living alone.
And it explained it in ways that didn’t frighten her, so she didn’t question it very much. She had enough to do without overthinking things. She needed to help pack and move, clean up the place some, figure out how to assign shopping with the three of them, and keep up with her work at the university.
She could finally breathe a sigh of relief that Dmitri wasn’t into her. It had been a paranoid little thought in her mind, but she hadn’t wanted to acknowledge it because it would ruin the friendship, and she knew she couldn’t be with him like that.
Now she could just relax with him and, heck, maybe even help him with his feelings somewhat.
She was reaching up on her toes to scrape a heavy box on the top shelf toward her when she saw it begin to tip forward. As she ducked back, covering her head with a squeak, she felt a huge body cover her as someone reached up.
She looked up to see Dmitri, easily hefting the box with one hand while looking down at her in concern. She exhaled in relief as she straightened, brushing herself off. “My bad. That’s a heavy one.”
“Yeah, maybe you should let us handle most of the move,” he said, setting the box on the ground and moving in front of her to reach for another one.
“I know I’m weak, but I’m not useless,” she said defiantly, rolling up her sleeves and pulling her hair back into a ponytail with the band she always kept on her wrist.
“Of course not,” Dmitri said with a grin. “In fact, you can make us all Hot Pockets.”
She laughed. It was so easy being with him now that she understood where he stood on things. She’d worried for nothing all along. As he continued to unload the closet, his huge muscles bunching and flexing, his handsome face focused, she knew anyone would be lucky to date him.
It just couldn’t be her. She didn’t want that with anyone.
When he was done, he loaded them all up, and she gaped as he carried the impossibly heavy pile down the hallway. “You gonna get those Hot Pockets?”
She shook herself out of her daze and nodded. If all she could do was supply energy for the hardworking guys, she would do that.
She loved cooking for Luka and Dmitri anyway. Especially Dmitr
i because she’d never seen anyone enjoy food the way he did. She’d always liked it when he patted his stomach and jumped onto the couch contentedly, a big, happy giant.
It was nice being able to see him honestly again now that the tension in the room was resolved.
As she went to the freezer to pull out Hot Pockets, she saw Luka walk up to Dmitri and pull him into a conspiratorial huddle and was surprised to see Dmitri flush.
She grinned, feeling like whatever made her friends happy would make her happy. Maybe she could even take them to the club.
But as Dmitri nodded and rested an arm on Luka’s shoulders, a slight pang hit her heart, pausing her as she opened the microwave. She was happy to see them happy together, but at the same time…
Her eyes lingered on Dmitri, and she scolded herself for her mixed emotions. Maybe she’d even been attracted to Dmitri, but that’s what made it all the better that he wasn’t attracted to her.
Nothing good came from being attracted to someone. She liked her life the way it was, and now she got to keep two awesome friends.
She hummed to herself as she heated up the Hot Pockets.
When they were almost done and she was grabbing plates for the last of them, she was surprised to see Luka sidling into the kitchen. He leaned on the counter and studied her with those inscrutable icy eyes. Somehow, there could be so much warmth in them despite the almost-white color of his irises. She suspected his long, dark lashes didn’t hurt.
“So you’re really okay with this?” Luka asked. “You’re acting a bit weird around Dmitri.”
She grinned, knowing she couldn’t tell him Dmitri’s secret. “I just… understand him better now.”
Luka cocked his head. “I wonder if you actually do.”
“I… Well, who knows? But I’m happy we’re staying together.” She gave Luka a quick side hug and noticed him stiffening as he looked down. He wasn’t usually weird about hugging her. She looked up to see Dmitri watching them, eyes narrowed in a way that made them look an even more intense blue-green. “Oh.” She pulled back from Luka. “My bad.”
Luka eyed her warily. “Things are complicated, aren’t they?”
“I suppose,” she said, arranging the Hot Pockets. She handed one plate to Luka and got ready to take the others to Dmitri, Talia, and Alek. “But we’ll work them out. I mean, we’ve all gotten along almost from the start.”
“Dmitri, I think he—”
But Talia didn’t wait for Luka to finish. If they talked too much about Dmitri, she wasn’t sure she could keep her lips shut. “It’s fine. He’ll adjust. I’m just glad we’re all staying together. It’s going to be much simpler from now on.”
But as she walked into the living room to give Dmitri and the others their Hot Pockets, she thought she could hear Luka mutter under his breath, “I’m not sure that’s really true.”
Chelle wasn’t sure what he meant, but as she handed a Hot Pocket to Dmitri and then went over to check on Alek and Talia, she couldn’t worry about it. Things were finally beginning to work out.
* * *
A few days after Alek and Talia had moved out completely, Dmitri was pretty sure something was wrong.
He knew he should be over the moon. He was going to be able to get a job soon. He was living with his mate, and she was opening up to him more and more. She was even more willing to cuddle during movies, leaning into his side slightly in a way she’d assured him was only friendly.
Luka seemed fine with how things were going, though occasionally, Dmitri caught him staring at him and Chelle with an inquisitive look in his eyes.
The day the move had been announced, Luka had pulled him aside to ask him what all the fuss had been about. Why he was so nervous about Luka living alone with Chelle.
Dmitri hadn’t wanted to answer. He was grateful that Luka could be so oblivious about interpersonal things at times.
But as much as Dmitri wanted to appreciate the new situation, the lack of awkwardness, his new bedroom where he didn’t have to sleep on the ground, he could sense something was happening. Something that didn’t make sense.
Chelle would look over at him nervously when hugging Luka or act odd about bringing them food at the same time.
Or suggest they go to the store together. Or get up to go do work and saying they could finish the movie.
Perhaps she wasn’t wanting to spend as much time with them. No, she was still around whenever she wasn’t working. Just like he’d been the past few weeks. They’d had a lot of time together while Alek and Talia had been busy… mating.
Now things were different, and Dmitri couldn’t help wanting the tension back from before. At least it felt honest.
He walked into the kitchen, hoping to get there and make breakfast before Chelle did. Hopefully, he’d be able to keep her from overheating her hot chocolate and—
“Ouch!”
He entered the kitchen to see her waving her hand in front her tongue and setting her mug down so she could jump around excitedly.
“Dammit, it burns!”
He sighed, stifling a chuckle as he snuck over to the glass and waved his hand over it, cooling it slightly. As a dragon, he had ice powers like Luka and Alek did, though slightly less strong. But since he had water dragons in his lineage, as evidenced by the hue of his eyes, he had a few tricks they didn’t. Plus, his size and strength as well.
“Try it now,” he said, picking up the mug to blow on it so she would think there was some explanation.
Chelle’s blond hair was damp and wavy from the shower, and she was wearing a fluffy pink bathrobe that brought out the pink hue of her skin. At the place where her robe came together, there was a dip of soft cleavage.
Dmitri forced himself to look away as he handed the mug to her. He heard her take a sip. “So how is it?”
“So much better,” she said, coming up behind him and hugging him quickly, nearly spilling her hot chocolate.
He laughed, catching the mug and steadying her as he pulled away. “I’m glad. You should just let me make it for you next time. It’s the least I can do for you letting us stay.”
“Hey,” she said, waggling a finger as she sat at the table. “You’ll be paying rent soon. No favors here.”
He laughed, joining her at the table to steal one of her toaster pastries. “We still owe you a lot.”
“So Talia said she got IDs for you yesterday. Any idea where you want to work?”
He shook his head. “In my past life, I was a bodyguard. Not sure what I want to do now.”
She blinked, flushing slightly as she looked over him. “I can see that. You seem like you like to beat people up.”
He grinned. “Only when they deserve it. And I don’t actually like the beating part. I just like stopping them. Saving people.”
She nodded sagely. “Though, it would be okay if you like the beating, too.”
He laughed, and she walked to the oven to pull out a tray of some kind of pastries she’d been cooking. On Saturdays, when she didn’t have to teach, she cooked even more than usual. Something Dmitri and Luka definitely enjoyed.
As she opened the oven, she was still smiling at him, and he stood to warn her just as she touched the rack with her hand.
She yelped, and Dmitri was there in a second, pulling her over to the sink where he could run her hand under cold water.
Extra-cold water, given his powers.
He infused cold around her burn, gently healing her with the abilities he had being a water dragon. She hissed in pain, but when he released her, she looked at her hand in wonder.
“You know, Talia always told me that running a burn under cold water helps, but I had no idea.” She sucked on her finger, looking adorable. “Thank you so much.”
He took a step closer, unable to stop grinning at her. “You know, as a teacher, you’d think you’d be a little more attentive to things around you.”
“That’s just the thing,” she said lightly. “I’m not, and I think it’s cause I’m a
lways in my head, thinking about a lesson or a new story or what I have to do that day.”
“Hm,” he said, watching her perfect pink lips still sucking on her finger. He took it from her and grabbed a Band-Aid from his pocket. He tended to keep them around in case she got scratches. “Here.”
She looked up at him as he gently put the bandage on, and he smiled as he wrapped it around perfectly, protecting the tiny place where she’d been burned, even if he’d mostly healed it.
“Thanks, again,” she said, still flushing. She sat down at the table as Dmitri grabbed an oven mitt like she should have and pulled the pan from the oven.
He brought the pan to the table and set it on a pot holder in front of her. “One or two?”
“Two, please,” she said, putting her plate out. “Look at you, so domestic. Next thing you know, you’ll be the one cooking.”
Looking into her sparkling eyes, he kind of loved that idea. Making things for her, keeping her from burning herself. Giving her something to come home to after a long day at school. He wished he could see her in her element. The place where she worked and was in charge.
He sat down and took a few pastries for himself and groaned when he bit into them. “Ye gods, that’s good.”
She smiled. “Of course they are. You love everything. Though, these did seem popular at the store.” She leaned forward on her elbows. “I love buying things for the two of you.”
“Well, that stops now. We’re going to buy things, too. Once we work, that is.” Dmitri still had some gold from awakening, but he’d been careful to put it away for emergencies. Talia and Alek were helping to pay bills for them.
Dmitri didn’t like being dependent on anyone, but if he had to be, he was glad for good friends. He looked forward to having a job, though. Something more he could contribute.
“Yeah, that’s going to be weird,” Chelle said. “Just get a job in the daytime, because I’d miss you too much in the evening.”
He looked at her as she munched on a pastry, unaware of how sweet what she’d just said was. She looked so tempting there in the morning light. So soft, so sweet.
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