“Do you know what I was doing when I found out you’d been kidnapped?” he asked.
She blinked, startled at the question.
“No, I don’t.”
“I was out running around Glasgow, trying to find the right gift that would win you back,” he said.
Her hand came up to cover her mouth. Was he really saying what she thought he was? Did he want to give this relationship another chance?
“What gift did you pick?”
“I stopped a street vendor and picked flowers. And I stopped at a store and bought wine. Neither are rare, and neither are creative, but I so often don’t take the time to personally pick a gift out. I ask one of my staff to do it, or I pay for a service online, and I have it delivered. Most of the time, it’s great. But for you, it was far too impersonal.
“What kind of flowers?”
He seemed to have to think it over. “Oh. I remember. Lilacs and daffodils. I picked the colors I thought you’d like.”
“I would have liked both of those. Where are they now?”
“Trampled on the floor of the hotel in Glasgow.” He ground his teeth. “The witch there left a note on the bed. That’s how I found out.”
She stepped back into the circle of his arms. “That’s terrible, Kellan. I’m sorry.”
“You were the one being tortured by that witch. Not me.”
“I wasn’t tortured.”
“She used a spell to make you sleep, and it was still affecting you tonight,” he said. “That’s torture in my book.”
Clara shuddered. “It certainly wasn’t pleasant.”
Kellan was warm, and he leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. He tucked her under his chin and held on tight. “I love you. And if you ever become interested in dating me, then I will be the happiest man on earth. But until then, there’s no pressure.”
Stunned, Clara bit down on a sob, managing to stop the flood of potential tears that threatened to overtake her.
Kellan froze. “What? Was that too much? Did I go too far?”
“No. I just wasn’t expecting that.” She wiped her eyes and fanned herself, trying desperately to regain some equilibrium.
“It’s how I feel,” Kellan said.
Clara threw her arms around him. “I love you too,” she confessed. “But I need more time.” She pulled back and scurried away, moving toward her small room in the cottage. “I’m going to sleep in here tonight,” she said.
“I wasn’t trying to get you into bed,” he said. “I just wanted to let you know how I felt.”
Although, if I’m honest, I would not mind you trying to get me into bed one bit.
“I really do love you,” she said. “I just need a minute after one of the craziest days I’ve ever had.”
Was she stupid to let him have even one night to himself? She knew she loved him. He loved her.
But it was so quick, so sudden, and her head was so full of a roiling fog. A rueful smile crossed his face. “I understand.” He stepped forward. “One goodnight kiss?”
She could handle that much. She stepped up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his. He surged forward to meet her, taking her face in both of his hands. The grip of his hands tightened, and one went to the back of her head, tangling in her hair. He kissed her with more urgency than he had so far, seemingly pouring all of his passion into this one kiss.
There was obviously different soap here, because he smelled like sandalwood instead of his usual cologne. She breathed it in, savoring the feel of being close to him again.
Heat pooled in her stomach. Arousal was the last thing she’d expected to feel after the day she’d had, but her nipples tightened and she had to press her thighs together to suppress the need she felt between her legs.
His hand left her hair and traveled down her back to rest on her bottom. The feel of his large hand, hot against the silky fabric of her nightgown sent another wave of lust zinging through her body. She opened her mouth farther, and he took her bottom lip into his mouth, sucking on it.
It was only when she heard her own loud moan that she realized how close she was to losing control.
She stepped away, wiping her hand over her mouth. “Sorry,” she said. “I can’t.
He dropped his arms to his sides. “Don’t apologize. I shouldn’t have pushed you.” He traced one finger down her cheek. “It’s just that you’re so gorgeous standing there in your nightgown, with your hair in waves. I couldn’t resist.”
She felt the same. He wasn’t in the usual athletic shorts he wore as his usual pajamas, but he had on a pair of flannel pants and a t-shirt. She ran her arms over his strong shoulders one more time.
He could have died today.
He claimed over and over that he was hard to kill, but one of the witches had managed to get the sword through his skin. What if all three had gotten to him, with three swords? What if she’d lost him there on that rocky cliff? She couldn't handle thinking about it.
She put her arms around his waist and held on. Despite any difficulties between them, she was beyond grateful that he survived. “I’m so glad you’re alive,” she said.
He patted her back and kissed the top of her head. “Me too.”
Ending the embrace, she stepped away. “Goodnight, Kellan.”
“Goodnight, Clara,” he said.
She ducked her head, afraid if she made eye contact one more time with him that she’d throw herself at him, before she even had a minute to think this through, and not be the gullible, easily-preyed-upon woman the witch had said she was.
She loved Kellan. And she wanted to be with him. But she had a history of bad decisions, and she knew she was too trusting. Anyone else would have run the day Kellan suggested she be his nanny. But not her, she’d hopped in his car.
It had worked out for the best though, and that day, her actions had been borne of desperation, not stupidity. And at least she’d been aware on that day that her actions – moving in with a man she didn’t know – were risky.
As she closed the door to the small room where she was staying, her body sagged.
She was going to figure this out. When she could keep her eyes open. She was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, with the scent of Kellan’s soap still on her skin.
21
Kellan
Kellan was fast asleep when his door swung open. The slant of moonlight on the floor was different.
He sat up. Where am I? Ah yes. The cottage in Dublin, on the beach. His eyes shot to the door. He could see perfectly in the dark, and there was Clara, standing with her back to the door, not moving.
He stood up in one quick motion. “What’s wrong?” He didn’t sense a threat, but he’d missed plenty before. He’d missed the witch in the Scottish lecture hall until it was too late. He’d missed the fact that witches could evolve and change their habits, thus making the old rules that he knew obsolete. “What happened?”
Her pretty green eyes widened. “Oh. Nothing. Nothing’s wrong.”
He glanced at the clock in the room. It was three a.m. “Did you have a nightmare?” He expected the nightmares to come any day for all three of them, but so far he’d been given a reprieve.
“No.” Her hand shot up to twist a lock of her hair, something he’d never seen her do before. She didn’t have on a bra, and the silky fabric of her nightgown showed off the curve of her full breasts.
His cock was rock hard before he could think to try and control it. But controlling it probably wasn’t possible. “Couldn’t sleep?” If she came any closer, his arousal was going to be pretty obvious.
“No. I slept.” She dropped her hand, which now showed off the swell of her breasts even more. And her nipples, which had hardened to twin peaks under the thin nightgown.
He wasn’t going to ask her what she wanted, because he was glad to spend time with her, but at some point, he was going to have to adjust himself in his pants. His cock was begging for attention. “Didn’t want to be alone?” he asked.
>
“No.” She took a step forward. “I mean, yes. I didn’t want to be alone. I wanted to be with you.”
His pulse went haywire at her admission. “Okay. This bed’s plenty big enough for two. You want to hop in?”
She shook her head.
Was it possible that she was going to kiss him again? Or even that they’d make love? He’d resigned himself to never having her again yesterday, but then last night, her confession of love had given him hope that one day in the future, she might reconsider. He wasn’t willing to push her, though. Hell, he was just fucking grateful that she’d agreed to stay on as Declan’s nanny after all the bullshit he’d put her through.
He vowed that if she wanted him again, instead of thinking of it as fucking her, he’d be making love to her. In his mind, every time with her had felt like making love, far more than it ever had with any other woman.
“You want me to kiss you again?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“I can do that.” He stepped forward and bolted the door with one hand while pressing his mouth over hers. As soon as her mouth opened, he took her nightgown in his hand and lifted it, gathering the material. He held it bunched up in one hand, and with the other, he skimmed over her bottom.
“No panties,” he said.
“I knew I wouldn’t need them if this was successful.”
“I can’t imagine a universe where you wouldn’t succeed if you showed up at my door and asked to be let in, for any reason.”
“That’s very romantic of you,” she said.
“It’s also true. What changed your mind?”
She laid her head on his shoulder. He kept her nightgown in his hand, but stilled its movement while she spoke.
“Several things.”
He was shirtless, and her breath was warm against his collarbone. “Can you tell me?” he asked.
“I love you. I realized it yesterday. And then last night you told me you loved me too. Add in the fact that I almost lost you yesterday, and it was a real wakeup call about my priorities.”
“Wanting to be independent and not rely on me to jump in and start fixing everything in your life is a pretty decent thing to want. I understand that.”
“Yes, it is. Holding you at arm’s length, and refusing to sleep with you, or live with you in your house would have been a good decision in a lot of circumstances, such as if we were both just looking for a fun hookup. But I do love you. And you love me. And I love Declan.”
“I’m so glad you do,” he said.
“That’s another thing, when I watched you with Declan last night, it hit me like a lightning bolt. You’re a good man.” Clara’s forehead wrinkled. “Shifter? Dragon? And an excellent father. I want to be with you. In a relationship. If you still want that.”
He picked her up in a big hug, lifting her feet off the ground. “I absolutely do want that. One-hundred percent. That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”
“The day’s barely started,” she said with a laugh.
“And it’s only going to get better now.” He put her back down on the floor and kissed her again.
Her arms wound around his neck and his hand went back to her bottom, squeezing the round flesh as she licked into his mouth.
Her hips rocked forward, brushing over his erection and now it was his turn to moan. He moved his hand between her legs, seeking her warm heat.
She stepped apart, and he rubbed his fingers over her entrance. “You’re so wet,” he said.
“It happens anytime I’m around you. It’s never happened to me like that before. When we kiss, when I think about you, my panties are wet.”
Kellan bowed his head to rest against hers. Knowing he incited her arousal was a heady feeling. His dragon clawed at him, demanding that he move faster, and get inside her body.
Mine, his dragon roared. She’s ours. Our mate.
Kellan agreed. Clara was the woman for him. He would never love another, no matter what happened between them.
He pushed a finger into her pussy. Lights burst behind his eyes at the feel of her walls pulsing. He added a second finger, watching her delicate features as she breathed through the welcome intrusion.
He took his free hand and tugged her nightgown off, leaving her naked in front of him. Her green eyes shone, and her red hair fell in waves over her bare shoulders. Her lean curves begged to be touched, to be worshiped.
His dragon roared his approval. He never wanted her clothed; he wanted her naked all the time.
I agree, but we’re going to keep that to ourselves.
He ran his hand from the top of her head, down her high cheekbone, over her pert breasts. He bent his head down to take her breast into his mouth.
She arched backward, pushing her chest toward him, while he thrust his fingers in and out of her pussy. “Kellan,” she moaned.
“I need to taste you again,” he said. “Sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted.” Kellan dropped to his knees, kneeling before her, while she stood above him with her legs parted. He pushed one finger into her pussy, and he licked over her clit.
Her reaction was immediate. Her knees buckled. He caught her around the waist, lifting her and lying her on the bed.
Without waiting, he pushed her legs open and buried his face in her pussy. He was relentless, licking over her clit and thrusting one finger inside He bent his finger, rubbing against her g-spot while she writhed helplessly on the bed.
He slowed his movements. He had to get a grip before he lost control and his dragon took over. He flattened his tongue out, licking over her clit until Clara grabbed his hair and tugged. “Kellan! I’m close.”
“Not yet,” he said. “Hold off. It will be better.”
Her thighs tensed up. “I can’t.”
“You can.” He went back to his task, flicking his tongue over her clit in circles, while he added a second finger to her pulsing sex. “Now,” he said. “Come now.”
Clara grabbed the bedsheets in her fists before grabbing a pillow and covering her face. She screamed into the pillow as she came on his fingers.
His cock was ready to explode from the feel of her pussy gripping his fingers as her orgasm washed over her. As soon as she relaxed, body going limp on the bed, he shed his clothes, not caring where they landed, and grabbed the last condom from his wallet and rolled it on.
If fate would allow it, he’d actually enjoy another little hatchling with her, but that was not something he was going to bring up to her just yet. He felt lucky that she’d even come back to his bed so soon; he wasn’t going to screw it up just now.
“Are you ready for me? I need to be inside you.”
She nodded. “Yes. I wanted your cock when I woke up alone in that other room.”
His head spun and his dragon stamped. Her words went straight to his cock, and to his heart. To be wanted by her was a miracle after all they’d been through.
He spread her legs again and pushed the tip of his cock inside her body. Her body welcomed him, opening up to accept his cock as he pushed all the way inside.
“I love you,” he said, kissing her on the cheek.
She wrapped her arms around him, smoothing her hands up and down his back. “I love you too.”
He pulled out, slowly, inch by inch, letting her feel the movement of his cock, before thrusting back in.
“You feel so good,” she said. “So big.”
Desire spurred him, and he picked up the pace, thrusting his cock in and out of her body. Underneath him, her legs quivered, and her pussy began to contract, hugging his cock.
“Are you getting close again?” he asked.
She arched her neck, thrashing her head back and forth against the mattress. “Yes. I’m close. I’ve never come this close together before.”
Encouraged by her words, Kellan rolled his hips, changing the angle and putting his hand between her legs. He rubbed her swollen clit, pinching lightly as he thrust his cock. “Come now,” he said. “You can do it.”
Clara cried out. Her entire body quaked, rocking the bed as she climaxed. Her pussy walls pulsated, gripping his cock as he watched her beautiful face in the throes of passion.
As her body unclenched, he thrust, relishing the feel of making love to the woman that he loved.
Mate, insisted his dragon.
Yes. Mate. But that’s a conversation for another time.
In his clan, each dragon shifter had taken a mate for life. It wasn’t a rule or a law, but it was based on the way they felt. Every shifter he’d ever known had only gotten attached to one other shifter for the rest of his or her life. And apparently it could happen with humans too, because as far as Kellan was concerned, Clara was his mate.
For life.
But that was a lot for a human to digest. And just the previous day, their relationship had been on a very rocky path. The conversation about mates could wait.
As he gazed down at her, there was no doubt in his mind. She was his mate. His body shuddered, and cock pulsated, spilling his release into her. He longed for the day when they’d have no barrier between them, only flesh. He could be patient. He knew now that they’d get there.
“I really love you,” he murmured, kissing her cheek.
When he pulled out of her body, her eyes were already half-closed. He tugged her nightgown back over her head in case Declan came running through the door later on, and he cleaned her up with a washcloth and towel.
“Stay?” he asked.
She nodded sleepily.
He laid down on the fluffy pillows and pulled her so her head lay on his chest. Yesterday had been one of the worst days of his life.
And somehow, as it neared dawn, this brand new day was turning out to be one of the best.
22
Clara
When Clara woke up, her entire body was warm and content. She stretched, humming her pleasure at a good night’s sleep when her arm ran into a solid wall of muscle. Her eyes flew open.
Billionaire Dragon's Nanny (Irish Dragon Shifter Brothers Book 1) Page 11