by Vella Day
“I understand emergencies.”
“All the more reason to give you a present.” He held up a hand. “If you don’t believe you deserve my gratitude, then consider this a random gift, given from my heart for my mate.”
She grinned. “I certainly can’t argue with that, now can I?”
“No.” Blake was thrilled that Greer understood. He jumped out of his car. This time, Greer waited for him to open her car door. When she saw the name on the store, her eyes widened. “I wouldn’t have thought you would step foot in a store like this.”
Blake never wanted to lie to her. “My cousin runs it.”
“Really? Then by all means let’s see what she has to offer.”
Nan grinned when he walked inside. “Glad you could make it.”
“Nan, this is Greer Caspian. Greer, this is my cousin Nan.” They shook hands. He faced Greer. “I kind of picked out something for you already,” he said.
“That is so sweet. I’m sure I’ll love it since everything in here is my style.” She turned to Nan. “How long have you been open?”
“Just a couple of months.”
Blake was thrilled he’d chosen wisely. He led her over to the lamp section and picked up one he’d found. “I really liked this one.”
Greer ran a hand over the stone. “It’s sardonyx.”
“I didn’t know what kind of stone it was, but I liked that it was red because it matches the shoes you often wear.”
She hugged him. “You’re sentimental. I had no idea.”
Greer wandered around the store for a bit and then picked up some jars of cream, which she insisted on purchasing. Blake paid for his gift, and Nan placed in a nice bag. “I hope to see you again,” Nan said.
Greer smiled. “You can count on it.”
He hadn’t told Nan about Greer being his mate. For some reason, he wanted to keep it a secret a little longer in case something went wrong.
As they left the store, he carried both bags while she threaded her arm through his. Blake couldn’t be happier. The park was only a half-mile away, but he wanted to drive in case he needed to take Greer back to her place in a hurry. He didn’t trust his dragon not to exhibit signs of neediness, so Blake parked close to the spot he’d chosen to have their picnic.
From the back, he retrieved a blanket. “How about you carry this, and I’ll grab the backpack with the food?”
“I can do that.”
After a short walk, they found a spot overlooking the lake. He bet it would be wonderfully romantic to watch the sun set from there.
Greer was blown away by how amazing Blake was. Sure, he felt bad about leaving her last night, but if someone had broken into the bank, Blake had to check it out. She could see the tables being turned at a future date, especially if someone was injured, and she was called upon to heal that person.
“Help me spread out the blanket,” Blake said.
“You weren’t kidding when you said we’d have a real picnic.”
He smiled. “Never.” Once the blanket was in the right spot, he set down the backpack and opened it up. “We have fried chicken, two kinds of salad, bread, and wine.”
This was such a guy picnic, but she loved it. “How about you open the wine, while I set out the food?” she asked.
“Can do.”
In companionable silence, they prepared their picnic. Her stomach grumbled at the amazing looking spread. Sitting shoulder-to-shoulder facing the small lake, they grabbed what they wanted.
At the first bite of chicken, Greer’s mouth watered. “Good call on the food.”
“To be honest, I was a little nervous since I wasn’t sure what you liked to eat.”
She placed a hand on his arm. “I told you I eat just about anything. And you? What kind of eater are you?”
“Not picky at all, though I do love fish.”
While Greer wanted to talk about how incredible the start of their lovemaking had been, if she turned her thoughts in that direction, her dragon would want instant satisfaction. Sitting on a blanket in the middle of a park wasn’t the best place to make out. She’d heard many times how important the Caspian image was.
They were halfway through their meal when a car alarm sounded less than a block away.
Blake pulled his phone from his pocket. “Fuck. It’s my car. Excuse me.”
Blake was up and on the run before she could put down her food. Greer hoped someone had just bumped into his car and set off the alarm. Worst case, someone had targeted him for some reason. That, or else she had a secret admirer she was totally unaware of—someone who didn’t want her to be with Blake.
One of the buildings blocked the view of his car, preventing her from seeing what was happening. The annoying noise stopped, and two minutes later, Blake returned.
“Well?” she asked.
He shook his head. “All the doors are still locked, so maybe someone just bumped into my vehicle.”
“Anything’s possible.”
“Unless I go to the trouble of having the cops check for fingerprints on the door handles, I’ll never know.” Blake smiled. “Right now though, I have more important things to concern myself with—you.”
She leaned over and kissed him. Big mistake. Her scales flashed, and her body heated up. If she thought she was the only one who was excited, she’d be wrong. The more time she spent with Blake, the harder it was to keep her hands to herself. Using all of her restraint, she pulled away. “That was nice, but we can’t start something,” she said.
“I agree. I promised you a picnic and a sunset. We’ll wait until the sun goes down and then we’ll head back.”
“Sounds good. The view here is wonderful.”
Blake kept his gaze on her. “I like this view better.”
She laughed. “Behave.” That was easy to say but hard to do.
They finished their meal, mostly talking about the stresses of Blake’s job in between bites. “Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I love to be able to help either a business succeed or a family acquire their dream home, but when I have to turn down a loan, it doesn’t sit right with me,” Blake said.
“I think all jobs come with ups and downs. You just have to focus on the happy side of what you do.”
“I like the way you think,” he said.
She smiled. “On that note, how about we clean up and take our discussion someplace more secluded?”
As much as Greer wanted to sit and admire the afterglow of the pinks and oranges of the sinking sun, her body was demanding something else.
“You are a woman after my own heart.”
Blake stuffed the uneaten food into his backpack and then helped her fold the blanket. He dumped the trash in a nearby can as they walked back to his car. He opened her door, and then went around to his side and climbed in. Blake shoved the key into the ignition, started the engine, and pulled onto the road. The only thing Greer could think about was stripping him naked and finally making love to him.
Ten minutes later, Blake pulled in front of her townhouse and parked. From the back she gathered her wonderful present and new creams. While she loved all kinds of scents and mood lighting, she’d never taken the time to decorate her place to incorporate her love of healing.
Inside, she set the gift on the table in the corner of the living room and placed her purchases on the kitchen counter. “I think the lamp is perfect there.”
Blake plugged it in, and then said nothing for a few seconds. “I don’t feel any calmer.”
“I don’t think it works that fast. Besides, I have a feeling our dragons are keeping us from being calm.”
He turned toward her. “You got that right.”
“How about joining me upstairs?” she asked.
“I’m right behind you.”
Chapter Eight
Blake was burning up inside. It had taken all of his willpower to casually eat dinner and watch the sunset. On the drive back to her place, all he could think of was making Greer his—not mating w
ith her yet—just making love to forge the bond between them.
Halfway up the stairs that led to her bedroom, she took off her shirt and let it drop on the treads. The manner in which she disrobed implied she was as desperate as he was.
Once in her room, Blake clasped her arm and gently spun her around. “Come here, sexy lady.”
Greer palmed a hand on his chest, looked up at him, and tossed him the most alluring look. “What are you going to do?”
“This.”
Blake leaned over, pulled her hard against his chest, and kissed her.
Mate, mate, his dragon chanted.
I know, but we need to do this right. I only get one mate, once in a lifetime.
Then hurry.
Blake wanted to hurry, but he also wanted to take his time to savor her and pleasure her the way she deserved. He inhaled her delicious scent, enjoying having her in his arms. When their lips firmly pressed together, his need exploded. No one had ever tasted sweeter. With their tongues tangling, and his fingers threaded through her hair, Blake was transported to what could only be described as some kind of heaven.
Then as if an unknown force entered the room, it pushed them toward the bed. Somehow they ended up sprawled on top of the spread. The moment his body was fully pressed against hers, his cock demanded freedom.
Blake rolled off her.
“Why did you stop?” Greer asked, acting bereft.
“If I don’t take off my clothes, and then yours, my dragon will show himself.”
“I think you’ll be needing some help then.”
He wasn’t sure if that meant she’d finish taking off her clothes or help him with his, but either way, the sooner they were naked, the better it would be. As he removed his shoes and pants, Greer finished undressing. This time she didn’t leave on her undies.
“I liked the red,” he said.
“I’ll model them for you afterward.”
The last item to ditch was his T-shirt. Once naked, all he could think about was enjoying her—and lasting as long as possible. He arranged her on the bed and then crawled on top. Decisions, decisions. Breasts, lips, or pussy?
Her breasts beckoned.
The first suck had his dick harder than metal, but that only made his dragon more desperate. Greer was sweet and perfect. With one hand, he cupped her breast, loving how she filled his palm. With the other, he first dragged his knuckles up her cheek and then drove his fingers into her luxuriously long strawberry blonde hair.
Greer groaned and heat poured into him.
Don’t do anything stupid, he told his dragon.
It’s hard. I want her.
So do I.
Trying to ignore his need to sink his cock into her, Blake slid lower until his cheek was against her delicious mound. He swore he could hear her pussy calling to him, so he dipped two fingers into her opening and pressed on the side, eliciting a loud groan. Yes! He loved a receptive woman.
Her rather sharp nails dug into his upper back and caused the black scales under his skin to flash on and off in a random pattern. With each pant, his scales fired in fast succession.
Desperate to taste her, he withdrew his fingers and flicked his tongue across her opening. The skin on his back hardened. Focusing only on her, he forced his body to calm down, but it didn’t work.
“I need you,” Greer begged, as her scales flashed faster and faster too.
“Soon.”
Blake wanted to bring her to climax several times before he impaled her. He needed Greer to experience the same thing he was feeling—the excitement, the thrill, and the overwhelming lust.
He clutched the inside of her thighs and widened her legs as he continued to taste and tease her. While what he was doing might ratchet up her desires, it was also driving him crazy. Greer clutched the spread and lifted her hips. Her mewling cries, followed by a low moan and a big shudder, signified she’d come, just as he’d hoped. As much as he wanted to lick her into another frenzied state, he feared one of their dragons might emerge.
It was time to satisfy both of their beasts. Not able to hold off any longer, Blake slid up her body. The moment his dick found her entrance, he drove in. Heat seared his insides, and his dragon rejoiced.
Never before had his scales flashed so hard or his teeth sharpen to such points. Not wanting to cut her with his nails, he fisted his hands and kissed her. Stroke after stroke, he found nirvana inside this amazing woman. Their tongues went from seductively slow to desperately fast.
Greer threaded her hands under his arms only to scrape her nails down his spine. From the way her eyes were rolling back in her head and her hips were pumping, she was being transported someplace wonderful too.
“Blake, I’m close,” she murmured.
He didn’t need any encouragement. With one final push, his cock sent his hot seed into her. The pulsing and throbbing continued, as he remained entombed inside her.
A moment later, her body went limp, and Blake had to work hard to control his breathing. Wow. This was where he belonged. Not wanting to put too much weight on her though, he rolled them over, bathed in the wonder of it all.
Greer lifted her head from his chest. “I’ll get something to clean us up.”
He flipped them over again. “Better let me get something.”
Blake ducked into the adjoining bath, grabbed a washcloth, and wet it. He’d just cleaned her up and himself when a click sounded downstairs. He might not have thought much of it had Greer not bolted upright.
“Someone’s here,” she whispered.
Shit. “Stay here,” he commanded.
He dragged on his pants and raced downstairs, taking two steps at a time. If it was an intruder, he couldn’t chance him getting near Greer. She might claim to be some powerful dragon who could fight, but he wasn’t going to take the chance that she wasn’t more than just a healer.
The front door slammed shut. Shit. Inside a house, Blake could take down most anyone. But outside, in his dragon form, he was unstoppable. As much as Blake wanted to catch the thief, he didn’t want to leave Greer alone.
An engine sounded and then tires squealed. The intruder was getting away. Blake looked out the window and caught sight of the car and the first two digits of the license plate. Damn. At least the man left an electric aura trail, one that would forever be forged in his brain. It was familiar. The dark gray tinge was similar to the one coming off the man who’d visited Greer’s store. Whoever he was, Blake would find him, of that he had no doubt.
Despite Blake’s excellent night vision, having the lights on inside the living room would help him see what damage this person had caused. Blake flipped them on, but nothing looked disturbed. Good. He must have scared off this person before he had the chance to do anything.
As he was about to head back upstairs to check on Greer, he noticed the present he’d bought for Greer was missing from the table. Now that pissed him off. The bag that contained his gift was on its side where before it had been upright, but her creams were still on the counter.
The bedroom door opened and then shut. Crap. He didn’t need Greer trying to play the hero. She raced downstairs. Thankfully, she had put on clothes. “What happened?” she asked.
“Someone stole your present. I’m going after him.”
“Oh, no.” Apparently, that present meant a lot to her. “Wait for me. I’m going with you.”
“Greer, he’s getting away. Stay here, please?”
She crossed her arms. “Fine.”
“I won’t be long, I promise.”
Blake dashed outside and shifted into his dragon form. The lingering gray trail from the intruder indicated that he’d dashed from the front of her house to his car. Tracking him while in his vehicle would be more difficult but not impossible.
Greer gave Blake a minute head start before going after him. Once outside, she shifted into her dragon form and then cloaked herself. Being a Guardian sure came in handy sometimes. It wasn’t that she thought Blake couldn’t handle s
ome petty thief, but part of her wanted to see him do his tracking thing.
The decision to cloak was because she didn’t want him to become distracted if he realized she was nearby. Even though she understood they would be mating in the near future, she wasn’t ready to spill the fact that she, her siblings, and cousins were Guardians.
Greer followed Blake even though she had no idea why he was headed toward the woodlands. Nothing was out there. As far as she could tell, only three or four cars were traveling in that direction. If one was being driven by the thief, how could Blake tell which person had broken into her house?
Quite a while later, when the cars disappeared under the dense foliage of the forest canopy, Blake did a large arc and turned around. His ability to track must have been hindered by the trees. Darn.
Not wanting any kind of lies between them, she uncloaked herself and flew in his direction. Only then did it occur to her that he would have known she’d followed him because he would have seen her essence trail once he turned around. She doubted even cloaking could disguise that.
She wasn’t able to tell if he was surprised to see her or not, but she imagined the conversation would be a fairly heated one once they returned to her place.
After they landed in her backyard, they shifted at the same time. “Learn anything?” Greer asked, trying to act as if it was totally normal that they’d been chasing after the thief.
“Just that he was lucky there were other cars nearby or else I would have landed and ripped him out of his driver’s seat.”
Okay. She hadn’t expected the fairly mild-mannered Blake Masters to be such a badass. She opened the back door to her townhouse. “I could use a glass of wine. You?”
He came in behind her. “Why did you follow me when I asked you to stay put?”
Thankfully, he didn’t sound angry. “I wanted to see you in action. I was cloaked, so the intruder wouldn’t know I was there.”
A slight smile lifted his lips. “Uh huh. Who are you kidding? You would have interfered if you thought I needed help.”
Damn. She couldn’t keep anything from him. At least he hadn’t asked her how she was able to cloak herself. As far as she knew, only the Guardians were capable of that feat. “Maybe.”