Dragon Hunter by Charlene Hartnady

Chapter 12

Fog put a whole lot of bags down around his feet. “How much stuff did you get?” he asked Riley, still looking at the bags.

“I didn’t need this much. It was Melina – who I love, by the way. Azure, too. She’s sweet and so gorgeous. I couldn’t help but completely understand how you fell for her. I think if I had been born a man…or gay, that I…” She licked her lips. “I’m going off on a tangent. Sorry!” She sighed. “I’m talking too much yet again.”

“You can talk as much as you like. I’m glad you had a good time and that you have made friends.”

Her eyes clouded.

“Not that they would replace the ones you already have. Especially Ashlyn.”

She nodded. “I know. It’s just when you said that I immediately thought of Ashlyn. I had so much fun with Azure and Melina that I almost forgot about her for a while there.”

“That’s not a bad thing. Stressing about your friend 24/7 isn’t going to bring her back any quicker.”

“I guess.” She gave a one-shouldered shrug. “This is a ton of stuff.”

He chuckled softly. “Two tons.” He shook his head. “What did you guys talk about, aside from clothing?” he asked, trying to change the subject. Trying to take her mind off things.

“I didn’t tell them anything I wasn’t supposed to. Although I might have accidentally dropped that I don’t particularly want to get married any time soon…or possibly ever.” She made a face. “That probably wasn’t the right thing to say since we’re testing compatibility.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that.” He shrugged. “Although I thought all human females wanted marriage and children.” He smiled. “You apparently all like a big white poofy dress and all the other stuff that goes with it.”

“Not all of us.” Riley wrinkled her nose. “I haven’t had the best experience when it comes to marriage, vows, forever after… All of that nonsense.”

“Oh?” He raised his brows. “Were you married before?” He found that he didn’t like the idea. “That’s another odd thing with you humans. You will marry someone and vow to spend forever with them, and then end it a couple of months…years…however long, later. As a shifter, I don’t get that.”

“No, I’ve never been married. Or even engaged. I’ve never even lived with a guy.” She moved the paper bag she was holding from one hand to the other. “I have had several relationships, but nothing that panned out.” She pulled in a deep breath; he could see that she was mulling something over. “I agree with you. I also don’t get how someone can promise to love and cherish their partner and then…lie through their teeth. It happens all the time. It’s not what I want for myself. Neither do I ever want to do that to another person.”

It sounded like she had experience somewhere along the line. He didn’t ask her anything more about it. When it was clear she wasn’t going to add anything, he went on. “All I can say on the subject is that I know how much it hurt when Azure chose Ice. I felt pain,” he touched his chest, “even though we weren’t seeing each other. I can’t imagine the pain you would feel if, as you said, you’re in a committed relationship with someone you love, someone you’ve given your life and your heart to, and they up and leave you. I’m sure it would scar a person for life. Screw them up completely. I’m afraid of that happening to me. I guess I’m afraid of hurting someone else as well.” He nodded a couple of times.

“There are worse things than a person leaving. Trust me on that one.” Riley’s jaw tightened, and her eyes narrowed a little. She looked pissed for a moment.

“I can’t imagine what could be worse than being abandoned.” Fog tried to think about the subject and came up with one possibility. “I suppose an abusive relationship would be worse,” he finally said.

“At least most abusers are upfront about being jerks. Having said that, being in an abusive relationship ranks right up there.” She held her hand up, marking a line in the air above her head.

That wasn’t it either. He could tell. What was worse than being abused?

Riley sighed. “It’s especially bad when you think you know someone.” She shook her head slowly. “Anyway, I had a good time this morning. I didn’t give anything away about those cave assholes. I might have told them that I wasn’t really considering marriage with you or anyone, but I did tell them that I think you’re sweet and absolutely gorgeous.” She bobbed her brows and laughed. Like she didn’t think it at all. “I’m sure I convinced them that I’m attracted to you.”

“Of course you did. I’m a good-looking guy.” He chuckled, feeling a little disappointed. Most human females found him attractive. Didn’t Riley? She had been aroused a few times, so surely…

She smiled.

Riley had been going through the motions when she said that about him, but one thing he could admit was that she was a very beautiful female. Sexy as fuck, especially in that dress. It had buttons all the way down the front. Fog didn’t think it was supposed to be sexy but it was on her. “You look nice,” he blurted when the silence filling the room grew into something heavy. “That dress…it suits you,” he grunted, sounding too much like Avalanche for his liking. It was part of the reason they hadn’t been able to talk the whole way back from Melina’s. Dragon males were fucking irritating when on the scent of an unclaimed female. His throat was beginning to hurt from growling so damned much. This dress had a lot to do with it.

“Oh…um…thanks. I’ll pay you back for all this.” She looked down at all the bags. “It might take me a few years.” She widened her eyes. “We’ll have to come up with a payment plan.”

“No! The clothes are yours, along with anything else you want or need. I will insist that you get that payout at—”

“I don’t want their money.” Her eyes narrowed, and that pissed look was back.

“You should take it, after what happened.”

“It would be like blood money or ‘keeping quiet’ cash. The whole offer they put on the table felt icky.” She shivered. “They can go to hell,” she growled the words.

“I’m going to get your friend back, and then you can both take the money and live your lives. The rescue mission will blow a hole in the royals’ plans to keep this under wraps. I might end up losing my balls.” He cupped his sac for a second and winced. “But it will be worth it.”

“You might not survive the rescue mission.”

“I will!” he growled. “I spoke to a couple of my friends, and two have expressed interest.” More like there were two males who hadn’t shot him down outright. Two who had said they would think about it. He hadn’t asked Ice. Why? Because he was a yellow-bellied coward. Fog had been sure to stay away from the male in any setting that wasn’t work-related. He was afraid of what Ice might tell him. Namely, that Azure was with whelp. He shouldn’t care, and it shouldn’t matter, but somehow it did. Fog was worried about how finding out that the two of them were going to be parents would make him feel. Would the pain worsen?

“That’s great!” She smiled, and her whole face lit up. “I’m still not sure that this is the best course of action. I can’t come up with any other plan or suggestion.”

“It’ll work out,” he told Riley. “You’ll see. I ordered equipment. I’m researching cave expeditions. If I plan this right and we execute it correctly, I’m sure it’ll work.”

Riley pulled in a deep breath. “Thank you.”

“Stop thanking me already.” He shook his head. “None of this is your fault.”

She nodded. “Did you manage to find a charger for my phone?” She winced. “I’m praying you did.”

“Yes.” He nodded, wondering who it was that she was so desperate to contact. Fog walked to the dining room table. He picked up the charger, walked back, and gave it to her.

Riley smiled broadly. “Thank you so much. I always call my mom before a long-haul flight. I message her every day when I’m away. She’s…fragile,” she finally said the last.

So she needed to call her mom. That made sense. He pushed out a heavy breath. He hadn’t scented a male on her, but you couldn’t be too sure of these things. “Of course you should call her. I take it I don’t have to warn you not to divulge any information as to your actual whereabouts.”

“God no!” She shook her head, her eyes wide. “My mom wouldn’t cope with that kind of information. I don’t tell her anything unless it’s good news. As far as she will be concerned, I’m away with work and will only be back next week. She had a breakdown when I was in my senior year of high school. She’s never been the same since.”

“Oh, damn. That must have been rough.” He frowned. “And your dad?” Fog was prying, but he found he wanted to know more about her.

“My mother had the breakdown after my dad died unexpectedly of a heart attack.”

“Oh, shit! I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay…and thank you.” Her expression was unreadable. “I’m not sure what I will tell her if we haven’t rescued Ashlyn by my scheduled return next week. I always phone the day I get back from my flight and then visit her the next day. Maybe a delay…” She shook her head. “She’ll worry.”

“Let’s think about it closer to the time. It’s no use concerning her unnecessarily right now. Maybe we will have rescued Ashlyn by then.”

Her eyes brightened. “Let’s hope so. I can’t have her having an episode again. Especially if I’m not there to…” She shook her head. “I can’t have it happening again, that’s all,” she finally added.

It was time to change the subject. Riley looked uncomfortable. “Let me help you with these. I’m sure you’re tired after all that shopping.” He picked up a couple of the bags in one hand. One of the smaller ones dropped, and a scrap of lace tumbled out. Without thinking, Fog picked it up and… Holy fuck. It was a teddy in a hot pink and would leave nothing to the imagination. For a few seconds, he stood frozen, his eyes on the lingerie. “Ummmm…this is…interesting.” He tried hard not to imagine Riley wearing this lacy number. He failed dismally.

Riley gasped. “So that’s one of the extra gifts Melina mentioned.” Her cheeks were flaming. “Put it back in there.” She tried to take the bag from him. “Put it back,” she said again.

“Not so fast.” He liked seeing her flustered, and he really wanted to see what else Melina had packed into this little bag of tricks. It was probably rude of him, but he pulled out another swath of sheer fabric. It was a black bra-like top with thin straps. He was sure that if he dug in the bag, he’d find the matching G-string. “Wow!”

Riley snatched the bra and teddy from his grip. “I’ll take those. Melina can have them back.”

“You can’t give them back.”

“Why not?” she said as she dropped them into the bag she had in her hand.

“Because as far as everyone is concerned, you’re not simply staying here to support Ashlyn. You’re here because we are attracted to each other. We need to stick to that story, or Storm will send you home. Giving sexy lingerie back would be a bad move.”

“It just seems a waste since I won’t actually be wearing it,” she muttered.

“You never know.” He shrugged. The words were out before he could stop them.

“I do know! There will be no wearing of…these items.” She shook the bag in her hand, shaking her head, looking adamant.

“Would it be against those rules of yours?” He couldn’t help himself.

“Yes!” She nodded like mad. “It absolutely would.”

“Sexy-as-fuck lingerie is rule number three on my list.”

“It is not.” Her eyes narrowed. “You’re making that up.”

“Nope. I’m not.”

“We can never have sex, then. You do realize that.” She put her hands on her hips.

“Why is it that you sound disappointed?”

Her mouth fell open. Oh, the things he could do to that mouth. She pushed out a breath and closed her lips. “I. Am. Not. Look, let’s just concentrate on getting Ashlyn back. I’m going to pack this away, and then I’d like to do some research of my own. Maybe I can help you in some way. I feel useless. Like I’m doing nothing to help.”

Fog decided to drop it. “You’re not doing nothing. And thank you, I could use some help. I’ll request a laptop for you. In fact, we should probably make a list of anything else you might need for your stay here.”

“I’m not staying for long.” Her face dropped. “We need to get down there.” She pointed at the floor. “We need to rescue Ashlyn.”

He squeezed her shoulder. “It’ll happen as soon as possible. I promise. Those supplies are going to take four days. I can’t go onto human territory without asking for permission. I have to rely on groups going in and out for other reasons. Again, I can’t alert Storm. Look,” he sighed softly, “I don’t think they are hurting your friend. I know we can’t be sure, but everything points to these cave dwellers wanting to win females. Wanting to get them to stay on their own terms. This wasn’t the right way to go about things, but I don’t think they are harming her or forcing her, either. You need to try to remember that.”

“Do you really think so?” Her eyes were shimmering with unshed tears. “I hope you’re right.”

“I do think so.” He meant it.

“Okay, then. I just need to try to stay calm until we have her back.” She picked up a few more bags. “I’ll pack these away, and then maybe I can make us lunch or something.”

“That would be nice. I took some time off of work so that I can concentrate on finding your friend.”

She swallowed thickly. “You’re the best.”

“And sorry for giving you shit about your rules, but sometimes rules are made to be broken.”

“No, they’re not!” she deadpanned.

“We’ll have to agree to disagree.” He paused, almost welcoming a comeback from her. When she didn’t give him one, he went on. “I cleared out a couple of shelves for you. You’re welcome to use those. If you need more space, I’ll clear more for you.”

“Oh…thanks. That’s sweet.” She gave him a half-smile.

The best?

Sweet?

Yeah! No!

He wasn’t sweet at all. Not even close. Not when he could still feel the lace between his fingers. Not with the images running through his head. Images of Riley with her head thrown back. Images of how her tits would look bouncing under tight lace. Of how good her pussy would feel on the end of his dick.

Him? Sweet? Hardly.

Riley was stressing about her friend, and all he could think of right then was getting her under him. It had been a couple of months since he had been with a female. It was lust, pure and simple. It was also wrong. She didn’t need some dickhead pawing at her. Fog needed to get his mind in the game. Any slip-up could cost him his life. Even worse, it could cost Ashlyn hers.