Resurrecting Her Dragon (Dragon Guard Series Book 13) (12 page)

Shaking his head because he knew he deserved everything they were throwing at him, Rory walked Claire over to where Rian and Royce were still standing with shit-eating grins and a ton more jokes floating through their minds. “Claire Featherstone, this big lug is my brother Rian, the oldest O’Reilly brother, leader of our clan, and a general pain in the ass.”

He ducked just in time to miss Rian’s attempt to slug him in the shoulder. “And he’s slow.”

Claire laughed along and then turning to his middle brother, Rory said, “And this one here is Royce.”

“I see the family resemblance,” his mate chuckled as she ruffled his curls.

“Yeah, we got our good looks from Mom,” Rory waggled his eyebrows and continued. “The best thing about Roy is his mate.” Laughing out loud at the look on his older brother’s face, the youngest O’Reilly added, “Seriously, Kyra is awesome. You’ll love her, but Roy’s okay, too. He acts like a grumpy ol’ grizzly but he’s really a big cuddly teddy bear.”

Shaking his head, Royce feigned anger and threatened, “Just wait. Yours is coming, little brother.”

Putting his arm around his mate, Rory pulled her close as she talked with his brothers for a few minutes. He’d never imagined how it would feel to introduce the woman he’d grown to love more than his own life, basically overnight, to his brothers. Actually, he’d never seriously thought she existed. But for once, he was overjoyed to be wrong. Claire was here and he thanked the Heavens for how wrong he’d been. His phoenix was the most gorgeous woman in the world, with a strength that rivaled his own and the purest heart he’d ever known.

Engrossed in his thoughts, Rory missed the arrival of the King of the Big Cats into their group and inwardly groaned when Max took Claire’s hand, bowed, and kissed her knuckles. “As usual, it is left up to me to introduce myself.” At least the Leo had the decency to chuckle before continuing, “Maximillian Prentice at your service, dear lady. Should you ever need anything, please do not hesitate to call upon myself or my cats. We are eternally at your beck and call.”

Rory knew Max was trying to wind him up and had to admit it was working. He’d been easily holding his jealousy and that of his dragon’s at bay while Claire met his family and his brethren, but he was having a hard time dealing with Max’s hands on his mate. Only the King’s sly grin and the gleam in his eye kept the Guardsman from pulling his phoenix away and slugging Max in the jaw. Then Claire opened her mouth and Rory knew he had nothing to worry about, ever.

“I appreciate your offer, King Prentice, but I must admit I’ve never heard a good story that started with a cat and bird walked into a bar.”

The entire group roared with laughter. Rory even saw Claire’s cousins high fiving his mate’s quick wit. Swinging his phoenix into his arms, he kissed her soundly while speaking directly into her mind.
“Damn, I love you.”
 

Claire gasped. Her fingers slid into his hair. She deepened their kiss and responded in kind,
“Not as much as I love you.”

Lost in the moment, Rory groaned when Claire pulled away as Kell and Brann started the cat calls and whistles, with Lennox and Pearce joining in.

“Way to go, Ror!” Kell hooted.

“Get a room!” Brann laughed and whistled.

“Save it for the honeymoon!” Lenn teased.

And his favorite shockingly coming from the calmest of their Force, Pearce. “Make him beg, Claire.”

With her cheeks once again pink from embarrassment, Claire buried her head in his shoulder and muttered, “What have you done to me?”

“Spiced up your life,
mo chroi’
. And this is just a small taste of life with a dragon.” He kissed the top of her head just as Rian called off their search.

“Let’s call it a night.”

“Don’t you mean morning since it is ten am?” Declan, aka Joe Friday, asked.

Shaking his head, Rian went on, “Whatever the hell time it is, let’s all go home. We can get back to it after a shower, food, and some sleep. Everybody meet at Rory’s...”

“Hey! What the hell, Ri?” Rory cut off his brother, adamantly objecting to not being alone with his mate. But Rian was having none of it.

“Paybacks are a bitch, Ror, and I’m just getting started.” Rian was smiling an evil smile as he turned and walked toward his vehicle.

“And I haven’t even started,” Royce added.

“I’m guessing there’s gonna be a lot of that?” Claire teased as they walked arm in arm toward Rory’s motorcycle.

They left the griffin compound abandoned and still smoldering. It was the general consensus after all their searching that Claire’s fire had chased the Slades and their clan away like rats off a sinking ship. With Malick dead, Rian said he believed Zanus, the second oldest Slade brother and head rat, would be in control and from all reports, he was even less a leader than his brother. If that was possible.

After arriving at the lair, it took less than an hour for everyone to arrive at Rory’s house, rid of the stench from their battle and with enough food to feed an army. He’d let Claire shower by herself even though just the thought of her wet and naked with only a closed door separating them had driven both man and dragon crazy. By the time he’d gotten in the shower he was so hard his fist was wrapped around his erection before the water was even warm and over so quickly he laughed at himself. It was in no way a substitute for the beautiful woman who owned him body and soul, but it was the best he could do until he got rid of his family and friends. Which he planned to do within the hour, if not sooner.

Paybacks really are a bitch...

Jumping out of the shower, Rory wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped into his room just as Claire’s towel hit the floor. The room started to spin. His heart nearly beat out of his chest. His knees threatened to buckle while all the blood rushed south. Just the sight of his mate’s creamy skin, generous curves, and amazing bum had the Guardsman acting like a hormonal teenager.

Claire gasped as Rory closed the distance between, wrapped his arm around her waist, and kissed his way down her irresistible neck. The magic of their connection flared to life. Tiny shocks bounced between them from every spot their skin touched. The more of his mate he tasted, the more he wanted, until all thoughts of anything but being buried deep inside her evaporated.

Spinning his phoenix in his arms, the guardsman slammed his mouth to hers, pouring all that he was, all that he hoped to be, and all that he knew they would be together into that one earth-shattering kiss. Needing more, Rory reached between them, loosened the knot holding his towel, and let it join Claire’s on the floor. His erection jumped to life at the feel of his mate. The kiss deepened. Rory lifted Claire off the floor. His heart soared as her legs automatically wrapped around his waist.

Walking forward until her back touched the wall, the need to be buried deep inside his mate drove his every move. Rory put one hand on the wall by Claire’s head for balance and the other under her bum. Leaning his head back, he looked into her heavily lidded eyes, seeing the same incredible love and desire he felt reflected in their dreamy grey depths. They were in this together, all the way, for all times.

“Claire,
mo ghra’
, I love you with all that I am,” he struggled to speak but needed to tell her how he felt and hear the same from her. He had to know she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

“And I love you, you crazy dragon. Please, by all that is holy make love...”

She never got to finish her plea as the sound of his front door opening was immediately followed by, “Hey y’all! Anybody home?”

Then, “You better be decent cause if not you’re gonna be embarrassed.”

Royce and Kyra had arrived.

Groaning his misery at their situation, Rory let his forehead fall forward, landing on her shoulder. Thankfully, Claire saw the humor in the situation and chuckled as she kissed the top of his head.

“Ain’t family great? Just remember this when the girls come calling. Trust me, my cousins are not ones to worry about boundaries. Nothing is off limits with that lot.” She ruffled his curls, something he’d hated as a kid but seriously enjoyed when she did it. “You better let me down, dragon man, so I can throw some clothes on before that brother of yours knocks on the door.”

Sighing a long suffering sigh, he kissed her one more time for good measure before removing his hand from her bum and stepping back as she slid down his body until her toes were on the floor. He watched the tantalizing sway of her hips as she disappeared into his walk-in closet to get dressed. Holding the wall to keep from falling over at just the sight, it was all he could do to not run after her, barricade the door, and make love to her until neither one of them could stand up. However, he knew if he even tried, Royce would just knock the door down and probably have an audience with him to boot.

Jerk would probably plaster pictures of my bare ass on the internet. Worse yet, put videos on YouTube.

Rory was laughing at his own thoughts when Claire emerged dressed in another of his T-shirts, but this time she had on his flannel pajama pants. Both man and dragon growled their approval and vowed to hide the clothes her cousins had promised to bring for her. There was something wonderfully primal about seeing her dressed in his clothes, showing the whole world she was his. It didn’t matter that the shirt almost touched her knees and the hem of the pant legs were rolled up four or five times. It only mattered that she was his...
forever
.

She smiled and chuckled as she looked him over from head to toe. “You do know you’re still naked, right?”

“Oh, I know.” He waggled his eyebrows while walking toward her. Just as he would’ve walked past, he grabbed her hand, pulled Claire to his chest, and growled, “You look good enough to eat,” then nibbled up her neck.

Claire softly moaned and relaxed against him. It was the only invitation Rory needed. To hell with his brother. To hell with waiting. He needed his mate and he needed her now. Just about to drag her to bed, the youngest O’Reilly brother nearly lost his mind when, for the second time, the front door opened with a bang and Rian yelled, “You better get your ass down here or I’m coming to get you and I don’t have a problem dragging your bare ass down the stairs kicking and screaming.”

“Rian!” Audrey scolded, which would’ve been funny had Rory not wished they were anywhere else in the whole world at that moment other than in his home.

“Son of a...” Claire’s fingers on his lips stopped Rory’s curse.

“There’ll be plenty of time later. Your family just got you back from near death, not once but twice. Cut ‘em a little slack.” Her cheeky grin, along with her ability to take his crazy brothers antics in stride, only made him love her more. Then she added, “Besides, I’m pretty sure you’re very deserving of everything they’re dishing out.”

“Well...” he winked before kissing the tip of her nose, stepping around her, and heading for the closet to grab some clothes. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Claire eyeing his backside and couldn’t help but give a little wiggle. As she laughed out loud, Rory knew he would do whatever he needed to do to hear that amazing sound every day of his life.

By the time they got downstairs the rest of his Force had arrived and the party was in full swing. Rian had given Claire’s cousins the keys to the newly renovated house at the end of the street so they could stay until after the mating ceremony, which he spent the whole evening trying to convince his lovely mate should be the next day. She, however, had other plans, and to the youngest O’Reilly brother’s chagrin, everyone took her side.

“Now, that’s just not fair y’all.” He turned to Kellan. “Come on, buddy. You’re supposed to have my back.”

“Oh, I’ve got your back but Claire’s prettier. Sorry, dude. There’s just something about a good-looking woman that I can’t say no to.”

Rory feigned a pout then laughed out loud when Kellan snickered and shook his head. He really didn’t care what side his scarred friend took, it was just good to see his oldest friend getting comfortable with Claire and her family. Kell had been through enough. It was time he got back to the fun-loving guy he had been before the accident.

Pulling him from his thoughts, Maddox asked, “So what the hell are we gonna do about finding the griffins? I don’t like that they’re still out there planning only the Heavens know what.”

The words were barely out of his mouth when the doorbell rang, and before Rory could yell ‘Come in’, the door opened and in walked Max and Juan Carlos. As if he’d been there all along, the King answered Maddox’s question.

“I don’t like it either. That’s why I’ve instructed my trackers to run eight hour shifts until the griffins,” Max wrinkled his nose and muttered something in Spanish that Rory was sure was supremely offensive but appropriate, “are found and dealt with.”

Looking at Rian, who nodded, the King then added, “They will, of course, be brought to your clan to be held accountable for their crimes if we apprehend them first.”

It was obvious Rian and Max had already devised a plan. Rory was glad they weren’t wasting any time but had to make sure he wasn’t being excluded. “Are we sending anyone out to help?” he asked, looking first at his oldest brother and then the King of the Big Cats.

“Absolutely,” Rian quickly answered. “Max offered to let us come home to rest and refuel while they got things started. As we all know, there are things the werepanthers can do that we simply cannot and conversely, things we’re better at. And, we now have these lovely ladies and their extraordinary skills which are so needed and very welcome.

“It’s gonna take us all working together to catch these bastards. The griffins are sneaky. They’re not afraid to play dirty. The few dealings I’ve had with Malick always included his mother. It was obvious then, and from what Claire has said is still the case, that Sylvia runs the show. There’s no doubt about it. She only uses her sons because their clan has always been run by a man, but she’s the real leader.”

“And wasn’t Rory supposed to let Niall and I check him out after his second brush with death?” Calysta asked, looking over her tea cup just like Riona used to do when Rory was a child and had disobeyed.