Surrendering to the Dragon (Stonefire British Dragons Book 7) (9 page)

“Glad your father recognizes my talents.”

She shook her head. “Not because of you. Living next to Kai is what did it.”

“Wait a second, let me get this straight. So if it’d just been a place with me, with no one else around us, you would’ve allowed your father to tell you what to do?”

“Surely even you have learned to pick your battles. Besides, I can’t cook much besides toast and bacon. Delphine’s cooking has more than made up for my father’s protectiveness over the years.”

“So, we’ll be eating toast and bacon three times a day?” Rafe drawled.

She glanced at him. “I can make sandwiches, thank you very much. You, however, can make your own meals.”

“Sounds like a plan. Oh, maybe I shouldn’t mention that I’m a better cook than anyone else in my family?”

“I call bullshit.”

“I see through your plan, Nikki. Calling bullshit, which is a challenge, and then expect me to accept it. But you’re the one who suggested we each make our own meals.”

“Ah, but I said nothing about who makes food for the baby. I eat for us both. Ergo, you must do all the cooking.”

“Then you’ll have to earn that privilege.”

She stopped in her tracks. Facing him, she blinked at the amusement dancing in his eyes. “Is Rafe Hartley teasing me?”

He winked and Nikki’s heart skipped a beat. “Get used to it, because I plan on doing it a lot.”

“Who are you and what have you done with the argumentative bastard I know?”

Lightly tracing her cheek, he murmured, “There’s a time and place for arguing. Like right before I take you to bed.”

Memories of the last week played inside her head, causing heat to spread through her body. At Rafe’s chuckle, she cleared her throat. “I never said anything about sharing a bed again.”

Rafe leaned closer, his breath hot on her cheek. “I have plenty of time to convince you once we’re settled in and alone.” He grabbed her hand. “Now, come on or I’ll carry you.”

Yanking her hand away, she turned and jogged ahead without a reply. She might be exhausted still, but it was nothing Nikki hadn’t handled before. And surely she was too early in her pregnancy to really worry about overdoing exercise.

Or, was she? Truth be told, she knew nothing about babies and pregnancy.

Her beast spoke up.
I’m sure Dr. Sid will visit us soon. Ask her then.

You seem pretty laid back considering you don’t know the first bloody thing about having a baby, either.

Before her dragon could reply, Rafe dashed past her and stopped directly in her path. “You asked for it.”

Scooping her up, he hugged her against his chest. Nikki squeaked. “Put me down this instant.”

“Or you’ll do what?”

Nikki extended a talon from her fingernail and tapped it against his throat. “I know how to slice to make you bleed, but not kill you.”

He snorted and met her eyes. “What? And incapacitate your partner for the Bourne mission? I think not.” She lightly scratched his skin, but Rafe didn’t so much as flinch. A smirk spread across his face. “Is that the best you have, woman?”

Retracting her talon, Nikki swung the heel of her hand into Rafe’s nose with a crack. He swore and dropped her to pinch his bleeding nose.

Nikki landed on her feet and moved a few feet away. “We agreed on no alpha bullshit unless my health or life is in danger. Consider that your warning.”

“No, I rather think it was a declaration of war.”

The coolness of Rafe’s tone caused a tendril of worry to swirl in her stomach. “Don’t even, Rafe. We have an agreement.”

“Oh, I know we do. But you were running when you were clearly exhausted, which means I’m in the right. And payback is a bitch.”

Nikki placed a hand on her hip. “I say we ask Kai to decide. The loser must do one thing, anything, that the winner asks.”

The corner of Rafe’s mouth ticked up. “Oh, this is going to be fun.” He put out his free hand. “Shake on it.”

Cautiously, Nikki took a few steps and placed her hand in Rafe’s. A second later, he pulled her close to whisper, “I look forward to collecting.”

The heat in his eyes combined with the huskiness of his voice made her shiver. She wondered what Rafe would ask for.
 

The dried blood in his nostrils didn’t diminish his handsome green eyes or chiseled jaw. Without the mate-claim frenzy in the way, getting naked with Rafe could be fun. And since he was a male, his favor would no doubt involve both of them naked.

No.
Nikki was in the right. The fun part would be deciding what to make Rafe do. Maybe she would make him run naked through the clan’s main shopping area. That would help diminish his scary, badass army image with the clan.

Releasing his hand, Nikki scanned the area to see Kai and Jane watching them. “Let’s ask Kai, then,” she stated before marching toward the pair.

She couldn’t wait to see Rafe’s face when Kai decided in Nikki’s favor. Considering Kai couldn’t stand Rafe, she didn’t doubt for a second the ruling would declare her the winner.

As soon as she was close enough, Jane came up to her and slapped her shoulder. “You are brilliant, Nikki Gray. If anyone can stand up to my brother, it’s you. Did you break his nose? You were too far away for me to see.”

Smiling, Nikki glanced behind her and back. “He deserved it is all I’ll say.” Moving her gaze to Kai, she added, “We have something for you to adjudicate, Kai.”
 

Kai merely raised his brows in question. Since Rafe had been close enough to hear, he beat Nikki to the explanation. “Nikki is exhausted after the frenzy, newly pregnant, and decided to run after you. To solve the problem, I scooped her up and carried her. She claims I was crossing boundaries and being alpha when all I was doing was thinking of her health.”

Nikki frowned. “You left out the bit about our agreement. Rafe isn’t allowed to pull his alpha bullshit unless my life or health is in danger.”

Jane grinned. “So, you two already have an agreement?”

“Not like that, Jane,” Nikki jumped in. “It’s merely something to prevent us from killing each other.”

Rafe opened his mouth to say something when Kai’s voice cut him off. “In this, I side with Rafe.”

Nikki blinked. “What?”

“You heard me. You’ve more than proved yourself to everyone who matters in this clan. It’s okay to take a day off to recover from the frenzy. Actually, I order you to take tomorrow off, too.” Kai pointed to the cottage to his right. “That’s your place. Jane and I will check in with you after you’ve rested. Dr. Sid should also be by in a few hours.” Kai’s gaze moved to Rafe. “I may not like you, but if you need to tie Nikki to the bed to force her to sleep, then do it. She’ll never admit she’s tired, and I won’t have her losing the baby because of her stubbornness.”

“Traitor,” Nikki muttered.

Kai shrugged a shoulder. “Your health is more important than your good graces.” He looped an arm around Jane’s waist. “Come on. Let’s leave them be.”

I can’t believe he did that
, Nikki said to her dragon.

Why not? He knows us too well. I also want to sleep. So, stop bothering me.

Ungrateful beast.

I know you would miss me if I was gone.
Her dragon yawned.
Good night.

With her beast silent, Nikki took a deep breath before turning toward Rafe. As expected, smugness filled his eyes. “You may have won this time, but I won’t let my guard down again.”

Walking up to her, Rafe whispered, “So, aren’t you curious what I want to ask you to do?”

Yes.
“No. Of course not.”

Chuckling, Rafe gripped her hand in his. “Good, then you won’t mind waiting.”

“What?”

“Come. I’m not going to say anything more until you’re sitting down on the sofa with a cup of tea in your hands.”

Muttering some rather choice words, Nikki allowed Rafe to guide her to the doorstep. The cottage was an old, two-story stone structure, like most of the buildings on Stonefire. There was even a little wall around the front and back gardens.

She would never admit it to anyone, but Nikki loved to play around in the dirt. While she attempted to grow plants, they always withered and died somehow. It still didn’t keep her from trying or enjoying herself. If nothing else, she could tinker in peace at the new cottage and not worry about upsetting Delphine.

Glancing at Rafe, she wondered if he had a green thumb on top of being a supposedly brilliant cook. If he could garden and cook, in addition to being a skilled soldier, Nikki might need to scream into a pillow. No man should have so many talents.

Rafe stopped on the front porch and glanced over at her. “Shall I do the honors, or should you?”

“You asking my permission makes me nervous.”

“What? I can be nice if I try.”

Sighing, Nikki waved at the door. “Just open the bloody thing already. The sooner we’re inside, the sooner I can pick out my room.”

Rafe’s gaze turned heated. “Pick whichever room you like, but know that your room is mine as well.”

“Rafe—”

“I won’t give up on this. I’m here for our child, but I’m also here for you, Nikola Gray. I can’t protect you if you keep me at a distance.”

For a split second, hope had swirled in Nikki’s chest. But Rafe’s sense of duty smashed it to pieces. “I can protect myself.”

Not waiting for him, Nikki shoved Rafe aside and entered the house.

Chapter Eight

Bloody stubborn woman.
No matter what Rafe did, she took it the wrong way.

As he followed her into the cottage, he tried to come up with a new plan of attack.
 

Mentally, he understood Nikki was a tough woman who could look after herself in dangerous situations. But in his gut, the thought of failing to keep Nikki and their baby safe made him ill.
 

He’d had the same battle with his sister over the years. But at least in Jane’s case, she had truly needed Rafe to help out sometimes. However, with Nikki, it was a whole different story. And not just because he hurt her in the past, although that sat heavy on his conscience. She had saved his unit’s arses a few times back when she had served in the army.
 

Nikola Gray was truly a unique and capable woman.
 

As said woman looked around the place in silence, Rafe gave it a cursory scan. The inside of the cottage was simple, with a sofa in the living room, a small table in a dining nook, and a kitchen at the back. After noting the possible escape routes via the doors and windows in the cottage, he gestured toward the stairs. “Shall we check out the bedrooms?”

Nikki’s gaze shuttered. “I will, but you’re going to stay down here.” He opened his mouth to interject, but Nikki continued, “I just want a few minutes alone to think and then go to sleep. I know there’s a crap-ton of things to talk about, and we’ll do that. But let me rest first.”

Stunned at her truthful admission, Rafe nodded. “Okay. But if you try to escape through one of the windows, I’ll hear it and stop you.”

Nikki sighed, and Rafe truly noticed the shadows under her eyes for the first time.
Fuck.
So much for taking care of the mother of his child.

“Copy that,” Nikki murmured. “Wake me when Sid gets here.”

As she passed, he reached out an arm to grab her wrist. Nikki tugged, but he didn’t let go. “First, tell me what’s your favorite meal.”

“If I’m making it, then eggs, bacon, and toast.”

“And if you’re not?”

She scrutinized his eyes a second before asking, “Why? Are you going to cook for me? I thought we were each cooking for ourselves.”

“Just answer the bloody question, Nikki.”

Raising her chin, she said, “Lasagna with loads of garlic bread.”

“Done.” Rafe released her wrist. “Now, go to sleep.”

“Again with the ordering.”

“Yes. Your health is a factor here, so I can be as alpha as I like.”

Nikki battled a smile and lost. “Fine. If it means I get lasagna afterwards, then I’ll listen.” She hesitated a second and then added, “I hope you’re still here when I wake up. There’s a lot I want to ask.”

Rafe could easily tease her, but for once, he resisted. “I’ll be here, don’t worry. Get some sleep before I carry you to bed.”

A flush crept up Nikki’s cheeks, and Rafe bit back a smile. For all of her ranting and raving, she was thinking of him in her bed.

Not that they both didn’t need a break from that. Rafe’s dick was still recovering from a week of abuse. It was the main reason he was allowing Nikki to sleep alone—to avoid temptation.

Nikki opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it. Without another word, she disappeared up the stairs.

Letting out a breath, Rafe ran a hand through his hair. He didn’t like any awkwardness between them. Hopefully, it was only because of Nikki’s exhaustion.

Right, then.
The best way to avoid awkward silence or uneasiness was to make the best bloody meal he could and then entice Nikki into some verbal sparring. Rafe wasn’t good at spewing romantic crap, but he had a feeling Nikki wasn’t the type of woman who required it.

He had a feeling that the best way to get Nikki to open up to him was to be honest and treat her as an equal. Although, winning over her stomach wouldn’t hurt.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his mobile phone. After sending his sister a text message to call him, Rafe went to the kitchen to see what he had to work with.

~~~

Nikki stared at the ceiling of the largest bedroom and counted the bits of cobweb scattered here and there across the white surface. Whoever had lived here before hadn’t cared much about cleaning.

Of course, the cleanliness of the room had nothing to do with why she had lain awake for the past few hours. Every muscle in her body was sore, but her mind wouldn’t shut up. It kept wandering to the man downstairs, who was quietly singing along to the human radio station.
 

Rafe had probably forgotten about her keen dragon-shifter hearing. Still, every dragonman or woman learned to block things out as children. If Nikki had truly wanted to sleep, she would have; she’d trained to sleep when and wherever possible in the army. But as soon as she’d heard Rafe’s beautiful voice, she had been content to merely listen to him sing.