The Dragon's Dilemma (Lochguard Highland Dragons Book 1) (11 page)

Fraser chose his next words carefully. “So if Finn transfers the contract, you’ll allow the frenzy to happen?”

Holly averted her eyes and traced the skin above the cuff restraints. The soft, gentle motions of her finger made him want to shiver. Only through sheer stubbornness did he remain still.
 

A section of her hair fell in front of her face and Fraser itched to brush it back behind her ear. Holly Anderson should never hide her beauty from him.

His eyes glanced down at her breasts. He wanted to strip her and simply memorize every curve of her body.

Before his mind could continue with his fantasy, Holly’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “That depends.” She met his eyes again. “If Finn can transfer the contract, then I want you to try to repair relations with your brother. If you promise me that and put in a good effort, then I’ll agree to the frenzy.”

Fraser ignored the skip of his heart at her answer. “Did my family put you up to this or is it of your own accord?”

Holly stopped brushing his skin and he nearly begged for her to touch him again.

Bloody hell.
Fraser had never yearned for a lass’s touch so much in his life. Especially without his dragon going on about it.

He’d put it down to the lingering effects of his dragon’s need to mate. There was nothing certain between him and Holly. And Fraser wasn’t about to wish for what he couldn’t have. Hell, after two weeks, they might not be able to stand each other. True mates didn’t always end in true love.

Bloody hell, he was starting to sound like a sappy movie.

Despite his dragon’s silence, Fraser swore he heard his beast’s growl inside his head. Good. Maybe his dragon was waking up. For better or worse, Fraser missed the randy sod.

Holly finally answered, “It’s my own decision. If you think I’m easily swayed by someone taller and much stronger than I, then let me set the record straight: I don’t put up with anyone’s crap, least of all a grumpy, alpha male. I may be human, but I’ve dealt with my fair share of alpha arseholes in the delivery room. I won every single time when they challenged me.”

Fraser had always wooed and bedded females who flirted or fell for his pretty words. Holly was a completely new challenge for him.

And bastard that he was, he rather liked the idea of winning her over. “That may be, but you have yet to handle a dragon in the throes of a frenzy.”

The female raised her chin. “I won’t put up with crap from a dragon either.”

There was definitely a stirring in the back of his mind. Maybe the lass’s backbone was enticing his dragon.

After all, his beast had always urged Fraser to go after more difficult females. To his dragon, Holly was the equivalent of a fat stag waiting to be hunted and devoured. Although, both man and beast had different ideas of how to devour Holly Anderson.
 

Fraser reached out to touch her, but the leather around his wrists dug into his skin. “Release me, Holly, and I’ll make an effort toward my brother.”

“If you don’t follow through, there will be hell to pay.”

The corner of his mouth kicked up. “From a wee lass as yourself?”

“Aye, this ‘wee lass’ has a few tricks up her sleeve.”

Fraser’s dragon cracked his eyes open and yawned.
Hurry up, dragon. The silence is killing me.

His beast shook his head and stretched. His dragon wasn’t quite ready to wake up yet.

Holly’s voice brought him back to the hospital room. “Is your dragon breaking free again?”

“He’ll be groggy for a while yet. Release me, lass. There’s much to do before the frenzy starts.”

Holly hesitated, but finally undid the cuff on his left hand. The second it was free, he reached up to cup her cheek.
 

Holly stilled and Fraser held his breath. Maybe the lass’s words didn’t match the truth in her heart.

Then she leaned into his touch and reached across his body to undo the other cuff. Her long hair tickled against his chest. With his free hand, he tucked a section behind her ear and murmured, “Much better.”

Holly freed his other wrist and met his eyes. With her heat and scent surrounding him, all he wanted to do was kiss her.

But not yet. At least, not on the lips. He wouldn’t allow his dragon to ruin his second chance with the lass.
 

Fraser traced her brow, the bridge of her nose, and finally her lips. Holly parted them and he rubbed back and forth across her plump bottom lip. “Thank you, Holly.” Before she could answer, he raised his head and kissed her cheek. “I’m glad you met me first.”

~~~

Holly’s heart thundered inside her chest. She’d entered Fraser’s hospital room as nervous as she’d been on her first solo nursing shift. But her heart was currently beating fast for an entirely different reason.

Finn and Arabella had warned her against any prolonged skin-to-skin contact, lest she stir Fraser’s dragon and begin the frenzy.

Yet as Fraser’s breath danced against her cheek, her resolve fractured slightly. She’d been told not to kiss him on the lips.

She would keep that promise, but she yearned to taste Fraser’s skin.

Holly turned her head. Fraser’s dark blue eyes were less than six inches from her own. For the first time, she noticed flecks of lighter blue around the iris.

Fraser’s pupils flashed to slits and back. His dragon must be waking up, which meant she didn’t have much time.

Leaning around his face, she whispered into his ear, “Don’t tell the others, but I’m glad I met you first, too.”

Fraser growled and she took his earlobe between her teeth. As she teased his flesh with her tongue, his hand wrapped around her waist before sliding down to her arse. “I knew your tightly controlled appearance was hiding the true lass beneath.” He slapped her bum lightly. “I look forward to seeing her free and open to my hands, my mouth, and my cock.”

She released his ear. “You still have to earn all of that, Fraser Moore MacKenzie.”

“What are you talking about?”

Smiling at the disappointment in his voice, she moved her head until she could see his eyes. “It takes more than a few pretty phrases and caresses before I trust you with my body.”

He frowned. “Did they not explain the frenzy properly? Because my dragon isn’t going to care about games until after you’re pregnant.”

“We’ll see about that, Fraser. After all, your dragon has yet to really get to know me.”

Fraser’s grip tightened on her bum. “My dragon will have to get in line. You’re going to know me first.”

Sensing the conversation was heading toward talk of a more permanent future on Lochguard, Holly pulled away and stood. Confusion flashed in Fraser’s eyes, but it was gone before Holly could blink.

Tossing her hair over her shoulder, Holly changed topics. “Well, seeing as Finn and Dr. Innes talked about keeping your dragon sedated for days if need be, that might be easier than you think.”

“Days? Why?”

She searched his eyes. “Is it really that awful to be without your dragon for a few days?”

Fraser adjusted his position on the bed until he was sitting upright and cleared a space at the edge. Taking the hint, Holly sat down and he answered, “My dragon started speaking to me when I was six. For twenty-two years I’ve had a constant companion with me. Sometimes he’s a pain and most other times he drives me crazy. But he is part of me. I know it’s hard for a human to understand, but imagine taking something essential to who you are and ripping it from your life. That’s what it’s like to have your dragon go silent and remain that way for any prolonged period of time.”

Holly tilted her head. “But surely there’s more to you than just your dragon.”

“Aye, there is. But the silence is uncomfortable. It’s probably similar to taking away your ability to nurse, every hobby you enjoy, plus not seeing your dad even though you know he’s still alive back in Aberdeen. You could probably live without all of those if need be, but you wouldn’t be the same person you are now.”

Holly looked away from Fraser. She should tell him about her plans to return home. Much like his dragon was essential to Fraser’s being, her dad was to hers. After all, it’d been just the two of them for longer than Holly could remember.

Fraser touched her lower back. “I don’t like secrets, Holly. Tell me what’s on your mind, lass.”

Deciding it wasn’t the time to talk of her future when she barely knew the dragon-shifter beside her, Holly forced a smile and looked back to Fraser’s face. “I just miss my father is all. You seem close to your mum, so you understand.”

Fraser’s voice turned dry. “Aye, we’re close but maybe a tad too close.”

Holly grinned. “I like her.”

“Of course you would, honey. She’s always going to take your side against me.”

Holly poked his chest. “My name’s not Honey.”

Fraser reached out and brushed her cheek. “I know that, but I can’t help but use it. You have such bonny eyes.”

Heat flooded Holly’s cheeks. “They’re just brown.”

Fraser took her chin between his fingers and turned her head one way and then the other. “No, you’re wrong, lass. They’re dark amber with little flecks of brown and green. If you don’t like Honey, then I can call you Kitty.”

She rolled her eyes. “Let me guess, I have cat eyes?”

Fraser grinned. The humor dancing in his eyes in addition to his pearly whites made him extremely handsome.

Unable to resist, she traced the scar near his left eye. “Where’d this come from?”

Fraser trapped her hand against his cheek. “Sit next to me and I’ll tell you.”

“I am sitting next to you.”

He tugged and she tumbled onto his chest. Heat radiated off his bare skin. Combined with his masculine scent and light brushing of hair against her cheek, Holly felt safe and wanted to lay against his chest for hours.
 

Fraser’s chuckle rumbled inside his chest before he said, “Now this is what I call sitting next to me.”

She looked up. “This is technically laying on you.”

He winked and her heart skipped a beat. “Call it whatever you like while I enjoy your soft body against mine.”

“I can’t help being soft. I’m not a dragon-shifter with a metabolism of a thirteen-year-old boy.”

Fraser ran his hand down her back, her hip, and over her bum. “I like it that you’re soft. But can I tell you the truth?”

She raised her brows. “Let me guess, something about me needing to be naked before you can make a final judgment?”

The dragonman’s grin widened. “Exactly.”

Shaking her head, Holly answered, “You’re fairly predictable, dragonman.”

Fraser’s hand slapped her backside. “As soon as I’m out of this bed and not under constant threat of a frenzy, I’ll show you just how unpredictable I can be.”

She patted his chest. “You can try, but you won’t succeed.”

Determination flashed in Fraser’s eyes. “If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that when I’m told I can’t do something, I usually find a way to see it through.”

“Oh, really? Then maybe I should tell you not to talk with your brother and then you will.”

Fraser’s lips pressed together. “I’ll handle Fergus.”

Holly knew Fergus was missing and hadn’t reported in to Finn yet, but she decided not to mention it to Fraser. She didn’t need to stir his anger and possibly his dragon just yet.

Rather than speak again, Holly seized the quiet moment to become used to Fraser’s touch and scent.

She rested her head back against Fraser’s chest and took a second to memorize the firmness of his muscles and the unique scent that was Fraser MacKenzie. It wouldn’t be long before she was doing much more than pressing against him.

Holly should be afraid, but the thought of Fraser’s deep blue eyes staring into hers as she came sent a flood of heat through her body.

Stop it, Holly.
She was about to ask a question to distract herself when Fraser’s hand roamed her back and caressed her in slow circles. Each pass helped to relax her muscles and ease her tension.

It was almost as if the bloody dragonman had magic hands.

Not that she’d ever admit that to Fraser. She could just imagine how cocky his grin would become then.

Clearing her throat, she looked up and touched Fraser’s scar again. “Tell me about this.”

Fraser shrugged, but never ceased stroking her back. “I was trying to scare away a few males following my sister. I tripped over a rock and earned what I like to call my scar of love and devotion.”

Holly snorted. “In other words, your scar of clumsiness.”

“Hey, now, dragon-shifters need to keep up an image of strength.”

She looked up. “Why lie about it? A person can be strong, even if they have faults.”

Fraser smiled. “You’re too clever, you know that?”

“It’s good for you to recognize that now.”

With a growl, he slapped her arse. “Once I’m back at full-strength, dragon and all, you’ll see just how clever I can be.”

Holly should object to Fraser constantly slapping her bum, but she rather enjoyed the closeness. “Oh, really? I look forward to the challenge.”

Fraser brushed his finger against her cheek. The humor in his eyes faded and was replaced with something much hotter. “Let’s just say I look forward to a challenge as well.”

He leaned down as if to kiss her. For a split second, Holly nearly gave in to the temptation. Considering a heated gaze would send a thrill through her body and wetness between her legs, she wondered what actually kissing Fraser would be like.

Then she remembered her meeting with Finn and Arabella earlier in the morning. They’d told her not to kiss him on the lips.
 

If it would only affect her and Fraser, she would kiss him right this second. But it wasn’t that way. There was Fergus, Finn, and hell, the whole clan to think about. After all, she didn’t know if Finn had successfully wrangled an agreement out of the DDA yet or not.

Laying her head back on his torso, she patted the firm planes of his chest. “The others should be here any minute. I really should get out of your bed.”

Fraser wrapped his arm around her back and hugged her tighter against him. “Stay, Holly.”