The Dragon's Dilemma (Lochguard Highland Dragons Book 1) (8 page)

Although the idea of him tugging out the pins and releasing her hair had its own appeal.

Resisting a frown lest he give away his thoughts, Fraser took another swig of wine. It was going to be a long evening. How he would survive watching Holly and Fergus for the next six months or more, Fraser had no idea. Fostering with Stonefire was his only real option.

His beast banged against the top of his mental maze at the thought of leaving Holly behind and the structure gave a little.

If his beast acted this way with Fergus merely touching Holly, Fraser hated to think what would happen once Fergus started sleeping with the lass.

Finn kicked his leg under the table. “Earth to Fraser. Are you listening?”

Damn.
“What did I miss? I was too busy concentrating on this fine glass of wine.”

Finn merely raised his brows. Fraser’s cousin was unconvinced.

Bloody hell, if Fraser didn’t get his act together, he would be cornered and interrogated before the night was over.

Holly answered, “Don’t worry, it wasn’t important.”

Fraser should resist looking at the lass yet again since everyone was watching him at the table, but he turned his head. The human’s cheeks were flushed from the wine, laughter, or both. Combined with the sparkle in her eyes, all he wanted to do was tug her out back, pull her close, and kiss her.

His dragon roared again.

Holly finally looked away from Fraser and to Fergus. She touched his brother’s bloody bicep again. “I need to use the toilet.”

Fergus smiled. “I think you’re just trying to escape the madness for a bit.”

Holly winked and Fraser dug his nails into his thighs as she said, “It is a bit exhausting having dinner with your family, if I’m honest. Of course, for all I know, it’s like this with all dragon-shifter families.”

Arabella snorted. “Definitely not. If you ever meet my brother, then you’ll see what I mean.”

Fergus whispered, “Ignore Arabella. Her brother’s a bit of a bastard and she knows it.”

Arabella growled. “Watch it, Fergus. I’m not even two months pregnant yet. I can still kick your arse if need be.”

Fergus grinned. “I would, but Finn would have my head. We can have a rematch in about five years, when you can send your kid to school.” Arabella rolled her eyes and Fergus met Holly’s gaze again. “Go up the stairs and turn left. The toilet’s the first door on the right.”

Holly squeezed Fergus’s arm. “Thank you.”

As the lass exited the room, Fraser’s dragon finally succeeded in breaking through the top of his mental maze.
Go after her. Now is our chance to kiss her. She will choose us.

No way, dragon. She isn’t ours.

His beast snarled.
Then you leave me no choice.

His dragon pressed to the front of his mind. Fraser pushed back, but his dragon’s need to kiss Holly and brand her with their scent was strong enough to hold Fraser off.

Dropping his head into his hands, Fraser closed his eyes.
No, we can’t.

You had your chance. We’re going after her. I won’t allow Fergus to take her. She is ours.

Wait—if you don’t want to make the others overly suspicious or instantly follow us, then let me give them an excuse.

His beast paused and then replied,
I give you two minutes. Try to stuff me back into a maze and next time, I won’t pause before I take control.

Afraid his dragon might scare Holly, Fraser had little choice but to answer,
I won’t.

Two minutes.

His dragon relinquished control and moved toward the back of Fraser’s mind, ready to pounce if Fraser showed the first sign of deceit.

With his beast no longer growling and snarling, Fraser finally heard Faye’s voice asking. “Fraser, are you okay? What’s wrong?”

Taking a deep breath, he lifted his head. “I think I drank too much wine too quickly. I’m just going to splash some water on my face.”

Finn wasn’t smiling, but his tone was light. “Or, put your head in a toilet.”

Aware the clock was ticking, Fraser merely nodded and stood. He looked to his mother. “Sorry, Mum, but I’ll be right back.”

Not wanting to give his mother a chance to read his face and guess what was happening, Fraser quickly grunted and exited the dining room.

As he ascended the stairs, his dragon’s voice boomed,
Find her.

I will, but allow me to explain what’s going on, first. Otherwise, she might run.

She had better say yes.

Trust me, dragon. I can get a lass to kiss me.

Despite the confidence in his tone, Fraser’s stomach rolled. Never in a million years had he expected to trick his true mate into kissing him. With any luck, Holly wouldn’t hate him afterwards.

It wasn’t as if he had a choice. Unless Fraser left the clan, his beast would want Holly as long as she was nearby. And given how Fraser had spoiled his dragon over the years, what his beast wanted, his beast would take.

He couldn’t allow his dragon to scare the lass. Fraser could take her hate later, but he never wanted to see fear or tears in her eyes when looking at him.

An idea hit and Fraser said to his dragon,
Let me talk to Fergus and Finn, first. They might be able to help us.

No. You waited too long. I need to kiss her and claim her. She is ours.

If you would give me five minutes—

His dragon roared.
No. Kiss her and talk later.

The need to kiss and fuck Holly rushed through Fraser’s body and his step faltered.
You said I could talk to her.

That was before you tried to make excuses and prevent us from kissing her.

Fine, I’ll kiss her. But let me prepare her first.

His beast paused a second before replying,
This is your last chance. Kiss her or I will take control.

Understood.

As his beast went back to pacing, Fraser cursed at his future being stolen from him. Yes, he was attracted to Holly and would love the chance to woo the feisty lass. But not with trickery and his dragon driving his actions.

That sort of deceit would only solidify the rumors about dragon-shifters being beasts. Not to mention Holly would probably flee Lochguard as soon as she’d birthed his child. Even knowing how important family was to her, Holly would probably try to find a way to take her child away from Fraser, the monster.

Taking a deep breath, Fraser pushed aside all of his doubts and fears. He couldn’t risk his dragon taking over his mind and running amuck. If that happened, the Department of Dragon Affairs would probably hunt him down and lock him up.

There was no bloody way he would allow that to happen.

He reached the toilet door just as Holly opened it. She blinked. “Fraser? What are you doing up here?”

He could make up excuses about needing to use the loo, but each second he wasted talking was a second more that Finn or Fergus could come check on either one of them.

Reaching for her hand, Fraser tugged her into his room across the hall and shut the door. His dragon hissed.
Pin her against the wall and kiss her.

Not yet.

Hurry.

Fraser leaned against his door as Holly frowned at him. “What the hell are you doing, Fraser MacKenzie?”

He clenched his jaw at the thought of what he was about to do.

~~~

Holly’s heart beat double-time. One second she’d been exiting the toilet and the next she was alone in a room with Fraser.

With no one else with them, Holly could do nothing but stare at the blue-eyed dragonman who kept invading her thoughts. Surely he wouldn’t try to flirt with or touch her again. After all, Fraser had dismissed her at the dinner table.
 

Hadn’t he?

The dragonman’s pupils flashed to slits and back. Something was going on with his dragon, but she had no bloody idea what.
 

Not one to back down from getting answers, she frowned and willed her voice to be strong. “What the hell are you doing, Fraser MacKenzie?”

He growled out, “Do you know what a true mate is, Holly?”

Holly nearly did a double-take at the strange question. “Yes, the DDA told me. A dragon-shifter’s true mate is their best chance at happiness. Why?”

Locking the door, he took a step toward her. “What else did they tell you?”

Her heart raced faster. She took a step back and her legs hit the edge of the bed. “That if a dragon-shifter kisses their true mate, it starts a frenzy.” She swallowed. “Why are you asking me this? Fergus is waiting for me downstairs.”

Fraser curled his upper lip. “Don’t mention Fergus.”

Taking a deep breath, Holly straightened her shoulders. She wasn’t about to let Fraser frighten her. “He’s the one I’m here to be with, Fraser. You know that. Now, let me go.”

Fraser closed the distance between them until he was only a few inches away and placed a hand on her back. Despite his flashing eyes and alpha attitude, heat flared at his touch.
 

Fraser smiled. “I’m the one you want, lass. Not my brother.”
 

He pressed her closer until her breasts touched his chest and she sucked in a breath. “Stop it, Fraser. I can’t.”

Fraser leaned down and nuzzled her cheek. Each pass of his late-day whiskers against her cheek caused heat to flush through her body.
 

Fraser’s breath was hot on her ear as he murmured, “Kiss me, Holly, and you’ll be mine.”

The huskiness of his voice made her breasts heavy and nipples harden. Damn the man and his effect on her. “I can’t, Fraser. If I go to jail, then I won’t be able to take care of my father.”

Fraser nibbled her earlobe and she had to lean against his chest for support. “We’ll find a way to make it work, Holly. I promise you that.”

He gently bit her neck. From between her thighs to her breasts to even her lips throbbed in anticipation. Kissing Fraser MacKenzie would be much more than pleasant.

Isn’t that what you want?
 

It was, but she had her father to think of. A compromise flashed inside her mind. One that might solve all of her problems.

Holly leaned a little closer and whispered into his ear, “If you can find a way to transfer the contract, then I’ll consider it.”

Fraser growled as he nipped her neck again. The slight sting made the pulsing between her legs increase.

Moving back to her ear, he murmured, “I will. But kiss me and let me fuck you now, Holly Anderson. I burn for you.”

The rational side of her mind battled with her hormones. Fraser mentioning true mates had to be relevant. But each time he nibbled and licked her neck, it made it harder for her to connect the dots.

She was about to say yes when someone pounded on the door and shouted, “Open the bloody door, Fraser MacKenzie, or I will kick it down.”

It was Finn.

Chapter Six

At the knock at the door and the sound of Finn’s voice, Fraser’s dragon roared and tried to push to the front of his mind. Fraser pushed him away.
No. You stay back.

His beast snarled and hissed.
Kiss her. That will send Finn away and make her ours. Why are you waiting?

I want to talk with Finn. That is a better way. Holly would be willing if we transferred the contract.

No. She’s about to say yes anyway. Kiss the human.

Fraser stared at Holly’s wide-eyed expression. Him kissing her and fondling her with his cousin banging on the door wasn’t how he wanted to share their first kiss.

Holly deserved better.

Drawing deep inside of himself, Fraser shoved his beast to the back of his mind and threw up a wall. His dragon beat and pounded against his prison, but it held. At least, for the moment. But his beast would escape in the next few minutes, so Fraser had to make them count.

“Stay here,” Fraser ordered Holly before going to the door.
 

Finn pounded again, but Fraser turned the lock and opened the door.

Gone was Finn’s carefree expression and smiles. In their place, Finn’s jaw was firm and his eyes were flashing to slits and back. His clan leader growled out, “What the hell are you doing, Fraser? Why are you alone with Holly not only in your room, but with the fucking door locked?” Fraser opened his mouth to explain, but Finn cut him off. “And don’t give me an excuse about giving her a tour or some such bullshit. You two have been stealing glances at each other all night. I want to know why.”

With each second that passed, his dragon was closer to breaking free and taking control. Fraser could explain it all to Finn in this moment, or he’d lose his chance.

Finally, Fraser whispered, “She’s my true mate, Finn. And my dragon is about to lose his head and take control.”

Finn cursed. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me this?” He motioned for Holly to come. “We need to get you out of here, lass. And quickly.”

Fraser put out his arm to block the door and growled. “You’re not taking her from me without a guarantee she’s mine and not Fergus’s.”

Finn’s eyes flashed. “I will take her away. Either lower your arm and move out of the way or I will make you.”

The dominance in Finn’s voice nearly made him follow the order. Then his dragon’s need to mate pounded through his body and Fraser could barely put two words together. “No, I won’t let you.”

“Last warning, Fraser. I’ll give you ten seconds to explain your answer before I knock you out cold and snatch Holly away.”

His dragon roared and snarled. Fraser had maybe another minute before he’d lose the battle with his beast.

Gripping the edge of the door for support, Fraser bit out, “Transfer the contract to me.” Finn opened his mouth but Fraser beat him to it. “Promise me you will and I’ll let you knock me out so you can take Holly to safety.”

Finn merely stared at him.

Fraser’s dragon clawed to get free. Fraser had about thirty seconds. “Please, Finn.”

Finn’s jaw turned firm. “I’ll see what I can do. Now, close your eyes.”

Fraser trusted Finn to make things right. After all, they were brothers in all but blood.

Closing his eyes, Fraser focused his remaining energy on restraining his dragon long enough for Finn to knock him unconscious.