My Wild Irish Dragon (14 page)

“Why should you have to prove anythin' to anyone?” Aiden asked. “Ye're a princess, after all.”

Chloe laughed. “Yeah. That and five dollars will get me a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Even at home I wouldn't tell anyone I was a princess. Or if I did, they'd assume I was descended from a long-forgotten king—which I am.”

“Ah, 'tis a sad thing, indeed
.
You should be livin' a life of privilege and leisure.”

Chloe snorted, and a curl of smoke escaped her nostril. “You don't know me well, Cousin, else you'd know I could never sit around and do nothin' all day.”

Someday you'll be too busy raisin' our dragon babies to worry about that.

After she finished her eggnog, Aiden said, “I was hopin' you'd take a walk with me, Chloe.”

“It's feckin' freezin' out there.”

He shrugged. “We come with our own source of heat.” When she still looked reluctant, he said, “Did you know that Gaia gave our ancestors fire after she saw them freezing their arses off in the mountain caves?”

She leaned back and looked as if her attention had been piqued. “No. I didn't. How did you learn that?”

“Drake mentioned it. I had to do something while I was waitin' for you, so I spent as much time with him as his job would allow.”

“Ah. Why didn't you just come and visit me? My firehouse is even a bit closer.”

“I—uh…I wanted a bit of privacy. I have somethin' important to ask you.”

She glanced nervously at Rory. He didn't give anything away. In fact, he just shrugged, as if he had no idea what Aiden was talking about. It's true he hadn't told Rory he was going to propose tonight. And the clan leader may have thought he'd talked him out of it. To be honest, his cousin's reluctance almost made him more determined.

“I—I guess I can spend a few minutes with you. I was invited to Sunday dinner at my boyfriend's home tomorrow, so I figured I'd spend tonight with my own family.”

“How fortunate that I'm part of your family.”
And all she'll be doing tomorrow is saying good-bye to the boyfriend and packing her bags.

Amber stood. “Shall I get your coat, Chloe?”

“I can get it. Is it in the hall closet?”

Amber grinned. “In a manner of speaking…let me get both of your coats. I'll be back in a flash.”

While they waited, Chloe looked everywhere except at Aiden. When Amber returned with their winter jackets, she seemed relieved and shrugged into hers without waiting for him to help her. He could see he'd have to teach her a bit about manners too, but all of that could wait. The important thing was to get them married. She had an Ulster birth certificate just like he did. No need to worry about international logistics.

When they were both bundled up, he held the door open for her and she strode through. She opened the second door, the one to the outside, and held it for him. He jogged forward and took the door handle. “Let me get that for you, luv.”

She looked at him strangely as she passed, then walked into the howling wind. Apparently she wasn't used to being around a gentleman.

“Where did you want to go walkin', ousin?” she asked.

“I don't know the area as well as you do. I like these picturesque residential streets, but are there some that are less noisy and more private?”

She tipped her head and then her face lit up. “Yes. There's a cute little area near the theatre district called Bay Village. It's tucked away and quiet there.”

“Perfect.”

She set off at a brisk pace and he kept up, trying to make small talk until they reached the area she spoke of. He filled her in on the health of his brothers and asked after her sister, Shannon. It sounded as if Shannon was happy living in the caretaker's cottage on the castle grounds in Ballyhoo.

That would be fine. He'd like to move his bride to the family's ancient castle at some point, but from what he'd seen several months ago, it needed work to make it livable first. They could stay at the local B and B until it was ready. She'd be impressed when he restored it to its former glory.

Finally, she slowed her pace when they came upon a place named Church Street. He noticed a church nearby, but it didn't appear to be on the street named for it. However, there was a tiny park on one corner with a couple of benches. A decorated pine tree made the place look festive—almost romantic.

“How's this?” she asked.

“Perfect,” he said.

She sat on one of the benches and he plopped down next to her.

“You have me mind spinnin' with curiosity. What's so private you had to talk here instead of in me brother's comfortable home?”

He slipped an arm around her shoulder. She leaned away and frowned, as if he were out of his mind.

“Are you warm enough, luv?”

“I'm fine.” She cocked her head. “So, get to it. What is this about, Aiden?”

He thought he'd better make his case, quickly, but there were a few details that led up to his question and he had to start with those.

“You know how verra verra few dragons there are in this world?”

“I don't, really. No.”

“Well, as far as any of us knows, other than the Asian dragons, there are the six Arishes, and Drake Cameron. He thinks he is the last of his clan. He mentioned one female, but said she was ‘batshit crazy' and banished to Siberia. Can you think of any others?”

“I know of none, personally, but I think we had an uncle who left the Arish clan right before the battle of Ballyhoo began. Isn't that right?”

“I believe so, yes. As it turns out, we may know what happened to him after all. Drake said his grandmother came upon a young male dragon in the Scottish highlands centuries ago.”

“Ah! That may have been him, then.”

“Mayhaps. She sort-of adopted him, so he was considered the brother of Drake's mother. His uncle, in other words.”

“Ah. That's wonderful, but what has this to do with us now?”

“Maybe nothing. Both his mother and uncle are dead now. I just wanted to point out how few options we have.”

“Options for what?”

He tried to take her hand, but she tucked it into her pocket.
Have faith. She'll come around.

“As you know, Gaia only made female dragons fertile once every five years. It was supposed to control the population, because of our long lifespans. If you don't mind me askin', where might you be in your cycle now?”

“I do mind you askin', because it's none of your bloody business!”

“All right. Don't get your knickers in a twist.”

“Leave me knickers out of this.”

He took a deep breath and tried to calm her with a smile. She just continued to frown at him. “Well, I'll get back to what I was sayin', then. Unfortunately, that cycle, along with bloody battles and knights provin' their bravery, has almost wiped us out. Our existence hangs in the balance, Chloe.”

She remained quiet, and just blinked at him a couple of times.

“A female dragon can only produce offspring with a male dragon. Shannon is already married to a human. Rory abdicated the throne by leavin' Ireland permanently. And Conlan doesn't want to worry your brother by outrankin' you, because he's the next eldest. Eagan has a lass he's serious about. So, they left it up to me.”

“Huh?” She stared at him blankly.

“It's us or no one, Chloe. I'm askin' you to marry me and have me dragon babies.”

Her mouth dropped open, and he thought she was going to agree with his logic, but instead she was gasping.

As soon as she could form words, she shouted, “Are you out of your feckin' mind?” Then she leaned back and let out a belly laugh that went on too long to pretend he wasn't insulted.

“Chloe. You can stop laughin' anytime, if you please.”

She clutched her belly, laughing harder.

Just as he was about to get firm with her, a man wearing a black hoodie stepped around the corner and demanded, “Hand over your wallets and you won't get hurt.”

That got Chloe to shut up. Aiden rose, holding her in place with a hand on her shoulder, then inserted himself between her and the stranger.

“Go along, little man. You don't know what you're up against here.”

The guy pulled a long knife out of his sweatshirt and said, “No. I don't think
you
know what you're—”

“Be quiet,” Aiden hissed. This guy had the nerve to butt into their private conversation just as he was proposing and try to rob them too? Oh,
hell
no.

Aiden's eyes began to glow, signaling an impending shift.

“No!” Chloe yelled. “You can't do that here…”

The guy's jaw dropped, but he didn't back away.

Aiden's skin turned to shimmering scales, and his clothes magically disappeared as he shifted into his dragon form. Then he rose off the ground, towering over the guy.

The perp dropped his knife but didn't look like he was about to leave, so Aiden decided to prove to Chloe once and for all that he would do anything to protect her from danger…and that he'd make a great dragon father.

He opened his jaws wide, crashed down over the guy's trembling body, and bit him in half. The man's bottom half swayed and toppled over onto the sidewalk. As he chewed the crunchy bones, he wished he had some ketchup.

He was mildly aware of Chloe frantically whispering behind him. “Killin' and shiftin' in front of humans is strictly forbidden. What the feck were you thinkin'?”

He swallowed and shifted back to his human form. “That was a very disappointing dinner. If you want the other half, I'll go find you some salt and pepper, while you roast…”

She reared back and punched him,
hard
. He heard his nose crunch, and a shot of pain nearly blinded him. Blood poured out of his nasal cavity.

“Hey! What was that for?” he cried out toward her retreating back.

“For bein' a feckin' moron.” She marched off with steam pouring out of her nostrils.

He'd give her some time to settle down. He was already healing as he strolled back to the B and B.

Ryan hoped Chloe would like his big, boisterous, sometimes insane family.
Like
might be too much to hope for. He'd settle for tolerate. Bringing her home to Sunday dinner was a risk he'd have to take. He had to show them she was his girlfriend and the slap was just for show. Then he had to convince them all to keep their traps shut at work. No small feat.

Hopefully none of them would trigger her Irish temper, or if they did, she'd be able to smile through it and yell at him later.

“So, this is the slugger,” Mr. Fierro said as soon as everyone was seated.

Ryan palmed his eyes. Before he had a chance to admonish his father, Chloe laughed. “You saw that, did you?”

“I think my whole family saw it, sweetheart,” Ryan said. Then he raised his voice to address everyone. “She did it for show. We work together and I don't want to risk a transfer. She knew that and had to make it look like we were coworkers and nothing more.”

“Aw…you can come to my firehouse, Chloe,” Jayce said. “We'd be happy to have you, and you already know Drake.”

“Thank you kindly, Jayce. But I don't want to be transferred either.”

“You mean you don't get enough of this big lug's ugly face on those twenty-four-hour shifts?” Miguel said. “I can't imagine working with my wife.” He shuddered, and Sandra, who'd been quiet up to that point, hit his arm. He just laughed.

“What is it about my boys getting socked by their girls?” Mrs. Fierro said. “Is it because I raised them to never hit back? You know you can get away with it, but is that fair?”

“Maybe it's because they deserve it,” Sandra said, smirking.

Most of the family laughed. His mother didn't.

“It's okay, Ma. We're men, and we can take it,” Ryan reminded her.

“I still don't like it,” she said.

Chloe fidgeted. “I swear it was only for show, Mrs. Fierro. I'd never hit your son in anger.”

His mother nodded. “I understand. I just hope you don't break his lovely, straight nose…or his heart.”

Chloe's eyes widened. He wondered about her reaction. Should he have told her about Melanie? He hoped no one would bring up his ex-fiancée before he had a chance to fill her in.

“We're just glad he's finally dating again,” Miguel said. “And you can beat him up all you want. We've had our share of boxing matches.”

“Yeah,” Mr. Fierro added. “To the point that I was thinking of building a regulation ring in the basement.”

Everyone laughed—except for his mother, again. Thank God Gabe changed the subject by mentioning pet sitting and how Chloe took in McCall's bird.

“That was nice of you,” Mrs. Fierro said.

Then Gabe blew it by saying, “Yeah. Apparently his parrot learned some colorful new expressions.” He winked at Chloe. “Don't worry. I won't tell ‘feckin' Haggarty.'”

She groaned.

Jayce snorted in disgust. “Has that prick been giving you a hard time?”

She smiled. “Not anymore. I think I finally proved to him that I can be useful.”

Ryan quickly jumped in and told everyone about the ice rescue and how the kid would have been a goner without her bravery. He even mentioned her dislike of large bodies of water.

At last his mother smiled and seemed impressed too.

“I guess we won't be taking you fishing, then,” Jayce said.

She made a face.

“I hope you don't have anything against fish,” Mrs. Fierro said. “You wouldn't get to enjoy my paella.”

Murmurs of “Mmm…” sounded around the table.

“It's to die for,” Sandra said. “If you and Ryan wind up married or living together, you'll have to learn to make it.”

Ryan coughed. “Let's not jump the gun here. We've just begun dating.”

“Yeah,” Mr. Fierro chimed in. “She hasn't had a chance to get sick of all his bad habits yet.”

“What bad habits?” Ryan asked, offended.

His father just grinned, then stuffed his face with more manicotti.

Mrs. Fierro rolled her eyes. “First you call him ugly, then you accuse him of bad habits. That's no way to impress his date.”

“I know he's teasin', Mrs. Fierro. Irish families tease a lot too. I see it for what it is—a form of affection.”

His mother nodded.

“Besides, we've seen each other's bad sides already. Mostly during training,” Ryan added.

“Oh? What's Chloe's bad side like?” she asked.

Shit. I pitched that one right over the plate. I should have known Ma would swing.

Unfortunately everyone waited in uncharacteristic silence. He had to say something. “Well, she's distracting,” he said. “I can't keep my eyes off her.”

The family's reactions were mixed…either groans or laughter. His mother smiled.

“Good save, Brother,” Miguel said with admiration.

Luca piped up. “He had to learn that skill with Melanie. She was way too sensitive for this bunch.”

Crap.

* * *

On their walk back to her place, Chloe had to ask, “So who's Melanie?” She assumed Luca was referring to an old girlfriend, but Ryan had changed the subject so abruptly she never got any information other than her own warning bells going off.

He sighed. “I should have told you about her before this, but I didn't really know how to tell you I was engaged.”

“Was?”

“Yeah. It ended about a year and a half ago. She never liked the idea of my becoming a firefighter. After I got home from Afghanistan, I went for a college degree in business but soon realized I'd be bored stiff in an office. She insisted that I try working in a cubicle for the rest of my life, and I just couldn't do it.”

“So you broke it off to follow in your family's footsteps.”

“
She
broke it off. And as far as my family goes, they understood completely. We have a talent for serving the public—bravely.”

“I'm sure you do. I wasn't questioning that choice. Jaysus. I made that decision myself. I guess I was being a ‘Captain Obvious.' Sorry.”

He snickered.

Did I butcher that saying too?
She was pretty sure she'd gotten that one right.

“So, you're okay with my leaving corporate America to fight dangerous fires?”

“Why wouldn't I be? Hypocrisy, thy name is not Chloe.”

He laughed. “You really are adorkable.”

“Well, I'd say I'm sorry things didn't work out for the two of you, but to be truthful, I'm not sorry a'tall.” She smiled up at him.

He took her hand. “Me neither.”

Shite.
He had come clean. He had introduced her to his family. Now she was the only one with a secret, but it was a doozy.

When they reached the B and B she thought,
Maybe there's one thing I can let him know…
and she kept walking.

“Where are you going? I thought I was taking you to your place.”

“You are. I don't live at the B and B.”

“You don't? Where do you live?”

She stopped at the next building and pointed to the front steps. “Here.”

“Oh. Right next door, then.”

“Yup.”

“Why did you let me think you lived with your brother?”

She shrugged, embarrassed to admit the truth, but she'd come this far… “I wasn't sure I could trust you.”

He just stared at her.

“And, some of my neighbors can be a little weird.”

“Ah.” He smiled. “That I understand. I was nervous about you meeting my not-always-normal family.”

If only he knew how normal they are compared to the supernatural bunch who live in or visit my apartment building.

So now that she'd been honest about her address, was she willing to take him upstairs? It was the middle of the afternoon. Most of the club members visited at night.
It should be safe.

“Do you want to see my apartment?”

He hesitated. “Do you trust me now?”

“I trust you with my life—literally, and on a daily basis.”

What might he see? Most of the time it was pretty sedate, so she hoped it would stay that way. “All I ask is that you speak only to me about anything out of the ordinary here. I can probably explain…”
I hope.

“I'm intrigued.”

Oh Lord and Lady. I hope I haven't made a mistake.

He followed her up the concrete steps and she used her key to enter both the outer and inner doors. Then she quickly strode to the elevator. “It's only on the second floor, but I'd rather ride, if you don't mind.”
Maybe if we're in the elevator he'll be less apt to see something.

Gwyneth had told her about a bird fight that had happened in the stairwell a couple of years ago, but she'd gotten rid of her owl that wanted to eat the raven and falcon shifters.

Oh dear Goddess…please let nothing weird happen today.

When they stepped out of the elevator, she noticed the chandelier swinging by itself.
Oh, shite. The ghost must be saying hello.
She grabbed Ryan's hand and dragged him to her door. Opening it quickly, she pulled him inside and slammed the door behind him.

He cocked his head. “You seem anxious.”

She breathed a sigh of relief when he appeared not to have noticed the chandelier. Grinning, she said, “We're finally alone.”

He stepped into her space and tipped up her chin. “Yes, we are.” When he captured her lips in a heated kiss, she practically melted into his arms.

He finally broke the kiss and nuzzled her neck. “Where's your bedroom?”

“Don't you want the whole tour?”

He glanced around the apartment and she felt silly when she realized he could see everything
except
the bedroom from their vantage point.

“There's more?”

“Well, ah, no. Let me take your coat.”

He pulled off his jacket and handed it to her. She hung it in the hall closet and followed it with her own.

Holding his hand, she jogged past the open kitchen, took a left at the bathroom door, which stayed open when no one was using it, and pulled him into her one and only bedroom. “Here 'tis. There's a walk-in closet over there, of course.” She pointed to the closed door on the opposite side of the room. “Now you've had the tour.”

He grinned at her. “Nice place.”

The only decorating she had done was to hang the Irish flag over her headboard. She shrugged. “I don't spend a lot of time here, so that's why you don't see a lot of knickknacks and such.”

“It's nice this way. I'm kind of Spartan, myself.”

“Are you now?”

“When I finally have the money saved, I'd like to buy a condo in one of those high-rises with an ocean view.”

She whistled. “You may be savin' up fer the rest of your life.”

He laughed. “Maybe, but I don't need a lot of space. Something this size or smaller would suit me just fine. As long as my mother doesn't try to fill it with junk, I'll be happy.”

She slipped her arms around his neck. “Speakin' of bein' happy…”

He smiled. “Yeah?”

“Are you? With me, I mean. Do you miss what you had with Mel—”

He clapped his hand over her mouth. “Don't think for a minute that I compare you to Melanie. What you and I have is better…much more honest and real than I ever had with her.”

Her mood plummeted.
Honest and real?
If only she could be. That was another reason she never had relationships. They might go along fine for a while, but eventually she'd have to tell the guy she was barren. And if things really got serious, she might need to explain why no amount of artificial insemination would help.

It was probably too much to hope Ryan didn't want any kids, and it was too soon to discuss it. Even if he didn't think he needed a lot of room now, that could all change if he wanted to have a family later.

He seemed to be studying her, and she quickly put the smile back on her face.

Might as well enjoy him while I can.
She crooked her index finger at him and backed up. He grinned and followed. When the back of her knees hit the mattress, he tackled her.

They fell onto the bed in a desperate tangle of arms and legs. Their mouths met in a hard kiss, and then with open mouths as if they intended to devour each other.

An unintentional moan escaped her. First she was on top, then he was. Soon it seemed as if they were swirled together like chocolate and vanilla soft serve ice cream.

Their heat built as they rolled back and forth. At last, Ryan broke the kiss and said, “We need to get these clothes off.”

“God yes,” she breathed.

She grabbed his belt buckle and undid it. He had noticed her demure black dress had a zipper in the back, so he slid that open, making a rasping sound. Or was that his zipper, which she was opening at the same time? No matter. They twisted and pulled until everything landed somewhere on the floor.

At last, skin to skin, she slid her toes up his calf and down again. He rolled her onto her back and began kissing a path from her neck to her collarbone, and then to her breasts. He cupped one breast as he suckled the other.

She arched and moaned when the deep sensation coursing through her caused a visceral reaction. It was as if her womb clenched in anticipation. She wanted nothing more than to be filled with him.

He switched to the other breast and created the same need. Her hand had wrapped itself around his cock long before she realized it. She stroked and squeezed him until he leaned back and groaned.

She scooted down the bed and took his stiff rod into her mouth. He gasped as she sucked and then moaned when she applied increasing pressure. She couldn't help reveling in her womanly power, but just to be sure it wasn't too much, she paused to ask.