Surrendering to the Dragon (Stonefire British Dragons Book 7)

Nikki Gray has reason to hate the dragon hunters—they brutally murdered one of her friends a year ago. Not only that, they have caused havoc on several of the British dragon clans, injuring countless individuals. Determined to defeat the hunters by kidnaping their leader, Simon Bourne, she teams up with a human male in the UK Special Forces. After six months of work, they’re finally ready to carry out their mission and capture Bourne. However, one kiss derails their plans and changes their lives forever.

At the request of his sister, Rafe Hartley agrees to work with the dragon-shifters. After all, the dragon hunters are a pain in his arse and the fewer of them, the better. The woman assigned as his Stonefire liaison, however, is the same one he hurt four years ago in Afghanistan. Pushing aside their past, they learn to work together. Yet with each passing encounter, he is drawn to the lively, stubborn woman. He finally gives in to his attraction and kisses the dragonwoman. What follows turns his life upside down.

Rafe and Nikki must now decide what to do with their futures. Can they still work together and find a way to capture Simon Bourne? Or, will their fated kiss result in a divide that can’t be healed?

Chapter One

Nikola Gray sat across from Logan Lamont, a male nurse from Clan Lochguard, and willed herself to focus on the Scottish dragonman and to avoid looking at her mobile phone for the tenth time.

New information kept coming in about Nikki’s latest mission to hopefully rid her clan of their dragon hunter problem. As the operation date drew closer, she half-expected for something to come up and delay it. As it was, going on a first date wasn’t high on her list of priorities. She’d much rather be going over plans with her team.

Her inner dragon growled.
You promised me sex. If you use work as an excuse again, I might finally carry out my threat of taking control and sleeping with the first single male I find.

Nikki mentally rolled her eyes.
Try it. But you know Kai and Bram will tan our hides if you bollocks up the mission they’ve been planning for nearly half a year.

I just might risk it. It’s been more than a year since we’ve had sex.

And we’ve been busy protecting the clan.

Her dragon grunted.
That reasoning is getting thin. Besides, the Scottish male is handsome and came all the way from Lochguard to have dinner. He’s clearly interested. Sleeping with him doesn’t mean we have to mate him. We should skip dessert and just take him back to our place.

Before Nikki could reply, Logan cleared his throat. “Is something on your mind, lass?”

Forcing a smile, Nikki answered the blond dragonman. “Nothing more than usual. Why do you ask?”

Logan darted his brown eyes to the side and back to her. “Because that lot over there keeps whispering your name and staring. I wasn’t sure if they knew something I didn’t.”

From the corner of her eye, Nikki spotted a group of elderly dragon-shifter females. Resisting a curse, she replied, “They’re probably just admiring the sexy Scot sitting across from me.”

Logan sat up taller. “I wish that were true.” He leaned forward a bit. “Is that what you were talking about with your dragon, Nikki? The sexy Scot sitting with you?”

She eyed the Scottish male. Logan was tall, with chiseled cheeks and kind eyes; more than handsome by any standard. Not to mention he really had come all the way from Scotland to have dinner with her, thanks to Dr. Sid’s suggestion.

Still, there wasn’t any spark or flicker of fire so far. Nikki didn’t expect fireworks, but a little heat would be nice.

Her beast huffed.
Just invite him over to our place. If nothing else, he won’t treat us as special. Logan has no idea we’re the first child born to a sacrifice on Stonefire.

And I plan to keep it that way.

Inching forward, Nikki was about to ask him to come back to her place when one of the elderly dragonwomen strode toward their table.
Oh no.
The last thing she needed was for one of the clan to meddle.

If only Nikki could have scheduled the dinner on Lochguard. Too bad her duties as a Protector currently prevented her from leaving Stonefire for more than a short while.

Her dragon spoke up again.
Grab his hand and let’s go before the old biddy tries something.

Nikki debated her dragon’s suggestion. Before she could make a decision, Tabitha Seaward stopped next to their table. “Care to introduce me to your friend, Nikki?”

Resisting a sigh, Nikki met the seventy-year-old female’s gaze. Thankfully, Logan spoke up before Nikki said something she’d regret. “My name is Logan Lamont, Miss...?”

Tabitha’s frown eased. “I haven’t been a miss in years, Mr. Lamont. But you can call me Mrs. Seaward.”

Standing up, Logan bowed his head. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Seaward.”

Nikki watched the old female blush and bat a hand at Logan. “Stop it, Mr. Lamont. I just wanted to come over and make sure you’re good enough for our Nikki.”

Logan darted a glance at her and back. “Aye? And how am I doing?”

Tabitha eyed him from head to toe. “You’re doing fine. And if things go well, she can finally do what she’s meant to do and start having babies.”

Clenching her fingers under the table, Nikki frowned. “I think it’s time for you to go, Tabitha.”

Tabitha waved a hand. “Nonsense. You’re twenty-six years old and unattached. Since you can’t manage to find a male on your own, I’m going to help you land a mate.”

To his credit, Logan didn’t bolt from the room. “Pardon?”

Nikki stood up and threaded her voice with dominance. “I really think you should leave, Tabitha.”

Tabitha harrumphed. “Fine. But the longer you put it off, Nikola, the longer you let down the entire clan.”

With a flip of her long, gray braid, Tabitha stormed off.

Taking a deep breath, Nikki met Logan’s gaze again. Curiosity burned there. Nikki decided what the hell, the damage was done already. She might as well tell him the truth. “Sorry about that. The elders expect me to breed and dedicate my life to repopulating the clan.”

Logan raised an eyebrow. “And why would they do that?”

“Because I was the first child born to a sacrifice on Stonefire and they see me as some kind of symbol,” she muttered.

“Why? Are they waiting to have children until you do? Because if so, I think Mrs. Seaward is out of luck.”

Nikki snorted as she sat down. “You should tell her that next time.” Nikki sobered. “But female dragon-shifters are much rarer. Surely Lochguard puts pressure on the females to breed as much as possible.”

“Some, aye. But we also have special licenses for human females now, just as Stonefire does, so I don’t see why the old grannies continue to give you trouble.”

Staring at Logan’s frown, she could tell the Scottish dragon-shifter didn’t view children born to human mothers as any less special. Too bad many of the elders believed dragon with dragon pairings were the best for a child.

Ironic, considering Nikki was half-human and half-dragon-shifter.

Her beast sighed.
Forget about all of that. It’s just for a quick fuck, not a life-long mating.

Finally siding with her dragon, Nikki pushed aside her past and smiled. “Do you—“

Nikki’s mobile chirped with an upbeat song. Her boss’s name flashed on the screen.

Her dragon roared in protest as Nikki picked up her phone and answered, “Yes?”

Her boss’s, Kai Sutherland’s, voice came on the line. “Hartley’s here two weeks early. It’s important. Come to central command straight away.”

Telling Kai she couldn’t come because she needed some nookie wasn’t an acceptable excuse. She was a Protector; Nikki had a duty to fulfill.

Nodding to herself, Nikki answered, “Of course. I’ll be there right away.” Clicking off her phone, she shot Logan an apologetic look. “Sorry, but duty calls. Maybe we can do this again sometime.”

Logan took her hand and squeezed. “Maybe next time, you can come to Lochguard.” She stood up and he followed suit. Pulling her hand to his lips, Logan murmured, “Text me when you want to visit and I’ll give you a personal tour.”

His warm lips against her skin sent a shiver down her spine.

The Scot released her hand. Nikki touched his arm. “I will. And I really am sorry.”

He motioned toward the door. “Go, lass. I understand duty interrupting your life when you least want it. I’m a nurse, after all.”

She lingered a second, memorizing the tall Scot’s form, before rushing out of the restaurant.

Damn Rafe Hartley and his poor timing. Why would he come early? Their entire mission required precise timing. It wasn’t as if they could start a day ahead of schedule. Maybe one of his human contacts had screwed up, which would be even worse.

Narrowing her eyes, Nikki picked up her pace. If Rafe gave her any crap, then Nikki wasn’t going to hold back. The sooner she finished the assignment with the grumpy human male, the sooner she could see Logan again.

~~~

Rafe Hartley leaned against the rear wall of the largest room at Stonefire’s central command and clenched his fingers. “Where is she?”

The tall, blond figure of Kai Sutherland, Stonefire’s head Protector and the dragonman currently shagging Rafe’s sister, merely raised his eyebrows. “She’ll be here.”

Then the cocky bastard turned back toward his team.

With a scowl, Rafe walked over to Kai. Only because of more than a decade of training did he keep the classified details out of his protest. “May I remind you that the past six months of planning will mean nothing if we let this opportunity slip through our fingers? People are growing suspicious and are talking about moving again. They’re meeting to discuss it tomorrow. We need to strike then. Who knows when our next chance will be.”

Kai met his gaze. “I, more than anyone, understand what’s at stake.” The dragonman scrutinized Rafe a second before adding, “Whatever is making you grumpy, you need to push it aside. You’re a soldier. Do your job.”

Rafe took a step toward Kai, but before he could punch the bastard in the face, Nikki rushed into the room.

While there was a faint blush on Nikki’s lightly tanned cheeks, the dragonwoman was breathing regularly. He demanded, “Did you even rush here?”

Nikki’s black brows furrowed over her golden brown eyes. “Don’t start, Rafe.”

As he had from the first time he’d met her on Stonefire many months ago, Rafe wanted to simultaneously goad her and pin her against the wall.

Not now, Rafe.
It wasn’t as if he’d ever have a chance. Dragon-shifter females were off limits, end of story. “I can reprimand you later. Come. We need to talk in private.”

Nikki looked to Kai and the bastard nodded. “Go. I already know what it’s about.”

Since not all of the Protectors were privy to Rafe and Nikki’s assignment, the dragonwoman charged past Rafe. “This way.”

“I know the bloody way,” he muttered.

His actions earned him a double-fingered salute from Nikki.

As soon as they entered the small meeting room, Rafe slammed the door and took a step toward Nikki. “We need to move our departure to the early hours of tomorrow morning.”

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