Dragon Heat 2 - Red Hot Dragon (2 page)

been expecting this. Nearly seven feet tall, he sported the

broadest shoulders she’d ever seen and muscular arms

emblazoned with heavy tattoos. She didn’t recognize any

of the symbols or markings, but they were probably

significant to his old tribe or his Welsh homeland.

Griffin lifted one huge hand and crooked a finger. His

deep, rumbling voice made her heart race. “Come with

me.”

Gulping down the anxiety clogging her throat, Avani

followed him across the gym to an office. She glanced

over her shoulder and found Madoc making his way to an

arched doorway on the other side of the gym. The

realization she would have a few moments of privacy to

plead her case with Griffin bolstered her courage.

He entered the office and kept one hand on the door for

her. Fearful that inhaling his scent would make her brain

fuzzy, she held her breath as she passed him. Soothing heat

radiated from him in strong, penetrating waves. Her

breasts ached and her core pulsed with need. Attraction

and lust weren’t emotions she allowed herself to

experience very often. Right now, she didn’t have a

choice. Griffin’s nearness had inflamed her.

The door shut with a soft click. Hands trembling, she

gripped the handkerchief tighter. Coming into a closed

space with him had been a terrible idea. His delicious

scent curled around her. She eyed him warily as he

walked to the desk and leaned back against it. Even in that

slight sitting position, he towered over her. Refusing to sit

or give him the upper hand, she lifted her chin.

“You realize that I’m about to go into heat. The risk

you’ve taken—”

“It’s acceptable to me,” she interrupted. “In fact, our

synced heat cycles are exactly why I need you.”

His jaw visibly clenched. “If you’re suggesting what I

think you’re suggesting, you are out of your damned mind.

I’m not in the market for a mate and certainly not one

whose great-aunt stabbed my great-uncle to death.” He

pointed to the door. “You should leave.
Now.
”

“No.” She stood her ground. “And, for the record, my

father’s family tells a slightly different version of that

altercation that started off our feud.”

He snorted. “I’m sure they do. Now why are you here?”

“You’re a member of the Brotherhood of the Green

Hide. You’re charged with protecting our species from

extinction. You know what the Knights of St. George did

to my mother’s family?”

His harsh expression softened. “Yes.”

“Then you also know that after the massacre last fall,

I’m the last of my mother’s line.” Her eyes prickled with

bitter tears as the memories of the vicious and brutal battle

flooded her mind. “My mother’s family had invited us

home for reconciliation. It was supposed to be a beautiful

family reunion, but those bastards…”

She couldn’t finish the thought. Swallowing hard, she

touched her chest. “I’m the last of the Naga. I’ve been

combing the family trees of my people looking for

someone, anyone, with the right genes, but the Knights

have snuffed us out.”

Griffin exhaled slowly. “The Knights are frighteningly

efficient when it comes to targeting specific bloodlines.

Your mother’s line was one of the most fragile and unique

of our kind.”

“Centuries of arranged marriages and a closed society

didn’t help.” She thought of the horror her mother and

father had caused with their scandalous love affair and

elopement. Her Indian mother had chosen to marry a

Western man from a little-known branch of a British

dragon tribe. Both sets of parents had decried the match

and ostracized the pair. Avani had grown up as an outcast,

never quite belonging in the dragon commune that had

accepted her parents as members.

“I don’t know why you think I can help you. My people

are lightning makers and thunder clappers.”

“Not all of them,” she said. “Your archivist, Reynard,

helped me identify dragons with suitable bloodlines. Your

great-grandmother was a water serpent. Like me, she was

the last of her kind, but she came from a pure and

uninterrupted bloodline.”

He let loose an annoyed grunt. “So what?”

Gathering her courage, she said, “It means that our baby

would have a high chance of inheriting my Naga gifts.”

Taken aback, Griffin stared at her. “Are you
insane
?

Did you really just propose that we have a child? In case

you’ve forgotten, our families are involved in a blood

feud.”

Irritated, she snapped back at him. “No, I haven’t

forgotten. If you’re not going to help me, you may as well

go ahead and finish me off right here. Satisfy your family’s

honor, Griffin. Who knows? Maybe the Knights will send

you a thank-you card and a nice flower arrangement for

tying up a loose end.”

He growled angrily and shot to his feet. “Comparing me

to a Knight isn’t a very persuasive tactic, Avani.”

She rubbed her face and sighed. “Look, I’m sorry. I’m

on edge and I’m desperate.”

“Why are you in such a rush to have children? You’re

only, what, thirty? You haven’t even hit your first

centenary!”

“When you’re the last member of a nearly extinct race

of dragon, you can stand there and lecture me on

biological clocks!”

He studied her intently. “Do you have any idea what

you’re asking? I’ve gone nearly one thousand years

without taking a mate or fathering a child. There’s a

reason for that. My work is very dangerous. My loyalty to

the Brotherhood comes first.”

She understood his hesitancy and embraced it. She’d

been relieved when she’d researched him and realized

how unlikely he was to want a role as an active parent.

“I’m not looking for a husband or even a partner in

parenting. Don’t worry. I don’t want your money, either.

My jewelry business is quite successful. I can handle

motherhood on my own.”

“Is that so?” An expression she couldn’t place filtered

across his face. “It seems as if you have this all planned

out. I suppose all you want from me is a sperm donation.”

She winced at how cold it sounded. “It wouldn’t be like

that. You’re in heat. I’m in heat. I’m sure our time together

will be pleasurable.”

“And when the phase ends?”

“You leave. I’ll contact you if we’re successful.”

“And that’s that?” He didn’t sound happy.

“Well, I mean, what more do you want?”

He made a disgusted noise. “What the hell kind of man

do you think I am? You think I would make a child and

then walk away from him or her?”

His fury stunned her. Stammering, she said, “I thought

—”

“No,” he interjected roughly. “You didn’t think. You

assumed you could waltz in here smelling like heaven,

then ensnare me and convince me to do whatever you

wanted. Well, I’ve got news for you, Avani. I’m not the

kind of man who can be led around by his dick.”

His crass remark made her flinch. “You’re wrong,

Griffin. I didn’t come here hoping to ensnare you with my

mating scent.” Embarrassment burned her neck and cheeks.

“Do you think it was easy for me to come in here and beg

a stranger to sleep with me? And not just any stranger,

Griffin! You’re my enemy.”

“I am not your enemy.” He spoke the words with such

passion it set her back on her feet. “What happened

centuries ago is of little consequence to me. No dragon is

my enemy.” Looking pained, he rubbed the back of his

neck. “You’re asking me to do the impossible.”

“No,” she replied insistently. “I’m asking you to uphold

the oath you took when you joined the Brotherhood. I’m

asking you to save my family line. I need you, Griffin.

You’re the only one who can help me.”

His intense stare unnerved her. Her breath hitched in

her throat when he took a step toward her. Instinct took

hold. For every one of his steps forward, she scurried

back two. Her back hit the door and stalled her flight.

He planted both hands against the door, pinning her

smaller body between his and the wooden plank at her

back. Her shuddery breaths buffeted his naked chest. His

tanned skin tempted her like no other. She fisted her hands

at her sides and closed her eyes. When his face lowered,

she turned her head.

“Don’t,” he warned gently. Nuzzling her cheek with his

nose, he coaxed her to face him. Their breaths mingled as

he gazed into her eyes. His mouth brushed hers with such

softness. The spark of contact arced between them, setting

her skin alight.

With a low groan, Griffin finally captured her lips. He

was easy at first, his lips pliable and soft against hers.

Taking control, he deepened the kiss. His tongue swiped

hers. She whimpered as he plundered her mouth. Her

hands flew to his chest. The searing heat of his skin set her

afire.

Whether it was the mating scent or their natural

chemistry, Avani couldn’t say. In that moment, she didn’t

really care. She’d never felt anything like this. Her whole

body pulsed and ached. She didn’t fight him when he

grasped the backs of her thighs and lifted her off the floor.

The fabric of her skirt bunched and pulled taut when she

wrapped her legs around his waist. She gasped at the

sensation of his rock-hard cock pressing against her. Only

a few pieces of thin cloth separated their overheated

bodies.

A guttural sound emanated from his throat. He tore his

mouth away from hers. Forehead to forehead, they panted

and shuddered. Finally, Griffin spoke: “We do this my

way.”

She licked her lips and stared into the eyes of the man

who had awoken such need within her. “What way is

that?”

“I’ll help you save your line, but I will not bond with

you. I don’t want or need a mate.”

His words shouldn’t have hurt her. She hadn’t come

here looking for a mate, after all. Still, they struck a raw

nerve. She’d always been the unwanted one. It wouldn’t

be any different now.
It’s only sex
, she reminded herself.

“I won’t bite you,” she promised. At the confused look

on his face, she explained, “Among the Naga, a bite and

exchange of venom is required to seal a true mate bond.”

“You have fangs?” He tilted his head for a better look at

her mouth. “I didn’t feel them.”

She shook her head. “I only have them in my serpent

form.”

“I see.” His fingertip trailed her jaw. “If this works, I’m

not walking away from my child. There is no way in hell

I’m playing the role of absentee father.”

His assertion troubled her. She wasn’t kidding earlier.

She didn’t want the interference of another parent in her

life. Single motherhood appealed to her for a few very

personal reasons. “But I don’t want—”

He silenced her with a kiss. Leaving her breathless, he

said, “This isn’t up for debate, Avani. These are my terms.

Take them or leave them. Now—do we have a deal?”

Overwhelmed by his commanding heat and strength,

Avani was powerless to say no. She found unexpected

reassurance in his penetrating, unwavering gaze. His offer

wasn’t the most palatable, but there was plenty of time to

convince him to give her exactly what she wanted. “All

right. We have a deal.”

But as Griffin carefully lowered her to the ground,

Avani couldn’t shake the feeling her well-laid plans were

about to be shot to hell by this ridiculously sexy beast of a

man.

Chapter Two

You are out of your mind.”

Griff stopped repacking his gym bag long enough to

glance at Mad. His cousin leaned against the wall of

lockers and shook his head in disbelief. Griff didn’t blame

him. Away from Avani’s enticing scent, he was starting to

have second thoughts, too. His gaze skipped to the closed

door as he thought of her waiting for him. Was she feeling

the same uncertainty about her brazen plan? “She made a

good case.”

“A good case?” Mad scoffed. “She asked you to give

her a baby. That’s not a little favor done between friends,

Griff. That’s a lifelong commitment.”

“She doesn’t want a commitment. She just wants the

baby.”

Mad’s appalled face mirrored Griff’s feelings on the

subject. “Please tell me you didn’t agree to that.”

“No. I reacted in much the same way as you. I made it

clear that if this plan of hers works, if we’re able to keep

her line alive, I will be involved.”

Mad rubbed the back of his neck. “A baby, Griff? Have

you really thought this all the way through? Have you

considered what Ignatius will say?”

Griff grunted. “I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.

It’s likely this won’t even work. We’re not exactly a

species known for high fertility rates.”

“But you’re still going to give it that old college try.”

Griff ignored Mad’s juvenile gesture. “Don’t be crude.”

He considered what kind of courage it had taken for Avani

to come into the gym of her family’s sworn enemy and ask