Crossing his arms over his chest, Bram said, “While I’ve only read about a third of what you wrote, it’s enough for a decision.”
The dragonman fell silent and she wanted to kick him and scream for him to just tell her already. When he said nothing, she asked, “And?”
“I want you to pack your things.”
Evie nearly dropped her bowl of curry. He was sending her away.
Her heart squeezed and it took everything she had not to start crying. Pull yourself together, Evie. Fight for it.
She’d come this far. She wasn’t about to give in so easily. Straightening her shoulders, she said, “If you give me a little more time, I’ll provide more information. Seven years has allowed me access to quite a bit about the DDA, the dragon hunters, and the other dragon-shifter clans. With my glasses and another chance, I can prove to you I’m worth keeping.”
Bram frowned. “What are you talking about? Of course you’re going to help me. I’m not about to mate you just so I can fuck you, although I look forward to that.”
She blinked. “Fuck me? What? You just told me to pack my things.”
“Aye, you’re moving in with me tonight.”
*~*~*~*
End Part One
*~*~*~*
PART TWO
Chapter One
Evie blinked and tried to comprehend Bram’s words. Rather than say something intelligent, all she could do was echo, “Move in with you tonight?”
The dragonman took two steps toward her before he said, “Aye. Unless you’re now having second thoughts?” He gave her a slow once-over before meeting her eyes again. “I was rather looking forward to fucking you.”
The bluntness of his words cut through her shock and ignited her temper. “I’m not just going to jump into bed with you without setting things straight between us. If you’re being serious about taking me as your mate, then I want to know how it will work, what my role here will be, and how you plan to chase away the dragon hunters. Not to mention, exactly how you plan to fight the British government about my staying here.”
“No.”
She narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean ‘no’?”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “What was it that some redhead said to me earlier today? Oh, that’s right, that she was only going to share what needed to be shared. Right now, you’re in the ‘maybe I’ll mate you’ stage. We have three days before you’re supposed to leave here. In that time, you need to convince me to trust you. Until then, I’ll share what you need to know, but not one word extra.”
It seemed that her display of strength earlier had come back to bite her in the arse. “If you’re trying to intimidate me into doing whatever you say, it won’t work. Yes, I need your protection, but I’d rather take my chances with the dragon hunters than turn into a ‘yes, dear’ complacent idiot.”
Bram uncrossed his arms and took the remaining steps between them. “Strong words from a woman all but begging for my help.”
As she stared up into his light blue eyes, she could hear the dragonman’s breathing and she realized how close he was standing to her. He was being an arsehole, but his heat and scent surrounded her and she remembered what it’d been like to be kissed by this man. Before she could stop herself, her eyes darted to his firm lips.
Then the corner of Bram’s lips twitched and she knew she’d been caught. Focusing on her temper, she met his eyes again. “Laugh at me, I don’t care. We already know how one kiss from me affects you.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I rather thought it was the other way around.”
They stared at one another, neither of them speaking. His head inched toward hers, and for a second, she thought he was going to kiss her again, but instead, he placed a finger under her chin. It took everything she had not to shiver as his mostly Scottish tones rolled over her. “If all goes well and you have nothing to hide, you’ll be in my bed soon enough. Until then, don’t lie to me, Evie Marshall, or you will make an enemy out of me.”
~~~
Bram resisted the urge to stroke the soft skin under Evie’s chin. Hell, he was only inches away from her lips, and his inner dragon kept pushing him to kiss her. Even now, his dragon chimed in, she tastes good. Her scent tells us she wants it too. Kiss her.
Again, you’re thinking with your cock.
She will not betray us.