Only For Her Dragon (Dragon Guard Series Book 6)(6)

Rayne’s voice brought him back to reality. “All right, we’ll reconvene at the Great Hall at eleven.”

Aaron glanced at his watch as he made his way back to their vehicles. Ten hours until we’re supposed to be at the Great Hall. Is that enough time?

“I know you’re not talking to me but since you asked,” Aidan’s laugh in his head let Aaron know he had dropped his guard again. “Hell, yes, it’s enough time. Get your butt over there as soon as you can. Time’s wasting.”

“I hear ya,” was all he could say. He cut their connection and shored up his mental shields for the second time in less than twenty-four hours.

The return trip was quiet, but just as tension filled as the beginning of their excursion. They pulled up in front of his house, exited the vehicles, and headed inside. Aaron was almost to the house when he noticed Rayne and Rian had stayed back by the vehicles. Luckily, it looked like they were just talking, not throwing punches.

After making sure everyone was settled in, he took a quick shower, pulled on a T-shirt and jeans, and headed out the backdoor. As he pulled away, he called out to Royce, “I’m heading over to Charlie’s. Be back in time for the meeting.”

“Do what you gotta do. I’ll cover if need be.”

“Thanks.”

“No worries.”

He spent the ride trying to come up with something witty to say. It wasn’t until he pulled in her driveway that he realized how nervous he truly was.

It’s now or never and never is not an option; he heard his mother’s voice repeating her favorite saying as he made his way up the walk.

What he saw made his blood run cold.

A broken clay pot, the front door was ajar, and Charlie nowhere in sight…





CHAPTER THREE

Restless and unable to stop thinking about all she and Sam had discussed the night before, Charlie decided she needed fresh air. Heading out for her walk, she glimpsed the daisies that had been anonymously planted. In the next three steps, the rose bush came into view and she became irritated.

Totally irrational, but I can’t help it.

One about face later she found herself in the kitchen making tea and looking through Sam’s old cookbooks. Turning pages without even seeing them, Charlie slammed the book closed, growled under her breath, and stared out the window.

Her mind was so cluttered, a mass of pictures and thoughts…all that defied reason. She couldn’t focus on any one thing for longer than a few seconds. Dragons and witches. Fate and Destiny. The Universe actually making one woman for one man. No, change that…one woman for one dragon. Hunters and wizards. It was all so confusing. There was so much more to the world then she had ever imagined. So many things that just didn’t make sense.

She picked up the notes she’d made while talking to Sam, scanned the list, and tossed it across the table. Nothing on the paper was going to turn back time and make her forget all she’d learned. It was time to stop moping….time to get a grip and accept things as they were.

Come on, girlie. Up and at ‘em. Do something constructive.

Making her way to the front porch, she took a deep breath of the fresh, crisp air, which amazingly cleared her mind. Charlie looked around and it was obvious no one had been paying attention to Sam’s potted garden. The herbs needed weeding, vines needed trimming, and everything needed watered and fertilized.

Entirely focused on what she was doing along with trying not to think of Aaron for the hundredth time, the sound of footsteps pulled her from her task. Gasping, Charlie spun, bobbling the pot she was working with before dropping it anyway. Of course, then she felt like a total idiot when she realized it was only Sam’s neighbor walking his abnormally large dog.

Shaking her head at her lack of grace, Charlie shelved her ideas of a photo shoot for Better Homes and Garden and went in search of the broom and dustpan. Stopping in the kitchen for a quick drink of water, she once again heard footsteps, but chalked it up to her imagination and chuckled instead of freaking out.

With a glass in hand, she had just turned towards the faucet when the little hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Worse than that, the marks on her back tingled, something that hadn’t happened in years. Her heart raced. Her pulse pounded. She turned so quickly the glass she was holding slipped from her fingers. In the blink of an eye, the man she’d worked so hard to ignore was standing mere inches from her, saving the cup from certain death.

As Aaron stood to his full height of at least six feet four inches, his cerulean eyes held her captive. Tiny wrinkles at the corners of his eyes assured her she would find him grinning if she looked down at his very kissable mouth.

Staring deep into his eyes, Charlie sighed. She’d forgotten how ruggedly handsome he really was.

No one would ever accuse Aaron O’Brien of being pretty. His skin seemed to hold a permanent tan, showing just a few signs of years being outside in the sun and wind. No matter what time of day she saw him, he always had a five ‘o’clock shadow, stubble she knew first hand, that tickled when it touched her cheek.

His shoulders were broad, his waist trim, and her fingers tingled with the need to touch his chest as she’d done the night of their kiss. The longer they stood staring at one another the stronger the tingles in her back became, almost like cold chills running up and down her spine.

Somehow, his wonderful scent had slipped her mind. Standing this close, his scent filled her senses. It was as crisp as a winter morning after a fresh snowfall and made her think all sorts of thoughts that were better left tucked away.

Aaron was lethal. He was the epitome of ‘sex on a stick’. The one man that could tie her in knots.

The tickle in her back reached an all-time high at the same time she realized he had no business in Sam’s home, and more importantly, no business mere inches from her. Taking a step back, Charlie narrowed her eyes, pursed her lips, and slammed her fists onto her hips.

The best defense is a good offense.

“What are you doing here? You scared the hell outta me!”

His grin faltered for a split second before he cocked his hip against the counter and resumed his usual devil may care appearance. But, she had seen a crack in his veneer. One she would use someday. Then he spoke, derailing her thoughts.

“I stopped by to…” He cleared his throat, the mesmerizing effect of his deep raspy voice lingering.

When he began again, his tone had softened and Charlie felt herself sway. Holding fast, she focused on his words instead of his voice. “I came to apologize… and explain. But then I saw the broken pot and the opened door and thought something had happened.”

“Sam took care of that,” was her retort, but it lacked the force she intended.

He was worried about me? Steady girl. Don’t let him get the best of you…again.

“I know she did, but I owe you an apology.”

“Okay. You could’ve done that over the phone.”

“I tried several times but you ignored my calls.”

Knows that trick, does he?

“Yeah, well, there is such a thing as voicemail. Besides, I needed some time. It’s not every day you see a real live dragon.”

Aaron snorted and she immediately got the joke. Her attempt at hiding her smile was poor at best, so she gave up.

“Well, I guess it does happen every day for you. Does it? I mean, I can ask that, right?”

His snort turned into loud laughter. It was the first time she’d seen him really let go, except for their kiss. If possible, he was even sexier.

Asshole is gonna be the death of me.

The glance he gave her through his impossibly thick eyelashes made her think he had heard her thoughts.

Now, I’ve really lost it.

Before she could think further, he answered. “Yes, you can ask me anything. And no, it doesn’t happen every day…but it can.”

She nodded, trying to decide if she should hear what he had to say or throw him out on his butt.

Curiosity won.

“Anything, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“What does it feel like to fly?” Charlie blurted out. Her cheeks heated and she thanked the Lord that Aaron chose to ignore her embarrassment.

He moved towards the table, holding out a chair and motioning for her to have a seat. When she sat, he took the chair adjacent to her before answering. “It’s one of the best things about being a dragon. Most think it’s being big and regal, or breathing fire, but flying is like no other feeling on earth. It is freedom, power, and it is life affirming. When I’m soaring across the skies it gives me perspective, helps me think….makes me see my place in the world.”

“Breathing fire?” she whispered, interrupting what he was about to say.

“Yeah, probably should’ve saved that for later,” he ran his hand down his face and blew out a long breath. “But it’s a fact…we can breathe fire. Most of the things you’ve read in fairy tales are true.” He paused then quickly added, “Except about us being the bad guys. That’s bullshit! The hunters and wizards made that up so people would rat them out. No dragon ever held a princess hostage in a tower, or attacked a city they weren’t battling. Truth be told, when dragons were just dragons, not shifters, they fought alongside knights to keep the King’s peace. They were the good guys.”