Dracian Legacy (18 page)

“No,” I said in a crackled voice. My throat felt dry.

“You fucking know I won’t hurt her.” Dean charged at Axel, his hand raised in a tight fist. His knuckles turned white.

Axel stood his ground, unaffected by his threats.

“Axel, it’s okay.” I grabbed his forearm and pulled at him, urging him to follow me. He let me haul him out hesitantly. “Dean will never hurt me.” I looked into his flaming blue eyes.

“How do you know?” His eyes flinched slightly. Anyone else would’ve missed it.

“I just do.” I didn’t tell Axel about the strange connection I felt with Dean. “We’ve been friends for far too long for him to do something that stupid.” I cupped his face between my hands. “Let me take care of this, my way, please?”

He hesitantly nodded and leaned down to kiss me. He then whirled around and walked away without turning back. I knew he wasn’t happy with my request, but I was happy he trusted me enough to let me handle this on my own. Somewhere in the back of my mind, my conscience screamed at me for making him upset. But for now, I had bigger fish to fry. I squared my shoulders and spun on my heel, storming back into the locker room to Hulk, who apparently couldn’t keep his temper in check.

“You listen to me—” I stopped in my tracks. “You okay?” I asked, my voice softer.

Dean sat on the floor against the wall, his head leaned back, eyes closed.

“I can’t believe you’re making me do this,” I said, sliding down to sit next to him.

I crossed my legs Indian style, tucking my hair behind my ear, and started to play with my chipped fingernails. “Dean, I’m sorry if I hurt you. That was never my intention.”

He didn’t look at me or move. I didn’t even know if he heard me, so I moved to kneel in front of him, cupping his face between my hands, forcing him to look at me.

“I love you, Dean.” His eyes lifted to mine, big and bright. “But I love you as my best friend. Even when we were apart, I cared for you deeply. But you have to accept that I make my own choices and I don’t need another big brother to look after me.”

“I’m not your brother,” he said with repulsion. “You don’t even know the guy, not like we know each other.”

“We’re dating, not getting married or having babies.”

He flinched.

I ruffled his black faux-hawk through my fingers playfully. He grasped my hands and placed them on his chest, where his heart beat unsteadily.

“Up until now, I didn’t have to worry about anyone coming between us. Now here is a spoiled rich kid, who’s been born with a silver spoon in his mouth—”

“Nobody’s going to get between us. I’m still your best friend; you’re still mine.” I stood up, extending my hand to him, pulling him up. “I just ask you trust my judgment, okay?”

He nodded, slumping his shoulders in defeat.

“But I reserve the right to beat the shit out of him if he mistreats you.”

I opened my mouth to respond, because he certainly would know all about mistreatment, given how much experience he had, but he cut me off before I could make a sound.

“I’m not negotiating,” he said before walking out of the room.

“Douchebag,” I called after him, feeling relief spread through my body.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I busied myself with chemistry homework, while Axel worked on Dracian official business on a see-through iPad type device called a D.C.S—Defense Communication System. It was an all-in-one device that allowed the Legion commanding officers to plan and maintain tactical warfare strategies or others to use as a cell phone service. The level of access depended on the level of clearance—civilian to the king of Dracia. The really cool thing about it was Axel could conceal it as a watch.

I slammed my book shut and looked at him—waiting. His brows creased and his eyes narrowed as he moved his finger on the DCS, until his eyes connected with mine.

“What?” His finger tapped the tip of my nose.

I sat next to him at the breakfast nook in our kitchen, rapping my foot on the barstool, wondering how I should tell him what I wanted.

“I’m thinking it’s time you teach me self-defense.”

He stiffened.

I pushed my book aside and looked through my lashes. “Knowing what I know, hanging around you, and my track record to attract trouble, I’m bound to run into some kinda mess. I don’t always want to depend on you to rescue me.”

He sighed and minimized the DCS, placing it around his wrist. He laid his hand on my cheek and his eyes drilled into mine. “I’ll keep you safe, Ren.”

“What if you can’t? You can’t watch me twenty-four seven. You’d have to move in with me.” I hopped off the barstool and moved closer to him. I brought my lips to his ear and whispered, “Besides, training can be fun…”

“There’s nothing more dangerous than a half-trained rookie who thinks she can defend herself.”

Damn, he’s stubborn.

I placed my hands on his thighs. My lips landed on the flesh under his jawline. He groaned and I smiled, knowing his resolve was weakening. His breathing became labored. My inner goddess was wickedly giddy. I rose on my toes and moved up to kiss his lips lightly and pulled back to see his reaction. He sat up straighter, adjusting on the seat. Suddenly, I was pulled into his lap. The corner of his lip twitched the slightest and all kinds of bad thoughts ran through my mind. I flushed. I bit my lip, hoping he couldn’t read minds.

“Maybe I need more convincing.” He suggested before he dragged his lips from my cheek to the base of my throat. It was my turn to moan. Then he pulled away. I pouted.

“Damn, that’s sexy.”

“If you’re trying to kiss up to me instead of begging for forgiveness, it’s not working. Try again, Mr. Knight.” I attempted to dismount.

He picked me up and placed me on the counter. He jumped off the barstool, pushed my knees apart, and stood between my legs. His fingers found their way under my shirt.

I gasped.

Fireworks exploded as he playfully caressed my waist. As if he were a snake charmer and I the snake, I found myself leaning into his gaze, wanting a taste of him. A smile formed on his lips. He nuzzled his nose into the curve of my neck and pressed his lips against the sensitive skin under my ear, raising gooseflesh with his taunting feather-light kisses. My head fell back and I trembled as heat coursed through me, desire consuming my every nerve. His lips curved up into a smile. Then he pressed them against mine, caressing, massaging them between his teeth, before letting me go. I moved my head forward and was ensnared by his painfully stunning glowing blue irises.

“So, what were we talking about?” I panted, my eyes darting to his swollen lips.

“How I’m dying to teach you how to defend yourself.”

“Right.” I took a deep breath. “Let’s start training tomorrow, then,” I said, giving little pecks on his lips between each word.

“I’m looking forward to it,
Meus Aeterus
.” He buried his face into the hollow of my shoulder. Warm succulent kisses soon trailed wherever his lips traveled.

“You’re really good at this.” I whimpered.

“Anything that pleases you, my goddess.”

“My Alexander.”

“Always and forever yours, as you’re mine.”

I placed my fingers under his chin and tilted it up before I settled my lips over his. What started slow and methodical soon became a scorching hot fire that neither of us could control. I giggled when he pulled me to him, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. He kissed, anywhere and everywhere, but my mouth.

“You’re a tease,” I complained.

“All in good time, angel.”

He trailed lower to my collarbone before conquering my mouth, like he needed my kiss to survive. He let out a deep rumble that I felt against my mouth. He walked backward into the living room and fell onto the sofa with me on top of him.

“Now, who’s got the upper hand?” I asked devilishly.

I looked directly into his eyes. I ran my hand under his shirt and traced out his chiseled body. His eyes closed and a visible shudder moved through him.

“That feels amazing,” he whispered.

I leaned into him for another peck. He had other plans and wrapped his arms around my waist, tugging me closer.

“Ahem.”

Axel and I stilled. I squeezed my eyes shut, praying I just imagined the sound. Axel peeked over my shoulder and let out a nervous laugh.

Don’t let it be my brother. Don’t let it be my brother.

I pushed myself off Axel and looked over my shoulder and… let out a sigh of relief.

“What were you doing?” Cassie asked.

My body blazed like it was lit on fire. “Um, studying?”

Axel got to his feet and she stared at him. He shifted his weight from one leg to the other, dodging her eyes.

“I’ll see you later.” He leaned down as if to kiss me on the lips and paused. He tilted his head up and kissed my forehead instead. “Bye, Cassie,” he said, waving awkwardly to her.

“You know the rules, Ren.” She turned to me, her hands on her hips.

She had that look my mother used on me right before I was grounded.

She’s pissed.

“We weren’t doing anything—”

“That didn’t look like
we weren’t doing anything…
” Her eyebrows rose high in disbelief.

I ran my fingers through my hair and pulled it forward until it covered my face.

“Listen, Ren, I know how it can be. I was a teenager once. If you want to talk about sex…”

I cringed.

“…I’m here for you, okay? I trust you to be responsible.”

I nodded.

She smiled. “So, I was hoping you could help me with something. I need your opinion.” She waved the magazines in her hands, taking a seat next to me. “I’ve narrowed down the invitation designs to these three.” She looked at me sheepishly. “Since our color is tea rose pink these seem to fit best.”

She passed the three catalog cards over to me. I slid down to the floor and laid them on the coffee table. We soon got lost in the details of the wedding plans. After a few hours of itemizing, only one thing was left.

“And… which one?” Cassie asked, holding two floral arrangement designs in her hands.

Her favorite flowers were lilies, but the designs in her hand were gardenia bouquets in different arrangements.

“But I thought you loved lilies?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Then, why gardenia as the main flower?”

“Because these were the flowers your parents had at their wedding. They might not be here, Ren, but this will be a little reminder they’re always with us as long as we keep their memories alive.”

“Oh, Cassie.” I fought back a sob. “I love you so much!”

“Don’t be silly. They were as much my parents as they were yours. Now pick one.”

“This one.” I pointed to the simple arrangement with cherry blossom pink lilies and just a hint of greenery peeking among the creamy gardenias.

My mother would love it, without a doubt.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Axel parked in front of a huge warehouse labeled “Karter Raid.”

He zipped out of the car, locking the doors.

“Stupid
Dracian
,” I muttered under my breath. “Show off!” I yelled louder.

A sly smile tugged up the corner of his lips. He unlocked my door and pulled it open while extending his hand toward me.

“You’ve been beating me to the punch.” He pulled me to him, slamming the door shut, leaning me back against his car. “I can’t have you opening your own door, especially when we’re on our date.”

“A girl could get used to this.” I leaned into him, kissing his yummy lips.

“You deserve everything good life has to offer,” he said with a charming smile that sent me soaring like an eagle on the wind. I let out a sigh as he chuckled. “Come on.”

Once we were inside, Axel asked me to take a seat while he stepped up to the counter. He ran back to me with a huge grin on his face, handing me a helmet and a red jumpsuit.

“I hear you’re unbeatable in kart racing.”

I cocked my eyebrow at him. “Huh.”

He pulled me to him and kissed the tip of my nose. “I would’ve never figured you for a racer.” His voice dropped low and husky. “It’s incredibly sexy.”

I laughed nervously, feeling my knees weaken. “That’s so not fair.”