Filed to story: Reclaimed Book by Roxie Ray
“Think so,” Dylan said, his voice muffled against Stephan’s shoulder.
“Yeah, you’re just fine,” Stephan said. He scooped Dylan into his arms, then stood up like he weighed nothing at all. He deposited Dylan into his bed and pulled the comforter up over him.
Dylan was half-asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. “M’glad I have such a cool dad.”
Stephan chuckled and ran his hand gently over Dylan’s forehead. “I’m glad I have such a cool son.”
I leaned against the doorframe as Stephan turned off the TV and put the controller away, then picked up the clothes scattered on the floor and tossed them in the hamper. When he was done, he straightened the comforter over Dylan. He looked down at him with a small smile on his face.
These were the kinds of things I did for Dylan. The kinds of things I’d never thought I’d see Stephan do. And yet here he was, doing just that. The love he had for Dylan radiated off him. He turned and smiled at me. “We should let him sleep.”
I nodded. Stephan stepped out of the room, and I pulled the door closed behind us.
When I turned around, Stephan was right there. He took a step forward, and my back bumped against the door.
Stephan brushed the hair off my forehead, then tucked it behind my ear. His fingers trailed over my jaw, to my chin, then tilted my head up. Our eyes met. The heat was back, running down my spine and settling low in my gut.
“I don’t want you to think I forgot what we were talking about,” he said in a voice so low it seemed to rumble into my bones. His touch drifted to my neck, then he curled his hand around my nape as he pinned me with his gaze. I didn’t want to move. His touch was so firm, so possessive, and God, I wanted to lean into it.
My lips parted. My body was begging for more of his touch, on my waist, my hips. I wanted him to touch me where I wanted it most, where I was hot and wet and wanting between my legs. I shivered.
Gold flashed in his hazel eyes. Then he took a step back and smiled. Smirky and hot. “Good night, Harley.”
I blinked. My brain felt like it was submerged in honey. “Good… Good night.”
Stephan slipped into his bedroom and closed the door. I tipped my head back against the door and stared at the ceiling, desire blazing through my body.
What the hell was this man doing to me?
ACE
Ileaned against the counter and sipped my coffee, watching Harley move around the kitchen as she made breakfast even though Dylan was still fast asleep.
She was so damn gorgeous with her auburn hair loose and simple shorts clinging to the curve of her thighs. She looked so at home in my kitchen as she chopped vegetables for an omelet.
Harley looked over her shoulder at me, her cheeks flushing.
My dragon growled with hunger. With the need to make her mine.
I was proud of Dylan for managing his tail’s first appearance so well, but the timing hadn’t been ideal. If I’d had a few more moments, I would’ve had Harley beneath me on that very couch, gasping my name.
“Usually I’d make Dylan get up,” she said, more to herself than to me, “but he could use the sleep after last night.”
“He’s going through a lot,” I agreed.
She sighed and raked one hand through her hair, pushing the long strands off her face. Even those simple gestures made me crazy. I wanted to run my tongue up the curve of her arm. I wanted to devour her.
She met my eyes, and the flush on her cheeks deepened.
I knew she wanted me just as bad. I had to get her alone. The tension was too much. We needed to have a conversation-a real conversation, not snippets stolen in between meals and work and in the cool darkness of night.
I needed her attention on me. And what happened then would happen.
“I’m gonna make a call, then I’ll go wake Dylan.”
She nodded, and I stepped out onto the deck. Putting my mug on the railing, I grabbed my phone and watched Harley move around the kitchen. Was she singing to herself? Fuck, I wanted to be near her all the time.
“Pretty early for a call, Ace,” Hawk said as soon as he answered. “There a problem?”
“Something like that,” I said. “You have time for uncle duty today?”
“Duty, huh? You finally getting your head out of your ass and making a move on Harley?”
My dragon huffed his approval. “Not exactly.” Cue my dragon’s disapproval. “I have to have a real conversation. I need to know where her head is at.”
“Yeah, there’s definitely something between you two,” Hawk said. “Better to clear the air either way.”
If Hawk had noticed the tension, it was definitely getting bad. I needed clarity. We both did. If Harley was serious about keeping things hands-off between us, I’d respect that. Even if my dragon didn’t like it. Maybe I’d eventually reject her, and we’d try to move on with our lives. But the mere thought of doing that pissed my dragon off.
“So you’ve got time today?” I asked.
“Definitely. I’ve got a meeting with some of the distillery guys to fill out some health inspection paperwork, but after that, I’m wide open. Mia and I were already planning on taking Bella to the playground. Think Dylan would be interested in that?”
“Definitely, especially if you’ll feed him afterward.”
“It’s a deal,” Hawk said. “Anything to get things moving between you and Harley. It’s killing me, dude.”
True to his word, Hawk showed up hardly two hours later, with Bella on his hip and Mia right at his heels. Bella was wearing a massive pair of pink sunglasses that made her look like a bug. Mia wore a matching pair. “Where’s my favorite nephew?” Hawk hollered as he walked inside.
Dylan burst out of his bedroom and appeared at the top of the stairs. “Uncle Hawk?”
Harley glanced up from her laptop, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Hi, guys.”
“I’m on uncle duty,” Hawk announced too loud. Mia mouthed ‘sorry’ at Harley, making her laugh and shake her head fondly. “It’s playground day. How’s that sound, Dylan?”
“Sounds pretty good to me,” I said with a grin. “That okay with you, Harley?”
“Please, Mom?” Dylan raced downstairs. His hair was a mess, and he looked like he’d only changed out of his pajamas five minutes ago. The extra sleep had done him well, and now he was bubbling with energy. “Please, can I go?’
“I don’t see why not,” Harley said.
“Yeah!” Dylan and Hawk said simultaneously.
I barked a laugh. “All right, all right, you’re going to burst Bella’s eardrums.”
Upon hearing her name, Bella shouted “Ace!” and reached for me. I swept my niece out of Hawk’s arms and spun her around, making her shriek in delight.
“Put your shoes on, Dylan,” Harley said.
Dylan raced down the stairs and nearly fell on his butt in his eagerness to grab his sneakers by the door. “Where’s the playground? Is it cool? Is there a jungle gym? I’m really good at climbing, I can show Bella how to do it.”
“Bella might be a little too small to climb,” Mia said, “but she loves the swings.”
“I love the swings too.”
