Page 9 of Red and Her Dragons (Dirty Paranormal Fairytale Haremlan 4)

“I’ll do what I can as well,” Cassie offered. “Even if that’s just entertaining Kai, so he doesn’t go crazy.”

“You will?” Kai asked. Shock filled his voice.

She smiled. “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course, I would.”

Kai smirked. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she said.

Things fell silent. I took that as my signal to leave.

“I should get going,” I said.

“Thank you,” Kai said and stood from the couch. “And I’m sorry for how my actions have impacted others.

I stood and said, “I have a feeling this is more than just you. But the only information I had got had mentioned you. Don’t let it tear you up. Stay out of sight and let me know if anything changes.”

Once I stepped outside, I raked my gaze over every shadow within the woods surrounding the cabin and then at the sky. I had a bad feeling about what was to come, and I had a sinking suspicion things were going to escalate sooner rather than later.

3

EMILY

Gaming with Jax was fun. I had missed how easy it was to be around him and Bret and Marcus. I almost forgot that being around them was almost easier than breathing. Being back felt amazing. Better than I ever hoped.

By the time lunch rolled around, I was ready to work out. It had been a while, and I was anxious to get back into the routine. Rowan hated the idea that I was physically strong and had forbidden me from doing anything that would threaten his fragile masculinity. And for the sake of my family and whatever they were getting in the arrangement they had made since before the time I was born, I was forced to comply.

Mostly.

I did what I could not to lose too much of what I had learned. Pushups against the counter, wall sits, sit-ups… things like that. I refused to leave everything I was behind me. But now that I was in the place I had always wanted to be, I realized just how much of myself I had lost after all.

Still… I had to find a way out of the game Jax and I were playing, so I let one of the non-playable characters kill me with its plasma sword.

Jax cried out in playful defeat. “No! I shall avenge you!”

I laughed. “I think I’m better off dead. Besides I’m ready to move on to something else.”

“Lunch?” he asked.

“Not yet,” I said, shaking my head.

He reached for the controller. I handed it to him, and he placed both on the coffee table in front of him after he turned off the machine. He leaned back against the couch and smiled at me.

I giggled and settled my attention on the controllers resting on the coffee table. I couldn’t allow myself to fall too far into the moment. It was likely only going to be short-lived.

“So,” Jax said, playfully poking me in my side. “What do you want to do next with your newly found freedom.”

My eyes met his icy blues. It was so hard not to fall into them. My arousal hiked. I had to get my hormones under control. In the past, what helped me was rigorous exercise, followed by a cold shower. There was only one thing I figured could meet that expectation. My lips stretched over my teeth. “Sparring.”

He smiled in that boyish way he normally flashed at me, but this time, I was completely dazzled by it. He fist-bumped the air. “Yeah! Now, we’re talking.”

I giggled, but I had to force the heat from my face. I couldn’t let it slip what he did to me. Knowing him, he would tease me to no end. It was better that I kept this new development to myself for as long as possible. I stood from the couch, faced him, and said, “Lead the way.”

“You forgot how to get there?” he asked, jokingly. “You’ve been away for far too long.”

“Just stand up and go, would you?” I asked, adding a little more force to my words but keeping things playful still.

He let out an exaggerated sigh and took his time standing. Once his feet were fully planted on the marble floor, he snapped his finger and pointed in the direction of where we were going. “Follow me.”

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