Dragon with Benefits (Forgotten Dragons Book 4) Read online

  “And fae are supposed to stay in their own world rather than coming here,” Trevor said. “So I guess we’re both changing things up.” He scowled at the fae, and Petra ran her hand over his back, soothing him.

  He stood abruptly, lifting Petra in his arms. “You two can stay out here until Chad shows up. I need to talk to my mate and apologize to her for how rude you’ve been.” He stopped at the top of the stairs to throw them one last barb. “If this is how you treat humans, I don’t like your chances for finding a mate.”

  Both fairies looked slightly crestfallen at that, but Trevor didn’t seem to care as he stomped into the mansion and kicked the door shut.

  He shifted her in his arms so he could lock the door, then walked into his study with a huff.

  When he set her down on a chaise, he locked the door, shut the curtains, turned the lights on, and sat down with a sigh.

  He ran his hands through his hair. “I was so worried.”

  “About what?”

  “Chad and I got a call about the fae apprehending a human who was claiming to be in love with me.” He sighed. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  She wanted to go to him, but he’d set her down separately on purpose and she wasn’t sure if he wanted her nearby.

  After a few moments of tense silence, Petra decided she would have to be the one to break the tension. “So dragons can read minds? That’s terrifying.”

  Trevor looked up, a half smile curving his lips. “That’s what you find terrifying?”

  “Hell yes,” she said. “My thoughts are all over the place.”

  Trevor laughed. “If it makes you feel better, we rarely do. Sometimes humans think really loudly, but unless we’re listening on purpose, we usually don’t hear. We’d get nothing done otherwise.”

  “Phew,” she said. “So you can’t hear me right now?”

  Trevor shook his head. “Chad and I don’t do it with each other because we respect privacy. Well, unless we need to discuss something with someone present who shouldn’t hear.”

  “Wow,” she said. “I have to say dragons sound way cooler than bears after all I’ve heard.”

  Trevor’s smile widened. “Bears have their benefits. But yeah, being a dragon is awesome.” His expression sobered. “Sometimes.”

  She sighed, rubbing her hands over her pants. “I’m sorry I didn’t understand. But there was no way I could.”

  “I know,” Trevor said. “I’m sorry I didn’t fight harder. I’m sorry I let you go.”

  “We needed the time,” Petra said.

  “That’s a lie,” Trevor said playfully. “I missed you every minute.”

  “So I can come over there?” Petra asked hopefully.

  Trevor nodded. “Of course.”

  She practically jumped into his lap, already cuddling against him. “So you only came because I was captured?”

  “I was going to come either way,” Trevor said. “My dragon shut down when you left me. I just felt so trapped between lifelong expectations, my partner, and you, the woman I’m in love with, who was never supposed to be part of this world.”

  “Well, if I’m supposed to be with you, then I guess I am supposed to be part of this world.”

  He sighed. “I suppose so.” He stroked her hair. “It’s not going to be easy, Petra. I don’t know what Chad is going to say or what the oracle is going to do. But wherever I go and whatever I do, I need to be with you. My heart can’t go on if you’re not by my side.”

  She smiled, unable to stop since her heart was beaming with happiness. “So you chose me?”

  He nodded. “I did. And then I got the phone call about you and my dragon came out, so I’m guessing they’ve probably figured it out by about now.”

  A huge thump shook the ground, and Petra realized quickly that it must be Chadwick, who was also a dragon.

  “Should we go out there?”

  “No, he’ll come in,” Trevor said reluctantly.

  “So,” she said, feeling her cheeks heat. “You two would usually share a woman? What’s that like?”

  He gave her a glare.

  She laughed. “No, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m a one-dragon woman. I told you that. Sharing seems so odd to me.”

  Trevor shook his head. “To me too. I’ve never been able to share. I see the benefit of two dragons protecting one mate. And if they mate a dragon heart, she’s given a power, and that adds a third in fights as needed. But for me, it never quite made sense. So I just focused on my work and stayed single.”

  “Makes sense.”

  “I thought that would be fine… until I met you,” he said, eyes heavy-lidded as they glanced down to her lips. “Then everything went haywire. But I know, without a doubt, that you’re the one I want, Petra. I’ll fight anyone in the way, including Chad, because losing you just isn’t an option. I’ll give up literally everything else.”

  She sighed happily. “Then kiss me, you romantic jerk. We have a lot of making up to do.”

  His lips fell over hers for a calm, peaceful moment that still sent heat racing to her toes. But then the door to the study flew open with a loud bang, and Trevor and Petra pulled apart.

  “How dare you?” Chad strode into the room, sweater sleeves pushed up to show tense forearms, hands clenched into fists, glasses askew. His eyes found Trevor. “How fucking dare you?”

  Trevor stood, looking nervous as he set Petra down gently and walked forward to face his partner. “Chadwick, I’m sorry. I—”

  Chadwick just strode forward, face tight with emotion, and when he reached Trevor, he grabbed him by the arm and jerked him into a hug, the kind men did when they hadn’t seen each other in a long time, even though they lived together.

  Finally, Chad let out a breath and slapped Trevor on the back before releasing him.

  Chad straightened his glasses, then jabbed Trevor roughly in the chest. “How dare you think I wouldn’t want love for you! How dare you think I wouldn’t support you, even against the entire world! Trevor, I’m your partner. I’ve had your back for a hundred years, and I’ll have it for a hundred more. You falling in love doesn’t change that.”

  Trevor let out a sigh of relief and looked over at Petra. “I want to talk to him for a moment. Is that all right?”

  Petra nodded happily, just relieved that the two friends were on the same page again.

  Things sure never got boring around dragons.

  Chapter 25

  Trevor led Chad over to the far corner of the study, already missing Petra but knowing he and his partner still had some things to talk out.

  Chad was still flushed, and his face was damp from sweat.

  “You okay?” Trevor asked, putting a hand up.

  Chad batted it away, purple eyes flashing. “It’s going to take me a second to get over you lying to me, though I understand why you did.”

  Trevor’s gaze fell. “I know. It was still wrong.”

  Chadwick balled his hands in fists and paced. “And you know, the worst part is you almost made yourself unhappy for me. I would never want that.” He slumped into a chair, and Trevor was grateful the study was huge so Petra couldn’t hear their conversation.

  “I know,” Trevor said. “It just wasn’t something I ever expected to happen.”

  “I thought my visions weren’t working,” Chad said, looking exhausted as he ran a hand through his hair. “There has been so much to do, but when I saw Petra for the first time, I recognized her. From a vision where we’d found our mate.”

  “Our?”

  “Don’t freak out,” Chadwick said. “I saw her with you and jumped to conclusions. That’s all.” He sighed. “I mean, I guess I should have known. I saw some signs that it wasn’t going to work. I guess I worried maybe we’d never have a mate.” He smiled brightly at Trevor. “You having one is an improvement on that, I think. We’ll still be able to work together.”

  Trevor let out a breath, and it felt like all his anxiety flooded away with it. Finally, things see
med right. “I’m glad. Because I can’t imagine life without you, Chadwick.”

  Chad’s eyes twinkled, the most beautiful shade of dark amethyst. “I’m sure you’ll be busy, but yes, I’ll be around.” He looked over at Petra. “She seems nice. I’m sure I’ll enjoy having her if you two want to stay here.”

  “For now, I think that’s what we plan to do,” Trevor said. “I don’t know what the oracle will say when she finds out about this.”

  “I’ll talk to her,” Chadwick said. “In fact, I’m planning to take the fae over to Tristan and Xander’s place. What they did wasn’t right, but they’d had a confusing introduction to our world.”

  Trevor let out a breath, knowing he couldn’t really get mad at the fae, given that they hadn’t hurt Petra. He still wanted to punch them a bit for restraining her. But they had also told her all about his world, making it so she more easily accepted him.

  All in all, things had gone well, so he supposed just telling them some extremely false fact about human life that would come back to bite them was probably a suitable punishment.

  “Uh-oh, what are you brewing up there?” Chadwick asked. “You let me handle this.”

  “Fine,” Trevor said, standing as he realized he and Petra would have the house to themselves that night. To love. To talk. To share everything he hadn’t been able to. “And thanks, Chadwick. For everything. You’ve been the most incredible partner.” He squeezed Chadwick’s shoulder, and Chadwick turned away, waving a hand.

  “I’m here for you,” he said. “Never hide something from me again.”

  Trevor nodded. “Agreed.”

  They walked back over to Petra, who stood. She looked nervous, but she had no need to be.

  Trevor knew that no matter what the world threw at them now, they’d be able to handle it.

  Between his dragon friends, his amazing partner, and the love of his life, Trevor felt that his world had never been more complete.

  “It’s nice to really meet you, Petra,” Chad said, shaking her hand warmly. “I’m sorry things haven’t been simple or easy, but I promise Trevor is worth it.”

  She grinned, giving Chad a hug, and Trevor heard her whisper in his ear, “Thanks for sharing him with me.”

  Chad stepped back with a stupid grin, flushing, and put his hands up. “All right. I’m getting out of your hair. You two kiss and make up, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  With a wave at them both, he was gone.

  “See?” She put a hand up to twirl a lock of Trevor’s hair around her finger. “Looks like things are going to work out.” She came in close and rested her head against his chest. “What an unexpected outcome for a sushi douchebag.”

  He laughed, then put his hands on her shoulders and gently moved her back. “Wait, what about your story? Shouldn’t you have been at work this whole time?” He dragged his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, Petra. I forgot about what you’ll have to give up. A normal job won’t work, and—”

  “I’m all in with you,” she said, stepping forward and lifting on her tiptoes to kiss his lips quickly. “I left and missed the deadline for the sushi douchebag story. I just didn’t want to share you with the world. And my co-worker did point out that I’d be crazy to give you up for a job.”

  “You wouldn’t be crazy,” Trevor said. “But I’m glad you decided to be with me.”

  “Hell yeah,” Petra said. “I should have remembered what my father told me. “He told me love was worth any cost.”

  “So you love me?” He put a hand around her waist, locking her even closer against his hard body.

  “Yeah, of course I do. I love you, you silly dragon.”

  “And I’m worth the cost?” He tilted her chin up gently.

  She ran her tongue over her lower lip, loving how he watched her hungrily. “Well, you do have some benefits.”

  “God,” he said, stroking her hair back. “I can’t believe we started as friends with benefits.”

  “True,” she said. “A dragon with benefits is better.”

  He laughed, then moved his lips over hers, loving how they instantly melded together, how she always went weak in his arms.

  When they pulled back, he picked her up in his arms and headed for the doorway.

  She looked up at him in shock. “Where are we going?”

  “You said I was a dragon with benefits. I’m going to show you some now.”

  She laughed, then cuddled against him. “Sounds pretty good to me. But maybe we should have dinner first.”

  Trevor sighed. “Well, it’s not what I want to eat right now, but you’re right. You’ll need strength for what I’m about to do to you anyway.”

  He enjoyed the shocked, aroused look on her face for a few seconds, then strode into the kitchen to make dinner with his mate.

  Chapter 26

  Later that evening, Petra could still only hardly grasp just how big the world had expanded for her in a single afternoon. So many new things she hadn’t even imagined.

  And above all of those, the fact that she’d somehow found the love of her life from the most unassuming of beginnings.

  “What’s on your mind?” Trevor asked, emerging from the shower wrapped only in a towel. His hair was still slightly damp, hanging in thick locks around his face that accentuated his features. The towel, dangerously close to the edge of his hips, teased her.

  “You could read my thoughts,” Petra said, still unused to the idea that dragons would do that.

  Trevor approached her, running a hand through his hair and coming up to the edge of the bed.

  “Why would I do that when I can just ask you? Besides, that would ruin all the fun of our conversations.” His grin made warmth pool in her center. When he sat down on the foot of the bed, the thick mattress bounced her momentarily, and Petra squeaked in surprise.

  “But honestly, Petra, there’s nothing in the world that I enjoy more than our talks. It’s always been natural between us, and I love that.” His gold eyes flashed down her body, making even the plush loungewear she had on feel restrictive. “Well, maybe there’s one thing I enjoy more.”

  Petra crawled out from under the cover of Trevor’s bed, coming up to him, watching as his eyes widened at the sight of her.

  It made her feel so wanted she could barely breathe.

  She wanted Trevor so badly he left her breathless.

  “I guess I’m not the only one who feels that way, huh?” He flashed her a winning smile.

  “Chad and the others did leave us the mansion, after all,” Petra replied.

  Trevor watched as she spoke, then got onto the bed, coming toward Petra, eyes not breaking away for a second as he made her feel small in that unique way that sent sexual thrills up her spine.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the towel an inch away from falling off.

  Petra gulped.

  “I still don’t know what might happen with everything going on around us, Petra,” Trevor said, his voice dark and husky, “but I do know that you’re all I could possibly want in this entire world. And from here on out, I’m never leaving your side.”

  “Same here.” She couldn’t look away from that gilded gaze piercing her to her very core.

  “I love you, Petra.” As the last word left his mouth, he leaned down to kiss her, and she melted into the feel of his lips instantly.

  He started soft, then got rougher, parting her lips to plunder her mouth. He raised both hands to her head, cupping the back of her neck and her cheek, completely owning her with his tongue as he licked inside. A sharp jolt of pleasure went down her hips, and Petra felt an inner ache that only he could satisfy.

  When he pulled back, his lips were swollen,

  “Kissing you will always be magic.” He brought his thumb to her mouth, running it slowly over her lower lip. “And I would know. I’m a dragon.”

  “And I would know because I’m with one.” She had to fight not to look down at his towel, at the thick, enticing bulge there.
r />   “Mine,” was all Trevor replied, attention flicking down her body and back up to her.

  Then finally, as if fate had heard her thoughts, the towel fell free.

  She had only a split second to register it before his lips crashed over hers again. Only this time, he gently pressed Petra back onto the bed to lie beneath him. His tanned, taut body surrounded her everywhere as he moved to her neck, sucking the sensitive spot at the base of her shoulder.

  Petra moved to undo the buttons on her sleep shirt, only to bump into Trevor’s hands the moment before he tore her shirt open completely, leaving her chest bare. But he didn’t leave her waiting a moment longer, his thumbs rubbing over her nipples, making pleasurable tightness coil inside her.

  Overwhelming, as always.

  “For my mate, always,” Trevor said, lowering himself to her breasts, sucking on hardened tip then the other. “Sorry, your sexy thoughts are the loudest.” He grinned as he used his tongue with perfect deftness to make Petra’s whole body writhe with want.

  “When you do things like that, I can’t help myself,” Petra replied. Through the haze of lust, she could see his cock, and she felt a surge of hunger.

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” His molten gaze was hot as his hand pulled her pants down, then covered her clit with his finger, stroking her relentlessly.

  “I—” Petra couldn’t remember what she’d planned on saying. I love you? Maybe? It was impossible to tell as skin-searing warmth tightened the muscles in her chest and thighs and she fell over the edge into breathtaking waves of pleasure.

  “Fuck,” Trevor exclaimed under his breath as he watched Petra come. But even as she lost all sense of direction or even time as powerful shocks rushed through her center, Petra couldn’t take her eyes off the man that had her heart.

  He slid his finger gently over her clit, stroking the orgasm so the rhythmic waves felt longer and more sensitive, until Petra let out a long huff of exertion and her body relaxed.

  “So hot,” Trevor said to himself, sliding her panties off and the lounge pants with them. He then pushed the towel off the bed. His dick, glistening and wet at the tip with his need for her, only made Petra’s body immediately ready for more.