The Dragon's Fate - Roxie Ray Page 0,43

just knew there was something else. I’ll look into some things and ask around to see what we can do.”

“Thank you.” I meant my thanks from the bottom of my heart.

Porter and I exchanged a look before he spoke. “What are big brothers for?” Well, that explained that. He was older and my mother and I were the other family. Damn.

But at least Porter was sincere. Genuine. It was nice to feel I could trust him.

“So,” Porter said, drumming his fingers on the table. “A human?”

I shrugged. “Man, I don’t know. First it was Anthony. He met Skye and they were meant to be. Now me. I’m beginning to think someone is making this happen, but I can’t complain.”

We discussed the chances of two of us finding human mates and how likely it was that someone was influencing events, and when Porter left a while later, I was restless. The hiring I’d done meant I had less hands-on work to do at the bar and more admin, which was quick and easy.

I decided to call Bri. I’d been missing her and Hayden. I smiled as I pressed her name in my phone directory. My girls.

Bri answered on the second ring. “Hey,” she said softly. “How’s your day going?”

I hadn’t wanted to intrude. That’s why I called. But as soon as I heard her voice, I wished I’d gone over there.

“I was missing my girls,” I said with a smile on my face. I wanted to call them that all the time. “How are you?”

She sighed.

“What is it?” I was afraid I already knew thanks to Sammy. “I hope you’ll always feel comfortable telling me anything.”

“Why don’t you come over for dinner?”

My hope and excitement spiked. Going over to Briana’s for dinner hadn’t been an expected invitation but it was definitely a welcome one. “I’d love to.”

“Hayden was asking about you.” She chuckled. “I might like to see you, too.”

“I guess I missed you a little bit.” I couldn’t help but laugh with her. It had been more like being away from her was nearly torture.

“Seven?” Bri asked.

“See you then.” I hung up and jumped in the shower. I couldn’t wait for seven to get here.

Hayden was a ball of energy when I got there. We sat in the living room while she told me about a book she’d gotten from a friend for her birthday. “It’s all about pandas,” she said excitedly.

I listened intently as she shot off facts about pandas and asked me if I knew this and that. And that and this.

Bri eventually came in. “Hayden,” she said with a laugh. “You’re going to make his ears fall off.”

Hayden dissolved into giggles and Bri gave me a warm look. “It’s ready.”

Having dinner with just the three of us felt right. I didn’t want it to be over. Just a few weeks ago I would’ve run screaming from this. But now I knew it was real. I’d seen the vision that it could and would feel this good for the rest of my life. Maybe even better. My heart was full, and my tattoo’s stinging faded. Like it was telling me that this is the way it should be. My bond with both my girls sealed deeper into my bones.

After dinner and dishes, which I’d insisted on doing, but my girls helped with, Bri sent Hayden to brush her teeth. I stood to leave. “Stick around,” Bri said. “Help me put her to bed?”

I felt like the Grinch when his heart grew. Could I continue to progress as my affection for them increased?

I even sat in on a bedtime story, reading all the parts of the big bad wolf. By the end of the night, I was a bundle of emotions I’d never had before.

Bri and I sat down in the living room, and my need for her was tangible. It nearly hurt. I didn’t warn her, I just put my hand on her cheek and leaned forward until our lips met. Then I proceeded to kiss the hell out of her in the living room.

I felt more animal than man. I allowed myself to lick and nip at the skin of her neck to satisfy a bit of my need to claim her. Controlling myself was hard but I did the best I could. Pulling away, I panted and stared at my mate.

She was similarly affected. Her gaze strayed upward. “Can you come back Friday? Hayden will be at her grandparents’.”

My body buzzed with the need to claim