Page 107 of The Dragon's Mate

“Me too.” He laughed bitterly. “My fatherdid a fantastic job of keeping the name of the cop who killed Vaughn, hush-hush.He had to grease a lot of palms, but he got it done. My name was never releasedto the public and they buried the story as quick as they could.”

They danced silently for a few minutes before,in an obvious attempt to change the subject, Bren said, “So, I know they’re Ava’sparents,” he pointed with his chin at a redheaded man dancing with a curvy brunette,“but I didn’t see Bishop’s parents.”

“Bishop’s father died when he was still ayearling and his mother is,” Kaida hesitated, “difficult. She and Bishop havealways had a strained relationship. She didn’t approve of Ava and made Bishopchoose between her and Ava. Bishop chose Ava, obviously.”

“That’s a terrible thing to do to your kid,”Bren said.

“Leslie is a very unhappy person,” Kaida said.“After their hatchling was born, Bishop and Ava took her to see Leslie. Itdidn’t go well. Leslie was rude to Ava and said some unkind things about the hatchling.She wasn’t pleased that Lila was a human like Ava and said so to Bishop.”

“Uh oh,” Bren said.

“Yes, as you can imagine, it did not go overwell. They haven’t seen Leslie since.”

“Family can be difficult,” Bren said. Hestroked her lower back and a throb of need started up in her lower belly.

“Do you speak with your mother?” Kaidaasked. “Tyler told me he texts with her from time to time.”

“That sums up our relationship pretty accurately.We text from time to time. She doesn’t have much interest in Ty or me,” Brensaid.

“I’m very sorry.”

“Thanks. I’m mostly over it… I think, butI worry about Tyler. Mom might have not been the greatest parent when I wasgrowing up, but I at least had her in the house to show some interest in me occasionally.Dad was an absent father at best and Mom wasn’t exactly present either, but sheat least pretended to care. Tyler didn’t even have that. He spends so much ofhis time looking for our father’s approval.”

He turned her in a slow circle, and thepain on his face made her heart ache for him. “I’ve asked Ty a hundred timesto move in with me, but he won’t. It’s like he thinks that if he just trieshard enough, Dad will show some interest in him. It isn’t going to happen. Allthat matters to our father is his career. He drove my mother away, he drove meaway, and eventually he’ll drive Tyler away too.”

“I like Tyler a lot,” she said. “I’ll missour training sessions together.”

Bren smiled. “He’s already tried to convinceme that he can keep training with you. He was beyond excited when he found outyou were a dragon. He was calling me before I’d even left your clan on Wednesdaynight.”

The smile faltered a little. “He waspissed about not getting to see you again, but with so many reporters there, it’simpossible. Most of them know who he is, and the press would have a goddamnfield day if they caught him visiting with dragons.”

“You as well,” Kaida said.

“Probably. But I’m not a kid, I can handlethat kind of shit.”

“What do you think your father would say ifhe knew we were friends?” Kaida asked.

They were on the other side of the dancefloor now. Bren stopped dancing and, ignoring the others who danced around them,said, “Let’s get two things straight. One, I don’t give a rat’s ass what myfather thinks or says about anything I do, and I haven’t for a very long time.And two, you are more to me than just a friend, Kaida.”

His gaze dropped to her mouth and she said,“What am I to you, then?”

“A gorgeous, unbelievably sexy woman who I wantin my bed,” he said.

She blinked a little at his straightforwardness before admitting the truth. “I want to be in your bed.”

“Then come home with me. Right now,” he said.

“I can’t,” she replied. “If we have sexand I hurt you…”

“You won’t,” he said.

“I might.”

“We’ll be careful.” He rubbed her backagain, pressing her a little closer until she could feel the hard length of himagainst her hip. “Just thinking about you in my bed, does this to me. I wantyou, Kaida. And although I don’t believe you’ll hurt me, I do believe thatbeing with you is worth the risk.”

He let go of her hand and cupped her jaw,rubbing his thumb along her cheek bone. “Take the risk, Kaida. Just fortonight. Let’s see how good it can be with us. What do you say?”

Her dragon demanded she say yes, its loud purringalmost drowning out the rapid beat of her heart in her ears.

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