Page 28 of Dragon in Denial
Chapter 7
Trennon Redd, the Rojo reeve, lived in the lower Garden District, in a home the size of a small hotel. It was white on white, with a massive front porch lined with bright green ferns in wicker baskets that swayed gently in the breeze.
Ketu had been to the reeve’s residence only once before. He’d been fifteen, and his dad had fixed the reeve’s car and sent Ketu to deliver it. Trennon had invited him inside and offered him a glass of iced tea. Ketu had sat at the granite counter and gawked at the giant kitchen and the wide-open space that encompassed living and dining. It had been an elegantly appointed home, much fancier than the simple brick ranch his parents owned.
Today, the Uber dropped him at the curb, and Ketu followed the path of brick pavers to the porch, where he ascended the steps and rang the bell. When Antoinette told him the reeve hadn’t attended a colony meeting with no urgent agenda, he’d decided the only way he was going to get anywhere—with his assignment from Gabe and this new aspect of his relationship with Antoinette—was if he talked to the man in charge.
A dragon reeve always attended his own colony meetings.
He’d considered showing up unannounced but had ultimately decided to call ahead. A female dragon he thought he might have vaguely known back in high school opened the door and smiled at him. Her dark hair was a smooth wave, draped over one shoulder, and she wore a slinky red dress more appropriate for a night on the town than welcoming house guests in the middle of the day.
“Ketu,” she said, her voice a purr as her gaze scanned him from head to toe. She rested one hip on the doorframe and smiled, appearing in no hurry to invite him into the house. “You’re all grown up.”
He spread his arms in a helpless gesture. “Sorry. I’m pretty sure we went to school together, but I can’t remember your name.”
She chuckled. “Maria. I sat next to you in math our senior year. I always froze whenever the teacher called on me, and you used to whisper me the answers.”
Nodding, he said, “Oh, yeah. Maria. Wow. You’ve…you look good.” She really did, her appearance nothing like the meek, mousy girl he’d known in school.
Her smile widened. “Yes, well, I grew up too.”
She continued to stand there, resting against the doorframe. He cleared his throat and said, “I’m here to see the reeve. I called to make an appointment and whoever answered the phone told me to come on over.”
“That was me.” Her gaze swept over his body again. He had the feeling if he asked her to show him to a bedroom, she’d do so and would strip when they reached their destination.
No, thank you.There was only one woman for Ketu now, and he’d actually turned her down earlier today.
What the hell had he been thinking?
He’d been thinking that he wasn’t ready to commit to mating with a drug dealer, that’s what. Maybe, if he could talk to the reeve, convince him that his son’s illicit operations needed to be shut down, Ketu could put Darius in his place and cut off Antoinette’s dealing business. It might take some time, but he’d help her figure out a real, legitimate career choice. Hell, she could just pick up a fifth day at Mitch’s. There was nothing wrong with bartending.
And then he could give in to these hella frustrating urges to hook up with her. Because damn, it had been hard to turn around and walk back into that bathroom and pull on his jeans. His erection still hadn’t deflated, not entirely. The idea of bedding Antoinette was far too tempting.
No more hotel rooms with Antoinette. Hell, no more being alone with her at all. It was too dangerous.
Maria sighed and moved to the side, inviting him into the house. “Follow me,” she instructed, leading him through a whitewashed foyer and into a wide-open kitchen, dining, and living area. Little had changed since he was in his teens.
She walked through the room, hips swaying, stiletto heels click-clicking against the tile floor, as Ketu followed her past the same granite countertop he’d once sat at, sipping iced tea while the reeve talked about the importance of kids working and earning their way in the world because it turned them into successful, contributing members of dragon society.
Like his son?
Maybe he’d ask that question. If the reeve was living with his head in the sand, he needed someone to wake him up, force him to see what was going on. He needed to bring Darius to heel, and soon. Ketu wasn’t going to let Henri be raised in a world where dragon’s blood was sold on every street corner.
Funny how he’d already become so protective over a child who wasn’t his. But he was Antoinette’s, and she was Ketu’s mate, and that’s all that mattered. Of course, it helped that the kid was pretty damn cool. Ketu looked forward to getting to know him. Maybe one day he’d call Ketu dad.
Shit. He was getting ahead of himself. They still had to talk about the fact that they were mates. And he had to convince Antoinette to give up her drug dealing business. And then, assuming that went remotely well—a big assumption—there was the question of where to live.
He wasn’t keen on the idea of moving back to the place that haunted his dreams more often than not, but if that’s what it took to be with Antoinette and Henri, well, there wasn’t even a choice, was there?
“Something to drink?” Maria asked. As if she were Vanna White, she motioned to an assortment of liquor bottles perched on the counter.
“Water would be great,” Ketu replied.
She rolled her eyes—guess providing him with fresh water wasn’t her preference—and then she pulled a glass out of the cupboard and saw to his request. She mixed herself a Bacardi and Diet Coke and then led him to the sitting area, which was comprised of three white couches facing a stone fireplace. To the left was a wall of French doors that opened onto the wraparound porch and the yard beyond.
“Have a seat,” she said, “and I’ll let Darius know you’re here.”
Ketu stopped in the process of lowering himself to the couch. “Darius? I’m here to see the reeve. I made an appointment.”
