Chapter 39
Drake
That fucker Hammer has had his eyeballs glued to Harlow ever since she stripped down. I know why. It’s because she looks fucking amazing in that swimsuit.
I’ve been watching him watch her, and my blood has started to simmer just below boiling point.
When he “helped” her earlier, he claimed he was being nice. Nice, my ass. He was being a slimy bastard, and we both know it.
My dragon wanted me to shift right then and there, so that I could tear him to pieces.
Even though I can’t say I blame him. It took every ounce of control not to let my beast take over and to show Hammer exactly what happens when you put your hands on what’s mine…
my dragon’s. Harlow is my rider, dammit, and it’s as simple as that.
Now we’re back on the beach, and I turn just in time to see him stalking behind her, his eyes locked solidly on her ass like a fucking pervert.
I want to pluck them out. One at a time.
What is it with that swimsuit? Did Harlow purposefully pick the smallest one they had?
Her tits are straining against the fabric, practically begging to break free.
Her nipples are all over the damned place, and her ass is on full display because the damned thing keeps riding up. It’s too fucking small.
I could almost forgive him for not being able to take his eyes off her. Almost, but not quite, since he’s staring at her like she’s a piece of meat.
“Hey, Harlow,” Hammer calls after her, and she turns around, pushing wet hair back from her face.
I take a few steps in their direction. Scar specifically told us to take care of our riders, and I’m doing my job right now. That’s all this is. I’m certain that Hammer doesn’t have a single good intention when it comes to this female.
Bastard.
“You’re a good swimmer,” Hammer tells her, flashing what he probably thinks is a charming smile.
I roll my eyes. Is he serious right now?
“I have my money on you making it up Mermaid’s Tail first.”
Does he really think that line will work? If he does, he’s an idiot.
“Jeez, Hammer.” She laughs, wringing water from her hair. “No pressure or anything. We’ll have to see.”
“No, really. You’re a natural,” he insists, closing the distance between them as they walk. “I have a feeling you’re going to be a natural when it comes to riding dragons, too.”
What the fuck?
His eyes drop to her chest, lingering there with those beady-as-fuck eyes, and my blood starts to boil. Heat floods through me, and I feel my dragon surge forward, demanding action.
He’d better walk away, or he’s going to be sorry.
I start walking toward them, my hands already curling into fists. He’s so busy ogling the fuck out of her that he doesn’t even see me approaching. Doesn’t realize that he’s in grave danger.
My dragon is clawing at me from the inside, demanding I do something. My beast has every right to want to look out for her. We both do.
Harlow starts backing up toward the group, clearly uncomfortable.
“Thanks, Hammer. We’d better get back.”
She has her back to me.
“No, really. I mean it.” He takes another step closer, invading her space. “I wouldn’t just say that.”
His eyes dip again; this time, it’s shameless. He even licks his fucking lips when he looks at her chest.
“You look good in that suit.”
He didn’t just say that. Not a fuck.
I see red.
“Thanks, but I really need—” Harlow starts to say.
I punch the fucker square in the mouth before he can say another word. My knuckles connect with his lip, and I feel the satisfying burst of flesh splitting beneath my fist.
Good.
He staggers backward, his hand flying to his mouth and his eyes wide. When he pulls his hand away from his mouth, it comes away smeared with blood that now drips down his chin.
Fan-fucking-tastic.
It takes everything in me to stop myself from laying into him.
“What the fuck, Drake!” he snarls, stumbling back another step.
“You need to watch where you put your hands.” I point at him, my voice low and dangerous. My eyes are narrowed, and every muscle in my body is pumped and ready for Round Two.
“Don’t do this, Drake,” Harlow says from behind me. She stays where she is, smart enough not to get between us.
Good girl.
“You need to be seriously fucking careful where you put your eyes,” I snarl, taking a step forward. “You most definitely need to watch what you say to my rider.”
Mine. The word screams through my head, but I manage to bite it back. My dragon is riding me hard, pushing against my control. He wants me to hurt Hammer some more. Wants me to make sure he never looks at her again.
“I wasn’t doing anything,” Hammer protests, lifting both hands like he’s innocent. He isn’t. I know exactly what he was doing. “I was just trying to be…nice.”
“Spare me more of the same bullshit,” I snarl.
His demeanor changes. His eyes narrow as he stands tall.
“Okay, fine. I was hitting on your rider. So what?” He shrugs. “It’s frowned upon if I date my own rider, but your rider is fair game.”
I’ll show him fair game.
Pure, blinding rage floods through me, and I lunge at him. I’m going to rip him apart. I’m going to—
I get grabbed from behind. Smoke is on one side, and Scar is on the other. The fuckers hold me back.
I try to fight them off, my body straining forward, but they pull me backward.
“Calm the fuck down!” Scar shouts near my ear.
I try to go at Hammer again.
“You prick!” I snarl at him. Scales pop out all over my chest and arms, my dragon close to the surface.
Gone is the bravado from earlier; Hammer is backing up fast, his eyes wide with fear.
Good. Run, you bastard.
“If you so much as look at her again, I will fucking kill you!” I roar.
Scar and Smoke haul me back even further, their grips like iron on my arms. Through the red haze, I see Harlow standing with Jordyn and Dani. She looks shaken. Afraid, even.
Of me.
Surely not.
The sight of her like that cuts through my rage like ice water. My dragon immediately retreats, just as horrified as I am that we scared her.
“I’m fine,” I tell Scar and Smoke, forcing myself to breathe. To regain control. “Let me go. I’m fine,” I repeat.
They release me slowly, ready to intervene, if necessary, their bodies still tense and prepared.
I push out a heavy breath, my scales retracting. I keep my eyes off Hammer, trying to keep my cool.
“Get dressed,” Scar snarls. “Now! All of you.” He turns to the others, some watching with wide eyes, others pretending they didn’t just witness what happened. “Get dried off and dressed. We’re heading back.”
After toweling off, we pull our clothes on. The walk back is done in silence. It seems to take forever.
The ladies walk up front.
The rest of us are at the back. Hammer lurks way behind everyone else, exactly where he belongs.
I’m glad that prick knows his place now. I hope he stays there.
We finally arrive back at the vehicles.
“You’re with me,” Scar tells me, his tone allowing for no argument. “Harlow.”
She looks over at us, her eyes carefully avoiding my gaze.
“I want you to travel back with Jordyn and Grim,” Scar tells her.
She nods and gets straight into the vehicle with them.
I understand why she’s freaked out. What happened is normal shifter behavior. Hammer overstepped. End of story.
I’ll smooth it over with her when we’ve all had a chance to calm down.
I jump into the vehicle with Scar, but he doesn’t turn the ignition. Instead, he waits. Watches in the rearview mirror as all the other vehicles pull away. Until we’re the last ones left.
Then he turns to me. “What was that?”
“Hammer was out of line.” I give a one-shouldered shrug.
“I’ll ask again,” Scar says, his voice dangerously calm. “What the hell was that?”
“Hammer was being inappropriate with my rider. My dragon didn’t like it, so I handled it. That’s all.”
“Hammer was hitting on Harlow, and you blew a gasket.” Scar’s eyes bore into mine. “You told me that you fucked her once. That it was just fucking. Were you lying to me?”
“No! It happened once, and it was nothing. It meant nothing.”
“Bullshit!” he snarls, his own control slipping. “That’s bullshit, and you know it.”
“It isn’t. That fucker had his eyes on her, and my dragon—”
“Stop blaming your dragon,” Scar cuts me off. “It wasn’t your dragon. It was you. That back there was all you.”
“My dragon didn’t like that fucker—”
“You and your dragon are one and the same, Drake. Understand it. Embrace it. Ac-fucking-cept it!” His hand slams against the steering wheel. “Now, stop fucking lying to me. Are you in a relationship with Harlow?”
“No.”
“Did you fuck her again?”
I hesitate. Why the fuck did I hesitate?
“I knew it. I fucking knew it,” Scar roars.
“It happened one more time. That same night. Just once…fuck! It didn’t mean a single damned thing.”
“Hammer looked at her wrong, and you punched him,” Scar lists off like he’s presenting evidence. “He admitted to hitting on her, and you wanted to kill him.”
“I did not want to kill him. I would have roughed him up, that’s all.”
“We had to pull you off him. You started to shift, Drake.” Scar leans toward me. “You can deny it all you want. We all saw it. That’s not normal behavior. I’m sure the others must suspect something after that display. You looked possessive and over-the-top jealous.”
“They’d be wrong. My dragon was being protective. That’s all it was.”
“You keep telling yourself that.” Scar shakes his head. “I think you’re falling for this female.”
I snort out a laugh. “You have it so wrong.”
“Do I?”
“Yes, you do. It isn’t like that at all. I swear,” I tell him.
He looks me head-on, and I hold his gaze. I refuse to be the one who looks away first. Refuse to give him any more ammunition.
“I think you’re in denial,” he says.
“For the last time, I’m not! What the fuck!?” Why isn’t he listening to me? “My dragon happens to be extremely protective of her. Hammer is a prick. That’s all.”
He makes a sound deep in his throat that tells me he doesn’t quite believe me.
“I’m sure, Scar. I don’t feel anything for her beyond her being my rider. Now drop it, for fuck’s sake.”
He finally relaxes, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. He starts the vehicle, the engine rumbling to life.
“Stay away from her,” he warns.
“I am.” I shrug, trying to appear casual. “I will. I mean, outside of training.”
“Maybe take a few days to catch up on work. When you come back to training, I want cool, calm, and seriously fucking collected.”
“You got it.”
“Leave her alone, Drake. I don’t want you to have any contact with her at all. You need to get this thing under control.”
“I got it!” I snarl, my patience finally snapping. “Now drive already, Scar. I’m still a fucking Councilor and your superior.”
Scar throws out a laugh. “Sorry, Drake, not when it comes to training. I outrank you, and you know it.”
It was a dick thing to say, but he’s getting on my last damned nerve. I need this conversation over already.
“Fine. Can we go now, please?” I ask. “I have a crap ton of work to get through.”
His jaw ticks, a muscle jumping beneath his skin. Then he reverses, tires kicking up gravel as we finally head back toward flight school.
Scar doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about. He has it all wrong. I’m not falling for Harlow. It isn’t like that at all.