Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result, was the definition of insanity.
Did falling for Nash make him insane? He thought maybe not, considering he’d never been in love before.
He’d thought he’d been in love with others, not Colin the narcissist Cunningham, but Daniel and Luke.
After meeting Nash and falling for him so hard and fast, he knew Nash was the only one he’d ever been in love with, and he was the only one Abi would ever love again.
Abi darted a glance at Nash. An ache started in his chest, and it had Nash’s name written all over it.
They sat in the back seat next to each other.
Nash turned to face him. “If you stay hidden, that might give us leverage.”
Abi was having a crisis, and Nash wanted to talk about the job.
“What did you have in mind?” Abi wanted Mallor to be gone. Dead and rotting couldn’t come soon enough. Maybe then he could have a meltdown.
“Can you become small enough to stay under my collar or in my shirt?”
Abi nodded and continued to look out the window. He tried to remain calm so Nash wouldn’t feel his emotions.
“Abi?”
“Yes.”
“Look at me.”
“No, thanks.” Every time Abi did, he melted, then his chest hurt because he loved Nash so fucking much, and then he panicked about losing him. It was as stupid as Nash’s stupidly handsome face and also freaking nuts.
Nash growled. “Stop the car.”
Cat met Abi’s gaze through the rearview mirror. “What?”
Had Nash lost his mind? “What the fuck, Nash?”
“Stop the fucking car? Now.” Nash’s eyes turned reptilian, and his fangs dropped.
Cat pulled over onto the side of the road. Open fields were on either side, and no one was on the road. The cityscape glittered ahead of them. Somewhere in the mess of buildings and people, Mallor was waiting to kill Nash.
Abi rolled his eyes. “Keep driving, Cat.”
Nash cursed. “Gods damn it!”
If someone had told Abi that Nash could lose his shit, Abi wouldn’t have believed it. But that was exactly what was happening. Abi had no idea over what, though.
Cat pulled onto the road again. She met his gaze, then darted a glance at Nash.
“He won’t hurt me.” Abi was positive about that. “Or you.”
Nash’s growl was low in his throat. “Tell me what the problem is now and make it fucking quick, Abi. We’re about to go into the lion’s den, and this time we’re facing the lion head-on. I don’t need whatever drama you’re cooking up in your head right now.”
Abi narrowed his eyes. The drama comment pissed him off. “The dramatic one here isn’t me.”
“What is this about, Abi?” Nash growled again. “Is this because you think I’m leaving again? Because I’m not. Ever. And I won’t let you walk away either. You’re mine, and that’s final.”
Abi let that melt him into a puddle. “Possessive.”
“I’m a fucking dragon shifter. What the fuck do you expect?”
“You’ve met and exceeded all of my expectations, Daddy.” Abi took off his seatbelt and climbed onto Nash’s lap. He laid his head on Nash’s shoulder.
That calmed Nash a bit. “Is it the family liking you again? Because they’ll love you as much as I do.”
Nash held him close. “What’s wrong, baby? Talk to me. Don’t make me keep guessing.”
“I should be asking you that. You’re the one who is overreacting.”
“I’m reacting to you based on what you’re feeling. Something’s bothering you. I can feel it, baby.”
Abi sighed. Well, there was something. “I’m worried about something happening to you. And I really don’t want you to have to go in there and face Mallor. Like, at all. Someone else should.”
“You’re worried about me?” Nash raised his eyebrows.
“I know. It’s new to me too.” Abi pressed his forehead to Nash’s. “Turns out I’m in love with you. It’s not at all a comfortable feeling.”
“Because you’re worried about me.”
“Because you’re walking into the lion’s den, as you so eloquently shouted at me.”
“I’m sorry for yelling, baby. You’re right. I overreacted.”
“Next time you call me dramatic, you probably should reevaluate that.” Abi cupped Nash’s cheek. “I know I shouldn’t talk you out of facing him, but I really don’t want you to.”
“It’s a good plan. He wants me, and I’m serving myself up to him.” Nash rubbed Abi’s back in long strokes, going all the way to his ass and then back up again. “You’ll be there the whole time. And the family is already in place, waiting. I’m as safe as I can be.”
“I know the plan. I get the plan, and yes, I can make myself small enough to stay hidden.” The plan was solid. Abi understood that. “The plan is not the problem.”
“Then what has you so worried?”
Abi sighed. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
Nash didn’t respond for the longest time. Instead, he studied Abi’s expression. “Show me your mating mark.”
Abi pulled his shirt collar away from the mark and tilted his head without hesitation.
Nash held Abi’s collar and kissed the mark before biting down, breaking the skin.
Abi’s cock grew hard. The need was instantaneous and hit him hard. “Please, Daddy.”
You’ll have to wait until the job is done. When you know for sure that I’m okay. Then, I’ll let you do whatever you want. You get to choose everything.
Abi whimpered. Holy shit, that sounded like the best plan.
Nash ended the bite and licked it. When he finished, he met Abi’s gaze.
Abi panted, trying to come down from the sudden and intense pleasure.
The car stopped.
“We’re here,” Cat said.
“So let me get this straight. I tell you, I’m worried about you, and you’re rewarding me for it. Am I getting that right?”
Nash laughed. Actually laughed at Abi. The jerk. “Not at all.”
Abi huffed and rolled his eyes.
When Nash came down, he grew serious. “We’ll both make it through the next few hours in one piece.”
“I love your confidence.” Abi really did. It didn’t lessen Abi’s anxiety, but maybe saying it aloud would make that version of the ending come true. It certainly couldn’t hurt.
“We’ll be right where we want to be. Safe. With each other. In love. And more importantly, naked.”
Abi chuckled. “I like that.”
“It’s not a reward.” As soon as Nash said it, he seemed to contemplate it. “Well, it is. For both of us. But really, it’s a new plan. One that doesn’t include Michael Mallor.”
“Now I really like it.”
“Then let’s do this thing so we can get it over with.”
The sooner, the better.