12. Paige
Paige
H eat at my back draws me from sleep. I freeze. Who the hell is in my bed with me??— and then it comes flooding back.
A man-shaped shadow looming outside my shower.
Me falling—and hitting the side of the tub hard.
Aries coming to the rescue.
Aries. The future freaking king of Astronia.
He’s solid behind me in bed. His massive arm is draped over my waist. I start to move, to try to get out from underneath him before my lust causes me to spontaneously combust, but he tightens his hold, pulling me back and pressing my ass directly against his massive arousal.
Holy shit. As if my initial perusal of his naked body hadn’t convinced me…this does the trick. Paranormal romance novels got it right. Dragons are bigger—everywhere.
I stiffen, heat pooling between my legs until it threatens to consume me. The throbbing is next, and I clamp my legs together in an attempt to ease the ache.
I’m hyper-aware of Aries’ hand resting against my hip. One brush over me and I’ll be a goner. Which is why I stop moving. Because if he manages to give me an orgasm from just sleeping behind me, I’m not sure I’ll want to return him.
Maybe I’ll keep him chained to my bed. Just offer him a constant buffet of food and sex. Men like that, right?
He’ll survive, and his brother can rule in his stead. Win-win? Even as I think it, guilt crushes me over my selfishness. Get it together, Paige.
Aries groans and grinds his erection into me.
“Aries?” I whisper.
Nothing.
His grip tightens.
“Aries?” I say, a little louder this time. Because as much as I would love to have him screw me into next week, it’s just not a good idea. Not when our futures are absolutely headed in opposite directions. Opposite worlds, even.
But when he presses into me again, and my nipples harden, the fabric of my shirt scraping deliciously against them—“Aries!”
I all but scream his name now.
He freezes. Then rolls away me and out of the bed faster than I’ve ever seen a man move.
By the time I’ve rolled over to look at him, he’s standing with his back to my wall, a tent in his low-slung sweatpants. I cannot help but let my gaze drop to it. I mean, I’ve already seen it, so imagining it now is relatively easy.
“If you keep looking at me like that, I don’t know that I have the restraint to keep my hands off you.” His voice is strained with tight control. I look up at him. His eyes are on fire. Brightly lit, much in the way they were that first night. “My dragon is quite—enamored—by you,” he says slowly.
Every nerve ending in my body feels his words like a stroking to my senses. He wants me. As much as I want him. And while I’m thrilled by the knowledge, I am also very aware that wanting is as far as this can go.
Especially after what he told me last night. He can’t rule his kingdom without his mate. And that, I am not.
I won’t derail his future as king just for an orgasm. Not even a mind-bending, best-sex-of-your-life, come-and-combust orgasm. Ugh.
So, instead of letting my pleasure show at his words, I aim for casual.
“The feeling is mutual,” I say as I scoot to the edge of the bed.
He doesn’t answer, and I purposely don’t look over to see his expression.
After swinging my legs over the edge, I yawn and stretch, wincing at the soreness in my hip and arm, then get to my feet and head into the bathroom.
My limbs are stiff, and the bruise on my hip pulses with my movements. Today is going to suck.
As the bathroom looms closer, fear slams into me then, and I forget about Aries’ impressive morning wood in favor of recalling the threat that made me ask him to be here in the first place.
The shower creeper. Suddenly, going into the bathroom doesn’t seem like such an escape after all.
“Um. Can you stand out here? Just in case?”
He dips his head in a nod. “Of course.”
“Great.” I move into the bathroom, shut the door, then exhale heavily as I try to figure out how I’m going to let go of the man in the next room when I’ve only just found him.
* * *
“You stay up here. Understand? At all costs. Do not come downstairs unless the place is burning around you.” I glare at Aries, hoping I’m coming through loud and clear, given that we’ve been arguing for the last thirty minutes about him coming with me to work.
He smirks. “I’m a dragon. Fire will not harm me even in my human form.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine. Great. Then stay here even if the place burns to the ground.”
His amusement vanishes as he asks, “How do you know you’ll be safe?”
“As I told you, the library is open today. It will be crawling with people. Nothing is going to be able to get me while the keepers are on high alert and monitoring everyone.”
“The stranger managed to get in last night when the evening guards should have been on high alert. And someone got into your room last night without either of us knowing.”
“Not a someone, a something,” I correct.
“What?”
I sigh. “The thing I saw didn’t have a corporeal form.”
“You think it was a spirit of some kind?”
Shrugging, I consider. “I don’t know what to think. The damn thing looked like Peter Pan’s lost shadow to me.”
“Peter who?”
“Ugh. Never mind.” Pinching the bridge of my nose, I try to remember that it’s my fault he’s here, so dealing with his over-bearing book-boyfriend ass is on me. “I will be on the look for shadows looming around me, and I will be overly cautious of not being alone today. Deal?”
Aries narrows his gaze but nods.
“You be careful too. He was in this apartment,” I remind him.
Aries grins though it’s more of a show of teeth than amusement. “I hope this spirit shows up. Then I can deal with it myself, and you’ll be safe.”
“Do not tear up my apartment. TV and food. That’s all,” I say as I get a mental image of Aries wrestling with some unknown assailant.
Honestly, the way his eyes glitter with the promise of pain leaves no doubt he can handle himself in a fight.
But my heart apparently isn’t convinced as it squeezes in sudden fear at something happening to him. “Deal?”
“Baseball and ale, all day,” he assures me.
I shake my head. “Great. See you later.” I step out of my apartment then shut the door and lock it.
Then, I turn around and nearly run right into Hoc.
“Shit! You scared me." I press a hand to my heart then remember the massive dragon standing on the other side of my door, and my panic only increases. “Good morning, Hoc.”
“Good morning, Paige. I was just coming to see if we could have some coffee?” He gestures toward my apartment.
“Actually, I’m all out. Was headed downstairs to the break room for some.” I link my arm through his and guide him away from my place—and the sexy as fuck fugitive it harbors. Walking without a limp proves harder than I’d hoped but Hoc’s arm is the support I need to pull it off.
“I’m surprised you let yourself run out,” he jokes. “You usually can’t live without your morning coffee.”
“With everything going on, I forgot to give the gnomes my grocery order this week.”
Hoc and I make our way toward the elevator, and once inside, I release him.
“Yes, I heard of the issue last night,” he says. “You saw no one?”
“Nope. We searched everywhere. Even had Bingo out looking. He couldn’t catch a scent, and we didn’t find a trace of magic or a portal.”
“Hmm.” He remains silent until the elevator doors open and we step out onto the library’s main floor. It’s empty, for now, as the first patrons won’t be arriving for another half hour.
“It’s troublesome that someone managed to get into the library without setting off the wards,” Hoc says. “Magic is not typically cheated and especially the magic of the Athenaeum. Whomever has done so must be immensely powerful.”
Or a shadow creature not solid enough to set off the ward alarms. “Do you have any ideas on who it could be?”
“Not yet, and until I do, I caution you to be wary. Watch out for yourself, Paige.”
The way he says it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Like he somehow knows that chandelier was meant for my head. “I hardly doubt whoever it is will pay any mind to me. I’m no one.”
“You are a future keeper.” Hoc stops walking, so I do the same and face him. He rests a large hand on my shoulder. “That makes you far more valuable than you realize.”
I swallow hard. “Not as valuable as an actual keeper, though. Blossom and Mag are at the top of that list.”
He smiles in a tight line then releases my shoulder and reaches up to run a hand down his grey beard in the way he does when he’s uncomfortable. Which doesn’t happen often. “Blossom and Mag are able to protect themselves, Paige.”
While true, his words sting. They’re a massive blow to the ego, and frankly—piss me off. I’ve been protecting myself just fine, haven’t I? Harboring a secret dragon upstairs and dealing with shadow men lurking in my shower.
Not that I can tell him either of those things.
“I’ll be fine, Hoc,” I assure him as my throat burns with raw emotion. I may not be a powerful supernatural like Blossom or Mag. Might not be able to fight or wield a sword, but I am anything but helpless.
I just wish everyone else could see it.
* * *
“Paige.”
I look up as Blossom rounds the corner with a strange man beside her. Dressed in a light grey, pin-striped suit and fedora, he looks like a high roller who has just stepped straight out of a ’forties mobster movie.
He’s handsome, despite being at least three decades older than me, and when he smiles, two dimples appear on either side of his full mouth.
“Hi.” I glance between them. “Can I help you?”
“Mr. Morris needs help looking through some books in the alchemy section,” Blossom explains. “He’s writing an article on ancient magic.”
I plaster on my best smile. “I can certainly help with that. Hi, I’m Paige, one of the librarians.” He takes my outstretched hand.
“Morris, please,” he says. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Paige.”
“Likewise.”
“Great.” Blossom claps her hands together. “I’m off to do my rounds. You’re in good hands, Mr. Morris.”
“I can see that.” He reaches up and removes his hat, exposing a head full of dark hair.
“The alchemy section is this way.” I begin walking, and he falls into step beside me.
“Are you all right?”
His question startles me, and I duck my head as I realize he’s noticed my limp. My hip hasn’t stopped throbbing since I woke, though I’ve done my best to hide it in front of the others. “I’m fine. Just a nasty spill. Clumsy of me, really.”
“Ah.”
“So, you’re writing an article?” I ask as we head for the stairs in the back.
“Yes, I’m interested in the ancient ways alchemy was used to enhance the abilities of powerful witches and warlocks.”
“Sounds intriguing.”
“Quite fascinating,” he agrees.
“What publication are you writing it for? Maybe I know it.”
He hesitates for a quick beat and then admits, “For now, this is a personal project. Back in my home world, magic has been in the open for quite some time. Nearly all humans have otherworldly abilities though the ancient way has been lost for quite some time. It is my intent to bring light to the way of our ancestors once again.”
“A noble quest.”
He beams at me, showing straight white teeth and those damned dimples again. “I believe so as well.”
At the back of the library, I opt for the lift instead of the stairs. It’s creaky as hell and sometimes makes me wonder if I’m about to plummet to my death, but it’s a hell of a lot less painful for my battered hip.
I step into the vintage elevator then wait for Morris to join me before closing and latching the ornate iron gate. After pressing the up button, I wait for the grinding of gears as the elevator climbs to the second level.
When it comes to a stop, I open the grate and step off—my foot landing nearly right on top of Ted as he zips by in a clear hurry.
“Watch it!” he screeches, nothing more than a blur of blond hair and black, tactical clothing.
“You watch it,” I reply, startled and then annoyed.
He stops and looks up, huffing at my tone. “We’re working.”
“So am I,” I counter. “And you’re right underfoot.”
The gnome glares at me then straightens his black beanie and moves on his way.
“That is an interesting creature,” Morris comments.
“Yes. And they know it, which makes them quite arrogant, too. Right this way.” I gesture toward a cabinet off to the left.
“All of the books are on alphabetized cards. You can find them by looking up their shelf and reference number.” To demonstrate, I open one of the drawers and reach in for the first card I see.
“Both are listed right here at the bottom of each card.”
He studies then nods. “Easy enough. Will you be staying up here?”
“Yes. Unfortunately, the alchemy section requires a keeper escort at all times.”
There’s that charming smile again. “Great. I was hoping you’d be around to keep me company.”
My own enthusiasm at babysitting a library guest doesn’t quite match his, but at least I’m not alone, and I did promise Aries I’d make sure of that.
“I’ve lived here at the library all my life, and while I’m not technically a full keeper yet, I will be at the end of the month.” If no one discovers the dragon in my apartment.
“Must have been an exciting childhood. To grow up in a place filled with such knowledge.”
“It really was.”
He plucks out a card, holding it up. “Lucky number one,” he says and then begins walking through the stacks in search of the book he’s chosen.
I follow, doing my duty as keeper-in-training and making sure he stays away from the restricted section and takes no pictures of the pages. Though, given that it appears he’s from an era before camera phones were a thing, I don’t think I need to worry about that.
People come here from parallel timelines nearly as often as they arrive from places that are nothing like ours. Creatures, warlocks, witches…I’ve seen it all.
Well, I haven’t seen it all. Not with my own two eyes.
One day, maybe I’d take a portal to one of those places and never come back.
Spend my life exploring far-off worlds rather than simply reading about them.
I nearly snort at the thought of what Hoc would say if I told him I wanted to give up being a keeper and just portal jump from world to world instead.
What would Aries say?
As soon as I think it, I dismiss the thought. Even if he didn’t think I was crazy, it’s not like he could invite me home for a visit during my travels. He needs a mate. Someone to help him rule a kingdom. Someone that is absolutely not me.
Instead, I remain dutifully among the shelves, assisting Morris in his own endeavors--and putting my own dreams aside.