Part 5 (2/2)
As Nikki tried to think of how to answer that, her father's voice echoed through the house. ”Nikola Helen Gray, you have sixty seconds before I come up and carry out my threat.”
Rafe whispered, ”I'm tempted to keep you up here so that I can see him toss you over his shoulder.”
Sticking out her tongue, she ducked down and away from Rafe. ”I'm more worried about what he'd do to you. Believe me, if Delphine's cooking goes cold before we eat it, he'll roar for hours. My stepmother was his second chance and he'll do whatever it takes to keep her happy. Punching a human or two is nothing if it keeps Delphine content.”
Rafe closed the distance between them and placed a hand on Nikki's lower back. She really should step away, but the heat of his palm felt wonderful.
His expression turned serious. ”Don't worry, the food wouldn't go cold. You need to eat and if I have to force feed you, I will.”
Looking at him askance, she asked, ”Are you sure you're not part dragon-s.h.i.+fter? Because you're acting like one.”
”I'm sure. I'm as human as they come.” He pressed gently against her back. ”Come. Let's get this over with. Unless you want to p.i.s.s your father off more than he already is.”
”Oh, he won't stay mad at me. You, on the other hand, had better watch your b.a.l.l.s.”
Nikki had never felt the urge to wink at a male before, but before she could stop herself, she did and walked away.
”Little minx,” he muttered.
Racing down the stairs, she waited for Rafe at the bottom. Watching him descend with a frown, a playfulness Nikki hadn't experienced since she'd been a teenager bloomed inside her. Maybe not all compet.i.tions were bad.
Freezing at the thought, she banished it. There was no way she and Rafe would ever work, for more reasons than she could count.
Instead, she turned away from the stairs and took in a deep inhalation. Right, Nikki. Focus on what's more important. You need dad on your side before Rafe can win him over.
Her dragon merely chuckled at the back of her mind, which was never a good sign.
Sometimes, Nikki wished she could materialize her inner dragon in front of her and talk some sense into the b.l.o.o.d.y beast.
Rafe's voice interrupted her thoughts. ”We're standing in front of the door. So, are you going to try to force me out, or are we going to talk with your father together? I vote for the latter.”
Her beast spoke up. I want him.
I know laws and rules mean little to you, but how does ending up in jail sound? We'll never be able to stretch our wings and soar the sky then.
Her dragon grunted. Rafe is our mate. Bram will find a way. He did for the human females.
Yes, but the human females are to help the population grow and gives the government vials of dragon's blood. Dragonwomen breed regardless.
You worry too much.
Her beast stretched out and went to sleep.
Rafe reached out and tickled her side. Slapping his hand away, she whispered, ”Stop it.” He raised his brows, and she sighed. ”Fine, you can come. It'll be fun watching him yell at you.”
Not waiting for him to answer, Nikki waltzed into the warmth of the kitchen. While her father was nowhere to be found, Delphine met her eyes and smiled. ”Nikki!”
The tall woman with curly, dark brown hair and light brown skin rushed over and engulfed Nikki in a hug. Her mother in all but blood's voice cracked with emotion. ”I wondered if this day would ever come, what with you being so focused on security missions and everything.”
Nikki drawled, ”Yes, because being knocked up is such a big accomplishment.”
Delphine pulled back and took Nikki's face in her hands. ”Watch your tone, young lady.” Delphine's expression softened. ”I was talking about me becoming a grandmother. I have so many plans in store for the little one. And let's not forget all of the celebrations before he or she is born.”
”Celebrations before?” Nikki echoed before she could stop herself.
”Of course,” Delphine answered. ”Melanie threw Evie that baby shower. While dragon-s.h.i.+fters don't do such things, it was fun gathering everyone around and watching Evie's reactions to the presents.”
If there was ever a time Nikki contemplated drowning herself in a lake, it was the present. She'd barely survived Evie's shower without banging her head against a wall to stay awake.
Delphine continued, ”Oh, and then there's the celebration of the birth with the clan, too. And the mating celebration of course.”
Nikki interrupted. ”Hold on, Mum. Who's mating celebration are you talking about?”
”Why yours and that fine young human over there.” Delphine nodded behind her.
Glancing over her shoulder, Nikki met Rafe's gaze, which was full of amus.e.m.e.nt. b.a.s.t.a.r.d. He would pay later. ”Even if it weren't for that tiny problem of it being illegal, we're not going to be mated.”
Delphine made a noise in her throat, and Nikki resisted a sigh. After Nikki met her mother's gaze, Delphine frowned. ”Of course you will. My grandbaby needs both of his or her parents. And your father is going to ensure it happens. With his stubbornness, he'll find a way to make it work. Hector will challenge the head of the DDA himself if it means his little girl is happy.”
”Speaking of happy-”
Delphine cut her off. ”But enough of that for now. How about you introduce me to your handsome human? Is it true he's Jane Hartley's brother?”
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Nikki waited for a second to see if her stepmother would allow her to speak; it was the only way to get in a word with Delphine Gray.
When three seconds pa.s.sed in silence, Nikki jumped on the chance. ”Mum, may I introduce Rafe Hartley? Rafe, this is my mum, Delphine Gray.”
Rafe opened his mouth to speak, but Delphine rushed up to him and engulfed him in a hug. Nikki bit her lip to keep from laughing at Rafe's startled expression.
Delphine ended the hug and took Rafe's chin in hers, turning his face one way and then the other. ”Such a handsome fellow.” She moved her free hand to Rafe's bicep and squeezed. ”And strong, too. You'll do for our Nikki.”
Hector Gray's voice boomed behind Nikki. ”We'll see about that.”
With both of her parents in the room, Nikki leaned against a counter and crossed her arms over her chest. She wanted to see how Rafe handled the dragon-s.h.i.+fters.
Not that it should matter if he could handle her parents. After all, Nikki fully intended to send him away later in the day.
Still, she looked forward to someone other than her being the focus of her parents' overprotectiveness and prying nature.
Rafe barely had time to recover from Delphine's hugging and squeezing when Nikki's father stood at the back door. As the dragonman pierced him with a glare and growled, Rafe decided to f.u.c.k playing nice and acting complacent. Dragons liked strength; it was time he showed it.
Careful to step around Delphine, Rafe stood tall and crossed his arms over his chest. ”Still treating your daughter like a child, I see.”
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