Part 26 (1/2)

Stroking her back, he answered, ”If I'm always nice and romantic, life will become boring rather quickly. I have to keep you on your toes. Because in fifty years, I want to be lying on the floor with you in my arms just like now.”

Laying her cheek back on his chest, Nikki listened to her human's heartbeat and hoped for the same thing.

Rafe lazily ran his fingertips up and down her back. Eventually, he spoke again. ”Between Jane and Kai as well as you and me, my parents are going to have to finally visit.”

She looked up. ”You never really talk about your parents.”

He shrugged. ”My mum is from Australia and finally convinced my dad to move there a few years ago. Visiting England isn't exactly an easy thing to do since it's halfway around the world.”

”Maybe we could go there. I've never been to Australia, and I'd love to meet some of the dragons there. Or, at least, learn about them since we don't really know if they're potential allies or if they're potential enemies.”

”That's my woman, always thinking of how to expand her list of allies,” he said with a smile.

”Well, I missed out on meeting the Irish clan for the first time, so I need to think of a new plan on how to make it happen with a different clan.”

Brus.h.i.+ng the hair off her cheek, he answered, ”Maybe someday, once things are calmer. I don't think traveling halfway around the world is the safest move at the moment.”

”We did it in the army.”

”That was different. You had battles.h.i.+ps and destroyers take you to India and you flew from there. Commercial s.h.i.+ps make for easier targets.”

She sighed. ”I guess that means your parents will have to fly here.” She grinned. ”I look forward to your parents meeting mine.”

As he played with her hair, he raised his brows. ”More like your dad is going to have to stand up to my mum.”

Nikki snorted. ”Then we definitely need to make it happen.”

He pulled her up his chest and kissed her. ”As soon as I get back, you plan the mating, and I'll get my parents here.”

”Someone sounds in a hurry to get mated.”

He grunted. ”I want it done before you change your mind.”

She gave a heated look. ”Then you'd better use what time we have left to convince me to keep you.”

With a grin, Rafe rolled them over until he caged Nikki with his arms and legs. ”Woman, you're not going to be able to put two sentences together when I'm done.”

”Well then, Hartley, I accept your challenge.”

Rafe kissed her and set out to win.

Never had Nikki been so happy and content to be herself. Being a Protector or even the first child born to a sacrifice didn't matter at that moment. All that mattered was that she'd found her true mate and her happy ending was within her grasp.

Chapter Twenty-Three.

About an hour after sunrise the following morning, Rafe casually walked down one of the streets off Vauxhall Bridge Road in London. People walked in both directions on the pavement, heading to work in one of the nearby local businesses. A few might even be taking the long way to work in Westminster or one of the other government buildings near the river.

Adjusting his tie, Rafe couldn't wait to get out of the b.l.o.o.d.y suit he wore to blend in. How people put them on day after day, he had no idea. He'd rather take his chances in Afghanistan for five more years than suffer the confinement of a necktie five days a week for forty years.

When he turned a corner, Rafe's target came into view and all thoughts of suits vanished. The newly reopened Department of Dragon Affairs headquarters was at the end of the street. A few people walked up the steps to the main entrance. If his intel was correct, two security guards would be just inside the entrance to check for weapons or explosives.

According to Evie, most of the DDA staff arrived around 8:00 a.m. to start work. It was almost ten to eight now.

He wasn't worried about the early arrivals or the chance Tobias White had slipped inside already. As a precaution, Jane had been in the area since half past seven.

Rafe scanned the street without being obvious about it and spotted Jane wearing her blonde wig, tight skirt, and open-b.u.t.toned top. Even from across the street, Rafe could see more of his sister's cleavage than he ever wanted to. He had a feeling Kai hadn't approved of Jane's kit for her undercover role, but Rafe might be able to use it to tease Jane in the future. Although, his sister might not see it as teasing since it would rile Kai up, but too bad.

Still, Tobias White went through women like most people went through socks; shove a pretty face in front of him, flirt a little, and the man would pursue her. Jane was acting as their bait.

The files on Tobias had been thin, but Arabella MacLeod had been able to round some up from places unknown on the internet. Rafe had a feeling Arabella was a pretty good hacker, but he wasn't about to question it as long as she didn't get caught. The files had arrived during the car ride down from Stonefire. Rafe and Jane had altered their plan slightly to better use Tobias' weakness for women.

He only hoped it didn't backfire as Rafe and Jane had decided against backup. The operation was too important to risk a leak.

More than anything, he wished Nikki could be here and have his back.

Speaking of backs, his stung a little but he wouldn't have it any other way. Just remembering Nikki making the marks as she moaned the day before brought a smile to his face. Her final words still echoed inside his mind: You'd better come back to me, Rafe Hartley, or I will find your a.r.s.e and teach you a lesson.

When he finally spotted Jane again, she was sipping her coffee and strutting slowly down the pavement on the opposite side of the road, he pushed aside memories of Nikki. The mission needed his complete focus.

After a few minutes, Jane drew nearer to the DDA headquarters. When she picked up her pace, Rafe scanned for their target. A man with a similar build to the escaped hunter collided with Jane. Her coffee spilled everywhere. Pulling out a cloth handkerchief, she dabbed down his front and then close to the man's crotch.

Yeah, it was definitely a good thing Kai was back on Stonefire.

He waited impatiently for Jane to switch on the bug and slip it into the man's trouser pocket. The suitcase in Rafe's hand would record the transmission, but it would be useless if Jane couldn't get the listening device stashed somewhere that couldn't be left behind in a closet.

When the transmitter in his ear picked up a signal, relief flooded his body. Jane's voice in an American accent filled his ear. ”Oh, I'm so, so sorry. I'm still trying to get used to the size of London and wasn't paying attention to where I was going. You really should let me pay to have it cleaned.”

A man replied in a London accent, ”No worries, miss. London is a big city.” The b.a.s.t.a.r.d's gaze was looking down Jane's s.h.i.+rt. ”But if you really want to make it up to me, you'll let me take you out to dinner.”

So, it appeared Tobias aka Toby had put on a fake Yorks.h.i.+re accent for his time with the rogue dragon hunters.

Jane placed a hand on White's chest. ”I do love your accent and wouldn't mind hearing you talk for a few hours.”

Rafe doubted the man would want to talk, given the way Jane was caressing his chest.

For the first time in a while, he appreciated his sister's skill at acting.

White's voice turned husky. ”Good. I can't wait to see you in a tight little dress. I know the perfect place to go. Give me your number and I'll text you.”

Rafe watched what he a.s.sumed was them exchanging phone numbers. Jane gave a coy smile and then parted ways.

Unfortunately, Rafe could still hear White as he murmured, ”I can't wait to undress that Yank and watch her t.i.ts bounce.”