Beaufort Creek Shifters (10 book series)
The Dragon’s Pretend Marriage Chapter 4

Brandi

Explosive. Simply stunning. Utterly horrifying.

That kiss would rip me to shreds and I knew it.

But I did it regardless of how much I was screaming at my inner wolf to shut the hell up. She didn't know anything. She didn't even understand what liking a kiss like this would do to us.

It was out of the question. Milton was just a means to an end. He was nothing more than an agreement made out of desperation.

Sheer, sexy desperation.

And without warning, it all came to a crashing halt.

Reporters interrupted us. The fae creatures who ran Royale were pissed about human snoops getting into their club. We raced from the place like it was the end of the world on our heels, disappearing into the back of Milton's limo where we didn't dare look at each other.

Rather, it was me who didn't dare. Him? I wasn't so sure. Every second that passed felt like an eternity with him sitting right beside me. No movement. No words. No breathing, even. For what seemed to make the night stretch into vast oblivion. And then, I was at my house.

And then, I was upstairs.

And then, I was awake in my bed.

It had all happened so fast. Had it happened at all? It seemed more like a fever dream than anything else.

How did I know I wasn't just making it all up?

Morning light spilled over my bare legs. Over the edge of the full-size bed rested the only remainder of last night-the dress made of stars. I sat up to observe it, affection warming my chest and inspiring me to kick my legs over the side of the bed like a dancer preparing for her performance.

My thoughts raced. My head ached. Hangovers are a thing for wolves, sure, but not like this. This was something else. This was far more embedded in my bones than a mere handful of shots and some cheap human beers.

Something lingered in the air. It could have been magic-I mean, it could have been anything-but it was so much more elusive. It was like cloudy wisps drifting from my mug on a particularly chilly morning, or fog sifting through the dewdrop-speckled grass just before dawn.

What was it?

Why did it make me want to get out of bed?

Once I shook my head, the spell broke. The dress looked like any other dress in rays of sunlight fluttering through the sheer white curtains. Clouds foamed on the cerulean blue walls with wolves painted in various poses. Most of them appeared to be dancing, but some of them were running.

My room couldn't have been described as anything other than a sorority girl's room. And not entirely on purpose. It was just that the furniture store in town had a sale which just happened to be the sort of boldly colored feathery furniture that college girls dump into their dorms.

And maybe it was because I had once gone to college. Maybe this was all I had left of that life.

Maybe flunking out had just made it that much more difficult to grow up.

Another shake of my head had the sheets on the ground. I left a trail of clothes leading to the bathroom and hopped in the shower, embracing the steam that surrounded me.

Like Milton had last night.

Head shake part three, or part four at this point. When was I going to shake that kiss? It wasn't like it meant anything.

But the way my body flushed had my flesh prickling with distinct awareness. It was too hot all of a sudden. I had to get out of the shower.

The fogged mirror hid whatever I was feeling-which was nothing. Absolutely nothing. I didn't feel a damn thing that I needed to acknowledge. Between the drinks, the danger, the dancing, and the draining wealthy folks keen on exploring my background, I was utterly exhausted.

Milton hadn't revived me with his lips. Not one bit. It actually had the opposite effect. It confused me.

Even though kissing him had been my idea. For the crowd. For the clout.

I had no one to blame but myself.

It's fine, I thought as I toweled off. I'm just upset because I'm used to kissing leading to other things. Like relationships.

I dropped the towel and wandered to my modest closet. Blue jeans and a tie-dye tank top were good enough for me today.

Or like sex.

My skin prickled once more. Heat ballooned in my core as I walked quickly into the hallway, skipped down the carpeted beige steps, and launched myself into the expansive living room. Not much furniture here either. Mostly stuff my mother had found at the local thrift shop.

Just a tattered teal couch, a flat-screen television from the Haydens, and a coffee table. Rustic red. Could have been blood red at some point before the weather had gotten to it on the side of the road. Rich folks just loved throwing away anything that didn't please them.

Including people.

I have to be careful.

The thought came unbidden, much like the way my body reacted to Milton. It was unwelcome in so many ways.

And yet, it made sense.

Of course, that was why I was feeling so weird!

Milton was loaded. He had both his parents and a bounty of riches to call his own. He would be fine if he were to lose this engagement.

But someone like me might never recover.

Even my alpha couldn't help me. His father hadn't helped me in the past. So, why would Blake help me now?

Apples don't fall far from their trees.

A sigh sent me into the kitchen. Mismatched art decor covered the walls along with a multicolored clay mug set, two toasters, and a dingy microwave. Things would look good in here if I would just take the time to clean.

But really, who had time for that?

Once I had breakfast ready, I sat at the round table near the glass porch door. Birds hopped in the yard as trees swayed with the morning breeze. It would probably be muggy again. When was it not muggy?

My phone buzzed. A text appeared on the screen. "Hey! It's Lenny. I'm here for the roomie interview."

I hopped up like my buns were on fire. A green-haired bird shifter with skin tinted a dark shade of burnt orange waited patiently on the porch. Their lip ring glinted silver in the morning light and their various tattoos shifted with their body as they held up a hand to wave. Their eyes closed to slits with their smile. "Hi!"

"Hi, Lenny," I greeted sleepily. I stepped back. "Please, come in. Don't mind the mess. I never get to cleaning much."

Too much on my mind for cleaning, I thought as I shut the door. Money problems galore.

Lenny shrugged and brushed the front of their yellow muscle shirt. The design was a crow tilting its head back to squawk at the sky. Jagged letters erupted beneath the bird. It was probably a local band. Black skinny jeans conformed to their long legs. They turned around in the living room, completing a circle.

"Not bad," they commented. "Plenty of space."

I smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, I never got more furniture."

"That's no big deal. It happens. You should have seen where I was squatting before I got here."

"Where were you at?" I breezed into the kitchen and pointed to the bowl of cereal on the table. "Hungry?"

"Famished."

I nodded to the row of cereal boxes on the fridge. I always had plenty.

Lenny grabbed the frosted cornflakes. "I bounced around Charleston for a bit and then went to Columbia. Florence, Spartanburg, Rock Hill-you name it."

"All the major cities, huh?"

"Wherever the bus landed."

Something like remorse settled in my gut. Was it remorse? And why? I frowned while sitting slowly in my chair. "And here I was complaining about my home. Where I've never had to worry about much." Except for loans.

Still, Lenny hadn't had a proper bed in...years? Was it years? I hadn't asked yet. Though it wasn't likely they would share that information with me, my lips still spat out the question. "God, how long?" Lenny raised their eyebrows. Thick bristles made of the same green as their hair. Those must have been done at the same time. "You know, I just don't remember. I've been bouncing around for a while." "Sorry."

They laughed, eyes closing to fine brushstrokes. Their eyelashes were onyx. Maybe that was their natural hair color. "Why are you sorry? It's not like you made me homeless or something." "Homeless, squatting, running around-Christ."

"Christ doesn't care."

My eyelids snapped rapidly in quick succession. "Oh."

"Sorry. Religious trauma. Foster care is a bit..." They shrugged. "Everything is rough when you're a non-binary hellion like me."

"Well, you don't have to worry about any of that shit here." I flashed them the Snider smile, guaranteed to put any surrounding souls at ease. "Honestly, I have the space to fit another shifter and you'll be perfect." Lenny brightened up. "Really?"

"Sure! There's a whole-a's room upstairs I'm not using. My brother doesn't room with me anymore since he did his sailing thing. And now he's mated. I could use some company."

"A whole-ass room is so much better than a half-a*s room."

Laughter burst from me. "Yeah, we're gonna get along just fine."

"I'd sure hope so. Blake specifically told me to apply to this house."

My grin reduced slightly. Damn it, that was right. Blake had made a lot of calls since my brother got mated. He wanted everyone to double down on company after that weird attack by The Gilbert Pack.

Could I blame the guy? He was just worried about his people. At least he was actually doing something about it.

My heart twitched. Blake is better than his father. Maybe he would be able to help me with my little Gilbert problem. I mean, they are the enemy. Maybe I could-

The front door snapped open. "Good morning, my sweet darling!"

Milton barged into the kitchen wearing a black silk shirt and dark slacks with shiny black shoes. His hair practically glowed in the light pouring in from behind me. Shock kept my limbs locked into place as he practically sprinted past Lenny just to get to me. Just to hug me.

Just to plant a kiss on my lips.

Blood rushed through my veins as I tilted my head back to accommodate his lips. This was all I had wanted this morning-literally just this. His tongue swept possessively into my mouth as his hand dropped to the small of my back, urging me to arch into him. Heat swelled between us as he sighed softly into the kiss, only drifting back when he had no air left in his lungs.

A resonant vibration met my chest.

I blinked up at him. "Are you...purring?"

He dropped me casually into my chair, beamed, and then stepped into the center of the kitchen. Always the center. What was with him constantly wanting to be the center of attention?

He adjusted the first button of his silk shirt while his chilling green gaze rolled toward Lenny. "Ah! A friend of Brandi's is a friend of mine." He extended his hand. "Milton Kane of Kane EnTech. Lovely to meet you, friend."

Lenny shook Milton's hand. "I'm Lenny, they/them pronouns, please. I'm Brandi's new roommate."

"New." Milton drawled the syllables out while turning to me. He still held Lenny's hand but his attention was on me. "Darling, I thought you would come to stay with me."

Lenny appeared confused. "Blake said Brandi needed a roommate."

"Oh, Blake." Milton released Lenny's hand and laughed politely. "We haven't told him just yet. He doesn't like watching the news."

I blushed while gesturing to Milton. "Lenny, this is my fiancé. Like my brand new fiancé. Like we just got engaged last night." Milton puffed up. "We're mates!"

Lenny bounced in their chair. "Oh, that's so exciting! I've always wondered about the process. I've heard of this during my travels but never had any extensive exposure to it. What's it like?"

"I mean, it's just-"

Milton took my hand. "It's absolutely spectacular. It's one of the best things that's ever happened to me. I'm totally floored by this woman."

Every damn word out of his mouth inspired a new wave of heat to flush my face. The waves dropped into my chest and then invaded my core, warming the space between my thighs so quickly that I didn't even have time to get embarrassed about it. And I liked it. A lot. More than I would have ever been comfortable admitting.

As Milton went on a verbal tirade outlining precisely the conditions of our realization, I watched an enraptured Lenny practically melt under my fiancé's charm. He certainly had a way with words, and presented them in a fashion that could entertain just about any audience.

He was smooth, inspiring, and alluring at the same time. He never once released my hand while he spoke, his thumb drifting over my knuckles in a reverent sweep that conveyed affection. Lenny had no idea Milton was doing such a thing. Yet Milton did it all the

same.

Was it just part of his performance? Or was he trying to soothe his nerves? The silly dragon had a way of subtly revealing his emotions to me that he wholeheartedly denied.

Which was as adorable as it was infuriating. Didn't he know how cute it was, the things he did when he thought no one would notice?

Alright, calm down, I warned myself.

But when Milton looked at me, my brain dissolved. No thoughts. Only those tumbled jades resonating a bioluminescent glow. They illuminated me. They absorbed me. They made me feel safe.

It was the strangest thing. I had to break the spell before I got sucked too far into it. This was just his dragon charm. And nothing more.

It couldn't possibly be more.

"...tonight, my love."

My eyebrows shot through the second floor of the townhouse. "What?"

"We're meeting my parents tonight for dinner. They're excited to meet you."

"We're doing what?"

He chuckled and tugged me into his arms. "I know. It's the worst part. And that's why I wanted to get it over with at the beginning! Then, we can worry about other things." His nose nuzzled my earlobe. "Like our mating ceremony. And all that entails." What did he mean by that?

And why did it make me warm all over?