Fire and Flames [Dragon Love 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  Adam, normally the calmest of the three, scowled. “He’s right. That was fuckin’ A stupid. Are you trying to out us, Colter? Hell, can you imagine what the Vegas bunch would say?”

  Damn, how he hated hearing about the dragon clans of Vegas. The four ruling clans of the dragons’ world had their primary homes in Sin City. They laid down the laws governing all dragons, including the one about letting humans see what they were.

  “Don’t worry about it. They’ll never know. Unless one of you assholes tells them.” At least, he doubted they’d find out. Reports of two dragons flying over the River Walk area of San Antonio had caused a major stir for a while. At last, the tabloids and tourists had given up searching, accepting the lie the dragons had put out that it had all been part of a publicity stunt for a traveling circus. Thankfully, humans could be gullible.

  “You’re pushing your luck. Why were you there, anyway?” Ridge backed off, moving toward the wet bar of their penthouse in downtown Houston. The physical fight was over.

  Although it probably seemed strange to other people, the two cousins and their friend liked residing in the same place. Being immortal and having lived for centuries, they knew the value of close friendships. Even among dragons, finding one, much less two men to trust completely was difficult. That, and living together would make the idea of sharing one woman easier. They’d had their own women throughout the years, but none of those relationships had ever lasted. Instinctively, they’d known they wanted one woman to share between them. One who would hold all three of their hearts in her hand.

  Until they did, the time clock that would count down to a mortal ending would never start. Whether their mate was human or dragon wasn’t a concern. If they loved her enough to give up their immortality, then that was all that mattered.

  Immortality or love? The answer was simple enough. What good was living if they never experienced true passion?

  “Snap out of it, Colter, and answer the man’s question. What were you doing there in the first place?” Adam had gone back to playing cards. He practiced every day, even when there wasn’t a poker tournament in the near future.

  “I wanted to feel the fire.” They knew what he meant. He could see it in their eyes. “Hell, we haven’t had a chance to use our flames in a hell of a long time. I just wanted to feel the heat on my scales.”

  Their silence told him he was right. But would that make a difference?

  “Yeah. I hear what you’re saying.” Adam fell back against the couch. “I could use a good fire about now.”

  “Then take it out of town.” Ridge downed the shot he’d poured.

  “And what? Burn some tumbleweeds? Yeah, no thanks.” What he burned was almost as important as releasing the fire inside him.

  “He’s right.” Adam picked up the cards, flipping them side to side with expert skill.

  “It doesn’t matter. You screwed up.” Ridge downed another drink and moved to stand in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

  The view from their penthouse condominium was spectacular with lights blazing across the Houston skyline. The top of the room was high, creating an expanse like that of a cathedral, making the open area of the living area enormous. Taking up the entire top floor, the penthouse gave them enough room that they could shift inside. Once they had, they could slide aside the custom-made floor-to-ceiling windows that spanned the entire 150 feet of one wall and take flight.

  As an investor, Ridge had made his fortune several times over, but still kept his hand in the business. Colter preferred investing in property, especially large ranches, instead of the stock market like Ridge did. He considered converting the penthouse condo to suit their needs one of his best investments.

  “So? Was she all right?”

  “What are you asking, Ridge? Was she uninjured? Or are you asking if she was good looking?”

  A flash of red flamed in his cousin’s eyes. “Both.”

  “Then yes to both. At least, I think so. The firefighter suit she wore didn’t give me much of a clue. But if her face was any indication, then her body could start its own fire.”

  He grinned, knowing Ridge was beginning to calm down. Her blue eyes, clouded over yet still filled with a feisty glint, had stared back at him. Red hair had surrounded her oval face, giving her an ethereal appearance. It had taken a lot of willpower to keep from ripping off her facemask and protective clothing to get a better look.

  “You should check on her.” Adam let out a growl at the turn of his last card. “Make sure she’s all right.”

  “How am I supposed to know who she is?” Yet he should’ve known Ridge would have an answer.

  “There aren’t that many women firefighters in Houston. I’ll find out her name.”

  “Fine.” It wasn’t as though he hadn’t had the same idea. If nothing else came from their meeting, he wanted to look into her blue eyes one more time.

  “Yeah. You need to make sure she’s all right and that she didn’t go telling everyone she saw a fucking dragon,” added Ridge.

  “She’s smarter than that.” At least, he hoped she was. “No firefighter wants people thinking she’s gone off the deep end.”

  Ridge put his empty glass down and strode toward the hallway leading to the four spacious bedrooms. “Find out for sure. And do it as a human, damn it.”

  Colter studied his cousin. Ridge’s expression had changed when he’d talked about how pretty she was.

  He wants to see her.

  Chapter Two

  Marlee would’ve sworn she felt her heart break. “Kyle, please tell me what happened.” She pressed the phone hard against her ear.

  Her younger brother was her everything. He was creative, talented, and the nicest person she’d ever met. Maybe it was because he was all of those things that he was so sensitive and caring. He was, in her opinion, as perfect as any human could ever be.

  He was also gay.

  Although her parents had been terrific role models and had loved both their children with equal ferocity, Kyle had never felt as though he was accepted by the rest of the world. As soon as he’d announced to his sixth grade class that he liked boys instead of girls, he’d been verbally and physically bullied. She’d done her best to look out for him, but being eight years older had made it difficult. Still, she blamed herself for not being there during his teen years when the abuse had become even worse. From leering taunts to beatings to messages posted online degrading him, he’d suffered through it all. The problem was that he’d suffered through most of it in silence until one day he couldn’t take it any longer.

  Marlee struggled to keep the tears from her voice. Any time she thought about that awful day when she’d found her brother lying on his bed, a bottle of pills beside his unconscious body, her heart broke all over again. Fortunately, she’d found him in time. But from that day on, she worried about him and prayed one day everyone would see the incredible man she knew.

  What was wrong with people? Someone’s sexual preference wasn’t a reason for hatred. Why couldn’t they understand that love, no matter who it brought together, was beautiful? The outer shell, the body was simply that. Just a shell. What mattered was the spirit inside. When one loving, kind heart reached out and touched another heart, how could anyone deny that union?

  “I don’t want to talk about it.” His voice quivered.

  She longed to pull him into a hug. “How about I come over? We could watch a black-and-white movie and make fun of the old-fashioned things they say. I’ll bring the popcorn.”

  “No. I’m not in the mood.”

  “But we’ll have a lot of fun. Hell, I’ll even bring your favorite wine. Buttered popcorn, your favorite wine, and your sister. You can’t wish for anything more, right?”

  “Thanks, but no thanks. I’m already in for the night.”

  That alone was a bad sign. Her brother loved to go out at night and meet up with friends.

  “Kyle Hendrickson, if you don’t tell me what’s got you down, I’m going to
call Mom.”

  She smiled at his groan. Their mother was wonderful and loving, but she could also smother them too much. Although after that awful day, she couldn’t blame her mother for wanting to keep Kyle as close as possible.

  “You’re bringing out the big guns now, aren’t you?”

  “You’re making me do it.” His tone had lightened a little. “So what’s it going to be? Either tell me what’s going on or I call Mom.”

  “It’s nothing much. Definitely nothing important.” His sigh filtered through the phone.

  “If it’s got you down, then it’s important. Spit it out.”

  A long pause came and went as her brother made his decision.

  “There’s this guy I kind of like.”

  “Yeah? But that’s a good thing, right?” Although Kyle was friendly and outgoing whenever he was out in the clubs, he often withdrew from everyone, staying in his apartment. She didn’t blame him. It had to be rough to be a gay man in Texas.

  “Not really. He doesn’t even know I exist.”

  “Oh.” She was the last person who should be giving dating advice. Her last serious relationship had lasted only a few months. “Then maybe you should make him notice you.”

  “I don’t know how.”

  “Now that’s a load of horseshit if ever I heard it.”

  “Does our mother know you kiss her with that mouth?” He was feeling better. She could hear it in his voice.

  “Are you kidding me? She can curse with the best of them.” She flopped onto her back and stretched out on her couch. “Okay, then, we’ll figure out a plan together. By the time you get finished with this guy, you’ll have him eating out of your hand.”

  “I don’t want him eating out of my hand. I’d rather have him eating—”

  “No, Kyle. Don’t you dare finish that sentence. Remember who you’re talking to. I’ll help you find love, but I don’t want to know any of the details. Understood?”

  He laughed, easing the tension in her chest. “Damn, you’re so homophobic. Don’t you like the idea of two men getting it on?”

  “You know I don’t care about that. But you’re my brother. I don’t want to imagine you with anyone, male or female. Besides, what you do is your business, and what I do is mine. Agreed?”

  “Does that mean you’ve got some business to talk about?”

  He was trying to change the subject from him to her. “We’re talking about you, not me. Okay, then, tell me everything you know about him. Without getting graphic.”

  She adjusted the phone to her ear, loving the sound of her brother’s voice. Relief swallowed her as she listened to him talk about his crush.

  * * * *

  “I’m telling you guys she should’ve never been given a spot on our team. A man wouldn’t have gotten into trouble. A man wouldn’t have been off by himself in the first place.”

  “Come on, Jack.” Ray sounded both distressed and irritated. “I was the one who took off and left her alone. It’s my fault she wasn’t with her partner.”

  Marlee heard the conversation as she was walking toward the break room. Anger flared, although she should’ve seen it coming. Jack took every chance he could to try and tear her down. Never mind that she’d passed every physical and mental requirement to become a firefighter. Never mind that she’d already proven herself time and time again. He had it in for any female wanting to fight fires.

  She stepped into the room and sauntered over to the coffee pot. Plastering on a fake grin, she poured a cup of coffee, relishing the silence that had fallen over the men. She turned to them and took a sip. “What’s everybody talking about?”

  No one answered. At least, no one she would’ve wanted to answer.

  “Hendrickson, you don’t belong here. Why don’t you do yourself and all of us a favor and quit?”

  For a moment, she imagined tossing the scalding coffee into Jack’s face. Thankfully, she resisted the urge. “Why would I quit? I like my job. And I like all of you.” Her scornful gaze slid over him. “Or, at least, most of you.”

  She felt the hate seething from him. Keeping her cheerful demeanor, she took another sip.

  “How are you feeling, Marlee?”

  The men sometimes used her first name and sometimes her last, depending on the situation. “I’m fine, Walt. Thanks for asking.”

  “You looked pretty shook up for a while.” Knowing he’d just given Jack fuel for his fire, he hurriedly added, “Not that anyone wouldn’t have been thrown for a loop, too.”

  “I’m no worse for the wear. You’re sweet to be worried about me.” She batted her eyelids, playing into the poor, weak “I’m just a girl” scenario. She shouldn’t have, but it was fun to see how much Ray enjoyed it. He knew she was only doing it to dig at Jack.

  “You could’ve gotten yourself killed. Or one of us.” Jack crossed his arms, looking for all the world like a man chastising his daughter.

  “That’s a risk we face every time we go on a run.” She was finished playing games. “Back the hell off, Jack. I’m on the squad, and I’m here to stay. Get used to it.”

  “I think I hear a dirty engine calling my name.” Walt was up and out the door.

  “Um, I promised to call my wife,” added Ian McDonald.

  In no time at all, the men had followed Walt and Ian. They’d seen her argue with Jack enough times to want no part of it.

  Ray paused at the door, his hand on the knob. “Are you going to be okay, Marlee?”

  “Never better.” She wouldn’t want Ray or any of the other guys sticking up for her anyway. Besides, she knew they were behind her in spirit. “Go on. I can handle fires, and I can sure as hell handle a big bag of wind.”

  Ray grinned then went straight-faced when Jack looked his way. “Okay then. You two play nice.”

  Like that’s going to happen.

  Once Ray had closed the door, she was ready to take Jack on. “Look, I know you’ve got a thing about women firefighters, but it’s the way it is. We work just as hard as you men do and risk just as much.”

  “Bullshit. Every man out there knows he has to watch out for your ass. You’re not strong enough. Fuck, you couldn’t pull my ass out of a fire.”

  Only because I wouldn’t want to.

  “I passed the tests.” She pushed the words through gritted teeth.

  “You passed the lowered requirements for the tests.” He sneered, looking at her as though she was a pile of dog shit. “The damn politicians gave women easier standards to satisfy you fucking women libbers. You’re all a bunch of bitches wanting to take a man’s rightful place.”

  She clenched her fists. “You’re damn lucky, Jack. If I was as strong as a man, I’d knock you off your feet.”

  He thought he had her now. If she didn’t calm down, he might just be right. “You’re as big a pussy as your brother.”

  “Fuck you.” She struck out before she could stop herself.

  He grabbed her arm halfway to his face. “You gonna hit me, little girl? Really? You try that again, and I’ll teach you a lesson about how a real man treats a woman. I’ll fuck you so hard you’ll be begging to quit.”

  His fingers dug into her flesh, but she refused to show him how much it hurt. “You come near me again, and I’ll take a blowtorch to your dick.”

  His foul breath hit her in the face as he edged closer. The whites of his eyes completely surrounded the brown. “Are you threatening me, cunt? Because if you are, it’s the last thing you’ll ever do.”

  None of their arguments had ever gotten physical. Fear laced into her along with disappointment that she’d been the first one to actually strike out. “Let me go, Jack.”

  He tightened his hold on her, twisting her arm so that she had to put her back to him. She couldn’t keep back a whimper of pain. Pushing against her, he rammed her against one of the lockers where they kept their personal items. Her face pressed against the cold metal as he again put his mouth against her ear.

  “You listen to me, you
little bitch. I want you gone. Either on your own two feet or carried out on a stretcher.”

  “Are you threatening me, Jack?”

  “What’s going on?”

  She couldn’t see past Jack, even as he twisted toward the speaker. The deep timbre of the voice reached into her, instilling both relief and an overwhelming rush of need.

  “Who the hell are you?”

  “We’re friends of Marlee.”

  Friends? She pushed against Jack, forcing him back so she could turn around. Leaning against the lockers, she studied the men who’d claimed to be her friends. I don’t know who they are.

  And yet, another part of her told her she did. That she’d waited for them all her life. She just hadn’t known she was waiting. Surprised at her fanciful “girly” thoughts, she was thankful she hadn’t spoken them out loud.

  They were hot. So hot she was surprised they didn’t burn a hole through the tiled floor. Both of them towered over the squat Jack. Both of them had wide shoulders that tapered down to lean waists. She couldn’t help but imagine what they’d look like without their clothes on. Although casually dressed in slacks and long-sleeve shirts, their clothing spoke to expensive tastes. Tastes she had a feeling they could easily obtain.

  Not that she cared. In fact, if given a choice, she’d choose a blue-collar working stiff over a stuffed shirt any day of the week. But these guys? They could’ve changed her mind real fast.

  Still, they weren’t her friends. She’d never seen them before.

  “Who are these guys?”

  As if she’d ever admit it to Jack. “Like they said, they’re friends of mine.”

  “Friends, huh?” Jack puffed up his chest, trying to make himself appear bigger. “Uh-huh. I’ll just bet. You’re really good friends, aren’t you? Like friends with benefits.” He moved closer to one of the tall, dark-haired men. “Tell me. Is she wet and tight?”

  She gasped, taken by surprise as the man lifted Jack up and threw him against the nearest wall. Jack slid to the floor, but halfway down, the other man snagged him by the shirt and hefted him back onto his feet.