kids, and you would skin your knee and mine would hurt, too?” Lucy nodded. They had always had the twin connection thing. Joey had been her other half, the center of her universe, until Alec.
“Or how I always knew where you were on the basketball court without looking?” Joey asked.
Again Lucy nodded, and a bittersweet lump grew in her throat. “I’m still not leaving.”
“Are you sure?”
Lucy nodded. “I’m surer of this than I have been of anything in my life.”
“I love you, sis.” Joey looked her straight in the eye. “I won’t be far when you need me.”
Acceptance settled over Lucy’s heart like a warm blanket. He really would be all right.
“I love you, too,” she whispered. “And I won’t need you, but I will enjoy hearing how you are doing.” She wondered if Joey picked up on the subtle change in terminology. To see how he was doing, it denoted no involvement, no saving, only the normal interest of a loved one.
Joey nodded. “Try to hang on to your brain cells. You’ll never believe all this when I try and tell you later.”
Lucy laughed, and her stomach movement jostled Alec. She steadied the top of his head with her left hand and reached for Joey with the other.
Joey kissed her on the forehead. “See you soon.” As he turned to leave, the firelight reflected on his hand, showing her a vibrant, not at all fading dragon mark between Joey’s finger and thumb.
“Joey,” she called under her breath, but he was already winding his way through the crowd.
Under her hand, Alec stirred. His blue eyes stared into hers with perfect awareness.
“You were awake?”
“Yes.” Alec sat up, put his feet on the ground, and stood. “We’ll talk when I return.”
“He means well.” She couldn’t help the defensive explanation.
“Lucy, it’ll be all right. I won’t hurt him,” Alec said. “But we have to get to him before he tells other humans about us.” He followed Joey’s path through the dwindling crowd. Immediately, his six lieutenants appeared at his side and then fanned out across the rooftop.
Lucy stayed seated. Alec would be fair with Joey. She put her arms around her knees, holding the warmth of Alex’s body to her chest. She trusted him with her life. She could trust him with Joey’s.
…
Alec approached the couch where Lucy dozed, exposed to the mid-morning sun. Though it had only been a couple of hours, his heart turned over in his chest to see her again. She had waited for him as he had asked, not leaving, though in the after-party befuddlement, only Lil still watched over her.
She could have run, and she hadn’t. He had believed her words in the desert, but somehow this proof that she wouldn’t leave him…it was staggering. He reached his arms under her back and legs and lifted her against his chest.
“Alec?” Lucy opened her eyes and gave him a warm smile. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tucked her chin to his chest, inhaling deeply. “I love the smell of you.”
“Is it that bad?” Alec asked with amusement in his voice. He was grimy after chasing her swift-footed brother through the streets of Las Vegas. He had not been able to take his dragon form in the daylight with so many humans around. In the end, he and his lieutenants had turned back empty-handed.
It was a short walk to his tower and shorter walk to his penthouse. Someone had changed the bed linens. His bedroom was entirely clean of the bloody bedding and towels that had been used to clean Lucy’s shoulder, but he could still pick up the faint twang of Lucy’s blood. The scent agitated his beast. Now that they were bonded, he would always sense her like the call of an elusive jewel.
Alec set Lucy on the bed and lay down facing her.
“Don’t frown.” Lucy stroked a finger over his brow. “It makes you look fierce.”
Alec took a calming breath and settled his dragon nature. He wanted her with him, and now he knew he could trust her.
“What happened with my brother?”
“He got away. I’ve sent our best tracker after him.” At Lucy’s frown, he added, “Don’t worry, she won’t harm him.”
“I’m more worried about your tracker. He can be very resourceful, especially when he’s cornered.”
“You could have left with your brother. Why didn’t you?”
Lucy leaned back on the pillow, her eyes directly on his. “Why would I leave? I told you, I will never betray you again.”
Alec reached out with his dragon senses for the truth under her words. Her scent was the familiar vanilla musk, without the acrid bite of fear and deception.
“I believe you.” Alec spoke the words and realized they were true. He did believe her.
He smiled and pulled her into his arms, settling her head over his heart. “You told me once that you couldn’t live in a fairy tale.”
Lucy nodded. “At dinner, the first night.”
“You good with dragons?”
“Most humans would consider that a nightmare.” But her smile was broad and tears brimmed on her eyes. “Lucky for you, I’m not most humans.”
“Do you consider my dragon a nightmare?” His heart paused, waiting for her answer.
“No. I think he is magnificent.” Lucy stroked her hands down his chest and tilted her head back to look him in the eyes. “I want to stay with you, here or wherever…some hovel in the mountains is fine, too, if you’re there.”
“Please.” Alec pulled her body close to his, happiness exploding through his chest. “No dragon would consider living in a
Lucy’s smile spread, and a small tear escaped the corner of her eye. “Forever and ever.”
Acknowledgments
A special thanks Liz Pelletier for her input into the conception of the Luck of the Dragon. To Jill Marsal, Kate Fall and Candy Havens for the pull through, and extra oomph! To Margie Lawson, teacher extraordinaire, who first listened to me read my work aloud—talk about a visceral response. To Suzanne and Carole, fellow writing trench-mates and beta readers. To my family, who never blanched when I announced I was publishing a sexy romance novel, and who have always encouraged me to work for my dreams. To my husband, my real-life hero, who helps me make my dreams come true. And, to my hoodlum children, who thankfully love peanut butter and jelly.
About the Author
SUSANNAH SCOTT lives in the Missouri Ozarks and is the lone female in a very loud household of males ranging in age from 4 to 40. While she jokes that the extreme levels of testosterone inspired her to write romance, it is really the love of creating an excellent story, and the occasional dreams of twenty-foot dragons, that wake her and send her to the laptop before the chaos of daily life ensues. Susannah loves to hear from her readers. Please visit her website at www.susannahscottbooks.com for information, or to read an excerpt from the next book in the Las Vegas Dragons series. You can also follow her as “Susannah Scott” on Facebook and Goodreads, and @Susannah_Scott on Twitter.
