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As she stared at Rafe’s large hand engulfing hers, Nikki made her decision. “Okay, we’ll go with the compromise—you not trying to keep me from my work as long as it doesn’t endanger mine or the baby’s health.” Triumph flashed Rafe’s eyes, and Nikki narrowed hers. “Act cocky now and I don’t care who is in the next room, I will make Mr. Happy very unhappy.”
“Stop calling my dick that.”
“No way. It’s too much fun to tease you.”
“Is that so?” Rafe lunged at her and rolled until she was on her back on the floor, with his body caging hers. “You’re my prisoner now, so maybe we can renegotiate the name.”
Reaching out, Nikki did something she’d wanted to do since the frenzy hit and tickled his sides.
Rafe yelped, but quickly recovered. He tried to capture her wrists, but Nikki used the split-second opening to grab his neck with her arm and roll them over. For good measure, she flipped him over and tightened her arm around his neck.
With Rafe’s belly on the ground, she dug her knee into his back. “I think you mean you’re my prisoner, and we’re keeping the name.”
A deep, rich chuckling sound filled the room. It took Nikki a second to realize it was Rafe.
She’d never heard him truly laugh before. Snort, yes, but not the current manly chuckle that made her smile. “So, you can laugh.”
A female voice Nikki knew all too well jumped in—Delphine’s. “You two are adorable. Are you really going to tell me again that you won’t be mated? Because from what I see here, you two fit well together.”
Rafe’s laughter died. He touched her arm around his neck, and Nikki reluctantly let go. His voice was serious and gravelly as usual when he replied, “How about we not talk about matings? Or any other celebrations just now? We’re both exhausted and Nikki should eat something.”
As if on cue, Nikki’s stomach rumbled. So much for denying Rafe’s assumption. “What do you have for us, Mum?”
Delphine motioned toward the kitchen. “Come, come. I have several of your favorite meals. Curry, fish and chips, and shepherd’s pie, to name a few.” Her mother scrutinized Nikki from head to toe. “And you could do with some cushioning. Being all muscles surely can’t be good for the child.”
Rafe stood up and offered his hand. Too hungry to challenge him, Nikki took it and soon stood at his side. “How about we just start with some dinner, first?”
“Fine, fine. Come on. You know how your father doesn’t like to wait.”
As Delphine disappeared into the kitchen, Nikki looked up to Rafe’s face. “We need to decide what to tell them.”
“How about we find out if Bram has permission for me to stay, first. And then we can go from there.”
Silence fell and Nikki shuffled her feet. There was so much she wanted to ask Rafe, but they only had a few seconds alone. And she didn’t want to ask him anything in front of her family.
Rafe placed a hand on her lower back and gently pushed. “Come on. If we don’t get a move on soon, your dad is sure to come out and yell at me. Besides, the sooner we eat, the sooner we can sneak out and talk.”
“Am I going to regret saying I like the way you think?” she asked with a smile.
“Probably.”
Nikki laughed and allowed Rafe to guide her back into the kitchen. Maybe they wouldn’t kill each other, after all.
However, as soon as they went through the door, Nikki’s laughter died. In addition to her father and stepmother, Bram, Kai, and Jane stood in the kitchen. All of the males in the room had assessing stares.
She only hoped all hell wasn’t about to break loose.
Chapter Seven
Rafe instinctively pulled Nikki close to his side at the sight of so many male dragon-shifters in the kitchen. Every set of eyes darted to his hand on Nikki’s waist before looking at his face.
Rafe stood tall. “Whatever you have to say can wait until Nikki has something to eat.”
“I bet,” Jane said with laughter dancing in her eyes.
Nikki pushed him away and sat down in the closest chair. As she nabbed a chip, she pointed it at him. “I have food and am not putting anyone’s life in danger. You can stop being protective now.”
Rafe opened his mouth, but Jane beat him to it. “You
