Chapter 16
Omari Haru
Haru watched Adrian shuffle off to the bedroom, his shoulders slumped and head down.
He’d mumbled something about catching a nap for an hour.
Then they could talk about figuring out something for dinner.
They weren’t expecting Vitor back until tomorrow at the earliest. He would be away dealing with his intricate web of spies and informants through the dark hours of the night.
That gave them plenty of time alone in this lavish hotel room to enjoy themselves.
There was no point in wandering the streets in search of Shey when their best avenue for information was Ruben Deinum.
Strolling around in public put them in danger of catching someone’s attention and possibly even destroying their new fake identities. For now, they had to wait.
But Adrian couldn’t be left alone with his wandering thoughts. Haru could feel that his words and reassurances hadn’t been enough to remove the weight of worry from Adrian’s shoulders. He needed action. He needed a distraction.
It just so happened that Haru was very good at distractions.
A playful smile drifted across his lips as he crossed the hotel room and pushed open the double doors leading into the bedroom of the penthouse suite. Adrian’s head snapped up and his brow furrowed. He was sitting on the end of the bed, one shoe in his hands.
“What’s up?”
“Nothing.” Haru turned and closed both doors behind him with a soft click. “I thought I’d join you.” As he faced Adrian, he watched the man’s expression go from surprise to annoyance.
“I’m not in the mood, Haru. All I need is a short nap to clear my head.”
“I promise sex will very much clear your head.” Haru approached as Adrian dropped the shoe he was holding and pulled off the other. The second one hit the floor with a thud, and Adrian glared.
“Not now.”
Haru stood in front of Adrian, so close their legs almost brushed. He was undeterred by Adrian’s grumpiness. It was to be expected.
“Have I ever told you that dragons have exceptional hearing?”
Adrian stared up at him from where he sat on the bed. “Tell me if you can hear this.” Adrian’s lips moved, but only a puff of air came out. Haru didn’t need to hear him. He could read his lips as he said, “Fuck off.”
“In the car, the moment I demanded that Vitor turn around so I could kill all those people, I heard your heart speed up. Your breath caught in your throat.”
“Yeah, because I was scared of a dragon going on a rampage, ruining—”
“No!” Haru grasped Adrian’s chin as he looked away and turned his face to gaze at him. “You were excited. The idea of someone killing for you. Killing for your honor. For your protection. That thrilled you.”
“No, it’s wrong.” But his words weren’t as strong as the first time he spoke.
“There is no wrong when it comes to my Adrian.” Haru leaned close, rubbing the tip of his nose across Adrian’s cheek. “Let yourself have those dark little thoughts. Be greedy. Let your dragon protect you. Make them all fear you. My Adrian will never feel powerless and lost again.”
“Haru.” Adrian exhaled. That single word sounded as if it had gotten stuck in his throat along with anything else he might have wanted to say. He turned his face, and Haru was there to capture his mouth in a deep, searing kiss.
But Adrian broke off the kiss, pushing Haru away. “No, not like this. Not when you’re still pretending to be Yujian. I want Haru. Not Yujian.”
Haru laughed and held his hands out to his sides. “But these are my clothes.”
“That’s not,” Adrian sneered, pointing at Haru’s hair, which was still decorated with rings and jewels.
“My people often wear ornaments in their hair.”
“Sure, but those times with your clan, it was far more subtle and tasteful. Just a couple of silver rings. The Haru I know doesn’t need diamonds to show off.”
Haru bit the inside of his cheek to keep from grinning like a fool. Adrian had noticed so much about him on the Isle of Stone and remembered. That petulant, almost possessive tone practically made him light-headed.
“Plus, you don’t…” Adrian’s words faded, and he glared at the floor.
“What? Tell me.”
“You don’t smell like you. The cologne. That’s Yujian.”
Haru lunged at Adrian, stopping a hair’s breadth from touching him. Every cell in his body was on fire. He was nearly coming out of his skin at Adrian’s words. “What does your Haru smell like?”
The tip of Adrian’s tongue darted out to wet his lips. When he spoke, his voice was low and smoky. “Jasmine. You smell like the night-blooming jasmine that grows on the grounds of the Omari clan.”
Haru closed his eyes and held his breath for a moment as joy surged through him. Adrian was truly himself and always would be. There was no need to rush now. Adrian was ensnared and didn’t realize it.
“Will you help me become your Haru again?” he asked after he was sure he could speak in a calm, collected tone.
“Yeah. Okay.”
Without another word, Haru sat on the floor between Adrian’s legs with his back pressed to the bed.
Gentle fingers worked through his hair, removing silver rings, slender chains dotted with tiny diamonds, and other colorful gems that sparkled in the light.
Each item Adrian removed, he dropped into Haru’s waiting hand.
The pile grew big enough that a clink sounded as each gem and ring hit.
Haru would have happily tossed them to the floor, not caring one bit about the fortune in jewelry he held.
But he cradled the collection because he didn’t want Adrian to accidentally tread on one in his bare feet.
At last, Adrian combed his fingers through his hair, free of any and all obstructions. “That’s better.”
Haru climbed to his feet and crossed the room to the low bureau. He placed all the pieces of jewelry he held onto the surface and picked up a rubber band he used occasionally. With a couple of quick twists, his long hair was gathered into a messy bun on top of his head.
“Step one is done.” He turned to Adrian and held out his hand. “Will you help me remove Yujian’s scent?”
To his surprise, Adrian didn’t argue. He rose, took his hand, and walked with him into the bathroom.
Soft lighting reflected off cold, white marble and gold fixtures.
Adrian reached into the shower and adjusted the water while Haru shed the clothes he’d put on not more than an hour ago.
As soon as the water was ready, Adrian joined him in stripping.
Clothes landed in haphazard piles on the white marble tiles.
There were only the sounds of falling water, the rub of fabric, and their frantic breaths.
The second Adrian was naked, Haru pulled Adrian into the spacious shower stall.
Steam filled the enclosed area, but Haru had no problem finding Adrian’s parted lips.
Haru turned them so that they were both in the hot spray.
His hands slid over wet skin while he devoured Adrian’s perfect mouth.
He would never grow tired of kissing this man.
The taste of him, the feel of him, the wonderful sounds he made—all of it sang out to his soul.
A chuckle escaped Adrian, and he put his hands on Haru’s chest, pushing to create some space between them. “This isn’t getting you to smell like jasmine. You’re still wearing cologne.”
Haru preferred to continue what they were doing, but he also wanted Adrian to feel more at ease. He twisted and grabbed a bar of soap. He placed it into one of Adrian’s hands.
“Wash the smell away,” Haru instructed.
Adrian lifted the soap to his nose and took a sniff. His head jerked back and his nose wrinkled. Haru almost laughed at the confusion in his elegant gray eyes.
“I don’t understand. It doesn’t smell like jasmine. It doesn’t smell like anything,” Adrian complained.
“Because my scent does not come from soap or a spray of cologne.” Haru covered Adrian’s hand with his own and directed the soap to press against his chest. “This is to wash away the smell you dislike.”
A wicked smirk replaced Adrian’s confused look.
With renewed vigor, Adrian ran the bar of soap across Haru’s chest and down his stomach.
He lathered up Haru’s arms before coating his own hands in soap so he could hit the pulse point of his throat.
As those clever hands wandered much lower to thoroughly wash every part of Haru’s body, Haru pushed Adrian into the wet tile and captured his mouth in a blistering kiss.
He’d remained passive until now, letting Adrian have his fun, but Haru’s restraint was dissolving like snow in that first spring rain.
“Be careful, my Adrian. I want you too badly. I wouldn’t want to take you while I still smell offensive,” he growled.
Adrian grinned at him. “You’d never do anything I didn’t want you to. If I said stop, you would stop instantly.”
Haru’s heart skipped at Adrian’s confident words. Adrian trusted him completely. But he still had to stir the pot.
“That means I must keep your tongue too busy to say such a horrible word.”
Haru leaned in for another kiss, but Adrian dodged, moving deeper into the spray. He pulled Haru along. “Rinse,” he commanded, even as the water hit his face.
The soap that had clung to his skin raced down body, washing away the last remnants of Yujian so that there was only Haru left.
Haru turned off the water and pulled Adrian out of the shower. They quickly dried off, both of them giggling like fools, knowing what was coming next.
Adrian moved to the counter, looking over the few assorted toiletries they’d brought with them. “Okay. Where is it?”
“What?” Haru laughed, guessing what Adrian was thinking.
“The cologne or perfume. Maybe an aftershave.”
Haru caught Adrian’s hand and pulled him into his embrace. “The jasmine scent does not come from a bottle. It is me.”
As Adrian opened his mouth to argue, Haru closed his eyes and called on his magic, bringing it right up to the surface of his skin. He stopped a hair’s breadth from shifting.
“Ah!” Adrian cried out. “What the hell?”
“What did you feel?” Haru’s voice was rough and husky as he stuffed his powers back down.
“Prickles. Sharp prickles.”
That was interesting. He hadn’t been sure Adrian could feel his magic. Maybe it was thanks to his connection to Caelan that he was sensitive to magic.
“Smell,” he commanded.
Adrian drew in a deep breath and groaned.
He pressed tightly to Haru, wrapping his arms around him while shoving his nose into his throat.
“Gods,” he moaned. “It really is you. Why the hell does that smell so good to me? It’s like my entire body relaxes whenever I smell it.
Is this some kind of dragon-y weapon to make me lower my defenses? ”
Haru chuckled even as his heart squeezed. “I doubt there is any other human in the world who notices my scent. Only you.”
No longer able to wait, Haru pushed and prodded Adrian into the bedroom. He threw his mate onto the bed. Adrian laughed as he bounced, and the mattress complained against such abuse.
At last, he could worship his Adrian. He kissed, licked, nibbled, and stroked every inch of his beautiful body.
His dusky skin flushed and glistened with sweat.
They hungrily kissed and rolled across the bed in a tangle of limbs until Adrian straddled him, sinking onto Haru’s cock.
They cried out, that hot, tight connection almost obliterating all sense.
Adrian rode him with joyous abandon, his head thrown back and his lips parted on a long string of needy cries. Haru almost lost himself in the breathtaking sight of the man, his mate. The one who would be at his side always.
Haru gripped Adrian’s hips and thrust upward, pounding into his welcoming body. Adrian shouted his name and begged for more as he grabbed his cock, stroking it frantically.
Muscles tightened, and Adrian clenched his teeth just as he came apart. Long white stripes of Adrian’s cum painted Haru’s chest, marking him as Adrian’s. Haru lost the last of his restraint and came as well, with a shout.
Adrian collapsed on top of him, and Haru wrapped his arms around him, holding him close as they fought to catch their breaths.
“Well,” Adrian panted, his head resting on Haru’s shoulder. “That shower feels like a waste of time now.”
Haru turned his head and stole a kiss. “The important thing is that you smell like me now.”
A huff broke from Adrian’s lips, and he tipped his face up so Haru could see his smile. “I doubt your jasmine scent rubs off quite like that.”
“You’re right. You smell like jasmine and my cum. That is even better.”
Adrian’s loud cackle filled the room and Haru’s heart. They tumbled across the bed, shoving, laughing, and kissing. For this moment, Adrian wasn’t worried about not being enough, and Haru wasn’t worried about his mate rejecting him. The outside world could wait a few more minutes.