Chapter 16 The “L” Word
The “L” Word
Lawrie
On Wednesday, we went hiking. We were deep in the Graham National Forest because I’d chosen the longest trail we could manage in one day. The pine trees whispered in the breeze, and the low winter sun sent beams of yellow light through the gaps, giving the forest a fairy-like atmosphere.
Ernest was mostly silent, but he kept sending me these curious glances, probably gauging my mood. I waited him out. Sooner or later, he’d tell me what was going on in his head.
“You’ve been quiet today,” he finally ventured. Poor Ernest. Was he worried I wasn’t enjoying myself? Was that why he’d been scrutinizing me like I was one of his helicopter models?
“This was a fantastic idea,” I said. “I’ve always wanted to go, and it’s even more beautiful than I imagined. Thank you for bringing me here.”
Ernest was still looking at me. Did he need me to spell it out?
“Stop worrying. I’m having the best time, I promise.”
“I’m not worried.”
“Then why are you staring at me?”
“Sorry. It’s just…you’ve had this lovely expression on your face since we entered the forest. I can’t stop looking at you.” I blushed as if he’d pushed a button. “I love seeing you content. That’s all.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I grabbed his hand and kissed it. His dimples deepened, and then it was me who couldn’t stop giving him glances.
When our gazes met after a few steps, he gave me such an over-the-top puppy look I burst out laughing. I couldn’t help it.
“An alpha of your size who can change into a toothy, clawy, nightmarish monster shouldn’t be allowed to ever wear that expression on his face.”
“What? It’s just my face.”
“Your cute, dimply, puppy-dog face. So, what do you want?”
Chuckling, Ernest tugged me to his chest and hugged me tightly.
“You. Always. I’m acting ridiculous, I know.” He kissed my temple and hummed into my hair. “I’m so in love with you, Lawrie.”
“So ridiculous,” I whispered. “But I like it.”
“You like me acting like a lovesick fool?”
“Mhmm. I like it a lot. Especially with these.” I poked at his dimples with my pointer fingers, and he smiled wider.
Gah, he was so stupidly pretty! I felt a tingle in my groin, my ass getting wet.
But no. If we fucked, we’d get distracted and lose at least two hours rolling around in bushes full of spiders, ticks, and ants.
However much I loved being outside in general, outdoorsy sex didn’t appeal.
“C’mon. I want to eat lunch by the waterfalls.”
Ernest sighed and gave me a peck on my lips. “Okay.”
Holding hands, we continued up the incline. The path had narrowed, but it was still wide enough for us to go next to each other. Ernest adjusted himself discreetly, but of course I noticed.
“I’ll suck your cock in the car,” I stated, and he stumbled, quickly regaining balance. Had I ever been this bold? I loved this new me. I felt sexy, fun, and desirable.
Groaning, he shook his head. “You’re killing me, Lawrie.”
I’d always considered myself rather vanilla with a moderate libido.
Kinky stuff made me blush, squirm, and run for cover.
With Ernest, anything seemed possible, without any shame or restraint.
Sex in public restrooms—check; extensive nipple play—check; dirty talk, breeding kink, and butt plugs—check, check, check.
And now I would service my boyfriend in his car.
I smirked at the surrounding greenery. I would do it properly too, teasing him and making him crazy.
Giddy at the prospect, I sped up my stride.
Thoughts of my own experiences brought another question to my mind.
“Ernest.”
“Yes?”
“Um. How does it work among dragon folk? With dating.”
“Dating?”
“Well, you know. Before the dragon alphas find a mate.”
“You want to know my relationship history?”
“You don’t have to tell me about your exes. I’m just curious in general. When you’re looking for your mate, or not looking… Waiting. Whatever you call it. You do meet with other people, right?”
“Everybody’s different. I had one long-term relationship with a dragon omega.
We both knew it wasn’t for keeps, but we were friends and fuckbuddies, you could say.
He’s mated to a lovely human and lives up in Dalton City.
After that, I dated a lot of different people, sometimes hoping, you know, that this might be it…
With years passing, I stopped looking actively.
I always made sure to let people know I wasn’t in for anything long term. ”
“Like you told me the first evening.”
He winced. “Yes. But usually, I was clearer. With you… I think a part of me already knew, so even as I was saying the words about traveling and being a bad friend, something felt different. I was already plotting how to keep you at my place for as long as possible.”
“So basically, you date like other people until you find the right person. Except you can’t just decide to settle down.”
“No. That wouldn’t be fair. Imagine you move in with a guy and a month later, you meet your fated mate at a supermarket.”
“Ouch. Is that why Mr. Sullivan is so stubbornly single?”
“I know for a fact Davidson used to sleep around a lot, but I think he’s gone celibate now.”
“Not entirely,” I hedged.
“Oh really?”
“It would explain a lot, mind you. But he isn’t a monk.”
Ernest chuckled, shaking his head. “Maybe he’ll get lucky one day. It would be interesting to see him happy for once.”
“I can’t picture it.”
Mr. Sullivan did have a few regular companions he met up with on evenings.
Sometimes they visited him at the office after hours.
Escort services, of course. I knew because he had me pay the bills.
I wouldn’t tell Ernest that, though. It was my boss’s private life, and it didn’t feel relevant anyway.
“How far is it?” Ernest asked. “I’m hungry.”
“It should be less than a mile now. Can you make it, or do you want to take a break?”
“I’m okay. Let’s go all the way to the waterfalls.”
The hike took almost seven hours. The sky was already darkening when we arrived at the empty parking lot. The temperatures had been mild during the day, almost sixty, but it was quickly getting chillier.
“You don’t have to…” Ernest began when we closed the car door, but I shut him up with my best “duh” face.
“Shove your seat back.”
He obeyed, and I unzipped his hiking pants.
Apparently, dragon shifters don’t sweat the same way people do.
The strong scent rising from Ernest’s groin contained no hints of musk, only the fresh, woodsy perfume I was now addicted to.
There was something, though, some added quality to it, that I couldn’t identify, and it had me wet and aching in no time.
Pheromones. The taste of his precum made my nipples tingle and ass clench.
He carded his hand through my hair, humming and moaning, and I happily gagged on his cock.
Was it just me, or had his cockhead gotten even larger and the ridges underneath more pronounced?
The book on mating said the changes in the alpha took a week, so maybe?
The most amazing cock in the world, and it was my mate’s.
I kissed and suckled on his slit while massaging his knot, and Ernest’s sounds got louder in the confined space.
When I traced the ridges with my tongue, he cried out and his hips jerked.
Taking his cockhead into my throat, I sucked hard, sliding my lips over the ridges, and Ernest lost it, groaning from deep within.
With the taste of his cum in my mouth, I could have come in my pants if I’d just bucked my hips a couple of times. But I forced myself to stay still and focused instead on cleaning Ernest’s beauty of a dick.
“Lawrie, fucking hell, how do you do that?”
“What?” I asked innocently and licked my lips.
“The thing with your tongue under the cockhead.”
“The ridges are sensitive, huh?”
“Like fuck.”
“Great.”
“Get on your knees on the passenger seat. I’ll eat you out.”
“No.”
Ernest raised his eyebrows at me. “No?”
I shook my head.
“Lawrie, you forget I can smell your slick. You’re leaking.”
Squirming in the seat, I fastened my seatbelt. “I want to wait.”
“Okay,” Ernest said doubtfully and reached for his own buckle. “If you say so.”
“I’m sure.”
He started the car and maneuvered out of the parking place. “How are your nipples, love?”
“Hey! I want to wait. Don’t make it harder on me.”
“Why wait?”
“Ever heard about edging?”
“Yes. Never tried it, though. But if you want to, I’m in.”
And he placed his hand over my cock, squeezing it through my pants.
“Ernest!”
“It’s called edging, right?”
“Ugh.”
He teased me all the way to Ardaine. When we entered the city, he had to focus on driving, mostly needing both hands.
“Open your shirt, love.”
I was so high-strung, I wasn’t sure I could handle more stimulation, but I did as I was told. The plaid shirt was big on me, and I wore a T-shirt underneath.
“Touch your nipples. Brush over them with your fingertips.”
I watched his profile, illuminated by the passing city lights, and slid my hands underneath my T-shirt. I caressed the curve of my belly, then I rubbed my palms over my nipples. The small nubs were hard like stones, the flesh underneath swollen. I could almost feel my pulse in my enlarged pecs.
“Squeeze the tips.”
I did. I bit my lip to stop myself from crying out.
“Keep pinching them.”
This time, I did cry out.
Ernest swung into the garage, and I cupped my pecs, kneading them.
I made it to the elevator in a haze.
Ernest dropped the bags onto the floor and cornered me in the cart. He opened my pants and pulled my cock out, stroking it lazily.
Then his lips stretched into the sexiest, smuggest smile anyone had ever worn.
“Look.”
I followed his gaze to my chest.
Holy shit.
Two large wet spots adorned my T-shirt. The lover’s milk.
For some reason, the sight made me twice as horny as I’d been a second ago.