Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Kyson
What the hell am I doing?
If I were a decent man I’d pack my bags and hit the road.
Mate.
Not. Helping. Dragon.
Not trying to help you, stupid human. I’m trying to help me.
You mean us.
Whatever.
I grabbed a T-bone and took it outside to cook Kyson style.
Dragon and I were craving the char broiled taste tonight versus raw as we ate most nights.
So, what if I happened to take it around to the side of the house to sear, right in plain sight of the bedroom window.
Showing off a bit had my dragon strutting around, cocky bastard.
I tossed a couple of pebbles at the glass, and as soon as I felt Juni’s presence, I released a controlled flame, perfectly charring the steak held out in front of me. When I turned and caught his eye, I winked.
Another audible, eep and the curtains closed.
What in the world was I doing?
Tempting fate with a deranged princess, that’s what.
Courting our mate.
If this is courting dragon, we are a sad, sad pair.
Harumph.
While the steak cooled, not that I needed it to, but I’d hoped to lure Juni from the room to have dinner with me. Far too hot for a human mouth right now, I chopped up a few veggies for a salad and fried some sliced potatoes before I called out to him.
“That smells great,” Juni’s voice surprised me. Figured he’d hide until I bugged him.
“Thanks, have a seat.” I had already set the table for two. “Probably should’ve asked how you like your steak cooked first.”
“Do you have temperature control on that thing or a built-in meat thermometer?” I released a small flame and he jumped back. “Don’t burn the cabin down!” he squealed and giggled. “But that was seriously cool.”
“I see someone woke up snarky.” Who was I kidding, that’s all I’d seen of the smartass thus far. Gotta say, it did it for me. “But yea, it is always controlled.”
See, courting.
If only my dragon could see me roll my eyes.
“Go ahead, dig in.” Juni cut off a small piece and placed a scoop of potatoes and some salad on his plate. Definitely a far daintier eater than my dragon and I were. Generally, we just ate it straight off the bone with no utensils. We had to remember our manners going forward for sure.
“Thank you. Can’t remember the last time I ate red meat.”
“Are you allergic or a vegetarian?” No dummy, he’s eating it now so he’s not either. “Sorry, dumb question.”
Juni grinned. “No, I just try to eat healthier and keep my red meat intake to a minimum.”
Can’t say I’d ever heard that before, but I’d also never been told to calm my tits prior to today either.
“So um, you’re really a dragon?” I flashed my fangs and he gasped. “Yup, yup, yes. Wow, this is a lot to take in.”
I shrugged. “I suppose, but it really surprises me. I thought all humans knew about us.”
“Only in fantasy novels for this human. Do um? I mean do dragons have?”
“Go ahead, spit it out. I’m not one for beating around the bush.”
“Do dragons have live births like humans? I mean, how do the babies come out? As dragons or regular?”
My laughter filled the room. I couldn’t help it.
Out of everything he learned today, asking how our babies came out only surprised…
oh shit, now I get it. “Eggs. Eggs are laid and about three or so months later they hatch and the dragonet is born. Shortly after, it takes on a human baby form until it’s teen years when it experiences its first shift. ”
“Oh, okay,” he visibly relaxed. “I’m here hiding from my mother and her incessant matchmaking.”
“Ditto.” Finally, something in common.
“Really?”
“Yup. Who knew what hiding would lead to.”
“No kidding.” He straightened his stance, and I feared what was coming from his mouth next. “I’m not a prize to be won or an incubator, you know.”
“While I disagree on the prize part,” Juni blushed, “Why do I have a feeling there’s more to this story?”
He sighed and tossed his napkin aside. “My mother is one of those she’s in it if she benefits from it types.
She’s been grooming me since I was young and as soon as I came of age she had a line of wealthy suitors ready to go.
One guy was sixty-five for fucks sake.” That may’ve ended in a frustrating joke, but there was no way to mask the glimpse of hurt in his eyes I caught.
I’m sure my face resembled one of those old eye-ball popping cartoons right now. “You’ve got to be kidding me? I mean, my mom has been bugging me to settle down the last few years but I’m also in my thirties.”
“Twenty-four, here.”
“Thirty-four here. I take it humans struggle with the whole fated mate’s belief?”
“And then some. I’ve heard stories of it happening, but never to anyone in my inner circle, and never with a shifter.
My parents’ marriage was arranged, and I was the wedding night gift that just keeps on giving.
Since then, they’ve slept in separate rooms and led separate lives.
Their marriage is more one of stature and status than love. ”
“I’m sorry to hear that. My mom may drive me crazy, but I know she loves me.
My parents were fated, and my mated siblings are the same.
Once mated that’s it for us. It’s hard for one partner to survive without the other piece of their heart.
” I’d heard stories of rejected mates and none of them ended well, nor was there longevity after one passed away.
“I guess I’m just afraid of what this all means,” he gestured between us. “Ignoring my heats has never been easy, but this time my mind is a mess. And I think it’s because…”
“We’re fated.”
“Yeah, exactly. Something I never believed existed outside of books before now and it scares me to death.”
“I can see that. I never expected to find my mate either, let alone have it be a human.”
“Touché. Imagine my surprise,” we both chuckled. “I’m just scared and that’s not an emotion I deal well with. It’s usually when I shut down and walk away.”
“Well, as frustrating as I found you earlier today,” I did my best to smile, though it may’ve been a bit on the toothy side, “I’d hate to have you do that. I’d like to say we’ll take things slow, and at your pace, but we both know the first heat with your mate is a doozy.”
“Yeah, add that to my ever-growing list of things I’m terrified of.”
The longer we were near the stronger his scent got. “I’m doing my best to be a gentleman, but my dragon keeps screaming mate and claim.”
“About that claiming, you don’t turn into a full-on raging gonna rip me wide open during sex dragon, do you?”
I couldn’t have held back the laughter if I tried. “No darlin’, I don’t, but I can control and shift certain, ahh, things you may enjoy learning about later.”
His eyes lit up and mine tracked his tongue as it slid across his bottom lip. “Maybe something to experiment with after we get to know each other a little better.”
“Ha-ha, you got it and I can promise nothing happens without your consent, but fair warning, once we’re knotted we’re kinda stuck like that for a while.”
If I’m not mistaken, the batting of lashes was flirting.
Flirting. Mate. Claim.
Down, dragon. He’s scared enough as it is.
Not scared. Flirting. Wants our knot.
“Okay,” he waved his hands around, “enough of this mushy shit.”
“Want to watch a movie? I logged into my streaming services earlier.” There, make it like a date night and hopefully ease some of the tension.
Mate.
Down boy, we will follow Juni’s lead.
He huffed, but he’d get over it.
Remember, dragon, fate chose a human mate for us. Their world is completely different from ours.
And another huff.
Sassy mate and now a sassy dragon.
Yup, I deserved this.
“Why don’t you pick a movie while I clean up.”
“Thank you for dinner, it was really good and just for the record, I can’t cook.”
“Good to know and I’m glad I can. I’ll be in soon.
” A few moments alone to catch my breath was a must. How I’d managed to refrain throughout dinner was a miracle.
His scent, goddess, his scent. How was I expected to remain calm and composed sharing the couch with him.
No barriers between us but our clothes. At least while we ate the table was there though I could’ve easily overturned it.
Should’ve.
No, dragon. Give him time.
Goddess, help me.
When I came around the corner, Juni sat with his legs curled under him at one end of the couch, so I chose the far opposite side.
Distance between us would help. I hoped.
He’d chosen a movie I wasn’t familiar with and honestly, couldn’t really care less what it was.
Self-control was my sole focus right now while mentally wrestling my dragon.
“Do you want a drink? Popcorn?” Anything to keep my mind occupied. Maybe we should stretch our wings and leave him to watch the movie.
Stay. Mate.
I guess a flight was out of the question. It’s kind of hard to do without your dragon.
“No thanks, I’m still full of dinner.”
Everything was working against me tonight.
As soon as the movie ended I hopped up. “I’m gonna go shower.” Without waiting for an answer I ran into the bathroom, totally forgetting my bag was in the living room. Too late to turn back now.
“Think, Kyson, think.”
Thankfully there was shampoo, conditioner, and body wash provided by the inn keepers, though I was tempted to use Juni’s. I drew in a deep breath of his bodywash, the honeyed aroma, a stark reminder of his overall…scent.
I am so fucked.
Even the cold water did nothing to curtail my…issue.
When I couldn’t stand it anymore, I got out and dried, only to remember I had no clean clothes with me.
Son of a bitch.
With no other option, I wrapped the towel around my waist and prepared to face whatever waited for me in the other room.
Juni’s eyes widened as his gaze raked over me. Never had I felt so exposed and appreciated at the same time.
He likes what he sees, human.
Desire. Lust. His face was a myriad of need. Still seated on the couch, frozen in place, his eyes never left me as I crossed the room to my bag.
Drop the towel. Let him see all of us.
Have you lost your mind, dragon?
He’s ours, let him see what he’s missing. No doubt, he’ll be ready to mate then.
Or lock himself in the bedroom for the next two weeks.
Although that was an option, I didn’t see it happening.
Dragon got what he asked for, against my better wishes, when I bent to pick up my bag and the towel fell to the floor of its own accord.
Well, shit.
Juni’s gasp caused me to turn. The intensity of his heated gaze, the unmistakable erection tenting his pants. His scent was much stronger than it had been. There was no getting away from it, nor would Juni be able to deny it any longer.
He was in full blown heat.
“Juni,” I growled, unable to stand taking the high road any longer. “Tell me what you want.”
“You.”
Across the room I was in two strides and tossed him over my shoulder and carried him into the bedroom. As soon as I laid him atop the bed, I took his mouth in a searing kiss. One that I felt all the way through to my bones.
“Juni,” I breathlessly gasped. The need to buried inside him was driving me mad.
“Me. Naked. Now.”
My dragon took over, nearly shredding his clothes in the rush to get them off. “Sorry, I’ll replace those.”
“Don’t care. Need you.”
Goddess how those words resonated with me. “Juni, there’s no turning back after this.”
“Less talking. More fucking.”
Oh yeah, his sassy side in bed will be explored at a later date.
Mate. Claim.
Working on it, dragon.
Juni’s slick was heavy. The heavenly aroma consumed me. The air was permeated with nothing but that, calling my dragon forth. This was an exercise in control, self-control. I fought the slight shift, willing my dragon back, but if we didn’t mate soon, there was no telling what he’d do.
I flipped Juni over, ass up, and buried my face between his cheeks. His taste was as sweet as his scent. He moaned and writhed beneath me as I spread his cheeks wide and speared him with my tongue, lapping up as much of his sweet elixir as I could.
“Please, Kyson.”
My tongue and fingers worked their magic, preparing him for our mating.
Enough! My dragon roared. Take him now!
He’d never been this aggressive before, and while I wished to be inside Juni just as much as he did, his behavior was overwhelming.
Juni howled as I filled him with my cock in a single thrust. “I’m sorry, but my sanity is wearing thin. I promise to make it up to you next time.” There would surely be a next time and many thereafter as we bonded throughout his heat.
Firmly gripping his hips, I pulled out and slammed back inside him.
For a moment I feared I’d gone too far until he begged for more.
“Harder, faster,” he chanted as I fed him every inch of my cock, going as deep inside him as I could.
Inhibitions cast aside I sat up, taking Juni with me and gripped his cock, stroking it as fast my thrusts.
“I’m going to knot you.” He said nothing, just moaned as I swelled inside him and bit into his shoulder, marking him. Juni screamed and came. With a final thrust, my knot halted any further movement as I filled him with my seed.
Mate.
Yes, dragon, he is officially our mate.
My brain finally came back online no longer driven by the lust of mating. Gently, I laid to the side and took Juni with me. We were silent for a few minutes while we caught our breath until he burst into fits of laughter.
“Oh. My. Gawd. That was one primal fucking.”
“Ha-ha-ha, primal fucking, is it?”
“Top notch, primal fucking.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I pressed my lips to the bite and licked the blood that had beaded there.
“Please do. Now when is round two?”