Chapter Eight
Craig
“I came here to celebrate my birthday at the Dragon Festival,” I said as if nobody in the room knew that. Of course, Trace probably didn’t. Unless Fate provided that information to potential mates.
“Happy Birthday,” he said. “I’m very glad you came, and sounds like a great way to celebrate.”
“Thank you. I wasn’t hoping for good wishes, though, just trying to center myself.” I sucked in a breath, so aware of the shifters on either side of me, it was hard to think. “I am so confused or maybe overwhelmed.”
“That makes perfect sense.” Trace’s voice was deep with a hoarseness so sexy I didn’t even know where to go with that. Did flames make it that way?
A real dragon is sitting with me.
“Ralph said I can decide whether to accept you both as my mates.”
“That’s right.”
“Do you both have the same rights? Can you reject me?”
Trace put his free hand under my chin and tipped it up so I was looking right in those gorgeous brown eyes with the gold in them. But it wasn’t just flecks. More like tiny flames. Wow. “Craig, why would I do that?”
I melted, my core turning molten at what he said. But I had to be honest. “Because I am just an ordinary human who works in a cubicle and you can turn into a dragon and fly up into the sky, breathe fire, and do all manner of other amazing things.”
The corner of his lips twitched. Nice of him not to actually laugh at me. “Well you covered the amazing things I can do, so there aren’t many more than that, but why should your job be a reason I wouldn’t want to be your mate?”
“I forgot to mention you’re gorgeous. And so is Ralph.”
“He is, yes.” Trace’s gaze went over my head for a moment then returned to me. “But so are you.”
More overwhelmed every minute, I wasn’t sure whether to stay and accept this gigantic dream was real or pinch myself to try to wake up. I faced the wolf shifter. “I have had a huge crush on you for years.”
“I had no idea.” His grip on my hand grew tighter, almost tight enough to hurt, but I didn’t want him to let go. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“Because of what I just said. I assumed you were waiting for your fated and had never even noticed me as a potential partner. I wanted you to be happy.”
“Oh, Craig.” He must have seen me wince because he eased up a little but still held on. “I never had a clue that you felt that way. I was crushing on you all that time, too.”
“And we could have been together. Did you know I was your mate?”
“No.”
He also wanted me, but he didn’t know I was his mate. I absorbed that and went on. “What changed? You say now that the three of us are mates. But when we got here, you liked liked me. Is that fair to say?”
“I guess that is a good way to say it, yes.”
“And now, an hour or so later, we are fated mates. Like your brother. Like the people in the club. Like…the fairy tales?” I turned my hand over and linked our fingers, wanting more contact. “What changed?”
“I have an idea, but I’m not completely sure.”
“I think I can explain,” Trace put in. “If I’m not stepping out of line?”
“If we’re all mates,” I said, “then I don’t see how you could be stepping out of line.”
“I can’t tell you how much I love hearing you say that even if you’re still figuring out whether you should accept this.” He stroked my forearm, making me want to purr. “I knew someone once who was acquainted for years with another dragon, but until the third person intended for them came onto the scene, he had no idea his acquaintance was his mate.”
“So it took all the puzzle pieces to bring the picture together? I’m probably not saying it quite right.”
“No,” Ralph said. “You are, and better than I could have. I wanted you, but the second Trace came into the lobby down there and your scents mingled, everything gelled for me. We all had to be together for the mating to happen.”
I was so over my head. “But why me? I’m not a shifter or anything special at all. Why would Fate say I should be with you two. My gods…I never even got picked first for dodge ball. You’re the men of my dreams.” I’d never been so direct—maybe if I had been, Ralph would have had a clue how I was feeling, even if it wasn’t mating yet.
“I think that’s the point,” Trace said. “We are the men of one another’s dreams. Not someone else’s. And I’m not sure if we are because we are fated or if we are fated because we are right for each other.” He chuckled. “I’m talking in circles here, but I think that’s the general idea. I can’t imagine wanting to be with anyone but the two of you, even though we just met.”
“And we’ve been best friends for most of our lives, but, as we just said, I cannot imagine being without the two of you,” Ralph said.
“If it takes me a little longer to fully comprehend what’s happened, I hope you’ll be patient with me,” I added. “Because it feels so totally right, but also outside what I had any expectations of experiencing.”
“We’re not on a timetable here,” Trace said. “You can set the pace for all of us, as long as Ralph agrees?”
“I never even thought I’d get to first base with you, Craig.” Ralph winked at me. “And now I find out you always liked me too.”
“I feel like we wasted time we could have been together,” I mused.
“Or,” Ralph said, “the time is now.”
“I like that.” And I wasn’t so stupid that when two incredibly hot guys, one of whom I already was in love and lust with and the other who was a dragon and whose touch was turning me to mush, said they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with me, I could turn them down cold. “I’m not sure what I think about Fate having any interest in me, but I know I have interest in both of you. So what do we do first?” I looked from one of them to the other, hyperaware that we were sitting on a bed and not sure what I’d do if they wanted to get naked right here and now.
Trace stroked my cheek. “Kiss.”
“Excuse me?” I leaned in to his touch. “That sounds too simple.”
“Let’s find out.” Trace brushed his lips over mine, gently, sweetly then straightened and looked at me. “Simple enough.”
“Yes,” I breathed. “Ralph, would you like to try?”
“Do you even have to ask?” He leaned in, but I moved back so he would kiss Trace first. “You’re okay with this?”
“I think so.” They came together in such a beautiful way. Jealous? Not in the least, but when they finished their kiss and Ralph kissed me, I was worried that all the years of fantasizing about this moment—well, not exactly this moment—had built it up beyond what a mere press of lips could produce. I closed my eyes, held my breath, and kissed my friend with all the years of yearning behind it.
It was so much better than any dream I ever had.
Then I kissed Trace again and Ralph again and they kissed and we went back and forth, just kissing until finally we all wound up laughing at our teenagery makeout session. And hugging. Whatever put me on Fate’s radar, it was a revelation.