Chapter Twenty-Nine #2
He let out a small laugh and held his hands up in surrender. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant in general since they’re my friend. And for the record, I think you’re a good guy, but just, you know, treat them right, yeah?”
When I realized what he was doing, that he was trying to protect Oakley in his own Beshiro way, I took a deep breath, settled my dragon, and gave him a nod. “Don’t worry. I’ll do everything in my power to make them happy.”
He grinned at me and slapped my shoulder.
“I know you will.” He gestured to what looked like a double-doored closet, grabbed both handles, and opened it.
“Here ya go. Detergent and everything’s on the shelf above the machines.
Holler if you need anything else.” He started to walk away.
“Oh, and Ker’s making breakfast, so you guys should come down soon.
Food disappears fast around here with a billion teens in the house, so don’t take too long. ”
“Thanks, Shiro.”
He waved over his shoulder as he walked down the hall.
He was a good guy. I didn’t know him as well as Jed, mostly because Jed was just loud and always the center of attention, but Beshiro definitely had some layers. When I saw him in a professional setting, he was almost as serious as his older brother, Phaeron.
But the times I saw him outside of work and actually spoke to him—since it was usually in a group setting—I could see a laid-back guy with a little bit of a playful side.
Enough that I wondered just how much trouble he and Jed used to get up to together when they were younger.
I had no doubt that Anton had his hands full with those two. And Kat was just as bad, if not worse.
After setting the washing machine up, I headed back to our room and smiled as soon as I stepped inside and saw the bathroom door open. Through the crack, I could see Oakley standing at the mirror, applying some makeup.
They didn’t need it, but I loved it all the same.
They were beautiful with and without it on, and I knew they loved wearing it.
Hm. Maybe I should get them some new makeup or jewelry before I take them out on a date. Assuming they said yes to a date, anyway.
“Hey, Oak?”
“Yeah?”
“Would you, um, want to go on a date with me?”
They popped their head out of the bathroom to stare at me for a moment. “Aren’t we hiding out from my dad?”
I grimaced. “Yeah, but maybe we can go out for dinner.”
They pursed their lips. “Let me think about it.”
My heart sank. They had to think about whether or not they wanted to go on a date with me? I thought… I thought they were on the same page as me. Yes, they needed time to process, but I’d thought they wanted the same things, that they’d want to try.
A blush brush hit me in the chest, and I startled, refocusing on Oak.
They huffed at me, rolling their eyes. “I didn’t mean I have to think about saying yes or no—I thought it was obvious that I want to go out with you.
I meant, let me think about what we can do on our date.
I’m gonna find a way around all the things so my dad doesn’t try to arrest you or some dumb shit again. ”
“Oh.”
They snorted and held their hand out at me. When all I did was stare at it in confusion, they laughed. “Throw me back my brush.”
“You shouldn’t have thrown it at me if you wanted to keep it. It’s mine now.”
They huffed again. “Throw it back.”
“Nope.” I popped the P.
They sighed, and before I registered what they were doing, they were running right at me. I yelped in surprise when they crashed into me, making me fall backwards onto the bed with them on top of me. We both laughed, and I held my hand as far above my head as I could.
They climbed up my body until their belly was in front of my face, and I only wished their shirt would hike up higher so I could see and maybe feel their skin against my face.
I moved the brush from one hand to the other, trying to keep it from them even though my face was completely squished against their shirt-covered belly.
When their fingers wrapped around my wrist, holding it still, and they started plucking my fingers off the brush, I used the only tool left in my arsenal—my teeth.
I gently nibbled on their side, tasting shirt, but not caring when they started squirming even more and laughing loudly.
“Oh my—fuck!” they yelled. “Stop! Stop! That tickles.”
“Mm,” I mumbled, then spat out their shirt. “You’re ticklish?” This was amazing information to have.
“No. I’m not.”
I snorted and nibbled on them again.
“Ahhhhhhh!” They screamed like I was trying to murder them, but they were laughing too.
When I went in a third time, their legs started kicking wildly, and I was afraid they were going to knee the goods, but they quickly rolled off me without letting go of my wrist.
I tried to follow them, but I couldn’t roll with my wrists the way they were, and after a second, they managed to free the brush.
“Ah-ha!” They hopped off the bed, stepped backwards a few feet, and held the brush out in my direction like it was a sword. “Don’t come any closer.”
I laughed, jumped out of bed, and snatched up a pillow, holding it out in front of myself like a shield. “What are you afraid of?”
I could tell they were trying not to laugh at my dorkiness, but a snort still came through. “Nothing.”
I stepped closer, and when I was within reach, I lunged forward, shoved my hand out toward their side, and gave them a little tickling squeeze.
They screamed again, hopped away, jumped on the bed, and ran across it, leaping down from the other side, screaming, “You dickhead!”
I laughed again, dropped the pillow on the bed, and held my hands up in surrender. “Peace. I come in peace.”
“What are you? An alien?”
“Nope. Just a dragon that wants to kiss his mate.” I sent them a wink, and they did this little squirmy thing with their whole body that was absolutely adorable.
“Is that right?”
“Mhm.”
“What’re you gonna give me for a kiss?”
I pouted. “A kiss from me isn’t enough?”
They pointed at me. “Nope. No pouting. You’re not allowed to look all handsome and sexy and strong all the time, and then pull out a pout that actually looks adorable. Nope. Not allowed.”
That made me laugh. “You think I’m sexy?”
They rolled their eyes. “Everyone in the entire world thinks you’re sexy.”
I snorted at that ridiculousness and started slowly making my way around the bed, pleased when Oakley didn’t back away, although they still pointed their brush at me like they were ready to stab me at a moment’s notice.
But that was my Oakley. Always wanting to push my buttons and drive me insane while still somehow being the sweetest and most selfless person I knew.
I said, “That’s definitely not true.”
They chuckled at that and rolled their eyes. “Weren’t you named the sexiest man in Gauhala like three years in a row?”
I groaned. “Don’t even bring that up.”
They chuckled, a gleam in their eyes. “Um, I’m definitely bringing it up. People are obsessed with you.”
“How did you even find out about that? That magazine’s been gone for at least a decade.” And thank the Mother of Scales.
“Jed showed me.”
I sighed. “Of course he did.”
“Oh, Scales. I just thought of the perfect Winter Solstice present for you.”
“That’s like ten months away or something.”
They shrugged. “Then a birthday present.”
I stared at them for a long moment, my eyes narrowing. “Don’t even think about printing and framing those magazine covers.”
They cackled. “How did you know that’s what I was thinking?”
I stepped up to them and wrapped my arm around their back, tugging them closer to me until our chests were almost touching.
The brush was in the way, though, so I plucked it out of their hand, placed it on the dresser, and pulled them even closer.
Meeting their gaze, I whispered, “Because I know you and have been, maybe, just a little bit obsessed with you for the last few months.”
They grinned. “That’s nice to hear because I’ve been just the teeniest, tiniest bit obsessed with you too.”
“Oh, just a tiny bit?”
They held up their fingers, showing maybe a centimeter between them. “Just a little itty bit.”
I snorted, and they chuckled.
With a smile plastered on my face, I covered their mouth with mine, and since we’d both brushed our teeth this time, I coaxed their lips open with my tongue.
The second our tongues met, Oakley groaned and melted into me, forcing me to hold them up—I didn’t mind.
It meant I could hug them tighter to me.
Their piercing brushed my tongue, and I sort of wanted to play with it.
I’d thought it would feel weird or odd having a metal object in the middle of our kiss, but it didn’t.
It sent a shiver down my spine, a promise of feeling it on my skin one day.
I didn’t remember ever kissing someone with a tongue piercing, and I had to say, I was definitely, absolutely, positively a fan.
I knew they and Tan had replaced the gem on the end since Oak had used the stored spell when we were attacked in the mall parking lot. I’d had no idea how many spells and things they had on themself at any given time, and honestly, I was not only impressed, I was grateful.
So maybe that made me love the feel of their piercing brushing against my tongue even more.
When they sucked on my tongue, I moaned and ran one hand up to their clipped hair, running my palm over it, loving the way it felt soft and prickly at the same time—kind of like Oakley themself.
Their arms came up around my neck as they deepened the kiss, and I was here for it. Every brush of lips, every swipe of their tongue made my heart grow and my body tingle. I felt like I was on fire, like Oakley was the sun, and fuck, I was ready to burn.
After a few minutes of the most intense joy and affection I’d ever felt, Oakley broke the kiss, pulling away to pant heavily and stare up at me with dreamy eyes.
I moved my hand down their back, wanting to push their shirt up so I could feel their skin, but holding back. I would never push them or make them uncomfortable. Ever.
“Roman,” they whispered, their voice soft and sultry. “I swear to the Mother of Scales, if you tickle me right now, I’m going to punch you in the gut, and I swear I won’t hold back this time.”
I couldn’t help the bark of laughter that came out. “Wow. Here I was thinking you were going to say something romantic.”
“And here I was thinking I could see the sneaky look in your eyes, and I knew you were about to do something you’d regret.”
I laughed again and pulled them into a hug. “I’m not going to tickle you.”
“Good.”
I kissed their forehead, still chuckling, and they relaxed against me. I was happy they obviously believed me—which they should. I wouldn’t lie to them, not even for something so silly.
After a few comfortable and quiet minutes, Oak said, “Soooooo about this date… What if we just pick up some food, drive to the outskirts of the city to one of the parks, and watch the stars while we eat on the hood of your car?”
That made me smile. “That sounds perfect, babydoll.” With one more kiss to their forehead, I released them. “Let’s go downstairs to eat breakfast. I’ve been informed that the teens in the house will eat everything if we don’t hurry.”
They snorted. “Then I guess I’ll have to make more.”
That made me roll my eyes. “Yeah, sure. My little sneaky dragon trying to get me to agree to cook for them… again.”
They winked at me, chuckling, then grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the room.
They held my hand all the way to the kitchen, making my heart grow even more.