Chapter 28
Nikki yawned and stretched, sliding their toes along the silky cotton sheets. Everything felt so wonderful. They felt relaxed and well rested. They couldn’t remember ever waking and feeling so great before.
Though, there was no question as to the reason why, as Gunter’s arm wound around their waist and pulled them the short distance across the mattress into his warm body.
His morning wood poked at them, and Nikki couldn’t help a little wiggle, snuggling their ass back against him while the dragon pressed his face into their neck.
Gunter hummed his happiness while there seemed to be an echoing purr from deep in his chest. Were both the man and dragon happy right now?
Nikki liked the idea. They were a tamer of men and dragons.
“This is nice,” Gunter murmured, his voice deep and rough with sleep. “I’ve never been a morning person before, but now I have even less reason to get out of bed.”
“Do we have to get up?” Nikki pouted, even if Gunter couldn’t see it from where his face was still buried in Nikki’s neck and hair. “Why can’t we just stay here all day?”
“As delightful as that sounds, I have an extremely packed day of meetings.” Gunter pressed a kiss to Nikki’s shoulder and flopped onto his back with a heavy sigh.
Nikki rolled over so they could sprawl across Gunter’s bare chest. Their dragon couldn’t possibly look more adorable.
His floppy, blond hair was sticking up in all different directions, and his face looked cuter without his glasses to hide his lovely blue eyes.
Lying around with Gunter seemed like a brilliant idea to them.
“More Jaeggi crap?” Nikki grumbled.
“Actually, not all of it will be.” Gunter threaded his fingers through Nikki’s hair and pushed it back from their face in a gentle caress.
“Since Sora’s arrival, along with the arrival of the Sodalicium dragons, I’ve focused heavily on the Jaeggi efforts, but it’s meant that I’ve neglected the everyday life of the castle. ”
Oh, that was interesting. Since Nikki had stepped foot in the castle, everything had been about the Jaeggi. They had heard murmurs of other projects and various things, but everywhere they went it was Jaeggi, Jaeggi, Jaeggi. It was nice to know there would be life after the Jaeggi were dealt with.
“Really? Like what?”
Gunter lifted an eyebrow and cocked his head a little to the side, as if he was surprised by Nikki’s question. “You want to know what I do normally?”
Nikki shook their head and laughed. “Of course I do. I want to know everything about you.” They stacked their hands on the center of Gunter’s chest and rested their chin on them, waiting for Gunter’s reply.
It also didn’t hurt that this conversation kept Gunter in bed with them a little while longer.
“Oh, it’s not very interesting.”
“Let me judge that. Tell me what you do.”
“A variety of different types of research. Most of it has been historical, such as digging for lines and avenues for the various mage clans who might have survived the Dragon War. After the Jaeggi are taken care of, that will be the majority of my day.”
“You’re working to find more mages like me.”
Gunter’s expression turned surprisingly tender, and he ran the backs of his fingers along Nikki’s cheek in a sweet caress that left Nikki’s heart flipping and spiraling in their chest. “There is no other mage in all the world like you,” Gunter whispered. “I’d bet my life on that.”
Nikki turned their head and brushed a kiss to Gunter’s knuckles. “My sweet dragon.”
“But yes, mages without knowledge of their own magic need to be found. We need to keep them safe as well as help them find their lost heritage. And possible mates, although that’s the selfish wish of my clan.”
“A noble cause.”
Gunter smirked. “In my less noble endeavors, I also coordinate with the mages to chronicle spells and locate old spell books. I also help to manage the records for the health and beauty products Burkhard produces. Since the reintroduction of dragons into the world, our goods have been selling out as fast as we can produce them. We need to look into more distribution avenues.” Gunter paused and sighed.
“All of that I’ve been neglecting recently and need to get a handle on again while we’re waiting for more news on the Jaeggi. ”
“You do all of that on your own? Don’t you need more help?”
“Melissande helps me with the spell chronicling and research when she has time. Cassie has been helping me with the mage research as well.”
Nikki lifted up a little and smiled. “Then I’ll help you too.”
A small frown pulled together Gunter’s brows. “I thought you had magic lessons with Lisette and the other mages. I don’t want to take away from your studies.”
“You won’t. Lisette can’t monopolize all of my time.”
Gunter’s frown was wiped away by a little grin.
“You’d be surprised.” Nikki opened their mouth to argue they wanted to be useful to the clan too, but Gunter was already speaking.
“It’s more important that you study and come into your full potential.
You said you wanted to learn the magic of the Bos Clan. That’s going to take time and study.”
Nikki wilted. He was right. Nikki was really torn, as they liked the magic lessons, and they did want to carry on the tradition of the Bos Clan and weave special wands and amulets from living plants. But they also wanted to help Gunter in his work.
With a laugh they too rarely heard from Gunter, the dragon rolled over, tackling them to the mattress and pinning them down with his larger frame.
“Don’t worry, little one. I’ve been in that library for centuries and I plan to be for many more centuries.
I’ll be right there waiting for you when you’re ready to help me. ”
Thrill sliced through them at his words. The idea of always being welcome and wanted was something they’d never had before. And Gunter said it with such faith, as if there was no other possibility, it made them feel like joy was trying to shine out of their pores. “Promise?”
“I promise I will always wait for you.” Gunter bent down and kissed them slowly.
Nikki’s eyes fluttered shut and they got lost in the magic of Gunter’s lips as they brushed over theirs.
The kisses started short and small, but each one lasted a little longer, grew more demanding, until Gunter’s tongue was tangling with theirs, plundering their mouth.
A needy moan rose up Nikki’s throat, and they burrowed their fingers in Gunter’s silken hair. They needed him closer, wanted more.
Gunter suddenly broke off the kiss. His breathing was reduced to harsh pants and his pupils were blown wide. “We need to stop.”
“We do not need to stop.” Nikki tried to pull Gunter back down, but the dragon was too strong and didn’t budge.
“Meetings. It’s late. There’s barely time for coffee now. You have class.”
“No,” Nikki whined. “This is better than coffee and meetings.”
“Yes, it is, but—”
Whatever Gunter had been about to say was suddenly interrupted by loud banging on Gunter’s door. Nikki jumped and tugged at Gunter, trying to use his larger body to shield their own nudity.
“Eep!” It was a totally undignified sound. Nikki would be embarrassed by it later, but it legitimately sounded like the Jaeggi were trying to break down the door.
“Shake a leg, Grumpy!” Ravi’s muffled voice filtered into the rooms. “Alric wants to talk to you about the report you sent over last night. You’ve got fifteen minutes.”
“Go away, Ravi!” Nikki shouted.
Ravi didn’t answer, but they could clearly hear his laughter.
“Tell Alric I’ll be along at my usual time after I’ve had breakfast like a civilized creature,” Gunter added with a snarl.
Ravi laughed harder. “I can’t wait to tell him that.”
Yep, they totally got it now. Nikki wanted to strangle the wind dragon.
Gunter sighed, looking as disappointed by their interrupted morning as they felt.
“I guess we can’t tell Alric you’re not coming, huh? Or to maybe go suck a lemon?”
Gunter’s lips twitched like he was fighting back a smile, but their serious dragon recovered. “Alric is understanding, but I don’t like the idea of disappointing my king. He at least understands I need coffee before I can tackle his demands.”
This time, Nikki sighed. They got that. Alric was a good king, and he had offered Nikki safety and protection. If he needed Gunter, they could allow the king to borrow his dragon for a few hours.
Gunter pressed a kiss to their temple. “You can lounge a bit longer while I get a quick shower. Then we’ll grab a quick breakfast.”
Nikki unbent a little. Breakfast with Gunter was always nice, and it gave them a chance to monitor their dragon’s bad eating habits.
The dragon started to lift off of them but stopped suddenly. “One more thing. You can move in if you’d like.”
“Really?” Nikki’s heart soared and then stopped as all of what Gunter was saying finally processed in their brain.
Oh fuck yes, finally. Gunter was secure enough to move their relationship up to the next level.
Nikki might cry. Mostly tears of relief they didn’t have to drag Gunter to this next step.
“Yes, absolutely yes, I want to move in with you. I sleep better when I can hear you breathing and when I can smell you on the pillows.”
“Good. These are our rooms now. Feel free to move your things in whenever you wish, or we can do it together after dinner, if you’d like.
” Gunter started to kiss them again but jerked away with a growl.
“Shower. Running out of time,” he muttered under his breath before tossing back the blankets and leaping out of the bed.
Nikki continued to lounge in the bed, enjoying the show of Gunter stalking naked to the closet to grab some undergarments before stomping into the bathroom, still grumbling under his breath.
Their dragon did not like mornings and he did not like to be rushed.
That was okay. Nikki would come up with new ways to improve Gunter’s mood in the morning.
Yes, that sounded like an excellent plan.
But after they moved all their things into Gunter’s—no, their—rooms.