Chapter Sixteen
They fell into a wonderful pattern where Luke did his rounds in the morning, Grey riding with him, taking this joy with him. Then they would make love and he would push and make Grey fly in a whole different way. Luke could feel them getting closer every day, and he could feel Grey getting stronger. It made him proud. It made him happy.
Right now, he was rumbling for a different reason. He had been kicked out of the kitchen by his soul mate, told to find something to do with himself for a few hours. He’d built a fire, caught up on his reports, watched some stupid movie about dragons that perpetuated all the stereotypes, and now he was growling.
The smells coming out of the kitchen were delicious, tempting, and he didn’t want to stay pouting in the living room. He wanted to nibble and taste and bite. The food, as well as Grey.
He growled a little louder, growled into his pet’s mind.
Shh. Busy.
You’ve been busy for hours. Hours. Days. Which was possibly a slight bit of an exaggeration.
Days? Silly dragon. I’m making supper.
I could eat you for dinner.
I’m not scared. Grey’s laughter filled his mind.
He loved that sound, that sensation of Grey’s joy inside him. You weren’t supposed to be scared, you were supposed to be turned on.
I am. “Ow!”
He rushed into the kitchen. “Grey!”
“I’m okay. I’m okay. I cut my finger. Get out of the kitchen.” Grey was heading to the sink to stick his hand under the water.
He went over to Grey, completely ignoring the order to leave. “I’m not interfering with your supper, but I’m not abandoning you when you’re hurt.”
“I only nicked my finger. Nothing big. I promise.”
“Let me see,” he insisted, taking Grey’s hand in his and checking out his injured finger.
The cut was short but deep, drops of blood dripping down with the water. He growled and brought Grey’s finger to his mouth, sucking on it.
He scented Grey’s sudden arousal, the flood wild, making him want to bend his pet over the table. He met Grey’s eyes and slowly let the hurt finger slide from between his lips. “There. I kissed it better.”
“Uh-huh.” Grey blinked, swaying nice and slow.
“Does your supper need a lot of attention?” Because he wouldn’t sabotage any of Grey’s attempts at supper. Not if he could help it.
“It’s almost done. Roast chicken, stuffing, potatoes, brussels sprouts.”
“It sounds as good as it smells.” He put Grey’s hand down. “We should eat before...” he had his most wicked way with his pet.
“Uh-huh...” Grey wanted him. “I worked really hard, Dragon.”
“You worked for hours. We really should eat before anything else.” Maybe if he convinced Grey, Grey would convince him in return. Throwing Grey over the dining room table and fucking him until it broke would have to wait, no matter how tempting it was.
“Yes. Sit. You want to carve the bird?”
“Is that a euphemism?” he teased as he sat.
“Uh-huh. Sit.” Grey’s laugh filled the air, so joyous.
“I’m sitting!” He had to laugh, too, though.
“Cut the bird up.” Please be done. Please be done.
He didn’t need it to be done to eat it. But he wanted Grey to be happy, so he hoped it was done, too.
He grabbed the carving knife and fork, and sliced into the chicken.
“Is it okay? I cooked it long enough, right?”
“It’s perfect, Grey.” He cut off one side of the breast, and put it on Grey’s plate—he knew that’s what his pet liked best. Then he put the second half on top of the first, letting Grey have both, and dumped the rest of the chicken on his own plate. “Bon appetit.”
“There’s gravy, stuffing. All sorts of sides.” Grey had tried so hard.
“It’s wonderful. I can’t wait to eat it.” He kissed Grey’s nose. “You take such good care of me.” It was an amazing feeling.
Grey’s entire face lit up, pure happiness written all over him.
“It’s true. You take better care of me than anyone.”
“Someone needs to. Someone needs to show you how amazing you are.”
He took a kiss, unable to resist, even if it led to making love first instead of eating.
Grey moved closer, almost in his lap. Oh, lovely idea. They could feed each other. He tugged his pet right into his lap and kissed him again.
“Feed me, Grey.”
“I’d love to.” Grey made a bite of chicken and gravy and stuffing, then offered it over.
He opened up, watching Grey’s face as he leaned in and took the forkful of food into his mouth. “Mmm. It’s delicious.”
“Yeah? My first roasted chicken.”
“You roasted it great. Let me show you.” He snagged Grey’s plate so he could put some breast meat with the gravy, the dressing, and a bit of potato. He offered the fork over to Grey.
Grey took the bite and hummed. “Nice.”
“You did a great job.” He put together another mouthful, feeding it to Grey before his pet could even think to protest. Grey needed the food. He needed the energy more than Luke did.
They ate, laughing and kissing in between bites, and it hit him, this was his life now. His bonded, here, with him, making him laugh like he never imagined he could. Bringing such joy to him.
“I love you, Greyson.” He said it quietly, seriously, staring into Grey’s eyes.
“Good. I love you, Lukas-meine.”
He rumbled happily at the words, and Grey squirmed for him. “Hurry, a few more bites before I can’t resist you a moment longer.”
“You mean you’re not going to do dishes?” Grey teased.
“They’ll keep. What I feel for you won’t.” He growled a little louder, let Grey really hear him.
Grey’s eyes went heavy lidded, sweet arousal flooding him.
He shoved a brussels sprout into Grey’s mouth. “Eat,” he ordered, his need ratcheting up another level.
“Uh-huh.” Grey handed him a roll.
He managed to slather it in butter before handing half over to Grey. He swallowed his own half in about two seconds, then grabbed another chunk of chicken, washing the whole thing down with half his glass of water.
“Are you going to make me fly, Dragon?” There was a smear of butter on Grey’s upper lip.
“I will.” He leaned in and licked it off. “Are you asking me to make you fly extra high tonight?”
Grey held his gaze, so sure, so happy. “Yes, Dragon. I am.”
* * * * *
Look for BORN OF AIR, the next book in the DRAGON SOUL series, coming from Sean Michael and Carina Press in February 2018.