Chapter Six
It was still dark when Greyson woke, still lying on his living mattress. He was on top of a gorgeous park ranger he barely knew, naked. Despite the scars, despite his inexperience, here he was.
He wasn’t cold, though, and his cock was hard again. He wanted to rub against Luke, like he was some animal in heat.
Luke’s hands moved him, rubbed them together in the most delicious way. He felt disheveled, mussed, and alive for the first time in months.
Luke still had his underwear on, but it did nothing to disguise the hard heat pushing against Greyson’s cock as Luke pulled him along his incredible body, one hand solidly on his ass.
He kept wondering, when he had two brain cells to rub together, how this had happened. Then Luke’s mouth would meet his and his breath and good sense were gone. Every time Luke groaned, Greyson could feel it rumbling through him.
Luke wrapped a hand around his hip, moving it down along his scarred thigh. The warmth felt incredible. Then the touch trailed on a spot that fired with pure electricity, and his teeth clicked together.
“Fuck, that’s magic.” Luke touched the spot again and Greyson swore it was like the tattoo was being burned into his skin.
“That’s a bad spot. Really. Sharp.”
“That’s because the tattoo is broken. It needs to heal, too.” Luke kept stroking from his knee to his hip and down again, lingering over the scars and remaining ink.
“That doesn’t make sense.” God, the burn.
“It will one day,” Luke promised, eyes looking into his. He felt like he could fall into them and go deep.
“How? How will it?” He wanted something to make sense. “You don’t understand. I’d give anything to be whole again.”
“Healing takes time, Grey. And you’ve only just gotten here. Now you’re getting sleep, food, massages and pleasure. Let them work, trust me that they’ll work, that you will heal.”
Trust. He didn’t have anything left to worry about losing.
Luke bit at his lower lip, rubbing it with his teeth. It distracted from the touches along his leg, the ones that sent jolts through him. Every touch made his leg draw up, made his toes curl. And Luke didn’t stop. He kept touching, kept stroking, making him feel things.
“I can’t...” He couldn’t handle it. He wasn’t used to feeling things anymore—he’d been pushing everything away for so long.
“I hate hearing you say that, knowing you believe it. I want you to stop saying it, because it’s not true.”
“What?”
“You might find that if you say you can, you’ll be right.”
“But—”
“No. No buts. You have to believe in yourself.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
Luke shook his head. “Then I will until you can. Right now you need to heal.” The words were firm, but the smile was gentle. “Kiss me, Pet.”
Pet? Surely he hadn’t heard that right.
He didn’t think about it, though, as he pressed his lips against Luke’s. He didn’t think about why he’d blindly obeyed the order, either.
The kiss was as mind-blowing as the rest of them had been. Greyson pushed into the kiss, letting himself have it. Luke wrapped his arms around Greyson, keeping him warm and holding him closer, making him feel a part of something else, something bigger than himself. He opened his mouth, his tongue gliding alongside Luke’s.
Luke licked him back, then began to suck on his tongue with a sure rhythm.
His eyes went wide and he grabbed on to Luke’s shoulders. Luke sucked harder and he swore he could feel it throbbing in his cock.
One of Luke’s hands wrapped around his cock, tugged him, strong and steady. He reminded himself that Luke hadn’t gotten off, which was totally unfair. He reached in between them, trying to push down Luke’s underwear. Luke’s fingers joined his, pushing the waistband down far more successfully.
“Sorry. Sorry, trying.” He really was. He didn’t want to be selfish, taking pleasure but not returning it.
“Shh. As long as we’re both naked, does it matter how we get there?” Luke grabbed his hand and pushed it into the lowered underwear.
“Oh.” He grabbed hold, tugging Luke in a long pull from base to tip.
“Yes, that’s good.” Luke nodded and rocked against him.
“You’re thick.” He’d never held another man’s penis before.
“And long and hard.” Luke met his gaze, no judgement or censure, only pleasure in his eyes. “And all yours.”
“Have you done this before?” Of course Luke had. No one kissed like that their first time.
“I have, but it’s never felt like this with anyone else.”
Maybe it was time to tell Luke what was what. Greyson took a shuddering breath. “I, um, I haven’t. Ever. My parents would have disowned me if they’d caught me with a boy, so that was never worth the risk, and girls never did it for me. Then I joined the army after high school and it seemed easier and safer to not even think about it, and then I got injured.” He was babbling now, letting it all out in a rush. “So, um, you’re sort of my first everything so far.” God, this was embarrassing. But Luke’s dick was getting even harder, so maybe the news wasn’t a huge turn-off.
“So you’ve saved yourself for me,” Luke murmured, something that sounded like maybe awe in his voice.
“Well, I wouldn’t put—”
Luke pressed his finger across Greyson’s lips. “Shh. It doesn’t matter how it happened, the result is the same.”
Greyson felt like his cheeks were going to burst into flames at any moment, but at the same time, that was pretty sweet. For a growly guy, Luke sure had marshmallow insides.
Luke put their cocks together, and helped him get his hand around both of them, then Luke began stroking them together. Luke squeezed their hands tighter around their cocks and he thought he could become addicted to the hot glide of flesh on flesh.
He swallowed hard, spreading his legs as wide as they could go.
Luke encouraged him to keep stroking, then slipped his hand down to wrap around Greyson’s balls, cupping them lightly. Greyson gasped, eyes going wide at the dull ache. Luke looked pleased, almost smug, and continued to play with them.
“Don’t stop stroking, Pet.”
“Pet?” He petted them, up and down.
“Uh-huh. Pet.” Luke leaned in and licked at his neck, tongue dragging, leaving him feeling tingly. “My pet. Keep touching.”
He did, pulling along their shafts. God, he’d never imagined things could be this good, touching, being on top of another man. His wet dreams had been pale, ghostly comparisons that had mostly disappeared from disuse.
“You going to come for me?” Luke asked before licking a line beneath his ear. “Gonna let me smell you again?”
“Yes. God, yes. I will.” He had to.
“Good. Do it. I want you to look me in the eyes and come for me.” Luke rolled his balls some more, then rubbed his fingers over their cockheads, and the sudden jolt of pleasure was more than Greyson could bear. His gaze flew up to meet Luke’s, and then his balls emptied.
Luke roared—there was no other word for it—in triumph, and more heat sprayed up over his hand and on his belly.
He’d done that.
He’d made the man orgasm.
A rush of pride hit him.
Luke smiled before he leaned up and shared a kiss with Greyson. Greyson slumped forward, a moan escaping him.
“I’ve got you,” Luke told him, petting his back. “I swear.”
“You swear.” His body was heavy.
“My word is my bond. I don’t say things I don’t mean.” Luke reached for the blanket and pulled it up over his back.
He wasn’t sure the blanket was needed. Luke was so warm.
“Me either. I’m honest.” He thought.
Luke looked pleased. “It makes life easier, doesn’t it?”
“I think so.” He was so sleepy, so worn out.
“You start lying and you have to keep track.” Luke’s fingers ran over his spine, tracing the line from his neck to his ass.
“Uh-huh. I... You get it. Exactly.”
“The only question is—is an omission a lie?”
Greyson yawned and snuggled in. “I don’t know. I guess? Maybe?”
“Then we’re going to have to have a talk.” Luke looked serious.
“I don’t understand.” He was so tired. All he’d done since getting here was eat and sleep and...sleep some more.
“It’s okay, you can sleep. We’ll have a serious talk once you’re on the way to recovery.”
The long, slow drags of Luke’s hands lulled him.
Luke continued to murmur, nothing he could really make out, but he could hear the care and comfort in the words. He melted and drifted to sleep, and somehow the pain was gone entirely.
* * *
Luke felt joy in holding Grey. This was his soul mate and that was the best thing ever. He took comfort in knowing he’d helped with Grey’s pain. Of course, less comforting was the knowledge that he needed to tell Grey about who he really was, and sooner than later. It wasn’t a secret that would keep. Not with Grey. They needed to be open and honest. Unless Grey wasn’t actually the one.
Luke snorted to himself. Oh please. He knew Grey was. He could feel it, rumbling deep down inside him. He knew every time he touched that twisted tattoo and sparks exploded between them. He couldn’t deny it or pretend that it wasn’t happening. He would be making room in his life for another.
He touched Grey’s thigh again, feeling the muscles jerk and twist under his fingers. He moved his hand down to Grey’s knee, then back up to rub Grey’s hip. Poor, abused body.
Luke could feel the magic inside him, reaching out, needing his pet to be strong, safe. Whole. He pressed a kiss against Grey’s shoulder, continuing to move his hand, to stroke that poor, damaged leg. The ink seemed to shine, glow for him.
He had a hunch he knew what the whole tattoo looked like. A dragon crest? That was his family crest, he was sure. Grey had been marked as his.
With his name.
He’d spoken with Deke and Jake. Something was happening.
Something huge.
All their soul mates were showing up, were being marked. They’d all waited for hundreds and hundreds of years, just Mark finding his soul mate, only to have him ripped away. Now this. Now three of the four remaining soul mates had been found. Boom, just like that. Fuck, Deke’s and Jake’s even lived next to each other and even Greyson had been tattooed by Corryn. This had to be a sign. A portent. He didn’t believe in coincidence, especially ones of this magnitude. One of his brothers needed to have a serious chat with Corryn. That was a huge amount of loose magic in the world.
He wasn’t sure Grey was going to appreciate knowing that he was the soul mate of a dragon, but at least there was nowhere for Grey to go. Grey would have to stay and deal with this; he had no choice.
There was something strong about his soul mate, though, something wonderful. Luke was going to become addicted to that strength, he could tell. And how special was it that Grey hadn’t given himself to anyone else? Very.
Grey pushing toward his fingers, toward his hand. Someone enjoyed his touch way more than he wanted to admit. He brushed his lips over Grey’s forehead, kissing him. As he did, he slid his free hand along Grey’s back, up and down his spine.
“Luke,” Grey sighed, and the sound made his toes curl.
“Right here, Pet. I told you I had you, and I do.” He wasn’t going to let anything else happen to his soul mate.
Grey hummed, eyelids going heavy. That was right. Grey needed sleep and food and healing and Luke was going to make sure he got it. Once Grey was healed, they’d be able to do so many things together. They’d be able to revel completely in each other and it was going to be glorious.
Luke dozed a little, waking whenever Grey shifted to rub and stroke some more.
Grey nuzzled his throat, lips pulling steadily at his skin. Someone was amazingly oral. That was going to come in handy. In fact, the suction had his cock waking up, hardening like it was trying to get Grey’s attention.
“So good. Don’t stop.”
Grey whimpered, eyelashes brushing his skin. Luke shivered at the delicate touch. Grey could pretend to be asleep as much as he wanted to.
Luke moved his hands to Grey’s ass, grabbing one cheek in each hand. Grey stiffened, breath catching in his chest. Bingo. His pet was awake. He squeezed Grey’s ass, fingers digging in.
“Careful,” murmured Grey. “I should get up.”
“I agree. I’ll get up too and we can rub off together,” Luke teased.
Grey shot him a look, wide eyed and adorable. His pet was about to become a very sexual being.
“Come on. We’ll go get a shower. You can lean on me.” He wouldn’t let Grey fall.
Grey didn’t look very on board, but Luke knew they could do it. And he knew it would be hot, and sexy and wonderful.
He stood, bringing Grey along with him. With his arm around Grey’s waist, there wasn’t any problem with Grey walking with him, no crutches needed. He led Grey back to the master with its simple en suite.
They passed his enormous bed, and the huge windows that let the moonlight in, then went into the bathroom. He liked to shower, so he had a decent-sized water heater, something big enough to warm him up. Just one of the many things he’d done to make his home in the middle of nowhere a better place to live.
He propped Grey up in the shower against the tile and started the water. “You didn’t have a shower at the cabin. I bet the hot water feels good on your leg.”
“God, yes.” Grey looked dazed, almost drugged.
He couldn’t believe Grey had planned to spend the winter in that cabin with as little as he had. A part of him wondered if Grey hadn’t planned, subconsciously at least, to let go, let the cold have him.
That would have been a disaster—not only for Grey, but for him, as well.
He grabbed the soap and began to rub it between his fingers, getting a nice soapy foam he could rub Grey down with.
He wanted to explore each and every inch of Grey’s lean body.
“You ready?” He didn’t wait for an answer before he slid his hands along Grey’s neck, rubbing.
Those poor overworked muscles were hard like thick, cold rubber bands.
“You need to let go. To relax. Getting all tight isn’t going to help anything.”
“I don’t remember how.”
“Then I guess I’ll have to remind you.” He dug harder into Grey’s neck and the tight muscles of the man’s shoulders, refusing to back down.
“I’ll fall,” Grey whispered.
“I’m not going to let that happen.”
That was totally not on the table. Not at all.
He was strong and he was quick. And motivated. He worked Grey’s muscles harder. He made it to Grey’s ass, working the huge muscles, pushing deep. He had to admit, he wanted to do a lot more than massage this stunning butt. In fact, he might have to make a list. Fucking, plugging, fisting—he had ideas. He pushed his fingers deeper into Grey’s flesh, demanding the lovely muscles give way.
“Oh.” Greyson’s legs buckled, a sigh sounding.
He caught Grey against his body, rumbling happily at the sensation of flesh against his, all wet and slippery.
Grey shook his head. “Sorry. Sorry, I can’t help it.”
“You want an excuse to rub up against me.”
Now that earned him an almost silent chuckle. Good. He wanted Grey to enjoy this, to play and tease and feel amazing with him.
“You don’t need an excuse, you can do it anytime you want, Pet.” Luke loved the idea of Grey initiating contact, of sharing his need.
“Why do you call me that?”
“Because it feels right.” It tripped off his tongue unbidden. It was what it was. He hadn’t specifically picked the nickname for Grey.
“Oh. As long as you don’t think I’m a dog. Or a cat.”
Luke shook his head, pushing the hair out of Grey’s face. “I know exactly what you are, Grey. A beautiful man who is here with me.”
Grey’s cheeks went pink and he ducked his head, but didn’t stop leaning against Luke. Which he took to mean that Grey still wasn’t quite steady and, no doubt, in pain. He went to his knees, rubbing Grey’s legs, refusing to let Grey hurt without doing anything about it.
Grey’s head dropped forward, his eyes closing, a look of bliss on his face. “God, your hands. No one has hands like yours.”
“No, they don’t. And mine were made to touch you.” Not just pretty words, either. He meant it. He rubbed his cheek against Grey’s cock.
“Careful. You don’t want to drown.” Grey’s voice had gone thick and he licked his lips.
“A little water can’t hurt me.”
“Good to know.” Grey laughed down at him.
That was a very good look on Grey. Luke turned his head and nibbled at Grey’s cock.
“No biting, now.”
“That was not a bite.” Not even close.
“No. That’s what I mean. No biting.”
“Not today,” he agreed. But he wasn’t taking it off the table.
In fact, he was taking precious little off the table.
He grinned and dragged his lips down Grey’s cock, stopping once he got to his lover’s balls. He breathed on them, then licked, and finally nibbled again, loving how hot they felt against his lips.
“One day I’ll shave these.” He would shave the pubes around Grey’s cock, too, leave Grey as bare as he was. It would be beautiful and it would feel amazing, for both of them.
Grey snorted. “Stop it.”
“I’m serious.” Deadly serious. He looked up, meeting Grey’s gaze to prove it. “You’ll look stunning,” he promised.
Grey rolled his eyes. “I won’t let you. That’s just wrong.”
Luke laughed. The things humans found wrong were strange, and often very random. “What’s wrong with shaving your body hair? You shave your face. Many swimmers and bikers shave their arm and leg hair. It’s a choice, not a moral imperative.”
“I haven’t shaved my face since before I left the hospital.”
“Yeah, about that...” He did prefer a clean-shaven man. Hell, it was because of skin—he loved feeling smooth, warm skin beneath his fingertips, his lips. He loved the vulnerability, the sensations, the pleasure.
“Let’s do your beard today.” It was time for Grey to realize he was not going to be allowed to die. It was time for him to be back in the land of the living.
“No. No way.” Grey shook his head, pursed his lips.
“Why not?” He wanted to see the lovely face beardless. And he wanted to encourage Grey to remove one of his barriers. He thought this one would be fairly painless.
“Because I said so?” Even Grey didn’t sound convinced.
“But why do you say so?” Luke asked. He scratched his fingers through the beard when Grey didn’t answer. “Why do you have this?”
“Because I couldn’t shave myself at the hospital and I didn’t want anyone to touch me.” Grey looked surprised, like he hadn’t meant to say any of that out loud.
“Do you want me to touch you?” Luke asked.
Grey nodded. “Yes.”
“Do you have scars on your face, too?”
“No.” Grey rolled his eyes. “No. I’m just... I’ve gotten used to it.”
“So there’s no deep-seated need to keep it.”
“I suppose not.”
“So...” His fingers itched to run over Grey’s face without any impediments.
Grey rolled his eyes again. “Okay, okay. If you really want to, I guess I don’t have any objections.”
“Thank you.” Luke stood, tugging on the unkempt beard. “It won’t take long to do at all. And it’s not like it doesn’t grow back.” He, on the other hand, couldn’t grow a beard to save his life, and he was pretty much hairless outside the top of his head, his eyebrows and eyelashes.
“You must shave a lot. Everywhere.”
He shook his head. “Nope. I’m naturally hairless. It runs in the family.” Something to do with their dragon natures, he was sure.
“Weird. Saves on razors, I guess.”
“It does. Lucky for you, I have a very sharp knife so we can deal with this fuzz.”
Grey touched his own face. “I’ve needed it, man. It’s like...armor.”
“I know. You don’t need to wear it around me. And there’s no one else here.”
There was a sudden flash of fire in Grey’s eyes. “I don’t know you! I don’t know you and I’m naked with you, man!”
Luke had to remember that Grey didn’t have the same knowledge of the soul mate bond that he did. “You know that I’m good for you. That you’re safe being naked with me.”
Grey nodded, chewing on his lip, watching Luke.
“Then why not let me shave you? Let me see you.”
“I thought you were supposed to have a beard in the winter.” The teasing tone let him know Grey was relaxing.
“That’s just...” What was it they were called? He’d had a bunch of them get lost last spring and he’d had to rescue them. “...hipsters.”
“Hipsters.” Grey snorted and seemed to relax even more.
“Yes. With their hair all up in a bun and these crazily groomed beards. You’re nothing like them.” Grey was real.
“No. I’m just an ex-soldier.”
“There is nothing ‘just’ about you, Grey. You’re...intriguing. And that’s the tip of the iceberg.”
“Thank you.” Grey reached down, touched his face.
Turning his head, he kissed Grey’s palm, and Grey gasped. Oh, that was sweet. He liked that little sound. Keeping hold of Grey’s hand, he nibbled his way up one of Grey’s fingers, taking the tip between his lips. He could see the shock in Grey’s eyes, knew that no one had done this for him.
Luke took Grey’s finger all the way in, sucking strongly. Grey made the most amazing sound and eased down to the floor of the shower with him, pushing closer.
“Careful of your leg.”
“It’s tired.”
“Not too sore?” Luke asked, rubbing one hand along Grey’s leg, looking to ease any pain.
“Not—” Grey arched, head falling back.
Luke grinned and kept rubbing. Grey was feeling pretty good, or his name wasn’t Lukas.
“Lukas...”
Luke’s eyes flew open. He’d never told Grey that was his name. Nobody ever called him that but his brothers. When they were being buttheads. Maybe it had been his imagination. Maybe it had been the soulbond.
“What did you say?”
“Huh?” Grey looked up from where he had been touching Luke.
He shook his head. Maybe he’d imagined it, though he hoped he hadn’t. “I thought I heard you call me Lukas.” He shrugged it off, not wanting to make a big deal of it. “If you’re comfortable where you are, I’m getting my knife.”
“Lukas is your name, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, yeah. I usually introduce myself as Luke, that’s all.” It had to be because Grey was his.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to piss you off.” Grey shifted, tried to get his legs up underneath him.
“I’m surprised, not pissed off. There’s a difference.” He didn’t let Grey go.
“Still. I should get up, huh?”
“I’m going to shave you. Get rid of all this facial hair. Sitting will probably make it easier.”
“You are kind of single-minded, aren’t you?”
He grinned and he had a feeling it was wicked as hell. “Maybe a little.”
“A little?”
“Yes, little. As in a tiny bit, a small amount. Just a tad or a scootch.”
“Scootch.” Grey began to chuckle.
“It’s a perfectly good word!” There were lots of amazing words that had simply slipped out of use over the years.
“I beg to differ.” Grey snorted.
“You can, but I haven’t seen you begging at all. I’d like to, though.” A lot. “Can you imagine it?”
“What?”
“I was picturing you on your knees, begging me to fuck your mouth.”
“No. No, I...” Grey’s eyes were wide with surprise. “I wouldn’t. It’s impossible.”
“A simple thing like that? Impossible?” Luke knew better. He thought Grey did, too.
Grey blushed, cheeks going bright. Yes, Grey not only knew better, he liked the idea.
“There are things in this world that you think are impossible, but are totally possible.” He thought that was a pretty smooth segue.
Grey sighed, the sound wistful. “I wish that were true.”
“It is true. Let’s take say, dragons. They’re pretty impossible, aren’t they?”
“Dragons? Like in the fairy tales?”
“Yes. Dragons. Like in fairy tales. Possible or impossible?” He waited for Grey’s answer. They were going to have to get out of the shower before he could show Grey. Hells, he was going to have to go outside.
“Possible. Unlikely, but I’ve seen things I never thought I would.”
“I love that answer.” He beamed at Grey. “And it’s not just possible, but they do exist.”
“Have you seen one?”
How surprising. How utterly charming. It wasn’t the reaction he’d been expecting, but he liked it. A lot.
He met Grey’s gaze, holding it as he spoke. “I have seen several. I have four brothers and we all turn into dragons. Or rather, we are dragons who take human form.”
“Show me.”
Just like that. No disbelief, no gasps, no denials. Just show me. “I can’t do it in here. We’ll have to go outside.” He turned off the water and stood, reaching for Grey, to pull him up. Grey was shivering by the time he left the hot water and Luke began to wrap him up in towels.
He was eager. He wanted to show Grey his true form. No, he needed to. But he had to get Grey dried off and dressed up for the cold. “You can wear my coat.”
“Okay.” Grey shivered, teeth chattering. “Let me towel my hair off.”
“I can do it.” He turned on the heat so there was a flash of warmth as he took the amazing, long strands of hair between layers of terry cloth and rubbed.
“Oh...” Grey leaned into his hands.
“Did you know that you’re a hedonist?” Given half a chance, anyway.
“Am I? No one’s ever said so before.”
“No, I imagine you don’t let very many people know. I wonder if even you realized it.” He made sure Grey was dry. “Okay. Let’s get your clothes and go out.”
Grey didn’t ask a lot of questions or even seem terribly worried. How did that happen? How was Grey so calm and not disbelieving? He’d take it, though.
Sweats, a sweatshirt, boots, and Luke’s parka, and he took Grey’s hands, leading him outside. A part of him couldn’t believe he was doing this, that after so many years of hiding, he was going to shift in front of another man.
A man he’d only known for a few days. This was a mistake. A terrible mistake.
He froze at the door. Grey looked at him, nodded once. “Coffee?”
He shook his head. “No. You believed me. I’ll show you.” He wasn’t a coward. That the stakes were higher than they would ever be had given him pause. He couldn’t afford to have Grey reject him.
“You don’t have to show anyone anything you don’t want to,” Grey told him, clearly willing to let him take the lead on this.
“I’ve never shown anyone before,” he admitted.
“Then let’s have coffee, man. I’m ready to sit.”
“I tell you I’m a dragon and you not only take it at face value, but you don’t demand immediate proof?” He tugged Grey to him, kissing him, the hood from the parka warming his face.
“Man, I was blown out of the sand by an IED. There were monsters in that sand. Real monsters, and I am not making that up. You tell me you’re a dragon—until I have reason to think you’re a liar, you can be a dragon. Me? I’m not one. I’m a broke-dick ex-soldier.”
“But you’re a broke-dick ex-soldier who is with a dragon.” He took Grey’s hand and led him out the front door, his sudden nerves eased again by Grey’s straightforward acceptance. “I want to show you. I want you to know.”
“Whatever you want, man.” Grey grabbed his crutches.
He didn’t think Grey needed those, but he didn’t say so. Luke wouldn’t be right next to Grey supporting him when the dragon took over.
They went out, him still naked, Grey wrapped in winter gear.
“Ready?” he asked, ignoring the cold.
Grey leaned back against the house. “Bring it on.”
He took a few steps out from the place and imagined his dragon self. Unlike his city-dwelling brothers, he was able to do this on a regular basis, and his dragon skin fit him easily. The cold disappeared and he spread out his wings before settling them against his back. He looked to Grey. Here he was in all his glory.
Grey stared at him, silent and utterly still, waiting for him to make a move.
He leaned in and breathed on Grey, a big puff of hot air that steamed in the cold. Then he nuzzled their cheeks together.
Pet.
“Oh. Okay. So, not interested in eating me. Not cold-blooded. Excellent.”
He snorted, blowing more air onto Grey. He wished he could take Grey for a flight, but he thought maybe that would take time. Grey’s leg needed to heal. So they would save it. He stretched out his wings again, flapped them a few times.
Grey chuckled. “That’s damn impressive, man. Seriously. You’re beautiful.”
How did this man simply accept him?
Obviously his belief that Grey was meant for him had been absolutely right. He preened a little more, knowing his brown-tipped green scales made a lovely pattern over his body. His chest was entirely white, aside from the mark over his heart. The mark that looked remarkably like a G.
“Can I touch you?”
Yes. He put his head down again, offering himself to Grey.
Grey pulled off his mitts and reached out, warm hands caressing his face, stroking his eye ridges, his long whiskers. He rumbled happily and flicked the ridges around his face, touching Grey in return.
“That’s a great sound, man. Seriously. That’s like music.”
He let it get louder, and nuzzled Grey’s chest, wishing he had skin to explore, to feel. It was too cold for human skin out here, though. Not for him. The snow around him was melting.
“I need to go in, man. The cold makes me ache.”
Of course. Soon that wouldn’t be so, and he and Grey would fly, his preternatural heat keeping Grey warm.
For now, he thought about his human form and in a matter of seconds stood naked in front of Grey. He shivered, the warmth of his dragon form gone. “In,” he barked.
“Shit. Yes. Come on. Your dick will freeze off.”
“We can’t have that,” he noted, chasing Grey into the house and closing the door firmly, keeping winter outside. “Let’s sit by the fire. I’ll warm quickly. And then you can check out my cock for frostbite.”
“Do you want your coat?”
“I’m fine. Are you good to walk to the couch?”
“Fine. I have my crutches. My pain pills are in my bag.”
“I bet we can get some hot cocoa in you and give you another massage and you won’t need the pain pills.” He got Grey sitting and looked at him intently. “So?”
“You’re a dragon. I won’t tell anyone. No one believes things like that.”
“No, they don’t. It’s pretty wonderful, though, isn’t it?” He wanted more enthusiasm from Grey. After all, he wasn’t just a dragon. He was Grey’s dragon.
Greyson’s mouth curled up into this grin—this utterly tickled grin. “It was fucking awesome, man.”
He bent in a half bow and began to tug Grey’s layers off. “It is, isn’t it? I’m a motherfucking dragon.”
“You are. So, were you born one or did you...become one?”
“Hatched. From an egg. I have four brothers, too. One younger, three older.” Not that he ever saw much of them. He was the loner of the group and that was how he liked it. Being the not-quite-middle child was hard and he’d long ago figured out that he was better off on his own. That went for humans, as well as his brothers. He was willing to make an exception for Grey, of course.
He tugged a finally naked Grey up against his body and pulled the blanket over them both. He was already warm again, but Grey would need to be cuddled to become heated all through.
“An egg? That’s intense.” Grey wiggled for a second, then settled, his eyes closing.
“I had to break my way out. We’re born in our dragon forms.” He slid his fingertips along Grey’s skin, enjoying how it felt.
“You remember it?”
“It’s like a dream, far away and not quite real. It was a very long time ago. Dragons have long memories, though.”
“Huh. No wonder you don’t like people.”
“What do you mean?” He didn’t think his birth had very much to do with his dislike of much of the human race.
“If I had had to deal with people a long time, I wouldn’t like them. We’re sort of parasitic.”
“You’re a man after my own heart, Pet.” He put a kiss on Grey’s nose.
“So you can understand me. Do you breathe fire?”
He nodded. “As a dragon only.” Much as he would have liked to sometimes as a human, it didn’t work that way.
“Weird. Cool, but weird.” Grey smiled at him, shook his head. “Can you fly?”
“Oh yeah. I love flying. It’s one of the best things about being a dragon. And I can take you with me. There’s a perfect spot for you between my shoulders.”
“That would fucking rock.”
“It will,” he promised. One day soon he’d take Grey flying.
“One day soon,” Grey agreed.
He hadn’t said it out loud. He reached out, put his hand on the center of Grey’s chest. “You said you saw monsters before?”
“Yes, in the desert. In the sand. No one believed me.”
“What were they like?”
“Frightening. Fangs and claws. I thought it was a snake at first. They rose up and no one else saw them.” Grey shuddered.
He pulled Grey in tight. “It’s okay. You’re safe. I’ve got you.” It sounded like an amphisbaena. They were like dragons, only with snakes on their tails. Nasty desert-dwelling creatures.
“You believe me? You’d better say yes.”
“Of course I believe you—I’m a dragon, aren’t I?” He pushed the hair off Grey’s face. “Have you ever heard of an amphisbaena? I know, it’s a mouthful.”
“No. Is it a type of creature?”
“Yes. A desert-dweller. I’ve never met one, but they’re from legend.” He chuckled wryly. “Like dragons. I imagine there aren’t very many anymore, but that sounds like the creature you saw.”
“It was going to hurt me. I’m serious. It really was. It wanted me.”
Now that made him shudder. “Maybe it knew.”
“Knew what?” Grey frowned over at him.
“That you belonged to a dragon. Maybe he was drawn to you because of it.”
“Why would you want me? I’m broken, Luke.”
“No, Pet. You’re just a little bent.”
“I wish.” Grey closed his eyes and sighed, relaxing back into the cushions.
“Trust me,” he murmured, leaning in to lick Grey’s neck.
“Mmm... Tingles.”
“Good. And you’re safe here from all the monsters. They tend to stay away from dragons.” How much did he love being able to be open about his nature?
“I want to be...” Grey sighed. “Sorry, man. I’m getting whiny in my old age.”
He nudged Grey. “You want to be what?”
“Nothing.” Grey smiled, hiding behind his mass of hair.
“You want to be nothing? That seems like a silly thing to wish for.” He was going to shave that beard, and soon. He wanted to see what Grey looked like without it.
“I already am nothing, man.”
“Stop that. You’re better than that.”
“I’m not. I’m broken, man. Lame and unemployed and alone.”
“I already told you that isn’t true.”
Grey chuckled. “I already ignored that.”
“Well unignore it,” he demanded. Then he hugged Grey tight. “When you need to know that you’re special, remember that I’m a dragon and that you’re more than a match for me.”
“I will never forget that, Luke. Trust me. Never.”
“One day you’ll fly with me.” Soon, he hoped.
Grey smiled, patted his hand, and Luke knew Grey didn’t believe. The man believed in him, sure, but not in himself.
He would have to help Grey change that. Luckily, they had all the time they needed.
He pulled Grey close, cradling his pet.
“I’ve got you,” he said quietly. They had each other.
“I’m glad. Now, naptime. I’m tired.”
He sat back on the couch and pulled Grey close. “Sleep.”
Grey yawned and leaned in, resting hard.
He held his lover, his very own. And he’d hold Grey as long as he had to.
* * *
Greyson slept and dreamed of dragons.
He laughed, waking himself up with the sound.
He’d met a dragon.
The military would lock him away if they knew. They didn’t know everything, though. He’d believed and he’d seen.
There was whistling coming from the kitchen, along with the smell of something wonderful. Chocolatey.
He opened his eyes, wrapped in an amazing blanket. “Luke?”
Luke popped out from the kitchen and gave him a warm smile. “Hey, you’re awake.”
“I am. You’re awake. Is it...evening?” He felt like he was living outside time.
“It is. The brownies are right out of the oven. You have perfect timing.”
He worked on levering himself up off the sofa. He needed the bathroom. He needed the bathroom and a drink.
Luke was there at his side suddenly, giving him a hand.
“Thank you.” He got his feet underneath him. “Crutches?”
“I can be your crutches.” Luke wrapped an arm around his waist, heat pouring off him.
It was easy to lean into Luke, to let him hold on, so he did.
Luke led him down the hall to the bathroom like he’d voiced his need out loud. Which he was pretty sure he hadn’t.
“Thank you.” He did his business with a sigh, realizing as he came more fully awake that the dull depression he’d been living with was fading.
Luke waited in the hall, humming. It made him feel good somehow, which seemed weird. Still, he’d been used to being around other people for years. It felt nice, to know someone else was close.
He washed his hands and splashed his face. Luke poked his head in. “You want brownies? They’re fudgey and gooey.”
“I do. Thank you. They smell good.”
“Of course they do—they’re chocolate.” Luke gave him a wicked grin.
“Chocolate is a sign that the universe loves us.”
“I thought that was sex.”
“Sex is supposed to be less cool than chocolate.” He liked chocolate a lot.
“Says who?” Luke asked.
Greyson waved his hand about. “They do?”
“What matters is what you think. You can make your own mind up about things. You don’t have to follow anyone. Hells, not even me.”
“So if I wanted chocolate instead of sex?” Greyson asked.
“I’d pout, but I would also feed you chocolate.”
“I don’t think I can choose,” Greyson admitted.
“Tell you what, we’ll eat some brownies, and then fool around and you can tell me which is better.” He grinned.
Greyson had to laugh, leaning on Luke on the way to the kitchen. “One way or the other, it smells like heaven.”
“Oh, that’s not the chocolate—that’s me.” Luke winked at him.
“Now you’re telling me dragons smell heavenly.”
“Not dragons—me.”
He stopped and leaned in, sniffed, feeling so fucking daring. “Yes. It is you.”
Luke looked delighted, and he brought their mouths together for a kiss.
Luke smiled as their lips parted. “We should still have the brownies first, so that we are truly comparing them and the sex.”
“And because, hello! Brownies.”
Laughing, Luke pulled a couple of dessert plates down, setting them on the counter before cutting up the brownies.
Luke made two huge squares and Greyson cracked up. He’d be able to eat maybe half of that. Then Luke pulled some vanilla ice cream out of the freezer and put a big scoop on each piece, poured chocolate sauce over the whole deal, added whipped cream and topped both off with a cherry.
“Ta-da!”
He applauded. What else could he do? Seriously.
Luke grinned. “I’ll carry them out to the living room. You wrap your arm around my waist and keep using me like a crutch.”
“I’ll manage. You just go.” He could move slow.
“I was looking forward to the part where you were clinging to me for support.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Still, he took the assistance, because it felt good to touch.
Luke got him and the brownies to the living room. He set down the brownies, then helped Greyson to sit on the couch.
“Thank you.” He sat, trying not to collapse, going for graceful.
Luke handed him his brownie, then sat next to him, close, warm, so solid.
“It’s gorgeous. Thank you.” He scooped a fingerful of whipped cream up and sucked it off.
Luke groaned and he looked up to find Luke staring at his mouth.
“What? Was that rude? Do you want my cherry?”
Luke blinked at him. Twice. Then grinned, the look absolutely wicked. “I want all your cherries, Pet.”
“Be good now. Eat your brownie.”
“Hey, you started it.” Luke leaned in and licked at the corner of his mouth. “You had some cream.”
A shiver travelled up along his entire body.
Luke sat back, looking smug. “Eat your brownie.”
He scooped up another bite of whipped cream, then offered his finger over to Luke. Luke leaned in and wrapped his lips around Greyson’s finger, and began to suck.
His eyes rolled, his hips moving on the couch cushions, a low cry leaving him. This was more than he could bear. Luke’s teeth grazed his fingertips as Luke pulled.
“The brownie will keep, hmm?”
“Your ice cream will melt.”
“There’s plenty more ice cream.” Luke took his plate and put it back on the coffee table.
“It’ll be ruined.” He shifted closer, drawn to Luke’s heat.
“There’s more brownies in the pan and even more ice cream in the freezer.” Luke cupped his face, thumb stroking his lower lip, and he opened up, like Luke had pressed a button. “Can you sit in my lap?”
He wasn’t sure if he could manage that comfortably, but Luke was stroking his hip again, easing the pain.
“I’ll help you get in place,” Luke assured him.
“Okay. I trust you.” He felt Luke lift him, move him so gently, until he was straddling Luke’s thighs, face-to-face with him. He tensed, waiting for the deep, tearing pain, but it was a dull throb that eased as Luke’s heat soaked through him.
“That’s better, isn’t it?” Luke rubbed their cheeks together.
“Yes. Yes. Thank God.” He repeated the action, moving them together.
Luke met his gaze, looking intently at him. “Marking me.”
“I didn’t leave one, man. I promise.”
“With your scent, Pet. And it wasn’t a complaint.”
“Oh.” Odd, but sort of sensual.
Luke rubbed their cheeks together again, then added a quick kiss. It was so electric that he gasped. Luke took advantage of his open mouth, slipping his tongue inside and tasting him, and his cock stiffened in his sweats. He was going to become addicted to how Luke’s kisses made him feel, like they were ricocheting around inside his body, leaving pleasure behind.
Luke ran a hand down his body and rubbed him through his pants. That touch made him ache, deep in the pit of his belly.
“Pretty Pet.”
“Pretty, huh?” He didn’t believe that, but he loved to hear it.
“Yes, very.” Luke squeezed his cock through his sweats.
“Not really,” he denied.
“Yes. Yes, you are.” Luke squeezed him tighter this time.
His eyes crossed and he arched, rubbing on Luke’s thighs.
“Needy fucker,” Luke murmured.
“Is that bad?” he asked.
“Just the opposite—it’s really good.” Luke held on to his ass, fingers digging into his skin through the cloth. It ought to hurt, how he was sitting, where he was. It didn’t, though. It was like the rules for his body changed when Luke touched him.
Whatever worked. Whatever didn’t make him hurt so deep.
“You’re thinking too hard.” Luke kissed him, rocked them together like he was trying to change that.
No one had ever accused him of that before. Not ever.
Luke got him rocking, moving their bodies together, the drag of their clothing surprisingly rough. He blinked, then his eyelids dropped as he focused on their bodies.
“Naked would be better,” Luke growled, the sound sending shivers down Greyson’s spine.
He opened up his lips and begged another kiss.
Luke gave him the kiss he wanted. Luke’s tongue swept into his mouth, making the kiss deep and hot.
God, he couldn’t breathe for a second, couldn’t focus for longer than that. Luke didn’t seem to care, to notice, the kiss continuing, deepening, one of Luke’s hands cupping the back of his head and holding him, cradling him. The kiss comforted him as much as it aroused him.
He was bent back slightly, one of Luke’s arms supporting him so he didn’t feel in the least bit precarious. Luke had him.
His sweatshirt began to crawl up along his belly, slow and sure. As it revealed skin, Luke played his fingers over it, sending more tingles through him.
“I might shave you here, too,” Luke muttered.
Too? He didn’t remember agreeing to the one in the first place. Though Luke had more or less talked him into it.
“Be good, Dragon.”
Luke chuckled and it was sexy as hell. “Define good.”
“Good. You know, good with goodness.”
“But see, I think I’m being good. But if you’re telling me to be good, then you must think I’m not.”
“Okay.” That was a lot of words.
Luke kissed him again, hand reaching down to push into his sweats. When the strong, hot fingers closed, he arched, hips rolling toward Luke.
“Gonna shave down here, too. Gonna make you as bare as I am.”
He shook his head, because he knew better, but the words were hot as fuck. That laugh sounded again.
“I am. It’s a promise.”
He stopped arguing. It was wasting time when what he wanted was more kisses. He pressed their lips together and Luke took the hint, opening his mouth and delving into it again.
Luke didn’t stop tugging his short hairs, though, making him jerk and twitch. In the back of his mind, he couldn’t believe he didn’t hurt.
“I’m going to shave your face before I let you come.”
“What?” What the fresh hell kind of idea was that?
“Your skin is supersensitive. You’ll feel each stroke of the blade. It’s going to be great.”
He shook his head. “Stop it. I can’t think about that right now.”
Luke stood, keeping hold of him, carrying him down the hall to Luke’s room. Back to the en suite.
“I thought you were going to feed me brownies?”
“I will. Later. Once I know it won’t get caught in any facial hair.”
“I know how to eat.” He wasn’t even sure why he was protesting. He simply was.
“And you can eat after you’re shaved.” Luke set him down on the chair, then tugged on his beard.
“Don’t. That stings.” His cock was throbbing in his sweats, leaking with need.
“A little stinging never hurt anyone. But there you go—once it’s gone I can’t tug it anymore.” Luke chuckled at him, leaned in and nuzzled him. “I’m going to braid your hair and tug it for you, pull nice and slow, make you arch for me.”
He blinked, totally taken aback. “What?”
“You heard me, Pet.” Luke grabbed shaving supplies out of the cupboard under the sink.
“That’s not...” Men didn’t do that shit to each other, dammit.
“What’s not what?” Luke asked, grabbing the scissors and coming over, tilting his head back.
“You can’t.”
“But I am shaving you, so obviously I can. No moving now. I don’t want to hurt you.” Luke began to cut off his beard.
His heart pounded and he tensed, his hip aching, the muscles grinding.
“Breathe.”
He tried to catch his breath, but his chest hurt with confusion, tension, arousal.
“You’re mine,” Luke said, almost absently, the scissors cold against his skin.
A dull sense of panic began to creep into him, and then, suddenly Luke’s hand landed in the center of his chest. “It’s hair, Pet. Excitement, arousal, even anticipation. No fear.”
“I haven’t shaved since...” Since being injured.
“Then it’s good that we’re doing it today. That beard reminds you of what happened, every time you see it.”
“Everything reminds me.”
“I don’t.”
The words surprised him and he stared up at Luke. It was true.
Luke grabbed the soap and rubbed it between his fingers, then transferred the suds to Greyson’s face. “I don’t have a razor because I don’t need one, but my knife is very sharp and I know what I’m doing.”
“How, if you don’t need to...”
“Because I’m good with the knife. Even if I’d never shaved anyone with it. Do you think you can trust me?”
The man was a dragon, for fuck’s sake. A dragon. Let it happen and breathe.
“I do.”
“Good.” Luke tilted his head back, and drew the knife along his jaw, the sound of it scraping along his skin almost shockingly loud.
He forced himself not to move, not even to breathe.
Luke didn’t linger, moving quickly but carefully, and he could feel the air hitting his skin as it was bared.
“You look lovely, Pet. I intend to shave you daily.”
The things Luke said.
“Shh.”
“Nope. I’m not a chatterbox, and I won’t hush. Or stop baring you and keeping you that way.” Luke reached out, pinched one of his nipples hard enough his eyes crossed. “I like how my words make you react.”
He didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t doing it on purpose. He wasn’t doing anything on purpose. Hell, he wasn’t sure what it was he was supposed to do, if he were honest.
Luke put the knife down and grabbed a cloth. He ran it under the water, and then brought it back to him, running the hot terry over his face.
“Mmm. Look at you. So pretty.”
“I’m not pretty. I was a soldier.”
“And I’m a dragon, what’s that got to do with anything?” Luke stroked his face, fingers sliding along his skin.
“Nothing. Everything. I don’t know.” And that was the most honest he could be.
“You need to stop thinking so hard,” Luke informed him. “It’s interfering with your ability to experience pleasure.”
“You say that like it’s easy.”
“No, I know it’s not. But I’m here to help you with that.”
“Did you...did you mean to find me?” Had Luke known he was out there in the woods?
“We were meant to find each other—we were made for each other.”
“Did you know about me or was it an accident?”
Luke tilted his head. “I knew you existed in principle. It’s been a very long time and I guess I had given up ever finding you. I knew I had to come rescue you when I realized you were staying at the cottage but I didn’t know you were who you are.”
“Who am I?”
Luke paused again and it felt as if Luke was trying to decide if he could deal with the answer. Or maybe if he’d believe it.
“You are my soul mate.”
“No. No, you’re amazing.” He wasn’t going to let Luke even say that, no matter what those words meant.
“And so are you,” Luke insisted.
“Listen to me.” He touched Luke’s shoulder. “I’m fucked up. You understand me? It wasn’t that long ago you had to come to the cabin to feed my drunk ass and make sure I didn’t freeze to death.”
Luke growled, the sound deeper than what he’d heard from Luke before. “I don’t believe you’re fucked up in the first place. And I know how I found you, but you’re mine, warts and all. I’m no picnic in the park, either, trust me.”
He didn’t know what to say. He simply didn’t.
“I’m a grumpy asshole who doesn’t like people. You, on the other hand, are a handsome, recently shaved man who has spent a lot of time defending people.”
“My face is going to freeze.” He had to change the subject; he didn’t know what to do otherwise. He wasn’t used to being told he was handsome. Especially by someone as hot as Luke.
Luke leaned in and kissed him, lips warm against his cheek.
He sighed, the sensation sharp, surprising.
Then Luke licked, tongue dragging along his skin. “Mmm. Tasty.”
“You’re thinking of brownies.”
“No, I’m thinking of you.” Luke licked him again, then sucked on his jaw.
Greyson kept finding himself in the middle of nowhere, lost in Luke’s desire.
The sucking kisses followed his jawline to underneath his ear. Then Luke began to hum as well, the sound translating to vibrations that soaked into him. God, he loved those sounds, loved the way they buzzed against his bones.
As he licked and sucked and hummed, Luke also touched him, fingers moving slowly and lingering on his skin. He began to tingle, to ache from head to toe.
“This isn’t the right place for this, is it?” Luke stood and lifted him up again, carrying him out of the bathroom. “I want you in my bed, Pet.”
Somehow going to Luke’s bed made things seem so much more intimate, so much more real.
Luke sat him on the edge near the bottom of the bed, then pulled back the comforter, revealing a bunch of pillows at the head of the bed. The sheets were flannel and looked soft, inviting, and warm.
“Your bed, huh?” It looked like heaven.
Luke picked him up again, then laid him down with his head on the pillows and began to work off Greyson’s sweats. The sheets were every bit as comfortable as he’d imagined.
“Our bed.”
“Our bed.” Well, hell. He floated there and stared into the heat that was Luke’s gaze.
“That’s right.” Luke didn’t immediately follow him down onto the bed. Instead, Luke stood there and slowly undressed, pulling his clothes off but somehow never losing Greyson’s gaze.
“This is a dream, isn’t it?”
“Not that I know of.” Luke climbed on the bed, straddling his legs and slowly moving up.
“No? Good.” He didn’t want it to be. He wanted this to be real.
Luke put his hands on either side of Greyson’s head and slowly bent to bring their lips together. He exhaled, the connection between them strong enough to make him ache, deep in his bones.
Luke’s nostrils flared, like he was pulling in Greyson’s scent on the air, and he reached for Luke, stroking the lines of his angular jaw.
“I could kiss you for the rest of time,” Luke murmured against his lips before sliding those lips along his newly bared cheek.
Sweet words. And if Luke was right, if they were going to be together for the rest of time, he wished this had happened before he’d gotten hurt.
“I wasn’t joking, Pet. And I should get my wish, too.” Luke kissed him hard. “You are my soul mate, so you will be mine forever. Nobody else has the soul that matches mine.” Luke gave him a quick, hard hug. “Now, making love or more shaving?”
Like he could answer that. Seriously. He grabbed Luke behind the neck, tugging the big guy into a kiss.
Luke rocked against him, cock hard and leaking on his skin, leaving burning hot little lines that left him gasping.
It didn’t matter what part of Luke touched him, he felt it to his bones.
Damn, that was something else. Something he couldn’t quite comprehend.
Luke’s lips left his, moving again along his bare jaw, licking and nibbling, but very quickly moving to tease the skin on his neck, leaving little shivers behind. “Mine,” Luke whispered. “All mine.”
“Shh.” They’d known each other approximately thirty-five seconds, for fuck’s sake.
Luke grinned at him, looking smug as fuck. It was kind of annoying that it was as attractive on Luke as every other look.
He’d never found another man as attractive as he found Luke. It was...undeniable.
Luke licked his way down to Greyson’s right nipple. He breathed on it. Then breathed on it some more. The anticipation made his body tense, made his skin tighten. His nipples hardened as he continued to wait.
When Luke finally pounced, lips wrapping around his nipple, so hot, it felt enormous.
He cried out, the sound shocking him, the pressure making him shudder.
His reaction saw Luke begin to suck, tongue flicking back and forth across the tip of his nipple.
God, were guys even supposed to get off on that? Was that a thing?
Whether it was a thing or not, he totally was.
Then Luke bit and he howled, the sudden sharpness enough that he whimpered and twisted, caught by Luke’s teeth.
Luke grabbed his hips, pulling him in tighter and grinding their hips together as he didn’t let go of Greyson’s flesh.
“Aches.” And he couldn’t seem to breathe around the pressure.
Luke’s teeth closed over his nipple again, just the tip, all the while grinding against him.
Heat poured from him, shocking the hell out of him. Luke rumbled and let go of his nipple, moving down immediately to lap the come from his belly.
He watched, utterly stunned, as Luke lapped up every single drop, tongue dragging along his skin.
When Luke looked up, he smiled. “Mmm, you’re delicious.”
“You...” That had been the hottest thing in history.
“What about me, Pet?” Luke flicked his tongue across Greyson’s left nipple before rising all the way up and gazing down at him.
“This is insane. Really.” He couldn’t believe this was happening.
“I don’t think so. We’re two healthy, sexy males. And we’re soul mates, so we’re drawn to each other. We’ll make love a lot. Like a lot, a lot.”
“You think so?” He wasn’t so sure. Hell, he wasn’t sure about anything, except that he was comfortable here, in Luke’s bed. And the warmth of Luke’s body was doing wonders for his aches and pains.
“Yep, I do. You’re going to go through changes as your body adjusts to being mine. And a part of that is sex.”
He didn’t know what to think, but for now he’d go with it. He’d come and he was melted, goofy with pleasure.
Luke shifted against him, cock still hard.
“You want me to suck you?”
Luke made a noise. “There isn’t a man alive who’s going to say no to that, Pet.”
“I never have before,” he warned. “You’ll have to be patient.”
“You’ve got all the time in the world to get good at it.”
All winter, at any rate, but maybe that would be enough. “Then I want to try.”
“How about I lie on my side and you can scootch down and lie on your side as you do it?” Luke shifted off him, lying on his side, which gave Greyson an amazing view.
He eased down, diving under the blankets as he moved, kissing gingerly as he went. Luke stayed still, but he made noises, little hums and happy-sounding noises that told Greyson he was doing okay.
Okay, Greyson, he told himself. You can do this. The scent of Luke hit him and he breathed in deep, wanting more.
You can do this, a voice inside of his head told him, clear as day.
He gasped and grabbed Luke’s hips, trying to figure out what the hell was up with him. One of Luke’s hands moved over his head, petting him, and he looked up, meeting Luke’s gaze. The look on Luke’s face was need banked by tenderness. Luke’s fingers brushed over his newly bared cheeks, thumbs lingering on his lips. Greyson opened his mouth automatically, like it was the easiest thing on earth, and sucked on Luke’s thumb. If anyone had suggested this to him before, he would have snorted or rolled his eyes, but it felt surprisingly soothing, easing his nerves. He could do this.
He let go of Luke’s thumb and turned his head toward the thick cock. His tongue glided along the ridged tip of Luke’s cock, the head leaking and leaving a hint of salt on his tongue. Luke groaned for him, hips moving, sawing for a moment before settling again.
“Your tongue is electric.”
He pressed again. A fat drop of liquid appeared on the slit, like a pearl. He lapped it away, moaning deep in his chest as the flavor hit him.
“Killing me,” Luke muttered. “Don’t stop.”
He didn’t want to stop—Luke felt good in his mouth and tasted wonderful. One drop after another dripped from Luke’s cock. Greyson began to suck, pulling steadily. This was easy. He opened wide, taking Luke deeper, silently cheering at being able to do this.
Those amazing rumbles began again, and he sucked a little harder, grabbing Luke’s thighs and encouraging him to move.
“Making me feel so good.” Luke began to thrust gently.
Greyson was doing it. He was giving a blow job. Not only were his lips stretched around Luke’s girth, but he wanted more. He managed to take the heavy cockhead in, hands wrapping around the base of Luke’s cock. He’d never believed he’d be doing this one day and now here he was with Luke’s cock in his mouth and he was eager for it.
Luke’s noises continued to vibrate inside him, fill him up and make him ache.
Big hands wrapped around his head, holding him in place as Luke moved faster, pushing a little deeper. Greyson’s hold on Luke’s cock stopped Luke from going too deep, stopped him from taking too much.
“Harder, Pet, suck me harder.”
He nodded and pulled even harder, sucking for all he was worth.
“Fuck, yes.” Luke’s voice sounded twisted, rough. Raw with pleasure. And he’d done that.
A few more thrusts into his mouth and then he was flooded with salty liquid pouring out of Luke’s cock.
He choked a little, but he took most of it, swallowing convulsively.
“So good. So good, Pet. You feel so good.”
He sighed happily, beginning to clean Luke’s flesh.
“Fuck, yes. Such good instincts. Your body knows what to do.”
The words poured down over him, leaving him shivering in the covers. Luke combed his hand through Greyson’s hair, hand warm against his skull.
“Such a good pet, so giving, so warm.”
Luke went on, talking and murmuring, telling him how good he was, how sexy, how hot, how wonderful. It made him a little dizzy, and he rested his forehead on Luke’s hip.
A few moments later, Luke grabbed his arms and tugged him upward, their skin gliding together, rubbing. His entire focus was on Luke, on their connection.
On the pleasure they found.
When they were face-to-face again, Luke smiled at him, then brought their mouths together.
You taste like me.
The words echoed in his brain. So weird.
The kiss continued. Luke was making him feel so good. One hand found his scars, wrapped around his thigh, heating it. It should have hurt, but it didn’t. The heat simply felt good, burning sweetly.
“I wish you could touch me like that for days.”
“Who says I can’t?”
“Well, you have to eat. Work. Shower.”
“I suppose you’re right, but I’ll keep coming back to it.”
He would take Luke up on that.
Those big, warm hands began to squeeze and release, massaging him.
His eyelids got heavy, his world stilling as he focused on Luke.
“I love touching you,” Luke told him. “That’s never going to change.”
He didn’t know how to respond to that really. But the touches continued, keeping him from hurting.
“Thank you,” he whispered. “It feels so good.”
“That’s what I want to hear. It’s my job to make you feel good.”
“It’s your job to...do forest-rangery things.”
“Yes, that, too. But my most important job is you.”
He took a kiss, good and hard, a little zing zipping through him. Luke’s smile warmed him, and one big hand moved behind his head, holding him in place.
He felt daring and sensual, sexual and alive. It was heady and rather wonderful.
They continued to kiss, the covers keeping them warm and close, cocooned together. Luke kept stroking his cheeks, petting him, making him relax.
It was like they were in their own world, carefully wrapped away from the rest of the universe, and he intended to enjoy it for as long as he could.
Luke seemed to be of the same mind, taking his time and keeping it slow, keeping it easy and exciting at the same time.
Please, he prayed. Please let this winter last forever.
A voice answered him. Our winter together will.