Chapter Seven
Luke slipped into some clothes and left Grey sleeping in bed while he went to the office to check in. He made his report and checked the instruments, monitoring for storms or anything strange that might be out of place. Job done, he made his way to the kitchen to make breakfast.
Sleep and food and his touch were the best things for Grey. Those were what would heal his pet.
He found himself going over to watch Grey, again and again, fascinated by his pet’s form.
He loved the long hair and the now-youthful face. Without the beard, Grey appeared to have lost a dozen years.
The dark circles were gone now, too, leaving Grey looking rested and peaceful. Handsome.
He ate a piece of bacon, watching the rise and fall of Grey’s chest. Grey was dreaming again, about sand and explosions, and Luke reached out with his mind and hands, easing the pain.
Grey relaxed and curled toward him, the instinct warming Luke from the bottom of his toes. God, he was turning into a softie.
Lukas-meine.
That was him. He belonged to Grey. All of him. He was desperate for them to begin the soulbond, but he knew he needed to wait for Grey to be stronger. His soul mate needed more food, more sleep, more healing touches.
He slipped his hand down along Grey’s hip, caressing the scars. He traced them with his fingertips, humming as he began to push against them.
“They’re so bad,” Grey murmured. “You don’t have to touch them.”
“They’re a part of you. Besides, they’re not so bad.” They were improving all the time.
Grey was his for eternity, sent by the goddess. The power of their bond would heal his soul mate.
He wrapped his hands around Grey’s thighs, a low rumble building in his chest. His pet’s cock began to fill, the scent of need filling his nose.
He loved that, how his touch not only healed, but turned Grey on. He touched Grey’s balls with his little finger. The velvety sac drew up, wrinkling for him.
He chuckled, letting go of Grey’s thigh in favor of chasing Grey’s balls. He wrapped his fingers around them and tugged, pulling the sensitive testicles to the bottom of their sac.
He ran his finger back and forth over them, working his thumb behind them to rub at the smooth patch of skin behind.
Grey’s thighs spread the slightest bit. Leaning in, he blew on Grey’s hot flesh. He wanted to take Grey, to sink into that sweet, hot body and fill his pet to the brim.
His prick filled, the images in his head making him want, so very badly.
He wanted to do more than that, of course, but he needed to make love to Grey, to fill him with his seed. He needed to join them in the most intimate way possible, let their connection solidify.
Bending, he drew Grey’s cock into his mouth, licking at the head.
Grey began to make the most amazing little sounds, the desire immediate. Yes, that’s what he was looking for, what he wanted from his pet, that instinctual need and pleasure.
He sucked harder, rewarding Grey, reaching down to tap his finger against Grey’s virginal hole as he did.
Grey stopped, stiffened, so Luke tightened his lips and slapped his tongue back and forth across Grey’s slit. He pushed his tongue in slightly, and Grey gasped, sitting halfway up, eyes wide as saucers.
Lick. Tap. Lick. Tap. It didn’t take long before Grey wasn’t staying still at all.
He pulled off and smiled up at Grey. “It’s good, isn’t it?” He grabbed the lube, quickly slicking up his fingers.
Grey managed a few shaky nods. “I’ve never felt anything like it.”
No, Greyson wouldn’t have.
“Should I continue?”
“Fuck yes! Please.”
Grey’s quick answer made him smile and he reached back, rubbing his slick fingertip against Grey’s virginal hole. Grey froze, then slowly but surely, the rocking began again, and his finger rubbed along the wrinkled flesh of Grey’s opening. Lovely, sweet man.
Low, wanton moans came from Grey and when Luke took Grey’s cockhead back in his mouth, they got louder. “Oh good. Luke. Please.”
He rolled Grey’s balls with his free hand, and carefully breached Grey’s hole. Grey tightened around him, then his body seemed to be pulling Luke’s finger in. He knew Grey was running on instinct, letting his body dictate what he did next. Luke pushed his finger in deeper. He wanted to find that hidden gland that would make Grey scream.
He wriggled his finger around, searching...searching. There. He pegged it.
“Luke!” That was a mixture of awe and panic. “Oh God. Do it again.”
He hummed around Grey’s cock, then hit it again. This time Grey arched up, heels thrumming on the mattress.
He pulled off to grin at Grey, so pleased that he was able to make this good for Grey. He moved his finger faster, fucking Grey with it now, giving Grey more. “Somebody likes that.”
They were made for this. Made for it together. That was showing in every one of Grey’s needy reactions.
“I’ve never thought I’d be doing this...” Grey was panting, driving back frantically on Luke’s finger.
“Not ever? Are you sure? You’ve never thought about making love at all?”
“Shut up.”
That’s what he thought. Grey was, after all, human.
He was still smiling as he took Grey’s cock back in his mouth. He stopped so he could wrap his lips around the thick shaft, then began to suck once more. He tapped that little gland over and over.
He soon had Grey writhing for him, crying out with sheer desperation.
He pushed one arm beneath Grey’s ass, helping him to hump up and fuck his mouth. He wanted his pet’s seed inside him, wanted that taste in his mouth. Then he wanted to make his pet beg.
He encouraged each movement, working hard to drive Grey absolutely crazy with need. It didn’t take long before Grey’s cock pulsed and a low cry filled the air. Grey’s asshole clenched around his finger.
“Oh God. So good.” Grey shuddered as he spoke, hands moving to Luke’s shoulders, fingers wrapping around them.
Luke sucked Grey down, then began to lick at the hot, velvety flesh, cleaning it off and keeping Grey hard. He eased back on the taps to Grey’s gland, letting the intensity build slowly.
“Good morning, Pet,” he drawled.
“M-morning.” Grey blinked, nice and slow, looking like a man who’d just come. Looking blissful.
Leaning up, he brought their mouths together to share a kiss, still touching Grey deep inside, stroking his sweet lover.
He could feel Grey’s pleasure, flowing to him like a wave.
“It—it feels like electricity.”
“Good, eh?”
“It’s too big to be called good, Luke.”
He grinned and rubbed their noses together. “I like that. Kind of like me.”
“Uh...” Luke crooked his finger again. “Yes!”
“That’s better.” He laughed and hit Grey’s gland once again.
“We should stop before I die of pleasure.”
His pet hadn’t even begun to experience pleasure yet. He wrapped a hand around Grey’s still-hard cock, stroking slowly.
Grey’s eyes crossed, a low sound filling the air.
“There you go. See?”
“See...” Grey clenched around his finger, gripping tight.
“Close enough.” He wriggled his fingers harder. He wanted Grey to beg.
He needed it.
He kept stimulating Grey, waiting for it. He could see Grey’s body flush, hear the low, deep moans.
“Are you hungry, Pet?”
“Wh-what?”
“Do you need to eat or do you need more kissing and sex?”
“I’m not hungry.” Grey’s hole gripped him.
“Not for food,” he clarified, because Grey wanted him. There was no doubt about that.
“Not for food. I don’t want us to get up yet.”
“Sounds good to me.” He climbed into the bed properly, and lay down next to Grey, nuzzling their cheeks together.
Grey groaned for him, fingers combing through his short hair. He rubbed his cheek against Grey’s hand, eyes half-closed as pleasure shot through him.
“You’re amazing,” Grey whispered for him, the words brushing his lips.
“You’re not so bad yourself, you know.”
“I used to be fierce, a warrior. Now I’m not.” Grey clipped the words.
“It takes a hell of a lot of ferocity to come back from injuries like yours.”
Grey looked away, expression sad. “If they would have let me die, I would have.”
He growled. “But they didn’t and you didn’t. And you’re mine now, so everything else is moot.” He wasn’t letting Grey go.
“You have the best confidence. It’s a turn-on.”
He beamed at Grey. “Thank you. You have to know you turn me on, too.”
“Yeah. It’s cool.” Grey pinked for him, then blushed dark.
Smiling, he rubbed against Grey, letting him feel the heat of his cock.
“What do you want?”
“I want you. I want to sink into your body and feel you squeeze me tight. I want to come, to fill you, and begin the journey that will bond us as soul mates.”
Grey stiffened. “You won’t fit.”
“I will. You’ll stretch for me.” It would take time, but it would be the most pleasurable time Grey had had yet.
He could feel Grey’s curiosity, his hunger.
“There’s no timetable, Pet. We’ll do it when we’re both ready. There are so many other ways to find pleasure together.” He knew, though, that they would both be eager soon to seal the bond.
Grey reached for him, held him, a rush of joy coming from his lover. He held Grey tight, and brought their mouths together, slipping his tongue into Grey’s mouth. Grey began to suck, pulling at him.
He threw his leg over Grey’s, tugging Grey closer and rocking against him. His pet was as hard as he was, as wanton.
He teased a finger across one of Grey’s nipples, flicking it back and forth with the lightest of touches, awash in the little sparks of need his pet fed him.
He humped Grey’s hip, unable to stay still. He wanted to make love to his pet, but he could wait until Grey asked.
In the meantime, he could drive Grey crazy, bringing his boy tons of pleasure. Making Grey come over and over until he screamed.
He continued to kiss as he pinched one hard little nipple repeatedly. Grey began to shiver, his eyes rolling back in his head, deep cries filling the air.
Would Grey come for him from the kisses and the nipple stimulation alone?
Oh, he wanted to find out. He smiled against Grey’s lips, pulling those tiny, hard nips good and hard. Every time that Grey jerked and cried out, he smiled into their kisses. This was more fun than advertised.
Moving to the other nipple, he teased it gently, then with more force, fingers working.
“No more...” Grey whispered.
“Sorry to disappoint, Pet, but we’re nowhere near done.”
“I’m...” Grey’s voice dropped. “I’m aching, huh?”
He smiled and nodded, rubbing their noses together. “That’s the idea.”
“Is it?”
He loved the way Grey was beginning to trust in his answers.
“It is. You get to experience it, get to need and to come and to find so much pleasure.”
“Pleasure...” Grey kissed him again, shuddering as Luke’s fingers found those tight nipples and twisted.
“So much pleasure that you’re not going to be able to contain it.” He was going to make Grey come hard.
“Gonna be sore, though...” Grey started humping him, moaning into his lips.
“Yeah. Every time your sweater brushes your nipples you’ll gasp and ache and think of me.”
“I’ve never known anyone like you.”
“That’s hardly surprising, is it? I mean, I am a dragon, after all.”
“Right. Dragons must be different.”
“We are. You’re special, too, though. You’re a dragon’s soul mate.”
Grey stopped, met Luke’s eyes. “You’re sure about this? About me? I mean, really.”
“I’m absolutely sure. Can’t you feel it? At all?”
“I don’t want you to regret me.”
Like he would do that. Ever. “That’s not possible.” They were soul mates for life.
“I hope you’re right. I want you to be right.”
“I’m right.” He didn’t mean to sound arrogant, but so it was.
“Okay then. You can be right.”
“I like being right. I like having you here with me even more.”
“Thank you.” Grey leaned down and kissed him, once, twice, three times.
Luke loved that little taking charge. Of leading their loving. Luke wasn’t going to let it last long, but he was enjoying it for now. He opened up his mouth, offering Grey a chance to take more, and Grey leapt for it, tongue parting his lips.
He sucked on Grey’s tongue, keeping it easy. Grey began to rock into him again, a quiet happiness filling his brain through the bond.
Grey might be untutored, but he knew what he needed—at least his body did. Luke was taking it as a very good sign. So was his cock.
His fingers found those hard nips once more, plucking them, again and again. Grey jerked and shook his head, but he was pushing into the touches, too, begging for them wordlessly.
That was it. Want it. Want me.
He increased his attention to those sweet little nips. He wanted Grey to feel him long after they’d made love. Long after.
He kept the kisses going as he pinched and tugged, twisted and pulled.
He loved the way Grey jerked and rubbed on him, the movements clearly unconscious as Grey’s body took what it needed, what it craved. He replaced his fingers with his lips on one nipple, then pushed back between Grey’s thighs, finding that little hole again.
He teased, rubbing his finger back and forth across the sweet, wrinkled skin. It was hot and tight.
Grey cried out again and again, his legs moving restlessly.
“You want more, don’t you?” He murmured against Grey’s lips, meeting the man’s eyes. He wasn’t going to let Grey deny this, deny them.
“I do. I—” Grey stared at him. “I want your cock.”
Luke wanted to shout in triumph. “Good. That’s pretty fucking amazing.”
“Will you fit, though? I don’t think I can stretch that far. I want you, but I’ve hurt enough and I don’t want to hurt anymore.”
It broke his heart that Grey had experienced so much pain and he wished he could have been there to protect his soul mate from any harm. Now, though, now that Grey was with him, he could make sure there was no more pain. “You’d stretch that far and then even farther. I’m going to fit perfectly because you were made for me. And it’s not going to hurt.”
“So confident.” And Grey’s legs stayed open.
“I am about the things I know. And I know this.” He kept rubbing, touching that little spot.
“You... I know... This is...”
Sweet boy.
“Something you’ve never done. I know. We’re going to go slow and easy. You’re going to love it.”
“Slow and easy. You’ll stop if it’s bad?”
It wasn’t going to be bad. “I’ll stop if you tell me to.”
“That’s fair. I trust you.”
Luke hummed, something easing inside him. “Good. That should make you feel better. Put your mind at ease.” He didn’t want Grey worrying about things. He wanted Grey enjoying them.
“How do we do this? Should I be on hands and knees?” Grey sounded nervous, but determined. Luke wanted to turn that into joy.
“There’s a bunch of ways we can do it. I say let’s play it by ear. You can stay right where you are to start with—this is going to take some time.”
Grey relaxed a bit. “That’s a tough position for me, hands and knees.”
“We totally don’t need to do that today. Like I said, we’ve got options.” He ran his hand along Grey’s bad leg, feeling the heat between them. Eventually it wouldn’t be a problem.
“I love your touch. I feel you, all the way down.”
“That’s how it’s meant to be.” He grabbed the lube, then looked at Grey, right at him, square in the eyes. “I’m not going to use a condom, unless you object. I’m clean, though. No diseases. Dragons can’t make you sick.”
Grey thought about that. “Huh. Okay. Well, I’ve never been with anyone so I know I can’t make you sick.”
Luke smiled. “When my come goes inside you it is going to start to change you. It will bind us together.”
“I want you to make sure, Lukas-meine.” Grey held his eyes. “Please make sure you want me. I have problems.”
His pet honored him, so much, by trying to protect him, by believing in him.
“I am sure. Trust me, Pet. We have a very long time to make us work.” Forever, in fact.
“I do. I believe in you.”
“I know. And that’s the most amazing thing.” He could feel Grey’s belief like a blanket around his shoulders and it made him achingly hard. It made him need to bury himself deep inside his pet’s body.
He slicked up his fingers, rubbing one along Grey’s crack, touching his hole. Then he bent back to those tempting, tiny nipples. He wrapped his lips around one and began to suck.
When Grey bucked, he pressed two fingers inside his boy, loving the way Grey’s body tightened around him, like silk bindings.
Grey didn’t wince, didn’t look distressed. Excellent.
He wriggled his fingers around, feeling Grey deep inside. Grey whimpered for him, muscles fluttering against his touch. His cock jerked, anticipation making him eager to get to that stage, to feel that fluttering around his prick.
He was going to take his time, though. Open Grey slowly. He had a hunch he was going to have to keep reminding himself of that.
He could. He could, because his pet deserved his care, deserved love.
He pressed his fingers in farther, pushing as far as he could. Then he tugged them out again, beginning a gentle fingerfucking.
Grey’s low moan rocked him, shook him. There. There, Pet.
He vocalized in response, moving his finger faster. He wanted Grey to need, to be desperate for each new sensation, for each escalation.
Grey stilled, then his eyes flew open. “Love that sound.”
“This sound?” He vocalized again, a growl that wasn’t quite a groan or a moan. This was almost more a series of vibrations than an actual sound.
“Lukas!” The cry was wild, absolutely needy.
That set him to growling properly, sound and vibrations coming together this time. He moved his fingers faster, really giving it to Grey. Soon his pet would be ready for a third finger.
“I hear you.” Grey arched, beginning to meet his thrusts.
“I know you do. You do more than hear me with your ears, though. You hear me with your heart and your soul.” He loved moving with Grey, rubbing their pricks together as Grey moved into the penetration.
Grey nodded, fingers digging into his shoulders promising to leave marks. He liked that, loved it even. That Grey was leaving marks on his body. He wanted Grey to be possessive of him.
“More. Please. I need more.”
“Yes. I have so much more to give you.” He pulled his fingers out and made sure to lube them and their neighbor up, then he carefully worked all three into Grey’s hole, making it stretch for him.
Grey’s eyelids went heavy.
He growled again, pushing his fingers deep and searching for Grey’s prostate.
That earned him that wide-eyed cry, the loud, wanton moan.
He did it again, staying right there so he could keep nudging that spot. Grey began to tremble, to shake against him.
He brought their mouths together, offering his strength through their kisses. He had Grey. His pet simply needed to trust him.
Need. Need, please. It’s not enough. I need more. Please.
A shudder moved through him as Grey’s pleas filled his mind. Their connection was so strong and he revelled in it as much as the physical touches they shared.
“Easy, Pet. I won’t leave you hanging, but we’re taking it slow.” He spread his fingers wide and dragged them out of Grey’s body. Then he pushed them back in again, sending them deep.
“Oh...” Grey arched for him, nodded. “Yes.”
He alternated twisting with spreading wide, thrusting into Grey’s ass time and again. Everything he offered, Grey took.
His pet was open and eager, trusting him completely to make it good, to not hurt his fragile body. Together they were going to make Grey strong and teach him to take and to crave so much more.
He pulled his fingers out.
Grey shook his head. “Don’t go.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Pet. I’m right here.” He got more lube on his fingers before teasing two back into Grey’s sweet body.
Soon he wanted Grey wild, screaming and begging for more, but for now he stroked shallowly, letting his fingers spread apart to give Grey extra sensations.
Grey relaxed for him, eyelids heavy as he blinked nice and slow.
“That’s it. This is where you want to be—floating in pleasure. Before I’m done, though, you’ll be wild with it.”
Grey moaned in response, the sound soft and so very needy. This man had been neglecting his own needs for so many years. That stopped now.
Luke pushed his fingers in deeper, finding Grey’s gland again. He touched it several times in a row.
“I can’t...”
“I don’t want that word in your vocabulary, Pet.” If Grey needed something different or was troubled, he needed to use other words to express himself. Positive words. “You can do anything.”
“You’re driving me crazy.”
“You’re allowed to lose control—to drown in pleasure, you know?”
“No. That gets people hurt.” So serious, his pet.
“There’s nobody here to get hurt, just you and me.” And Grey couldn’t hurt him, while he wouldn’t allow his pet to be hurt.
“And you’re a dragon.”
“I am. I’ll protect you from everything.”
“Who protects you?”
“I’m a dragon, Pet. I don’t need protecting.”
Grey stopped, looked at him, very seriously. “If we’re going to do this, then we have each other’s backs. You understand?”
It moved him, deep down, that Grey wanted to protect him. “I understand. I wouldn’t trust anyone else to have my back.”
“I’m strong enough. I’m a soldier.”
“And stubborn enough.” He could see that in his boy. It was what had allowed Grey to survive what happened to him.
“No one will argue that point.”
“Good.” He pressed his fingers against Grey’s gland once more.
“Uhn.”
The single sound made him growl, and when Grey bore down again, he almost roared.
“So needy. It’s hard to imagine you thought you couldn’t have pleasure.”
“It wasn’t safe,” Grey bit out.
“Shh. Easy.” He stroked Grey’s hair, combing his fingers through it. “You’re safe now.” He licked the newly shaved skin of Grey’s cheek. “You’re safe and mine.”
A shudder went through Grey and Luke licked again before sliding his fingers back, then forward, touching off Grey’s sweet spot. He wanted Grey to come from this.
“Aches deep.”
He knew. And it would get worse. Or better. Depending on how you looked at it.
Grinning, he set to driving Grey to the brink, pushing his fingers deep over and over.
Grey reached for his cock, one hand wrapping around the shaft and squeezing hard.
Luke shook his head and grabbed Grey’s hand, pulling it off his cock. “No, that’s mine. I’ll do the touching here.”
“I need...”
“I know you do. I’m not going to leave you hanging. I may make you wait for it.”
“Touch me. Please. I need to shoot.”
“You want to shoot. Before I’m done you’re going to need to.” He ran his fingers along Grey’s cock, and kept thrusting against Grey’s prostate.
Grey began to jerk, rocking down on his fingers.
“That’s it, Pet. Take it. Take your pleasure.” He loved that Grey was being bolder, was accepting pleasure.
“More. I need...” Grey’s hole gripped him, held his fingers and squeezed.
“I’m going to make you come from this. There are so many ways to have pleasure. So many. And I’m going to show them all to you.”
“Okay. Yes. Make me. Please.”
There was almost a desperate note to Grey’s words and it made him rumble happily. His boy’s need was delicious.
“Love that sound.”
He rumbled again, for longer this time, letting Grey really hear him, letting him feel the bare sound.
Grey fluttered around his fingers, body milking him.
“That’s it. Let the pleasure have you.” He continued the stimulation, flooding Grey with sensation.
“Uh-huh...” Grey’s eyes closed, lips parting.
Cupping Grey’s balls, he nudged them, encouraging his pet to shoot.
“Oh...” Grey keened, the sound announcing a long, slow orgasm.
Liquid sprayed up over his hand, making him growl. “Very nice.” The smell was concentrated Grey.
Grey’s answer was a whimper. Luke nuzzled the man and took another kiss, his tongue lingering in Grey’s mouth.
“That was good, eh?” He knew damn well it had been so much better than good.
“Good.” Grey’s eyes rolled.
He spread a few kisses along Grey’s cheek, nuzzling the warm flesh.
“You...you need to come, huh? You want my hand?” Grey asked.
“I’ll take whatever you want to give me.” He loved so much how Grey was looking out for him.
“I want to give you everything.”
“I’d love your mouth, pet.” He could be patient, but he had loved feeling Grey’s mouth around his cock.
Grey nodded, the easy agreement suiting him to the bone.
He rubbed his hand along Grey’s cheek. “I’m a very lucky dragon.” He had an amazing man who was destined to be his soul mate.
“My dragon.” Grey leaned into the touch, the smooth skin like silk against his fingertips.
“That’s right. I am yours.” Every inch of him. And Grey accepted him for what he was. It only proved how special Grey was.
Grey smiled, staring into him. “Do you know how cool it is? To know you?”
“Most people wouldn’t think that. Of course, no one else would believe that I’m a dragon and you do.”
“Most people haven’t seen what I have.”
“You believed me before I showed you,” he pointed out.
“Yes, but I saw the monsters in the desert. I’ve seen glimpses of things no one else believes in.”
Luke knew damn well there were a lot of people who would have seen what Grey saw and managed somehow to pretend it was something perfectly normal, that it wasn’t what it really was.
“You’re special, Pet. Unbelievably so.”
“You said, when you made love to me, I would change. Change how?” Grey’s hand found his cock, fingers wrapping around it.
He groaned at the touch, spreading his legs slightly. “Your body will get stronger. You’re going to get very hungry and will need to eat a lot until things settle. And we’ll have to make love a lot to cement it.”
“Will it hurt?” Grey stroked him, base to tip.
“Fuck no. It’s going to be amazing.”
Grey laughed for him, the sound dripping down his spine and settling in his balls. He growled happily, hips pushing up into Grey’s hand. He loved how Grey’s palm felt around his cock.
“Tell me more, Dragon.” Oh, demanding.
“You want me to tell you how my seed is going to start the process? How making love and burying myself inside you is going to bond us?”
Grey’s fingers tightened, and the grip nearly stole Luke’s breath. “Uhn. Uh-huh.”
“That’s how it starts,” he managed to get out, when what really wanted out was a moan, was a growl. “Making love.” He did growl then, the sound rumbling up out of him for Grey.
Grey whimpered, gaze clinging to his, the air between them electric. Luke didn’t look away as he rolled his body, moving with Grey’s rhythm. He let his pet hear the sounds of his need, showed Grey how he felt with each new growl. Grey kept stroking, kept rolling his palm over Luke’s cockhead.
He bucked into that touch, letting his pet take the lead.
Grey swallowed. “You smell so good. So good.”
“I want you to think so.” It would be awkward if his mate thought he stank. He certainly loved how Grey smelled. Like sex and heat and pleasure. Like his.
Grey nodded, licking his lips as the strokes got faster.
“I want that tongue on my cock.”
“This one?” Grey stuck his tongue out and wiggled it.
He laughed. “You have another one I should know about?”
Oh, that happy laughter was the best thing, except for possibly the heat from Grey’s tongue on his slit.
He raised his hips, wanting more. Grey licked, again and again, dragging over his cockhead.
“Yes.” He hissed the word out, fingers opening and closing at his sides.
“This is right?” The quick licks came again.
“I don’t think you can do it wrong.” Maybe if teeth were used. On the other hand, a little judicious use of teeth could be hot, too.
The licks continued, tentative, but growing more and more sure.
He combed his fingers through Grey’s long hair, offering up more sounds to let Grey know how much he was enjoying the touches, the licks.
“When you change, you’ll crave me, crave sensations that only I can give you.” He was going to spend an eternity making Grey feel good, making him feel amazing.
Grey wrapped his lips around Luke’s cock again, the suction gentle and right. At this rate, he could last for hours and he smiled at the thought, watching Grey’s cheeks hollow out slightly.
“Have you ever looked at toys, Pet? Anything to fill your ass? Your cock? Pinch those sensitive little nipples?” He knew the answer was no, knew his boy had hidden this part of himself far, far away.
“Shh.” Grey sucked once, hard, the threat not too terribly worrying.
“You’re going to learn all about them. There’s a whole wonderful selection of toys and we can find them all on the internet.” He wasn’t ever going to hush.
He loved the feeling when Grey shook his head.
“Do that again,” he demanded, trying to push deeper into Grey’s mouth.
Grey’s lips left his cock with a pop. “Do what?”
“You shook your head and it felt good around me.” He pushed his thumb into Grey’s mouth, thumbfucked the pretty lips. Grey moved closer to him, sucking hard, head bobbing.
“Goddess! That is good. Amazing. Don’t stop now.”
His pet worked his thumb, sucking and licking, biting at him carefully.
“Yes! You see? Teeth work sometimes.” He grinned, then pulled his thumb out and grabbed Grey’s arms, tugging him up closer and taking Grey’s mouth.
It was time to take his pet, make Grey his. Grey’s kiss was pure hunger, and his pet was hard against him.
“I want you, Grey. I want to feel you all around me.”
“I believe in you. You won’t hurt me.”
“Not until you ask me to.”
Grey gave him a shocked look. He bet he’d see that look a lot over their years together and he’d enjoy every moment of teaching his pet everything.
“I don’t want to be hurt, Luke. I want to be loved.”
Luke nuzzled their cheeks together. “You always will be loved, Pet. And we’ll wait for time to tell us about the other one.” He eased Grey back, propping the sore legs up on pillows and spreading Grey wide.
“Mmm. Look at you.” He leaned down and ran his nose along Grey’s cock, breathing in deeply. Fuck, he could get used to this scent. He planned to. “Everything will change after this. Everything.”
He met Grey’s gaze. He wanted to be sure that Grey understood he wasn’t talking in metaphors, he meant this.
“Everything’s already changed. I’m all in now.”
“Good.” He kissed the tip of Grey’s cock, then dragged his tongue all the way down the thick flesh.
“What do you want me to do?” Grey asked.
“I’m going to open you up again and make sure you’re nice and wet. And then I’m going to lay you on your side and I’m going to join us. All you need to do is enjoy it.”
Grey reached out for him. “I don’t want you to think I’m selfish.”
“And why would I think that?”
“Because I’m just lying here and enjoying it.”
“I might be a little more active than you are, but trust me, I’ll be enjoying it, too.”
Grey cupped his cheeks, thumbs rubbing his lips, caressing him. He chased Grey’s thumbs, tongue chasing the salty skin.
Mine. Mine. Mine. Soon Greyson would hear him. Soon no one would be able to take them apart. No one would be able to separate them.
Hell, no one could separate them now. Not unless they killed him.
The thought had him growling, his vocalization a warning. He would not allow it. He would not be separated.
“What, Lukas-meine? What’s wrong?”
His pet was so very sensitive to him already.
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
“Are you sure? Do you not want...? We don’t have to. We can wait.”
“I don’t want to wait to bond with you. I’m already attached, Pet. I had a stray thought about losing you and I didn’t like it.”
“No losing me. You just found me.”
“I agree. I just found you and I’m not letting you go. Not ever.” He was growling again, he knew it, but he couldn’t control it.
“Good. Come on.” Grey leaned up and kissed him, hard.
“You want this.” How amazing was that? Grey recognized and wanted the bond, too.
“I want to know and not be worried.”
He stroked Grey’s cheek. “I’m not going to hurt you. I am going to begin the bond, make it come to life.”
They could explore Grey’s need for more, for the darker side of their games, in the future.
Now, they simply needed to make love. And to do it as gently as possible.
Gently and immediately.
He pressed kisses over Grey’s face as he slicked his fingers once more. The sweet, tight ring of muscles fought his touch, but only for a moment. Then he had three fingers buried deep, stretching Grey’s hole for him.
His pet began to cry out, sounds filling the air as he pushed and stretched. He wasn’t going to rush this, needing Grey to be completely open to him.
It took a bit of working, but soon enough Grey was pushing back against his touch.
“That’s it, Pet. Find your pleasure.”
Grey nodded, shook his head, then chuckled, the sound husky. “Mixing me up.”
“This isn’t about anything but pleasure.” He wanted to make it good for Grey.
“Feels like it’s momentous.”
“It is. But every moment with us is. The little ones as well as the big ones. You’re already my soul mate, Grey. This is moving forward with that.” He wanted Grey’s full focus always.
“Yes.” Grey gripped him tighter. “Yes, Luke.”
He pressed his fingers in deeper, pushing them against that spot inside Grey, and Grey’s toes curled and his pet reached for him, grabbed his shoulders.
“So good, isn’t it?” He swore he could feel an echo of Grey’s pleasure inside himself. “I’m going to make you fly, I promise.”
“Promise.” Grey nodded. “Come on. I’m ready.”
“Impatient man.” He loved it. It hadn’t been long ago at all that Grey had never kissed another man, had never come with another man, and now he was eager for this joining, wanting it. “We’ll wait until I’m sure you’re absolutely ready, though.”
The groan that filled the air made his balls ache, but he had no intention of letting Grey push him. He was in charge here.
He continued to press his fingertips against Grey’s gland, working that little spot.
“I’m ready, dammit!”
“But I’m not.” He was savouring this, taking his time. For Grey, but also for himself. He wanted to be able to remember this, tomorrow, next year, in a thousand years.
Grey growled at him, pushed up and kissed him hard enough to shock him. He let it freeze him for a moment, before taking over the kiss, plunging his tongue into Grey’s mouth and fucking it hard. He didn’t hold back, didn’t allow for Grey’s innocence. His pet asked for it, he would give it.
He continued to push, waiting until he felt that Grey was as ramped up as he could be, then he pulled his fingers out of Grey’s wonderful heat.
“No!” Grey cried out for him, eyes wild. “Please, no.”
“Easy, easy, Pet. I need to slick up my cock and then I’ll be filling you like you need.”
He settled one hand on Grey’s belly, holding his pet down.
“Take a few breaths. It’s going to happen, but it’ll be better if you’re not all tense. Now shift to your side and I’ll spoon up behind you.” He rubbed the skin beneath his fingers, stroking the lovely, warm flesh.
He helped Grey move, helped his pet settle on one side, that leg propped. He stroked a line along Grey’s side, from his ribs down to his thighs.
“Ready, Pet? Ready to join with me?” He leaned in and whispered into Grey’s ear. “Ready to ride the dragon?”
Grey’s answer was low.
“Yes, Lukas-meine.”
Humming, he slicked himself up, then pressed up along Grey’s back, rubbing his cock along Grey’s crack.
Grey tensed, breath catching in his chest.
“Shh. Relax. It’ll be easier if you do.” He worked his hand around to rub Grey’s belly and continued to rock, letting Grey get used to feeling his prick.
“Trying.” Grey took a few shaky breaths, fighting to give in.
Luke brought his hand to Grey’s ass again and pushed a single finger into Grey’s opening, fucking carefully. A friendly reminder that Grey enjoyed the penetration. He knew this was so beyond Grey’s experience, and it was important Grey stay out of his head and let his body guide him.
He growled, and Grey moaned, almost calling for him. It made him vocalize some more as he added another finger and pushed both deep enough to touch off Grey’s gland. That had Grey crying out and bucking back against him. That was it. Grey needed to remember this was good and he wanted Luke to make it even better.
He touched Grey deep inside a few more times, and when he pulled his fingers all the way out, Grey whimpered, ass pushing toward him in a clear invitation. Luke grabbed his cock and guided it to Grey’s hole, and this time Grey only tensed the tiniest bit before relaxing for him, pushing back again. Luke followed Grey’s movements and pushed against that little hole.
It was so tight and so hot and one of the most perfect things he’d ever felt when Grey opened for him, almost pulling the head of his cock in.
“Mine.” He growled the single word, loving how Grey shivered for him. Loving how he felt that around his cockhead. “Goddess, you’re tight. Feels so good.” He rocked forward, pushing in a little farther.
“Full. Oh God. You’re so big.”
“I am. I’m taking it slowly, though. I’m not going to hurt you.” That was the opposite of what he intended for Grey.
“No. No, it doesn’t hurt. Just...full.”
“You’ll learn to crave that feeling.” He already was addicted to Grey’s heat, the tight squeeze of his ass. Luke rocked, pulling most of the way out, then pushing in a little deeper. Grey’s body fluttered around his shaft, the muscles working him, encouraging him.
He found a gentle rhythm, moving a little deeper with each push. Once or twice he came all the way out on his backstroke, so they could share the incredible sensation of Grey’s body opening up around him again.
He nosed the curve of Grey’s shoulder, the line of his pet’s neck. Breathing deeply, he took Grey’s scent in. He’d never thought he’d enjoy smelling someone as much as he did Grey.
The urge to bite the unmarked skin was huge, to brand Grey as his own. He kissed his way down the side of Grey’s neck, then back up again to Grey’s ear. Then he took the same path once more, this time grazing the skin lightly with his teeth.
He felt Grey’s desire all around his cock, the grip like a vise.
“Making me need,” he told Grey. “You’re tight and hot and feel so wonderful around me.” He wanted to come, wanted to drive faster so they could get there. At the same time, he didn’t want it to end. Coming was not the point of this; being inside Grey, being connected like this was.
“Feel you everywhere. Everywhere. Fuck.”
“Uh-huh. Yes.” He nodded, too. There wasn’t enough agreement in the world. He felt Grey tight around his cock, hot against his body, and like a strong thread in his soul. He wanted more of that. He wanted a lot more of it.
“Need you. More. More, Luke. I want more.”
It didn’t escape him that Grey’s words echoed his own thoughts.
“I’ll give you more.” Luke suspected he would give Grey anything he asked for. This was not usual for him. He didn’t care. He rocked in deeper, moving faster, too, so their bodies became noisy, slapping together every time his hips met Grey’s ass.
In a singular motion, he reached around Grey to palm the needy cock and bit down on the curve of his pet’s shoulder. Grey cried out for him, bucking into his hand and arching at the same time.
Rumbling, he worried the bite a moment longer, then let Grey’s skin go so he could lick it, soothe the sting.
“Oh fuck me. That was so hot.”
“The pain or that I’m marking you? Or both?” His best guess was the latter of the three options.
Grey shook his head, moaning for him.
That was okay. He didn’t need Grey to admit to anything right now. He only needed to encourage the bond. And to love on his pet.
He began to stroke, base to tip, long, easy strokes that matched his thrusts. Grey responded beautifully, ass tightening around his cock, milking him rhythmically.
“Perfect, Pet.” There was no reason to be stingy with his praise. Grey responded to him like a dream.
The sheath around his cock tightened further.
“Never felt anything like you.”
“Never,” Grey agreed. “God. Never.”
He sped up, pushing in harder and squeezing Grey’s cock to give him more sensation. He curled his thumb around to rub across the tip of Grey’s erection, nail digging into the slit, the slightest bit.
Grey tightened around him like a fist, then a sharp cry filled the air as seed splattered over his fingers.
Breathing in deeply to pull Grey’s scent in, he continued to stroke, hoping to extend Grey’s orgasm, to keep the sweet prick hard and needy for him. It worked, too. Grey’s arousal never flagged.
He rolled them slightly, angling Grey a little more into the mattress. Then he found a new rhythm, one that drove him into his pet over and over.
“Yes...” The whisper echoed in his brain, so big.
He shifted slightly again and this time when he pushed in deep, Grey called out to him, letting him know he’d found Grey’s prostate with his cock. That was where he wanted to be and he stayed right there, hitting it with every push in.
Grey met him, thrust after thrust, driving back toward him, heedless of his injuries. Luke kept hold of Grey’s cock, letting Grey’s own movements slide it along his palm.
“So hot. You make me need.” Luke wasn’t usually very talkative during sex, but Grey deserved to know. Grey needed to know.
“Good. I need you. Like breathing. Already.”
“We’ve only broken the surface, Grey. It’s only going to get better. It’s so much bigger than this.” And that was a promise. Already his pre-come was leaking into Grey’s body, making him stronger, increasing his need.
“I accept. Better. Bigger. I accept.”
“You are the bravest man I have ever known.” Accepting him at his word that he was a dragon. Being willing to jump into his destiny feetfirst despite everything that had happened to him and after hiding for so long. Luke knew there was the possibility he was somewhat biased, but Grey was an amazing man.
Grey was his amazing man. For an eternity.
The thought was enough to bring his need to a head and he thrust in harder. “Soon,” he warned, hips jerking now instead of smooth. He wasn’t going to be able to hold on much longer.
Grey nodded, slamming back against him, demanding more.
“You come with me again, Pet.” It would be better if they both came during this. If they could connect that deeply. He rubbed his thumb across the tip of Grey’s cock, even as his own cockhead banged up against Grey’s gland. He managed a few more jerks and squeezes and rubs before he shouted out. “Now! Now, Grey!”
He felt more than heard Grey’s agreement, the “yes” ringing through his whole body.
They came together, as if his come pushing into Grey’s body didn’t leave any room for the spunk in Grey’s balls and it shot out of him. He felt Grey milking his cock, making his orgasm go on, several more small spurts leaving his cock.
“Oh.” Greyson melted into the sheets.
He stayed buried inside Grey, and held on. “I have you,” he said quietly. From now until the end of time.
* * *
Greyson was flying.
Flying.
He laughed. The clouds soared past him so fast that they seemed to explode as he crashed through them.
He was so warm, too, as heat poured from the dragon beneath him.
“Yes!” He stood up, letting the air buffet him.
He wasn’t hurting or worried—he was free as a bird soaring through the air. He opened his arms and let himself go. He didn’t fall. The air was keeping him afloat, updrafts and downdrafts sending him twisting and twirling.
Luke! Luke, we’re flying! Can you see me?
More warmth wrapped around him, Luke with him. Dreaming with you, Pet.
It could be a dream. He didn’t mind. Good.
Luke’s laughter was deep and heartfelt, and he bounced through the air as it rang out all around him.
He stretched up tall, luxuriating in the deep ache that filled him. Long, warm licks teased over his shoulders, his neck.
“Luke?” He wasn’t sure if he was sleeping or awake.
“Mmhmm?” Luke rubbed against him, all hot, smooth skin.
“Am I awake?”
“You sound awake to me. You were dreaming a moment ago, though. Such lighthearted laughter. It was lovely.”
“I was. We were flying together.”
“We’ll have to do the real thing soon. When the storms have passed. When you’re stronger we’ll go out during a blizzard. There’s nothing like it.”
“When I’m strong, maybe. If my legs get better.”
Luke touched his leg, palm warm as it moved over his scars, his poor muscles. The touch felt so good. “They’ll get better.”
Honestly, they weren’t nearly as bad as they had been even a couple days ago. Luke’s constant attention seemed to have loosened the knots.
Maybe it was breaking down the scar tissue; maybe it was magic. Hey, Luke was a fucking dragon—there were stranger things in the universe than his scars being magically healed.
“How are you feeling?” Luke asked. “Any different?”
“I feel...happy. I didn’t have a nightmare.”
“So, yes, different already.” Luke nuzzled into his neck, breath teasing his skin.
“Uh-huh.” And he was starving, but the stubborn part of him refused to acknowledge that. Even if his belly did rumble loudly.
Luke slid a single warm hand along his belly. “You’re hungry. Luckily I have a freezer full of meat.”
“I won’t take more than I need.”
“You’re going to need a lot.” Luke didn’t sound concerned. “If we eat everything before we can get into town for supplies, I’ll go hunting. I’m pretty handy against a deer or elk.”
“I am, too.” If he had to be.
“I imagine you are. I might have a wing or two up on you in this area, though.”
“Yes. I’m so jealous. Those wings are the most wonderful things.”
“You can fly with me anytime you want. All you have to do is ask.” Luke’s hands wandered his body, touching his nipples, his belly, teasing across his cock.
“When my legs are better.”
Luke pinched one nipple, tugging it hard. He gasped, pushing into that touch.
“Your legs are already better than when I found you in that so-called cabin.”
“Uh-huh.” Do that again.
“What? This?” Luke took his nipple between two fingers and tugged it away from his chest, stretching the skin and making it ache in the best way.
“I—I didn’t say anything.”
“I heard you, though.” Luke let go of his nipple, and moved to treat the other one the same way.
Oh fuck, that burned so good. He wanted to pull away and push closer, all at the same time. Luke did it for him, letting his nipple go, then pulling it out again.
His stomach growled again and Luke chuckled. “I need to get you fed.”
“I could eat.” He rubbed his nipples, trying to soothe them.
“Stop that.” Luke took his hands and held them. “Enjoy the ache.”
“I want to touch them.”
Luke had the strangest ideas.
“You want to gentle the ache,” Luke countered.
“Well, yeah.” Was he missing something?
“I want you to feel the ache. So if you’re going to pinch your nipples, go ahead. But if you’re not, I don’t want you touching.”
That didn’t make sense. He wasn’t feeling like arguing the point, not right now, but it didn’t track.
Luke pinched and tugged both nipples again, then petted his hip. “Let’s go see what I can rummage up to eat. You like steak and garlic bread?”
“I haven’t had a steak in months...” And it sounded like heaven.
“Then you are long overdue.” Luke got out of bed and stretched, arms reaching up. All those lovely muscles were put on display for a moment. “And I love that you didn’t say that you can’t have steak and garlic bread for breakfast.”
“We’re adults, huh? We can have whatever turns us on.”
“Absolutely. Of course, if I had what turned me on, I’d be eating you.” Luke gave him a wink as he pulled on some sweats.
He rolled his eyes, finding a pair of sweats as well. It seemed easier today, putting them on.
He felt Luke’s admiring gaze on him, heavy like a touch. When he looked up, sure enough, Luke was checking him out.
“Like what you see?” He felt stupid asking, but...
“I do.” Luke stepped closer and cupped his ass, hand hot through the sweats.
The touch made him ache, deep within, a secret, hidden throb.
“Come on,” Luke said, voice growly. “Let’s get you fed.”
“Uh-huh.” Fed. He was all over that.
He followed Luke into the kitchen, where Luke pulled a couple of huge steaks out of the fridge. “Remind me to take more out of the freezer to defrost later.”
“Sure.” Although he was pretty easy. He could eat army rations.
There was a grill component on the stove and Luke seasoned the steaks and stuck them on the grill. Then he took bread out and began to slather butter on it. “You want to chop up some garlic for me? There should be some in that hanging basket by the window.”
“Sure. No problem.” He started chopping, then stopped and stared. “Man, look at the snow.”
“This is nothing. Wait until we have a real blizzard. You like playing in the snow?” Luke turned the steaks, then threw a pat of butter on top of each.
“I do. Yeah. I used to snowshoe, ski, all that.”
“For pleasure or for the job?” Luke grabbed plates and utensils.
“Just for fun. I was stationed in the desert, and besides, I was a grunt. Nothing important. Just another cog in the wheel.” Everyone in the service was replaceable. No one wanted to hear that, but it was true.
“A cog that was out there peacekeeping. I’m proud of the work you did, Pet.”
“Thank you. I am, too. I was trying to make things better.”
“I bet you did, too.” Luke took the garlic he’d chopped, spread it over the bread and put that in the oven.
Greyson had to admit, the smell of food was bringing his hunger to the forefront.
“That smells good.” He moved closer to Luke, like his dragon was a sun that he was orbiting.
Luke put an arm around his shoulders, bringing him in closer. Luke was warm, and it felt so good.
“I have to keep you fed now that we’re bonding.”
“Okay.” Kiss me.
Luke bent and brought their mouths together, lips on his.
Oh, he liked that. It felt so right, connecting like this.
Luke leaned back on the counter, drawing him to rest hard against the strong body. The ease with which Luke held him was a testament to the strength of the man. The fact that Luke cared for him, made things easier for him, spoke of his gentleness.
He reached up and cupped Luke’s jaw, holding on.
This was magic.
It is magic.
Luke continued to kiss him, the words echoing in his head.
He gasped, eyes searching Luke’s. Was that you?
Who else would it be, Pet? I’m your soul mate, no one else.
Okay, weird. How much can you hear?
Strong thoughts. Anything directed at me. It’s new. It’s the bond. Luke stroked his back, soothing him. It was almost like contact with Luke was a drug.
Say something out loud. So he knew this was really Luke and not...someone else.
“What do you want me to say?” Luke asked, smiling down at him.
“That worked. Did you know that was a thing?”
“I knew it might be a thing. There’s lore associated with soul mates.” Luke checked the oven and rescued the garlic bread, the surface nice and crispy looking, and shining from the butter.
“Lore? No one’s done it before?” That seemed unlikely.
“Sure they have, but we don’t exactly spend a lot of time together. Deke and Jake are both pretty newly soul mated and we haven’t discussed a lot of the specifics. My brother Mark was in pretty deep with a soul mate—we hardly ever saw him after the bond.” A shadow crossed Luke’s face. “The guy was killed. Mark was decimated.”
“Oh.” Dude. That was...shitty. “I’ve already proven the landmine couldn’t kill me. I think you’re safe.”
“My soul mate comes in extra tough.” Luke touched his cheek, fingers so careful. “I like it. I’m not letting any murderous bastards near you, either.” Luke shook his head. “No, that wasn’t fair. Mark wasn’t at fault. And it really did damn near kill him. Nobody talks about it around him and out of all of us, he’s the one with experience.”
“Well, I’m sorry that happened to him. That sucks.”
“It does. It was awful for a lot of years.”
“This whole thing is fascinating—you and your brothers. Dragons and soul mates. Are there legends? Is there a book or something?”
Luke shrugged. “I’m not sure there’s anything concrete anywhere. It all seems to be rumours and stories.”
“Someone should track everything down. Make an archive or something.”
“It’s not a bad idea.” Luke touched the steaks, then took them off the grill. “Caught ’em before they went too far. You’re okay without vegetables, right? We’ve only got frozen and canned, so they aren’t my favorite.”
“That’s cool. I’ll get plates.” He eased up, balanced and realized he didn’t have his crutches.
He’d left the bedroom without even thinking to grab them. He’d come into the kitchen and stood at the counter, cutting up garlic. He looked down at his legs as if he expected them to suddenly give out from under him.
“Easy, Pet. I told you.”
“I stepped on a landmine! You don’t get fixed from that!”
“You were already feeling better before I sealed the bond by coming inside you. Now things will work faster. You’re changing. That’s why you need to eat a lot—your body is working hard.” Luke dished up the huge steaks and added the garlic bread to the plates. “Let’s sit. We can talk over breakfast.”
He nodded, but he didn’t move. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t focus.
Luke put the plates on the little table, then came back to him, and put a hand on his back. “Greyson.” His name was a growl turned into a word.
“I—” He shook a second, then looked to Luke. He couldn’t breathe.
Luke cupped his face in both hands and pressed their mouths together. Air flooded into his lungs. “Better?” Luke asked, staring into him.
He nodded. Blinked. “Yeah. Yeah, better.”
“Good.” Luke picked him up, wrapped those strong arms around his body and lifted him up off the floor. He was carried over to the table and set back down onto his feet next to one of the chairs. “You need to eat. I’ll keep saying it until you do.”
“Okay. I’ll let you.”
“You need to eat.” Luke handed him a fork and a knife.
“Thank you. I just...”
“Eat, Pet. Now.”
The steak and garlic bread did look and smell amazing and his stomach snarled at him, adding its own voice to the demands for him to eat.
He took a bite, so hungry he was almost nauseated, then he started to feast. It was only when he was about three-quarters of the way through the steak—and he hadn’t eaten so much at one sitting in a very long time—that he realized Luke had already finished his and was watching him like he was the most fascinating thing Luke had ever seen.
“Sorry. Sorry. I was being rude, eh?”
“Were you? How so?” Luke asked.
“Not stopping to chat?”
Luke snorted. “I told you to eat and you ate. Finish your plate and I’ll get us something for dessert. There’s a bunch in the freezer. Cheesecake, crumbles, layer cakes, cream puffs, ice cream. What’s your pleasure?”
“I don’t think... You made brownies. Let’s eat those.” God, he was starving.
“That’s right, I did. We’ll have ice cream with them. You finish that up and I’ll get the dessert plated. Unless you want another steak or more garlic bread first?”
“No. No, I’m going to bust if I keep going.”
“I doubt it. You needed to eat more even before I came inside you. Now your body is going to need a lot more to keep up.” Luke touched his cheek. “I like watching you eat.”
He leaned into the touch and closed his eyes, luxuriating in it. A low rumble came from Luke, making him shiver deep inside. He loved the sounds Luke made—loved them.
“I could lose myself in you,” Luke murmured before kissing Greyson. “Hold that thought for after dessert and we can see who tastes better with ice cream on their lips.”
Luke gave him another quick peck, then moved into the kitchen to pull down bowls and grab the brownies, then the ice cream from the freezer. “You’re going to have to tell me what all your favorite foods are so I can make you wonderful meals. And so I know what to add to the order when the snow thaws.”
“I like food. I guess my favorite is chicken parm, but I like most things.”
“Chicken parm is the one with the crumb coating, tomato sauce and cheese, right?” Luke dished up the brownies and added ice cream to both their bowls before putting the container back in the freezer.
“Uh-huh.” He finished the steak, then carefully walked the plates to the sink. Without his crutches and without falling. He wasn’t going to think about that too much right now, because it freaked him out a little if he did.
Luke set a spoon in each of the dessert bowls before handing one to him. “How about we sit on the sofa? We could see if the satellite is working and if it isn’t we could watch a movie. Or we could talk. I know you have questions.”
“The sofa sounds fine.” Did he have questions or were they more concerns?
“Good. I like being both comfy and close enough to hold you.” Luke led the way to the sofa.
He followed, feeling a little less steady this time, like he was getting tired now. He made it, though, dropping down next to Luke. Luke’s arm immediately went around his shoulders. It felt warm, heavy and right.
They ate, both of them, and the ice cream made him shiver. Luke grabbed a blanket from the arm of the couch and settled it around his legs, then tugged him closer. The man’s heat was unending and it poured over him. He wanted to drown in it.
Luke set his bowl on the coffee table when he was done, and when Greyson finished his a few seconds later, Luke put it on the table, too. Then Luke drew Greyson onto his lap, cradling him. “Now you’re where you belong.”
He couldn’t argue that fact. He was perfectly comfortable, settled, and happy. “That I am, Dragon.”
Luke rumbled, and it vibrated against him where they touched, almost making him a part of the sensual noise.
He hummed, trying to match the sound. “You make me feel good, man.”
“I want to. It’s important to me that you’re happy, satisfied, settled.” Luke rumbled again as he stroked Greyson’s back.
“Is it?”
“Of course it is!” Luke replied immediately.
“It’s just... Well, you didn’t get to choose me as your soul mate. I was thrust upon you, so to speak.”
“I prefer to look at it as you were gifted to me. The perfect mate created for me. I’m very happy that you are finally here in my life.” Luke sounded pretty sure.
“Okay.” Greyson could accept that answer. Luke didn’t strike him as the kind of guy to make shit like that up. In fact, he was pretty damn sure Luke wouldn’t. He closed his eyes, enjoying their closeness.
“I could love on you some more,” Luke suggested. “I want to do that forever.”
“Don’t you have to work?” Greyson was on disability, but Luke wasn’t.
“I do have to patrol once a day, and there’s more to do in the summer, too. And we need to break to eat, bathe, etc. I still want to love on you forever. Just because I’m not doing it, doesn’t mean you’re not always on my mind. You should know I’m always thinking about you.”
He leaned in, his cheeks burning. Luke bent and brought their mouths together, lips soft against his. The kiss stayed light, easy, but he could feel the promise of more right there.
Luke reached down, cupping his hip, one thumb drawing lazy circles on his skin.
“You wanted to talk, right?” Luke murmured against his lips. “I’m happy to, but I have to admit to being easily distracted. I’m trying to be good, though. I really am.”
“Did I? I think I wanted to ignore everything.”
“I can help you with that endeavor,” Luke noted, then rubbed their noses together. “As long as I’m not included in the ‘everything’.”
“You make me smile, man.” He shook his head, rubbing noses again.
“I do more than make you smile.” Luke cupped his ass and shifted him so he was straddling the strong body instead of curling up against it. Then Luke brought one hand around and rubbed his growing cock through his sweats.
“I can’t straddle anymore...” He spoke the words automatically, but not only was he doing it, it wasn’t the first time since coming here.
“Shh. Don’t worry so much about what you can’t do. I’m loving on you—you should love on me and that’s all that’s important.”
“Right.” There was something addictive about this whole dragon thing.
“Don’t stress the changes, rejoice in them. We’ll be together forever, you know? That’s a long time to get used to things.”
“You know that I’m only human. I don’t have forever. I have until I get old.”
“I told you that your body was going to be changing. Part of that is long life.”
“That’s scary, Luke.” Nobody wanted to live forever. Not really. Right?
Luke gave him a surprised look. “I thought everyone wanted to live forever?”
“Do they? How many wars have you seen? How awful has it been? How old are you?” He had a million questions.
“I thought they did. I don’t think most people think of the wars. Or the loneliness. But don’t you see? I have my soul mate now, so I’m never going to be alone again.”
He didn’t know how to process that. He wasn’t sure Luke could explain what he needed to know anyway. Luke had no experience with a finite life, from what he could see. “I’ll do my best.”
“Do your best at what?” Luke asked.
“Making sure you never feel alone.”
“You do, just by being. This isn’t a burden for you. It’s a joy for us to share.”
“No. No, I didn’t... It’s just big. You being a dragon, that’s okay. But me changing? That’s big.”
“You’re not going to turn into a dragon,” Luke told him. “Although, that’s a shame because being a dragon is good.”
“I know! No fair. You get to fly. I’m always going to be me.”
“I promise to take you flying anytime you ask me to. Anytime.”
“Yeah?” He took a kiss. “You remember that you don’t like people in your woods, right?”
“You’re not people.”
“No? Are you sure?” He felt like people.
“I’m sure. You’re my soul mate, and that’s not the same thing as people at all. You’re special. You’re mine.” There was conviction in Luke’s voice.
“Good to know.”
Luke brought their mouths together, sliding their lips along each other. “What else do you want to know?” Luke’s fingers moved on his back.
“Why me?” His eyelids got heavy.
“Because you’re mine.” Luke said it like that’s all there was to it.
“Did you pick me?” He couldn’t keep his eyes open.
“That’s not how it works. The universe made you for me and then put you in front of me.” Luke kissed his eyelids.
“Oh, I like how that sounds.”
“It’s the truth. Or maybe the truth is that the universe made me for you and finally put me in your path.”
“Either way, it’s better than you only picked me because I showed up.”
Luke laughed. “I still would have saved you from freezing to death, but that’s where it would have stopped if you hadn’t been you. Hells, I’ve done it before.”
“Have you? Have you seduced them, too?” That thought made him rumble.
“Easy, Pet.” Luke tugged him closer. “I rescued them from themselves and the cold. I got them to civilization and out of my hair as quickly as possible.”
“Good.” Okay, hold on. Breathe. This wasn’t like him.
“I like possessive Greyson. You know how I feel about you now. It’s part of the bonding.”
Was everything from now on going to be because of “the bonding”?
“No, Pet, but right now it is. Right now we’re in flux.”
Okay, that answering questions he hadn’t asked out loud thing was going to take getting used to.
“You will. That’ll settle, too. At the moment you’re very loud, but eventually I’ll mostly hear what you’re deliberately aiming at me.”
“I hope so. What if I have a secret to keep?”
Luke’s eyebrows drew together in a frown. “You don’t need to keep secrets from me.”
“Sure. What if I buy you a present? What if I have a secret thought—that happens, you know. Like a jack-off fantasy or a nasty thought that you don’t mean.” What if he didn’t ever want to burden Luke with his memories from when he was deployed?
Luke shrugged. “I don’t know. Seriously, I don’t. I’ve never actually done this, either, you know?”
“I guess we’ll figure it out together.” He guessed they’d have to.
“We will. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather do it with.” Luke pressed their mouths together again, more kisses that stole his breath and warmed him through.
He melted, exhaustion making him boneless. Maybe they could stay right here for a while, rest.
Of course we can, Pet.
Luke’s words and his warmth flowed over Greyson, relaxing him further. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the peace.