“I love you in that shirt. You look gorgeous,” Mac said after the hostess handed them their menus and walked away.
Idris smiled and tried not to blush. He was an adult and one that now had sexual experience; Idris didn’t want to continue to turn red every time his mate gave him a compliment. “Thanks. You might’ve mentioned it a time or two already.” Or eight, Idris thought in amusement.
“I want to know how you managed to find a shirt that matches the perfect deep bluish-purple of your eyes.”
“I found it online. When it arrived, it was pretty close, but I used magic to get it exact. I don’t want you to think it’s because I’m vain or anything. It was Del’s idea.”
“Del’s a clever guy.”
“He’s the best.”
Mac winked. “Pretty sure that honor belongs to you. Now, they don’t have burgers here, but Vadimas told me the steak is pretty good.”
“Vadimas?”
“Yeah, I told him I wanted to take you someplace really special. He offered to make reservations for us.”
“I don’t know how I got so lucky to have so many great people in my life.”
Their waitress appeared, and Idris was feeling bold so when Mac ordered a beer, he did the same. When she left them alone, Idris carefully reviewed the menu and decided he would go with the Prism Wizard’s recommendation and get the steak. He set it aside at the same time Mac did.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you drink beer,” Mac said.
“I’ve had it a couple of times. I hope you picked one that tastes good.”
“You didn’t have to order the same one as me.”
Idris shrugged. “I didn’t know what other kind to go for, so I figured—if you like it, then it must be decent.”
“High praise.”
“Thanks for bringing me here. This is nice.”
“I’m glad you agreed to come. I think the company’s tremendous.”
“I like you too.”
Their beverages were brought over, and they rattled off their orders for their meals before their waitress vanished. Idris sipped from his pilsner glass and was happy to find the taste of his drink was a pleasant one. “You did an excellent job choosing the beer.”
“Thanks. I’m glad you like it.”
“So, what do people talk about on romantic dates?”
“Why are you asking me? You’ve been on the same number of dates I have.”
Idris gave Mac an eye roll. “You’ve been with guys and stuff.”
“I can tell you what we won’t be talking about, and that’s my previous experience. No, I wasn’t a virgin when I met you, but my encounters with men had nothing to do with dates or getting to know one another. It was getting off and saying good-bye.”
“That’s why Del, Duff, and I decided to wait for our mates. It seems so empty to us to just go find someone to get laid.”
“That makes you all sensitive young men. I was more hormone-driven at your age.”
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it—”
“It’s just not for you. I get it.”
Idris leaned in closer to Mac. “I hope you’re still hormone-driven with me.”
“Count on it, sweetheart.”
Relaxing back against his chair, Idris nearly let out a sigh of relief. “Good, because I waited a long time for you.”
“Excuse me, Arcanist Idris Vioric-D’Vaire, but I’m the one who has waited two freaking centuries.”
“Yeah, but I’ve waited twenty-one years without sex.”
Mac laughed. “Your own fault, I’m afraid.”
“I’m glad I’m having it now, though. I like it more than I even imagined I would, and I have a really good imagination.”
“You’re amazing in bed.”
The waitress was heading over with their plates, and Idris decided to wait until she was gone before he responded. He loved his sex life, but that didn’t mean he wanted some stranger to hear about it. Once she disappeared, he picked up the thread of the conversation. “You’re a good teacher. I think that’s why the sex is good, and your tattoo’s sexy.”
“I’m glad the tattoo ramps things up for you.”
“It’s weird. I know it’s just ink on your skin, but it gets me riled up.”
“Should I lose the jacket and shirt?”
“When we get home, yes.”
“I don’t mind popping it off in here, so you can enjoy your meal with the best view,” Mac teased.
“No, because then everyone else in here gets to see it, and it belongs to me.”
“I’m digging this possessive side of you.”
“You’re my dragon.”
“Damn right I am, and tonight when we get home, you’re going to show me I belong to you.”
Idris’s brows drew together in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
“I’d like to try something different tonight.”
“Like what?”
Mac’s grin was carnal. “I want you to fuck me.”
This time Idris had no hope of controlling the heat in his cheeks. His heart thumped in his chest as the napkin in his lap tented over his hardening cock. “You’d let me do that?” he whispered.
“What…you think the big black dragon won’t bottom?”
“Well, yeah.”
“Think again. I like it both ways. You want to top me, Idris?”
“Very much so. I want to bottom as well.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know, I want to. I’ve thought about it a lot.” Idris lowered his voice. “I’ve played back there, and I like it.”
“Good, then you know just how to treat me tonight.”
“I can’t wait.”
“Settle down. I’m not leaving until I finish this steak.”
With a chuckle, Idris concentrated on releasing his horniness so he could finish his meal. He was excited about their plans, but there was a great deal of nervousness creeping in again. Sweeping it aside, Idris reminded himself Mac was a patient and amazing lover. They would figure out together how to make this new experience a good one. “We should talk about something else.”
“I agree. What do you want to discuss?”
“I don’t know,” Idris replied after swallowing a delicious bite of mashed potatoes. “I guess we could talk about us. I feel like our relationship is going great, but we haven’t really discussed it. Are you happy?”
“Yes. Yes, Idris, I’m very happy. You make me happy.”
Idris’s heart swelled at the warmth in Mac’s voice. “I’m glad. You make me happy too.”
“I worry about Roger, though. He barely tolerates me.”
“You stole my familiar.”
“I really did.”
Gathering his courage, Idris decided if they were going to discuss their relationship, he needed to be as honest as possible. “I like you a lot. I care about you a lot too.”
Mac’s smile was tender. “I have deep feelings for you, Idris. Can I make a confession?”
“Absolutely.”
“I think I started falling for you the minute we met.”
“The memory’s sharp in my mind,” Idris said as he wiped away a fake tear. “It was the very first time someone stole my familiar from me.”
“I’m glad Roger figured out we were mates before we did. If he hadn’t flown into that room, who knows when I would’ve met you.”
Idris cocked his head. “You were hired based on your own merit. I would’ve met you less than two weeks later.”
“An eternity without you.”
“More than a little exaggeration, I’m sure.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, sweetheart.”
“You help me sleep at night.”
Mac set down his glass after taking a large swallow. “I know the feeling. I have no idea how I managed to get a good night’s rest before you.”
“Then why haven’t you offered to move in with me?”
The expression on Mac’s face could only be described as incredulous. “It’s your room and though I believe we grow closer every day, I can’t read your mind. You’re the young guy here, and I’m not about to rush you into anything. If you want to take more permanent steps, then I need you to let me know.”
“I thought adding your dragonskin in my decor would’ve been a clue,” Idris grumbled.
“I like that you’ve put some black in your room, but I had no way of knowing that was a signal that you were ready to live together.”
“I don’t want to sleep without you. I like having you close.”
“Then ask me to move in, Idris.”
“Will you move in with me?”
“It’d be my honor.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow.”
“I guess we should maybe talk about our mating ceremony.”
Mac shook his head. “You’ve got enough to worry about. Any talk of mating ceremonies should wait until after you’re a High Arcanist.”
“Nothing’s supposed to come before a matebond.”
“I don’t see it as you choosing anything above us. I see you working toward a goal most people can’t even hope to dream about, much less achieve. It goes without saying that it deserves your undivided attention. You’re only a couple of weeks away at this point. Then we’ll talk about where we are as far mating ceremonies go.”
Idris frowned. “You don’t even want to talk about it?”
“Absolutely not. Your focus needs to be on High Arcanist.”
Mac’s attitude was annoying Idris. He wanted to be mated to Mac and didn’t want the other aspects of his life to delay what he desired most. “I thought moving forward was supposed to be on my terms. I’d like to talk about it.”
“What does a couple of weeks matter? We certainly aren’t going to carve time out of your schedule to have the ceremony before you complete all your tests and assignments.”
“No reason we can’t talk about scheduling it.”
“Idris, let’s stop dancing around here. I’m already in love with you. I plan on spending my life with you—which, thanks to your magic, will be an immortal one. An eternity is a long time. There’s absolutely no reason we need to start sending out invitations to a ceremony I feel is inevitable. I know you care for me too. You’ve given yourself a deadline of finishing your research paper in three weeks. You plan to ascend a week later. However, you heard Vadimas. You may need to push that off. We plan a mating ceremony—then that gets pushed too. There’s no need for that extra drama in there. The minute you ascend, we can set a date if you like.…But let’s wait until then,” Mac said, irritation ripe in his voice.
At first it wasn’t clear in Idris’s mind which part of Mac’s speech aggravated him the most, but his heart had no such issues. “I can’t believe that’s how you told me you loved me for the first time.”
“I’m sorry. It’s not how I planned to tell you, but you’re stubborn enough to keep hammering at this issue.”
“You could’ve at least told me in a nicer tone.”
Mac let out an exasperated chuckle. “I said I was sorry.”
“I’m in love with you, Idris,” he mimicked in the same annoyed voice Mac used.
“My voice isn’t that low.”
“I suck at impressions.”
“Do you understand why I’m insisting we wait? I don’t want you hemmed into more stress right now. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be sleeping in your bed, right next to you every night. I’ll be loving you every day. When you’re High Arcanist, we’ll make our promises to each other, and my dragon’s going to sink his teeth into your neck, sealing us together for eternity.”
“I do understand, but I’d like the record to show I wholeheartedly disagree with your stance. I’m in love with you too, and I’d prefer not to wait.”
“Then I appreciate you indulging me.”
“Maybe you just want to wait until you’re sure I get my title.”
Mac’s laugh was rich. “Idris, I’d love you whether you had less magic or none at all.”
“I’m glad I have a lot of magic and that I know how to use it.”
“I’m going to show you exactly how to use it later.”
“I hope you’re almost finished with dinner, because I’d like to learn how to use it in you as soon as possible.”
Mac motioned for the waitress. “Figure out what desserts we’re bringing to the baby dragons, and let’s get home.”
Idris snatched up the page of desserts their server left for them and did as he was told. His palms were sweaty, but he was determined to make sure Mac didn’t regret his decision to allow Idris to fuck him. His resolve to be a good lover was exactly the kind of thing you did for the man you’d given your heart to, and he marveled that Mac had the same depth of emotion for him. Idris didn’t know how it was possible that he was gifted with such an amazing man, but he adored Fate for thinking he was worthy of a dragon like Mac.