STORY EXCERPT

“Coming?” Michel asked, looking behind him. Jason nodded, taking unsteady steps toward him. “You all right?”

“I don’t do heights,” Jason admitted. He watched Michel’s eyes widen, his brows climbing into his hairline.

“Wait in the living room while I put something over the windows in the bathroom.” Michel rushed to the back of the condo as soon as he entered.

Jason stepped into his mate’s living space, closing the door behind him. He noted the door locked automatically. Looking around, he was surprised to see that the living room looked even more sterile than the one he’d left in Mystic Cove. The only personal items he could see were some family photos and a weight set.

“What temp do you want the bath?” Michel called from what Jason assumed to be the master bath.

“I’ll take care of that,” Jason answered. Setting his things down, he walked through the door Michel had vanished into. He instantly regretted it. “Shit,” he squeaked, an extremely unmanly sound.

Michel appeared at his side in less than a second, catching Jason before he fell. “I told you to wait.”

Concentrating on his mate’s face, Jason desperately kept his gaze away from the panoramic view of the city skyline and ground. He hadn’t been prepared for the full bottoming-out feeling he got upon seeing the view. To anyone else it may have been gorgeous, and well worth any price placed on the condo. To Jason it was terrifying. Why would anyone build structures so high? It wasn’t normal! Most creatures couldn’t fly, so why build something with such a view? And with the possibility of plummeting to one’s death?

“High,” he whimpered.

“I know,” Michel smiled.

His mate picked him up, carrying him into the bathroom. Setting him on the toilet, he pulled the blinds down, and adjusted them to block out more of the view.

“I’ll just be out in the living room trying to find some curtains for the other windows,” Michel said, stepping away from the tub.

Standing, Jason nodded. Regulating the water, he stripped down and realized Michel was still standing there. A blush stole across his face as he watched his mate’s gaze trace the tattoo on his back.

“It’s exquisite.” Michel sighed, his finger reaching out to physically trace the dragons individually. Jason shivered under his touch. “Did you draw it?”

All Jason could do was nod. Having his mate’s hands on him again served to only make his neurons misfire.

“Beautiful,” Michel whispered. He kissed between Jason’s shoulder blades. Just as quickly as his touch came, it was gone. “Enjoy your bath.”

Releasing a shaky breath, Jason stepped into the hot water. Even the calming sensation of being submerged in his element couldn’t still his raging libido. Maybe he should have gone with a cold shower.

* * * *

Michel leaned against the bathroom door, shaking. During the claiming he’d seen the ink work on his little dragon’s back, but hadn’t paid much attention to it in favor of fucking him into the mattress. Now that he’d seen it up close without a fog of lust, he wanted to trace it with his tongue.

Goddess, seeing that image from the prophetic dream in such intricate detail on his mate’s porcelain skin was a huge turn-on. It also served to tell him that Jason did want him. Why else would he permanently mark his body with that imagery?

With a dumb, goofy smile, Michel pushed away from the door and began to look for something to block the view with. He never did worry about curtains before. He normally loved the view, but Jason was afraid of heights so he’d cover the windows for now. He’d have to remember to get condos on lower floors when traveling from now on.

Yes, he’d miss the views, but Jason’s comfort was crucial.

Then again, maybe Jason wouldn’t be traveling with him. The thought caused a spike of pain in Michel’s chest. He didn’t want to be separated from his mate again now that he’d finally found him. He needed to consider his options carefully before making any further plans.

Turning from his thoughts of work, Michel found some more blinds in a closet and a screwdriver in the kitchen. Getting to work, he got the blinds up in the living room, bedrooms, guest bath, and kitchen.

Now that his job was completed he could feel the sweat trickling down his back. Going to the guest bathroom, he contemplated taking a shower in there.

Nope. Not happening.

Turning, he went to his bedroom, stripped down, and walked into the bathroom. “Can I join you?” he asked upon entering.

Jason jumped at the sound of his voice, obviously having been lost in thought. Michel held back a laugh at the look of surprise on his mate’s face. He couldn’t hide the groan of desire though at the sight of Jason’s naked, wet form sitting in the tub before him. He looked like a siren, tempting him to the ocean’s depths.

Those warm blue eyes flicked down, and a blush quickly rose up covering Jason from neck to ear. The color made his little water dragon look delicious.

“Suit yourself,” Jason shrugged, seeming indifferent. The blush and the way he was biting his lip told a different story entirely. With a predatory growl, the larger dragon climbed into the scalding-hot water.

“Shit! Hot enough?” Michel hissed, raising his ass out of the water.

Jason’s laugh reached his ears, soothing him a bit. “A fire dragon that can’t handle heat? How unique.”

“Heat I can handle, this is damn near boiling,” Michel grumbled, slowly easing himself into the tub. Once fully in, he pulled Jason back so he was sitting between his legs. His mate’s back pressed to his chest. Gods, was he thankful for the garden tub now more than ever.

ADULT EXCERPT

“Jason, you’re perfect,” Michel said in awe.

Jason lowered his blue eyes, a blush darkening his already flushed cheeks. “Really?”

Michel wanted to kill his mate’s family for the insecurities he saw in his water dragon’s eyes. Such a look did not belong in his mate’s aquamarine gems. If it took him the rest of his life, he planned to build the confidence he knew should have been there from the start. The same confidence he’d seen when Jason stood up to his brother and him in that parking lot.

“Never doubt my words,” Michel whispered, his lips ghosting across Jason’s. “You are exquisite.”

Jason laughed, the musical sound wrapping around Michel’s heart. “I don’t need flowery words. I’m more than willing to let you have your way with me.”

Michel couldn’t help himself, he smiled. “The words aren’t for seduction,” he growled, nipping at Jason’s jaw. “They’re for you.”

Jason seemed confused, and Michel didn’t like it. His mate should understand how breathtaking he truly was. Instead he questioned something as basic as a compliment. The knowledge that this insecurity stemmed from Jason’s own family burned like a hot ember in Michel’s chest. He wanted to tear their throats out.

But he knew instinctively Jason would never thank him for that.

Dipping down, he trailed his tongue along the ridges of Jason’s stomach. He needed to stop thinking about his mate’s family, or he really would do something unforgivable. When his chin butted against Jason’s cock, he smiled. Lapping at the puddle of precum that had collected on his mate’s stomach, he purred at the taste.

Jason released a needy whine, thrusting his hips as he desperately tried to get Michel to take him into his mouth. With a devious smile, Michel bypassed the tempting organ and kissed his way down his mate’s inner thigh.

“Stop teasing me!” Jason snapped when Michel kissed back up the opposite thigh, nipping at his hip.

“So impatient,” Michel chuckled. Taking mercy on his mate, he licked at the swollen head, humming at the delicious taste that greeted him. Opening his mouth wider, he took Jason down to the root, his nose nestled in his mate’s blond curls.

“Oh fuck,” Jason cried, his hips hitching when Michel purred around the length in his mouth. “Don’t stop. Fuck, don’t stop.”

Michel didn’t plan to. But he did plan to stimulate another part of his mate’s body, a part he longed to be buried deep inside. Looking up at the gorgeous man splayed out for him like an all-you-can-eat buffet, he reached under him, circling his mate’s tight entrance.

Jason instantly got the idea. “Bedroom, bedside table.”

Michel was up and rushing to the bedroom, which took him two turns to find, before the words even finished spilling from Jason’s lips. He yanked the drawer open, instantly finding the bottle of lube. Grinning, he turned, only to be pinned to the wall by his mate.

Jason kissed him hungrily, his hands working to get Michel’s jeans off. Smirking, Michel applied an ample amount of the liquid onto his fingers, bringing them around to his mate’s backside. A strangled moan was poured into his mouth, which he greedily drank in, as he slipped the first finger inside.

“Michel,” Jason cried, his hips instantly impaling him onto Michel’s single digit. The wanton act caught Michel off guard for a second, he hadn’t expected Jason to be that receptive, but he didn’t remain dazed for long.

Kicking out of his jeans, he backed them toward the bed. Pushing Jason down so he was on all fours at the edge of the bed, he paused for a moment at a familiar sight decorating his mate’s back in the form of an intricate tattoo.

Jason whimpered, thrusting back on the finger still inside him. Michel, once again falling under the curtain of lust, added a second finger. Jason’s cries of pleasure grew louder as Michel thrust his hand into the tight, hot sheath engulfing his fingers insatiably. Michel knew some dragons’ bodies acted differently, but damn. It seemed his mate craved to be taken from behind. Not that he had a problem with that.

“Going to come,” Jason warned.

Michel added a third finger, stretching him even wider. Curling his fingers and twisting his hand, he smiled as Jason came with a wail of Michel’s name. Pulling his fingers out, he lubed his shaft, and lined up with his mate’s twitching ass.

* * * *

Jason felt Michel at his back, his swollen cockhead pressed to his entrance. He couldn’t stop the whimpered that tore from his throat, or his hips from moving back pushing his mate’s cock into his body. He moaned at the feeling of that thick organ penetrating him.

His body had a mind of its own, pushing further back, taking Michel deep into his body. It felt amazing, and he didn’t want to stop. When he felt Michel’s hips touch his backside, he slid forward before slamming back onto that hot rod.

“Fuck, Jason,” Michel growled, his hands coming to rest on his hips. He didn’t try to control his movement, though. He merely held on as Jason fucked himself with his mate’s cock. “So fucking hot. That’s right, take from me.”

Jason whined as he tried to speed up, to get Michel deeper. Frustration built inside of him. He couldn’t get his legs to do what they needed to.

“Michel, more. Please, I can’t,” Jason begged, tears of frustration filling his eyes.

“I’ve got you,” Michel cooed into his ear, kissing between his shoulder blades. His hands tightened on his hips. Pulling out, Michel slammed back into Jason’s channel.

“Yes!” Jason growled, his dragon coming to the surface with the rough handling.

Michel released his own growl, reminding him of exactly who the one in charge between them was. Jason submitted quickly, his head lolling to the side as Michel pistoned within him.