STORY EXCERPT

Checking his leg, he was relieved to find he hadn’t twisted an ankle by mistake, although he could have. Shit. What was he doing? River very well knew no one lived for miles near him. He had to be extra careful. If something happened to him, it would take the authorities some time to reach his location.

He forced himself back on his feet, feeling equal parts dejected and stupid. What did he think, that Blake somehow happened to be around the area? Great. He was acting delusional now, and he should know better than to run right into the woods blindly at night. River might have dormant shifter genes, but he didn’t inherit the ability to see in the dark. 

River began to head back when he heard that sound again. A chilly breeze made goosebumps appear over his arms, and he looked up, then sucked in a breath because he could no longer see the stars or the moon. Ten years ago, Blake was the size of a horse, but now? Blake seemed like the very night itself. Blake descended, needing the thick branches of two trees to support himself.

He swallowed. A mix of fear and excitement brewed in the pit of his stomach. Blake could scoop him up, eat him in a few quick bites, but this was his Blake, the dragon shifter he’d never forgotten from his childhood. Years could change a man, though, and that yellow-eyed gaze looked feral, even more lethal than ever.

“Am I dreaming?” he whispered. “Blake, is that really you?”

Blake let out a rumble, but he hadn’t changed forms. Blake folded his wings behind his back, regarding him.

“It’s River. Do you remember me?” he asked.

Blake finally shrunk in size, changing from dragon to man. He couldn’t make out Blake’s figure until the shifter dropped from the trees and stood in front of him. He widened his eyes, mouth falling open as the moonlight illuminated his childhood friend and protector. Blake had been lean and fit in his youth, but now?

He appeared like a massive titan to River, made of hard muscle. Old rake marks threaded his skin, as well as black ink. Realizing he was staring, he blushed, trying his best not to look down at the impressive package between Blake’s legs. Holy hell, but Blake had turned into an incredibly sexy, hard-eyed man.

Blake said one word, accompanied by a growl. His name. “River.” The dragon bared his teeth. “You’re back.”

“Y-yes, I needed a break.” 

He still couldn’t believe that Blake stood in front of him. Maybe fate brought him back here for a reason, but the scowl Blake wore couldn’t be good news.

“You dare show your face here, after all this time?”

That was it. If this cocky dragon shifter thought he could push River around, then he had another thing coming. The years must have melted away any trace of sweetness from the boy he knew, because the man looked at him with unreadable eyes. Scary man, but River knew deep down, the boy was still in there.

River crossed his arms. “Excuse me? This is my home. I have every right to be here. Besides, what’s got you all huffy?”

Some intensity from Blake’s gaze faded. The dragon shifter looked warier now. “Never mind. I’m not usually like this. My dragon’s been on edge lately, and I thought I imagined your scent.”

“The sound of your wings drew me outside, I thought I was dreaming,” he admitted. Was that Blake’s version of an apology? Now he couldn’t stay mad. “Would you like to come inside?”

“I don’t think you getting close to me is a good idea.”

“Ouch. You’re blunt.”

“River.” A growl tickled from Blake’s lips. It was wrong, that he found that sound so hot. “I mean it. I’m barely in control of my dragon these days.”

“Do you feel like you’re about to hurt me?” he asked. There were moments in their childhood when Blake got pissed with his dragon, he remembered, but Blake would hurt himself rather than bring him harm. He knew that then and now. This big dragon shifter might try to scare him off, but River wasn’t easily frightened.

Blake paused, looked thoughtful. “Actually, no. The blue dragon is quiet, calm almost. A rarity, but I don’t trust it.”

“You don’t trust your own animal?”

“Never did.” Shadows haunted Blake’s face. “Is the invitation still open?”

Hope turned from a small flame into a roaring fire in his chest. Besides, if he were alone in the cabin, River would start second-guessing his decision to come back here.

“Yes, absolutely. This way. I think I have some jogging pants that can fit you.”

They returned to the cabin, walked in companionable silence for a while.

“Just like old times,” he murmured.

“Hmm.” 

He wasn’t bothered. Blake was a man of few words, but he’d open up to him eventually. It looked like, River mused, his decision to return to his roots wasn’t a bad one after all.

ADULT EXCERPT

Talk. Leave. That had been his plan.

Then River had to take initiative and kiss him. River’s taste was on his lips now, so was River’s scent. Leaving was now the furthest thought from his mind, especially when River offered himself fully to him. Blake’s dragon neared the surface, watchful, waiting. 

“My answer hasn’t changed,” River answered. 

His control over his dragon snapped a little as he took charge, pushing River against the cabin wall. Blake pinned River’s arms over his head, spread his palms over River’s, holding him. Blake breathed in and out, trying to rein in the blue dragon. The monstrous beast only understood two words. 

Mate. Mine.

“What’s wrong?” River whispered, looking at him with wide-eyes. 

Blake devoured it all, the sight of River’s dilated pupils and his tempting mouth. It didn’t help he could smell River’s arousal, mingling with his own. 

“Nothing,” he lied, because part of him didn’t want to ruin the special moment. 

River leaving years ago wrecked him in so many ways, and now, the one man who understood him, who accepted his beast was back. His blue dragon didn’t want River to ever leave again. Blake could make sure River grew so addicted to him that River would want no other man, but where would that path lead? 

Screw the consequences. It looked like River wanted to live for the moment. Blake was the same. He took River’s mouth again, the kiss slow and tender. He released his hands.

“I can’t rut you here outside like an animal,” he managed to grit out, running his fingers down River’s smooth, creamy skin.

“I don’t mind. Blake, you have no idea what kind of erotic fantasies I’ve entertained involving you.” River blushed at the admission, made him smile.

“Fantasies?”

“Yeah. You kind of did a number on me. I had a massive crush on you and I kept comparing you to other guys. I know it’s been a long time, but that’s how it is.”

There’s no one else for me but you, Blake wanted to say but couldn’t have River forming an attachment to him. No, he refused to fuck River against the wall of a cabin. Blake walked away from River and made his way inside the cabin.

“Blake?” River called.

Blake eyed the spot in front of the fireplace, deciding those logs piled on the side still looked usable. “I’ll start a fire, got any clean blankets?”

“Yes.” 

After he got the fire going, he turned to see River had spread a clean blue piece of cloth. “Will this do?” River asked. 

He closed the distance between them in response, tugging River close. He closed his fingers over River’s cock and stroked it, back and forth, until River made a delightful groan. Blake stopped, yanked River’s jeans down his hips. River kicked his pants and boxers aside, face turning red, but his dick looked happy. Blake nodded to the blanket.

“Lie down,” he ordered.

River did as he asked, looking like a feast spread out for him, the fire highlighting his limbs and lean body. River had certainly outgrown his awkward teenage body to turn into this tempting, sexy man. He joined River, crawling on top of his body, straddling him. Blake closed in for another kiss, taking his time. He went lower, nipping and kissing his way downwards. So close. He could hear the River’s thundering pulse, knew it would be so easy to sink his fangs on that critical spot between his shoulder and neck. Blake reeled his dragon in, continued his task of wrangling more moans from River.

Blake took one nipple in, sucked on it hard until River cried out. He left tiny bites down River’s ribs before finally reaching River’s prick. Blake flicked his tongue over the pre-cum gathered there, amused when River twined his fingers through his hair. Usually, Blake preferred being in control, but he’d make an exception for his mate. 

His mate?

Blake focused on making River cum instead. He traced River’s prick from root to tip, applying slight pressure to River’s balls. That seemed to make River purr. Hearing the sound put a smile to his lips. Opening his mouth, he began taking River’s prick down his throat. Blake bobbed his head up and down a few times. Knowing River was about to blow, he pulled his face back.

River let out a snarl of frustration.

“Not yet, little cat.”

“Little cat?” River asked. “I’m dormant, remember?”

“You certainly purr like one.”

That got a blush from River.

“On your hands and knees,” he said, flipping River to his ideal position. River didn’t protest, even wagged his ass at him. That earned his little cat a swat. River groaned. “Did you like that?”

“A little.” 

He smirked. “Lube?”

“Inside my bag, by the door. Left front pocket.”

Blake found the lube and returned to River, waiting for him. His own dick felt engorged, already at full mast. Realizing he still wore bottoms, he discarded the jogging pants. He returned behind River, using his foot to pry River’s thighs further apart. Uncapping the lube, he applied some on his fingers before drizzling plenty into River’s hole. He pushed one finger in, then added in a second at River’s mewl.

“I want you in me now,” his little cat demanded.

“Not yet. I’m not exactly small.”

“I’ll burst.”

“No, you won’t, or else I’ll throw you over my lap and spank you.” 

River groaned. “God, don’t do that. Tease me some more and I’ll really come.”

“Behave, little cat.” He made twisting motions with his digits before deeming River ready. Blake discarded the lube, gripped River’s hips, and angled his cockhead into River’s slicked and ready entrance. He pushed in, gritting his teeth, forcing himself to go slow. River moaned in front of him, clawed at the blanket. Blake could feel River’s inner muscles clamping down on his shaft.