Page 15

15

Rorik

After a much-needed shower and power nap, I returned to the castle. Entering the dragons’ home again felt surreal. I didn’t deserve to be there after what I did, but Saffron wouldn’t take no for an answer. He was fiercely welcoming.

Maybe his aggressive acceptance was exactly what I needed. If he was any less certain, I would’ve fallen prey to my shame and doubt.

As Saffron led me down the hall, I couldn’t stop thinking about Jade’s comment.

If you’re really Saffron’s fated mate…

I swallowed the lump in my throat. It had been a threat to behave myself, but hidden inside was an outstretched palm. An invitation into the family. A confirmation that they all believed in fated mates—and that Saffron could be mine.

My pulse quickened.

Could I let myself believe in a destiny like that? To be loved and accepted unconditionally? To abandon my warrior past and embrace a new future?

As we neared the staircase that led upstairs, Saffron stopped abruptly.

“Wait,” he cried.

I halted, alert now. “What?”

He slowly turned his head, grinning up at me. “We need popcorn.”

Before I could ask what that even was, he dragged me into the kitchen. Whatever ‘popcorn’ was, it must’ve been important.

Saffron rummaged through a cupboard, pulled out a box, and dumped its contents in a large bowl. I sniffed the strange orange kernels.

“What are they?” I asked.

He grinned, clearly excited to explain. “Popcorn! You heat up the corn until it pops. Watch.”

He pulled me close so we stood hip to hip, then put the bowl in the microwave. As we watched it spin, Saffron bounced on his heels. His hand snaked around my waist—well, as far as it would go, anyway.

At first, I stiffened under his palm, but quickly relaxed. His touch felt nice. I was tired of pretending it didn’t. If Saffron was willing to forgive my awful actions and reach out to me, I needed to meet him halfway. He deserved that much.

An urge struck me.

Slowly, I raised my arm and rested it hesitantly across Saffron’s shoulder.

He paused, then shot me a sweet smile. It radiated warmth.

The microwave, it turned out, also radiated warmth. A loud pop came from inside, making me start.

Saffron chuckled. “Don’t worry. It’s just the corn popping. Look.”

I peered through the screen. To my shock, the little orange kernels were exploding into puffy white shapes.

“Huh,” I said. “Never seen that before.”

Saffron sucked in a gasp. “Wait. If you’ve never had popcorn, there must be a ton of other food you haven’t tried. Cookies? Cake? Candy? Oh, man, and that’s just the foods starting with C!”

I blushed, but couldn’t hold back a smile at his enthusiasm.

“I haven’t had those, no,” I remarked, putting a hand on my large belly. “But aren’t they bad for you? I’m already fat enough.”

Saffron glared at me. His presence suddenly surged, feeling larger and more powerful than usual. “Listen, Rorik. I can accept the fact that you’ve never watched a movie. I can accept an attack on my twin. What I won’t accept is you talking shit about your body. You’re hot as fuck, and if I had any less willpower, I’d plow you right here on the kitchen floor. Got that?”

I gulped. “Er… understood.”

His warm smile returned. “Good, ‘cause I have a huge secret stash of movie treats I wanna share with you.”

After the popcorn finished popping, Saffron pulled the bowl out of the microwave. A hot, salty scent tickled my nose, instantly making me salivate. It smelled different than the sterile kernels he’d originally put inside. They’d changed drastically in a short amount of time.

Like me, I thought.

Saffron noticed me sniffing the air and grinned. “Want one?”

“If that’s all right.”

He rolled his eyes and pinched a piece of popcorn between two fingers, then raised it to my mouth. I shuddered as it brushed my lips.

Saffron wore a mischievous grin on his face. He enjoyed teasing me.

I played along. I parted my mouth, letting him rub the popcorn along the inner edges of my lips. My heart started beating faster. This wasn’t inherently lewd, but it felt like it.

Saffron tilted the popcorn onto my tongue. As the salt hit my taste buds, I salivated. But Saffron didn’t remove his finger. It lingered, drawing a tiny circle against the tip of my tongue, taunting me.

My pulse skyrocketed. Why did that feel so good?

The saliva in my mouth became too much to bear and I instinctively swallowed. But in doing so, I closed my lips over Saffron’s finger and accidentally sucked on it.

Heat flooded my cheeks. Doing this in the open kitchen somehow felt raunchier than having sex in a secluded bedroom. What if somebody saw us?

The naughty glint in Saffron’s eyes said that he didn’t care.

Finally, in a casual motion, he popped his finger out of my mouth and laughed. “Okay, we got our popcorn. Now we need a couple drinks and we’re ready for movie night.”

I stood there, dazed with pleasure, as Saffron rummaged through the fridge. He yanked out a large fizzy bottle and nodded for me to follow him. When we arrived back in his room, I paused. The scents permeating the air were familiar to me now. I could distinctly pick out Saffron, Aurum, and Mylo. They were comforting instead of alien and unknown.

Would they ever feel the same way about my scent? I wondered doubtfully.

“Sit,” Saffron said, patting the spot beside him.

I joined him on the couch. Sinking into the leather seat felt comfortable.

Before thinking too hard about it, I said, “I could get used to this.”

Saffron’s brows rose, and his eyes gleamed with warmth. “I sure hope so.”

A ribbon of pleasure slithered between my ribs. I’d never tire of his smile, or that amber sparkle in his gaze. I knew that without a doubt now.

I’d been so foolish. Only when I’d nearly lost Saffron did I realize how I truly felt about him. Our moments together were precious. I wouldn’t hold back anymore.

Nervously, I licked my lips. “Saffron…”

As he leaned back against the seat, his arm casually brushed mine. “Hm?”

The skin-on-skin contact sparked an electric current in my blood, making it harder to piece my words together.

“I…”

As my frazzled brain struggled to make a sentence, the hallway door opened. Aurum and Mylo flew in, giggling together. They were so enamored with each other that they barely seemed to notice us. Halfway to their separate bedroom, Aurum called, “Oh, hey guys. Don’t mind us.”

He sounded fine, but I couldn’t help staring at the bandage wrapped around his neck. It was my fault it was there.

“By the way, Rorik,” Aurum said with a smirk. “Here’s a hot tip—our individual rooms are soundproofed.”

Did he say that because he’d caught me staring at the evidence of my crime? Or was it a genuine piece of advice?

Still giggling, Aurum and Mylo disappeared into their bedroom. His comment was true, since I heard nothing after the door closed behind them.

Suddenly, Saffron’s hand gripped my chin. He yanked my face around to look at him. A hint of envy sharpened his golden eyes.

“Stop staring at my twin brother, or I’m going to get jealous,” he warned in a teasing tone.

A scoff came out of me. “You’re joking, right?”

Saffron’s mouth pursed into a small pout. “Sort of. But you do spend a lot of time staring at him.”

With a pang of guilt, I realized Saffron was genuinely jealous—which was laughable, since he was the only dragon I’d ever have eyes for.

“Only because I feel bad for attacking him,” I promised. “Nothing else. I swear on my bear’s pride.”

His eyes sparkled again. “Okay. I believe you.” Then he flashed a devilish smile. “But you have to prove it.”

Something stirred in my gut. It was akin to possessiveness, which was not a sensation I felt often, since omegas in the tundra clan had nothing to possess. But with Saffron in my life, I had something—somebody—I wanted more fiercely than I could describe.

In a swift motion, I swung my leg over Saffron’s waist to straddle him. I allowed my full weight to rest on his thighs, effectively pinning him to the couch.

“Are you sure?” I asked in a low voice. “Because once a polar bear traps you, there’s no escape.”

Excitement glittered in Saffron’s eyes, but there was a predatory glint, too. The challenge must’ve thrilled him.

“Oh no, a scary bear has me trapped in his big, sexy grasp,” Saffron said in fake fear. “Whatever shall I do?”

It amused me that he played along. Saffron was always ready to embrace joy. I liked that about him.

Encouraged to carry on our game, I leaned in so our noses nearly touched. Every breath brought me another whiff of his addicting scent. While Saffron grinned up at me, I seized his wrists and pinned them to the back of the couch. His wrists felt small and pliable in my huge hands, but that was far from the truth. A dragon lurked beneath his human illusion—he could break free at any second and reverse our positions.

For the old Rorik, it was unthinkable to enjoy being at a dragon’s mercy, but now it exhilarated me.

Am I some kind of clan traitor? I thought briefly.

Then I felt my cock twitch and realized I didn’t fucking care anymore.

“Wow, your hands are so big,” Saffron said in that teasing, lilting voice. “Bet you could smother me with them.”

I nearly shuddered. All the times I did think about smothering Saffron popped into my head, buzzing like flies. I shook them off. That felt like a different lifetime now. I would never, ever use my hands to hurt him.

“I won’t be doing that,” I said gruffly. “But I will do this.”

One of my hands released Saffron’s wrist and snaked down his chest and belly, finally stopping below his belt. The bulge in his pants was already prominent. As I ran my palm across it and heard Saffron’s soft moan, my skin felt hotter and tighter. My heart hammered, and sweat beaded at my hairline.

Saffron writhed, bucking slowly into my palm. His expression was hazy with ecstasy. It sent a fresh dose of pleasure pulsing through my veins. Watching an alpha moan and wriggle beneath me was hotter than I could’ve imagined.

I swallowed past my rapidly beating heart and, with a leap of courage, slipped my hand beneath his waistband. Saffron sucked in a gulp of air as I cupped him through his boxer-briefs. His cock welcomed my palm with twitches of desire. As I rubbed him through the fabric, my heart slammed into overdrive. It beat so fast I felt like I might pass out.

Saffron breathed out a chuckle. His eyes were half-lidded with gratification. “I’m the one who invented the no-fucking-in-the-common-room rule, but I can’t resist you. Let’s break the rules together.”

He lazily brought his free hand to the over-shirt tied around my waist and swiftly undid the knot, letting it fall to the floor.

I blushed, embarrassed for a second. Then I realized Saffron wanted to see me naked. I wouldn’t deny him that pleasure.

To my surprise, he ignored my cock, and instead ran his hand along my sagging belly. Saffron bit his lip as he dragged gentle fingers along my hairy overhang. I saw his erection twitch.

“Perfect,” Saffron murmured, staring hungrily at my body. “You’re fucking perfect, Rorik.”

My face flushed. I wasn’t used to any sort of compliments, much less ones about my fat stomach.

Suddenly, Saffron jerked his pinned wrist free from my grasp so he could touch my belly with both hands. His eyes smoldered. He reminded me of a dragon fawning over a prize—which I suppose was true. It felt incredible to be wanted to this degree.

A low growl hummed in Saffron’s throat as his hands roamed across my belly. He paid attention to every inch of skin, caressed every stretch mark, worshiped every flabby fold. His eyes burned as if on fire. That raw, carnal desire couldn’t be faked. He really did love my fat as much as he claimed.

“All of this is mine,” Saffron rasped, a draconic edge to his voice. “Understood?”

I shuddered. My heart—and cock—were both in love with him.

“Yes,” I said thickly.

When Saffron grinned, I saw the glinting edge of his elongated fangs. I shuddered in anticipation instead of fear.

“Keep touching me,” he said.

Even his orders were mild. A firm request instead of a demand. An invitation to pleasure rather than a threat of punishment. My chest ached again, bursting with fondness for this alpha who’d guided me to a brighter path.

I nodded eagerly, more than happy to stroke Saffron’s cock. The way he writhed and moaned was its own reward, but after a few moments, he put his hand on my shoulder.

“I want you on your knees,” he said, voice rough with arousal. “But only if you want to.”

A gruff laugh came out of me as I sank to the floor.

“Trust me. I want to,” I vowed.

Saffron smirked, nodding at his still-clothed lower half. “Then help yourself.”

I undid his pants in a frenzy, yanking them down to his ankles before burying my face in his musky underwear. The thick, heady scent flooded my nostrils and shot straight down to my groin. My dick throbbed. I resisted the urge to stroke myself and immediately blow my load. I wanted to savor this moment.

Slowly, I peeled down Saffron’s underwear. His cock sprung free, twitching and ready to be appreciated. I formed a ring with my fingers around the base, holding him steady while I brushed my lips against his shaft. He groaned and rolled his head against the leather couch.

“That’s it, Rorik,” Saffron murmured.

The overwhelming scent of him combined with the blood rushing to my cock made me dizzy. I shut my eyes, focusing on the sensation of his hot flesh against my lips. My heart pounded so loud it felt like the entire world could hear it.

I didn’t know exactly what to do, but I figured I’d learn along the way. I trusted Saffron to guide me on this journey together.

Parting my mouth, I dragged my lower lip along the ridge of Saffron’s head. He hissed through his teeth, sinking deeper into the couch and curling his fingers. Although I was the one on my knees, I felt powerful knowing I could elicit such a dramatic response.

My tongue darted out and trailed along the bottom of his head. The taste was foreign, but I soon got used to it. It helped that Saffron’s spicy alpha scent enveloped me like a fog, heightening my arousal. Soon I’d wrapped my lips around the whole tip, sucking it gently. Saffron’s cry of pleasure told me I was on the right track. My heart raced as his voice sank into my bones. My entire body felt hot with need.

My tongue lapped at his thick flesh, memorizing every ridge and vein. Saffron arched his back, letting out a wanton groan. I loved watching him come undone—and it was all because of me. I shuddered, feeling powerful again. He’d given me this gift of newfound confidence. I wanted to return the favor in any way I could.

Bracing myself, I took more of him into my mouth. It was tight and strange, but I adjusted quickly enough. I breathed hard through my nostrils and focused on Saffron’s cock, exploring every inch of it with my tongue.

Saffron moaned. His breaths came out rough and uneven. His sun-blond hair, damp with sweat, clung to his forehead. As he shot me a glance, his eyes blazed with lust. His expression was so obscene it made me blush.

Who knew sucking off an alpha dragon could feel so good?

Saffron’s fingers curled into my short hair, tightening their grip with each bob of my head. I felt his desperation seeping through his grasp. He was close. I put my full effort into these last building moments, sucking him with a force I didn’t even know I had in me.

Finally, Saffron’s fingers clenched. His raw cry ricocheted against the walls, chilling me with the pleasure of knowing I’d done that. I made him feel that good.

As he unloaded on the back of my tongue, I drew back and swallowed. The taste was thick and unfamiliar, yet dizzyingly delicious.

“Holy fuck, that felt good,” Saffron said, his voice hoarse and gratified. A lazy grin played on his lips. “You are incredible, you know that?”

My cheeks warmed at his praise. In the back of my mind, guilt still stung me. I didn’t feel like I deserved his kind words. But he wanted to move forward—and if making him cum sped that process along, then I’d suck him off as many times as necessary.

“Even though I’m inexperienced?” I asked.

“I don’t care about that,” he said mildly, then pulled me into a hug in his lap. “I love you for you. ”

My heart stumbled over itself.

Love.

Saffron said he loved me. Nobody had ever spoken those words to me before.

I stared into his eyes, still registering what he’d said. His gaze was brighter than the sun. Loving. Totally honest.

The last dark remnants of my past life burned up in Saffron’s light. The old Rorik was gone forever.

Whatever the future had in store, I knew Saffron would be there, holding my hand through it.