Page 21 of Habibi: Always and Forever

I’d never traveled before joining the circus troupe as their photographer.

Of course, the only reason I was here was Drake.

The pain I’d felt at the idea of him leaving and not seeing him again had been crippling.

As afraid as I was to leave home and head into the unknown, I was more scared of losing him.

So, I did the hard thing and left. Being with Drake was never hard, though.

He pushed me out of every comfort zone I ever had, but I’d never regretted a second of it.

We had traveled around the country, getting to see places I’d only ever seen through the media, and I captured the journey in photos of my own. Now, I was ready to try something new, going off together without the comfort of the circus.

“I hope you didn’t plan on flying anywhere. As much as every part of me craves soaring through the sky, I can’t fathom being cooped up in such a tiny space filled with people. I think I would crawl out of my skin and end up pulling the emergency hatch to escape.”

I turned back to face him and placed my hand on his chest, letting his dragon feel my touch, knowing it soothed him when he started getting anxious. Drake released a heavy breath, and I could feel his building tension subside.

“I’m not a fan of heights, in case you forgot.

Ferris wheels aside, that is.” I would never forget that first time up with Drake when he managed to make me forget all about how high we were.

“I have no intention of going on a plane, and I would never put you in a situation like that. I saw a place advertised on Ether . It looks like a cute little bed-and-breakfast place on a small island off the coast. It’s only a short boat ride from here and the boats have exterior seating, so you can have the wind in your face the entire way. ”

He bobbed his head slowly. “Wind in my face sounds tolerable. You found it on Ether? So does that mean it’s…”

Ether was a social media site that catered to the paranormal world, allowing beings of all types to be able to connect without having to worry about their privacy.

“Yes, Creature Comforts Inn is an inclusive place, owned and operated by a group of paranormal beings. I contacted them to see what kind of accommodations they have. They’re still fixing the place up, but they have a lot of outdoor activities.

It seems they have a few private cabanas, too, so we wouldn’t have to stay in the main building.

I booked one that has a retractable roof, designed for aerial guests, which I’m hoping will help you feel less confined. ”

Flames flashed in Drake’s eyes, and he grinned widely. His arm whipped out and pulled me close to his chest. “That means I’ll be able to see the stars while you ride my cock.”

My cheeks burned with his directness and the visual it created. “Yeah, uh, yes, that’s a… possibility.”

“Gods, you’re perfect, Marshmallow.” He crashed his mouth onto mine with a searing kiss.

His warmth infused itself into me and made me melt like putty in his arms. Drake held me upright while he kissed me deeply, that erotic growl rolling out of him.

He ended it abruptly before I caved and begged him to rail me right there.

“We got a big day ahead of us, and a bigger one tomorrow. I’m already thinking of the dirty things I plan to do to my husband. And have him do to me.” Drake gave me a wink and turned me toward the shower, giving my ass a pat to send me on my way.

* * *

DRAKE

Shoot me out of a cannon or put me in an iron globe on a motorcycle—piece of cake.

I loved the thrill; the adrenaline fed my inner beast, and the applause only added to it.

Performing in front of a crowd was as comfortable for me as looking through a camera lens was for Eli.

Standing on the stage now, though, I didn’t feel the usual high that came from being in front of an audience. I felt vulnerable and antsy.

I was bouncing on my feet and shaking out my hands as I stood in front of our loved ones.

It wasn’t a huge affair since Eli had a small circle, and I didn’t have any family.

Well, that wasn’t really true. I might not have known any of my blood relatives and had no love for the foster parents I’d had before running away, but I had the Black Cat Circus.

They were the family I found. I thought I would be fine on my own until I met Sev, and he welcomed me in.

As a young, eighteen-year-old kid who was lost and angry, Sev had given me a home and helped me understand why I felt different.

Now, twelve years later, I lived among beings of all kinds, capable of the most incredible things, and I belonged.

Even more so now that I had Eli. He’d been the missing piece that helped me feel whole.

He was my everything, and I was proud to be marrying him, claiming him in front of everyone we knew, but it was hard to wait alone.

Sev stood behind me, ready to act as our officiant. I was grateful to have him nearby, but it didn’t stop the churning inside of me. My dragon was feeling my anxiousness and amped it up with constant movement.

“Breathe, Drake. Just breathe,” Sev said in a hushed voice. Others were likely to hear it given their inhuman senses, but I did as he said, and forced the air in and out, trying not to buckle my knees.

The doors at the back of the tent opened, and my breath caught in my throat. There he was. My mate. His long, strawberry-blond hair feathered around his freckled face, standing out against the metallic teal suit he wore.

Eli's scent had caught my attention from the first moment I found him in this very tent, planning his article about the circus.

I was lured in by his sweet marshmallow aroma, but when I met his eyes, something stirred deep inside me.

He had tried so hard to be invisible back then.

From drab clothes and a meek attitude, but I would have found him, no matter how much he tried to disappear behind his camera.

He’d grown more confident and comfortable in himself, and it had been exhilarating to witness.

Eli had given up his plain clothes and adopted brighter apparel that highlighted his own natural beauty.

Now he stood as bright and beautiful as ever.

And he was mine . I couldn’t stop the growl that rumbled out of me at the sight, desperate to claim and devour him.

Seven chuckled and whispered, “Save it for later. We’re in mixed company.”

Right. Mixed company. Eli’s family and best friend, Carol, were human and didn’t know about the beings that made up the circus.

Eli had been very careful not to share details of the true nature of the supernatural refuge that was Black Cat.

He liked being a part of it and vowed to protect the identity of the family that had welcomed him in.

I needed to maintain some sort of control, but I was feeling anything but in control.

Eli looked up, and with my sharper sight, I was able to connect to his gaze from across the tent.

His wide smile took my entire focus, blocking out the rest of the room.

My dragon settled inside me, allowing me to breathe and stand tall, as I waited for him to climb the steps.

Waiting wasn’t my forte, but for Eli… I could do it. I'd waited my whole life for him, unaware that he was the thing I'd been needing. My dragon knew him before I did, pushing me toward him. Now, we were here, already soul-bonded and ready to join together legally, too.

Eli reached the stage at last, and when he ascended, I felt like my heart would soar out of my chest. He stood in front of me, eyes roaming over my bare arms with a slight smirk on his face.

“I like what you did with the suit.”

“I got hot, sorry.” I shrugged. After I'd gotten dressed in my black-on-black suit, I felt too constricted within the long sleeves and ended up tearing them off.

With the fire that lived inside me, I tended to run hot, but I didn't think the suit would be a problem since I usually wore a leather jacket during my performances.

Except during my stunts, I had the release of adrenaline to keep my cool.

The anticipation of the wedding had me too revved up to keep it in.

I felt ridiculous wearing fancy slacks and a black shirt and suit without sleeves and hoped he would see past it.

Eli placed his hand on my chest, above my tattoo. The dragon swished on my skin, pressing into his touch. “Don't be sorry. You look wickedly sexy.”

His touch, his soothing voice, and his toasty sweet scent calmed me, allowing me to take in the incredible sight before me. I brushed the long strands of his hair away from his cheek. “Thank you. Gods, you are so beautiful, Marshmallow. I feel like the luckiest man alive.”

Eli held my hand and squeezed it. “I do, too.”

Sev cleared his throat to get our attention. “Shall we proceed?”

I glanced between him and Eli and gave a nod. With him here, all the tension I'd felt getting to this point was gone.

Sev spoke with the magical amplification he used as ringmaster, his voice carrying out into the grandstand.

He probably said something endearing, but his words were a jumbled din even to my sensitive hearing.

All I could focus on was Eli. It was his heartbeat that filled my ears, beating in tandem with mine.

He filled my every sense. The way his hazel eyes were locked on mine, the way his soft pink lips tilted up, the freckles across his nose and cheeks, and the hair I longed to run my fingers through.

A hand landed on my arm, tearing me away from the enchanting figure before me. I blinked hard and found Sev staring down at me, trying to hide his smirk. “This is your cue, Drake. Do you have any vows, anything you would like to say?”

I ran a hand through my hair and returned my attention to my mate. “Yes. Yes, I do.”

“We’re not there yet,” Eli snickered.

“Not yet, but I do, I will, forever. Gods, Eli, I never thought I would be here. I’m sorry, I had a whole thing planned, but it’s gone.

But, fuck, you showed up, and my life changed.

You changed me. I grew up in a world I didn’t belong in, and joined a world I didn’t know existed, and still something was missing, until you. ”

I stepped closer and grabbed both of his hands, needing him to anchor me.

“I didn’t know peace until I knew you, but it’s more than that, so much more.

You are woven into my soul. I feel whole when I’m with you and ache when you’re away.

I used to think marriage was out of the question, that no one would accept me for who I am, but you do.

You’ve seen parts of me no one else has, and you didn’t look away.

You not only accepted me, but you made me feel wanted and loved as I am.

I love you so fucking much, I can’t even describe it.

I’ve taken some pretty big leaps in my life.

I thought getting to the altar would be the biggest one of all, the one that would test me to my limits.

But now that I’m standing here with you, it’s the easiest one.

One I would take again and again if it meant I would get to have you by my side. I love you, Marshmallow.”

Eli sniffled and wiped away a tear. “I love you, too, Drake. You saw me when most didn’t. I spent so much time hiding, letting the world pass me by, and observing it from the safety of my camera. Then I met you. And you were not safe.”

Eli’s laughter was met with a rumble of amusement from the circus crew.

“You dared me, challenging me to do things I didn’t think I could, and yet, I never felt unsafe with you.

You opened my eyes to a new world, and I knew you would be there to guide me through it.

” He placed a hand on my chest again and looked me square in the eye.

“I love you. All of you, and I can’t believe how fortunate I am to have someone like you love me the way you do. ”

I couldn’t stop myself from pulling him against me and kissing him deeply, pouring my whole heart into him. Cheers erupted around us.

When I pulled back, Sev announced loudly. “I’m pleased to announce to you, Mister and Mister Stevens. You beat me to the punch, but you may now kiss your husband… again.”

I grinned widely at hearing the name. Stevens. Elijah Stevens, and now I would be Drake Stevens. Drake was a name I had chosen for myself, and now having a name I shared with Eli felt like the best gift I could have ever gotten. We belonged together, now and always.