Page 19 of Myths and Shifts (Blue Ridge Magic #6)

Pierce

He was going to play along once he stopped rolling his eyes and snickering.

“My feelings are hurt and you’re not even trying to make me feel better.”

I definitely wasn’t helping the situation, but after a few more seconds, he managed to get himself mostly under control. I even got a kiss as he took a deep breath to hold back the giggles that kept trying to escape. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I was so mean to you.”

I got another kiss, but a few more happy sounds escaped before he tried to speak again. “You’re not dramatic. I was just trying to get attention.”

Oh, I liked that.

“All that for attention? I don’t know what to say.” Because I hadn’t expected that response.

But he was good at the game and kissed me again. “I do, Daddy. I’m going to say sorry and then give you all the attention.”

Worked for me, but I was pretty sure I was supposed to play hard to get. “I don’t believe you. You were so mean to me.”

Merritt buried his face against my shoulder and shook as he did his best to hide his laughter. After a bit, he let out a breath slowly and tried to sound apologetic. “Trust me, Daddy. I’ll show you I’m sorry.”

Since that included sliding lower down my body and kissing my chest, I decided to be open-minded. “I don’t know…”

“I do, Daddy.” Pressing another kiss right between my nipples, he nuzzled against me and started his seduction. “I’ll show you and I’ll take care of you.”

Such a sexy little mage.

“I…I trust you.” And I was head over heels for him. “But you have to show me how sorry you are.”

Because if he wanted us to make love, we had to stop getting distracted by other fun ways to orgasm.

“Oh, I will.” He sounded relaxed and teasing, but I could hear the hum of his thoughts through the bond. “But to really show you how sorry I am, I need to get ready.”

Kiss.

Kiss.

Oh.

“I can be patient.” There were just some things it wasn’t a good idea to rush through. “As long as I know you’re going to make it up to me. I’m injured. Hurt. Traumatized.”

And so dramatic I was fit to be a local.

Merritt shook with silent laughter, hiding his face against my chest. “Yes, Daddy.”

That was all he could get out for a long few moments, but eventually he nodded slowly and let out a breath. “I’ll make it up to you.”

When he lifted his head, he was smiling, but I could see desire in his eyes and feel it pulsing through the bond. “Thoroughly, Daddy.”

I approved…I definitely approved.

“I trust you, naughty goose.” Ha. He almost laughed. “Especially when you look so earnest and serious.”

“I am.” Nodding, he pinched his lips together and gave me a quick peck before he bounced off the bed and grabbed the toiletry bag he’d picked up at the trailer. “Very serious, Daddy.”

Seriously silly…but he was in the bathroom before I could tell him that.

He was in the bathroom.

Okay, I didn’t have long.

Shit.

The room was not romantic at all, and if I was going to make love to my mate for the first time, he needed fucking romance.

“Wren?” Whispering softly, I stepped closer to our shared wall. “I need candles or something romantic.”

He’d packed like we’d been charging into the apocalypse and there wouldn’t be a mall for years to come, so I wasn’t surprised when his singsong voice came softly through the wall. “ Wren to the rescue .”

He’d been watching too many old Rescue Rangers episodes lately.

I was going to appreciate it for the time being, though, because in under a minute he was softly knocking on my door. “I’m here. I’m saving the day.”

Since he was technically right, I opened the door with a smile, grateful I’d packed a robe. “You are. Thank you.”

Dragons above.

He was dressed head to toe as a fucking squirrel.

Big smile.

“Here you go.” Shoving a shopping bag full of goodies at me, he gave me a beaming smile in return. “It’s not whammied. I bought it at Walmart with…well…I got it at Walmart.”

“With your new friend?” His giggle said I was right but he nodded as well. “Did you have fun?”

“Yes.” Bouncing up and down, he wiggled the fluffy tail that was sticking out behind him. “Lots.”

“Is your new friend nice?” I was really grateful when he nodded earnestly because otherwise it would’ve caused a lot of problems. “Good. You need to remember that being safe is important. Okay?”

Reminding myself that he was technically an adult, I shook my head when I just got a giggle and another wag. “Fine. I’ll stop asking questions, but the first time your mother gives me a call you have to tell me what you’ve been up to.”

He lied terribly and had no ability to keep any kind of a secret.

“Yes. I’ll be good.” That wasn’t believable either. “I told her I met lots of new friends. She stopped asking questions when I told her about Lorne.”

For fuck’s sake.

“That’s cheating. Don’t shock your mother.” It wouldn’t help for very long. “You only have a day or two before she recovers.”

That helpful fact got another happy sound and a wave before he scurried back to his own room. “I’m back. I’m ready.”

Ignoring whatever he was ready for was easy because I’d gotten very good at tuning out anything my family was doing, but it also made it easier to hear Merritt humming to himself as he got ready. “Daddy has to hurry or the squirrel will start having fun before he does.”

Moving quietly over to the bed, I put my robe away and started sorting through Wren’s romantic treasures and was pleasantly surprised to see mostly reasonable options. Candles and chocolates were the best options, so the candy went by the bed and the little candles of varying sizes were sprinkled around the room.

He must have raided some kind of feminine self-care store because he had several trial size bottles of scented lotion and even a pair of fuzzy baby blue handcuffs. I tucked those back in the bag and almost laughed at the sight of the pink bathrobe he’d offered me, but I decided that would stay in there too.

The silky black fabric got stretched out over the bed, though, and while I couldn’t decide if it was high school seduction stupidity or actually romantic, it felt right. What didn’t feel right stayed in the bag and got tucked behind the chair, but I did take the lube that was on Wren’s romance list and placed it by the bed as well.

I hadn’t planned on finding my mate when I’d packed for my trip.

Wren was startlingly prepared for whatever he was getting up to, but I wasn’t going to complain because it made it easier for me. So easy, I had the room perfect for my mate and even had myself cleaned up a bit before he peeked out of the door. “Ready?”

“More than you know, my mate.” I chuckled as he blushed and slowly inched out of the bathroom wearing just a pair of little briefs.

At first all his attention was on how nervous he was, but soon his eyes widened and he smiled as he took in the room. “Oh, Daddy…”

“My sexy mate deserves romance.” Taking his hand, I pulled him into my chest and loved the way he melted into me, hiding his face against my neck again. “You are beautiful and I am the luckiest man alive, dragon or not.”

Merritt let out an embarrassed chuckle but his hands came up to gently caress over my chest. “But you are a dragon and my mate.”

“That makes you the best hoard ever, sweet mate.” Shifting us slowly toward the bed, I kissed his neck and started gently stroking his back. “And you might not be aware of this, but a dragon is very protective of his hoard.”

As his fingers still wandered slowly, Merritt’s laughter this time was happy and I could feel desire pulsing through the bond. “Are you going to lock me in your tower?”

“Don’t give me ideas.” Nibbling on his ear, I let a growling tone into my voice. “I haven’t forgotten that you want a dungeon in our castle.”

Bubbly laughter filled the room and all the nervous energy I’d felt before was gone. “That’s a good idea and you know it.”

“I do.” Trailing my fingers along his back, I went back to nibbling on my mate as we finally made it to the bed. “And I can’t wait to hear what other ideas you’ve got for our dungeon.”

Little or big, I knew he had some fun fantasies bouncing around in his head. His sexy groan said I was right too. “Should I ask what you’ve been imagining? You seem to be very good at making your thoughts vividly clear.”

It seemed like our bond was getting stronger every day…every hour really. I’d always known my mate was out there waiting for me, but the reality of the bond was better than I could’ve ever imagined.

Merritt’s giggle said he was enjoying the wicked side of having a mate. “I’m starting to see how Kenzie ended up in a closet with his Daddy.”

I groaned, which only made his delight stronger. “No closets. I’m going to reward my sexy mate for making good decisions, remember? You get to pick what kind of game we play.”

Something about his laughter said his little side loved the idea of playing but his big side stayed in charge with a sexy, teasing tone. “If I really get to pick, I want to ride my dragon.”

Snuggling closer, he let out a breath and my mind filled with a picture of himself straddling my hips and sinking lower until he was filling his sexy ass with my cock. I knew he could feel exactly what that did to me, through the bond and through my body, and I moaned, knowing how good that was going to feel. “Your dragon won’t last long if you keep teasing him like that.”

That time his giggle was naughty and his fingers found my nipples, flicking both of them to send sparks through me. “I’ll take my chances. Worst case scenario, I get to ride later too.”

I liked how he saw life.

“I think that sounds like a wonderful plan.” I had to ignore his giggles, but he made that easier and harder by pinching my nubs. “But I would like to make a good impression on my mate.”

Mates were forever…but mates also only got one first time.

“Daddy…” He sounded like he thought I was silly as he straightened and kissed my cheek. “You’ve already done that. The first time you played with me. The first time you kissed me. The first time you gave me your cake.”

My snort got a giggle out of him and he wrapped his arms round my neck to give me a hug and a tender kiss. “We’ve already had the best first times I could have ever imagined.”

“I’ve got the best mate I could’ve ever imagined.” Kissing his nose, I couldn’t help my grin. “He’s such a good mate, I always give him my cake.”

He barely managed to hold back his giggle. “He appreciates that. It makes him feel special. And sneaky.”

Chuckling, I hugged him tight and then turned us to fall back on the bed. That got a laugh out of him too but it was quickly followed by sexy wiggles that got a moan out of me. “He’s sneaky and naughty.”

Merritt’s eyes sparkled as he gave me another kiss and scrambled to sit up. When he was straddling my chest, he gave me another wiggle. “He’s also king of the hill…or dragon in this case.”

Giving him a teasing glare, I raised one eyebrow. “Really? Do you want to test that?”

His sexy little shiver said he wanted to say whatever answer would give him the best orgasm. “How would you test me, Daddy?”

One hand reached forward to caress my neck and head, and his other reached back to stroke the bulge that was barely being restrained by my briefs. “Would it be a thorough test?”

Giving one ass cheek a smack, I loved the way his eyes nearly rolled back in his head. “ Very thorough.”

A little smile peeked out of my naughty mate, but he rocked back and forth, letting out a low moan as he clenched. “But I’ve been a good boy, Daddy.”

That probably depended on the definition we were using, but he distracted me by pinching my nipple before I could explain that. “I’m a good boy who loves how beautiful the room is and how wonderful you are at taking care of me.”

“I should not be this easily bribed or distracted.” My growled-out drama had him pressing his lips together. “Are you laughing? Hmm?”

Yes.

He managed not to let it escape and shook his head, though.

After a few more seconds, he swallowed and licked his lips. “No, Daddy. I’m just very glad all your focus is on me. It makes me feel special.”

Brat.

“That’s a good one.” My grin got a matching one peeking out of Merritt. “You win. King of the dragon hill.”

He managed not to giggle, but I could see his little side peeking out and thoroughly enjoying the teasing. “Does that mean I get my prize?”

Before I could answer, he glanced up at the nightstand. “It looks like the room is not only beautiful but very well prepared too.”

“What can I say? I like to be prepared.” As I shrugged, we both ignored the dramatic sound that came through the too thin for dragons wall.

Somehow even Merritt managed not to laugh. “I appreciate it. It’s very special. Thank you.”

Judging by the sigh we heard, that helped soothe Wren’s ruffled feathers and Merritt finally giggled, flopping back down on me and burying his face against my neck. We were both nearly sliding off the bed, but I wrapped my arms around him and braced my feet against the carpet. “You are worth any effort or ridiculousness.”

That got a cute snicker and his lips inched up to my ear as he dropped his voice to a whisper. “What happened?”

I gave a low groan. “He was dressed like a squirrel. I don’t know what I interrupted, but you have to make sure he understands that it’s not my business. I don’t want to know.”

“I’ll save you, Daddy.” Kissing my cheek, Merritt lifted his head, still wearing his adorable grin. “After we play the game I picked out.”

“I think that’s very fair.” Shifting, I gave him a quick peck. “You’re the king after all.”

And it was time he got his prize.

Me.

I knew I was the best, so it was good to see he knew that too.