Page 20 of Purple Protector (Eiloren Clan #3)

SOMETHING WAS UP WITH Aaron. Birch could tell because of how jumpy he was. He wasn’t sure what had happened or when, but Aaron kept glancing at him, then quickly looking away when he saw that Birch was watching him.

They were on their couch, watching a movie—or at least, they were supposed to be. Aaron was watching Birch more than the screen, and while it wasn’t a problem because Birch was fine being watched by Aaron, he wanted to know what was going on.

Birch didn’t think it was anything serious.

He and Aaron hadn’t left each other’s company since yesterday, so he would know if something serious was going on.

The easiest way to get this settled would be to ask, but Birch wanted Aaron to feel like he could come to him if he ever had any kind of problem. Aaron would tell him eventually, right?

Birch tightened his arm around Aaron’s shoulders and tried to think about when this something might have happened.

Aaron had been fine yesterday. They’d spent the afternoon together then had gone through their usual evening routine and had gone to bed.

Aaron had been pensive, but that was nothing new.

He was often lost in his head, giving Birch the opportunity to watch him, which Birch always enjoyed.

Aaron had been a bit more nervous this morning.

He’d seemed on the verge of asking something several times, but he hadn’t.

He hadn’t argued when Birch had said he wanted to see Killian.

Aaron understood that Birch wanted to check on his friend, and he’d been fine with it.

He’d come along and sat in Killian’s office while Birch made sure that everything was as it should.

Aaron had sat with Marlin .

“Did Marlin say something to you?” Birch asked before he could think better of it. If his best friend had said something that had made Aaron freak out, Birch was going to beat his ass.

Aaron turned wide eyes to Birch. “What are you talking about?”

“Earlier, when we were in Killian’s office. Did Marlin say something to you?”

For some reason, Aaron’s cheeks were turning pink. It was cute but didn’t help Birch understand what was going on.

“We just talked,” Aaron said.

“About what?” Birch swallowed. It was none of his business. He wanted to know, but if Aaron didn’t want to tell him, that was that. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to tell me.”

Aaron shook his head and shifted his body so that they could face each other.

He tucked his leg under himself and turned, and for a moment, he just stared at Birch.

His cheeks were still flushed, and Birch couldn’t help but wonder why he seemed so embarrassed.

Seriously, if Marlin had said anything he shouldn’t have, Birch would make him pay.

“I was just thinking about what Palmer said yesterday about your heightened libido and how it’s probably making you uncomfortable.”

That wasn’t what Birch had expected. “It’s not. I’m used to dealing with this. It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last.”

“It doesn’t make sense for you to have to deal with it on your own, though. We’re together, right?”

Birch caught one of Aaron’s hands and kissed his palm. “We are.”

“Then I should help you.”

“Not if you’re not comfortable with it.” They hadn’t done anything in bed yet, and Birch didn’t want to push Aaron or make him uncomfortable.

Everything in Aaron’s life was changing.

Birch would wait to have sex with him, even though he was impatient.

He thought Aaron was the most beautiful man he’d ever seen, so of course he wanted him in his bed.

He wanted to be in Aaron’s heart more, though.

Their feelings mattered more than their bodies.

“I am comfortable with it. I want to help you. I want to have sex with you because we’re together and because you’re hot. I just wasn’t sure how to make it good for you because, well, you’re a dragon. You’re different from me and anyone I’ve ever been with.”

Birch finally understood. “You asked Marlin how to go about it.”

“I did. I wanted to be sure you would enjoy it and that it wouldn’t end up in a pregnancy. I know Palmer gave you birth control, but still. It freaks me out a bit to think that we could become parents.” Aaron’s eyes widened. “Not that I don’t want kids with you eventually, but it’s way too soon.”

“I agree,” Birch said as he squeezed Aaron’s hand. “Maybe in a few years, not now.”

Aaron looked relieved. “Exactly. So yeah. I talked to Marlin, and he told me to stop freaking out and overthinking it.”

That sounded like something Marlin would say. “Is that what you’ve decided to do?”

“I guess. I’m still not sure where to start, but I want this. I want you .”

Birch had never thought he would end up with someone like Aaron.

He’d expected he’d eventually date a guard or someone like that who would understand how demanding his job was.

Aaron did understand, even though he wasn’t a guard.

He was sweet and gentle, and somehow, he’d gotten Birch to fall in love with him.

Birch wanted nothing more than to drag him to their nest and spend the rest of the day there.

He could do it. Aaron had just told him that he wanted that, too.

“Are you sure?” Birch asked. They both needed to be, and Birch knew how he felt about all of this. He just needed Aaron to confirm that he felt the same way.

* * * *

A ARON WASN’T CHANGING his mind. He wanted to do this for Birch, but also for himself. Why shouldn’t they make love? They’d already talked things out and had agreed that they were in this for the long term. What sense would it make to wait? Aaron didn’t want to. He didn’t think Birch did, either.

“I’m sure,” he told Birch.

He liked that Birch smiled at his words and that he didn’t ask him if he was sure again. A lot of the time, Aaron barely trusted himself. He was always afraid he’d made the wrong decisions, but not in this case, and he didn’t want Birch to believe that he wasn’t in this a hundred percent.

When Birch held out a hand, Aaron took it. He allowed Birch to lead him to the nest room. His heart raced, even though he knew he was doing the right thing.

“You’re different,” Aaron admitted after a moment, his voice barely above a whisper. “From anyone I’ve ever met.”

Birch’s lips quirked into a small smile. “Different how?”

“You’re fierce,” Aaron said, searching for the right words. He didn’t want to make a mess out of this. “Protective. Like you’d burn the world to keep me safe.” It was something Aaron hadn’t known he wanted, but now that he had it, he didn’t want to do without it.

Birch’s eyes darkened at the words. “Maybe I would,” he admitted softly. “You don’t know how much you mean to me, Aaron. How much I want this. I was fine on my own, but then you barged into my life, and I don’t think that I can live without you now.”

Before Aaron could respond, Birch slid his free hand to Aaron’s hip.

The touch was deliberate and possessive, and Aaron felt his pulse quicken in response.

He’d known that Birch hadn’t wanted a relationship before meeting him, and he still had a hard time believing that he, of all people, had pushed him to change his mind. He’d done that.

Aaron met Birch’s gaze, feeling suddenly bold. “Good. I don’t want you to be able to live without me.”

Birch’s mouth crashed on Aaron’s as if he couldn’t hold back anymore. Aaron groaned into the kiss, surrendering to the sensation of Birch’s lips moving against his own. Birch’s tongue delved inside, hot and demanding, and Aaron opened for him willingly.

Yes, this. This was what he wanted—what he needed. He was Birch’s, and he liked that Birch felt possessive of him.

Birch pulled away long enough to strip off Aaron’s shirt, and Aaron took the opportunity to look at him.

He’d gotten used to the way dragons walked around without any clothes on and to how different they looked from humans, but in Birch’s case, he wasn’t sure he’d ever get used to how beautiful he was.

His muscular chest and the patterns of scales on his skin made Aaron’s fingers itch to touch him.

He could.

He traced the edges of the scales on Birch’s stomach with his fingertips. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered. It was true. Birch was beautiful.

Birch chuckled softly. “Not as beautiful as you.”

His hands returned to Aaron’s body, skimming over his sides and dipping lower, urging him toward the nest. Aaron obeyed the silent order and sank into the nest of blankets as soon as he was naked.

Birch settled above him, his weight pressing down just enough to anchor him.

He’d never really felt beautiful—cute, yes, but not beautiful—but he believed Birch.

“Tell me what you want,” Birch said.

“You,” Aaron said with a gasp.

Birch’s gaze flared with heat. “You have me,” he promised.

Birch pinned Aaron’s wrists above his head. He trailed kisses down Aaron’s neck, nipping gently at the sensitive skin until Aaron whimpered, his hips arching instinctively. He’d never trusted anyone enough to do this, but he trusted Birch with his life. Birch wouldn’t hurt him.

Birch paused and looked up at Aaron. “Okay?”

“Please,” Aaron begged. “Don’t stop.”

Birch’s answering growl sent shivers down Aaron’s spine. Birch rested his forehead against Aaron’s, their breaths mingling as he murmured, “I love you.”

Birch’s words sent a jolt through Aaron. “I love you, too.”

Birch’s tail slid along the length of Aaron’s leg, the scales catching lightly against his skin, sending sparks of pleasure racing up his back.

Aaron gasped, arching slightly into the touch.

He hadn’t even thought about Birch’s tail and how Birch might use it in bed.

The tip was already slick, and Aaron had no idea how Birch had managed that. He didn’t care, either.

“Open for me, Aaron,” Birch whispered. His tail shifted higher, brushing against Aaron’s inner thigh, the sensation both teasing and electrifying.

Aaron hesitated for a moment. The thought of allowing Birch’s tail to explore him made his pulse quicken. He wanted it, but part of him wondered how weird it would be. He trusted Birch to stop if he needed him to, though, so it was easy to make a decision.

With a small nod, Aaron lifted his hips slightly, granting Birch access.

Birch’s tail moved with precision, circling around his entrance before pressing gently against it.

Aaron inhaled sharply, his breath catching in his throat as the tip of the tail breached him, slowly easing inside.

Birch let go of his wrists, and Aaron lowered his hands.

“Fuck,” Aaron groaned, gripping the blankets beneath him as Birch’s tail continued its steady invasion. The sensation was unlike anything Aaron had ever experienced.

“Still okay?” Birch asked softly, his voice tinged with concern. His tail paused its progression, giving Aaron a chance to adjust to the intrusion.

Aaron swallowed hard, nodding despite the tension building within him. “Yeah,” he managed to stammer out. He barely sounded like himself. “Don’t stop.”

Birch’s answering smile was tender. With a deep breath that told Aaron that he was affected by what they were doing, too, he resumed the slow, deliberate thrust of his tail.

Birch’s tail curled and shifted inside of Aaron. Aaron clenched his teeth, straining to stifle the sounds trying to escape him. The sensations were almost too much.

“Birch,” Aaron whimpered, his body trembling as the pressure grew unbearable.

“Shh,” Birch soothed, his voice a low murmur against Aaron’s ear. “Let go, Aaron.”

Aaron did. He surrendered to the sensations flooding through him and the pleasure. He relaxed his grip on the blankets, allowing Birch’s tail to press deeper.

“Birch!” he cried out, his voice breaking as his body tensed. His fingers dug into the blankets again because he needed something to hold on to.

“That’s it,” Birch encouraged. “Come for me, Aaron.”

Aaron did just that. His body shook as waves of pleasure crashed over him, and he spilled his release between them. His vision blurred momentarily, the intensity of the experience leaving him breathless and feeling weak.

Birch’s tail remained inside him as he rode out the aftershocks. Birch’s attention never left his face, watching as Aaron came down from the high.

“Are you all right?” Birch asked softly.

Aaron nodded, managing a small smile. “Yeah. That was incredible.”

Birch chuckled. “I’m glad you enjoyed it,” he said, his tail withdrawing slowly from Aaron’s body. He leaned in, capturing Aaron’s lips in a gentle kiss.

As the kiss deepened, Birch’s hands began to roam, tracing lazy patterns across Aaron’s skin. His touch was warm and comforting, and it was clear that even though he hadn’t come, he wasn’t pushing for anything.

“I want you, Aaron,” Birch murmured against his lips, his voice thick with longing.

Aaron shivered. He knew what Birch was asking. “Then take me,” Aaron replied. What other answer could there be?

Birch’s eyes darkened at the invitation, the primal hunger returning to his gaze.

Without another word, he positioned himself between Aaron’s legs.

Aaron looked down and swallowed at the sight of Birch’s cock.

It had slid out of his cloaca and was glistening in the soft nest room light.

It looked big, but Aaron was sure that after taking Birch’s tail, he could take his cock, too.

“But I’ll go slow,” Birch promised.

Aaron nodded, taking a deep breath as he braced himself for what was to come.

He could feel the press of Birch’s cock against him.

The shape was slightly unfamiliar—the head was less defined than it would be on a human, and it was thicker at the spot where it disappeared into the cloaca—but it belonged to Birch. It wasn’t scary because it was him.

“God, Aaron,” Birch groaned, his voice strained. “You feel so good.”

Aaron couldn’t reply. His breath hitched as Birch’s movements became more assured. He was filling Aaron completely. Aaron clung to Birch, his hands gripping Birch’s shoulders as he surrendered. This was everything he’d wanted.

“Birch,” Aaron gasped, his voice breaking. He could feel Birch’s rhythm picking up, and each thrust drove him closer to the edge for the second time.

Birch moved in deliberate, powerful thrusts as he claimed Aaron.

Aaron’s head pressed back against the mound of pillows, and his eyes were half-lidded as he rode the sensations.

“Birch,” he whispered, unsure if he was begging for more or unable to form coherent words.

He did want more. He wanted everything Birch was willing to give him.

His fingers dug into Birch’s shoulders. He could feel the faint ridges of scales under his fingertips. They were a stark contrast to the smoothness of the rest of Birch’s skin, but Aaron loved it.

“I love you,” Birch murmured, his voice low and possessive.

Aaron swallowed hard. He still had a hard time believing that Birch was his, but he was, and Aaron would cherish him. “I love you.”

Birch let out a guttural growl. His claws flexed slightly against Aaron’s hips as he held him steady and continued fucking into him.

Aaron felt himself unraveling, his body responding to Birch’s rhythm.

It wasn’t just the physical sensation that was overwhelming—Aaron had never felt this way about anyone.

“Birch,” Aaron choked out, his voice breaking midsentence. He could feel the tension in his groin coiling tighter. He was about to come again.

“Let go , baby,” Birch murmured.

Aaron cried out as Birch thrust into him again.

His body felt like jelly as he shuddered with pleasure.

Birch didn’t stop moving. His pace quickened, his movements becoming more urgent as he chased his own release.

Aaron could feel Birch’s breath coming in short, uneven bursts against his neck as he drove himself deeper and harder.

“Aaron!” Birch cried out as he finally came.

For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. The world narrowed down to the two of them.

Then, with a shuddering exhale, Birch collapsed onto Aaron, his weight pressing him down into the nest.

They lay like that for several long moments, neither of them speaking as they tried to catch their breath. Aaron’s heartbeat was still racing, and his limbs felt heavy and sluggish. He could feel Birch’s chest rising and falling against his own. He liked it.

Aaron tilted his head to the side, meeting Birch’s gaze. “That was incredible.”

“It was. You’re amazing, Aaron.”

Aaron blinked, caught off guard by the sudden compliment. “I think that’s you. I didn’t do much.” And he’d liked it. He’d enjoyed having Birch take charge.

“You are,” Birch insisted.

Aaron swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. Birch didn’t look as though he was lying. He truly thought that Aaron was amazing.

“Thank you.” Aaron looked up at Birch. It would take him time to fully believe that, but he knew he would eventually. Birch would make sure of that.