Page 24

Two months later

Meveris rolled Zaryen onto his stomach gently, which earned him a sleepy laugh.

”Good morning to you, too,” his mate said as he pushed his arms under the pillow and relaxed into the mattress, knowing what was coming.

Rubbing his nose against the back of Zaryen”s neck, Meveris inhaled deeply.

”Good morning.”

Then, he started moving lower, dropping kisses all over the warm skin on display. The smooth, soft expanse of his mate”s back still felt new, since Meveris had been so used to seeing scales along a spine. But his favorite spot was low and to the side, barely above Zaryen”s right hip. That was where the bonding mark had settled, about a week after the ceremony, and Meveris couldn”t stay away from it, seeking it out with his fingers or his lips every chance he had. He put his hand there whenever they were walking somewhere, and he kissed it every night before going to sleep.

And sometimes, like today, when they didn”t have to get up early, he rolled his companion onto his stomach and lavished his back, slowly and thoroughly, before biting a few marks around the permanent one. Then…

”You can come on me, if you want.” Zaryen arched his back a little, and Meveris realized he”d been running his fingers along the dip between Zaryen”s ass cheeks. ”I don”t mind.”

Meveris would snort if he wasn”t trying to hold back a groan at how quickly his cock took interest in that offer.

Still, he couldn”t let it slide completely.

”You don”t mind.” He pushed his fingers lower and rubbed a spot behind Zaryen”s balls that made him moan into the pillow. ”How generous of you.”

”It is,” his mate insisted, even as he leaned back into the touch. ”I could demand you get inside me and stay there until you come.”

”You could.” Meveris ran his tongue over the bonding mark, making them both shiver. ”You still can, if you want.”

”No, we don”t have time for what I have in mind. You should go and keep Lanveris company, and I need to get to the library before breakfast.” He arched his back again. ”Come on.”

Not needing any more encouragement, Meveris straddled Zaryen”s thighs and leaned forward, spreading his mate”s ass cheeks apart to slip his cock in between. He shifted his weight to have more leverage, and started thrusting—slowly at first, then faster when Zaryen pushed back.

”So beautiful.” Meveris dropped a kiss on his mate”s shoulder blade, even as his gaze was still stuck on the bonding mark. The little dragon appeared to be moving, but it was because Zaryen was, the play of muscles under his skin making it seem like the mark came alive. ”So mine.”

Zaryen moaned and tried to quicken the pace, even though he was partially immobilized.

”Yours.” He tilted his head and caught Meveris”s gaze. ”And you”re mine.”

Meveris leaned in for a short kiss. ”Always.”

They stopped talking for a while after that, making room for all the other kinds of sounds they liked to make during sex. Neither of them was particularly loud, but they didn”t need to be—they heard each other just fine.

”I”m close,” Meveris murmured before he lifted himself a little and curled his hand around his cock, tightening the grip and gasping as the orgasm hit.

Seeing his come on the bonding mark would never get old.

Zaryen swore and tugged at his own cock, following Meveris over the edge after barely a few strokes.

As they lay like this for a minute or so, their breathing slowly getting back to normal, Meveris wished he didn”t have to move. He would be more than happy to remain here, running his fingers over the mess he made on the bonding mark and listening to his companion”s heartbeat as their connection brimmed with joy and satisfaction.

But Zaryen was right. He needed to be with Lanveris. It was his twin”s searching ceremony, after all.

”I have a good feeling about today.” Meveris rubbed his thumb over Zaryen”s skin, then he gave his companion a knowing look. ”And not because of what just happened.”

Raising his eyebrows, Zaryen turned onto his side without dislodging Meveris”s hand.

”Not even a little because of what just happened?” he asked, trying to look innocent and failing miserably.

”Well.” Meveris leaned in for a kiss and nipped at his companion”s lower lip. ”Maybe a little because of that.”

”Good.” Zaryen grinned at him. ”All the hard work is paying off, then.”

Meveris brushed their noses together. ”Nothing”s hard work when I”m with you.”

Which was true, but that wasn”t why he said it. Instead, he said it for this, right there—the slight catch of breath, the way Zaryen”s eyes widened briefly, and his heartbeat sped up.

Such admissions never failed to make his companion respond exactly like that, which was why Meveris kept making them, at least a couple times a day.

A part of him wanted Zaryen to get used to them, maybe even expect them, but the other part wanted the small reactions to last forever, because his own heart answered in kind, briefly overwhelmed with so much love every time.

And who would want to lose that?

Not him. Not ever.

THE END

Zaryen and Meveris may already have their HEA, but that”s only the start of the series!