Chapter Twenty-Two

Nix

Iris insisted on helping us clean up after dinner, but it went quickly with three of us. I hung the last dish towel on the rack to dry and turned to face our mate. “So, what shall we do? Another movie night? Maybe take a walk around the neighborhood?”

“Would that be safe?” she looked worried, and my dragon did not like that one bit. Which was fine because neither did I.

“Yes, with us, it is. Should that bear or any of his people show up, we will flame him and end all our problems.”

Keir smirked. “We can flame from two-legged form. It leaves blisters in our mouths, but it can be worth it.”

“Well, I don’t want to have you blistered because I actually had something else in mind, if it’s okay with the two of you?” She lifted her gaze to meet mine then looked over at Keir.

“Anything, mate,” he said.

I nodded. “What would you like to do?”

“Just your asking me is enough to make me believe in you.” Her eyes were soft, shiny. “I would like to umm…close the deal with the two of you?” Cheeks flushing, she said, “In case you don’t know what I mean because I said that weird, I would like to accept your offer to stay forever. To make love with you and wear your marks.”

She had no mark from her ex, which had pleased me when I’d looked for it. I didn’t know why, but through some kindness of Fate, only ours would grace her soft skin. As it should be. I scooped her up and carried her out of the kitchen, up the stairs, and to her bed, Keir on my heels. Iris wanted us not only in her bed and not only to be with her physically, but she wanted us forever. As our mate, she’d live longer, as well and be immune to many human health problems and diseases, so we wouldn’t have to worry about having many years without her.

I closed the door behind us then laughed at myself. Who was going to peek in? But somehow I wanted privacy for this most sacred night. We undressed her tenderly then ourselves and all lay on the bed, Iris between us. Caressing her, kissing her, we shared with her what it would mean to be mated to a dragon.

I began, “You are asking for our mark, so you need to know what it means. We’ve told you some, but dragons are more intense than many other shifters. You will be granted a lot of our immunity to disease and likely to live a much longer life. We ask for your loyalty and love and offer you the same.”

“We will protect you from danger and your enemies are our enemies,” I continued. “You come before us, before anything including our hoard, which, if you haven’t guessed, is our business and also some special items in the safe in our office.”

“You have special items?” Iris asked. “As your mate, can I know what they are?”

“Nothing that special,” I told her. “Silver and gold. We’re not the most creative dragons, but we do like the shiny stuff.”

“You will become a co-owner of all that’s ours, tonight.” I dusted my hands. “Not that we think that’s the real prize.”

“Wow.” She rubbed her belly in gentle circles. “That’s a lot of security for the baby.”

“Oh, and of course”—I laid my hand on top of hers—“the baby will be our child.”

“Not in a possessive way,” Keir hastened to say. “But in a loving, protective way. We would never seek custody over you should that come up.”

“Not that you’d ever give up such awesomeness as us,” I hurried to say. “We just want you to know how it works.”

“And if I do get over you, do I get the gold?” She laughed as she said it, but we wanted her to know the facts.

“Yes. You do.” I kissed her. “So please don’t leave us and take all the pretties.”

“This girl is no fool.” Iris kissed Keir and then me. “You’re both more valuable than any old shiny metal. Now, are you going to tell me where your Rembrandts are stored, or are you going to mate and mark me?”

She didn’t have to ask again. While I continued kissing her, Keir rolled on top of her and bent to place a kiss on her pussy. She shivered and slung an arm around my neck, holding me to her. Keir lifted her hips, her legs dropping to the sides while he buried his face in her heat. She whimpered into my mouth and pulled back, panting. I turned my attention to her breasts that had already grown larger in the bit of time we’d been together. I nibbled and licked, feeling her nipples tighten and become hard points.

Then she cried out and her hips bucked, her whole body vibrating with the force of her orgasm. Keir didn’t give her a chance to come down, rising to grip his cock and fill our mate. I steadied her, continuing to suckle her breasts and kiss her lips while she clung to me, and while Keir drove into her again and again, I waited, getting harder by the second.

After Keir lifted off her, I took his place just in time for her to hit her third or maybe fourth orgasm and had to struggle to make my time in her hot tightness last longer than a few seconds. She was everything. Joining with her in this way the answer to prayers and the fulfillment of dreams. I held out as long as I could before spilling inside her then, catching Keir’s eye, I bent to the right side of her throat. “It’s going to hurt. I’m so sorry.”

“Do it, hurry!” She gasped when my teeth pierced her skin and then again when Keir marked her on the other side, but then let out a long easy breath and her arms encircled both our napes. “Now I am yours.”

“Yes.” I tipped my head to the side. “Will you mark me, mate? So anyone will know?”

She marked us both. It was never done with dragons; at least so far as I knew, only the alphas marked their mates. But this was a unique decision made by us all. And perfect for us.