14. Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
L andry sat on Casper’s bed, trying to be reassuring with his facial expression, but he’d failed. He couldn’t seem to muster even a little smile.
Casper knew Landry well enough to understand what was happening. “You’re going after Ellis.”
Landry nodded. He didn’t need to do or say more than that.
“When?” He must not have heard Landry say it to the perpetrator.
“In a couple of weeks. I’ll let him think he won by taking you. I want him to think I’m scared.” Landry wanted Ellis to stew in his own thoughts for a while. If he got his wheels turning, then his ego would take over, and he’d build up some false bravado. He needed the element of surprise and the only way he’d get it was to use Ellis’s narcissism against him. Ellis thought he was winning than he wouldn’t notice how Landry had gained a few skills since the last time Ellis had seen him.
“When are going to tell the doctor?”
“He already knows.” Landry’s smile was genuine when he thought about Enzo.
“He seems pretty protective of you.”
“He’s my mate.”
Casper raised his eyebrows. “Is he…patient with you?”
“Very. And he’s good at taking care of me.”
“He’s Raylee’s dad, right? That’s a big age-gap.”
Landry shrugged. “Not that big of a deal for dragon shifters.”
“He’s super-hot.”
Landry growled, pretending he was jealous, but he knew Casper meant nothing by it. It was also true. Enzo was the most beautiful person Landry had ever seen.
Casper chuckled, but it died when doing so hurt his abdomen. He groaned and clutched his middle. Landry was just about to call Enzo in when Casper calmed again. His breathing took a few minutes to regulate, though.
When his gaze met Landry’s again, he said, “Thanks for saving me.”
“I always will. So will the others. You know that.”
“I know. But you don’t get thanked enough.”
“Do you need anything?”
“Sleep for now.”
“If you need or want anything at all, just call for me or Enzo. We’ll hear you. Okay?”
Casper nodded and then yawned.
Landry patted him on the arm before leaving the room. He kept the door open a crack.
Enzo stood outside in the hall, as if waiting for him. He opened his arms.
Landry hugged him around the middle.
“He’ll be okay, baby. I promise.”
“I know. It’s just that…he wouldn’t have gotten hurt if not for me.”
Enzo growled and tightened his hold. “Don’t say that. You saved his life.”
“ We did,” Landry corrected.
“All right, we saved his life. You did a very good job of it. And you didn’t even kill anyone. I’m proud of you.” Which wasn’t really the point. Landry knew where he was going with the conversation. He’d say it was Ellis’s fault soon enough. But it was nice to hear praise.
“I wasn’t doing them a favor. I left them alive because I want them to go back to Ellis and talk. He’ll take losing the battle as a challenge. His ego will take over and when it does, he won’t be able to see anything else. His ego has always been like blinders for him. I’ll need it when I confront him.” Landry put a hand over Enzo’s mouth when he tried to speak. He ended up growling instead. “I will confront him. As much as it scares the crap out of me, I need to.”
When Landry moved his hand away, Enzo said, “I’ll fight about it later. For now, let’s get you to bed. I know you’re tired.”
Landry was a lot of things, but tired wasn’t one of them. At least not yet.
“Can I…” Landry took a deep breath, trying to find his courage. He wasn’t sure why it fled. He was talking to his mate. A dragon who had given him everything he had ever asked for and even some stuff he didn’t. Enzo took care of him as though he thought Landry was precious. “Can I stay in your room? With you? Please.”
Enzo’s expression softened, and he smiled. “Yes, of course. I’ve wanted that since the moment I met you, but I didn’t want to scare you by suggesting it.”
So far, Enzo had been careful with him. He’d let Landry come to him every time. It put Landry at ease and made him comfortable in a way Landry had never been with anyone else before.
They stood in the hall between the room Casper was in and Enzo’s bedroom. Or he supposed it was his bedroom, too.
Enzo turned and opened the door. He let Landry enter first.
The room felt warm, with earthy blue walls and tan wooden furniture. The bed was the focal point. It was big and inviting. But what brought Landry’s dragon to the surface was the deliciousness of Enzo’s scent. It hung in the air, making Landry hard.
Landry turned and closed the distance to Enzo. He held him by his nape and went in for a kiss. Enzo obliged, as he always did. He didn’t deepen the kiss, but Landry could tell he wanted to.
Landry pulled away. “You can kiss me the way you want.”
That must have been what Enzo needed to hear because he took charge, licking into Landry’s mouth. He cupped Landry’s face in his hands as though he were the most precious person.
Landry wanted to climb Enzo like a tree and live inside him. It was a new experience for Landry, and scared him enough that he pulled away. He wasn’t sure why it scared him. Maybe it was because he knew what was about to happen. They were going to have sex for the first time. As patient as Enzo was, Landry knew Enzo wanted to fuck. It was obvious. As hard as Landry was and his much as he wanted it to, he wasn’t sure if he could.
Enzo let him go. He drew his eyebrows together in confusion. His lips were shiny from their kiss. He looked debauched.
“Pineapple.” The word was out of Landry’s mouth before he knew he was going to say it. He sucked in a breath and then shook his head. “Wait. No. I didn’t mean to say that.”
Enzo’s gaze softened. He stayed still. “Whether you did or didn’t, it’s all right.”
As always, Enzo put Landry at ease. “I liked it. A lot. I know we’ll have sex now that I’m sleeping in your bed.” As soon as Landry said it, he knew that was the real issue. He winced because it was what he had asked for. But he didn’t realize how much pressure he would feel after the fact. Saying it aloud took some of that pressure off.
Enzo cupped his cheek. “One doesn’t have to follow the other. Not until you want to. And if you never want to, we’ll still be fine.”
“But I want to, though. I want it to be making love.” His cheeks heated.
Enzo rubbed his thumb over his cheek. “I’m already half in love, baby.”
Landry didn’t think anyone would ever want someone as broken as he was, not even Enzo. But at every turn, Enzo showed him the truth behind his statement. “Me too.”
“I think for tonight I’d like to hold you. Nothing more. How does that sound?”
Landry sighed. “Like I screwed up.”
Enzo chuckled. “Tomorrow night, we’ll revisit the possibility. But for now, I think you need time.”
“That’s what safe-wording gets me? Delayed gratification.” Landry rolled his eyes.
Enzo turned him toward a closed door. “That’s the bathroom. Shower the blood off and then we’ll sleep. Just sleep.”
“Damn.” Landry didn’t know he had blood on him, but flecks covered his arms. He probably had some on his face, too. Maybe other places.
He shuddered. He hated to admit it, but after the day he’d had and the reason behind having it, he didn’t want his first time to happen after that level of violence. And he didn’t want to have blood all over him during it, either.
They were in bed in under ten minutes. Landry had never shared a bed with someone. The second he got under the covers with Enzo, he snuggled against him, lying on his chest.
Enzo put an arm around Landry. “Good night, baby.”
“Good night.” Landry bit his lip before whispering, “Daddy.”
Enzo rubbed his cheek against Landry’s hair. “Maybe tomorrow. Go to sleep.”
“Damn.”
Enzo chuckled. “I don’t have to remind you of how you safe-worded, right?”
Landry sighed and shut his eyes. He didn’t think he’d be able to sleep on Enzo, but it didn’t take him long to fall under.