Prologue

T he party was in full swing for the bonding ceremony. Gregori had honestly feared he'd never see the day Dimitri and Sam could bond with each other. He wasn't the only one in the clan, either. It was likely because of that the party was even more boisterous than usual. Relief lifted their spirits. The worst hadn't happened, Sam was fully healed and able to use magic, and he and Dimitri would now have centuries together instead of decades.

Plus, the trio was happily together. The entire clan had spent two hundred and fifty years worrying about Luka and Vasily and what would happen if they ever found their mage. To have all those worries proven to be nothing was a definite relief. Gregori felt like he had given Amaru good advice and a boot in the right direction, though he frankly could not wait for their bonding ceremony. He was going to give an absolutely wicked toast.

A happily ever after indeed.

Sam's family had flown down in force for the ceremony, of course. There were a lot of happy tears and hugs, with only some of it fueled by alcohol. (At least three people had spiked the wedding punch. Gregori knew that for a fact, as he'd watched them do it. No, he hadn't stopped them. Where was the fun in that?)

They'd gone for a beach wedding, and with the sun setting over the water, it was a truly beautiful sight. The blue of the water and the golds, purples, and oranges of the setting sun all washed over the white-and-silver themed decorations. People were dancing on the beach, a few drunkards were singing in the old tongue, and the area was filled with lots of laughter and conversation. Gregori hadn't seen his clan this happy since mages had started popping back up. It was a very, very good evening.

Normally, with a party this good, he'd kick back, drink, and enjoy. But something had caught his attention.

To be specific, someone.

Salem, Sam's twin, wasn't in the throng. He sat on the outside edge, on the grass, watching with a faint smile. The sunset washed over him, touching on that thick, dark brown hair, bathing his paler skin in warm tones. He looked downright edible, in fact.

Yeah. Gregori would love to get his hands on that.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? He took his beer with him as he sauntered over. Salem didn't twitch, just glanced in his direction before focusing again on whatever it was he looked at.

"Mind if I join you?" Gregori waved to a patch of grass near him.

"Feel free."

All right, good start. Gregori dropped into place, sitting close enough to feel the body heat off the man, but far enough away to not crowd him.

"Whatcha staring at?"

"My brother." Salem's faint smile grew. "When he first told us he was coming down here, my parents tried really hard to talk him out of it. I didn't think it was a good idea either, but I recognized there was no talking him out of it, so I didn't argue. Turns out, it was serendipity he did come down here alone. Who knew he was a dragon's mate?"

"No one. But I'm just as happy he did come."

"Happy, relieved, bemused. I'm all of that. Sam's focus on fixing his core paid off in the end." Salem shook his head before lifting his beer to his lips. "People have got to stop underestimating my brother. He's a smart man, he knows what he's doing."

"That he is. Any reason why you're over here and not over there?"

Salem took another swig with a grimace. "Too much gushing. My parents are a little too thrilled Sam's finally married. They're positive he'll be happy now. Also positive they'll get grandkids soon."

"Ah. Well, they might at that." Gregori shrugged in ignorance. He had no idea what Dimitri and Sam had decided in terms of kids.

"Is that all you dragons think about? Mates and kids? You don't have any fun?"

Oh-ho, look at that expression. Salem eyed him up and down with definite interest. Gregori felt his libido sit up and take notice. "I wouldn't say that. It's not like we're celibate as we wait for our mates to show up."

"I did hear that." Salem was definitely interested, leaning in slightly toward Gregori. "Nikki said something about dragons being able to partially shift. And doing really fun things with their tongues."

"It's a skill we all develop." Gregori leaned in as well, putting his mouth closer to Salem's ear. "If you'd like a demonstration, I'd be happy to oblige."

"Oh, I'm definitely interested in a demonstration," Salem purred back.

"How about we go inside?" Gregori offered. "Four walls, A/C, and lube await in my room."

"Lead the way."

Fuck yeah. The only thing that could make tonight even better was hot jungle sex, and it looked like Gregori was going to get lucky.

He tried not to look too eager as he stood up, offering Salem a hand. The mage took it with a smile that was filled with anticipation. His hand felt good in Gregori's—a little too perfect, truth be told. Keeping on the outskirts of the party, he led the way inside. Gregori's room was toward the middle of the courtyard area, along the left side, and there was basically no one there except a drunk guest sleeping on one of the benches.

Gregori pushed his door open, setting his beer down on the console table near the door. Salem promptly did the same, kicking off his sandals, then he seized Gregori by the hips and pushed him back against the closed door.

Oh, so that's how it was going to be? Fine by him. He went easily, letting Salem lead. Salem was a few inches shorter, but not enough to deter either of them. He leaned in, snaring Gregori's mouth with his. The man's mouth was hot and tasted like beer and male, and Gregori was enamored immediately.

He kissed back, wanting more, hungry for every taste he could find. He toyed with the hem of Salem's shirt, lifting it and finding warm skin underneath. Mm, lovely. That all felt amazing.

Salem broke the kiss enough to pull his shirt completely off, then reached for Gregori's. Gregori cooperated, wanting more skin-on-skin contact. The second those were out of the way, tossed carelessly aside, he dove back into the kiss. He just could not get enough of this man's mouth. It was like a gateway drug.

He felt his breathing ramp up, his whole body flaring to life as his libido kicked in. This man was far too delicious under him, sweetly responsive and hot as fuck. He grabbed the waist of Salem's shorts and tugged at them, needing them off. Salem's hands found his as well, pulling at them roughly, off and down.

Gregori kicked both shorts and boxers aside, relieved when Salem did the same, then got his hands on a perfect ass. Mm, yes, so very sweet under his hands.

Salem groaned into his mouth. "Ass play is my weakness."

"Happy to oblige."

He walked Salem back toward the bedroom, tongue tangling with the other man's. Truly, he'd never kissed a sweeter mouth than this one.

Their breaths came harder, more like pants, skin heating up.

Salem pulled back, flushed, lips parted in a way that turned Gregori on even further. "Do you eat ass?"

"I'll eat you out until you're begging," Gregori promised him. His dragon was strangely excited about this and threw in a deep rumble under the words.

"Promises, promises," Salem murmured wickedly before falling back onto the bed without a care, spreading his legs in invitation. Stretched out like this on top of the covers, he was definitely a picture. Salem was a highly attractive man, leanly built, and from the tan lines on his shoulders and thighs, he spent a good portion of time outdoors. Those deep, ocean blue eyes were full of invitation as he looked up at Gregori.

Gregori was all too happy to take that invitation. He knelt at the edge of the bed, lifting both of Salem's thighs up to rest on his shoulders. Salem was curious about how a dragon did rimming? Oh, he'd show him rimming.

He eased into it like a tease, tracing that puckered ring ever so slowly, just getting the taste of it on his tongue. Then he eased his tongue into it, a gentle fuck.

Salem's thighs quivered in his hands, a garbled sound coming from his throat.

This one definitely liked ass play, all right. Gregori internally grinned even as he partially shifted his mouth, lengthening his tongue several centimeters.

"Ahh, ah, oh god," Salem said with a groan.

Seemed like he enjoyed it. Now, to really have fun.

Gregori doubled down, fucking his long tongue in and out, sometimes widening it, hearing the noises pouring out of Salem's mouth, the man too gone to form words. His thighs kept tightening over Gregori's shoulders, then relaxing, unable to stay still under the rimming.

Honestly, Gregori could do this all day. He loved every second of it. Feeling that tight channel loosen around his tongue felt divine, too. The only thing better than this would be sliding in and fucking the man silly.

"Gre—" Salem gasped under a particularly strong thrust and had to try again. "Gregori?—"

Gregori hummed, more like a thrum in his throat, which he knew would make his entire tongue vibrate.

Salem thrashed under it, nearly sobbing. Ooh, that was a fun reaction. Let's do that again.

On the second foray, Salem did sob, nerves overloaded with pleasure. His hands scrambled for purchase in Gregori's hair, pulling almost painfully.

"Pl- please ."

Impressive, he got a word out. Honestly, Gregori was at his limit as well. He needed in that tight ass. Now.

He lifted his head up, looking down the long, lean body in front of him. Salem was stiffly erect, leaking pre-cum. His whole body was dewed with sweat and flushed.

"Fuck me," Salem ordered, or maybe pleaded. "I like it rough, just fuck me."

"Oh, I'll fuck you," Gregori promised in a low rumble.

He levered up onto the mattress, knees on the edge. He wasn't precisely gentle as he got his dick lined up with that sweet hole and pushed in.

Salem keened as his head thrashed on the pillow back and forth. He flexed around Gregori's dick as he pushed inside.

" Yesyesyesyesyes ," Salem hissed.

He gave the man no pause. The second he was balls deep, he pulled back and thrust in again, forcefully enough to move Salem toward the headboard.

With a cry, the mage got a firm handle on Gregori's shoulders, holding on for dear life as he was fucked over and over again, moving across the sheets with each thrust. Each little grunt and pant when Gregori thrust into that tight heat only drove him higher, made him want to impossibly fuck the man harder. So good. This was just so damn good. He couldn't remember sex ever feeling like this.

Salem clenched around him, entire body latching on to Gregori, shaking as he came hard all over both of them, a cry caught behind his teeth. As he came, his ass clenched down on Gregori's dick, squeezing in the most delicious way. Gregori groaned into the man's shoulder, his climax literally pulled out of him. His hips thrust in micro-bursts, needing to move some as he pumped hot cum into Salem.

They both dropped bonelessly to the mattress, breathing like they'd just finished a marathon. Gregori knew he should probably move, not crush Salem, but he couldn't find the energy or the willpower to do it. He was loath to move, and even more loath to separate. Which was strange for him. He liked cuddles after sex, but he wasn't normally this clingy, so why?—

Mate , his dragon informed him.

Oh.

Shit.

Seriously?!

For a full second, Gregori.exe stopped working. Reboot required. Wait, even with a reboot, he couldn't quite wrap his head around it. Salem was his mate? He'd literally just had a one-night stand with his mate?

Well, no, it couldn't be that anymore. Salem was his mate, after all.

Delighted, he smiled, and his dragon started purring in contentment. Finally, after centuries, they had their mate. Life couldn't get more perfect than this.

Salem shifted under him, sounding amused as he asked, "Do all you dragons purr like this after sex?"

"Uh." Caught flat-footed, Gregori mentally scrambled for a better answer than that. "Well, um, not always? I'm just particularly happy right now."

"Can you be happy and let me breathe?"

Oh, right, he was crushing the man. Gregori lifted up and gingerly pulled out, a hell of a lot more carefully than he'd pushed in, and caught the slight wince on Salem's face. He might have been too rough. Salem noticeably didn't complain, though, and settled right back into the mattress with a sated sigh.

Gregori rolled off the bed and into the en suite bathroom, dampened a hand towel, then came back to clean Salem up. The man complied with a sigh and a smile, apparently enjoying the attention.

"You're a considerate lover," Salem complimented, eyes closing as he relaxed utterly. "Whoever is your mate will be lucky to have you."

That seemed as good a segue as any. Gregori chucked the towel into the hamper in the corner, then sat next to Salem on the bed. "About that. You're my mate."

For a second, it looked like Salem had fallen asleep, that was how still he was. Then his eyes popped open and he jerked upright into a sitting position, staring at Gregori incredulously.

"I'm what ?!"

"You're my mate." Okay, surprise was expected. It was fine. Humans always took a minute to wrap their heads around the idea.

Salem kept staring at him, like a man waiting for the last piece of the puzzle so the rest made sense. "You can't possibly know that already."

"Uh, actually, dragons usually know pretty quickly. It's mages that take some time to get used to it. I'm absolutely not rushing you," Gregori tacked on hastily. "I just thought I should tell you."

"If I'm your mate, that means I have to move down here to live with you, right? Like Sam did."

"Well, generally speaking, that's how it would go. Yeah." Gregori tried to gauge Salem's expression. He did not look happy, which made a hollow pit open up in Gregori's stomach.

Salem abruptly rolled off the bed, feet hitting the floor with a thud. "No."

Shit. Gregori's hollow feeling turned into raw panic as he scrambled up as well, following Salem. "Salem, listen?—"

"No. Okay? No." Salem grabbed his clothes off the floor, jerking them on even as he argued. "I'm not turning my life upside down to move here, first of all. I have a nice house, a good career, a whole circle of family and friends up in the US. I have no desire to lose any of it. I can get dick from anywhere?—"

"Ouch, that was hurtful."

"You can find another mate somewhere else."

"That's not how this works." Gregori felt at a loss for words. He'd never heard of a mate arguing like this before.

Salem turned in place to stab a finger against Gregori's chest, expression fierce and determined. "There can't be only one right person for someone. It's not like we're soulmates."

"We are," Gregori corrected gently. He didn't want to alarm Salem any further, but he had to know the truth, too. "I am yours, as you are mine. Salem, I'm not asking you to give up your life or career on the spot. Just let me court you?—"

"No. If I let you court me, then you'll expect me to change." Salem turned on his heel, stopping at the doorway only long enough to cram his feet back into his sandals. He threw a parting shot over his shoulder. "I'm not going to change my mind. I don't want a dragon mate. Go find someone else."

The door slammed behind him. Gregori winced and ran a hand through his hair. Well, shit. That didn't go over well.

What did he do now?