Chapter Nine

Holy shit! Rocky had never seen so many books except in a bookstore.

He hadn’t prepared himself. Normally, he was very good at keeping his reaction under wraps, but Henri had a way of bringing out all of Rocky’s emotions and putting them right on his face. Rocky didn’t mind Henri having such a special skill, except he would rather not cause Henri to feel bad.

Henri had stacked them on every available flat surface, including the floor. They even took up most of the furniture. The only available seating was the couch and an armchair.

“Don’t judge me,” Henri huffed.

“I’m not.” After the initial shock wore off, Rocky planned out bookshelves in his mind. “You need more than one shelf, mate.”

Henri sucked in a breath. “You’d make more than one?”

Rocky nodded. “Where would you put them?”

Henri smiled and blushed. “My entire house, but how much will it cost?”

Rocky met his gaze. “We’re not discussing money, mate. Just tell me where you were thinking.”

“What does that mean? ‘We’re not discussing money’.” Even as Henri asked, he led the way through the living room to the bedrooms. Henri’s cabin was smaller than the one Rocky, Sully, and Bandos had bought, but not by much. The bedrooms were identical in size, but Henri used the one on the left. He had filled the other with more books. Henri had tall, teetering towers. Nothing was in order. Or if there was some sort of reasoning, Rocky couldn’t follow it.

Henri gestured to the spare room. “The room is small, but it would make a good library.”

It was obvious he’d been thinking about it for a while. He might have even bought the house intending to turn the bedroom into a library, but time had gotten away from him.

“I know space is limited, but maybe we can clear out the room in the next couple of days. Bandos and I will get started right away.”

“Bandos?”

“And Vaughan, if Bandos can rein him in. Garridan too. He has a shop and access to lumber.”

Henri frowned. “Why would they help me?”

Rocky stepped up to Henri, closing the few feet between them and cupping his cheek. “That’s what family does.”

Henri leaned into his touch. “Thank you.”

Rocky rubbed his thumb over Henri’s cheek.

Henri had high cheekbones, and his lips were the most kissable Rocky had ever seen. He appeared younger than he was, which wasn’t unheard of for a paranormal, but Rocky had a feeling Henri would always seem young. He had been a college professor as of a few months ago. He would have blended in better with the students.

“You’re my family now?”

“And Bandos and Sully. And their mates.” Rocky kissed Henri’s temple.

Rocky knew Henri’s story because he’d dug around a bit. Maybe it violated his privacy, but he’d still done it.

“I’ve never had that before. Not in my whole life. Not even my parents.” Henri blinked at him as if he expected Rocky to be a mirage. “Are you sure it’s not too much?”

While Rocky understood Henri’s meaning, he didn’t know how to answer. Rocky would give him anything he wanted so long as it was in his power. “You’re the perfect amount, mate.”

There went that pretty blush again. “Are you talking about my body?”

Rocky chuckled. “I mean all of you.”

“It’s a lot of work.” Now they were talking about the shelves.

“I’m happy to do it. It’ll be nice to create something again. It’s been too long.”

Henri leaned into him, smiled. “Bookshelves are my love language.”

Rocky winked at him. “I thought books were.”

Henri shrugged. “Those too.”

Rocky would like nothing more than to stand there staring at Henri and taking advantage of the fact Henri was letting him touch him. But Henri had a mouse problem they needed to take care of, even if his method was unconventional. “Since we have the bookshelf situation solved, how about you set up the mouse habitat and I’ll search for how they’re getting inside the house.”

Henri sighed as if Rocky had disappointed him somehow. “Right.”

“I promise I’ll hold you later.”

Henri bit his lip and gazed at Rocky from under his lashes. “Just holding?”

Rocky didn’t want to rush, but they’d been dancing around each other for too long. “Let see what happens.”

“I’m not very good at that.”

“At what, baby?”

“Going with the flow.”

Rocky kissed Henri. It was a press of lips, but that was all it took to create a spark. He knew one kiss wouldn’t be enough. He expected that. But Rocky hadn’t expected the possessiveness.

He growled, unable to help himself. And when Henri wrapped his arms around Rocky’s waist and hugged him, the wave of possessiveness grew stronger. “You’re mine.”

Henri stiffened but didn’t let go of Rocky. “What does it mean in practical terms?”

“You’re my mate. Mine.”

Henri sighs and relaxed. “So it’s a dragon shifter thing. And not some weird caveman thing where you’ll drag me by my hair into your cave and have your way with me.”

Rocky should have felt offended, but he’d sort of brought it on himself. Possessing a person made anyone an asshole. Rocky was no exception. And Henri seemed to have a narrative in his mind about what it could have meant. And it was so ridiculous, it made Rocky smile, even though he didn’t find it funny to treat anyone in such a thoughtless and violent way. “Caveman style wasn’t what I meant.”

Henri chuckled. It was one of the first times Rocky ever heard him laugh. It sounded like music, as if Henri was enchanted. He could use it to put a spell on Rocky. And it was working. Every cell in Rocky’s body zeroed in on Henri.

Rocky tightened his hold. Nothing else mattered but comforting his mate. “I’ll keep you safe, mate.”

Henri sucked in a breath and then seemed to settle even further into Rocky. It was as if he had finally accepted the declaration, even though Rocky had said it before.

“It’s not that I don’t want to feel safe…” Henri bit his lip and met Rocky’s gaze through his lashes. He blushed. “But you make me feel wanted. I’ve never felt that way before. I need that way more.”

“I want you. So much, sweetheart.”

“I want you too.” Henri’s words seemed to seal the deal between them.

Something shifted between them. The spark had ignited the attraction. The flames created something more, locking them together in a way they hadn’t been before.