28. Li Xiang

Xiang blinked, and his clan was gone.

He wasn’t in the meeting room any longer. It took only a second to recognize the heavy congestion of antique furniture, the wall of weapons, and the giant mound of pillows. A haunting scent of incense drifted past his nose, and the warm flicker of candles cast a pleasant and familiar glow. Kai had magicked him to the hoard.

“Kai!” he bellowed. This was not how they dealt with an argument. One person could not storm off and then use magic to steal the other away.

“You called me a dinosaur.” His stubborn mate’s voice drifted out from the far corner of the hoard in the direction of the canopied bed on the dais. At least Kai was in the hoard with him. He hadn’t simply trapped Xiang here while he went off to pout somewhere else.

Xiang marched toward Kai’s voice, his hands balled into fists at his sides. “Kai.”

“I’m not a dinosaur. I’ve never even seen one.”

He didn’t know whether to shake or strangle his lover. He was focused on something entirely unimportant.

As he reached the bedroom area of the cave, he found Kai seated on the end of the bed with his arms folded over his chest and a sour expression on his face. Something about seeing Kai in his cave made Xiang’s heart stutter and skip. It was as if he could feel the dragon’s power wrapping around him, blanketing and protecting him. When they’d been living with the clan, Kai had felt more human and fragile to him. Especially as wonder had filled his face as he’d experienced new human things for the first time.

But here he was in his domain.

He was the true dragon emperor.

A near-god.

And Xiang had hurt his feelings.

Yeah, his ancestors were not pleased about that. He could hear every one of them clucking their tongues at him and cursing his stupid head.

“I’m sorry for calling you a dinosaur. I was frustrated, but I shouldn’t have given in to name calling,” Xiang apologized as he moved closer.

Some of the stiffness left Kai’s shoulders and his arms loosened. He wasn’t looking at Xiang yet, but from the angle of his head, it was likely he could at least see Xiang from the corner of his eye.

“That being said, it’s rude to disappear in the middle of an argument. It’s not fair to the other person. Do you understand how intimidating it is to argue with you when I know how much power you command?”

That got Kai’s head to snap around to him, but the pain that slashed across his face stabbed right through Xiang’s heart. That was not what he wanted at all. He wanted Kai to listen to him.

“So, you think I would hurt you?” Kai whispered.

“What? No! Where would you get that idea?”

“You said that my power intimidates you. Plus, you don’t want me to accompany you while sneaking into the fae castle. It is my sword, my fight with the queen, my revenge for being so humiliated. I should be there to take back my sword, but you do not trust me to not hurt you and your clan. You fear my power.”

“Gods, Kai. If I am terrified of anything, it’s that I’m afraid of losing you.” Xiang rushed forward, closing the distance between them so he could cup Kai’s face in his shaking hands. “Any of my clan mates would be happy to explain that I’m not the smartest of us. I know how to do one thing, and that’s protect the people who are most important to me. I’m not good at talking about how I feel, and I’m not good at stepping aside to let someone else fight.”

Pausing, Xiang closed his eyes and drew in a steadying breath. When he opened them, he stared deep into a pair of soft silvery eyes that watched him as if he were the only thing in all the world. “You are right. You should be there to get your sword and to have your revenge. I’m not afraid of you hurting me or my clan. I’m scared to death of the queen hurting you. Seeing you chained and hurting in the courtyard nearly stopped my heart. That…that moment…almost killed me,” he choked out past the lump in his throat. His body grew cold all over as the images of that day flickered through his brain. He’d wanted to cut through every fae he saw. He’d wanted to rush to the queen and cut her head off, but his priority had been getting Kai free and somewhere safe.

“But you said that my powers intimidate you?” Kai prodded, his voice low and soft.

“They can be intimidating. You can do so many things with nothing more than a wave of your hand. I’m not afraid of you hurting me or my family.” He stopped and licked his lips. “However, I am scared that you don’t respect me and my opinion. That you don’t see me as an equal. In my eyes, mates should be equals. But if you can disappear when you don’t agree with something I say, I feel like I don’t matter.”

The dragon jerked his head back out of his touch while his eyebrows snapped together. His mouth fell open as if to argue, but nothing came out. He closed it again, and his eyes darted away. Xiang bit the inside of his mouth to keep from smiling as his lover seemed to contemplate what he was saying. A couple of seconds ticked by before a gasp slipped from Kai’s lips.

Xiang didn’t even get the chance to react. Kai swept him up and tucked him into his lap, wrapping his arms around him while burrowing his face against Xiang’s neck. “No,” Kai mumbled into his skin. “No. Never.”

“No never what?” Xiang inquired, fighting a bubble of laughter.

“I never want you to think I don’t respect you. Everything about you is precious to me.” Kai lifted his head and narrowed his eyes. “Even when you disagree with me and say mean things like I am a dinosaur.”

Xiang sighed and pressed a small kiss to the corner of Kai’s mouth. “I am sorry. You are not a dinosaur. You are the most impressive, most beautiful dragon in all the world. Not to mention, you’re a very sexy human as well.”

The grumpiness melted from Kai’s features. “Thank you.”

“But we need to talk through our disagreements,” Xiang pressed, unwilling to let this go until it was fixed. “I’m impulsive and overprotective. You’re overprotective and used to getting your way after being alone for so long. We talk things through. I’m not your pet.”

“No, you’re my mate,” Kai finished. The dragon leaned forward, pressing his forehead to Xiang’s. “Forgive me, Xiang. I jumped to conclusions rather than talking things out with you.”

“Of course.” Xiang wrapped his arms about Kai’s shoulders, pressing kisses across his face. “I’m sorry I hurt you. The idea of you going anywhere near the fae scares me and makes me irrational. I should never have said that you weren’t accompanying us.”

Kai’s head popped up, his silver eyes twinkling bright. “You’ll allow me to come with you?”

Xiang choked on a laugh. Allow? Like he could stop the dragon from doing anything he wanted.

Except maybe he could. Kai wanted nothing but his happiness and his safety. He probably would have obeyed Xiang if he commanded Kai to remain behind. Yet as much as he wanted to keep him safe, he couldn’t do that to the dragon.

And maybe Chen was right when he’d said that Xiang was the heart of Kai’s hoard. Right now, he’d take anything that weakened the queen’s hold over him.

“You know, this is going to sound crazy,” Xiang murmured as he nuzzled the soft spot behind Kai’s ear with the tip of his nose. “But I think I’ve missed your hoard. It feels nice to be here with you. Like it’s our spot and no one can find us.”

A low rumble like a growling purr moved up Kai’s throat and the dragon’s arms tightened on him. “You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that.”

Before Xiang could ask him about his cryptic comment, Kai rose to his feet, lifting Xiang with him. A sound erupted from Xiang’s lips like a surprised chicken. He clutched Kai’s shoulders with both hands as the dragon carried him away from the bed.

“Where are you going?” Xiang demanded.

“There’s something I’ve been longing for since you first reminded me how enjoyable sex can be.”

Xiang snorted and relaxed in Kai’s embrace. “Yes, but sex is only enjoyable with me.”

A small smirk teased Kai’s lips. “Of course. I have no interest in sharing my body with anyone else.”

Okay, so maybe now Xiang was preening a bit. He’d won the heart and devotion of an ancient, powerful creature. Who wouldn’t feel proud of that?

For a moment, he thought Kai might take him to the oversized tub that could easily fit them both in a luxurious soak. But Kai turned in the opposite direction and Xiang cackled. He should have known. It was the spot where they spent most of their close lounging time. The giant mound of pillows and cushions.

“I’m not playing weiqi with you,” Xiang declared.

Kai answered him with a wicked grin. “I have no interest in weiqi this time.” As he reached the foot of the mound, he tossed Xiang into the center of the pillows, wringing an undignified yelp out of the vampire.

When his eyes found Kai, the dragon was standing naked with his hands on his narrow hips while his eyes caressed every part of Xiang. He glanced at himself to find that he was also naked, reclining on a pile of soft, silky pillows like some decadent sultan or maybe just a delectable meal for a dragon.

At the very least, Kai’s magic made removing unwanted clothes quick and easy.

“Do you hate clothes?” Xiang teased.

“Clothes are a necessary evil. You must be covered around others because your exquisite beauty belongs to me alone.” As he spoke, Kai crawled on his hands and knees up the pillows, his strong muscles dancing under lightly tanned skin. His dark hair hanging so that it obscured his hungry silver eyes. Everything about him screamed predator, and Xiang was so happy to be his prey.

“And when it’s the two of us in your hoard?”

“Our hoard,” Kai corrected. He paused as he reached Xiang’s feet and pressed a soft kiss to the inside of his ankle. “Here, I want you naked all the time so I can properly worship you.”

Xiang’s eyes fluttered shut as he got lost in the sensation of Kai slowly kissing his way up his calf, along his inner thigh, and to the tender, smooth flesh on his pelvis. The evil dragon skipped his hard and leaking cock completely, and Xiang could feel Kai’s smile as he purposefully tortured him.

“You’re a mean dragon,” Xiang grumbled. He opened his eyes to see Kai tip his face up from where he was kissing his way across Xiang’s flat stomach.

“I like to save my favorite parts for last.”

With a grunt, Xiang grabbed a handful of Kai’s hair and hauled him higher. “But I can’t wait anymore for your lips.” He seized Kai’s mouth in a brutal, possessive kiss that squeezed a whimper from Kai’s throat. The dragon handed himself over, letting Xiang dominate him and still begged for more. Kai’s neediness was fuel tossed onto the fire burning in his veins.

He broke off the kiss and pulled Kai’s head up to take in his mate’s face. His glazed, unfocused eyes, puffy lips, and flushed cheeks only sped up Xiang’s heart. No one had ever looked so beautiful or sexy to him. So absolutely precious.

“Gods, I love you,” Xiang breathed.

Kai’s eyes blinked into focus, but Xiang wasn’t expecting his features to scrunch up as if he were in pain. “Is this what love is? This constant need to see you, touch you, smell your scent. To want to share every moment of happiness and to crush every sadness.” He shifted and pressed a hand to his heart as if he meant to dig it out of his chest. “This constant ball of joy, anxiety, anger, frustration, sorrow, and fear in my chest, springing forth every time I see you. To fly and fall at the same time. This is love?”

There was only one thing Xiang could say.

“Yes.”

Kai did not appear appeased or consoled. He turned his head away, seeming to glare at some distant point before making a disgruntled sound. “All the poets are liars. They made love sound like a gentle spring shower, but it is really an endless storm ravaging the earth.”

There was no point in asking the dragon of rivers and rains if he liked such an idea. It was written in the gleam in his silvery eyes and the twisted smirk on his lips.

Kai stared at him, his warm smile returning like the sun cutting through black clouds. “I love you, my vampire.”

This time when their mouths met, they slipped into a series of slow kisses where Xiang became lost in the heat and touch of his love. Kai surrounded him, becoming his entire universe. Yes, love could be stormy and brutal, but he wouldn’t want to miss a second of the adventure with his dragon.

A dragon who liked to bite almost as much as a vampire.

“Ow!” Xiang cried as he jerked his bottom lip free from Kai’s teeth.

Kai dipped close and ran his tongue across the wounded flesh. “Want my vampire.”

The growling purr returned as Kai kissed his way down Xiang’s neck and along his collarbone. Xiang spread his legs, allowing Kai to nestle even closer. Kai’s hard cock rubbed against his thigh while his own pressed into Kai’s stomach. The slight friction was nothing but a frustrating tease. He wanted to be buried in Kai’s tight heat.

“How does my dragon want to be fucked? Since this is your wish.” Xiang wrapped an arm around Kai and rolled him onto his back. “Want me to put your ankles on my shoulders and fuck you so very deep?”

“Next time.” Kai flipped Xiang onto his back with a grin. He crawled up Xiang until he was sitting up, his knees on either side of his hips, and Xiang’s cock nestled between Kai’s warm ass cheeks. “I want to ride you,” Kai announced.

Oh, that gave him some very wonderful ideas and put his bossy dragon in his control.

“We’re going to need your giant jar of lube.” Xiang had barely finished speaking when the jar in question appeared beside Kai’s left knee. The dragon picked up the jeweled container and lifted the lid.

“Nope. Hand it over,” Xiang ordered.

Confusion furrowed Kai’s brow, but he gave him the jar without question. As Xiang dipped his fingers into the cool, slick gel, he smirked at Kai. “I’ll prepare you. The only job you have is to feed me your cock while I stretch your ass.”

Kai’s eyes widened, briefly becoming a swirl of silver and gold, while those puffy damp lips parted on a gasp. “Yes!” He took the jar from Xiang and set it aside before crawling up Xiang’s body to place his knees on either side of his shoulders. The warm scent of Kai’s musk mixed with the soft floral hints from his soap, creating a haunting aroma that Xiang breathed deep into his lungs.

Slick fingers slipped between taut ass cheeks to rub against Kai’s hole, wringing the most delectable whimper from him. This was what he loved about Kai. There was no hesitation, shyness, or even shame when it came to what he enjoyed. He reveled in every pleasure and never hiding anything. And that drove Xiang to take Kai to new heights of ecstasy.

With one hand wrapped around the base of his cock, Kai brushed the head across Xiang’s lips, painting them with pre-cum. Xiang licked it away, the tip of his tongue sliding across the dark, bulbous head. At the same time, he pressed two fingers inside of Kai. A shout broke from Kai’s throat and he thrust forward, pushing his dick into Xiang’s waiting mouth.

Heaven.

This was heaven.

He dug the fingers of his free hand into Kai’s hip so he could urge him on. The exquisite weight of that long cock sliding on his tongue with each thrust made his own dick fill and throb with need. He looked up to see Kai’s head thrown back in ecstasy, needy noises slipping from his slack mouth as he alternated between fucking Xiang’s mouth and fucking himself on Xiang’s hand.

Kai’s trembling fingers found Xiang’s hair and twisted in it, holding him in place. He lowered his gaze, his eyes now molten gold glittering in the candlelight. “Your sassy mouth was made for this.”

In response, Xiang shoved a third finger into Kai’s ass. This time, he located the dragon’s prostate. Kai’s cries echoed off the stone walls and high ceiling, his entire body stiffening and some cum spurted down Xiang’s throat. His sweet mate was on the edge of coming.

“Xiang! Too close! Too close!” Kai shouted.

Xiang tightened his grip on Kai’s hip and eased him back while slipping his fingers free of his hole. When Kai’s cock popped out of his mouth, he smiled. “You can ride my dick or fuck my face. It’s whatever you want, my love.”

Kai hesitated, chewing on his bottom lip, as if he couldn’t decide between the two tempting options. “Ride you,” Kai announced at last.

The dragon crawled along Xiang’s body, pausing to kiss him deeply. As the head of Xiang’s cock brushed against Kai’s hole, that wicked creature sat on him, taking him completely in one fast stroke that sucked all the air out of Xiang’s lungs while forcing a cry out of Kai.

The extreme heat and tightness melted Xiang’s brain. Nothing in the world should feel this perfect.

And then Kai moved.

Kai began slowly, each stroke a test of Xiang’s self-control, as Xiang watched his dick disappear into Kai’s welcoming body. He could get lost in that velvety hot channel, squeezing and massaging him, coaxing him closer to his release. But not yet. He wanted to feel Kai coming first.

Kai sped up, filling the cavern with the slap of damp flesh and broken pants. Kai leaned back, supporting himself on one hand between Xiang’s legs while he wrapped the other around his cock, frantically stroking his dick. Xiang thrust upward again and again, fucking Kai so hard.

A surprised shout broke from Kai’s throat, and those amazing muscles clamped on Xiang’s cock as he came. Xiang had no warning. His own orgasm broke free and scorched a path through him before soaring free with Kai’s. The world whited out as he came in Kai’s welcoming body.

When conscious thought returned, Kai was lying on top of him, his frantic breaths fanning his sweaty chest. He wrapped his arms about Kai’s waist and pressed kisses to the side of his head and hair, anything he could reach.

“I think we ruined some of your pillows,” Xiang teased.

The dragon grunted. “Magic. Clean. Later.”

Smiling, Xiang rested his cheek on Kai’s head, enjoying the chance to hold him like this while his gaze skimmed over the beautiful and rare items that surrounded them. It was surprising how good it felt to be in this place that had begun as a prison only to become a sanctuary.

Their start was rough, but fun memories of sparing, bickering, cooking, countless games of weiqi, and just cuddling on the cushions now filled this cave.

“Are you comfortable living with our clan?”

Kai’s head popped up, eyes wide and clear, as if he were stunned by the question. “It was an adjustment at first. It’s been many centuries since I spent so much time with humans, but your clan has made me feel welcome. They’ve reminded me of the things I have enjoyed. I am happy living with the Zhang clan.” He paused and shifted so he could press a kiss to the corner of Xiang’s mouth. “However, I do like spending time in my hoard. Especially time alone with you.”

Yes, he liked that too. “Mn. It’s our private space.”

And when this fight with the fae was done, he planned to spend a long time cuddling his dragon in the secret hideaway.

He prayed they’d all make it out of this battle alive.