Chapter 4

Chapter

Four

Triton felt exhausted, the day of moving things and dealing with Cerran and the itch that was Elowyn and fussy Leilani because everything was changing…

He blew out a breath. But, their personal effects and a few pieces of furniture, like the chair he had claimed as his and yet smelled like Elowyn sometimes, had all been moved and categorically unpacked. They had dined. They had put Leilani down in her nursery.

And now he was hunting. His prey wasn't easy. His mate was being elusive.

He was going to find Cerran, and they were going to soar together, hands and lips and tongues dragging over one another's body.

First, they would bathe in their brand-new bathroom, the big shower with its seats and four—four!—showerheads irresistible. But Cerran was not in the main room or the kitchen.

Mate. Where are you?

Hmm?

Oh, teasing him. Interesting.

He prowled the hallway to the guest wing. I have a need for you.

Do you? Are you sure? Wicked mate.

I am. He padded through the rooms, then turned to the master wing. Come to me, mate.

He heard Cerran stand. Ah. The balcony. Excellent. He did love hunting his mate.

That had been his first hint that he craved Cerran. The way he could find his lover anywhere. He'd been able to identify his scent in a cadre of sweaty, filthy soldiers. Had been able to hear Cerran's whisper when men were shouting all around them. There was nothing he didn't love about Cerran.

Well, except for his newfound fascination with a certain omega. That was…not something Triton was going to think about now. Now when his tiredness was falling away in favor of excitement.

Cerran hadn't appeared like he was supposed to, but that long, lean shadow was cast across the balcony floor.

Triton walked out to the balcony, the cool night air of the mountains so different to the salty sea air he'd grown up with. But he could see why Cain had chosen this place. The lake with its crystal surface and enormous depths provided the connection they needed to the water, and the quiet solitude of this mountainous valley spoke of peace.

Which did nothing to cool his rising need.

Cerran was bare, barring a tiny pair of black shorts that showed off the broad shoulders, the tiny hips.

Triton stopped to stare, flexing his hands as he licked his lips. "There you are. I have been searching."

That smile told him that Cerran knew exactly what game they were playing. "Well, now you have found me. Whatever should we do?"

He barked out a laugh. "I think you know that, too."

"I may have forgotten…" Cerran's eyes dragged over his body, and he couldn't help how he preened.

"Then let me remind you." He advanced, grabbing Cerran by the hips to pull him close.

Cerran was hard as stone, that sweet body begging him to touch, to feel, but his mate was not passive in this, not at all.

Cerran's hands were like cuffs around his upper arms, his mate blowing a line of steam from his nose.

He breathed it in, the warmth like a balm on his skin, making his scales tingle. Gods, he loved this dragon, his heart full of it, his body hard with need.

My mate. Love. That mental touch buzzed through his brain like a saw.

Love. He could say it to Cerran, let his mate hear it in his heart and soul. It was difficult for him to say it out loud.

Cerran didn't mind. His mate took him as he was.

"We should go inside," he murmured. He was acutely aware that their balcony adjoined Elowyn's. He would not make the omega uncomfortable with a display.

"Of course." Cerran nodded and put space between them, taking his hand and leading him into their vast master suite.

He waited until they closed the door to the balcony before whirling Cerran around to kiss him with all the pent-up need inside him. Kissing Cerran was like charging into battle. It was always a rush of adrenaline and heat, a fierce sort of exhilaration. The only difference was he never had to fear Cerran.

Never.

Cerran opened up for him, tongue sliding against his, dueling with his and making him work for it.

He pushed the kiss higher, harder, wanting more. Shaping his hands to Cerran's ass, he pulled them together, rubbing them together below the waist so they could really feel one another.

His mate was hard as nails, stiff enough to make his eyes cross. So fucking perfect.

Triton peeled off Cerran's little briefs, feeling hard muscles and smooth skin under his fingertips. The hint of scales that armored Cerran's thighs were a delicious tease, a whole other texture. He needed to explore each inch and get used to it all again.

"Do you remember this?" Cerran asked. "Wanting me?"

"I do. I have been remembering this part all evening. What else can you remind me of?" He palmed Cerran's cock and rubbed.

"Do you remember how badly I crave you? How my lips feel around your cock?"

"I think those things might need a hands-on demonstration." He wanted Cerran's mouth. Nothing excited him more than seeing that mouth on his skin, that shining head bent over his lap.

He sat on their bed, and Cerran came to stand between his parted thighs. Cerran leaned down to kiss him, the caress long and lazy.

All he could feel and see and smell was Cerran. He ran his hands up and down Cerran's back, then his thighs, enjoying all the textures of his lover. This was what he'd needed. This would put him to rights.

Cerran slowly began to kneel, hands landing on his thighs. "My mate."

"Yours. As you are mine." He stroked Cerran's hair, watching him, unable to look away, in fact. He breathed in deep, the smell of steam and ocean and sunshine so sharp in his nose.

Cerran licked him, tongue dragging along his shaft.

"Ughn." The guttural sound burst out of him, and he raised his hips, trying to get more of those lips, that hot tongue.

Cerran pulled up to make him wait, though, and wouldn't push back down until he eased up and let Cerran keep the pace.

Evil mate, he teased. All mine.

Yes, Triton. We were made for one another.

We were. I don't know why.

That's for the seers to say, not us. Cerran bent to him again, tongue sliding over his crown before that hot mouth closed around him and moved down his cock.

He wasn't sure he trusted seers who weren't Cain to tell him anything, but who was he to argue?

It didn't matter. This was his lover, and the dragon he had built a family with. He would accept Cerran for the gift he was.

He leaned back on his hands so he could spread his thighs and give Cerran more room. Which was, of course, when his lover reached up to cup his balls, moving them gently in their sac, letting him feel the pressure.

"Cerran."

His dragon smiled, the soft tongue laving him, caressing him with a steady, sure rhythm.

Heartbeat stuttering, he started to thrust up, urgency building throughout his body and riding up his spine to his brain. This was when words always started to spill out of him, and he rained them down on his lover, murmuring about how sweet that mouth was.

Cerran's passion spun around him, the heat and pleasure leaving him utterly shaken.

He pulled in his belly, pushing harder, asking Cerran to take more and more of him. Perhaps he would never know the pleasure of knotting, but this was… This was what he needed.

This was enough, and he wouldn't give Cerran up for any omega.

"You think too much," Cerran buzzed against the head of his cock, then slid down to suck again, pushing as far as he could before bobbing back up.

"No more thinking," he growled. "I promise."

Good mate. Cerran's laughter made his toes curl.

Evil mate. He tugged Cerran off his dick, then yanked him up to kiss again, falling back on the bed to haul Cerran up on top of him. He needed more. This was a full-contact sport, as they said on human TV.

They lined up, both of them rocking, their cocks sliding against each other.

Grunting, Triton held Cerran by that tight ass, digging in and testing the warrior muscle there. They struggled for control as they always did, but it wasn't a real fight. They would both gladly cede to the other.

Mate. I burn for you. Steam began to pour from his beautiful lover, and he could smell ozone.

I'm glad, Cerran. I've never wanted you more. He meant it. No matter what happened in their lives, he never wanted Cerran more than he did in the moment they were together. Whenever that was.

This was the beginning of a life without the constant pressure of war. Triton wasn't sure how to process it all.

Cerran pinched his thigh. "No. Thinking."

He growled, biting his mate's bottom lip.

A low chuckle sounded against his mouth, and then Cerran was kissing him, making him moan, his whole body alight with his need. Cerran could make him crazed.

Their bodies slapped together, the heat they were building threatening to set them aflame. He touched them, bringing their cocks together tighter, his balls drawing up until he thought he might explode. Lightning built in him, ready to burst out.

Cerran arched, a low cry ringing out through the air, mist hanging heavy around them. His mate could throw out steam like a locomotive. It was stunning.

His balls tightened, and suddenly he could see Elowyn in his mind's eye, the omega sliding between them, pale and fine.

He blinked, his whole self jerking, inside and out. What? What was that? Had Cerran caught that from his mind? Surely not.

"Mmmmm." Cerran's growl was perfect in his ear, breath grazing his ear, leaning into him. They rocked faster, and if Cerran knew what he'd been thinking, no one said so. But they pressed together and humped, the heat between them rising until it was almost unbearable.

"Soon," Cerran moaned, the sound lifting up into the air.

"Yes, love." The words did pop out, loud and guttural, and his orgasm burst over him like a storm over the ocean. He knew he was sweeping Cerran with him.

They flew together, both of them roaring in pure passion, their shadows growing wings.

Cerran collapsed against his chest finally, panting, holding him tight. "Yes…"

He nodded, trying not to wheeze as he fought to catch his breath. "Cerran. Mate."

"Yes. Mate." Cerran's eyes rolled, the beautiful body melted into the sheets.

Triton followed him down, pulling the blankets over them. He hoped they hadn't awakened Leilani.

He didn't hear her, so she must have been exhausted. Moving was hard.

He understood. He was feeling every one of his years and scars at the moment, despite the orgasm endorphins.

"Shh…" Cerran kissed his jaw. "Perfect. Mine. Hush."

"Yours." He patted Cerran's perfect ass and determinedly did not think of the slip in his thinking while they'd been making love.

He had no business imagining Elowyn that way at any time. Least of all now.