He loosened his hold just enough to run his hands up and down Sora’s spine in a gentle caress. Bit by slow bit, the tension humming through his frame eased. Ravi didn’t need to say anything because he understood Sora’s fear. It was his own. What would he do if something happened to his mate? It would destroy him.
“I know I’m not being logical, but there has never been danger like this in my life. We’ve lived hidden away. I’m spoiled.”
Ravi lifted his head and smiled. “Not spoiled, but maybe a little lucky. It means you’ve missed out on a lot we’ll get to experience together—good and bad—I promise.”
“I can’t stop you from going…”
Ravi sighed. “You can, actually. You’re my mate. I would do anything to keep my mate happy and safe.”
Sora lifted his head, distress dancing in his eyes. “But I wouldn’t do that because I value your duty to your clan as much as you do. I know you’re right—you’re the best choice to go to Prague—but I hate it. I hate it so much, Ravi.”
“And I hate that you’re hurting.” Ravi tilted his head up and pressed a sweet kiss to the edge of Sora’s jaw and then to the corner of his mouth.
“Before you leave, I want us to be officially bonded,” Sora announced.
Ravi jerked away so he could look into Sora’s face. His heart flipped over with joy, but sadness squashed that joy almost as quickly. He couldn’t keep the emotion from showing on his face. But then, he and Sora were so close, he was sure Sora could feel his sadness.
“Why are you hesitating to answer me?”
Ravi reacted instantly, pulling Sora in tight. “I want to be officially bonded to you. There is nothing I want more in the world. You are my mate, my everything. I love you. I love everything about you. Your smile, your laugh, the way you indulge all my crazy ideas. I love the little sounds you make when you’re sleeping. I love you from the top of your head down to the cute little hairs on your toes.”
Sora relaxed a little, but the worry remained. “I love you, too, my handsome dragon. But why don’t you want to bond now?”
Ravi went back to nuzzling Sora, holding him tight enough that he could feel the thud of Sora’s heart against his own.
“I have dreamed of finding my mate and being bonded at last. The mate of my dreams doesn’t even come close to being as amazing as you are. But I want our bonding to be a happy occasion. I don’t want us to look back in five hundred years and remember that we bonded quickly out of fear. I don’t want the Jaeggi to taint our day. I want us to remember the joy and laughter and being surrounded by our family.”
Sora nodded against him. “I want that, too. More than anything in the world.”
Ravi pressed kisses along Sora’s jaw until his lover finally moved his lips within reach for a sweet kiss.
“You’ll have it. I promise you. We are getting our happily ever after, and no Jaeggi or dragon or anyone else is going to stop us.”
He could feel a small smile stretching across Sora’s lips.
“You’ll take on all the mages and dragons to have me?”
“Definitely.”
Each kiss grew deeper and more heated. Clothes were removed, but it wasn’t with the same frantic tugging that usually accompanied the two of them coming together. This was slow and careful, as if they’d silently agreed that they were going to savor each moment.
Under his hands, Sora’s skin was so deliciously soft and warm. His fingertips grazed dark brown nipples and when Sora moaned, Ravi followed his hands with his mouth. He kissed, licked, and sucked, determined to taste every inch of his mate.
The mage writhed against him, strong muscles rubbing against his own. He didn’t know how much time had passed, but they soon found themselves standing in the middle of his bedroom, surrounded by piles of clothes.
“Bed,” Ravi growled. “I can’t reach all of you when we’re standing.”
Sora laughed, and it was the most beautiful sound in the world. “And which parts are you trying to reach?”
“All of you,” Ravi repeated as he started to nudge Sora toward the bed, still rumpled from when they’d finally crawled out of it this morning. It was damn hard getting up in the morning when Sora was stretched out next to him.
But then, if he rose early enough, he had the chance to help his mate while he was in the shower.
Still chuckling, Sora climbed onto the bed, and Ravi’s brain shorted at the sight of that stunning ass. Yep, he wanted that. Wanted all of that.
When Sora reached the center of the bed, he flopped down on his back among the pillows and blankets. With one arm behind his head, Sora lifted his other hand and curled his finger, beckoning Ravi to join him with the most wicked smile.
“Get your sexy ass in this bed and grab the lube.”
Ravi could only nod as he snatched the jar from where it had fallen to the floor. Good thing he’d been smart enough to put the lid back on. Setting the jar beside Sora’s hip, Ravi crawled between his legs, kissing his way up from his ankle along his calf to his knee. Sora shivered, and Ravi made a mental note to spend more time kissing Sora’s knees. His lover was ticklish there. He continued up along the inside of his thigh.
Sora’s legs fell open wide, and he wrapped one hand around his cock, stroking himself slowly as Ravi worshipped his body. His hair spread out in an ebony fan over the white pillow, the angles of his body softened by the red comforter. He looked like something out of a painting. Everything about Ravi’s mate was a work of art. So stunning in every way.
“Please, Ravi. I need to feel you inside me,” Sora panted.
That sounded perfect to him.
Coating his fingers with the lube, he slowly worked one finger and then a second inside his mate. He batted Sora’s hand away from his cock and licked up his straining length before taking him in his mouth. Sora shouted with pleasure and jerked his hips upward in a shallow thrust. Ravi continued to suck his lover while stretching him, loving the feel of his length on his tongue. Sora whimpered and moaned, driving Ravi closer to his own orgasm. If Sora came like this, he was pretty sure he’d follow right behind him.
“Ravi, I’m not going to last!”
It was tempting, so very tempting to bring his lover to climax just like this. But Sora was right. Ravi wanted to be inside of him, leaving a little of himself with his mate before he departed for Prague.
Ravi released Sora only long enough to prep himself, and then he was pushing into that amazing heat and tightness. He groaned and closed his eyes, fighting to hold on to his orgasm. It was trying to break loose like a damn runaway horse. When he was fully seated, he opened his eyes and found Sora staring up at him with bright eyes and parted lips begging for more kisses.
“You’re so amazing,” Ravi said on a slow exhale. “So perfect.”
Sora’s smile was crooked. “And I’m all yours.”
Ravi pulled back and thrust in hard, wringing a loud cry of pleasure out of him. “Yes, you are.”
“Again! Again, Ravi! Harder.”
Grasping the backs of Sora’s legs, Ravi started to move, each thrust fast and deep. His lover filled the room with broken pants and desperate cries, pleading for more. He could barely hear the slap of their bodies. Ravi couldn’t tear his eyes away from the look of tortured bliss on Sora’s handsome face.