Interesting…
Nikki was not the sort of mage Ravi had imagined would capture the dragon bookworm. They were too chaotic and impulsive for the compulsive, anal retentive dragon, but then maybe opposites did attract.
Ravi smiled at Gunter and Nikki before returning to the crowd of well-wishers. Nikki had kept to themself in the past week, rarely leaving Gunter’s library and speaking only to dragons if they could help it. Mages still made them extremely nervous, and Alric wasn’t pushing the matter yet.
Ravi would have to speak to Gunter when he could get the dragon alone. Get the full scoop.
Or maybe he should speak to his new mother-in-law. Yuki seemed to be the wonderful meddling mother type. Ravi bet she knew how to play matchmaker.
Chuckling to himself, Ravi started cooking up some evil plans. But they could wait until after he spent some time with his mate. For now, Sora needed his full attention, and he couldn’t wait.
“Married date, married date,” Ravi sang as he flew them through the skies.
Sora was a happy flyer on his back, delighted to be able to fly. They didn’t do it often—too many demands on their time—but Ravi loved that his husband was enamored with flying. They did it every chance they got.
And tonight, he was trying to make up for his original disaster of a date. On Sora’s back was a picnic basket. Well, a backpack filled with picnic things. Which was practically the same thing, right?
Right.
That was Ravi’s story, and he was sticking to it.
He had the perfect spot picked out, an area on the tip of the mountain perfect for stargazing. And he’d checked the weather report. Three times. No rain tonight. Possibly clouds, but no rain.
So, Ravi was quite confident as he swooped in on his destination, landing gently to avoid jarring the passenger on his back.
“Ravi,” Sora said doubtfully, “are those rain clouds overhead?”
“The weather report said clouds but no rain.” Ravi had to admit it smelled a little damp and heavy, though. Like rainclouds were approaching.
Sora didn’t budge, still staring suspiciously upwards. “Are you sure?”
“The weatherman would never lie to me like that. If the weatherman lied to me, then I’m going to eat him.”
Snorting, Sora finally dismounted. “I think the weatherman cannot be trusted, but alright. Let’s eat and relax. We’ve not had enough time together recently.”
That was the sad truth. You’d think that preparing for a wedding meant the couple spent lots of time together, but it hadn’t proved to be that way. At least, not for them. They’d both been running around like chickens with their heads cut off, frantic to get everything prepared for their big day. This was the first time since their wedding night Ravi’d had Sora solely to himself. Which was criminal.
He switched over to human form, helping to spread out their picnic blanket. Sora knelt on it as he pulled out their picnic dinner, which happened to be excellent cold cut sandwiches, chips, and sliced fruit. Ravi was especially proud of the fruit. He’d managed cherry blossom designs on the peaches and rabbit apple slices in true Japanese fashion.
Sora admired the handiwork and commented, “It’s almost a shame to eat these, they’re so cute.”
Ravi had a comment on the tip of his tongue, but he cut himself off. Was that a…no, surely he hadn’t just felt a raindrop. It was a trick of his imagination. Yup, that’s all it was.
To make a liar of him, two drops landed right on his face next.
Sora’s head jerked up, and he stared skyward. “Beloved, I hate to tell you this. But I think it’s raining.”
“Fucking shit.” Ravi slumped, head hanging. “Are picnics cursed for me? Is that what this is?”
“Either way, we’re about to get drenched.” Sora quickly packed everything back up.
Ravi dove in to help him because getting rained on while standing on a mountaintop was not romantic. Dammit. Still, as quickly as they were moving, they barely had the backpack zipped before the heavens let loose.
“I’ll never trust the weatherman again!” Ravi whined.
Sora laughed and pressed a kiss against his pouting mouth. “How about we retreat to a hotel? Order in, relax in a hot tub? I can ward the room so no one can find us.”
That sounded blissful. No possibility of interruptions that way. Ravi kissed him back, then dove for the harness. “Let’s do it.”
Of course, by the time they got him re-kitted with the saddle and Ravi flew them to the nearest town, they were both soaking wet. They hit the hotel lobby looking like a pair of drowned rats. The front desk agent was sympathetic and got them into a room with all due speed, promising lots of fluffy towels and a warm meal once they placed an order. Ravi hauled the harness over one shoulder as they made for their room, then draped it over the shower bar so it could drip dry. Only then did he take stock of the room they’d been given.
Definitely a honeymoon suite. It had a large king-sized bed in the middle of the room, as well as a balcony that showed the storm outside through French doors. The bathroom was large and made for soaking, as it had a tub in the corner more than large enough for two. A tray of towels, soaps, and even bath bombs rested near the faucets. Ravi eyed it longingly. A hot soak sounded heavenly on his chilled skin.
“Let’s soak first, then call for room service.” Sora went straight for the tub, turning the knobs to fill it. “I’m chilled, and I know you are. How hot do you want the water?”
“Satan’s bathwater,” Ravi directed.
“Done.”
Of the same mind, eh? Ravi stripped, throwing clothes over the shower rod, hoping they’d be dry by morning. Not betting on it, though. He took clothes from Sora and found places to hang them up.
Sora threw in a bath bomb before entering, sighing with pleasure as he sank into the water. “Blissful. Come in, Ravi.”
Ravi promptly did so, pleased that the water was scorching hot. He did love a man who could follow directions. Sora was putting on a good face, but Ravi was still peeved his plan had once again been foiled.
“I guess after this, I’m not allowed to plan the dates.”
Shaking his head, Sora said, “Things do go awry, you know. I’m not at all upset. Amused that we were rained out again, perhaps. Come here, why are you sitting way over there?”
Ravi went where directed, straddling his husband’s thighs. It was true, Sora didn’t look at all upset. A little smile toyed at the corners of his mouth as if this whole scene amused him on some level.
Suspiciously, Ravi said, “You married me for the entertainment value.”
With a completely straight face, Sora agreed. “I did, in fact.”
Ravi snorted, then giggled. “At least you admit it!”
“Life was entirely boring before you, beloved. Trust me, I’m happy to have you.” Sora kissed him, quick and light. “Love you.”
“I love you.” Ravi leaned in to kiss him more thoroughly, sinking into his mate’s arms with complete satisfaction.
Their date might have started as a disaster, but it clearly was going to turn out just fine. And as long as Sora could roll with the punches like this, their married life was sure to be a blast.
No more picnics, though. Ravi was firm on that.