"There is no better advice. Can I ask why you are hesitating at all? He's one of the best men I've ever met. He clearly would go to any length to protect you as well."
Apollo growled in frustration. "Because he's a big old man whore, that's why. I can't mate with him and have him decide in a month that I'm too much for him to handle full-time and dump me. He's human! He can just walk away."
Cosimo made a thoughtful sound. "I don't know about that. Bridget is fully human, and she got very possessive of Bas quickly. It was like some dragon instinct rubbed off on her."
"That's not all that..."
"Don't say it," Cosimo interrupted. "I'm being serious, Apollonius. The mating bond goes both ways and changes humans in small ways. I didn't notice such things with your mother, but the magic and my dragon weren't as strong as they are now. Want to hear my hypothesis?"
"Yes, professor," Apollo chimed.
"I think that the magic of the mating bond attaches itself to the human. It's like…a recognition. They can feel it, maybe notas intensely, but they are drawn to their partners right from the beginning. Bridget and Charlotte have confirmed that they felt something strong when meeting your brothers. Bridget said she thought it was her neurodiversity imprinting on Bas like a baby duck.
"Lachlan has been mooning over you, and your ridiculous games of cock blocking each other over the years prove that you both are possessive of each other. This is why you need to talk to him, son. You might be surprised by his answer."
Apollo pushed the pillow off his face again. "Or he might be like, 'I'd like to fuck you, but I'm not going to settle down.' I don't think my dragon or my ego could handle that kind of rejection."
"Fine. Don't tell him." Cosmio clicked his tongue in irritation. "But what makes you think you will be able to hook up with him and let him go afterward? Maybe think about that before you let things go any further."
Apollo hung up a short time later and stared at the fancy moldings and chandelier above him. Could he walk away from Lachlan? Even now? He hadn't had any dates for gods knew how long and couldn't handle the thought of anyone else touching him.
There was no fighting what his dragon had been telling him for months. He belonged with Lachlan Ironwood, and if his dragon had to fly away with him and lock him in a tower to keep him forever, no one would be able to stop it. Not even Apollo.
18
Lachlan should never have doubted Apollo's ability to get clothes at short notice. The suits and accessories for the party arrived in the afternoon with an elderly woman wearing all black and small gold-rimmed glasses. She greeted Apollo with a kiss on each cheek.
"And who is this imposing young man staring at us?" she asked Apollo, switching to English.
"This is Lachlan. He has been very vocal about how much he likes the suits you have tailored for me. The tweed in particular," Apollo replied with a smile so innocent, it would fool the angels.
Lachlan got hot, but he covered it up by stepping forward and kissing the old woman's slender hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Madame."
"Call me Claudette. Are you dating this one, Apollo?"
"No."
Claudette made a 'humph' sound of disapproval. "You should. I know what you look like in the tweed, and he wasn't admiring your face."
"Not true. I always admire his face as well as his ass," Lachlan replied, and the woman cackled in a way that would make a statue blush.
"I like this one. I'm glad I chose the bear mask for you tonight," she chuckled.
Valentine came in and kissed her too.
"Hello, Valentine, my love. Still single?" she asked.
"Still waiting for you to agree to a date, Claudette," Valentine replied with a smile that was so full of the Greatdrakes' charm that she smacked him playfully on the arm.
"At my age, I don't want to have to teach you young men anything," she flirted. "Now get dressed, all of you. I want to see if anything needs adjusting."
Apollo and Lachlan went to the bedroom at the same time, which only made Claudette laugh louder.
"I'm changing in the bathroom, you old hussy," Apollo declared, and it didn't stop her cackling for a second.
Lachlan placed the bagged suit down on the bed. "You'll have to give me her address so I can send her those flowers," he said to Apollo's retreating back. He flashed him a smile over one shoulder that hit Lachlan in the heart like an arrow before shutting the door behind him.
Lachlan rarely had any occasion to wear a suit, and he certainly had never worn one that fitted so comfortably. Lachlan knew that Apollo had a good eye for clothes but didn't realize he had somehow managed to get his measurements perfect. He was a big guy and struggled to find something that fit his shoulders but didn't bag anywhere else. The midnight blue shirt was a soft material he didn't know the name of, but it felt nice against his skin.
