“Sorry for the intrusion,” I said, bowing my head.
The naked omega stared.
He could’ve screamed at me to get lost. Even if we were fated mates, that was fully within his right. He’d just arrived at the hotel, and already I’d broken in his door and shattered his privacy.
Instead, he burst into bright laughter. It rang in my ears like music, and a shiver shot down my spine.
“You’re... not mad?” I asked.
The omega grinned and wiped a joyful tear from his eye. “No way. That was so freaking funny. Man, I needed a good laugh.”
My mouth curved into a smile. His grin was as compelling as his laughter. It bloomed across his face, lighting up his whole being.
Whowasthis omega? Why had I never paid attention to him before? Guilt filled the hole where the arrowhead’s ache had been. Had I seen him during the first two closing ceremonies, or had his tiny self always been buried behind a sea of taller faces?
“So, uh,” the omega began, bouncing on the balls of his feet. His bare feet. “You often barge into naked guys’ rooms unannounced?”
He sounded amused, not accusatory.
“No,” I said honestly. “Just you.”
His bouncing paused and his dark eyes widened before he broke into a lopsided grin. “Oh. Well, that’s good to know, Cobalt.”
My heart squeezed at the way he said my name, right where the arrow’s pain had been. But it was gone now, thanks to him.
I recalled that Gaius introduced me at the opening ceremony. Of course he knew my name. However...
This omega was naked, and he was my mate, and I still didn’t knowhisname. I wanted to ask, but I was rendered speechless by his presence. He was so cute and small. He had a strong scent, too. I smelled it from across the room. He must’ve sweated a lot on the plane.
“You’re a pretty big guy, huh?” he asked, his eyes raking up and down my body.
Warmth tingled under my skin. There was a keen glimmer in his eyes, and I suspected there was something deeper than simple curiosity in the way he examined me.
“Yes,” I said. “And you are very little.”
He grinned wider, not offended by my observation in the slightest. “Sure am. You could probably fold me in half and stick me in your pocket, big boy.”
I liked that idea. That way, we’d never be apart.
Impatience seized my blood. I couldn’t stand not knowing his name for a second longer.
“Tell me your name,” I said.
He bowed. “Muzo Zavala, at your service.”
My dragon rumbled within me, pleased. He was at ease now, and I was, too.
There were no more barriers between us. Everything else faded into the background, unimportant. I only wanted to claim Muzo as my mate.
No longer burdened by ignorance, I took a step closer to him. Muzo tilted his head but didn’t budge. As I approached, another whiff of his scent hit me. It came in layers—first, there was an unnatural, fake baby powder scent. But I wasn’t interested in that. I wanted what was beneath it.
My dragon searched out Muzo’s true scent. It shot straight through my system, making me shiver. He smelled of tangy sweat and omega musk. Closing my eyes, I leaned in to sniff deeper, to fill my lungs with his essence.
“Uh, whoa, hey, hey,” Muzo said, sounding concerned.
I opened my eyes. “What is wrong?”
Then I recalled he was still naked, and I’d barged into his room uninvited moments earlier. He was my fated mate. I knew that to the core of my soul. But perhaps I was moving too fast for his comfort. Dragons were inherently selfish creatures. We wanted what we wanted, when we wanted it. But as an alpha, my need to protect my loved ones was even stronger. For him, I would wait.
