Jade chuckled. “Don’t worry about those. I should apologize for stretching your hole.”
“Neverapologize for that.”
He looked smug. “All right. Then I take it back.”
“Good, because I expect you to stretch my hole upon request, thank you very much.”
He brushed his lips against my cheek with a soft laugh. “Your wish is my command, kitten.”
17
Jade
Wakingup to the warm scent of my mate was a pure bliss I never thought I’d experience. But as my eyes fluttered open, there was Alaric—his pale lashes brushing against his cheeks, his white hair tousled from sex and sleep yet still effortlessly beautiful.
Behind him on the bedside table was my antique clock ticking away. It wasn’t late, but I knew it was best to rise before we caused another challenge-related mishap.
I pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Good morning, kitten. Are you still sleepy?”
Alaric made a small mumbling sound, then buried his face in my chest.
I stroked his silky hair. “I know, I’d rather stay in bed together, too. Unfortunately, the Dragonfate Games are not yet over.”
“Cancel them,” Alaric mumbled.
I chuckled. “I can’t do that, my love. My brothers would be rightfully cross with me for skirting my duties.”
Heaving a dramatic sigh, Alaric lifted his head and rubbed the sleep from his mismatched eyes. “Fine. I don’t want to be the cause of another family argument.”
I kissed him again. “You were not the cause of anything. It was a little lapse of judgment on my part. Now, would you prefer to shower separately, or together?”
Alaric snapped awake. He grabbed my hand and yanked me out of bed. “I’m offended that you even asked.”
We snuckin a romantic tryst during our shower with plenty of time to spare. After getting dressed, we met my brothers in the entry hall. It was hard to miss a conglomeration of five dragons and their raucous chatter.
Aurum perked up when he saw me. “There you are, Jade,” he called excitedly.
I exhaled in silent relief. I feared he’d be nervous around me after yesterday’s incident, but he seemed unfazed now that it was over.
Saffron and Thystle looked happy to see me, too. I wasn’t an overly sentimental man, but their acceptance made my chest clench with sincere emotion. They were my youngest brothers. No matter how irritating they could be, they deserved my patience and good will. I vowed to myself that—feral or not—I’d never lash out at my family again.
Saffron not-so-subtly sniffed the air beside Alaric. “Someone smells like... dragon,” he said, grinning.
“There are many dragons present,” Cobalt pointed out, clueless to Saffron’s comment.
I pushed up my glasses. “So, what’s our plan today? Are we still proceeding with a new third challenge?”
Everybody turned and stared at me pointedly.
“What?” I asked.
“Dude, we all know you fucked Alaric,” Aurum stated casually. “Pretty sure everyone else knows it, too.”
Alaric blushed, crossing his arms. “Can you be any more crass?”
My younger brother grinned. “Actually, yeah, but I don’t think you want me to.”
Crimson waved a hand to silence him. “Yes, we’re aware you and Alaric are romantically involved. We’ll have plenty of time to congratulate the happy couple later. Right now, we need to wrap up the Games.”
