Dray gripped his hand through the hoodie and sighed. “I always wanted a house with creepy woods nearby and a weird attic or a murder basement.”
“Ohhh, murder basement…” Tripp brightened. “Like in theDevil of Wastermier?”
That webcomic was one of Dray’s top ten comfort reads. “Exactly.”
“Okay, but we need a cursed doll. Where would I get one on short notice?” He frowned, and Dray knew he’d found the right one.
Dray thumbed his phone and sent a text out to Kirk.Fuck you.
Three dots appeared at the bottom.
Told you the machine never lies.
Dray doubted that the machine did anything special. It was all a coy old omega dragon, his two horny bear mates, and their freaky connection to the magical underworld. Or Bosco was dabbling with his runes again.
The dragon had magic, but even his fortunes and little charms weren’t enough for this.
Eh, do you really care at this point? Fate has a way it likes things done.
Dray frowned as he and Tripp debated on playing mini golf and decided to go to his apartment instead.
Fair point. Know any creepy houses for sale nearby?
You know, my other mate just might know a place.Kirk had something for everyone.
And it was always what they needed.
Chapter Nine
Tripp
They made it home in record time. The angle of the steering wheel pretty much had his cock driving the car. His BMW had gone from automatic to stick shift in the blink of an eye.
“So, why don’t you have a car?” Tripp drummed his fingers on the steering wheel to make idle talk.
“Work is a few blocks from where I live, and it’s an added expense. Car payment, repairs, upkeep, parking, gas, insurance, tags—all for some convenience. Uber, buses, and those zippy micro rental cars together only run me about a third of that.”
“Smart.” Tripp took a calming breath and squeezed the leather rim of the steering wheel.
“So… It was you, huh?” Dray got right to the point.
“I looked for you. I got sick after… When I came back, you were gone. That’s in the footage, too. I begged anyone around for your number.”
“Did you know I was in heat?” Dray glanced out the window and slouched in the seat.
“No. All I remember was those pretty tattoos and how good you smelled.” Tripp sighed as the guilt knotted up in his stomach.
“You were flirting with me and still asking your friend for that footage and looking for—” Dray leaned away from him, but Tripp had to focus on the road; his entire world was in that car.
“Yeah! I was. I did a stupid, awful thing. I won’t excuse it. I knew I had something click for you then, and then when I met you again, it clicked, and I didn’t recognize you.” Tripp huffed. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry doesn’t fix this, but what’s done is done. Do you love me?” Dray kept his head turned, and the soft rasp in his voice told Tripp he verged on tears.
“I love you. I’d have loved you with a baby or without. I was chasing those glowing scales in my mind like Alice and her rabbit. It was Cinderella, only I was too drunk to remember anything. I didn’t take advantage of you, did I?”
“Trust me, I have no doubt as to the state of our consent. But how the fuck do you not know what heat smells like?” Tripp sighed in exasperation. “Didn’t you get the birds and bees talk? Didn’t you—”
“I’ve never been allowed near an omega! I’ve smelled female heat, and it didn’t make me feel that way. The scent was almost kind of a turnoff.” Tripp shuddered. “Cloying, sweet, and bitter.”
