“That’s so beautiful,” Mercury said, sitting up a little bit straighter to stare out the window. He gasped. “Is that an eagle I see flying over the lake?”
“It is, hailee. We have a mating pair, and they often fly with us as we go out and soar a little bit.”
As if summoned by Talon’s words, two dragons appeared in the sky, winging their way up from the ground to a prodigious height. One was huge and red and mostly black, one smaller, and the color of that dragon blended a lot with the clouds. The greatbig one dove right toward the lake, and Mercury put a hand to his chest, his heart racing, because what if he fell?
Talon chuckled. “What do you think of Reno out there playing with his mate?”
“That’s Reno?” He was impressed. Reno was huge.
“Indeed. If it was Triton, he’d be nearly half as big as that.”
He turned wide eyes on his mate. “You must be joking.”
“I don’t joke about Triton’s size because he and I are very close.” Talon sat with him, pulling the tray over to put it on the bed so they could both reach the food.
“Unreal.” He looked back out the window. His lips parting. They were playing now, Reno and Kami dipping and winging back up, twining tails for a moment, and then coming apart. It was stunning to watch, and he had to laugh and clap his hands.
“Have you ever been able to fly like that, love?”
Mercury glanced at Talon, who was watching him and not Kami and Reno. “No. I had flight training when I was young, and we would fly out over the ocean. But as an adult, I’ve never been able to spread my wings; they wouldn’t let me.”
Talon frowned, his scowl fierce. “Then we’ll do that soon. As soon as you’re strong enough, all dragons deserve to be able to fly.”
He felt a little hitch in his chest because Talon was just so perfect, offering him everything he could want. And he felt as though he had really let Talon down by just taking to bed and not getting up. His mate deserved a whole dragon, one who could give him everything he desired as well.
After all, he had worked hard to have his stone to live for Talon. It was not enough to be alive. He wanted to live, to thrive, to be here and happy with his mate.
He took one of the milkshakes and sipped at it. He liked the cold, the sweet. “It’s yummy. Would you like a sip?”
Talon swooped down, kissed him, and his lips parted on a gasp. Then Talon backed off, winked at him. “Was that not what you meant?”
He couldn’t fight his laughter, and so he just gave in to it, chuckling happily.
“Perhaps I should try another sip?” Talon asked, his eyes merry.
Mercury took a drink of the milkshake, making sure that a little of the cream remained upon his lips, and he lifted his face to Talon. “Perhaps you should.”
This time it wasn’t a swooping so much as a long leaning in. And then Talon’s tongue traced his lips, so gentle. “I know that you’re not well enough yet. But I do want you to know that when you are, I’m aching for you.”
“Well, I’ll have to have a lot of milkshakes because I don’t want you aching any more than you have to. And I’m very, very interested in exploring with you.”
“Good. Milkshakes are the gateway, then.” Talon grabbed another one off the tray. “Would you like to taste this one now?”
He nodded and waited for Talon to pick it up, then pushed it gently away from him and towards Talon’s mouth, kind of willing him to take a drink.
“Hailee?”
“Braaken, it’s your turn. I mean, it’s my turn. I mean, you drink now.”
This was new and different, but he was brave. And he was going to figure this out.
Talon’s eyes lit up, and he nodded, taking a big sloppy drink, making Mercury laugh.
He caught a drip on his finger, sucked it clean, and Talon’s eyes went bright, his teeth sinking into his bottom lip.
Mercury wiggled a little, his belly heating. “Now that’s mine.”
“Is it, hailee?” Talon leaned back and quirked his finger in a come get me motion. “Take it, then.”
