“I would love to snuggle. To get warm, I mean.”
“Mmm. It’s not like I’m going to get any more pregnant,” Mercury stated, “but we could certainly practice for next time.”
Talon felt love for Mercury, for this mate of his, overwhelm him.
He chuckled softly and took a long, deep kiss. Mercury snuggled right in, hands soft on his belly, and he dragged them both together, sweet and easy.
The knocking came to his door before he could think about deepening the kiss, rubbing against his lover, dragging Mercury closer to him. He blew the hair out of his face, frustrated. “Who is it?”
“You know who it is. Let me in. We have work to do.” Kami’s voice was strident, unpleasant, off.
“I’m off today.” He shrugged to Mercury, frowning deeply.
“You’re off? You don’t get to just call out. You know that’s not how it works—there’s a stone that needs finding, and I need help. Now.” Kami banged on the door again, louder this time.“Mercury! Tell your mate this is important, to quit screwing around, and get his ass out here.”
Mercury’s eyes flashed, pure metal, and he stood and stormed to the door, flinging it open. “Pardon me?”
Kami stood there, red-faced and furious, “I said, tell your mate that this is important and to quit screwing around.”
Mercury’s head tilted, which Talon was beginning to discover was his hailee’s tell when his temper was going to make itself shown. “The last time I checked, he is my mate, not yours. And secondly, he is an adult dragon and therefore capable of choosing for himself what he’s going to do. Thirdly, if I want to screw around with my mate, I can.”
Talon sat there just staring. He couldn’t believe this. It wasn’t unwelcome, of course. Of course it wasn’t. In fact, it was more than a little exciting.
On the other hand, it was surprising.
Kami’s eyes narrowed, glittering. “Don’t challenge me. I think you’re a sweetheart, and I think you’re dear, but Talon and I have been working together for a long time, and I need his help. And to be perfectly honest, you don’t get to call the shots here.”
“Now, Kami,” Talon started, and Mercury held one hand up behind him as if to say no.
“This is not your home. This is mine, and I might be a sweetheart, but I was fucked with for an incredibly long time and told what to do for even longer. I can tell you this right now; this is my family—this baby, and Talon—and I have seen horrors and lived through bullshit that you have not experienced. I strongly suggest you check your fucking attitude and come back later and ask Talon if he is busy and if he has the ability to work today. If that’s too much for you to handle, let me know. I can show you the way out. One way or the other.”
“Wasn’t that impressive? The little mouse has teeth.”Okay, so it just me or was that fucking hot?Kami teased Talon who sounded altogether more upset out loud than he did mentally.
It’s incredibly hot. Please, though, don’t make him mad. Just go. You can call back later.
Oh I didn’t really need you. I just wanted to see what would happen. It’s a failing of mine.
Be nice now. I don’t want him hurt.
I don’t want to hurt either.
Both of you are going to get hurt. Get out.Mercury’s voice was loud, sharp, and powerful. “Trust me, you may think that it’s fun to play with me. It’s a mistake. Both of you go.”
Talon stood. “Hailee…”
Mercury stormed over to where he was, pointed at him, one finger against his chest. “That was mean.”
“I didn’t have anything to do with it.”
“No? I notice you didn’t stop it.”
He shook his head. “I just found out! I told him to stop! Obviously you heard me.”
“It was still mean.” Mercury turned on Kami. “I thought you were my friend.”
“I am! I was just?—”
“No.” Mercury shook his head at Kami. “This is not how friends act. Friends are kind to one another. Friends are decent to one another. Friends care. If this is how you are friends, then I do not care to be your friend or your family. Now leave.”
