And just like that, Mercury shut the door in Kami’s face.
I didn’t mean to hurt him. I was just curious to see if he would protect you, if he would defend you.Kami actually sounded shocked.
Go on and talk to Reno. We’ll fix it later. I have to make this up to my hailee.
This was not how today was supposed to go. This was not supposed to be weird, and awkward, and emotional. He was supposed to be making love to his mate and relaxing. This was his day off.
Mercury searched his eyes.You didn’t know?
He shook his head. “Literally, when you heard Kami’s thoughts, that was the first I heard of it as well. Did I think it was hot?” He shrugged. “Am I supposed to not? No one’s ever defended me like that. No one’s ever loved me quite like that.”
Mercury tossed his head. “Well, I do. I love you. Quite like that.”
“Good.” He held out his arms, hoping his mate would come walking into them; he needed to hold Mercury and let his mate feel how much he loved him. And soon he would probably defend Kami to Mercury, but he couldn’t do it right now. Mercury couldn’t possibly understand the kind of teasing he and Kami had learned to give each other over the years. Simply never had that kind of exposure to anyone else.
Not only that, Kami wanted to make sure Mercury loved him as much as Talon loved Mercury.
Asking would have been easier, but when had Kami ever done anything easy?
Mercury sighed, resting his head on Talon’s chest. “Does he hate me? Isn’t it why he keeps doing these things? Is he jealous that I’ve taken over his spot in your life?”
“Oh, hailee, no.” He stroked Mercury’s back. “Kami and I were just friends, more like brothers. And like brothers, we tease and we fight and we worry about each other. He wants to make sure that you can stand up to anyone who might come after you or me, and you can stand up to me.” Talon chuckled. “You haven’t seen it, but I can get in a mood.”
“No, I haven’t seen it from you, but I have seen it with your brother here. He can be grumpy.”
“And we have a lot in common, Triton and I.”
“Where does that leave me and Kami?” Mercury searched his gaze, moistening his lips with the tip of his tongue.
“Standing up to him today went a long way, I bet. You have to just give him as much shit as he gives you. And I’ll make sure to tell him when he needs to back off.” Soothed and petted, wanting Mercury to know he was right there and that he wasn’t really going to let Kami abuse him in any way. “But I want you to know I never think of you as any kind of a joke.”
“Thank you. Can we go back to snuggling now?”
Talon pulled back again to look down at Mercury. “Are you sure you want to? I do, but I want to make sure you don’t feel like it’s some sort of mandatory thing if you’re still angry.”
Mercury nodded, rising up on tiptoe to kiss his chin. “I do. Though I want to go snuggle in the bedroom instead of on the couch.”
“Let’s do it.” He sent one tiny little very direct thought to Kami to stay away, and then he picked Mercury up in his arms to take him to the bedroom. This was a way he could show Mercury how much he meant to Talon, that he was no joke. He could love on him and give him everything he had.
Besides Mercury had a whole new strength about him now that he was eating well and putting on a little bit of muscle from doing short workouts with some of the younger dragons. He was learning Tai Chi, which seemed to suit Mercury so perfectly.
Talon laid him on the bed, smiling down at him as he started working on Mercury’s soft clothing, taking it off. He wanted to touch skin. He wanted to worship Mercury as he deserved to be worshipped.
Mercury gave a soft sigh, reaching up once he was nude to wrap his arms around Talon’s neck. “Kiss me?”
Talon brought his mouth to Mercury’s lips, wanting Mercury to be right there with him. He needed heat, and he neededMercury to be wet for him so when he sank his knot inside that sweet body, it was pleasurable for both of them in so many ways.
Mercury moaned, arching up against him, legs spreading wide, and he could smell his pain. Talon knew Mercury was becoming open and wet for him.
Mercury plucked at his tunic, growling a little bit. “Take this off.”
Talon laughed for sheer joy, rising up on his knees so he could take off his shirt, then wiggle out of his pants. When he lowered back down, they came together skin to skin, and they both groaned at the feeling of it.
“My knot is already rising for you, hailee.”
Wiggling, Mercury seated him more firmly between those spread legs. “Good. I want to feel you. I need it. You have to give it to me. That’s mine.”
Gods, this was fucking perfect. Let his low bass rumble slide over Mercury, watching hailee’s eyes widen as he got a little feral, bending to nip the long column of Mercury’s throat.
