He made a choked sound and gathered me closer. We sat like that for a long time, just holding each other, breathing each other in. Eventually, I pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. Then another. Trailing across his jaw, trying to pour all my love into each one.
Love. I loved him. I loved him with my whole body and soul.
He turned his head and captured my lips with his own. The kiss started slowly but quickly turned desperate, frantic. Like he needed to lose himself in me. I met him with equal fervor, my fingers clutching at his shoulders.
He pulled back just enough to rasp against my mouth. "I need to make you mine. Please."
"Yes," I breathed. "I want you to do it. Now, tonight."
In one smooth motion, he stood, lifting me with him. I wrapped myself around him as he carried me to the bedroom, ready to give him anything he needed. Ready to be his completely.
Nathan lowered megently to my feet beside the bed. He slid his hands over my body as he undressed me until I stood bare before him. Then he stepped back and removed his own clothes. I couldn't look away from the sight of him, all sculpted muscle and power.
"Rissa," he said hoarsely, cupping my face in his warm hands. "I love you. I think I fell in love with you the moment I saw you at the pack barbecue all those months ago."
Tears pricked my eyes. I turned my head to press a kiss to his palm. "I love you too, Nathan. So much."
We sank onto the bed, a tangle of limbs and heated kisses. Nathan's hands and mouth were everywhere, stoking the fire inside me higher and higher. I arched beneath him as he entered me, filling me so completely. We moved together, finding a rhythm that had me spiraling towards the edge embarrassingly fast.
"That's it, baby," Nathan growled. "Let go for me."
I cried out as my orgasm crashed over me, wave after wave of pleasure. Nathan followed right behind, his body going taut above me. At the peak of his release, he dipped his head and sank his teeth into the curve of my neck, marking me ashis.
White hot ecstasy exploded through my veins at the claiming bite. I clutched him tighter, riding out the intense sensations. The threads of the mating bond snapped into place.
As we drifted back down, Nathan laved his tongue over the new mark, soothing the sting. "Mine," he rumbled, satisfaction thrumming in his voice.
"Yours," I agreed breathlessly, running my fingers through his damp hair. I was his in every possible way. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
Epilogue: Zaden
I pushed open the heavy door of Z's Place, my bar. The familiar clink of glasses and warm amber light welcomed me, but I immediately noticed subtle differences. The tables had been rearranged slightly, fresh artwork adorned the walls, and a hint of a new scent mingled with the old memories that lingered here.
I paused in the doorway, feeling a swirl of nostalgia and unease. So much time had passed, marked by these quiet changes, while I slept under the dragon sleep spell. It was a curse created by a psycho witch with a vendetta. Every hundred years, male dragon shifters had to hibernate for ten years.
Luckily for me and my clan, our dragon alpha found his mate, breaking his curse. Now that Ashton had mated, the rest of us would be able to find ours. I was here for it because it meant no more sleeping for ten years.
I walked slowly between the tables, absorbing the space that once echoed with laughter and whispered conversations from patrons enjoying live music and good drinks. My place.
The polished wood of the bar top reflected the soft lighting. I ran my hand along the smooth surface, remembering evenings of pouring drinks and trading stories with the regulars. A sad smile tugged at my lips. It felt like a lifetime ago.
I inhaled deeply, searching for the notes of whiskey, polished brass, and the faint citrus of the wood polish that had always defined Z's Place for me. They were still there but muted, layered with other scents I couldn't quite name. The comforting aroma had shifted—not unpleasantly, but noticeably. An undeniable reminder that time never stops, not even for an immortal dragon.
I swept my gaze over the room again. Behind the bar, the rows of bottles remained largely unchanged, buta new painting hung in a spot of prominence on the exposed brick wall. A swirl of vibrant red and orange, like dancing flames. I tilted my head, considering it. Not the style I would have chosen, but the colors seemed to suit the place.
"Welcome back, Mr. Roberts," a familiar voice called out. I turned to see Angel, one of my long-time bartenders. Her warm smile lit up her face as she extended a hand. "Place wasn't the same without you."
I clasped his hand firmly, allowing a genuine smile. "It's good to be back. The place looks good. You've taken care of her."
Angel inclined her head. "We did our best, sir. Wasn't easy to fill your shoes, but me and the crew, we did what we could to keep Z's running smooth." She paused, glancing around. "Made a few updates here and there. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all," I assured her, even as a pang of wistfulness thrummed through me. "Place looks great. Change is a part of life, right?"
"Sure is," Angel agreed easily. "But some things stay the same." She produced a rocks glass and a bottle of my favorite bourbon with a flourish. "Drink?"
I barked out a short laugh. "Now that is exactly what I needed to hear. Pour me a double. Time to get reacquainted with my old haunt properly."
As she fixed my drink, I allowed the tension to slip from my shoulders bit by bit. Z's Place may have changed some in my years away, but sitting here, I could still feel the pulse of the bar that had been my heart and soul for so long. My refuge. My domain.
