“It’s not ‘Monty,’ is it?” I asked, referring to the name shortening many of the humans called me. I refused to think of it as an endearment.
“No, Star.”
My soul throbbed. “What?”
“I wish to call you ‘Star.’”
“Why?” I asked.
“You seem so distant and lovely, but when you get closer, you burn hotter and with more complexity than anyone would’ve ever thought.”
I rolled over and trapped Wyn beneath me, pressing kisses to his eyes, nose, cheeks, jaw, and anywhere I could reach. His hands settled on the small of my back, holding me to him.
“Thank you,” I muttered, my lips brushing his scales.
“Thank you for letting me truly see you.”
I moaned, tucking my face in the crook of his neck, and Wyn held me tight. We didn’t do anything more than cuddle, but it was exactly what I needed.
Wyn didn’t seem bothered by the snuggling. He continued to trace his fingers over me, not in a rush to leave, which I hoped meant he would spend the night here. At some point Cincin hopped up on the bed and planted her substantial self againstmy calf. I rubbed her soft head with my tail, but I didn’t take my eyes off Wyn.
With bare touches, I explored his chest and lean arms. When my fingers came near his scent gland on his side, his eyes grew large and he swallowed. I allowed myself one barely-there touch. Wyn closed his eyes and his tail sought mine, curling around it and stealing it from petting Cincin, who meowed in obvious anger.
I kissed his forehead, and he trembled against me. Soon. Very,verysoon, we would talk about scent marking. I was near positive he would allow me to claim him, and I would certainly let him claim me in whatever capacity he desired. My fingers came near his malformed wing, and I hesitated. Would I hurt him? Did Wyn like it touched? Normally, I wouldn’t even think about it, but I didn’t want to injure him.
Wyn rolled on top of me, and I grunted, but my hands rested right above his butt to keep him in place. He stared down at me, frowning. I returned the look, unsure of what was wrong and unwilling to guess.
“You can ask,” he finally said.
“What?”
“About whatever is bothering you in regards to my wing.”
I swallowed. I hadn’t meant to make my hesitation obvious, but Wyn threw off all of my normal restraints. One of my hands slid up his spine, resting right below his smaller wing. “Can I touch it?”
“Why?”
“Because I want to touch you. I haven’t because I’m afraid it might hurt or you might not like it.”
Wyn folded his arms on my chest and rested his chin on his hands. “You can touch my wings, Monqilcolnen. Both of them. It doesn’t bother me. I actually quite like it. If you don’t want to, then don’t. I’ve had past partners who don’t like to.”
A growl rumbled in my chest. “Do not compare me to them.”
I scolded myself. I shouldn’t have chastised Wyn. He could mention his past partners. I’d brought even one of mine on board right in front of Wyn. Instead of being upset, he smirked, and my soul stuttered. I swallowed, my cock awakening.
He asked in a low voice as his tail played with mine, “Jealous, Star?”
“Yes.” The word slipped out before I’d even thought about it.
Chuckling, Wyn pressed his face to my chest, and I buried my fingers into his silky hair, tangling in his braid. With a kiss on my sternum, right above my soul, he said, “You have no reason to be jealous of them.”
“No?”
“No.” He kissed my chin, then hid his face.
Grinning, I continued to explore his frame as I listened to him breathe. I slid over his smaller wing, and it stretched as far as possible. The scales on my fingertips dragged across the supple leather of his membrane and scraped against the scales along his bone. I traced the sharp talon that curled inward, and Wyn rubbed his face on me.
It had to be unintentional, but his scent bloomed and made my body relax. This. This was how we were supposed to be. Right here. Together. Going through life. I kissed the top of his head and kept touching his wing thoroughly before moving to the other.
