I laughed, but Monqilcolnen didn’t relax. In fact, his muscles tightened, and his tail thrashed, smacking my calves. I shifted closer to him, then pushed my hand under his shirt so I could touch his bare scales. The instant I touched him, Monqilcolnen leaned back into my touch and his tail coiled around my ankle, meeting my own tail.
He looked over his shoulder and said, “My apologies, Wyn. I didn’t know you would be out of the shower so quickly.”
I hadn’t thought it’d been quick.
“Monqilcolnen,” his father said. “Everything is fine.”
Monqilcolnen whipped toward the screen and snarled, his wings spreading even further, which I wouldn’t have thought was possible. I blinked, not understanding his anger.
Dilvonsil said, “Enough of that. You’re being rude.”
Monqilcolnen just growled again.
I dug my fingers into his back, my claws pricking him, not enough to draw blood, but enough to hurt. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s really no need,” Jemtonkilsol said. “We are no threat to what’s yours. I promise you.”
My soul thrummed at the assertion.
“You upset him,” Monqilcolnen snapped.
“Monqilcolnen,” I whispered before anyone else could say anything, “I’m fine. I was startled. You might not have noticed my state of undress, but I certainly did.”
He finally turned around and noticed my shirtless state, wings exposed. I might not be ashamed of my wing, but I didn’t really like announcing it without warning, or being able to prepare for the inevitable idiotic looks or questions—neither of which had happened with his parents.
Monqilcolnen pulled me close, then looked over his shoulder and said, “We’ll be right back.”
We headed to the closet off his bedroom, and Monqilcolnen slammed the door shut before yanking me into his arms. He buried his face in the crook of my neck before taking several deep breaths. I thought he’d let me go, but instead he pulled me even closer and surrounded me with his wings, encasing me in his heat. I melted into him. It took everything within my power to not start scent marking him.
He pressed gentle kisses on my neck, his lips brushing my scent gland and stealing moans from me. Monqilcolnen whispered, “Please, don’t be upset at me.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Don’t leave. Please don’t leave me, Peace.”
It seemed impossible that someone like him was so afraid of someone like me rejecting him. I gently tugged on his damp hair so he looked at me, then I cupped his cheeks. “I’m not mad.”
He cocked his head. “You were upset.”
“I was upset because I was shirtless and wasn’t expecting to see your parents, but I’m not angry at you, Monqilcolnen.” I kissed him softly. “Not at all.”
A small smile graced his lips, and a much bigger one split my face.
“Now,” I said, “go back out there and I’ll put something on.”
“No,” Monqilcolnen replied. He gripped the nape of my neck and drew me closer. “I’m not going out there without you. You belong with me.”
I ducked my head, pushing it into his chest. After a few moments, I pulled away and reached for one of the spare shirts I kept here, but Monqilcolnen growled. He snagged one of his own shirts and dragged it over my head. I inhaled his addictive scent, more than happy to be covered in it. He gently helped guide my wings out of the slits, because the shirt was the wrong size, I did actually need assistance, and something almost comfortable swelled at him helping me.
“Trying to hide the fact I keep clothes here?” I teased.
Monqilcolnen fisted the front of my—his shirt and tugged me closer with a low snarl. “I want them to see you in my clothes, so they can see you belong right here.”
“Good.” I lifted my chin for a kiss, and he didn’t deny me.
With our tails coiled, we stepped back into the bedroom. My wings were out, which was almost a test, but I didn’t see much point in hiding them now. Neither of his parents commented or stared at my malformed wing. Both just smiled at the two of us, even if Monqilcolnen did have me partly standing behind him.
“Father, Xapher, what did you need to speak to me about?” Monqilcolnen said in an even voice, but his wriggling tail gave him away.
