“Slath and Asha.” Ghreid chuckled. “Slathir would know more about it, but Asha has a keen eye and talent for artwork. Anything you like, they could do.”
“That would be lovely. My family’s seaside estate growing up had many things done to prevent moldering, and I see some improvements that could be made as far as décor in this place to merge style and function.” Varis slid into the half-filled tub and sank into the water with a sigh. The estate’s boiler got the water warm, but when Ghreid slid in, he cast magic over the surface of the water, drawing the temperature higher to suit the tastes of dragons. Varis sighed in delight, his cheeks pinkening through the fawn color he wore so well.
“Whatever you desire.” Ghreid pulled Varis against him, nuzzling from cheek to cheek as the water lapped their sides. “Anything you wish.”
Varis frowned and leaned his head against Ghreid’s chest. “I have everything I want and need. I wish only for our surroundings to match the creature you are. There’s not enough ostentation. As long as I’m fed and entertained, I am happy.”
“I can entertain you once more this morning, if you like.” Ghreid offered a wide grin that Varis gave a cursory glance before huffing. “Twice more?”
“I’m still sore from last night, Lord Dragon.” Varis stretched and rolled off of Ghreid, resting a hand over his belly before closing his eyes. “My ass aches, my insides clench, and everything is raw.”
“I never wished to hurt you.” Ghreid brought magic over his fingers, letting heat and fire spread through his mate in invisible waves, coursing through his thin body to knit together all the mortal things that had come undone. “But this will not be so in time. You will cease to hurt.”
“I will grow accustomed to this. It has been far too long. I rather not speak of the mess you filled me with, for it would lead to questions of where you stored that much.” Varis scoffed and reached for a bar of soap and a neatly folded hemp scrubber on the tub’s edge. Already familiar with it, he gave his body a cursory cleanup and gestured for Ghreid to turn, where he wordlessly scrubbed at his back.
“But in time, you will be dragon, and it will not hurt.” Ghreid hummed as Varis finished and took the scrubber to reciprocate, scrubbing the male’s back, his raw bottom, gentle fingers spreading magic between his pert cheeks and even into his tight sac.
“Your magic… I know so few who can wield it, but dragons are so adept, it appears, or is mymatea talented mage?”Varis bit his lower lip, and the way he moved so salaciously in response to it made Ghreid purr.
“My brothers and I are particularly skilled. Somewhere in the realm of good blood and excellent training.” Ghreid kept his touch perfunctory and did not linger where he’d not been given consent.
“Will I have this talent?” Varis glanced up, those coppery eyes full of sordid, unspoken thoughts. Ghreid could practically see the carnal thoughts in him, or perhaps it was wishful thinking.
“No doubt you will. Slathir is more suited to water, too, so he might be a good fit to teach you. He is a bearer.” Ghreid pulled away from Varis and rinsed his hair, daubing the soap at his temples and working it very carefully along his scalp to preserve the most of his natural oils.
“He is one who will get pregnant?” Varis asked, his tone lilting with that curious tone.
“If he ever submits to a sire, I’m certain. He’s rejected every male that’s shown him interest.” Ghreid waved his hand dismissively.
“Is he of the uninterested persuasion?” Varis raised a brow as he dipped his head into the water.
“Perhaps? Asexuality has been proposed, but I think he’s had some conquests… We don’t speculate.” Ghreid rinsed his scalp and stood, letting magic flush his skin to dry him as quickly as he left the water. The steam rolling off had a soothing feel to it.
“If I had been named my father’s heir, I would have been expected to have a wife. As long as I gave her a son, I’d be free to seek my male preferences.” Varis frowned. “I think Icoulddo it, but I’d rather not have to.”
Ghreid nodded. “I do like males and females, myself. I’ve always preferred sausage to cake.”
Varis chuckled. “I really feel as if you’re feeding me fantasies when you speak of breeding me, Lord Dragon.”
“Fantasies do come true.” Ghreid chuckled and offered a towel to Varis as he rose from the tub, the drain running as he did so. “But there are many steps to take before I breed you properly. Put an egg or so in you, make your belly swell.”
“You nearly did that last night. I felt stuffed.” Varis chuckled and dried himself off the boring way for a moment until Ghreid lent his magic. “So, what steps are these?”
“Well, we’ll keep your clothing comfortable until such time as I can make good on that promise. But first, we must make a dragon of you. I must wed you. I will have nobody doubt that I have taken you as my own.”
“That part makes me slightly nervous, Lord Dragon, as my people will surely demand my return. I—I do not wish for that to cause a skirmish.” Varis glanced away and strode into their bedroom to rifle through the clothing laid out for him. He dressed so daintily, sliding things on over slender arms and buttoning linen over his defined chest.
“They can make any number of demands, but I will only give them my word and your promise. My word is that you will not leave my possession. My word is that I will fill your belly as many times as it takes to give you our child, and I will show you to the world as my finest possession.” Ghreid took Varis’s hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss, sealing it with magic. The glimmer in Varis’s eyes showed he must have known something had changed. “And this promise binds my soul to my word. I cannot break it.”
Varis smiled, the curve of his lips a beautiful thing hiding secrets Ghreid may never learn. It drove him mad with joy for all the things to come, every moment another opportunity to learn to love him more.
“Well, steps require stairs and we’re on ground level. Let us get to business, and the dragon inside me you swear to be there can come out to play once I speak to your other ashen.” Varis straightened his collar and tightened his pants before glancing over himself. “But I would love the embroidered satin tunics I was accustomed to in my youth.”
“You need only ask. I want to give you the world, and I’ll do it one tunic at a time.” Ghreid tucked his clothes into place and strode out of his bedroom, ready for Rydel to suck the joy out of life.
Chapter Eleven
Varis
