A weight lifted off of Florian’s chest all at once, and he smiled weakly over at the dragon shifter. “I don’t know. I thought maybe it would just be too… too weird, too much to deal with, and you’d rather just go home.”
“Are you kidding?” Koji laughed again, shaking his head. “These past few weeks have been more exciting than practically my whole life. A little more weirdness isn’t going to drive me away. The dragon kingdom is much too boring for that to scare me off.”
“I’m glad,” Florian choked out, laughing and turning away to scrub at the tears suddenly in his eyes. What had he been so afraid of? Would rejection from Koji really have been so painful? Still, knowing his friend—and they were truly friends now—wouldn’t be driven away by the strange circumstances that had surrounded Florian was an unexpected, intense relief.
“Me too,” Kade said, speaking for the first time since Florian had begun his explanation. “I was… concerned about all this, too, at first. Maybe for different reasons than Florian, but it did worry me. But we’re grateful for your help, Koji, and I’m glad that you can see past this so easily. It was… harder for me. But you’re right—not something to drive anyone away who wants to help.”
Florian smiled weakly at him too. “Thanks, Kade.”
Kade nodded back, a hint of a smile playing at his lips.
“Anything else I should know before we go on to our next adventure?” Koji chuckled.
“I don’t think so,” Florian replied.
“He’s the one who snores,” Kade said flatly.
“I do not!” Florian protested, and they laughed together, the tension dissipating all at once.
When their coffee and dessert was done, Florian summoned one of the invisible servants—another marvel of magic that Koji gawked at—and had it lead them to the guest wing where Koji would stay. It led them up the main stairs and to the side where Florian had once stayed—and Kade, too, before they had taken over the main bedroom together. The guest room that was set aside for Koji was a different one, though, which Florian was relieved to find, thinking how awkward it might have been if Koji stayed in either his or Kade’s old rooms. Not that Koji would have known, but he would, and something about those rooms still felt private, somehow.
“Our room is basically on the opposite side of the stairs,” Florian explained, gesturing the way they came, as Koji brought his bags into the guest room. “If you need us for anything, we’ll be there. And you can summon a servant to bring you anything.”
“Much more convenient than living servants,” Koji chuckled. “Shall we meet for breakfast?”
Florian sighed, scrubbing a hand through his hair. “I mean, we just slept, so I don’t know how well anyone’s gonna sleep. But yeah, let’s meet for maybe a late breakfast and see how we’re feeling then.”
“See you then,” Koji replied with a firm nod, then they said their goodbyes.
Florian and Kade made their way back to their own room in comfortable silence—Florian realized it would be the first time they’d really been alone together since arriving in the dragon kingdom, a thought that was met with equal parts relief and anticipation.
“Glad to be home?” Florian asked as he turned to look at Kade, realizing too late how loaded the question was. But Kade only looked back at him with a small smile.
“Yes,” he replied, reaching over to slide his hand into Florian’s, making his stomach flutter. Kade squeezed his hand, and Florian squeezed in return. He didn’t let go until they were back in their chambers, where an invisible servant had piled their belongings neatly near the foot of the bed. The rest of the room was as clean and tidy as when they’d left, nearly two months ago.
“I figure we’re not going to sleep much tonight, so...” Florian started, Kade’s fingers sliding through his as he stepped closer to the bed, then glanced back at Kade. “Do you want to do... something else?”
Kade’s eyes had become dark, but his small smile widened. “Yes.”
That was all it took—before Florian even realized it, Kade was gathering him up in his arms and kissing him roughly. Florian groaned, immediately succumbing to Kade’s tongue against his lips, mouth parting to let him in. Then they were tumbling into bed, the sheets clean and cool against his back, the warm weight of Kade on top of him that much more comforting.
“It’s been way too long,” Florian murmured the moment Kade pulled away to press fervent kisses along his exposed neck.
“I’ve missed you,” Kade replied softly. “I want you inside me. Will you? Please?”
They had been intimate during their time on Earth, of course, but Florian could only grow a dick here in the Veil, and their time in the dragon kingdom hadn’t exactly been conducive to such activities. Kade’s words sent a surge of heat through his body, and almost without thinking, his cock was forming in his pants, making him groan.
“Yeah,” he answered, panting. “Yeah, fuck, okay.”
He felt Kade let out a huff of a laugh against the crook of his neck, then he was rolling them over so Florian was on top of him, straddling him just above the waist. His hands pushed up Florian’s shirt, fingers skimming along his skin. When Florian leaned back, he could feel Kade’s cock pressing against his ass, hard and ready.
“C’mon,” Florian urged, pulling his shirt off. “Take these off.”
Kade put up no resistance, immediately pulling his hands away from Florian to peel off his shirt; then he lifted Florian as he pushed his hips up, tugging down his pants and making Florian laugh at his obvious eagerness. Soon they were both naked, Kade eyeing Florian’s cock with anticipation. Florian leaned down to kiss along Kade’s neck, as they both shifted awkwardly so Florian was between Kade’s legs, instead of straddling him.
“Fuck,” Florian blurted out, pulling away quickly. “Where’s the lube?”
Kade laughed, his eyes flashing with amusement. “I got it.”
