Aside from the ridiculous amount of dildos left in the oddest of places—thankfully unused—they’d left the place in pristine condition.
With the last bag packed, Gatlin and Teige took to the front seat, Gatlin tossing the keys to Teige. “Thank the gods you like driving.”
Teige tossed the keys in the change cup on the console and hit the start button, before putting the car in gear. “Who doesn’t like driving something with five-hundred horses inside?”
“Me. I’d rather fly.” Gatlin sulked. “I wish we would hire a driver.”
“Pretentious,” Teige huffed. “Also, we can’t talk filthy when we have a driver.”
“Fair point,” Gatlin agreed. “Want a handy while we drive?”
Teige hesitated. “Yes, but I’m not taking risks with V right now.”
Gatlin glanced over his shoulder as Viraj’s head flopped to the side right as Teige glanced up at the rearview mirror. He turned around in the passenger seat and reached back to rest a hand on their mate’s knee, not to wake him but touching for the sake of touch. Their nest in Camden was nowhere near the elaborate thing they’d made in Silverton, but blankswouldhappen, and if none were fertile—there, he’d have them under the supervision of three of dragonkind’s best doctors.
“What’s on your mind, Gat?” Teige turned his attention to the drive and headed out, ready to hit the main road at the end of their long drive.
“That we’re some of the luckiest bastards in the world.” Gatlin turned back around and focused his attention on the road ahead. “We have an appointment to make.”
Teige adjusted the GPS on the dash as it connected to his phone and sighed. “Twelve hours and fifteen minutes. Mind swapping off once we hit Tennessee so I can get a nap in? Just an hour or two?”
Gatlin grumbled. “Fine.”
“It’s not like I can ask Vivi to drive.” Teige laughed, and Gatlin flinched.
“Nope. His driving terrifies me. How can someone drive soslow?” Gatlin sighed raggedly.
“Driving fast has its issues, but he drives so slow, it’s dangerous in the opposite direction.” Teige set out onto the main road and grinned. “But hey, they have that giant truck stop in Tennessee that has all the exotic animal jerky.”
Gatlin frowned. “Yeah. You are alone on that one.”
“Why not?” Teige glanced over at Gatlin. “You never explained why. I get alligator and kangaroo jerky every year!”
“I shacked up with a gator once…” Gatlin cleared his throat. “Can’t think about eating them.”
Teige frowned. “That just makes me want to eat a gator even more.”
Gatlin huffed and stared out his window, leaning against the door with a shuffle. “Wake me when we get there. I like the slushies.”
And so, off they drove.
***
Gatlin didn’t wake when they got to Tennessee, and Viraj had found a blanket somewhere in the back and cocooned himself in. And despite him waking a few times, he remained quiet and still, either stewing in his own uncertainty or avoiding his turn at driving.
“Gatlin?” Teige yawned as he pulled over to the side of the road. A quick glance at the GPS told him he had less than two hours until they arrived at their destination, but it’d been all day, and Teige wanted at least a quick nap.
“Yeah, yeah.” Gatlin opened far-too-awake eyes. “Dammit.”
Teige grumbled and slid out, feet toeing the yellow line on the side of what had once been a trading route, rural roads, train lines, Route 66, and, most recently, I-55.
Gatlin climbed out and circled the hood of the car to slide into the driver’s seat, hanging back as a single car rumbled by, followed by an 18-wheeler.
Teige, for his part, opened the back seat and slid in, pushing Viraj over before hooking the seat belts into the buckles so pressure didn’t set them off. Of all the things that could kill a dragon, a car wreck wasn’t on that list.
The car twitched into gear, and the blinker signaled them onto the road once more with the annoying metronome of clicking. Viraj wordlessly lifted his blanket and snuggled in as Teige leaned over and wrapped his arms around him. “Love you, Vivi.”
“Love you too.” Viraj winced as Teige rested a hand over his belly, touching the gentle swell there. With how full he felt, Teige couldn’t imagine him not proving himself with blanks—or maybe even a pup. But, then again, he’d never really seen a pregnant Dette before. Dettes normally stayed in their nests while they gestated, leaving the whole process a little mysterious to him.
