Page 226 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume One

“Good. Now come with me.” Tori jerked away and opened the passenger door.

“Where?”

“Now that we’ve had our talk, I want to show you a secret little place to reward my brave, angry dragon.”

Baldewin didn’t waste any time jumping out of the SUV and following Tori around the front. They were hidden from the road by high grass, allowing them to get lost in a tangle of arms and legs. They kissed desperately and tugged at clothes, trying to get a little closer while not wanting to release each other.

With his emotions running high and sex clearly on the table, Baldewin was tempted to yank clothes off and let instinct take over.

But after that disaster back there, he also felt the need to say the words that had been caught in his throat for days now. Even if Tori couldn’t reciprocate, he wanted this precious man to know he was loved.

He pulled back from the kiss, framing Tori’s face with one hand. Those crystal grey eyes were cloudy with passion, mouth looking sweetly used, and it was all very distracting. Baldewin firmly kept his mind on track, although it took more willpower than it should have. “Wait. Let me say this first. Tori, you’re amazing and intelligent. You’re one of the most capable people I’ve ever known. You don’t need me. You never have.”

Tori’s mouth opened on a protest.

“You don’t,” Baldewin said, his heart in his throat. “You’ve proven time and again, even before I came into your life, that you don’t need anyone to take care of you. But if you choose to have someone in your life who will, who will love you and support you, then I want it to be me. I want you to choose me.”

“I already have.” Tori huffed a little laugh, eyes warm. “You silly man, of course I have. You’ve seen the environment I grew up in, how stifling it was. I dreamed of having someone like you. Someone who would give me the freedom I craved. You’re a breath of fresh air in a life that had gone stagnant with desperation. I can breathe freely because of you. But can I be everything you want?”

“You already are. You are my mate. Whether you are ready to accept it or not, I’ve known for a while now. My dragon has known it. We are fated to be together. And I will happily wait for you to be comfortable with that idea, no matter how long it takes.”

Tori’s eyes grew wide, and his entire body stilled against Baldewin’s. “Mates? Really? You think we’re mates?”

“I know we are.”

Tori blinked back tears and released a heavy sigh of relief. “Oh, thank god. I was hoping we were, but I was afraid that we weren’t. I didn’t know how I was going to live with the idea of someone else being your mate.”

Baldewin’s heart soared, and even his dragon roared loudly in his head, celebrating that they at last had their mate. He was so relieved to know that he’d won this man, he nearly melted under the force of the emotion. But he didn’t like that Tori still doubted he was enough, and he couldn’t leave any trace of that behind. He made sure to use Finnish so Tori had no room for misunderstanding. “Rakastan sinua.”

Tori’s smile was breathtaking, almost supernova in its intensity. He said the words back with no hesitation. “I love you.” He kissed Baldewin sharp and quick before repeating, “I love you. And as soon as I learn the proper spell to bind us together, we’ll do it, but not here. Home.”

“Home,” Baldewin agreed, so happy he felt like flying. But also like making love. And maybe crowing. Lots of instincts were at play, and he went with the one that would give them the most pleasure.

He kissed Tori again, this time with the intent to rile him up, his hands traveling down to his waistband. Clothes definitely had to go away.

Tori was thankfully on board with this idea, as he was quick to follow Baldewin’s example, working on his trousers and shoving them out of the way enough for him to wrap a hand around Baldewin’s dick and give it a good stroke. Baldewin groaned into the kiss, the relief of having that hand stroking him too amazing.

He returned the favor, enjoying Tori’s reaction, how he arched into him and gave that sweet gasp. Tori was just so beautifully sensitive; it was fun to drive him over the edge. Baldewin’s only regret was that he had no lube on him. He really should start carrying some.

“Take me,” Tori demanded against his mouth.

“No lube,” Baldewin panted on a slight whine. He couldn’t use spit. Tori was still too new to anal sex. He didn’t want to risk an injury.

Something cool touched his hand, and he pulled back from the kiss completely to look down. A slim, glass bottle of lube. “You have some?”

“We seem to end up in compromising situations outdoors,” Tori informed him with that impish smile that did funny things to Baldewin’s chest. “I figured I’d best carry around at least a little. And look, here we are.”

“You truly are brilliant.” Baldewin kissed him hard, thinking of positions. He didn’t want them on the ground. It was too rocky near the riverbank.

Tori was a step ahead of him. He pulled free long enough to turn, bracing his hands against the car and offering Baldewin his perfect ass. The glance he gave Baldewin over his shoulder was pure, naughty pleasure.

Oh, hell yes. Baldewin uncapped the bottle, pouring a bit over his fingers before working one into Tori. His lover accepted it easily with a sigh of pleasure, his eyes closing. His channel was hot and welcoming as Baldewin worked in a second finger, stretching him. He truly wanted to ram home and give them both what they really wanted, but not yet. Not yet.

Shit, three fingers was tight. Baldewin would have worried about hurting Tori if the man wasn’t fucking himself onto Baldewin’s fingers, head thrown back in pleasure. He gave Tori that freedom, reveling in the open sensuality of the man.

“Baldewin,” Tori panted, eyes opening to slits. “Now. What are you waiting for?”

“You’re just so captivating like this.” Baldewin poured the rest of the lube over his aching dick, more than ready. He let the bottle fall off to the side, stroking the lube over his own flesh with relief. Yes, better. Not as good as it would feel to be buried to the hilt in Tori, but better.