Page 272 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume One

Would he leave if he didn’t realize they were mates? That they were fated to be together?

“I think he just realized he’s an idiot,” Gunter commented before sipping his coffee.

“That expression’s a pretty good clue,” Ravi agreed in the same tone, like a commentator watching a sporting event. “Warin? If you don’t make a move, you’re going to lose him.”

He was going to lose his mate.

Warin stood so quickly, the chair almost crashed to the floor behind him. It was partially panic fueling him but mostly determination. He’d not handled this right, but he wasn’t about to dwell on that mistake. He turned sharply on his heel, intent on tracking down the man who had turned him into emotional, hopeful knots. “The hell I will.”

Gunter and Ravi clapped and cheered as he exited the room, and he snorted in amusement. All well and fine for them, but their cheers didn’t settle the nervous butterflies currently duking it out in his stomach. Warin may not have made his feelings clear to North, but the opposite was also true. North hadn’t made anything clear, either. He’d been affectionate, and he obviously liked Warin, but…well, he hadn’t made a move either. He hadn’t tried to clarify their relationship. Had he been too nervous to do so? Too overwhelmed? Too uncertain of Warin to try and speak his mind?

Or just not interested enough?

Warin didn’t know. But he wasn’t about to let North slip through his fingers because he was too nervous to say something. To at least ask. He didn’t know if there were words to express everything he needed to. He tried rehearsing a few things in his head even as he walked to North’s room.

Then he stopped at the door, hand poised to knock, for a long moment. He sucked in a large breath, let it slowly out again, trying to steady his nerves. Breath in, breath out. He could do this.

Please, please, let him have the right words to get his heart across.

Warin knocked on the door.

“Come in!”

He did so, closing the door absently behind him as he got his bearings. North was on the parlor side of the suite, ensconced in a large, wing-backed chair, his legs tucked up to the side. He had a phone in hand, but it was resting in his lap, as if he’d just finished with it. He didn’t look as depressed or as torn now, instead contemplative.

He greeted Warin with a smile as he came closer. “Hey. What brings you here?”

“I failed to say something to you. I’ve only just realized the error.” Warin stopped, just shy of touching him, eyes devouring every nuance of North’s expression. There was perhaps a trace of something there, curiosity predominant. Perhaps hope? Don’t bungle this, dragon. Not when he’s open and listening to you. “I feared overwhelming you, and failed to speak properly of my own heart. And in doing so, left you in doubts. Forgive me. You’ve entered my heart, North. Even if you left now, my heart cannot forget you. But I wish, I most ardently hope, that you choose not to put distance between us. I have needed you since before we could even meet, but now, though our time has been short, I cannot imagine how I will live without seeing you every day. You may not realize this yet, North, but we are mates. I know down to my bones that we are meant to be together, and I would like to spend the next several years convincing you that we are meant to be together. Won’t you stay?”

Warin’s heart pounded madly in his chest, and his lungs constricted until he couldn’t pull in any air. He was balanced on the edge of a precipice—his entire future, all his hopes, dreams, and wishes rested on the mage’s next words.

North’s sky-blue eyes were bright with unshed tears and he couldn’t seem to catch his breath. He launched himself straight into Warin’s arms, and Warin caught him, staggering a half-step back. His heart shuddered in relief as this most precious man embraced him strongly.

Against Warin’s ear, North spoke firmly, “Yes. A thousand times, yes.”

Warin held him just as fervently, breathing him in. That tang of magic all mages carried, mixed in with warm male skin and mint. North. Warin felt almost giddy, knowing his heart’s confession had been so ardently received and reciprocated. He pulled back enough to capture North’s mouth in an impassioned kiss, as he simply couldn’t contain himself. North met him with matching passion, as he always did, their tongues tangling with each other’s in a hot glide. As they kissed, North ground into him, and Warin encouraged this by grasping the back of his thighs and trying to haul him in impossibly closer. It felt so sublimely good, having that growing erection pressed up against his own.

Still, he hadn’t gotten to this age without learning a thing or two. And getting a partner’s consent was important. He broke off the kiss enough to pant, “Do—do you want⁠—”

“I want all the things,” North assured him with a groan, his skin flushed, breath quick. “Take me to bed.”

“Gladly.” Warin immediately strode quickly for the bedroom. He needed them both out of all clothes. Now. Before he expired on the spot. He tossed North into the middle of the bed, startling a laugh out of the man, as he bounced once on the mattress before stopping. Warin lost no time in shucking his own sweater, tossing it aside. North sat up, eagerly shedding clothes, sweater and undershirt landing with a thump on the carpet.

Shoes. Socks. Warin paused to help North get his shoes and socks off before he focused on his own pants and boxers. He kicked them to the side, enjoying the appreciative look his lover gave him. But he’d also gotten distracted, which wouldn’t do. Warin wanted a look as well. He reached forward, a knee planted on the bed for balance, and got a good hold of North’s waistband before pulling pants and boxers off in one smooth pull.

North lifted his hips to help aid this, then lay there, a little flushed and possibly shy under Warin’s regard. He had absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about in Warin’s eyes. Smooth, pale skin from head to toe, looking enticingly warm and lovely. Warin’s hands literally twitched with the need to touch. His dragon stirred in his mind, greedily looking over every inch of him. At last he had all of North in his grasp. At last he’d be able to lick all the yummy parts. He lifted a foot, placing a lingering kiss to the ankle and husked against warm skin, “You’re incredibly beautiful.”

“I absolutely love the way you look at me.” North held out both hands, encouraging him closer. “But you’re too far. I want your gorgeous self right here, skin to skin.”

“Hmm.” Warin couldn’t process those last words, as an internal vision filled his head. He placed another kiss further along, on the calf, then the knee, moving onto the bed as he traveled up the slim leg.

“W-Warin—” North pleaded, wriggling a little.

He knew what North wanted. His cock was hard and upright, begging for attention. With a smile, he turned his head, sucking a ball into his mouth and lightly stroking it with his tongue. This close, the scent of musk filled his head and he could feel the shudders of pleasure travel through North’s frame.

“Oh God, I love your mouth,” North panted, his hand traveling down to tangle in Warin’s long hair.

Warin tried not to smile, smug that he’d elicited this response. He also rather liked having his hair pulled and wanted to encourage it. He let the ball slide free before turning his attention to that erect cock, holding it still with one hand as he licked a hot line from base to tip. North shivered in pleasure—Warin felt it under his hand—and heard his lover’s breath stuttering.