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I gritted my teeth. That wasn’t enough to contain the rising flare of myfrustration.
“Look,” I said tartly, “I’m the dragon shifter around here. I’m the only one you’ve got. IfIcan’t make a call about who can know what, who else exactly is qualified to dothat?”
Someone down the table muttered something under their breath. Most of it was too low for me to catch, but I heard enough. “...so long away from her ownkind...”
My hands clenched under the table. “Does anyone here need a demonstration?” I asked, raising my voice slightly. “To make sure I’m dragon enough for you? I could bring down the ceiling. I could set the whole place up in flames. The shifting part is covered. The rest of the details I’m learning as fast as I can.” I eased open my fingers to grasp Aaron’s hand, setting it on the table between us. He gripped mine in return, the corner of his mouth twitchingup.
“And there’s no one I’d rather have by my side while I’m learning than your alpha,” I added. “He followed me when I needed his help, and I’ll follow him anywhere he needs me to go. Anywhere all of you need us to go, to keep the community strong. So I’d appreciate it if you’d give me a littlecredit.”
Silence hung all around the table for a moment. The shifters across from us lowered their eyes. Fuck, had I made an embarrassment of myself all overagain?
Before I could make any more mistakes, dessert arrived. Perfect portions of strawberry cheesecake for me to drown my sorrows. I kept my mouth shut and watched andlistened.
When the meal was over, Aaron stood up, tugging me withhim.
“It’s an honor to stand before you with my fellow alphas and, of course, my new mate,” he said to our audience, pitching his voice to carry through the room. “Thank you all for how welcoming you’ve been to Serenity. You won’t find a more devoted advocate or tenacious fighter for ourpeople.”
My face warmed. He said a few more things about how great I was, and I gave a wave to the crowd, but inside I feltunsteady.
The farewells to the guests passed in a blur. Aaron walked me back to my rooms. I let him in and collapsed face-first on my bed with agroan.
“You didn’t have to pile on the compliments like that. I’m so sorry for running my mouth. I will never speakagain.”
Aaron chuckled. “What are you talking about? Youweregreat.”
I turned my head to raise a skeptical eyebrow at him. “What areyoutalking about? I made a total fool of myself at least fivetimes.”
“Not at all.” He sat down on the bed beside me, smiling. “You showed them you’d follow our traditions when you knew what those were. That you were willing to take new information into consideration. That you’re devoted to the people you care about. And that you’ve given that loyalty to me. I couldn’t have asked formore.”
Was he serious? He sounded like he meant it. I couldn’t quite believe it, but a little of the tension around my heart fellaway.
I pushed myself upright and leaned in to kiss him. Aaron slid his fingers into my hair as he kissed me back. I tried to channel every bit of love and gratitude I was feeling into the meeting of ourlips.
My hand rested on his thigh. As I scooted closer to deepen the kiss, my palm slipped. My thumb grazed the hard bulge that had already come to attention in Aaron’s dresspants.
Aaron hummed in pleasure, and a different sort of heat washed through me. Suddenly I knew exactly what I wanted to do with this wonderful, gorgeousman.
I trailed kisses along the edge of his jaw as I eased down his fly. When I tugged at his pants, he let me slide them down, watching me with eyes gone heavy-lidded with lust. The sight of it only stoked the fire insideme.
“Stay right there,” I murmured, and knelt in front ofhim.
I flicked my tongue over the head of his cock. Aaron groaned. I grasped the base of his erection, and his hips canted toward me of their own accord. “Serenity,” he started, as if to tell me I didn’t have to, but I already knew that. I was dying to do it, for me as much as forhim.
The man in front of me ruled over a quarter of all the shifter kin with even temper and measured words. But I had the power to make him lose his cool with a simple touch. And there were some parts of him I hadn’t fully claimedyet.
I tipped my head, taking his cock into my mouth. The taste of him, even saltier than the ocean air, laced my tongue. I swiveled it around his shaft, loving the way it twitched at the motion. He leaned back on the bed, his hands fisting the covers. His breath was alreadyrough.
I pumped my hand, gradually building speed, as I sucked him down and released him. Over and over, until his body was trembling and his breath coming in hoarse pants. I closed my lips around him even more tightly, and another moan carried into theair.
“Serenity,” he said, “I’m going to come. If you keepgoing...”
Good. That was exactly what I wanted. A tingling grew between my legs as I slicked my lips up and down him. His cock twitched again. His breath stuttered. Then his hips jerked up as his release hit the back of mymouth.
“Serenity,” he muttered. “Serenity.” His hand stroked over my head. And just for that moment, nothing else mattered—not betrayals or lies or scheming rogues and fae. There wasn’t a single thing in the world that could hold medown.
Chapter 18
Marco
