“You know I feel it, right?”
“Yeah, otherwise you would never agree to be my mate. I know you, you want it all.”
Ayden gave him a brilliant smile and, after what seemed like forever, finally said those three little words he wanted to hear. “I love you too.”
Brogan stretched his arms out towards his mate and Ayden immediately went into them. Finally. Finally, this was where they both belonged. No ghosts and no doubts left in either of their minds. “So, you wanna get naked so I can bite you? I really want to be buried inside that sexy ass of yours when I sink my teeth into your neck,” Brogan whispered silkily into Ayden’s ear, as he rubbed his hand over the aforementioned sexy ass.
“I want that too.”
“You’re okay with the whole losing your virginity thing?” Brogan hoped both of them were.
“Past ready, but you can’t until we have our mating ceremony.”
“That’s the magickind thing, right? Is it like a human wedding?”
“Simpler I think. We just need to exchange blood so you will gain some of my magic, otherwise those spells etched into my back will attack you if you bite me. My magic could kill you before I could prevent it.”
“Well as much as I want that ass of yours, it’s not really worth dying over. How soon can we do this?” Brogan asked.
“I guess Blodwen could help. We’ll talk to her and thanks for saying I am not worth dying for, asshole,” his mate said with a smack on his chest.
“I didn’t mean it like that and you know it. I would die for you although I hope to hell I never have to prove that.”
“That makes two of us.”
“Time to update the list again,” Brogan announced.
Ayden seemed surprised. “It is?”
“Yep. Pro: Ayden loves me.”
His mate frowned at him. “We are not adding that.”
“But you do, how is that not a pro? That should be a big bold one. It’s my favorite,” Brogan said with a wink.
“Because each pro needs to have some sort of reasonable possibility of a convincing con. How could there be a con for the fact that I love you?”
Brogan could not help the smile that was probably going to be stuck on his face forever. “Hmm, I hate to concede, but you do have a point.”
“Of course I do, I’m the brains of this operation.”
“Like hell, you’re the sexy one. I am the smart one,” Brogan argued.
“Okay, we are going to just move on because this is an argument that neither of us will ever agree upon.”
“Fine, got anything you want to add to the list?”
“Con: Brogan waits too long to resolve situations.”
“Pro: Ayden is very good at confronting his mate when he waits too long.”
“I like that one.”
“I thought you would,” Brogan agreed with a smile for his mate.
“I really do love you, you know,” Ayden told him sincerely.
“I know, baby, I know. I love you. I absolutely adore every sexy inch of you.”
Ayden rolled his eyes. “Always gotta take it a step further to compete with me, don’t you?”
“Yep, now shut up and kiss your mate.”
Two days later Brogan was standing in the bedroom he shared with Ayden getting dressed in his ceremonial attire for their mating ceremony. He donned a hoodless black cloak that was trimmed in his very own dragon scales. Admiring himself in their bedroom mirror, he decided he liked the ensembles witches wore to bond with their mates. Brogan was still a little vague on the details regarding the ceremony, but Ayden had promised him that it was relatively quick and simple.
It didn’t really matter to Brogan; he would endure whatever it took to have Ayden. There was a sharp rap on the bedroom door, and Aleksander informed him that they were ready to begin. The ceremony was going be performed in the throne room. Every court boasted one, but he doubted he had been in theirs more than once or twice. Their family was not one for all the pomp and circumstance that took place in most courts.
As he entered the sparsely decorated room, the first thing he saw was his mate. Ayden was wearing a similar costume to his own, except his cloak bore a hood that heralded the fact that he had magic in his blood. Two long flaps of material trailed behind him; they were embroidered with all the magic schools he was considered an expert in. But Brogan’s favorite part of the ensemble was the coronet he wore on his head. It symbolized Brogan’s rank as a duke, and that title was now shared with his mate.
“Ready to begin?” Aleksander asked. Their king and their necromancer would be performing the ceremony together. Ayden and Brogan took their places and stood facing one another.
“Draconis Court of D’Vaire. Today we witness the joining of Duke Brogan D’Vaire to Duke-mate Ayden D’Vaire. In the tradition of Ayden’s people they will be bonded by rite of witchcraft,” Aleksander announced, and Brogan smiled down at his mate. Ayden gave him a small wink in return.
“Gentlemen, please raise your left palms. It was long before our births that Fate first granted the gift of magic to mankind. By doing so, the first warlock was born. Ayden is born of magic, summoned by witchcraft. The very first race of magics,” Blodwen spoke proudly of magickind.
“Brogan is born of a race granted by Fate to share their existence with that of a beast. Draconis is the blood of the most powerful and fiercest shifters known to man,” Aleksander stated and Blodwen raised a sapphire encrusted athame, the ceremonial dagger used to exchange blood. Stepping close to Ayden, Blodwen quickly sliced a cut open across his left palm. It didn’t even bleed before the cut closed.
Ayden stomped his foot in disgust, “Fuck! How are we supposed to do this? My body heals itself too damn quickly.”
“We will figure it out,” Brogan replied.
“How are we going to do that? I can’t turn off the spells etched on my back,” Ayden shouted, visibly agitated.
“I haven’t figured it out yet.”
“How the hell am I supposed to bond with my mate?” Ayden demanded of the room at large. Their entire family, with the exception of Latarian, had gathered for the ceremony.
“Baby, there has to be a way.”
“Guys-” Blodwen began.
His mate was really getting himself worked up. “It’s like Fate is laughing at me. First I think I have a dead mate. Now I have who I want and I cannot even bond with him.”
“Ayden, calm down. We will think of something,” Aleksander assured him.
“Guys-” Blodwen tried again.
“Sure, easy for you to say. My mate is standing right in front of me, and I still can’t have him,” Ayden yelled.
“Baby, I’m not going anywhere and I will always be yours.”
“I cannot bleed Brogan!”
“GUYS!” Blodwen yelled.
“WHAT?” Ayden bellowed back.
“I could poison the blade. It would keep your magic busy long enough that you could bleed. Then after Brogan’s palm is cut we will cut you again to get his blood to enter you,” Blodwen instructed. Brogan was never more grateful to have a necromancer amongst them.
“Do it.” Ayden lifted his palm once again and nodded to Blodwen to go ahead. Blodwen poisoned the blade, and it glowed green as she used it to cut Ayden’s palm. This time a few precious drops of blood escaped before he healed. Everyone in the room seemed to sigh in relief. Brogan’s own hand was then cut, and his blood flowed freely.
“Draconis to Witch Familiar. Witch Familiar to Draconis,” Aleksander spoke the words as Ayden was once again cut. The two men quickly slapped their palms together, and Brogan felt Ayden’s magic enter him. It was like a torrent of pinprick sensations through his entire body as his blood accepted that of his mate.
Blodwen spoke with both hope and confidence underlying her words, “Their souls are now tied, and their lives now linked. May their hearts always stay united so that they will never want another.”
“A dragon claims his mate through the te
eth of his beast. Once complete it leaves behind no mark for the world to bear witness. In draconic tradition, Duke Brogan and Duke-mate Ayden will now exchange bands.” Dravyn handed Brogan the ring that Ayden would soon wear, and Noirin handed Ayden the ring he would place upon Brogan’s finger. The rings had been fashioned of a metal created for shifters; it was enchanted so that it would not have to be removed even when they shifted. Larissa’s mate Madeline was skilled with metal and had fashioned their rings in a unique black and blue metal that symbolized the D’Vaire Court and inlaid in the center was a ring of pure blue to symbolize their paired dragons.
“Chosen by Fate and accepted by my heart as true I accept you as my mate.” Brogan spoke the words that were usually said in private, as dragons usually claimed their mates in bed as he slid Ayden’s ring onto his finger.
Giving the same words back Ayden pushed Brogan’s ring onto his finger and they were now in the tradition of both their people bonded forever, “Chosen by Fate and accepted by my heart as true I accept you as my mate.” To truly cement their bonding Brogan still needed to bite Ayden, and that was something he was definitely looking forward to in the very near future.
“By the traditions of both witchcraft and Draconis you are now mates. You may now kiss the bride,” Aleksander intoned.
“Not funny, I am not his bride,” Ayden snarled at their king.
“I wasn’t talking to you,” Aleksander returned and Ayden laughed. Brogan couldn’t help but roll his eyes. Their family was just not normal. Pulling Ayden into his arms he gave him a quick, but thorough, kiss while the room erupted into applause. Ayden then left his embrace and began clapping as well.
“Finally that’s over. Time for cake!” Ayden exclaimed and headed out of the room. Obviously Ayden had been bowled over by the ceremony and romance of the occasion, right up until he remembered his second true love: food.
Chapter 17
After wolfing down five enormous pieces of the cake Noirin had made to celebrate their mating, Ayden finally found himself alone with Brogan in their bedroom. Ayden was looking forward to being Brogan’s mate in truth and although he was a little bit nervous about losing his virginity it seemed that his mate was having a considerably more difficult time handling his nerves. Brogan was currently pacing across the long wooden planks that served as the floor of their spacious bedroom. He was also reasonably sure that there was sweat glistening on the forehead of his dragon.
“Hey. You all right?” Ayden asked, as he crossed his arms over his chest. He was already naked in their bed, not that his mate had bothered to notice. In fact, Brogan was still wearing the jeans and T-shirt that he had changed into after their mating ceremony to supposedly relax and enjoy dinner with their family. If it were up to Ayden they would be working on getting this show on the road, but in order to do that he needed his mate out of his clothes and within grabbing distance.
“Huh?”
At least Brogan had stopped pacing, Ayden thought, as his mate gave him a puzzled expression. “I asked if you were okay,” Ayden repeated.
“Oh yeah. Sure. Fine. Good. You?” Brogan swiped his forearm across his brow as he answered his mate’s question.
“You coming to bed?”
“Uh. Yeah. Sure.” His mate had answered his question in the affirmative, but he had made no move to get any closer to their bed.
Letting out a big sigh Ayden stared his mate down. “Brogan.”
“What?”
“Get your clothes off and get your giant dragon ass into this bed,” Ayden ordered. He was tired of waiting for his mate to get his shit together. Obviously there was absolutely no reason for Ayden to be nervous. Brogan was nervous enough for the both of them.
“I do not have a giant ass. I have a great ass. It’s not as perfect as your ass, but I’ve never had any complaints about it,” Brogan informed him indignantly, as he mirrored Ayden’s pose and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Oh, like I really want to hear about the other men who had appreciated your ass tonight,” Ayden replied, thinking that if his mate really wanted to talk about the other men he had been with in the past he could do it somewhere besides their bedroom.
“I don’t want to talk about any man but you. I’m just saying my ass is great, and I know you like it. I’ve seen you staring at it plenty of times,” Brogan said smugly, with a knowing look for his mate.
“I didn’t say I don’t like your giant ass. I said get it over here and take your damn pants off.”
At Ayden’s words, Brogan finally headed towards their bed and began disrobing. When he was blissfully naked, he crawled into the bed and propped his head up on his elbow to look up at Ayden, where he still sat with his arms in front of his chest. “I don’t want to fuck this up,” Brogan told him quietly and Ayden could tell from the look in his mate’s eyes just how important it was to his dragon to make this night perfect for them both.
“I just want you to fuck me,” Ayden announced and he watched as his mate flashed him that dimpled grin he loved so much.
“Give me a kiss, baby.” That was exactly what Ayden wanted to hear, and he immediately complied with his mate’s instruction. As soon as their lips touched Brogan pulled Ayden down into his arms. Ayden then felt his mate’s hands run lightly down his back before sliding down to cup his ass. Brogan left his hands there while he began kissing Ayden leisurely, again and again.
He sucked Ayden’s top lip into his mouth, then licked it and gently nibbled on it with his teeth. When he was done, he repeated the entire process on his bottom one. Ayden felt himself getting hard as Brogan’s hands began lightly flexing on his cheeks, while continuing to plunder his mouth. Brogan ran his tongue over the front of Ayden’s teeth before he and Ayden took turns sliding their tongues over each other, as their kisses became more feverish.
Panting into his mate’s mouth Ayden could not help the whimpers escaping him. He adored it when Brogan’s tongue made love with his, and he frantically tried to press his body closer to his mate, in the hope that he could get a little friction on his leaking cock. Unfortunately, Brogan still had his large hands all over Ayden’s ass effectively holding him in place.
Ayden slid his hands into the soft brown curls of his mate’s hair, while Brogan’s mouth left his to cover Ayden’s chin and throat with open-mouthed kisses. Brogan had figured out that Ayden’s neck was particularly sensitive and at the moment he was driving his mate crazy by using that clever mouth to torture him.
“Brogan,” Ayden managed to get out.
Brogan answered him huskily in between kisses, “What’s the matter, baby?”
“Touch me.”
“I’ve got my hands all over your ass. I am touching you,” Brogan told him, his mouth was continuing its assault on his neck. Ayden let his mate know his displeasure with a groan and his dragon just chuckled in response. He loosened his grip on Ayden’s ass, and Ayden took the opportunity to roll onto his back, he wanted a lot more from his mate than kisses. Brogan appeared to get the hint and moved his wicked mouth to kiss Ayden’s collarbone, moving below his neck for the first time that night.
Using one arm to balance his weight, he slid his leg over one of Ayden’s. His other hand found its way to Ayden’s thigh. Of their own accord, Ayden’s legs spread wide and the knee that wasn’t currently beneath his mate he bent to give Brogan plenty of room to play. Leaning over Ayden’s body Brogan moved his mouth further down his chest and over his stomach. Ayden writhed beneath him as he moaned out his mate’s name. His hands left Brogan’s hair to grip the sheet beneath him, as his mate kissed a path down to his cock.
He swiped his tongue over Ayden’s balls as he lifted his hand off Ayden’s thigh and used his finger to trace the circle of his entrance. Ayden hoped to hell he didn’t blow his load before Brogan ever made it inside him. That finger continued to rub his hole as his mate covered his dick with soft kisses.
Brogan’s finger vanished only to return a few seconds later silkily wet as he slid it
into Ayden. Not moving it at all, he allowed Ayden to adjust to the unfamiliar feeling of having something inside him. It felt good, even better than it had felt rubbing just outside his anus. Ever so slowly that finger began sliding further inside him and then he drew it back out and in again until Brogan was moving it in a steady rhythm in and out of Ayden’s hole.
Ayden was becoming swiftly overwhelmed by the sensations his mate was creating inside of him with that slick finger and the kisses that Brogan was still dropping up and down the length of his dick. He needed more and Brogan had obviously gained the ability to read minds because he took the tip of Ayden’s penis into his mouth as the one lubed finger in his ass became two. It created a slight burn that was quickly forgotten as both digits began pumping in and out of his ass, while Brogan suckled the end of his cock.
Just when Ayden was convinced that his mate was the best lover on the planet the fingers inside of him crooked slightly and touched a spot inside of him that caused a scream to tear itself from his throat. He had never felt anything like it in his life, it felt as if Brogan had rubbed a magic button that had caused pleasure to course through and then explode in every nerve cell in his body. Before he could recover from the onslaught, Brogan did it again, and once more Ayden’s shout filled the room. Brogan displayed his mind-reading ability once more when he refrained from giving that beautiful little spot a third stroke. If he had, Ayden would have filled Brogan’s mouth with spunk since his mate was still slurping on his dick.
Instead of stimulating Ayden’s gland again, he slid his fingers completely out and added a third when he pushed back inside. The burn was more intense this time, but Ayden’s body adjusted quickly and, pain forgotten, he was soon once again on the edge. With one last suckle and a light kiss to the tip of his cock, Brogan lifted his head from Ayden’s groin and removed his fingers from Ayden’s ass. Flexing his fingers, Ayden released the death grip he had on their sheets as Brogan moved up his body to kiss his mouth.
“I want you to get on top.”
Ayden could feel the words their lips were so close. “Okay.” He was willing to do whatever Brogan wanted to finish what they had begun. Brogan’s fingers had felt incredible, and he was looking forward to feeling all of Brogan inside of him soon. His mate soon rolled to his back, and Ayden climbed over to straddle his big dragon. Ayden ran his hand over Brogan’s cock before his mate pulled his hand away. Placing his hand on the back of Ayden’s neck, he pulled him down for a hot kiss.
Grand Redemption (D'Vaire Book 1) Page 18
