by Liv Rider
“Of course I want you,” Griffith said quietly.
Noah met his eyes. “Then there’s no problem.”
Griffith sighed. “Noah—”
He broke off as Noah rose from the chair and stalked forward. Griffith eyed him warily, but he moved his legs aside so Noah could sit next to him. Noah placed a hand on Griffith’s bare chest. It burned like a brand. “I’m not a kid, Griffith. I know what I want, and I’m not afraid. Not of this.”
Griffith put his hand over Noah’s to push it away, but instead he found his fingers tightening over it. His heart was beating rapidly. He was sure Noah must feel it too. “What if I am?”
“Then be scared with me, not alone.”
Griffith’s voice shook. “It’s that easy, huh?”
“It’s that easy,” Noah said.
Chapter Ten
It was different this time. Slower. Griffith took his time exploring, as if mapping Noah’s body would help ease the pounding of his heart, the fear that still rushed through him that this was too perfect, too right—it couldn’t possibly be real.
Then Noah flipped them over, straddled Griffith’s hips, and began his own exploration.
“You have a lot of scars,” he commented.
“Hard to avoid in my line of work.”
Noah traced the faint one on Griffith’s neck. Lion claw. From an actual lion, not a shifter, which they’d discovered a little late. The touch was driving Griffith crazy, but he struggled to be still. Noah had indulged him in his own exploration. “I thought shifters were supposed to heal quickly. That’s what they always say about werewolves.”
“Wolf shifters generally do. They also get into enough fights that they need to. There are still some evolutionary differences between shifters. Dragons are tough, and it takes a lot to get through our thick hides, but we scar. Wolves and cats, not so much.”
“I suspected you were a bit thick,” Noah murmured.
“In more ways than one,” Griffith said, shifting his hips so there was no doubt about what he meant. “You planning to do something about that?”
“Maybe,” Noah said. His mood had changed like a weathervane, and Griffith wasn’t sure yet where it had landed. “Where’s the lube?” He rose as Griffith pointed out the drawer and crossed the room to it. He paused after opening the drawer, then held up a condom. “Do shifters need safe sex?”
“We’re immune to human disease, so no,” Griffith said carefully. “But you should do what you feel comfortable with.”
Noah dropped the condom back in the drawer and brought over the lube. “Good to know.”
He settled back over Griffith. “You think you can stay still?” He dribbled some lube over his palm and gripped Griffith’s length, stroking up.
Griffith’s hips moved of their own accord, chasing Noah’s hand. “Not if you do that.”
Noah shook his head. “Come on, Griffith, concentrate.” He stroked him again, this time pressing his thumb along the sensitive underside.
Sadistic little shit. Griffith grabbed the lube from where Noah had tossed it aside and coated his fingers, not caring about the mess on the sheets. He reached behind Noah to find that hot, tight entrance.
Noah’s grip on Griffith’s cock stuttered as Griffith’s finger sank in. “Not fair.”
“Nope,” Griffith agreed, and pressed in another finger alongside the first.
He’d enjoy taking Noah apart piece by piece, watching him shatter in Griffith’s hands, except he suspected Noah was doing the same thing to him. He didn’t know who would break first.
Probably him, he mused, as Noah leaned forward, Griffith’s slicked-up cock in his hand, and angled it toward his entrance.
Noah sank slowly down the length of him.
It was like being encased in fire. The claiming mark he’d put on Noah flared, calling to him. Griffith’s dragon roared up, meeting the flame with his own.
Noah moved slowly. He leaned down, his breath tickling Griffith’s lips, teasing him with the promise of a kiss until Griffith grabbed the back of his head and brought him down to do it properly.
This new dance felt as fragile as their first one. This wasn’t about satisfying their dragons’ demands; it was about how far they could drive each other crazy before one of them gave in.
Griffith didn’t mind losing. He flipped them over, ending up in a tangle of limbs and sheets, but he finally had the angle he wanted and took it.
It was bliss to thrust into that tight heat. Noah’s eyes blazed up at him. The gray was beginning to burn white, too bright to look at but too beautiful to look away. It stole Griffith’s breath.
Lost in the light that burned through them, Griffith barely heard Noah coming, just felt the hot slick between them. He was so close. Beneath him, the white fire in Noah’s eyes spread out over his skin, brighter and brighter. It didn’t burn where Griffith’s skin touched it but gave off a welcoming heat, merging with his own orange flames. His release came suddenly and unexpectedly, almost an afterthought to that comingling of fire.
If this was what it was like to love a sun dragon, then Griffith was lost.
Griffith gently disengaged, keeping as much skin connected between them, unable to bear the loss of contact just yet. The flames between them had faded. Noah moved to find a more comfortable position, his head resting on Griffith’s shoulder.
“Is it always like that between dragons?” His voice was low. Almost awed.
“No,” Griffith said. It had never been like that with anyone.
Noah was quiet a while. “Griffith, I have to tell you, in case something happens, I—”
“No.” Griffith knew immediately what Noah was going to say. Despite the leaping of his heart, traces of fear still lingered. He couldn’t bear to hear the words now, not when so much was still at stake. “Don’t tell me now. After, when this is done and if you still feel the same way, tell me then.”
Noah’s lips brushed his shoulder. “I promise you, I’m going to feel the same way.”
Griffith pulled Noah closer. “Me too.”
***
Reality set in when morning came, like the gray pall covering the sky.
Griffith made them breakfast while Noah looked out over the trees. Already this was becoming habit. It was tempting to pretend that Noah wouldn’t soon be leaving, that Griffith wasn’t going to have to let him go.
After breakfast, they drove to Noah’s apartment in silence. Griffith pulled into the parking lot and turned off the engine.
“It’s weird,” Noah said, looking at the apartment building and not making a move to get of the car yet. “It feels like I haven’t been here in weeks, but it’s only been a couple of days.”
Only a few days, but everything in Griffith’s world had changed. “We’ll take turns watching the apartment. Tse installed a silent security system that will alert us if Madoc tries to break in. You should try to get your roommate to stay somewhere else the next few days. As a human he shouldn’t be in danger, but no sense taking chances.”
“I can probably bribe him into that.”
“You have a copy of the surveillance plan, so you know where we’ll be.” At least Zach hadn’t tried to talk him out of participating in this one. “Tse said he set your phone up to alert us if you press the home button three times. He’s got a tracker attuned to it, so we’ll always know where you are.”
“Sounds like everything is taken care of.”
Noah didn’t sound scared, exactly. Nervous, though.
“You’ll be fine.” Griffith hoped he sounded more confident than he felt, but it helped putting it into words to reassure Noah. “You have three damn good hunters at your back.”
Noah smiled. “I know.” He wasn’t looking at Griffith. “I know I said would wait, but I want to tell you now. I love you.”
He opened the car door, pulled the duffel bag from the back seat, and shut the door behind him.
Griffith watched him walk into the apartment building alone.
&
nbsp; Chapter Eleven
It was strange to be back in the classroom like nothing had happened. Noah listened to his professors’ lectures with half his attention, took notes dutifully, and walked from classroom to classroom in a haze of anticipation and nerves. It had been a couple of days and so far Madoc hadn’t shown. Campus was starting to thin out, most students leaving early to go home for the long weekend. Noah had forgotten it was Thanksgiving this week. Both his parents were working at the hospital, so they’d planned to get together the following weekend. It seemed an eternity from now.
Todd had gone home early too, saving Noah having to come up with a suitable excuse to get him out of the apartment. Still, it made the apartment particularly quiet and lonely. He knew Griffith was nearby, but he’d become so accustomed to his presence that his absence was like a limb missing.
He touched his abdomen. The tingling from Griffith’s claiming mark was as strong as ever. Noah didn’t know what that meant. Had the bond already formed between them? And if so, could he convince Griffith of that?
His phone buzzed on the stack of books he’d placed it on, earning an admonishing glance from the only other student at the library table. Noah’s heart leapt when he saw the text message, but it was Zach.
Hanging in there, kid?
Yes, Noah thumbed back. At the library. Haven’t sensed Madoc on campus at all. He hadn’t felt him in his head again, either, so luckily that theory seemed to be wrong.
He’d gotten a few texts from Griffith: short and to the point, everything they weren’t saying hidden behind the words. But they’d been a lifeline these last few days.
We’re all here if he does. Don’t study too hard. You spend way too much time in that library.
True, though lately it felt pointless to be here when he couldn’t concentrate on anything. He gathered up the books he wanted to check out and took them up to the front desk.
“Heavy stuff,” the student at the desk commented, checking out Noah’s pre-law books. He hesitated before handing them back to Noah. “Not to be weird, but is everything all right? I just noticed you, uh, seemed a little distracted lately.”
Startled, Noah looked at him more closely. He vaguely remembered him working the front desk before. Another student in his year. They’d exchanged pleasantries before but nothing deeper. “Why do you say that?”
The guy colored a little. “Sorry, that probably sounded stalkerish. I’ve just been, uh, working up to asking if you wanted to get coffee sometime.”
Noah couldn’t do anything more than stare back at him for a few beats. He finally found his voice. “Thanks. I’m flattered.” He said with more confidence than he felt, “But I’m actually seeing someone.”
“Oh,” the guy said, clearly disappointed. “Of course you are. I mean….” He colored again and handed Noah his books.
Noah accepted them awkwardly. “Thanks, though.”
The guy mumbled something. Noah offered a vague half-wave on his way out of the library.
The sky was morphing into evening. There were only a few students left on campus, and the path from the library to the bus stop was deserted. Noah shouldered his backpack. His mind was half on the bus schedule and half on that encounter at the library front desk. I’m seeing someone. Is that what you called it when you found someone you couldn’t get through life without?
He turned the corner of the path, and the presence of another dragon slammed into his senses like a punch.
Madoc.
He was standing just off the path. Noah’s hand shook when he reached for his phone in his pocket, pressing the home button three times. He knew Griffith and the hunters were only a few minutes’ distance from his location, but he thought he’d have more warning than this.
“Figured it out, did you?” Madoc tapped his forehead as he approached. He looked the same as he had in the club: distinguished and sophisticated, his suit too tailored to pass for a professor. Even now, despite everything, Noah felt his pull.
He stood his ground, though his instinct was to turn and run. But he needed to give Griffith and the other hunters enough time to get to them.
“Luckily I figured it out too, after that incident in the park. That and how to block you. You left me quite the present last time.”
“I don’t remember giving you anything,” Noah said, keeping his voice steady with an effort.
This was all wrong. He’d known it would be difficult to face Madoc again, but he hadn’t expected to feel the same allure of his charisma again. He pushed back at the presence that swirled enticingly in his head.
Madoc waved a hand. “Semantics. However you want to put it, you left me with more power than I’ve ever felt before. Intriguing for someone who doesn’t even know what he is.” Madoc checked his watch. “I give it two more minutes before your gallant protectors show up. Shall we wait for them?”
Madoc’s cool calm in the face of the hunters’ impending arrival was the most terrifying thing so far.
From the corner of his eye, Noah saw Griffith already running toward them, his hand on the hilt of his gun inside his jacket. His immediate relief turned to horror when Madoc raised a hand when Griffith was nearly upon them. “Stop.”
Griffith stopped. His face turned ashen when he realized he couldn’t move.
Madoc turned to Noah. “Miraculous, isn’t it?”
Noah’s voice shook. “What did you do?”
“A variant on my usual powers of persuasion. Not something I ever thought was possible. It took me a few days to discover just how much power you’d given me.”
Griffith’s face contorted. “I will kill you if you hurt him.”
Madoc’s eyes narrowed. “I can smell you all over him, Griffith. Didn’t take you long to try to stake your own claim.”
“Griffith is nothing like you.” Where were Zach and Tse? Could Madoc stop them the same way?
“Agreed,” Madoc said. “He’s considerably more shortsighted. Nonetheless, once again he has something I want.”
He gestured with his hand, and a curtain of white fire surrounded the three of them, coalescing at the top in a dome. “Just so we won’t be interrupted.”
“We’re in a public place,” Griffith said with horror. “Are you so far gone that you’d expose us all?”
“Don’t worry, Griffith, no one will see a thing. They won’t even know we’re here. The applications of Noah’s power, it seems, are endless.”
A power Noah had no idea how to use himself.
“What’s your end game here, Madoc?” Whatever control Madoc had over Griffith’s body, at least it didn’t seem to extend to his mind. “You think you can keep me immobilized, Zach and Tse shut out, and drain Noah’s life force all at the same time?”
“Just a little more power from my friend here, and you’ll see exactly what I can do. As much fun as this reunion has been, I do have some business to take care of.” He turned to Noah.
Noah felt a hot surge of anger rise up in him. “Do you think I’ll let you steal from me again so easily?”
“I don’t think you’ll have a choice.” Madoc’s hand raised to Noah’s cheek.
Noah’s anger began to morph into white fire inside him. Power thrummed against his skin like the beat of a dragon’s wings. It was the same force he’d felt at the park, and he couldn’t control it any more than he’d been able to then.
Madoc touched his cheek, and Noah saw clearly exactly what was going to happen.
“You have to stop.” Flames blurred his vision. Every word burned his mouth. His dragon roared in his ears. “I could kill you.”
Madoc laughed. “Seriously, Noah?” His fingers felt ice cold on Noah’s skin compared to the inferno raging within him. “I already know you don’t know how to use your own power.”
Noah closed his eyes, trying to hold back the chaos of his dragon. It had responded to Noah’s anger, his fear for Griffith and himself, but now it was let loose and Noah didn’t know how to contain it.
“I
’m telling the truth,” he said with his remaining strength. “I can’t control what it might do to you.”
“I’ll take my chances,” Madoc said sardonically. Noah felt Madoc’s presence in his mind swell.
The flames of Noah’s dragon consumed them, and Madoc began to scream.
Chapter Twelve
Griffith watched the scene unfold with sickening inevitability. He was frozen by the command Madoc had thrown so casually at him. He’d never known power like that existed.
Noah burned brighter and brighter. Griffith saw the shape of the sun dragon, coiling around Noah and Madoc in a blaze of fire, as bright and hot as its namesake.
Noah was going to be devoured by it, and there was nothing Griffith could do to stop it.
At Madoc’s scream, Griffith felt the first loosening of his hold. His hand twitched. It was only a few inches from his gun. His own dragon roared up to fight the compulsion.
Every movement of his hand was agony, but after seconds that felt like eternity, he felt the cool metal of the grip and curled his fingers around it.
Noah and Madoc were a swirl of fire. Madoc’s hand was still frozen on Noah’s cheek. Scorch marks appeared on the back of it, breaking the skin open obscenely. Light filled the dome, almost too bright to see. With more strength than he thought he possessed, his body fighting him for every inch, Griffith raised the gun and fired.
Madoc crumpled at Noah’s feet.
“Noah,” Griffith said, trying to keep his voice steady. The gun dropped from nerveless fingers. He could move freely again, but now he was caught in the consuming presence of Noah’s dragon, which had turned all its attention and focus on Griffith.
Anger. Fear. Chaos from so many years spent hidden and locked away. Emotions hit him like a tornado touching ground.
“Noah,” he said again. “You have to control it.”
Noah’s voice sounded very far away. “I can’t.”
Griffith steeled himself against that forbidding column of fire and stepped forward.
