Smitten (18 page)

“Oh? Well, I’m sure he’ll be flattered and pleased. I’ll, ahh…” Ēostre closed her eyes and dragged in a ragged breath. “Tell him. I’ll tell him. Five? Of course. I will — we will see you then.” After ending the call, she tossed the phone aside and leaned down to nip his ear. “Naughty dragon.”

“You were taking far too long,” he grumbled. “What did she want?”

“They’re throwing a celebratory dinner for you tomorrow night.” The corner of her mouth quirked. “I think she knows we were having sex.”

“You hardly managed to keep your composure so I’m not surprised. Now she’ll know better than to call again.”

She swatted at his chest but there was no strength behind her silent admonishment. She rolled her hips, seating his shaft deep within. She tightened around him again.

“I want you to know something, Max.”

“What’s that, my heart?”

“I waited to claim you until I could savor this moment and enjoy every second.” She dipped her head down to kiss his cheek.

Having Ēostre above him made Max forget how to breathe. His hands traced out her outline, flowing up and down her silhouette, past her ribs and back down to her hips again. He watched at first, mesmerized by each rise and fall, the tight rhythm created each time her thighs flexed.

Her nipples stood stiff and rosy, ready for the heat of his mouth. He leaned up, his weight on one palm, and claimed one eagerly. His tongue bathed the tight peak, then he suckled it between his lips, provoking another internal squeeze around his dick.

“Take me,” he growled. “Faster, Ēostre.”

“Can’t wait?” she asked, breathless.

Sating her own needs or deciding to heed his request, his lover quickly began to thrust him in and out of her warmth.

“I’m close,” he moaned out.

Ēostre’s breaths came quick. “I know. Let go, Bel. Let go with me,” she cried out. The rest of her plea was lost to her orgasm, and then moments later, Bel was lost within her. He thrust up, groaning as he spilled his seed in a hot rush. One spurt then another. Ēostre pressed her body closely against him, her breasts flattened against his chest.

At first, her lips brushed his collarbone in a kiss, then sharp teeth closed around muscle and skin. His vision went dark, shadowed by a curtain of raw bliss shooting through every nerve fiber. Max’s muscles tensed and his entire body went rigid beneath her. The shock of the branding mark lanced from head to toe, and he came until he was dry firing inside her and there was nothing left.

“Belenos?” Ēostre whispered.

“Hm?”

“I think I lost you for a moment.” She pushed her hair behind one ear and peered down at him, expression jubilant.

“There are no words to accurately convey what I feel right now,” he said quietly. “Amazing, fantastic, incredible — all unacceptable.”

“Then don’t use words.”

Max leaned up to kiss his mate. His beloved. His everything. One kiss wasn’t enough, but in one kiss, he channeled years of longing, affection, and all of his devotion.

They napped on and off, ignoring the ringing phone in his office and the buzz from his doorbell. When the wolves knocked again to perform their welfare check, he channeled part of his draconic side and bellowed out a wish for privacy. The pack left them alone afterward.

Finally, Ēostre slipped from the bed, and he mourned the loss of her heat beside him. “I’m going to make tea and figure out how to feed us. I’m starved.”

Max chuckled and laced his fingers behind his head. She’d drained him. “Don’t walk around my house naked. I might attack you again.”

“You aren’t attacking anyone in your condition,” Ēostre pointed out, calling his bluff.

They ended up in the shower together instead, both too tired to do anything more than soap and hold the other while enjoying the refreshing pelt from the enormous showerhead. Dragons loved the water, whether they were volcanic, tidal, ice, earth, or storm. He could spend an hour beneath a scalding spray easily. For Ēostre, he had to adjust the temperature to something she could tolerate.

“I don’t look forward to leaving,” she sighed as Max patted her dry with a fluffy towel.

“I suppose you could live with me,” he answered, wrapping his arms around her waist. The towel fell to the floor. “Secretly, of course. Until we’re married.”

“Is that your idea of a proposal?”

I suppose it is,
Max thought. He swore internally, hating that he didn’t have a ring, a bracelet, or some trinket of affection for the moment. Humans proposed with dazzling engagement rings and tokens of love. And… all he had to offer was his heart.

Max ran his fingertips through her damp hair, pushing fair strands from her face. “Yes. Nothing would honor me more than to take you as both my mate and my wife.” He couldn’t breathe, but the thump of his racing heart threatened to drown out anything else he may have said.
Tell me you want the same. Please.

“Nothing would make me happier,” she whispered.

“I know marriage has no meaning to dragons, but I want you to stand beside me in all ways. Come to Washington with me. Let the world fall in love with you as I have. Let them see your charm and your radiance.”

“Are you sure we should be seen together so soon?”

His grin stretched across his face. “My darling, Ēostre, they’ve already seen us together in our swimsuits.”

“About that…” She nibbled her lower lip and glanced away.

“You arranged it. I know.”

“The press? No, not that at all. You see, my selfish act wasn’t me wanting to laze about on the beach. It was about having you to myself for the weekend.” She paused, then added in a cheeky voice, “In a Speedo. You failed me on that point, though I
suppose
your substitution was acceptable.”

“Now you have me all to yourself.” He stepped forward, nudging their bodies closer together. “In nothing.” And the wave of exhaustion felt in the wake of her branding mark was quickly fading.

“Yes, I most certainly do.”

As Max leaned in and claimed her lips in a searing kiss, he was aware of one thing.

They were going to need another shower soon.

Chapter 13

“Are you prepared for this?” Max asked.

“Hardly. While I may know my son well, I can’t predict his reaction to our news.” Ēostre wrung her hands together until Maximilian gently took one and interlaced their fingers. She smiled up at him.

“Does his opinion matter?”

“No,” she admitted. “But I…” The silver dragon pursed her lips and lapsed into silence, thinking. “I
want
his support.”

“You’ll have it,” Max told her. “You raised a good cub, Ēostre, and he’s become an even greater man. You said it yourself.” He rang the doorbell and waited. The exterior of Drakenstone Manor smelled of sweet autumn flora. Leiv decorated according to the season, planting robust flower vines alongside pansies in every color of the rainbow. They bordered the walls of the home in a lush carpet of varying hues.

“Their car is here! Saul, sweetie, would you answer the door?”

Chloe’s distinctive voice reached them from inside, traveling through an open window. Sensing his mate’s worry, Max squeezed Ēostre’s hand tighter and nudged her with his thigh.

“All will be fine,” he assured her again in a quiet voice.

“I know.”

Whether Saul approved or not, Max didn’t plan to let her go. He couldn’t anyway, since he’d pledged half of his soul during their mating rite, freely giving her part of his very essence.

The anticipation continued to build until he heard Saul’s thundering steps approaching the door. The man walked heavy, like he was a giant, though he could be nimble footed when necessary.

“Congratulations, Maximilian, on a job well done,” he cheerfully greeted Max. “You as well, Mother. How are both of you? Come in, come…” The big smile on the man’s bearded face faded when his golden eyes traveled to their joined hands. He stared.

“Hello, Saul,” Max said politely. “Thank you. I’m honored to receive your family’s invitation today.”

Saul continued to stare, and then his nostrils flared as he breathed in their mingled scents and realized the inevitable. “Mother, why do you and Maximilian…” Saul’s voice trailed then his eyes went large with surprise. “You’ve bonded?”

“Yes.” Ēostre raised her chin and studied her only child’s reaction. “As of last night.”

“I…
Really?
”

Despite Saul’s perplexed expression, tension continued to gnaw Max’s insides. Confusion was better than outright disdain. Claiming a female dragoness for the first time was difficult enough without submitting himself to the judgment of her adult offspring.

Chloe emerged from the area of the kitchen, drying her hands against her thighs. “Hi, guys!” The discomfort lingered as she reached her husband’s side and saw the two older dragons still standing on the porch.

“Hello, Chloe,” Max said.

“Uh. Why is there a standoff in my doorway? Saul, move aside and let them in,” Chloe chastised him. She bumped him with her hip, then her blue eyes dropped to their joined hands. “So it’s official now?” She made a sweeping gesture with her arm, encouraging them to enter. The members of Max’s security team remained outside after flashing her polite smiles. Ian had come through and gotten at least a small handful of shifters onto the staff of the United States Secret Service, and in the coming days, Maximilian would become acquainted with the unique habits of a new security detail.

He already missed Andrew, Vincent, Carl, and Megan, but he was told the latter was in a fine position to apply. Ian had plans of getting her on the Counter Sniper Team, claiming he’d trained her himself.

“Very official,” Ēostre said. The uncertain smile on his mate’s lips broadened.

“I’m so happy for your both. I knew it was only a matter of time before one of you made the first move.”

Saul stared at his wife. “How long have you known this, and why wasn’t I told?”

“Since summer… and it wasn’t your business,” Chloe answered, giving him a cheeky grin. “She’s your mother, not your child.”

“I know that,” Saul grumbled. His eyes softened and a gentle smile came to his face. “I am also happy for you. If I appear upset, I assure you, it is merely shock disguising my pleasure.”

“Your mother and I—”

Saul cut Max off with an abrupt bear hug, surrounding the fire dragon in a tight embrace. It caught Max completely by surprise, but it didn’t go unwelcomed. He squeezed Saul back in return, overwhelmed by how right it felt to not only become part of the Drakenstone family, but to also receive each of their blessings. He and Brigid had gone about it the wrong way before, but now the Ancestors had granted him a last chance at peace and a happy future.

“I am very pleased for you to become part of our family, Maximilian. Do not doubt that,” Saul assured him.

“Does this make you my grandpa, Uncle Max?” Astrid asked. None of the adults had noticed her listening. She peeked through the open archway from the living room, her bright eyes filled with fascination. “Do I have two grandfathers now?”

Ēostre darted her eyes to Max. He didn’t need to hear her thoughts to know she was leaving the answer up to him. As Saul stepped back, Astrid came forward shyly. Max lowered to a knee in front of her and smiled.

“I will gladly be your grandfather, Astrid. I have adored you since the moment your mother trusted me to meet you.”

“I think I like you more as a grandpa,” she told him in earnest. Her big ear-to-ear grin proceeded an exaggerated smooch to Max’s cheek. “Carry me!”

“Astrid Drakenstone, you are
way
too old to be carried,” Chloe chastised her gently.

“It’s all right.” Max scooped the girl up as if she were a feather. “Soon enough she’ll truly be too big so I may as well enjoy it while I can.”

Astrid whooped with glee when Max, showing off his muscle, tossed her up and caught her again.

“I suppose I do not need to warn you to take excellent care of my mother,” Saul said.

Max smiled. “I doubt she would allow me to treat her any other way.”

Eventually, they gathered for dinner in the infrequently used dining room where formal place settings for eight gleamed against a white tablecloth. Astrid and Chloe had put together one grand feast in Max and Ēostre’s honor, originally planned to celebrate his appointment to the White House’s top spot. In the end, it became a meal to commemorate their bonding, a reception fit for a pair of dragons.

“Svetlana and I will help you to bring everything inside,” Mahasti said.

“No, no. You sit down with the guests. That’s what Saul is for. Saul, come bring in these steaks,” Chloe called from the doorway.

Saul grunted and left his seat.

“Uncle Leiv taught me how to use his barbecue,” Astrid confided in Max as she set down a platter of grilled shrimp. A delectable, chili-lime aroma wafted from the bamboo-skewered morsels. “So I grilled these.”