Alpha Dragon's Jackal (The Dragonfate Games Book 3), page 15
I gasped. “Tay!”
I flew off the bed faster than lightning and launched myself at him in a big hug.
“Oof.” Taylor patted my back. “Hey, Muzo.”
“I missed you so much,” I said, though it came out muffled against his shirt.
Taylor smiled. “I missed you, too. Even though it’s only been a few months since the last Games.”
“Yeah, but it’s been different back in the city since you moved away. Just me and Poppy against the world.”
Taylor sounded amused. “You make it sound like you’re a pair of sad abandoned puppies instead of two grown men.”
“I felt like a sad abandoned puppy.”
Taylor gave me another solid pat. “Saffron, do yourself a favor and hope for a feline fated mate. Canines are clingy by nature. Exhibit A is currently stuck to my shirt.”
Saffron’s phone keyboard clicked as he wrote that down. “Noted. By the way, where’s Ruby?”
“Viol is babysitting,” Taylor explained. “When Crimson heard that Cobalt actually wanted his help getting dressed for once, he dropped everything, including parenting responsibilities.”
Saffron cackled. “Father of the Year award over there.”
“He’ll make up for it. Despite his quirks, he’s an incredible father,” Taylor said warmly.
Since he found his fated mate in Crimson, Taylor had softened around the edges. He was still the serious, sassy tiger I always knew, but his love for Crimson and Ruby shone through his every word.
Saffron shuddered. “Man, I still can’t believe you let that personified rusty switchblade watch your kid. You should pick more responsible babysitters. Like me and Aurum.”
Taylor arched a brow. “You, maybe. I wouldn’t trust Aurum to babysit a pet rock.”
“Hey, he’s not that bad,” Saffron said, though he didn’t sound convinced, either.
After a pause, Taylor said, “You two have been arguing a lot recently. Is everything all right?”
“Yeah, it’s cool,” Saffron mumbled, grabbing Blueberry. “Yo, Taylor, can you make me one of these, too? But bigger? And make it look like my dragon instead?”
Taylor must’ve figured Saffron didn’t want to continue that conversation, so he nodded. “Sure. I expect full payment upfront. And since it’ll be three times bigger, expect to pay three times as much.”
“Aw, man,” Saffron muttered, sitting upright and looking around the room. “Where’s Cobalt’s wallet?”
The victim of the almost-theft responded: “In my pocket, where it belongs.”
I grinned excitedly at the sound of Cobalt’s voice. Tearing myself away from Taylor, I latched onto my mate instead. Hugging my friend was nice, but hugging Cobalt was special. He was huge and soft and warm and he smelled so freaking good.
After getting my necessary hug out of the way, I noticed Cobalt’s fancy outfit. He wore a perfectly fitted blue suit that complemented his hair and eyes. His crisp white shirt and shoes gave him a mature, wealthy aura.
“Whoa.” I whistled, looking him up and down. “Hello, handsome.”
A light blush dusted Cobalt’s pale cheeks. He put his hands on my waist. “You look handsome as always, too.”
“Well?” Crimson said by way of greeting as he strode proudly into the room. “Did I outdo myself or what? Our dear older brother looks like he belongs on the cover of a magazine, doesn’t he?”
Taylor smirked. “Of course you put him in a suit.”
Crimson scoffed in mock offence, but he was clearly amused, too. “Get your mind out of the gutter, kitten.”
The two mates exchanged a mysterious, knowing look. I figured it was an inside joke or something.
Cobalt cleared his throat and handed me a folded card. “Here. Open it.”
“Ooh, another card,” I said. When I flipped it open, I smiled at Cobalt’s familiar clunky handwriting.
DEAR MUZO,
I OWE YOU A DINNER DATE
MEET ME AT THE ROOF AT SUNSET
YOUR FATED MATE,
COBALT
A wave of emotion hit me. I threw myself at Cobalt for another embrace.
“Well? Do you accept my invitation?” he asked, like it was even a question.
I chuckled, remembering what he said to me before. “You don’t even have to ask.”
The view from the castle rooftop was beautiful—sky, forest, and ocean as far as the eye could see. Chromatimaeus Island was truly its own little paradise.
And now, it was my home.
Cobalt had a candlelit table prepared for our arrival. Rose petals were scattered across the tablecloth. As we took our seats, a kobold server filled our glasses with water.
“I’ve gotta admit, this is a lot fancier than I’m used to,” I said with a sheepish grin. “Hell, a few weeks ago, I was eating out of a Dumpster.”
“You won’t be doing that anymore,” Cobalt promised.
There was a hint of his dragon’s sexy growl in his tone. I squeezed my thighs together under the table. No getting worked up at the fancy dinner.
My nose suddenly caught a delicious whiff. I sat upright. A second later, the server returned with a sizzling plate of freshly grilled shrimp, placing it in the middle of the table.
I gasped. “Cobalt! How’d you know I love shrimp?”
“You mentioned it during your cruise story. I was happy it was something I could easily provide.”
Practically drooling, I grabbed a fork and went to jab the nearest shrimp, then paused. “Wait, wait. These aren’t the shrimp from your hoard, are they? I couldn’t bear to eat those little guys.”
He chuckled. “No, Muzo. Everything in my hoard is safe and sound.”
“Okay, good,” I said, then munched on the shrimp guilt-free. The smoky taste of the grill combined with the juicy shrimp meat almost made me moan. I went into a gluttonous shrimp frenzy, eating five more before I returned to my senses. “Damn. That beats leftover burger wrappers any day.”
Cobalt reached across the table and placed his large, warm hand on top of mine. “Whatever you want, Muzo, it’s yours. Let me take care of you. Let me make up for those weeks you spent hungry on the streets.”
My heart squeezed. I never thought of myself as being that emotional, but since falling in love with Cobalt, I got slapped with feelings all the time. Cobalt’s words were so kind and generous that I couldn’t even think of a playful answer.
“I’d like that,” I murmured with a soft smile.
Cobalt smiled back, mirroring my bliss. It made him happy to make me happy. I couldn’t believe I was this damn lucky.
“Shall I call for a menu?” Cobalt asked.
I glanced hungrily down at the shrimp plate. “I’m gonna be real with you, Cobalt. I could eat this whole thing and be satisfied.”
His blue eyes twinkled. “Just like you ate all that chocolate before our previous date?” he teased.
I let out a mix of a groan and a laugh. “I regretted it after, okay? I thought I had to eat it all while I could. I didn’t know I’d win the Dragonfate Games for once and stay here forever.”
“I know,” he said gently. His fingers captured mine. “You’re home now, Muzo.”
Home. Here on Chromatimaeus Island.
It was a mouthful, but hey, it had a nice ring to it.
Twenty
Cobalt
After our dinner date, I imagined a cozy night of cuddling together in bed.
Instead, Muzo wanted to check on the snails. That worked just as well for me.
It still felt surreal that he showed as much interest in my hoard as I did, but I suppose that was to be expected of fated mates.
“I just wanna see how they’re getting along,” he said, running up to the glass. “Look, Cobalt!”
His enthusiasm lit up the room. Usually my hoard was a place of calm solitude, a place I went to be alone with my thoughts. The oddness of my collection kept me from sharing it with even my family. But sharing it with Muzo was wonderful. His honest curiosity and open zeal were refreshing.
It made me rethink keeping my hoard hidden. If he accepted it, could my brothers accept it, too?
I followed Muzo up to the glass. “What is it?” I asked.
He pointed to a rocky outcrop framed by two strands of kelp. I gasped. The two snails sat shell by shell in a picture-perfect scene.
“They’re hanging out together,” Muzo said. “Did you put them nearby on purpose, Cobalt?”
I shook my head. “In my research, they’re known to be territorial, so when I placed the second snail in the tank, I gave them plenty of space so they could get used to each other slowly. But it appears they didn’t need it.”
“Aww. They’re already best friends.” He grinned. “Or maybe more?”
“Let’s cross our fingers for that,” I commented. “If all goes well, they could replenish the local population.”
Muzo turned to speak at the tank. “Hear that, guys? Don’t hold back on the sex!”
The snails wriggled their antennae.
Muzo nodded firmly. “I think they got the message.”
I kept smiling at Muzo’s earnest passion for the snails. How did I get so lucky?
“It’s about time for their dinner. Would you like to feed them?” I asked.
He gasped. “I can feed them?”
To keep a seamless aesthetic in the room, I kept the tank supplies hidden in a ceiling compartment. Using the stepladder, I took out the food from a small mini fridge, then moved the stepladder next to the tank.
“Come up with me,” I encouraged Muzo.
He scampered up to the top step, then paused. “Whoa. This is higher up than it looked from the floor.”
“I’ve got you. I won’t let you fall,” I promised, putting my hand on his hip. “Would you like to do the honors?”
He grinned as he accepted the pail of food. I’d never seen anyone so excited to feed a snail—except for myself, of course.
“Wow, they’ve got a whole smorgasbord in here,” Muzo said, glancing into the pail. “Cucumbers, bananas, apples, some leafy stuff... Do they get all of it?”
“They would explode if they ate all that. Let’s do a slice of cucumber.”
Muzo batted his eyelashes. “Maybe a slice of apple, too? For dessert?”
I couldn’t resist those puppy-dog eyes. “Sure.”
He took a slice of cucumber and apple from the pail and gently dropped them into the water. The offerings fell slowly until they landed on the rock outcropping right in front of the snails. They paused for a second before their antennae wriggled faster and they crept towards the food.
“They’re going for it!” Muzo said, leaning forward.
I held him tighter so he wouldn’t fall in. My fingers curled securely around his lithe waist, almost touching at the tips.
Our substantial size difference excited me. Since I was so big, I always figured I’d be larger than my omega mate, but not to this extent. Maybe it was my draconic predator urges twisting hunger into arousal. I could eat Muzo in one gulp if I wanted to—but obviously, I would never harm him. I held him closer, protecting him with my strong hands.
“What’s up, Cobalt?” Muzo asked with a chuckle. “You trying to squeeze me like a tube of toothpaste?”
I loosened my grip. I hadn’t realized I was holding him that tightly.
“Sorry,” I murmured.
He craned his neck back to look up at me. Despite his vulnerable position, there was no fear in his gaze—not now, not ever. He only ever looked at me with love.
Muzo licked his lips, hesitating like he wanted to say something.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Could you take a step or two down?”
I complied with his suggestion. We were closer to eye-level now, although I was still a couple inches taller.
Then Muzo kissed me.
My brief surprise melted as our lips parted and our tongues brushed together. A velvety shiver shot through my veins, lighting a fire of arousal between my thighs. I kissed him deeper until his tiny moans of pleasure grew loud enough to echo off the tank glass.
When we parted for air, Muzo’s eyelashes fluttered against his flushed cheeks. His dark eyes glittered with desire. Did he feel my hardening cock pressing against him earlier, or was our lust naturally synced up?
Either way, neither of us wanted to wait. I lifted Muzo off the stepladder and brought both of us to the floor.
“Hey,” Muzo said, his voice husky. “You can partially shift, right?”
“Yes.”
He glanced at my now fully hard cock straining in my pants. “Can you... pick and choose what body part you shift?”
I heard an idea rattling around in there.
“Tell me what you want,” I said.
He swallowed visibly. “It was really hot when you brought your wings and claws out last time we had sex. So... I want to see your dragon cock on your human body.”
My brows rose. I hadn’t considered that option before. Was it even possible?
But I’d do anything for him, even if that meant stretching the limits of possibility.
“I can try,” I said. “Step back.”
Muzo stumbled to the corner of the room, his gaze eagerly locked on my lower half. I stripped out of my clothes. Despite my ravenous lust, I did it carefully this time since Crimson had gone through all that effort to dress me. When I was safely nude, I shut my eyes and focused on my inner dragon.
It didn’t take much to lure him out. He was always ready to play.
I exhaled steadily as the shift came over me. I felt my body changing, growing. It was strange, but good.
I shuddered as the bottom half of my cock touched the cold floor. Was it that big already?
I couldn’t tell when the shift finally stopped. It seemed to go on forever. It was Muzo’s voice that alerted me to its finality.
“Your hair got long again,” Muzo pointed out warmly.
I opened my eyes. A few wild strands fell in front of my vision. The same thing happened earlier. I must not have been able to fully control the partial dragon transformation.
Muzo stared at me, licking his lips. “You look so hot right now, Cobalt.”
My lust flared. I wanted to dig my claws into my mate and fuck him silly, but it was literally impossible with my shifted cock. If my regular human erection wouldn’t fit inside him, there was no way in hell this version would.
But when Muzo kneeled on the floor, I realized he had something else in mind.
The sight of my tiny mate beside my monstrous dragon cock was something I’d never forget. I twitched in anticipation, throbbing with need when he hadn’t even touched me yet.
“Wow,” Muzo said breathlessly. “I knew you’d be big, but this is crazy.”
When he placed his soft palms on my cock, I hissed through my teeth. They felt sharp in my mouth—they must’ve shifted, too.
My body tensed as Muzo rubbed his hands along my length. The pleasure sparking in my veins was hot. Intense. The sensation was different to anything I’d felt before, and I couldn’t get enough of it.
“Strip,” I ordered in a throaty growl.
Muzo nodded, quickly tearing out of his clothes. When he kneeled back down, he was naked and hard.
“Get on top of it,” I commanded.
Muzo’s eyes flashed. He swung a leg over the girth of my cock and lowered himself until he was hugging it like a body pillow. His face was deeply flushed.
“L-like this?” he asked.
I grunted in affirmation. The lust warped my brain, making it difficult to speak. All I managed to get out was, “Pleasure yourself.”
He nodded, then rocked his hips back and forth with a soft groan. The first couple hesitant motions quickly gave way to frantic, brainless thrusting. The lascivious way his cock rubbed against mine burned into my memory. I’d never forget the expression of wanton pleasure on my mate’s face, or the electric sensation burning in my veins. Everything about it was so obscene, so perfectly filthy.
I tossed my head back. A thick growl vibrated in my throat as Muzo pleasured himself on me. The feedback loop was incredible. As he frotted against my dragon cock, I twitched and throbbed against his erection, making him gasp with need and rock his hips faster.
I wished for a surface for my claws to grab hold of—like bed sheets, destined to be ripped apart—but there was something intensely naughty about this position, standing upright with my dragon cock trailing on the floor while my mate grinded on me.
“Cobalt,” Muzo said in a dazed whisper. His eyes fogged over with lust.
Fuck, my dragon wanted to bend him over and fill him to bursting.
“Finish on me,” I demanded hoarsely.
He swallowed hard, nodding. Sweat dampened his hair, making loose strands of black and blond spill over his forehead. He was a beautiful, lust-addled mess.
His hips picked up speed. He moaned, his voice rising and falling with every movement. The room filled his scent—his natural body smell, his arousal, his breath, his sweat. I couldn’t get enough of it.
“Cobalt,” he whimpered, barely getting my name out. “I’m gonna...”
“Come for me. Do it.”
A shudder wracked his body. He tensed, going stock-still, then let loose a scream of pleasure. He twitched and jerked, shooting out thick ropes of white across my sensitive flesh. He kept humping my cock as he came, chasing his pleasure to the very end. When it was over, he curled up, hugging my dragon dick like a pillow.
“Holy shit, that was amazing... What ‘bout you?” he murmured, glancing up at me with remnants of lust in his eyes.
“Close. Stay there,” I said through my fangs.
Muzo did as he was told, but he couldn’t do it without being mischievous. He rubbed his arms up and down my sensitive shaft, using his whole body to get me off.
My mind was pure static. I couldn’t take it. I felt like I was going to explode.
“Get a bucket,” I ordered.
Muzo grinned devilishly. He ran to fetch an empty one, then kneeled by the head of my cock. Thank Holy Drake he understood what I meant without my explanation. I could barely think, let alone communicate.
