My breath turned fast as I cupped him through his trousers—my trousers. My mate was in my clothes. Why was that so attractive? I met his gaze. “I wouldn’t mind that.”
Slowly, Bartholomew pulled me away. “I’m not ready yet.”
“I will wait, my Flower.”
He grunted, settling against me.
“What do you like to do?” I dragged my claws over his spiky hair. It was slowly growing. I couldn’t wait until his hair was long enough for me to play with.
“What?”
“You said I didn’t know you, so let me know you.”
Bartholomew glared at me, and I grinned, biting my lip and playing with the ring. I wanted to hear his voice. I was desperate for him. With a long breath, he started. Not all of his words made sense, but he talked and talked until his eyes started to flutter closed.
He shook it off and started to talk again about going to the woods with his mothers and sisters—something they used to do often—but his voice trailed off again as his eyes closed. His breath turned even in sleep, and I readjusted until my face wasright next to his, allowing me to feel his warm breath on my scales.
“I will take good care of you, Mate. I promise. I will make sure you want for nothing, so you’ll stay right beside me. I will give you no reason to stray or go home,” I whispered in Drakconese. “I will be whatever you need, so stay with me. Please don’t abandon me.”
He didn’t answer, and his breath rushed over my cheeks.
Heat grew in my gut at the memory of his soft lips on mine. My cock twitched and then swelled in my trousers. I needed him. I rubbed the bulge, tempted to stroke myself off, but I refused to leave Bartholomew. I shoved my desire away. Bartholomew wasn’t ready or desiring of my physical love, so I’d wait for as long as he needed, even if that was forever.
Serlotminden pushed a warm bowl of water toward me with a wide smile. I didn’t think I’d understood what I was agreeing to when I accepted his claim. He’d gotten excessively caring over my slightest need. He’d melt water for me to drink before I even woke up. He was constantly tying a blanket around me. His touch was so soft whenever he grabbed me. The last few days had consisted of him following me and trying to provide anything I needed, even though we were on a derelict shuttle.
His care was getting excessive, and I liked it. A lot.
He also asked constantly about my injuries, to the point of even neglecting his own. Mindy didn’t seem to care he’d been stabbed not that long ago, though he did like whenever I fussed over him. He’d practically preen.
I smiled at the warm water. “Thanks.”
“Of course, my Flower.”
He stepped into the tent and pulled it closed to allow me some privacy. Since he’d fixed the lights, it was nice and bright. He hadn’t managed to restore the environmental controls, so it was balls-cold, but light was better than nothing. I stripped and cleaned myself. Bathing was something I absolutely enjoyed now. So every couple of days, Mindy heated enough water for me to get clean.
My hair was slowly growing, but it wasn’t even close to how I used to wear it or even curling yet. As I scrubbed my scalp, I wondered what he’d think of my curls. Would he like them? Play with them? Did it matter?
I scoffed. Of course, it mattered. I liked playing with his hair, and I wanted him to like mine.
Finished, I pulled on some of the last of the clean clothes. We were going to have to do laundry.
“Can I come out?” Mindy asked.
“I’m decent.”
He crawled out of the tent and moved right by me, holding me, and inhaled deeply. Yeah, he still huffed me, even more so now. Serlotminden’s chest vibrated against my back, and he rubbed his forehead on the nape of my neck.
“My turn,” he said against my ear, “but you do not have to leave.”
I snorted and went into the tent.
“You could’ve at least acted like you wanted to stay,” he complained. “I am hot asfuck.”
Laughter slipped out. Mindy was good at that—making me laugh. I poked my head out. “Would you feel better if I ogled you?”
Serlotminden crouched and bent over me, making his long hair tickle me. “I don’t know what that means… ogled. But I would like you to watch me.”
“You think I will fall for you if I see you naked?”
