Page 29 of Consort of the Dragon King

“What is wrong?” Kitsuki asked as he returned the embrace.

“When can we finally become bondmates?” Auslin asked, too fearful to look up and get rejected by Kitsuki. “I don’t want to wait anymore. I want to be with you in every way, Kitsuki.”

Kitsuki’s tone was remorseful. “It is too soon. You are still learning what it means to be with me now versus the Kitaro you knew in the past.”

While it was a logical explanation, Auslin feared it was an excuse to stop them from becoming bondmates. “Do you not want to be my mate anymore because you like the me in your memory more than the me standing before you now?”

Kitsuki soothingly rubbed Auslin’s back. “Nothing of the sort, Auslin.”

“Then why can’t the same be true for me?”

“I am only concerned you are rushing into wanting to be bondmates with someone who is not the same person you once knew. The last thing I want is for you to regret being bound to me forever when you are in love with the ghost of who I once was.”

Auslin’s temper flared. “I’m in love withyou, damn it! Whether it’s the talkative Kitaro or the quiet Kitsuki, it doesn’t matter. I loveallof you, including the person you’re going to become now that I’ve returned to your side at long last.”

“You are right. I can already feel myself changing.” Kitsuki kissed Auslin in a tender, unspoken apology. “There is also the matter of the ceremony to consider.”

“Ceremony?” Auslin repeated, a bit dazed from the kiss.

“As the king of Valzerna, I will be expected to have a ceremony affirming our love in front of others before we can officially become bondmates in private. It is akin to a human wedding.”

While Auslin hated waiting longer to become bondmates with Kitsuki, he couldn’t help but get excited by the prospect of a wedding for all to see their commitment to each other. “And how long do we have to wait until then?” Auslin asked, hoping the answer wasn’t a long time from now.

“There will be many preparations that need to be made before then.”

Auslin looked crestfallen at having to wait before they could finally be together as mates. “And how long will that take?”

“I am not sure, but I will talk it over with Kizoshi once she arrives.”

“Good, because I don’t want to wait another day to be your bondmate if I don’t have to,” Auslin said before going up on tiptoe to kiss Kitsuki.

Kitsuki indulged him before picking his intended up into a cradle hold to bring him back into the bedroom. The doors shut automatically behind them as Auslin joyfully laughed.

Chapter 16

Kitsuki

Night fell, bringing with it an awkwardness Kitsuki found difficult to address. It was the first evening Auslin was awake for, which meant Kitsuki had to ask a question that could lead to disappointment. “Would you like to sleep else?—”

Auslin leveled a disapproving frown at him. “You better not be asking me if I’m sleeping somewhere else. The only place I want to be with is you.”

It soothed Kitsuki’s fears to hear Auslin say it with such decisiveness. “And you are welcome to. My concern is I do not wish to make you uncomfortable.”

Auslin stripped off his shirt and tossed it aside. “Does this make you uncomfortable?”

Kitsuki’s dragon purred at the promise of what was being offered, but he kept it on a short leash. It was too soon to move on to anything sexual, especially when his dragon was ready to lay claim to Auslin, official Royal Consort Fatebondingceremony be damned. “No.” His answer was somewhere between a truth and a lie.

“Really?” Auslin undid the fastener on his breeches. “You sure about that?”

Kitsuki swallowed hard. “Is there some reason you are tempting me?”

“I want to be close to you again.”

The dragon inside Kitsuki snarled at him for not promptly taking advantage of such a tempting offer. The struggle between doing what he wanted and what he should was a tough battle. “You may do as you wish.”

Auslin stripped down to his briefs before getting under the covers and scooting closer to the middle of the bed. The fact that he hadn’t gotten completely naked made it a little easier to breathe, but not by much. Kitsuki took a deep breath before using his magic to remove all his clothes, save for the last article of clothing that preserved his modesty.

Once Kitsuki got into bed, Auslin wasted no time curling up at his side as he had done so often in the past. It was the best kind of heaven as Kitsuki held him close and savored the sweet smell of his intended wearing his claiming mark. For the first time in centuries, he could feel himself fully relaxing as he rubbed Auslin’s upper arm that was slung over him.

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