“You’re destroying one ship,” Delton countered, but he was smiling too. “I have plenty more.”
“Oh, do you need me to refresh your memory? That was not one ship. I hit four already.”
“Hush now. Don’t be a braggart. Nobody likes a winner who rubs it in.”
Oliver’s laugh rang out, and the sound made Adar’s belly all warm and fuzzy. All he wanted was for his mates to be happy. He slowly turned on his side so he could see them without having to crane his neck into uncomfortable positions like some kind of contortionist.
“You’re awake,” Delton said, smiling. “Do you feel better after your nap?”
“Mmm. How long did I sleep?”
Delton checked his watch. “An hour and a half.”
“I’m still tired.”
“Enar said it would take time for you to recover, even after Erwan healed you.”
“I know.”
Delton’s mouth pulled into a grin. “But you thought he was wrong, that it wouldn’t apply to you.”
“I’ve always been a fast healer,” Adar grumbled.
“Aw,” Oliver said. “You’re cute when you pout.”
“I don’t pout. I was making an observation.”
Oliver and Delton shared a look, then laughed. “An observation,” Delton said. “Sure, we’ll go with that.”
How could Adar be even a little bit annoyed when his mates were teasing him? He was content to lie on the couch, watching them as they continued their game. Oliver was beating Delton with such ease that Adar wondered if Delton was letting him win, which would totally be like Delton.
When the game was finished, Adar pushed himself into a sitting position and patted the couch on either side of him. He wanted his mates next to him, even if it meant being a little less comfortable. Delton and Oliver immediately took him up on his invitation, though both were careful as they sat beside him. He put his right arm around Delton and his left around Oliver, biting down a grunt of pain as they snuggled up to him. He’d bear the discomfort if it meant getting to hold both his mates for the first time.
“Is this okay for you?” Delton checked.
“This is heaven,” Adar said, and not a word of it was a lie.
He pressed a kiss on top of Oliver’s head, then did the same to Delton. They smelled so differently. Oliver’s shampoo had coconut in it, or maybe his hair product did, whereas Delton always smelled citrusy. Funny how he already knew that about them.
Oliver rubbed his cheek against Adar’s shirt, breathing in deeply. Was he smelling him the same way Adar had sniffed his scent? He would’ve thought that was more of a wolf thing, as wolves were far more sensitive to scent than dragons. Oliver inhaled deeply again, and then his body relaxed, melting into Adar’s. When he looked down, Oliver’s eyes were closed and his mouth drifted open as he fell asleep.
Adar sat motionless, too scared to wake him. It had to be at least ten minutes later when he finally dared to whisper to Delton. “He’s deep asleep now, right?”
“He is. He was gone in minutes.”
Delton nudged Adar’s arm, and he let go of him, swallowing his disappointment that Delton was moving away. But he wasn’t. He was merely repositioning himself so he could see Adar’s face while still leaning against him.
“He’s still sleeping more than average,” Delton said softly.
“Is that still from the trauma he suffered?”
“That’s very possible. Or maybe he needs more sleep in general. It’s hard to say, but it doesn’t really matter, though it is something to take into account moving forward. We’ll need to make sure he goes to bed on time or has the opportunity to nap.”
Adar had to swallow before he could speak. “You’re saying that as if…”
Nope, he still couldn’t do it. He gently cleared his throat, but even then, the tightness in his throat was too much. Why was he so emotional all of a sudden? Why did the mere thought of them being together make him want to curl up in a corner and bawl with happiness?
Delton took his hand and pressed a kiss on it. “It’s very normal for your emotions to be all over the place after experiencing something like what you went through.”