Page 72 of D'Vaire or Nothing
Brinley grinned. “Except for testing out that bed with you, nothing appeals more to me right now than meeting your beast.”
“Want to fly with me?”
“I can do that?” Brinley asked, his mouth dropping open.
“My feathers burn everyone but my mate, and he’d love to soar with you.”
“Let’s get our asses outside.”
To Brinley’s delight, Heathcliff gave him a quick hard kiss, then grabbed his hand to tug him out of the bedroom.
∞∞∞
Heathcliff and Brinley made it outside without incident. Eager to fly with him, Heathcliff took a moment to embrace Brinley.
“I’m sorry if you were embarrassed or nervous,” Heathcliff whispered close to his ear and dropped a sweet kiss on the lobe.
“It’s okay, I’m over it now. I’m more embarrassed that I took out my nerves on you. Sorry again.”
“Stop apologizing, it’s fine. Next time I want to surprise you, I’ll warn you first.”
Brinley grinned sardonically. “I know I was a shit. An ungrateful one. The last few days…I’m overwhelmed. All these wonderful things keep happening.”
“I suppose if my people had a direct leader in the Council, I’d freak out if I was introduced to them too.”
“Stop teasing me and go shift. I want to ride a phoenix.”
“You’ll spend eternity riding this phoenix whether I’m shifted or not.”
“Nope. No flirting. I want no reminders of the gorgeous fat cock in your jeans.”
“You should know that shifters have superior hearing and voices carry out here,” Heathcliff said with a grin. “Unless youdon’t mind everyone knowing how fascinated you are with my anatomy, you should check if we’re alone before you mention what’s in my jeans.”
“Do I look like I care that everyone knows I’m obsessed with your sexy purple dick?”
Delighted with his blunt mate, Heathcliff kissed him again. He was happy that the dark color of his skin would cover most of his blushes if people overheard Brinley discussing his anatomy with such candor in the future.
“No. Okay, stay here and keep out of trouble. I’m going to the changing room.”
“As soon as I relax enough to make some friends around here, I’m convincing some gardeners to grow freesia.”
With a roll of his eyes, Heathcliff brushed their lips together, then regretfully released Brinley. His long strides easily ate up the distance between the deck and the changing room. Once inside, Heathcliff stripped in quick economic movements. The small space was lined with shelves, and he set his neatly folded clothes on an empty one.
Naked, Heathcliff stepped out and was instantly warmed by the caress of the blazing Arizona sun. It took barely any effort to call forth the beast that shared his soul. For far too long, Heathcliff had feared his phoenix. The disgusting deadly tea he’d drunk twice had temporarily made the animal far too aggressive.
It had taken time and relearning how to be a shifter for Heathcliff to find comfort in his own skin. Those were things he rarely thought of anymore, and he was glad Brinley would never see the terror in his eyes.
Heathcliff wasn’t ashamed of his feelings. They were a valid response to what he’d faced. But he wanted nothing but happiness for Brinley. It was a fantasy. Life was often rough. However, Heathcliff wanted to protect Brinley from whatever he could. It was in his nature to want to shield those around him.
As Heathcliff’s mind wandered, his beast took control. Bones grew, muscles elongated, and his entire frame realigned into a fiery bird. His vision sharpened, and Heathcliff flapped his fiery wings, and his long tail helped him find balance as he took to the skies. It was a short distance to the deck, but Heathcliff’s phoenix wanted to preen for their mate.
Heathcliff climbed high into the sky, then dove toward Brinley. Tucking his wings close to him, Heathcliff spun into a roll as he raced for the earth. Brinley’s laughter and applause thrilled him as he slowed. With ease, he stopped short and lowered to the ground.
“You’re far more beautiful than I imagined,” Brinley said. With no hesitation, Brinley’s palms coasted over his feathers in a gentle caress. It pleased both man and beast. “Climbing on you, okay?”
With a tiny squawk in the affirmative, Heathcliff kept himself as still as possible while Brinley straddled him. His phoenix was overjoyed. There was no question that his beast was eager to spend their lives with Brinley.
As soon as Heathcliff was satisfied that Brinley was safely astride him, he gently flapped his wings and soared upward. Brinley’s hold on his feathers tightened briefly, but as soon as Heathcliff was airborne, the tension left the mage’s frame. Warmth flowed around him. It took Heathcliff a moment to realize Brinley was casting fire around them.
