Sacha’s eyes traveled the slit of bare flesh from neck to groin, eying his mate’s feral musculature, the lean and stiff changes in him. Sacha’s traveling eyes focused on Gabriel’s soft cock and went dark as it plumped with a twitch. “Perhaps not that nice, but…” Sacha swallowed. “What do you think of my nest?”

  A Drake’s nest was a mark of pride if their Dette approved. Sacha fretted over it for weeks before he left to find Gabriel. He slept in it for a few days, wallowing his dragon’s musk over every inch of the soft cushions, hollowing out the depression with the shiniest gold. Gabriel’s dragon adored it, and the lingering prideful gaze Gabriel gave it then mirrored his dragon’s.

  “It’s perfect.” Gabriel grinned. It wasn’t as extravagant as Hallr’s nest. His displays of wealth were more different and methodical than his own. He’d made many nests before Leo arrived, and Leo chose the one he wanted. Sacha didn’t quite focus on choice as much as he did perfecting the one.

  “Really?” Sacha perked up.

  “Really. Now get me in that shower and knot me before I go crazy, Drake.”

  Sacha didn’t need to be told twice. He scooped Gabriel into his arms, stealing him away into the bathroom and its minimalistic elements. Every surface gleamed white, matching accents. Everything looked sterile and plain. Gabriel eyed everything with scrutiny, as if plotting out what he’d much rather be seeing, the décor he wanted in his home. The contemplation in his eyes went straight to Sacha’s cock.

  Settled in the shower, Gabriel let Sacha work the knobs and press him against a tiled wall, kissing down his neck and shoulder. Sacha wrapped his hands around Gabriel’s chest then lower, moving back up to trail his hands along Gabriel’s arms.

  “Tell me what you want, Firefly.” Sacha nipped that spot on Gabriel’s neck that he knew made his knees weak and all thoughts go fuzzy. Without the resistance, Sacha grabbed Gabriel’s hands and guided them up against the shower wall, putting his weight against them. Sacha nudged his thigh up between Gabriel’s legs, forcing him to spread them.

  “Just stop the hurt. Replace it with anything else, pain, pleasure.” Gabriel’s soft voice sounded close to tears and Sacha moved to bind his hands together, grasping them against the wall above Gabriel’s head. Sacha’s free hand migrated down Gabriel’s side, over his hip, and onto his stiffening cock, holding it in his warm palm for a lingering moment to feel the gentle pulse of it thickening.

  “Why are you hurting?” Sacha angled his hips to grind against the cleft of Gabriel’s cheeks.

  “My father is just going to put me in another den once he finds out I’m back.” Gabriel sniffled.

  “I marked you already. You’re mine.” Sacha growled over Gabriel’s neck and his ear.

  “That won’t stop him.”

  “The fuck it won’t. I paid your Dette price off years ago. I thought if you ever resurfaced or came back, you’d like that freedom.”

  “So, you own me?”

  “No. I own a set of papers. A set I planned on giving to you. You decide where you get to go now. Gabe.”

  “And you’ll give them to me? You promise?” Gabriel pushed his slender rump back against Sacha, wriggling to encourage the growing erection.

  “I’d give you those papers and three tithes of my wealth and a home if you wanted to walk out of that door right at this moment.”

  “Really?” Gabriel’s cock went rock hard in Sacha’s hand, straining.

  “Of course. You don’t have to make love to me. You’re so much more than a channel to fuck.”

  “I’m a mouth, too,” Gabriel said, huffing a laugh.

  “You’re more than what my cock wants. You’re what my heart wants. I just don’t know any other way to prove to you I love you.”

  “You let me be the Drake when we made love during my heat. I’d say a Drake that lets a Dette breed them has to love their Dette.” Gabriel shivered.

  “Or love being bred,” Sacha said, nipping at Gabriel’s neck. “While there are many things I enjoy far more, I’d let you do it again if you wanted.”

  “Gods, just you saying that is all I wanted to hear. Claim me, Drake. Make sure my dragon knows you own him.” Gabriel pressed back and moaned softly when Sacha’s hand pumped.

  “Every time I fuck you like this, I see your mark. Your sweet little ass is mine, all mine. But my ass is yours, my cock is yours. All of me is yours if you’d have it,” Sacha said, lining up his cock with the dripping crease of Gabriel’s ass, gliding through the slick mess to wet it.

  “If your cock is mine, Drake, then give it to me.”

  Sacha arched and angled his hips to draw his tip over Gabriel’s entrance. “Q-quit teasing me.” Gabriel jerked a hand out of Sacha’s grasp and reached around to line up Sacha’s cock before impaling himself back on it with a shrill scream of pleasure. “Fuck, it burns so good.” Gabriel keened a low wavering whine.

  “Ah fuck, Gabe. Don’t do that. You’re going to hurt yourself.” Sacha gathered his arms around Gabriel’s chest and held him tight. Gabriel’s firm back belonged against Sacha’s chest. His cock found heaven inside Gabriel’s tight channel. “You didn’t want to be fucked, did you?” Sacha’s twitching cock thickened in Gabriel’s ass.

  “I want to be fucked. Please.” Gabriel rocked his ass back.

  “See, I don’t think you wanted to be fucked, Firefly. I think you wanted to be loved, and this is what you think love is.” Sacha rocked his hips in slow and gentle nudges, drilling his cock against Gabriel’s gland. Every press of Sacha’s tip to that spot made the muscles in Gabriel’s legs shiver weakly.

  “I don’t need to fuck you to love you. Take what you want,” Sacha said, moaning softly into Gabriel’s ear.

  Gabriel fidgeted and rocked his hips, matching Sacha’s gentle motions, knocking the head of Sacha’s dick against that firm spot.

  “I want this. But I also want you to hold me, and cuddle me, and tell me everything is going to be okay. And I want the twins and Leo to be okay. And…” Gabriel sniffled, still fucking himself on Sacha’s cock.

  “I’m holding you.” Sacha kissed down Gabriel’s neck, teasing the calming spot with his tongue. “I’ll cuddle you all night, even in scales if you want. Everything will be okay. We’ll get you your own car, and you can see Leo whenever you want, and in the morning, we’ll find out what to do with the twins. They’re loved here and will be loved anywhere they go.”

  Gabriel whimpered, bouncing himself at that perfect spot.

  “Oh…oh fuck, Gabe… You better get what you want from there soon because I’m so close.” Sacha twitched, gritting his teeth as he held back the wall of pleasure, trying to abate the orgasm that throbbed on the edge.

  Gabe squeezed his inner walls and shivered. “And if I wanted to stop right now, pulled off?”

  Sacha loosened his grasp. “Then you have to the count of three to do it because I’m about to knot.” Sacha breathed haggardly into Gabriel’s ear and trembled.

  “One,” Sacha hissed through his teeth, grunting as Gabriel worked his hips back faster and harder.

  “Two,” Sacha moaned, releasing Gabriel to brace himself against the shower wall.

  “Th”—Gabriel slammed his hips down and screamed, grabbing for the shower wall as his body trembled. From over his shoulder, Sacha watched him shoot against the shower wall.—"Ree.” Sacha’s knot filled out, locking him into Gabriel’s depths as he came hard, more than he thought he had still left in him after the tousles they’d had.

  “This is nice,” Gabriel said in a wispy voice. “Get my neck again, please.”

  Sacha nipped at the back of Gabriel’s neck, biting his spot hard enough to leave soft depressions. Gabriel went limp against him and Sacha worked his way free, helping his rubber-legged mate steady.

  “I did want to fuck.” Gabriel’s quick breaths settled down into a slow rhythm. “I still want to fuck. You smell so good. I feel hot inside, itchy, and it’s not heat.”

  Sacha shushed Gabriel, whispering over his ear. “We won’t think about it. If it isn’t meant to be, it won’t change anything. We can stop your heats all together if you like. There’s ways to do that now.”

  “How many babies did we throw away b-because we thought they were blanks?”

  Sacha’s stomach knotted. “Only those two. You know Marc checks them all after they’re laid. That’s why we have him.”

  Gabriel whimpered and nodded, sniffling. “Let’s give it a few weeks and…and if it’s blanks again, I don’t want to keep trying. I’m done.”

  Sacha nuzzled up the back of Gabriel’s neck, chuckling. “That’s totally fine. Watching Leo struggle with his pups has made me rethink wanting a bunch of my own anyway.”

  “It was a bit of heaven, Sacha. So many pups, a big play nest, the cuddles and closeness. Did you see that?” Gabriel sighed.

  Sacha slipped free of the shower to get them some towels and nodded. “I met Leo for the first time about two months after he first laid those pups. Hallr nearly throttled my ass when he found out how you left. I searched for so long, but I figured you didn’t want to be found.”

  “You know what happened to me now. What happened to you?” Gabriel stared at Sacha for a lingering moment.

  “I’ve had no other Dettes since you. I’ve mostly kept to myself and buried myself in my work for the clan. Amassed myself a fortune…” Sacha wilted.

  “And the Dette that is currently with the twins?” Gabriel raised a brow.

  “Good heavens, no. Remember Ryan, Felix’s mate?”

  Sacha stiffened. “Yes.”

  “That’s their grandson.”

  “But you said he was coyote?”

  “And dragon. His heats are different, and he drives Drakes pretty mad.” Sacha sighed heavily.

  “And you have him here!” Gabriel ruffled.

  “Yeah. Because I gave my heart to you a long time ago. I may not have been mated, but my heart told me I was.” His heart ached and he pressed into Gabriel. “Not even a flicker of desire. Besides, he’s too young for me. He’s like nineteen or something.”

  Gabriel gasped. “And he’s already having heats?”

  “Since he was fifteen. He’s just a pup. Hallr and Leo took him in at first, but the nestblossoms and the Drakes coming in and out were too dangerous for him.” Sacha handed Gabriel a shirt and dressed himself. Gabriel fished around their minimal belongings and threw on some pants.

  “Okay. I believe you. I saw how delighted he was to see me and the pups. I don’t know why I feel this way. I was gone for so long, living with wild Drakes everywhere.” Gabriel looked away and tugged on his shirt.

  “And if you had another Drake, I wouldn’t care. You marked me. You picked me.” Sacha wrapped his arms around Gabriel and held him tight.

  “I didn’t have any. Every year, a few would try, but my dragon thought they were worthless. Not enough shinies, too small. I struck them down.”

  “By chance, did your dragon scent mark them?” Sacha raised a brow, amused.

  “Yeah, it sent other Drakes after them, gave them a taste of their own harassment.” Gabriel chuckled.

  “My dragon had to, uhhh…rectify that.”

  “You menaced him?” Gabriel gasped, laughing.

  “Fire’s sake, no! He just had to mark over your scent to even things out.” Sacha cleared his throat.

  “Come on. Let’s go get the pups before Bastien adopts them.” Gabriel rolled his eyes and Sacha led the way out.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Gabriel

  Bastien was loath to part from the pups, the twins crawling all over him in their scales with nips and yips of happiness.

  His shifted form, a very large coyote with golden fur and green eyes, didn’t seem to bother the pups.

  He shifted back once Gabriel and Sacha returned, sliding quickly into a pair of track pants. “Sacha! The pups are so cute. They’re fantastic at projecting! Their verbal skills are really behind though.”

  “They’re only six months and I wasn’t really in much of a state to teach them.” Gabriel blushed and turned his head away.

  “Aww, poor babies,” Bastien cooed, plucking up Michael for a snuggle that left him flitting his tail happily.

  “Well, Bastien. It’s bedtime. We’ve come to abscond with the pups.” Sacha reached for Michael and the pup happily snuffled into Sacha’s arms. Raphael rushed over to Gabriel and stood on his hind legs, demanding to be picked up as well. Nobody picked the pups up before, not unless it was by their scruff, until Sacha came.

  “Aww. Also, I was under the impression that Storm and Cinder would be coming for a week.”

  “Change of plans. The Lochs are taking care of them. Leo had a rough laying, but things are okay.” Sacha beamed.

  “Oh, I can’t wait for it to hatch. One more pup! Three more pups now. We have these lil’ns.” Bastien bounced on the balls of his feet and squealed.

  “I know, I know. Leo definitely will be happy to have you around when it’s safe.” Sacha beamed, and Bastien pumped his fist.

  “Alright, then. You two have a good night. What time would you two like a wake-up call, and if the pups wake before you, just page me and I’ll let you two sleep in, alright?” Bastien waved goodbye to the pups and slipped out to go down the bare hallway and into a room. Sacha took Gabriel the opposite way and up a flight of stairs into his bedchamber.

  The thing was so plain, his old oak bed the same he’d shared with Gabriel all those years ago. The mattress was different, but it smelled like Sacha and only Sacha. Gabriel rooted into the covers and wriggled around, rectifying that. The pups followed suit, rubbing and wallowing into the covers, leading by Gabriel’s example.

  “Everyone’s good? Nobody has to potty?” Sacha asked, and the pups canted their head in unison. Gabriel exchanged a few brief flashes of imagery with them, and Raphael scampered to the door impatiently.

  “Yep. Someone has to piddle.” Gabriel scooped him up and Sacha followed with Michael. There was a bush out back that Leo’s pups assaulted on a fairly regular basis.

  Pups piddled and house locked up, they slid into bed where Gabriel resumed his conquest of making the bed smell like him, joining Sacha’s scent with a lovely cohesiveness. Sweet flowers and cinnamon.

  ***

  Gabriel woke sprawled over Sacha’s chest, drooling slightly. The pups were nowhere in sight, but from the scampering noises coming from the playroom, things were alright. Blinking, Gabriel sat up and glanced into Sacha’s sparkling green eyes. “Here,” Sacha said, pushing his phone into Gabriel’s hands. Gabriel squinted down at the phone, blinking the sleep from his eyes.

  Shui sent a message. I found the next of kin. The only living relative will be stopping by to visit, but they have no intention of taking the pups from you.

  Gabriel’s eyes went wide, fully awake as he wallowed around the bed.

  “We can keep the pups!”

  “Mm-hmm. I’ll officially adopt them. I’ve already done so for Leo, but I can’t see a reason not to claim these pups, too.” Sacha wrestled Gabriel down into the covers, laughing.

  “Really?”

  “I told you already. These are pups you hatched, that you bonded with. I mated you, and you come with pups.” Sacha pecked kisses over Gabriel’s face. “Also, those papers I promised you are sitting on the dresser. You’re officially signed into the custody of yourself if you just sign where I highlighted. Nobody can take you. Also, Sile is starting up the Dette council soon. Once none of the higher-up Dettes are broody. So once Leo, Ryan, and, of course, you, aren’t nesting and can leave for a time…”

  Gabriel rested a hand on his belly and half smiled. “If it happens, it happens.”

  “And if it doesn’t. We’re fine.” Sacha kissed Gabriel’s neck for a lingering snuffle. “Love you, not your holes or your womb.”

  “You don’t love my holes?” Gabriel batted his eyes coyly.

  “I fucking love and love fucking your holes, but that’s not all you are to me.”

  “Good, now quit rubbing your boner into my leg!” Gabriel squealed as Sacha did so but nibbled along his neck and shoulder once more.

  “Can’t help it. Want you all the time.” Sacha sighed heavily and pulled back, bounding off to find his clothes.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Sacha

  Gabriel didn’t have much to wear and Sacha made a note to take him shopping. That might be something he’d enjoy doing with Leo. The boy was fairly shrewd when it came to shopping. He was frugal with what he had and generous. Gabriel might appreciate it. Leo didn’t spend money like his mate was a gold, nor like he himself was a silver. He spent like a copper, invested like a gold, and treated his employees like family. Family meant everything to Leo.

  The front doorbell rang, and Bastien shouted out, “Can someone watch the pups while I go get that?”

  A shaking snarl came from the playroom as a pup shook something in their mouth. Sacha perked up and bolted, leaving Gabriel with a peck of a kiss. “Coming!”

  Gabriel sighed, a smile on his lips.

  Sacha bolted downstairs and rode the smooth metal banister for the last leg of the journey, stumbling over the foyer before flinging open the door breathlessly. Gabriel plodded a bit further behind him. Leicester stood on his doorstep, twitching nervously.

  “Hey,” Leicester cleared his throat. “I’m here because…you know.”

  “The twins?” Sacha blinked and let Leicester in.

  “Yeah.” Leicester cleared his throat. His swollen, bloodshot eyes stared emptily at Gabriel.

  “What’s happened?” Sacha glanced him up and down.

  “Didn’t they tell you?” Leicester cleared his throat.

  “No. Are they your pups?” Gabriel covered his mouth and Leicester shook his head rapidly.

  “No. They’re my Dette half-brother’s. My Drake father had another clutch, and I didn’t know those pups very well, but one ran off after their first heat…”

  “Any idea on the Drake father?” Sacha asked, gasping softly.