Page 7 of Stripped to the Scales

“Sounds like Hush. It wasn’t his spell. It wouldn’t hurt any of us. So he let him have a go at it. What do you need to open these things up?”

“Right now? Ideas and we don’t know how to go about getting the word out.”

“When I come off leave for our matingmoon, I’ll get it out. Believe me, they’ll hear me out just to get me naked,” I teased. “I’m laughing, but Sprinkles may not be the worst place to look for help. It’s usually the really brainy types that are into open love and sex. It’s a break from their normal lives and a place to let their minds wander while they’re bodies find the release all of us really need.”

Castor was hard now, and his dick pressed up against his clothes. He smelled slick and scrumptious. I could’ve taken him right there on the sofa. Dressing rooms at Sprinkles were homes away from home for all its performers. Some nights I slept on the sofa we now sat on.

“Are you about to ask the age old question?” Castor smirked.

“Top or bottom?” I teased.

“Vers, but no, that wasn’t the question.”

“I think most dragons I know are verse,” I shrugged. “What did you think I was going to ask?”

“My place or yours.”

“Mine is empty. I live alone. My parents are alive, but they moved to Starscale 3 to retire. Starscale 1 is all about food and sex, more or less. Sure, a lot of families live here, but we have theonly purple district. Starscale 2 is food and fighting. They have the arena and stuff. Starscale 3 is the newest world and seems to attract the sort who are either done with romping here or fighting or at least want a nice long break from it.”

“Elio and Marsin’s parents moved there too,” Castor nodded. “My ship only has my cousin living there. We could matingmoon there if you wanted.”

“Will that be easier for you?” I asked.

“Easier in which way?” he returned my question.

“So you can keep an eye on your dragons.”

Castor thought about it for a long, silent moment. I breathed in trying not to think about how delicious he smelled. I squeezed his knee.

“Would you be mad if we went back to the Medwin 2 before we went to your place?” he finally asked.

“Not at all,” I shook my head. “It’s harder to take leave from some jobs than others. We can even stay the night there if you need to or just want to. Get them in order. Pack an overnight bag.”

“Just an overnight bag,” Castor said.

“I guess when everything is said and done, I’ll be living on a spaceship, huh?” I laughed.

“Unfortunately, if you want to live with me, yes.”

“The house will be there for our kids if they want it,” I shrugged. “Not like it’s going to fall over without me there all the time.”

“You’re way too relaxed about all this,” Castor laughed and flopped onto his back on the sofa.

I picked up his feet one at a time and took off his shoes and socks. Sure, we might be leaving soon, but my mate desperately needed to relax first. I turned to face him with his feet resting on my thigh. I picked one up and massaged my thumbs into his arches the way I liked the masseuse to do after a long night ofdancing. He let out a little moan and I glanced at his still hard crotch.

“Let me see your star,” I said, still massaging his foot.

Castor pulled up his shirt until the star-shaped scale on his chest showed. It was as black and glowy as mine from our true-mate response. I wanted to lick the magic off it, but held back as I switched to massaging his other foot.

“We match,” Castor said, his words a soft mumble of pleasure. “I could get used to this.”

“I hope so because I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to stop touching you, mate.”

“Come here,” he beckoned me to him with the wave of a single finger.

I stretched out over top of him and he leaned up to kiss me. For a second, I couldn’t breathe. How had I gotten so fucking lucky? How had either of us? Maybe it wasn’t luck. Maybe it was fate or his grit to build and fly his ship all the way here.

I kissed down his neck and nuzzled my cheek against his black star. I kissed it and licked around its edges tasting the magic that connected us throughout lifetimes. He tasted like perfection as he ran his fingers through my hair. I kissed lower.

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