Page 39 of The Monster at the End of This Molt

"You're not angry."

"Should I be?"

"Lemon's here."

He nodded. "I invited him to the dragon reunion, and he came early."

I sagged against the wall with relief. "He's not following me? He had a crush, and I didn't say goodbye."

Robin shook his head. "No. I talked to him the day he hugged you and ran away. As soon as he saw we were fated mates, he knew he'd been harboring an unrequited crush. I invited him here to find his mate, and he already has."

"Alma told me. Ernie?"

"What are the odds?" He laughed. "Papa broke up a little betting pool this morning. Clem and Ernie have been taking bets on which of us will get pregnant first. My money would have been on Grover, since he's been courting Cook for six months."

I sensed only family mischief and love through our bond, but I had to be sure. I pulled Robin to my chest and kissed his forehead. "You won't be devastated if we lose that bet?"

"Not at all." He gazed up at me with far more love than I deserved. "It will only be a win when we're both ready." He ran his thumb over the fresh bite mark on his neck. "This is the only prize I need."

"You're the real trophy." I nuzzled his neck and nipped at his thumb. He dropped his hands to my waist, laughing as I licked and sucked on the mark I'd placed on his neck.

The moment my tongue connected, our bond surged. Robin's intense feelings of love and fierce protectiveness made my head spin.

We heard echoing footsteps in the long hallway, and Robin stepped away from me, laughing. "We should find somewhere else to make out, besides the entrance to the cathedral."

"Pretty sure we're not the first."

He grabbed my hand and tugged me away from the wall. Then, he laced our fingers together and pulled me down the hallway. Soon, we reached the fortress's main entrance with bright sunlight shining through the enormous glass doors. "I know somewhere we could be the first."

* * *

It didn't take us long to fuck in every room in our cabin. Afterward, we took a breather on the couch, discussing which piece of furniture we should try next when someone knocked on our door.

Robin groaned and lifted his head from my shoulder. "We should probably get dressed and go see who that is."

We'd used a towel to protect the couch from his slick. He wrapped it around his waist and waddled to the bathroom. I took full responsibility for the hitch in his step. Tonight, I planned on filling him and fucking him through as many orgasms as he could stand before my knot deflated.

My ass was also sore from the hard pounding Robin had given me earlier. The ache made me smile as I pulled my boxers into place and slipped into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

Another knock at the door hastened my steps.

"Come on! The party's about to start and we won't have any decorations!"

"Party?" I asked as I opened the door.

Clementine rushed in with a stack of hats, party streamers, and more confetti than I'd ever seen in one place. In a flash of magic, the streamers covered our ceiling, and the air filled with floating confetti.

Clementine motioned for me to lean down, and she stuck a pointed hat on my head. "Perfect."

Robin stalked out of the bedroom in a pair of denim shorts. "What the hell happened in here?"

"Remember the party our parents wanted to throw you?" Clementine waved her hands in the air. "Surprise!"

"That was at breakfast." Robin frowned at the ceiling.

"Yes, and you've lived here a full day now. It's time for the housewarming party."

Robin cast a spell that made my nostrils tingle. The scent of sex greatly diminished, replaced by a fresh, citrusy smell.

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