Page 41 of Becoming D'Vaire
“I thought you said you sucked at poetry.”
“What can I say? You bring out the best in me,” Grigori replied. “More than anything, I’d also like to be your friend. Do you know, I’ve never had someone I could confide everything in? I want to be that way with you.”
“My first best friend was Idris.”
“I know, you met at sixteen. I keep track of everything you tell me.”
“Despite missing our first date, you’re doing pretty good at this relationship thing.”
“No, I’m not. You’re still not confessing what’s bothering you.”
Delaney dragged a hand through his hair. It tumbled back down to lay over his forehead just the way Grigori liked it. “I don’t want this to become a thing, so if you really want to talk about it we can, but I should warn you that it’s probably way too early for this.”
“I don’t know, I’m pretty sure I’ve permanently morphed into a vampire familiar amalgamation.”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to get used to it. Roger does the same thing to Mac.”
“I believe I can live with it. He might not like it when I start sweating because I’m nervous or something.”
“Use him to keep you calm.”
“You’re brilliant,” Grigori observed. “Also, you’re distracting me on purpose.”
“I feel stupid talking about this.”
“You probably felt stupid when you dug out those dragonskin pants too, but look how that turned out. My balls have never emptied that fast.”
“We can’t talk about sex. My whole family’s excited about you being here. If you talk about dicks, mine’s going to demand to see you naked.”
“Please assure him that I’ll take care of him soon…but enough diversions. Tell me why you’re sad.”
“It was pointed out to me today that we live in two different states, and we’re both close to our families. I know we aren’t ready to move forward, but I think I need a clearer picture of where you might possibly see us,” Delaney explained.
“When you say ‘we aren’t ready to move forward,’ what do you mean? Like we aren’t ready to pack our bags or that we aren’t committed to being together yet? I’m happy to talk about living arrangements, and I’m anxious to meet everyone at D’Vaire today, because someday I’ll be sharing a home with them.”
“Your family—”
“Lives only a state away and I can teleport there to see them whenever I want. My brother mostly lives at home with my folks, but he bounces around for months at a time. We’re all close but we also have busy, fulfilling lives. The first day I met you, my mother told me I’d be happy at D’Vaire. She knew I’d follow you here—they’re not going to kick up a fuss,” Grigori told him. “Now, can you answer my question, please? I’d like to know if my feelings for you are growing faster than yours for me.”
“The idea of asking you to leave your family guts me, but I have to tell you I hope you do like it here at D’Vaire. If you decide it’s not for you, we can work out another arrangement. Perhaps going back and forth,” Delaney said. His dark eyes were alight again with equal parts joy and intelligence just as they were the last time Grigori was with him. “As for us, is it supposed to feel like this? We just met but already I consider you a friend. A really good one. I like talking to you and…I don’t know. I’d like things to work out.Ugh, relationship stuff is hard. What kind of timetable are you supposed to have? Are there rules? Why does everyone say ‘Trust Fate,’ then after you meet your other half, they only offer something like, ‘You’ll know what’s right’? How do I know what’s right? I’ve never done this before.”
“We should write a guidebook for the newly mated.”
“Yeah, it’ll start with the first rule, which is ‘Show up for your dates.’ ”
“I missed one, but I’ve made it to two.”
“I’m glad you aren’t nervous tonight,” Delaney confided.
“Me too. I just keep telling myself if I feel the sweat starting, pull out my phone to look at that picture you sent me last night.”
“I told you not to talk about sex,” Delaney complained. “We need to get out of my bedroom.”
“I love it, by the way. Your ass is going to look so good against those black sheets.”
Much to Grigori’s delight, Delaney grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the door. Before he opened it, Grigori stopped him. He slid his palm free and took a step so only inches separated their bodies. Grigori stared into the black eyes that haunted him when they were apart, then leaned down to press their lips together. Delaney sucked in a shocked breath but didn’t move away, so he licked his way into the wizard’s mouth. Without any hesitation, Delaney stroked his tongue against Grigori’s, and his brain slid out of his skull at the ecstasy of that simple caress.
His blood heated, and his dick decided it was time to party, but the D’Vaires were waiting. Pulling away, he lifted his lashes which had fallen closed as he kissed his mate for the first time and gazed back into the abyss.
