Page 68 of Worthy Promises
“Oh, I definitely plan to,” Worth said. Oliver wished him goodnight and hung up. Worth waited patiently for an incoming text as he wrapped his fingers around his hardening cock. It wasn’t long before he was casually stroking himself, and he snagged his phone with his free hand the second it beeped.
With mussed hair and a faint crease on his cheek from his pillowcase, Oliver stood in all his naked glory. That was a picture Worth would never delete, and he grinned as he gripped himself tighter. While he would’ve preferred to have Oliver in person, this was the next best thing. As mornings went, this one was starting off pretty damn good.
Chapter 23
Refusing to give in to his random desire to pout, Worth sat on his bed. His dragon had no ability to hide his feelings and roared pitifully in his head. Oliver hauled his suitcase onto the mattress and unzipped it, so Asteria hopped off his shoulder. With her uncanny ability to sense Worth’s mood—or perhaps she was as sad as he was—Asteria climbed up and rubbed herself against the dragon shifter’s neck. Reaching up to pet her, Worth wished he didn’t have to say goodbye to his mate each Sunday afternoon.
“I don’t need to double-check with everyone to make sure Orion gets to school this week, do I?” Oliver asked as he walked toward the bathroom to grab his toiletries.
“Everything went fine last week, Owlie. Don’t worry, no one will forget Orion needs to get to school. Especially after how much he enthused about his classes and teachers this weekend.”
“I wasn’t expecting him to love it right from the beginning, but it’s an incredible relief.”
“Qualifying for the Spectra Academy means he’s being challenged appropriately and around children as wonderfully smart as he is,” Worth said with a faint smile. No school in the Spectra Wizardry system had higher qualifications than Oliver’snew school, and Worth loved that he was following in the footsteps of other D’Vaires who’d attended.
“It’s a good thing this house is filled with people smarter than me,” Oliver mused as he carefully put his things inside his suitcase. “It won’t be long before he winds up with homework and projects far too tough for me to help him with.”
“You’ve never struck me as someone who lacks intelligence.”
“Sometimes I really wonder about my supposed intelligence,” Oliver muttered.
Irritated that Oliver dared criticize himself, Worth frowned and Asteria shifted on his shoulder. “What does that mean?”
Oliver chuckled. “It’s really cute how you both get so stern together.”
“Answer the question, Owlie.”
“Sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m feeling maudlin.”
“Because you’re leaving me?”
All the humor fell from Oliver’s face, and he rushed over to cup Worth’s face in his hands. “I’m not leaving you, Worthington. We’re working on building our matebond, and unfortunately, we live far apart. What I’m doing is going home until we can be together again,” Oliver said, pressing his mouth to Worth’s gently.
“We’re going to do this until we both decide we’ve tired of sleeping alone?” Worth asked. Although Worth had never liked being by himself—especially after spending a century locked in an old house by himself with a single visitor—his nights had grown far more melancholy when he was far from Oliver. He didn’t want just anyone with him.
It was Oliver with his serious yellow gaze, sweet kisses, and unwavering friendship he wanted at his side. He also adoredthe way Oliver made love to him and held him so tenderly once they’d both reached the height of passion. Being with Oliver had quickly grown into everything Worth had yearned for all those years he’d begged Fate to bring him his other half.
“I don’t think of it like that,” Oliver said.
“Why not?”
Oliver dropped his hands to his sides and bowed his head as he resumed his packing. “Because being in a matebond is a process and we’re building our relationship.”
“It’s grown since the moment we met.”
The zipper of Oliver’s suitcase ripped through the quiet room. “I know,” Oliver commented softly as he set the bag on the floor. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
Holding out a hand, Worth waited until Oliver walked over and laced their fingers together. “I understand there are many factors we have to consider as we combine our lives, including your brother.”
“Orion loves his new school and is nearly as impatient as I am to return to D’Vaire on the weekends.”
“So, the only thing holding us back is you and me.”
A deep line appeared between Oliver’s brows as he frowned. “I don’t like the way that sounds.”
“But it’s the truth, isn’t it? The lone thing keeping us from sharing our lives together forever is our relationship.”
“Neither dragons nor owls live forever, but I get what you’re saying. Even after we cross the veil, we’ll be together.”
