Page 125 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
“How do you feel?”
“Like shit.” Auslin laughed weakly. He had earned the privilege to use a stronger swear than normal.
“We will stay here until you have sufficiently recovered.”
Auslin protested. “But we have to keep go?—”
“Nothing is as important as you getting better,” Kitaro interrupted him. “My only priority is making sure you are well. Everything else can wait.”
“But…” Auslin trailed off because he didn’t know what he was trying to say. He shifted positions slightly, allowing him to embrace Kitaro around the neck. He hid his face against the shifter’s broad shoulder.
Auslin drew strength from their cuddling. But eventually, he said, “If we can’t leave for a while, can I at least go somewhere to wash off? I should also eat.”
“That is a good idea.”
The sight of his blood all over Kitaro’s shirt upset Auslin. “Is there a river nearby that we can wash off at soon?”
“I believe there is one not too far from here. We can go as soon as you feel up to it.”
“Now is good.” Auslin desperately wanted to be clean.
“Are you sure?”
“Trust me. Getting clean is exactly what I need to feel better.” Auslin stood up, doing his best not to sway and give Kitaro a reason to not believe him.
Kitaro rose with a stretch. “Very well.” He swept Auslin into his arms.
“I’m perfectly capable of walking,” Auslin told Kitaro while laughing.
“Walking, yes. Flying, no.”
“At least I’ll actually be able to enjoy it this time.” Auslin was excited to see what flying with Kitaro in his partially shifted form was like now that he wasn’t in blinding agony.
Joining in Auslin’s amusement with a chuckle ofhis own, Kitaro flew them the short distance to the river he had spotted the previous night.
Auslin’s clothes disappeared, compliments of Kitaro’s magic. He snickered as he eased himself into the river. The water was frigid, making chills rise on his skin as his nipples pebbled. But it was such a relief to wash the blood off that it was worth freezing.
Kitaro made his own clothes disappear. He joined Auslin in the water, pulling him closer.
“I can take care of it myself,” Auslin told him.
He ran his claws along Auslin’s skin where he had been cut. It sent a shiver through the human that had nothing to do with the icy river. “Yes, but I wish to help.”
Auslin laughed. “Your idea of help will only get me dirtier before I get clean.”
The shifter pressed his body close to Auslin’s. He asked in a sensuous rumble, “Are you objecting?”
“I didn’t say that.” Auslin’s reward was a passionate kiss. He shivered as Kitaro washed the blood off him, then took advantage of being in the river by wrapping his legs around the dragon prince to hold on to him.
Kitaro caressed Auslin’s ass while pulling their bodies closer together for another heated kiss.
Despite the cold water and his exhaustion, Auslin’s arousal stirred as Kitaro claimed his mouth. Kitaro teasingly running his claws down Auslin’s back made the human ache for far more, but being in the freezingriver was not conducive to amorous explorations. His teeth were almost chattering. “As much as I’m enjoying this, I’m about to turn into an icicle.”
“My apologies for getting carried away. I forget you do not thrive in the cold the same way I do as an ice dragon.” Kitaro gave him an apologetic forehead kiss before focusing on washing off the remaining blood. “Are you ready to head to the cave?”
“Yes, please.”
Kitaro flew them back, making the silver fire roar to life upon their return. He summoned clean blankets with his magic to spread out, then laid Auslin down on them in front of the fire. The shifter covered Auslin’s body with his larger one. He warmed the mage up through more amorous methods.
