Page 58 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
“Again,” Kitaro ordered, gesturing for Auslin to hold up his wooden sword.
Mentally steeling himself for the oncoming attack, Auslin tried to fend off the dragon prince. But after a few countered hits, he was disarmed and flat on his back with a practice weapon at his throat. Although the limits of his human weakness frustrated him, it felt so good to lie down that he remained as he was. His breathing was labored from the exertion of the past two hours of training.
Kitaro offered Auslin a hand to help him off thefloor, which he accepted as he pulled himself to a standing position once more. Before Auslin could process what was happening, Kitaro struck out at him. He instinctively blocked the potential blow and fended off Kitaro’s attack, but even on his best day, it would have been a losing battle. And today was far from his best day.
Kitaro finally swept Auslin’s feet out from under him, but Auslin took the dragon prince down with him. He ended up pinned under Kitaro as they stared at each other while trying to catch their breath. Auslin was overly aware of the shifter’s larger body pinning him in place. Their sweaty bodies moving against each other gave him naughty ideas hereallycouldn’t afford to have with a sexy shifter on top of him.
The awkward moment between them dragged on long enough that Auslin reflexively apologized to fill the silence.
“For?” Kitaro questioned, his voice in his deeper register that made Auslin shiver despite himself. The way the shifter’s eyes rimmed with silver was mesmerizing.
It temporarily distracted Auslin, making it a challenge to remember how to form words. “For not being able to train properly today. The amulet is really taking its toll on me, I think.”
“I regret it is necessary.”
When Kitaro shifted his position, it stirred Auslin’s desire. He hoped the enchanted pendant hid that factfrom the shifter prince. It filled Auslin with an impossible need to be kissed, and he didn’t know how to handle that lust. He had given himself permission to be free of Kio, but some part of Auslin still resisted the urge because nothing but pain could come from giving in when he was so determined to return to his own time.
He held his breath as Kitaro leaned closer, almost as if he intended to kiss Auslin. But a servant entering the training hall startled them by loudly announcing, “Prince Kitaro, King Tatsuki has requested your presence at once in his office.”
“Understood,” Kitaro said, but it came out as a threatening growl that made the servant disappear after a final bow.
“Is everything okay?” Auslin asked. Why was Kitaro’s roughness arousing?
Kitaro closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, the silver had faded from them. “All is well. I will attend to my father. Please use the time to rest.” He stood up and offered his hand to Auslin to help him stand. They shared a long, meaningful look that filled Auslin with too many feelings before they parted to go their separate ways.
Once Auslin was left alone to walk back to their bedroom, he found it easier to breathe without Kitaro there to confuse him. Auslin wondered if maybe he was feeling an effect from his heat after all. Theintense need he had felt to be kissed by Kitaro surely must have been from that.
It was the only logical explanation for Auslin’s arousal—or at least that’s what he wanted to believe. But he knew it was because he was becoming increasingly attracted to Kitaro despite warning himself that nothing could come of it since he intended to return to his era as soon as possible. Knowing that didn’t change his feelings any, though.
He was being foolish. There was no chance that someone as amazing as Kitaro would ever be interested in Auslin. Kitaro was like a Power amongst men. A human mage couldn’t compete on that level.
Although Auslin wanted to fall face-first onto the comfortable bed and sleep, he forced himself to take a bath to wash off the sweat. Despite his exhaustion, sinking into the hot water felt divine. Auslin relaxed into the sensation.
Exhaling slowly, he wondered how long Kitaro would be gone. Usually, it took at least half an hour when Tatsuki summoned him. It was probably safe to give in to his body’s demand that he release the sexual tension from being in such an intimate position earlier.
The thought of them lying together in that manner was enough to get Auslin hard. He allowed himself the rare indulgence of imagining Kitaro taking the initiative and kissing him forcefully. The water sloshed in the tub as Auslin’s body arched. He lost his inhibitions as his fantasy progressed.
Auslin bit his lower lip to hold in a noise of pleasure at the thought of Kitaro dragging his fangs against his skin. That had always been a massive turn-on for Auslin. He whimpered while thinking about the shifter teasing him with his claws. It rapidly sent him to the edge of his climax. When he imagined Kitaro stroking his cock, Auslin came with a soft cry. All the tension melted from his body.
The guilt wouldn’t be far behind, but for the moment, he indulged in the satisfaction of his fantasy. With Kitaro always by his side, Auslin rarely had the opportunity to take care of his basest desires. It was too risky with a shifter who had such a strong sense of smell and hearing, not to mention embarrassing.
Auslin couldn't ignore the ache inside of him for his fantasy to go further than just kissing and teasing touches. He knew what he really wanted, but he was afraid to acknowledge it because of what it would mean for him.
Once he gave himself permission to let his imagination turn more sexual, there would be no going back anymore. It would be impossible to look at Kitaro without thinking about those kinds of naughty thoughts, which would only cause even greater problems.
The last of his energy was fading fast. Auslin got out of the bath. His vision swam for a moment. It made Auslin scowl because if he was already weakafter barely two days of wearing the amulet, he would be comatose by the end of the week.
Pushing the thought from his mind, Auslin dried off before wrapping the towel around himself.
When he returned to the bedroom, he stopped in his tracks when he saw Kitaro sitting in a chair by the fireplace, looking at him with an unreadable expression.
Chapter 27
Kitaro
Vanra immediately apologized. “Sorry, I thought I had more time, so I?—”
Kitaro’s dragon thrashed in its cage at the sight of so much tempting bare skin on display. It took a concentrated effort to keep his voice calm. “There is no need to apologize, Vanra. I have only just arrived. It is no trouble to wait.”
