Origin (Scales 'n' Spells 1)

“Okay, but I want my dragon,” Cassie pouted.

Me too, whispered Cameron’s heart.

Alric called out an absent, “Enter!” at the knock at the door before scent told him who it was. Cameron. His dragon instantly stirred, head raising and clawing at him to rise and cross to the man. To touch him. Hold him. Good grief, it was as if he needed to put a leash on his dragon.

He put the report in his hands down immediately, turning in his chair toward the door. This was the first time Cameron had come to his private chambers on his own. It probably accounted for some of his dragon’s restlessness. The mage was finally in his domain of his own accord.

With a light tread, Cameron waltzed in, shutting the door behind him. There was a smug set to his mouth. “Why hello there, handsome. Are you busy?”

“Hello yourself. I’m free for you. Are you done settling everyone in?” Alric set the report on the side table, extending his right hand in invitation.

Cameron took it, swinging himself into Alric’s lap as if he had a standing invitation. (He did.) Alric’s good arm came around his waist to hold him in place as Cameron leaned in for a hello kiss. His left hand rested on Cameron’s thigh, stroking a bit because he couldn’t seem to still that impulse. He loved this new development between them. It had been only a day since Cameron declared they should try dating, and Alric was enjoying these stolen private moments. They possessed an unexpected touch of familiarity, where the moment was as much about re-connecting with the man as anything else. A sweet, happy hello.

With a sigh, Cameron pulled back a few inches. “They are as settled as I can make them. Halmeoni is beside herself, she’s so excited to work magic. There will be absolutely no living with her for the next decade. Cassie’s admittedly not much better.”

“I can’t say that I’m surprised. Not after meeting them. And there’s a joy to finding what you were meant to do, what truly calls to you.”

“Yeah, I know. First time I did magic, that hit home with me. It’s why I didn’t argue when they wanted a magic lesson with Lisette. I think she went along with it for the same reason.”

Alric carefully lifted his left hand and brushed a lock of Cameron’s hair from his eyes, smiling. “She’s just as excited, in her own way. To have so many students at once is something we’ve all dreamed about.”

“Even if one of them is a grandmother?” Cameron asked with a light laugh.

“I don’t think she expected that, no. But still, another mage is a blessing no matter the age.” And Alric personally laid odds that when Noh Ha Na was fully trained, she’d be a considerable force to be reckoned with. For the simple fact that she was so enthusiastic about magic, she would learn every nook and cranny of it. Knowledge applied was often more powerful than raw talent.

“Will you invite them into the clan too?”

“Of course. But I want to give them more time to learn about us first. Asking at this juncture would be irresponsible.”

“I figured you’d say that.” Cameron lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Well, for the moment they’re fine. A little too excited, to be honest. I’m not sure if they’re going to sleep at all tonight. They’re literally bouncing about magic, drooling over the many, many attractive dragons in the clan—seriously, is that some kind of a rule? Dragons must be attractive?”

“We try,” Alric responded with false modesty.

“Ha! You’re one to talk, you sexy beast.” Cameron leaned in to kiss him.

Alric turned his face up, kissing back. This time, Cameron kissed him deeply. His passion was a drug racing through Alric’s veins, and he was becoming addicted. He could feel his body rising to the occasion and mentally swore at it. This wasn’t the right moment for anything more.

At least, he thought so until a slim hand slipped under the hem of his shirt and trailed upwards, fingers soothing along his skin in a sensual caress. Those fingers found a nipple and tweaked it, first gently, then with strength. Alric arched a little into it, gasping into Cameron’s mouth. Damn, he’d forgotten how good that felt.

There might have been a smirk on Cameron’s mouth as he swallowed that sound, his fingers doing it again. This was heading in one direction, and he shifted uncomfortably. His young lover clearly wanted sex, but was he actually ready for this?

Okay, so maybe his body and dragon were both shouting for more. For all of it. To explore every delectable inch of Cameron until the man trembled and panted beneath him.

But his mind was not exactly on board with this plan.

On one level, he understood that Cameron had already seen him. Touched those scars, knew the damage. There wasn’t anything to fear. But the rest of his mind rebelled at the mental image of him laying exposed next to all of Cameron’s perfection. He recoiled from it and his hand snapped up, catching Cameron’s wrist and removing it from under his shirt.