Drayce didn’t say anything. He just lifted Caelan’s hips higher and proceeded to hammer his prostate until the world exploded around him.
Fucking Drayce.
No one knew him better. No one knew him more completely, body and soul.
They lay wrapped in each other, panting, sweaty, sticky and messy; Caelan couldn’t think of a better way to begin his day. It was even better because today he’d get to see two of his best friends get married.
“Why are we waiting another six months for our wedding?” Drayce mumbled in his ear.
“One reason is that I need to put in a full year of mourning for my parents,” Caelan said and pressed a kiss to Drayce’s bare shoulder.
Upon returning to Stormbreak and officially ascending to the throne, Caelan had both announced his engagement to Drayce and told the world that he would mourn the loss of his mother, Queen Amara, and his father, Omari Kei, for one full year. His people needed the time to celebrate the life of Queen Amara before embracing the next stage of growth for the kingdom.
But for now, it largely meant that Caelan personally placed flowers on their graves at the start of each week, and his outfit was no longer complete without a black mourning band across his right biceps.
Drayce huffed and kissed his jaw. “Okay, that’s a good reason. Plus, a winter wedding would be pretty. Stormbreak always looks its best decorated for the Solstice Celebrations. The city is going to be even more beautiful for our wedding.”
“Rayne and Eno also deserve to have the kingdom excited about their day. They don’t need to be overshadowed by the king and his crazy consort.”
“I promise to be on my best behavior,” Drayce said with a giggle.
“And the kingdom needs more time to adjust to the fact that its king is marrying a dragon.”
Drayce snorted at that last, very good reason. “The kingdom loves me.”
That was probably true for the most part. The past six months had been a little rocky as Thia adapted to the idea that dragons were very real and now part of their lives. Treaties had been negotiated between the Isle of Stone, Erya, and Caspagir. More dragons were visiting the continent, though they seemed to be sticking to the bigger cities such as Sirelis and Stormbreak. Caelan still didn’t see enough of his grandfather, but that would improve with time.
But Drayce was right. The kingdom did love him. Despite being a dragon, he was still the same quirky, crazy guy who loved to cause mischief and was Caelan’s smiling shadow.
Caelan did understand Drayce’s impatience. Part of him wanted to rush off and make their relationship official. He wanted Drayce to have the title of Consort and the right to stand beside him on the dais.
More importantly, he wanted this man bound to him for all time. Even after his time as king was over, Caelan needed to have that bond that said they would travel Thia together for the rest of their days. Drayce was his, and he was Drayce’s.
“Six months and counting,” Drayce murmured against his skin.
Caelan turned his head and captured his lover’s lips in a slow, thorough kiss, making sure that Drayce knew that married or not, they were forever linked in their hearts. “Six months and counting,” he whispered when they broke off the kiss.
“As much as I would love to stay right here, I did promise Rayne to have you clean and out the door. By my guess, you’ve got about twenty minutes—”
Caelan cut off whatever his lover was saying with a whine. Somehow his insane Drayce had also become more responsible since returning to Stormbreak with the title of fiancé. Rayne was getting in his head somehow.
“Come on, King of Erya. Get your ass out of bed and in the shower. You can’t keep Queen Noemi waiting any longer.”
Despite Caelan’s grumbling and complaining, he found himself standing outside of his bedroom door precisely thirty minutes after he’d sent Rayne away the last time. Adrian was waiting there to greet him, both of his hands raised against Caelan’s dark glare.
“Don’t direct that look at me. I’m not the one dragging you out of bed today,” Adrian snapped. Even though his tone was defensive and peevish, Caelan could feel the bubble of amusement in his personal bodyguard.
The bond between them remained, even though it no longer felt necessary. Adrian never requested it severed, and Caelan never offered. Besides, it was clear Adrian liked his new gift of an endless supply of magical knives at his disposal.
Caelan turned toward the private elevator that would take him to his offices. “Where is he?”
“Last I saw, Rayne was harassing the wedding and event coordinators about the flowers. Zephyr is trying to get him to calm down, but she doesn’t seem to be having much luck. Eno and Davi are checking on the accommodations for the Clan Omari guests.”