Chapter 488: Maybe a Little Longer (M)

"Huu... You... is this even the handiwork of a..."

Riley stopped himself before he could finish that sentence.

Unfortunately, accusing Kael of doing something no human could possibly be capable of wouldn’t make much sense when neither of them was human to begin with.

Especially not when one particular golden dragon was looking at him with those knowing eyes that definitely belonged to an immortal being.

"..."

Riley could only rest his head against the crook of Kael’s neck, silently reconsidering some of his life decisions while his mate held him close and continued with what the ex-mortal considered an entirely optional activity.

"Ah... Hngh..."

"Do you really have to do that?"

It was probably a pointless question, but Riley needed something to distract himself from the lingering sensitivity.

"Probably not..." Kael admitted. "But dragons tend to be possessive regardless of age, so it’s better not to have any competition."

"...?"

Riley immediately lifted his head to stare at him.

Competition?

What competition?!

He searched Kael’s face for the slightest indication that the golden dragon was joking, only to find absolutely none.

Now, Riley had inherited a considerable amount of knowledge about dragons, but he certainly didn’t remember anything about them being quite this unreasonable.

Then again, he’d also thought he understood what their mating rituals involved until he actually experienced one.

Apparently, some things simply couldn’t be understood through inherited knowledge alone.

But for Kael to insist on personally attending to him instead of simply using a spell, and then claim it was because their little one wouldn’t appreciate having competition...

"Are you serious right now?"

The look Riley gave him practically screamed, You’ve got to be kidding me.

Unfortunately, Kael met his gaze without the slightest hesitation.

Oh, gods.

He was completely serious!

"Sharing mana between beings who depend on it is extremely difficult," the dragon lord explained. "That’s why our population remains relatively low despite our immense stamina and longevity."

"But if it’s mana—"

"You might feel uncomfortable if that one decides it needs to protect itself."

The reigning dragon lord said it with such a serious expression that anyone else would’ve had no choice but to believe him.

Unfortunately, that wouldn’t work on Riley Hale Dravaryn, whose ass and body had already been thoroughly cleaned several times a day, only for the very same activities to resume mere minutes later!

See, since the fateful day they secluded themselves in that room, four days had passed with the same insane routine!

He said it was because mana needed to be supplied consistently and in the most efficient way possible...

Now, to be fair, Kael did make sure that particular bit was taken care of every single time, but even the most naive person would’ve started asking questions by now!

At this point, Riley wouldn’t allow anyone else to stay in their room unless the entire place had been gutted and refurbished first. After all, there wasn’t a single part of it that had been spared!

Both doors, the four-poster bed, the desk, the lounge chairs, the walls, and even the damn floor!

And Riley didn’t even want to imagine how he’d feel if someone were to look into that particular mirror, the very one that had not only reflected the sight of his own dick moving up and down as Kael took him from behind, but had even rubbed against it while the golden dragon insisted on seeing his face up close!

The thing was, Riley had willingly obliged and even initiated some of it himself! Clearly, he’d been a more than willing participant and had no one to blame but his own insatiable desires.

Still, this guy always made it a point to clean him out like this, as though it were a sacred ritual that needed to be performed to ensure Eryndra remained at peace.

"..."

"..."

And while Riley had believed him wholeheartedly the first time around, even though he’d already suspected those fingers would be replaced by someone’s raging member the moment he let out a moan, he’d somehow fallen for the very same trick more times than he could count!

And now Kael was claiming it was because their little one needed all that mana, and that any more of his load would practically be considered competition?

Riley was just about ready to give the golden dragon a proper scolding when a thought suddenly occurred to him.

Wait a minute.

"And you know this because...?" Riley tilted his head, clearly expecting an explanation.

"Because my parents told me," Kael answered matter-of-factly. "They said I gave my mother a difficult time because I wanted every bit of mana for myself..."

For once, the golden dragon actually looked away, almost as though he were embarrassed by the admission but was trying very hard not to show it.

Meanwhile, Riley, who was practically sprawled across Kael’s broad chest, could only stare at him in complete bewilderment.

"..."

Then, as the revelation finally sank in, something in the ex-mortal’s expression changed.

His shoulders started shaking.

And before he knew it, Riley burst into laughter, finding the entire revelation so ridiculously adorable that he could barely keep himself still.

"Hahahaha!"

Kael, on the other hand, looked thoroughly miffed.

His expression practically screamed, Right, right. Go ahead and laugh when I’m clearly doing this for your own good.

Unfortunately, that only made Riley laugh harder.

By the time he finally managed to calm himself, he was already wiping tears from the corners of his eyes.

But when he looked at Kael again, the amusement gradually softened into something considerably more tender.

Because somehow, this simple conversation had suddenly become something incredibly precious to him.

This man was a gift.

Every breath they could still take together was a gift.

And now, the future they were slowly building together, one little piece at a time...

"Right. Our little one," Riley murmured, his lips curving into a fond smile. "If this one takes after either of us, then I suppose that’s definitely a possibility."

He pushed himself up slightly until his face hovered directly above Kael’s, supporting his weight with one hand against the golden dragon’s chest while the other reached up to tenderly caress his cheek.

"Just as greedy as I am for you, and you for me," Riley continued softly. "May this one find the same kind of love someday."

It was a sincere prayer from someone whose greatest happiness was already lying right in front of him.

"Then again..." Riley’s smile widened. "With my husband as the father, won’t this little one already have the world?"

There was so much love in his expression that Kael could only stare at him.

For a moment, the dragon lord seemed genuinely taken aback.

Then something shifted in those brilliant golden eyes, a fierce resolve settling over his features as Riley’s words reached somewhere deep within his heart and core.

"Yes."

Of course.

Yes to everything his mate wanted.

Yes to giving Riley the world, and yes to extending that same devotion to the little life they had created together.

If this was the future his beloved wanted, then Kael would make certain it was one worth having.

Seeing that familiar determination on his husband’s face, Riley couldn’t help feeling a little more affectionate toward him, though it also gave him an idea as he began carefully considering a few possibilities.

Then he slowly leaned down, looking for all the world as though he intended to kiss him.

Kael naturally waited.

Except, just as their lips were about to meet, a familiar mischievous glint appeared in the black dragon’s emerald eyes.

"Honey," Riley murmured, "if that’s the case... then for starters, would you mind inspecting everything after the cleanup?"

"...!"

Kael’s golden eyes widened briefly before narrowing at the wicked smile spreading across his mate’s face.

Ah.

So that was what his twig had been planning.

For a moment, the two simply looked at each other.

Then the dragon lord’s lips curved into a faint smile.

"I will," he promised in a low, gravelly voice. "I’ll check everything. You won’t have anything to worry about."

Kael lifted himself to meet his mate’s waiting lips, and the black dragon immediately wound his arms around his husband’s neck, welcoming the kiss as though he hadn’t been deliberately teasing him just moments ago.

Worse, as though he hadn’t just been thinking about how they’d been at it far too much lately!

Well, wasn’t "too much" simply a state of mind?

He dared to think that way even though he was certain there were probably still countless matters waiting for them beyond these walls.

Eryndra was recovering, their families, particularly the children, would undoubtedly have questions, and sooner or later, the two of them would have to return to their responsibilities.

But Riley was quite certain that none of those things required their immediate attention.

They could wait until tomorrow.

Or perhaps the day after.

Fine.

Maybe even a little longer.

Because right now, he was exactly where he wanted to be.

With his beloved.

"Hngh—!"