That North was his everything.
Maybe Warin hadn’t figured it out right away, but his damn dragon had known it almost immediately. The crazy lizard had taken one look at North and immediately wanted to protect him, to spirit him away to the hoard and keep him safe. From the moment they met, his entire being had been driven to protect and pleasure.
He wanted North. Rather desperately, truth be told. But he was scared of coming on too strong and scaring the young mage off. North did not have much in the way of experience, not with relationships or sex. He didn’t want to overwhelm him.
Uprooting his entire life, even if his home life was toxic, was not a decision that could be taken lightly or quickly. The young man deserved space to think clearly without Warin placing pressure on him.
Gunter drifted up to the table with a cup of coffee in hand. “What’s this about asking North to stay?”
Turning in his chair, Ravi waved him closer. “We just had a talk with North, explaining that he could work as a mage here.”
“Of course he can work as a mage here.” Gunter glanced between them, clearly confused why this was in question.
“North didn’t know that,” Ravi explained, still shooting Warin aggrieved looks. “So, we straightened him out. And this one”—Ravi jerked his thumb in Warin’s direction, making the dragon want to sink lower in his chair—“just sits there smiling instead of jumping at the chance to sweet-talk North into staying.”
Gunter shot him an annoyed look.
Warin, for some reason, felt the need to defend himself. “I’m trying not to overwhelm him!”
“Then you do realize that you want him. That he wants you?” Gunter said as an aside to Ravi, “You should have seen them on the way here. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other.”
“Oh yeah?” Ravi perked up, interested.
“The cuteness level was such that I almost gagged several times. And, Warin, at this point, it’s not a matter of overwhelming him or not. It’s a matter of him knowing he’s wanted. Specifically, that you want him. Are you sure he’s confident in your feelings for him?”
Warin had his mouth open, ready for words. None came. Did North know that? No. No, he couldn’t possibly know Warin’s feelings, as he hadn’t made those clear. How could he be so stupid? Why hadn’t he properly pursued this man? North had gone on a fantastic journey, even fighting Jaeggi, in order to find dragons. He’d been thrilled at the idea of being a dragon’s mate. Would North really contemplate going home if he knew he could have that future?
Would he leave if he didn’t realize they were mates? That they were fated to be together?
“I think he just realized he’s an idiot,” Gunter commented before sipping his coffee.
“That expression’s a pretty good clue,” Ravi agreed in the same tone, like a commentator watching a sporting event. “Warin? If you don’t make a move, you’re going to lose him.”
He was going to lose his mate.
Warin stood so quickly, the chair almost crashed to the floor behind him. It was partially panic fueling him but mostly determination. He’d not handled this right, but he wasn’t about to dwell on that mistake. He turned sharply on his heel, intent on tracking down the man who had turned him into emotional, hopeful knots. “The hell I will.”
Gunter and Ravi clapped and cheered as he exited the room, and he snorted in amusement. All well and fine for them, but their cheers didn’t settle the nervous butterflies currently duking it out in his stomach. Warin may not have made his feelings clear to North, but the opposite was also true. North hadn’t made anything clear, either. He’d been affectionate, and he obviously liked Warin, but…well, he hadn’t made a move either. He hadn’t tried to clarify their relationship. Had he been too nervous to do so? Too overwhelmed? Too uncertain of Warin to try and speak his mind?
Or just not interested enough?
Warin didn’t know. But he wasn’t about to let North slip through his fingers because he was too nervous to say something. To at least ask. He didn’t know if there were words to express everything he needed to. He tried rehearsing a few things in his head even as he walked to North’s room.
Then he stopped at the door, hand poised to knock, for a long moment. He sucked in a large breath, let it slowly out again, trying to steady his nerves. Breath in, breath out. He could do this.
Please, please, let him have the right words to get his heart across.
Warin knocked on the door.
“Come in!”
He did so, closing the door absently behind him as he got his bearings. North was on the parlor side of the suite, ensconced in a large, wing-backed chair, his legs tucked up to the side. He had a phone in hand, but it was resting in his lap, as if he’d just finished with it. He didn’t look as depressed or as torn now, instead contemplative.