Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“Well, generally speaking, that’s how it would go. Yeah.” Gregori tried to gauge Salem’s expression. He did not look happy, which made a hollow pit open up in Gregori’s stomach.
Salem abruptly rolled off the bed, feet hitting the floor with a thud. “No.”
Shit. Gregori’s hollow feeling turned into raw panic as he scrambled up as well, following Salem. “Salem, listen—”
“No. Okay? No.” Salem grabbed his clothes off the floor, jerking them on even as he argued. “I’m not turning my life upside down to move here, first of all. I have a nice house, a good career, a whole circle of family and friends up in the US. I have no desire to lose any of it. I can get dick from anywhere—”
“Ouch, that was hurtful.”
“You can find another mate somewhere else.”
“That’s not how this works.” Gregori felt at a loss for words. He’d never heard of a mate arguing like this before.
Salem turned in place to stab a finger against Gregori’s chest, expression fierce and determined. “There can’t be only one right person for someone. It’s not like we’re soulmates.”
“We are,” Gregori corrected gently. He didn’t want to alarm Salem any further, but he had to know the truth, too. “I am yours, as you are mine. Salem, I’m not asking you to give up your life or career on the spot. Just let me court you—”
“No. If I let you court me, then you’ll expect me to change.” Salem turned on his heel, stopping at the doorway only long enough to cram his feet back into his sandals. He threw a parting shot over his shoulder. “I’m not going to change my mind. I don’t want a dragon mate. Go find someone else.”
The door slammed behind him. Gregori winced and ran a hand through his hair. Well, shit. That didn’t go over well.
What did he do now?
Salem loved his brother dearly, but international travel just took it out of him. Salem was ever so glad to go back home. Especially since he seemed to have picked up a…complication.
Yeah, he wasn’t going to think about Gregori.
Salem had somehow managed to get someone other than Gregori to take him to the airport in time for his flight. Gregori had been insistent, so Salem had had to play a very elaborate game of hide-and-seek, using Sam as cover, until he’d managed to sneak out while Gregori was occupied with something else. It was an early flight, which Salem disliked, but it meant he’d get home at a decent time tonight. Which was necessary. Salem had work tomorrow. He’d taken off as many days as he had dared and now had to pay the piper for it tomorrow. Them’s the breaks.
He was still glad he’d come down here, complication notwithstanding. It had been worth the very long trip down to see his brother with a working magical core and married to a man who adored him. Sam had glowed like Salem had never seen him before. It had almost sparked envy within him. But, well, Sam had always been the one who was good at long-term relationships, unlike yours truly, so it stood to reason Sam was the one to get married. Salem would stick to the hit and runs, thank you muchly.
Salem queued up with everyone else to board the plane, a small carry-on bag hanging off his shoulder and memories of last night flitting through his head. He’d been a bit surprised when Gregori first approached him and flirted. A hookup with a dragon hadn’t been anywhere on his radar. But he’d liked the look of Gregori, his lean, powerful build sparking interest. Then those dark eyes had snared his, hinting at lust and mischief, and Salem had folded like a cheap sheet. The sex had been amazing. Off the charts. Quite probably the best sex of his life, if Salem was honest. If it was like this with Dimitri, Salem didn’t blame Sam for latching on to his man.
All that said, it had kind of been ruined when Gregori had insisted they were mates.
Now, Salem knew the stories. Knew dragons could apparently sense when they’d found the right person. But they were mortal, right? Even they could make mistakes. It was far more likely Gregori had weddings on the brain and had jumped to conclusions. If there was anyone who should not be married, it was Salem.
Salem didn’t really believe there was only “the one” to marry. Frankly, he had seen too many relationships end in disaster. Not everyone made it. Hell, even the majority didn’t seem to make it these days. Salem was aware dragons were the exception to the rule there, too, but he also knew he wasn’t the exception.
Anyway. Not thinking about it.
Salem shuffled up to the door and greeted the stewardess, who was immaculately made up with a pencil skirt and low heels.