Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
“Bats?” Brooks hunkered down a bit more away from the high ceiling.
“Don’t worry. They know I’m like a bat on steroids. They’re definitely not venturing down here.”
“That makes sense.” Still, Brooks was going to keep an eye up for a while.
As they got away from the opening, it grew darker. A red glow filled the inside of the cavern. Brooks looked at Rogan in wonder and saw his eyes glowing like something out of a horror movie. “Okay. That’s a bit frightening.”
“Do we need to go back?” Rogan asked immediately.
“No. It’s okay. I know you.”
“We’re almost there, Adventurer. I’d hate for you to miss this now. Try keeping your eyes down toward your feet instead of at me,” Rogan suggested.
“You said the ladies were afraid of the spiders. Your first mate, the guy, he didn’t come in here?”
“Ian? No, he didn’t come in here. The pool has existed for hundreds of years, but the entrance only appeared about two hundred years ago. It wasn’t here for him to forge through. Although he would have taken an axe or a sledgehammer to the cliff face if he’d known it was there.”
“You miss him.” Brooks glanced up at Rogan and slid when his foot hit a slick spot.
“Careful, Mate.” The dragon shifter lifted him easily and set him on a safer patch of ground before answering. “I miss all my mates. Ian was a character. When he passed, he was ready. Even if I’d been able to extend his life longer, I wouldn’t have.”
“Because he was suffering?” Brooks asked as a shiver ran down his spine. Living longer sounded great, but he definitely didn’t want to stick around when he was falling apart.
“No. He was healthy until the end. He was just ready. His siblings’ grandchildren had lived and passed. People didn’t survive until their eighties or older back then. He didn’t want to see another generation buried. Ian was 154 on his last birthday. To see so many leave this world wore on him.”
“I can understand that.”
“One more corner to turn. Get ready.”
The air gushed out of Brooks’ lungs at the sight of the gorgeous pool. Small bits of light glowed from the cave walls, giving the area an ethereal glow. “Wow, this is amazing.”
“It really is. We can take a dip in the pool. It’s refreshing and crystal clear.” Rogan whipped his shirt over his head and tossed it to a flat stone next to the pool.
“I can see that.” Brooks allowed himself to be drawn toward Rogan, who pulled his mate’s shirt off as well and added it to the pile. He bucked backward when Rogan unfastened the button at the top of his jeans.
“You can’t swim?” Rogan asked.
“Like a fish,” Brooks corrected him. “Sorry. It’s weird to have someone undress me.”
“You’ll need to get used to that, unless there’s some trauma in your past I should know about?” Rogan probed.
“No. Nothing like that,” Brooks rushed to assure him.
“I’m glad.” Rogan tugged him into his arms to give him a hug and a light kiss. “It’s okay, Brooks, to let yourself be cared for. You’ve been out there in the world, taking care of yourself. What would happen if I help?”
Brooks shook his head and shrugged. “Nothing bad. I trust you.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I’ll tell you what. How about if you undress me this time?”
He hadn’t expected that. Brooks liked that idea. “Can I touch you?”
“The dragon will only allow me to be submissive to a certain point. Then, he will take over,” Rogan warned before adding. “We’d both love to feel your hands on us.” He glided a few inches back from Brooks.
Grinning at the opportunity, Brooks ran his fingers along Rogan’s waistband, loving the contraction of Rogan’s chiseled abs under his hand. Rogan was sheer male beauty and strength. He popped open the button and Rogan’s heavy shaft twitched against his fly. He loved that his mate responded to him eagerly. Brooks carefully pulled the zipper down, releasing his growing erection. Wrapping his fingers around Rogan’s thickness, he guided his cock outside the confining fabric.
“Are you taking off my clothes or getting acquainted?” Rogan asked in a gruff tone that teased as it revealed his arousal.
“Both?” Brooks asked with a shrug.
“Clothes first, Mate.”
“Okay.” He drew out that answer, hoping Rogan would get the hint. He might want more after that.
“Clothes, Brooks.”
Brooks nodded and pushed Rogan’s jeans over his hips. His mate never wore anything under the form-fitting heavy material. He had to admit Rogan looked especially good coming and leaving. Brooks rolled his eyes at that last thought. Rogan looked much better than good when he came.
He leaned over to slide the material down to the ground and found himself very close to Rogan’s erection. Unable to control his urge, Brooks licked it. He loved the salty taste of his mate’s skin.