discipline.” The absurdity of that statement ruined his deadpan delivery, and he mirrored Kalai’s grin.
“Is that so?” Kalai rose and strode over to him, all loose-limbed and swaying, tufts of black hair sticking to his forehead. He placed a hand against the wall beside Tauran’s head and pressed against him.
Tauran held Kalai’s steady gaze, basking in the pleasure settling inside him at the feeling of Kalai’s thigh sliding between his own. Tauran’s hands found Kalai’s hips, tips of his fingers grazing warm, damp skin below the waistband of his fitted trousers. Kalai leaned, rising to his toes before pressing a chaste kiss to Tauran’s neck, just below his jaw. When Kalai leaned back, he blushed, as if he wasn’t sure how to continue.
A loud, insistent huff behind Kalai made Tauran lean sideways. He arched an eyebrow. Arrow stood inches from Kalai’s back, staring at Tauran with what could only be described as indignant impatience.
Tauran groaned loudly. “Really?”
Kalai laughed, forehead pressed against Tauran’s collarbone before he stepped back, the sudden rush of cooler air against Tauran’s chest making the hairs on his arms rise. “Let’s ride.”
“Fuck,” Tauran murmured and watched Kalai stride away. Tauran’s chuckle echoed in the chamber and he shifted again, trying to stifle the pressure building low in his gut. Who’d have known the quiet, sweet bookworm could be such a tease?
“All right,” Tauran said, and unwrapped the saddle. Kalai led Arrow over to him.
“It will look gorgeous on you,” Kalai said, stroking Arrow’s nose while Tauran sorted through the straps, anticipation distracting Tauran from his primal desires.
“He might not be too keen on it straight away.” Tauran bundled the straps out of the way and lifted the saddle. “It’s an all new sensation, after all. We won’t strap it on too tight.” He nudged Arrow’s leg with the toe of his boot. “Down, boy.”
Arrow crouched, letting Tauran fit the saddle over his shoulders.
Tauran adjusted its position, feeling for tight spots by the wings and neck, made Arrow stand and tightened the girth, then stepped back. He smiled. “Would you look at that? A perfect fit.”
The saddle rested in the gap between Arrow’s neck and wings, the back of it extending a small distance along his spine between the wings. The white of the saddle blended seamlessly with the white of his scales. From a distance, it would look as if he wore nothing at all, except for the silver details catching the light and the shine of the metal stirrups.
“It’s so beautiful,” Kalai whispered, stepping around to Arrow’s head when Arrow curled around to inspect what was on his back. “What do you think, bud?”
Arrow sniffed the leather and nudged the dangling stirrups with his nose.
“Doesn’t look like he minds it so much,” Tauran said.
“He’s a mature dragon.” Kalai robbed Arrow between the eyes to make him coo. “He takes it all in stride.”
“Let’s see.” Tauran approached, attaching the front chest strap, along with the one around the base of his neck for gripping. He didn’t tighten them too much, letting Arrow get used to the feeling of the leather wrapped around him. “Let him move around a bit, but keep him focused on you,” he instructed.
With Tauran’s help, Kalai directed Arrow across the chamber, from one end to the other. At first, Arrow was a distracted, stopping mid-trot to shake himself and spin in a circle to look at the saddle. But Kalai managed to call him back with a whistle, rewarding him with a chin scratch when he came to a halt in front of him.
Surprisingly quickly, Arrow moved like he had worn a saddle for years, wings no longer stiff and raised. The Sky Guard fledglings could learn a thing or two.
“Who’s a good boy,” Kalai cooed, giving Arrow a chest rub, making the whole dragon wiggle.
Tauran laughed, joining them in the center of the chamber. “Let’s get you up there, then,” he said.
Kalai’s eyes widened. “Already?”
“Don’t see why not.” Tauran patted Arrow’s shoulder. “Dragons aren’t horses. They’re a hell of a lot smarter. So long as we keep him on the ground like before, it should be fine. He trusts you, and he’s adjusting quickly. I say we see how it goes.”
Kalai returned to Tauran’s side. He paused for a moment, holding his gaze, and Tauran gave him a small nod, wrapping his hand around Arrow’s neck strap to remind him to keep still.
“Mount up just like on a horse,” Tauran instructed when Kalai fitted the toe of his boot into the stirrup.