As I stood in front of the mirror to brush out my hair, my eyes were drawn to the shower stall. My thoughts flashed back to the last hour, and I couldn’t help the grin which spread across my face. My reflection, I’ll admit, looked quite flush and satisfied.

Why the hell had I waited so long to do this with Braxton? I had been so worried that taking this step would destroy the bonds of our friendship, but instead it felt as if we had never been closer. I could feel him in my chest, as if my heart were now twice the size it used to be, more emotions than I’d ever experienced.

No wonder mates got all blissed out and forgot the world for a few years. All I could think about and feel was Braxton, and I seriously hated that we were leaving the bedroom.

Braxton and I were mates … well, sort of.

Why the frig couldn’t anything be simple in my life?

My brush stilled halfway along a stroke. I wondered how Jacob, Tyson, and Maximus would take this. The last thing I wanted was any sort of rift between all of us. I was amazed that things with Maximus and his new mate had been calm so far, but maybe I’d been counting my blessings too soon.

No doubt I’d find out shortly. The Compasses would make their opinions abundantly clear.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

Braxton’s voice did the usual and shot heat right through my body.

“Just wondering how your brothers will take this revelation,” I said, before the next random thought burst from my mouth. “Do you want to keep things casual until we figure out what’s going on with this mate bond?”

His hooded eyes trailed over me. “No, Jess, there is no casual when it comes to us.” He leaned in the doorway, his relaxed pose all sexy. “I have two thoughts about what we do until this mate bond is sorted. The first centers on exclusivity. I want it. I demand it. I will kill any males, besides my brothers, who touch you inappropriately. If your second mates comes along … well, we will deal with it.”

There was the dominant dragon shifter that had been missing in the last few hours of gentle play. I had forgotten for a short period that Braxton was a badass – okay, I hadn’t forgotten, he wore badassery like a second skin, but he had been tempering it slightly. No more apparently.

“And the second?” There was a hitch in my voice, anticipating what he might say.

He straightened, his presence filling the small bathroom.