For as long as I can

Vanessa 1969

Jack collapsed on my bed with a groan, his skin covered in a thin film of sweat. His silver hair stuck to him as he tried to catch his breath.

"Gods, I missed this," He chuckles. It makes me grin, laying down beside him. "We do not do that enough."

"Well, you should come over more often," I suggest with a smirk. "You know you're always welcome."

"Don't tempt me, Val. I might take you up on that offer," He cups my face, kissing my swollen lips again, dragging his teeth over the sensitive flesh. 

Unlike everyone else, Jack knew who and what I was, and in the same way, I knew what he was, and when we were alone, we were free to be the real us.

"I wouldn't mind," I touch his bottom lip with my finger. 

Jack's real name was Romulus, and yes, he's named after Romulus from the Roman empire. He jokes that he was around for that, but I know he's not much older than I am. Only a hundred and seventy, but his family did come from the empire. So, as he liked to say, he was an authentic Italian man.

Romulus and I met during my term of service thirty years ago. At the time, he was working for the royals, and we clicked. He wasn't my mate, and I knew that even back then, but that didn't stop us from ending up together more than once.

"I like that idea," Romulus toys with my green hair, giving me an adoring smile. 

"What?" I raise an eyebrow at him. 

"Nothing, I just wish you were my mate," He tucks the strands of hair behind my ear before moving his fingers further down my body, tickling my neck and collar.

"Oh really?" I ask him with a hint of amusement. "And why's that?"

Unlike many dragons in our age group, we both believed in the bond. The idea of settling for someone convenient never sat well with either of us. After the first time we were together, we'd both agreed that this was all fun until one of us found our mate. 

I heard my mate's call, and I knew they were out there somewhere. The sound was so rich and melodic that I had to play music to drown it out so I could get things done.

"I'm in love with you," Romulus admits, and I know my eyes are like a fried egg. "I know we agreed that we wouldn't ever compromise the mate bond, but that doesn't change how I feel about you, Val. I love you."

I open my mouth to answer him, but he puts two fingers to my lips, stopping me.

"I don't need to hear that you don't," He sighs. "I don't think my ego could handle it, but I couldn't keep pretending that this doesn't mean anything to me. I've never considered betraying my mate, Val, but if I ever did, it'd be for you."

For people like us, there wasn't a greater compliment to give. Your mate was the person who was your perfect match, the soul that was everything to you, so for someone to love you almost that far. It meant so much.

There were so many reasons not to get involved with Romulus. He always chose lifestyles that were fast and dangerous. Nothing that ever offered him stability or security. 

He jumped from royal to royal. He worked for them for a decade or two before moving on. That might seem strange until you knew what his real job was. I was one of the few who knew the truth. Romulus was a spy for the king. 

It was funny, and I knew Romulus did it on purpose. He enjoyed playing the bad guy, gangsters, mobs, and crime lords. He worked for them all and saw it as a break from our world. Ironically that made him an excellent undercover cop. 

I'd once asked him why he didn't join the FBI. He'd just smiled and said he already worked as a cop. So why would he want to spend his free time as one?

If I started something more serious with Romulus, it would make my life harder. He never stayed in one place for more than a few years, had no home, friends, or family time, and worked for someone I still saw as a monster.

It wasn't uncommon to have a long-lasting relationship with someone when your life was as long as ours, but we were so different.

That was one of the attractions for me, but what would happen if one of us found our mate? Of course, I'd never stop him from going with them, and I know he'd do the same, but that would leave the other with a broken heart.

Relationships, for me, were always fleeting. It was the nature of the beast. I enjoyed spending time with someone who shared an emotional connection, and it didn't matter if they were male or female, but it went further than that for me. I've gone out with men who liked wearing dresses, women who considered themselves a man trapped in the wrong body. I've been in romantic relationships with more than one person simultaneously, but I've never been in love with anyone. I've loved them, but that's not the same thing.

Until Romulus.

Gently taking his fingers from my lips, I move his hand to my chest so that he can feel the steady beating of my heart. 

"You are my first love," I admit softly. "And I know one of us will leave one day, but for as long as I can have you. I want to share my life with you."

The grin on Romulus's face is so bright it's almost more brilliant than the lightbulb. I squeal when he tackles me, his lips showering me with kisses.

"Now I can give you this without feeling like an idiot," He gets up from the bed and grabs something from his jacket pocket, returning it to me. He holds out a long jewelry box.

Opening it, Romulus shows me a beautiful necklace with a silver dragon curled up in a circle. The symbol of eternity. A blue gem in the center is like an egg, the dragon rune for the heart carved on the surface.

Pulling it open, he gently clasps it behind my neck, and it cascades on my chest.

"You didn't have to do this," I can't help smiling at the necklace.

"I wanted you to have part of me with you," He set the box aside and pulled me back into his arms. "So, wherever we are or whoever we end up with, you can remember that someone always loves you."

"You know, for a mobster, you're very romantic," I tease before kissing him. It starts slow and gentle but quickly heats up—arousal taking control of both of us.

"Don't let the guys know," He growls, eyes flashing lustfully at me. "They'll never let me live it down."