Several months had passed since Nathan and Griffin had completed their bond. During that time, Griffin found it hard to hold himself back. He wanted Nathan under him all the time, but he also didn't want to hurt the poor wolf. So, with great restraint, he limited himself to just twice a night.
As they navigated their new bond, they tested its limits. So far they found that there was a 500 yard limit for being able to talk through the bond, but there was no limit to feeling each other's emotions. However, the further apart they were the more of a delay there was.
One afternoon, Griffin finally made a suggestion.
"Nate?"
"Hmm," Nathan hummed, not looking up from the fish he was prepping.
"How would you feel about going into town?"
Nathan's hand paused midair at the question. Slowly, he set down the knife before wiping his hands and fully turning to face the dragon. Thinking hard, he pulled his bottom lip between his teeth, biting hard.
Griffin grabbed his chin, tugging his lip free before placing a gentle kiss on the abused lip. "Don't hurt yourself."
Nathan took a deep breath. "Do we really need to go into town?"
The look in Griffin's eyes softened at his mate's worry. "Unfortunately, yes. We need to get more herbs and spices we can't find around here and you need new clothes. You've gained weight over the past few months and I don't think my old clothes will fit you much longer."
Nathan focused on one part of that explanation. "Are you saying I'm getting fat?!"
Griffin flailed his arms as he tried to reassure Nathan, "Of course not! I'm just saying you've gone from looking starved to filling out properly."
Nathan looked affronted at his defense.
"That's not what I meant!" Griffin lowered his head as he sighed. "All I'm saying is you're back to a healthy weight."
Nathan let him stew in his own misery for a brief moment before smiling gently and wrapping his arms around the moody dragon. "I knew what you meant," he teased. "I just wanted to see your reaction."
Griffin gaped at him before squeezing Nathan tightly to him. "You little brat."
Griffin tickled Nathan mercilessly for playing with him like that. After catching their breath from laughing so much, Griffin asked again, "So? Going to town?"
Nathan leaned his head against Griffin's chest, listening to his heartbeat. "If we have to. What if people find out I'm a werewolf though?"
Griffin looked up at the ceiling as he considered his answer. "We could always just say that you're a dragon."
"But I thought you said dragons always have green eyes."
Griffin laughed lightly. "I said most of the time. There are always those outliers."
"And if someone wants to see me shift?"
"You leave those people to me," Griffin replied as he pressed a kiss to the crown of Nathan's head.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, Nathan soaking up Griffin's warmth and reassurance before pulling away. "Alright, I've got to finish making lunch or we'll never eat."
Griffin left him to it, while he went outside to chop wood until the food was ready.