Page 20 of Always Say Yes to a Dragon

Mama waved a hand. “You know what I mean. He’s responsible for it, so it’s his.”

“If he’s so responsible, why hasn’t he fixed the damn brakes yet?” It would take an hour, two max.

Mama’s back went stick-straight. “He works a very demanding job, and he don’t always have the energy to muck around afterward. I ain’t about to make him work on his day off, either.” Mama’s country accent, softened by decades of living in Kilinis, deepened. A sure sign she was irritated.

What had I just been telling myself aboutnotarguing? If I pushed it, she’d kick me out. Especially now that Dwayne was paying most of the bills.You shouldn’t disrespect a man in his own home, Elle.

“Right. Sure. What about rent?” I asked. Mama and Dwayne had barely been able to keep this place even before she lost her hours.

“Don’t worry about me, Elle. Dwayne always manages to figure something out.”

Fire ignited beneath my skin. While it was true that Dwayne had an uncanny knack for figuring out solutions to the problems he created, he sure created alotof problems. And alotof his solutions benefitedhim. With Mama working fewer hours and him working more, she’d spend more time home-cooking his favorite meals—to “save money” on eating out—and catering to his every whim.

I’d seen her do it over and over again, every time Dwayne’s assholery lost her a job or cut her hours. And if I pointed it out, Mama would clam up and we’d go a week without talking, so I shoved my anger back into its tiny little box.

“It’s fine, Mama. I want to treat you.” I reached for my purse, then froze. Forking over a handful of crisp hundred-dollar bills would raise questions I didn’t want to answer.

Out came my phone. “Here. Don’t you dare try to send it back.” I sent her enough money for a month’s worth of rent. Toheraccount, not the one she shared with Dwayne.

“What am I supposed to tell Dwayne?”

I shrugged. “Tell him whatever you want.” She always did.

6

Az’zael

Irushed through the rest of my workday, lingering only over a question to Councilor Jasmine about changes to funding for the housing proposals if we switched them from ten percent affordable to twenty percent affordable.

Elle’s gently delivered criticism about ignoring residents with less income in favor of those with more had hit home.

By midafternoon, I could barely think straight, counting down the minutes until Elle arrived and replaying every interaction I’d had with her over and over. After she’d questioned my ability to manage Kilinis, I didn’t want to give her any more room to doubt my ability to take proper care of her.

I didn’t fault her for doubting me. We had just started courting, and it was sensible that she’d want to evaluate me with a critical eye, but it still stung. The more I saw her, the more I wanted her, and the idea that I might not measure up to her standards ate at me.

Perhaps I’d found the rare human who not only wasn’t afraid of me, but could discuss finances without using so many confusing euphemisms. I’d thought offering to cover her expenses would make her more comfortable—much of what I could find about humans emphasized their wanting a partner who could “cover their half of thebills” without ever disclosing how much that was, so I hadn’t known what to offer to show her I could more than meet that obligation.

When Elle had simply demanded the necessary number in a tone that most dragons spent years pounding into their young, delight had shot through me.

Then to negotiate for extra money,withoutmaking any concessions? Shemusthaveseen me as a worthwhile and serious suitor. One worthy of her time and attention, and capable of providing for her needs. Even humans knew that time was precious—“time equals money” was a mantra. Elle wouldn’t squander hers with someone worthless.

Now I just had to not fuck this up.

A knock sounded on my apartment door, and I opened it to let Niemrin into my lair. We quickly exchanged gifts—an ancient, leather-bound book for Niemrin and an embroidered pocket square for me. “Since you’ll need to look extra good to catch your human,” Niemrin said.

I won the exchange, as usual, but held on to the favor until later. It got annoying to think up forfeits on the spot, especially when I could just use them next time Niemrin and I had to negotiate.

“My jewelry room is a mess,” I said to Niemrin once we finished our exchange.

I needed to impress Elle tonight, and a disorganized jewelry room wouldn’t do it, no matter how well-stocked it was.

“You’ve reorganized your treasure roomsthreetimes this month. Why do I need to help?” he grumbled, already examining the heap of necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets I’d pulled out while looking for something that might appeal to Elle.

I couldn’t stop imagining all her most delicate, vulnerable places protected by my gifts, and my dick twitched against my thigh.

“Elle is coming over tonight.” I should have given myself more time, but the temptation to have her in my lairtonightwon out.

“You got the human to agree to come to yourhome?” Niemrin’s wings flapped back in shock. Thank goodness I’d had this apartment built to dragon scale. High ceilings, large, open rooms. I couldn’t change into my four-legged form inside, but I was still quite comfortable in my two-legged one.

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