Page 22 of The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas
Avery shook his head. “No. It’s just me.”
The words held a world of sadness and loneliness that struck Jack in the chest. Jack didn’t know how to make it right. How could he? So he stepped closer to Avery.
“Do you want some hot chocolate?” It was almost an automatic response. Jack’s parents had always given them hot chocolate when they’d been sad. Hot chocolate, cookies, and of course, tea.
If Jack had been at home, he’d have brewed some tea for Avery. Perhaps lemon balm to help heal emotional wounds. But hot chocolate would do nicely too. “I know a stall. It’s on me.” He could afford hot chocolate.
That brought a smile to Avery’s face. “I’d like that very much.”
CHAPTER 12
They kept wandering through the markets, weaving through the crowds. Snowflakes drifted down, landing in their hot chocolates. They drained the last drops. Then they got a refill at another stall and continued to meander and talk.
Avery stopped worrying about the questions written on his list. He didn’t need notes. Talking to Jack came so easily. He kept glancing at Jack, amazed to be with this incredible man at the Christmas markets.
A stall selling wooden figures snagged Avery’s attention. “Can we look?”
“Of course.” Jack placed a hand on Avery’s lower back and led him to the stall. “Wherever you want to go, we go.”
Mine.
The dragon instinct awoke within Avery, and the word popped into his head. Avery gave a small shake of his head. This was a first date. Too soon to be deciding Jack belonged to him. He let out a breath, trying to calm his possessive dragon urges.
Small wooden woodland creatures, hand-carved and -painted, lined the table. Little wooden trees and cabins surrounded them. Behind them, on shelves, stood figures of allkinds of beings, including pixies, werewolves, incubi, succubi, gnomes, trolls, orcs, and so much more. He spotted several dragons. One dragon lay curled up and sleeping. He felt an immediate affinity with the sleepy dragon.
Other figures seemed to depict professions, a chimney sweep, a shepherd, a woodsman, a soldier, and a baker. The baker carried a little tray.
Avery wanted the baker. Then he’d have his own personal baker in his home.
Mine.
“The small ones are half a divet. Medium are one divet,” the gnome said. “Big ones are two. And the trees are a quarter.”
“Should I get some?” Avery couldn’t tell which ones he wanted. He wanted all of them! He could imagine them sitting on the mantel over his fireplace or perhaps nestled amongst his books on the shelves.
A Christmas wonderland in his library. His fingers flexed with the urge to take them all home.
“If you want,” Jack said.
Avery did want. He began to pick them out and hand them to the gnome. He grabbed a couple of deer, a bear, a rabbit, a few trees, and a cute little cabin. He then reached for the sleeping dragon and the baker. He stared at the figures in his hand. “They’re lovely.”
“Thank you,” the gnome said, voice bright and cheery.
Mine. These are all mine.
With some reluctance, he handed them over to the gnome, who wrapped each individually and gave them back to Avery in a little box. He also gave Avery a paper bag, which was useful, since he would have trouble carrying these, the wreath, and the cookies.
Avery’s gaze raked over the other figures. He wanted more! He wanted all of them. But he stopped himself. He knew the urgerising inside him. He’d buy the whole shop of figures if he let himself.
But he had to be a controlled dragon. A civilised dragon. Like his father told him to be.
Still, Avery hadn’t lost control. He’d only gotten a few figures. A completely respectable number.
Avery felt giddy as he clutched the bag against his chest. Oh, what treasures he’d found today! What lovely and beautiful treasures! His heart raced as his fingers pressed against the bag, causing it to crinkle.
He turned and smiled at Jack, who watched him with an unreadable expression.
Avery froze. “Is everything all right?” Unease percolated in Avery’s gut.
