Page 47 of The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas
“And tell Cook the pheasant was exquisite,” Avery said as Daniel bowed and left. Avery turned to Jack. “Then after dessert, we can read more?” His eyes gleamed with hopefulness.
“I’d like that.”
CHAPTER 24
“The dragon circled the knight, gaze hungry.” Avery read as he leaned against the armchair.
Jack sat beside him on the floor. They’d returned to the library after dinner, taking turns reading. It had been everything he’d hoped for when Jack first came to his home. It had been what he’d hoped for over the years, someone to just be with him, read in his den, surrounded by his books.
“But the knight didn’t feel any fear.” Avery struggled to follow the words he read, too aware of Jack only a breath away. He could feel Jack’s gaze on him. “The knight stepped towards the dragon, lifting his chin.”
Avery inhaled, and the warm, musky scent of Jack filled his nostrils. Jack adjusted his position. The robe Jack wore fell open, revealing his thick hairy thighs. Avery licked his lips.
Surprisingly, Avery wanted to stop reading. It was an unfamiliar feeling for Avery, who never wanted to put down a book. But he wanted to stop now so he could turn and kiss Jack.
Avery read, “The knight stared at the dragon. ‘Do you want me?’” Avery paused, and he looked up from the book. His gaze locked with Jack’s.
Avery wanted Jack. He wanted to kiss him so much. And the way Jack looked at him, and the way his gaze darted to Avery’s lips, made Avery think Jack wanted to be kissed.
Mine.
His dragon rose inside him, and Avery couldn’t resist the witch a second longer. He leaned forward and kissed Jack.
Immediately, he remembered Jack had ended their relationship. Jack didn’t want Avery. So Avery shouldn’t be kissing him.
Avery yanked back. “I’m sorry. I got carried away.” He touched his finger to his lips, moistened from the kiss. “I know you said we can’t be together.”
“I…” Jack cleared his throat. “I did say that.”
“But why?” Avery stared into Jack’s deep-brown eyes, searching for answers.
Jack hesitated. “We’re so different. I have doubts that we could be happy together.” But his tone sounded uncertain.
“What do you mean, we’re so different?”
Jack’s thick brows furrowed. “You don’t see it? Isn’t it obvious to you?”
Avery tried to think. There were lots of differences between them. He would struggle to list them all. But certain obvious differences jumped to mind.
Jack had a family. Avery didn’t.
Jack was loved. Avery wasn’t.
They were both tall. But Jack was big and broad-shouldered and had such nice thick thighs and shoulders, whilst Avery was lean all over.
And of course, there was the obvious thing. Was that the problem?
“I’m a dragon. You’re a witch,” Avery said the words slowly. “Is that the difference?”
Historically, dragons did tend to mate with other dragons. That was true. But it wasn’t a rule. And these days, there were so few dragons around that it was the norm for a dragon to mate with a non-dragon. As far as Avery knew, it wasn’t a problem for a dragon and witch to mate.
Unless witches didn’t want to mate dragons.
Jack made a noise. “That’s not it.”
“Then what?” Avery’s brows furrowed.
“You’re rich. I’m poor,” Jack blurted. “We’re from completely different classes. I mean, look at your place.” Jack gestured around them. “You have lavish furniture. You wear fancy clothes. You have servants who answer doors, take coats, and then just stand around waiting for you to tell them what to do. You have a cook. You don’t worry about money. Nothing is too expensive for you.”
