Page 53 of The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas
Jack chuckled at the excitement in Avery’s voice. “Go on and shift.” Jack rose and got the book.
Avery stood, hands clasped together. “You sure you don’t mind?”
Jack gave a little shake of his head. “Not at all.”
Avery smiled. The air shimmered again. Jack watched as Avery’s body transition took place. And after a few seconds,instead of a gorgeous human, a stunning dragon stood before him. It suddenly hit Jack why there were no books in the space before the fireplace. It had to fit a dragon.
Avery’s dragon head swivelled towards Jack, watching him. Jack stepped forward. He reached out a hand. He paused.
Was it rude to stroke a dragon?
Avery pressed his head against Jack’s outstretched hand. Smiling, Jack slid his hand along Avery’s cheeks and neck, marvelling as the scales shifted and gleamed in the light. The deep-burgundy scales on top of Avery’s body grew brighter as they went down, shifting gradually to orange and then a pale yellow on his belly.
“You really are a lovely dragon,” Jack mused.
The dragon rumbled.
“You can’t talk in this form, can you?”
Avery blinked at him. But he didn’t speak.
“Huh. Well, you better lie down if I’m going to read to you,” Jack said.
Tucking his arms and legs under him and then folding in his wings, Avery lowered himself to the ground.
“Where should I sit?” Jack asked.
Avery’s tail shot towards him so fast Jack jumped. Avery’s tail paused.
Jack let out a breath. “Sorry. You move so fast.” He smiled. “But it’s fine.”
This time, Avery’s tail moved slower, wrapping around Jack, guiding him down onto the floor so his back was lying against Avery’s large body. Heat radiated from him.
Jack snuggled against the scales. “You’re surprisingly comfortable.”
The tail released him but didn’t pull away. It rested on Jack’s lap, curled loosely around him as if holding him in place.
“You’re a little possessive, Avery.”
The tail began to slither away.
Jack placed his hand on the tail and pulled it back over his lap. “I like it.”
Avery’s tail relaxed, and Jack chuckled. Avery angled his head so that one eye watched Jack.
Jack opened the book. “I’m not sure where we’re up to. I was a little distracted earlier because a pretty dragon started reading to me.”
Avery huffed.
Jack stroked a hand along Avery’s tail. Vibrations ran through the large body.
“This really is incredible. You really are amazing.”
Skimming the book, Jack tried to find where Avery left off. “Oh, that’s right. We were up to the sexy parts.” Jack smiled at Avery. “The knight stepped towards the dragon, lifting his chin. The knight stared at the dragon. ‘Do you want me?’”
CHAPTER 27
“Sorry to disturb,” Jack said as he came into the kitchen.
