Page 56 of The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas
At the thought of the snow clearing, Avery’s good mood sagged. He didn’t want the snow to stop. Then Jack would leave. He wanted it to snow forever, and then Jack would be stuck with him.
“The End.” Jack closed the book and smiled at Avery.
Avery lifted his head from the carpet. He’d been so lost in thought that he hadn’t realised they were so close to the finish.
“It’s a good book.” Jack rose, and Avery reluctantly loosened his tail so Jack could walk across the library. Jack’s undershorts hugged the shape of his firm round arse. “I suppose I should find another one.” Jack put the book down. “I’ll choose the next book, shall I?”
Avery watched Jack, so at ease in his home as he perused the shelves and piles.
If we mate, I can talk to him telepathically.
Then he could talk to Jack while a dragon. And if they mated, Jack would live much longer. They’d have years and years together. His eyelids drooped as the warmth of the room soaked into his scales. Fantasies, hopes, and dreams flickered before his eyes.
“Aren’t these the packages from the Christmas markets?” Jack asked.
Avery’s eyes snapped open. He lifted his head. He stretched his neck forward and around a bookshelf. Jack stood at the table where Avery had placed the decorations he’d bought at the markets.
He’d hoped to put them up the first day Jack had come over. But then Jack had left. Avery had not been in the mood after that.
“You haven’t put up any of them.” Jack frowned at Avery. “Not even the wreath.”
Avery blinked. Then he closed his eyes, released a breath, and let the shift take him. Within a few moments, he stood in his human form. He padded towards Jack.
“It’s not long until Christmas,” Jack said, clearly perplexed. “You seemed so excited to buy them. Why haven’t you put any of them up?”
Avery hesitated. He wrung his hands. “I didn’t want to do it alone. I think decorating should be something done with others.” But then again, he’d never decorated before. Maybe that was just what children’s books said.
Jack stared at him for a second. He smiled softly at Avery. “Well, I’m here now, aren’t I? Should we decorate?”
Avery constantly thought that he was as happy as it was possible to be. But then Jack would say or do something and Avery would reach a new height of ecstasy.
“Yes.” A smile stretched Avery’s cheeks. “Let’s decorate.”
Stepping forward, Avery opened the box. He gazed down at the wreath he’d made. “Where should we put it?”
“Traditionally, wreaths are placed on front doors. But they can also be placed on windows or other doors in the house.”
Avery nodded. “It probably wouldn’t work on the front door with the snowstorm still going.”
“Probably not.” Jack turned towards the window. “How about on the window?”
Avery lifted the wreath out of the box. Ribbon and string had also been packed into the box with the wreath.
“These are to hang it.” Jack picked them up.
Together, they walked to the window. Snow battered against the glass and piled up on the sill outside. Avery placed a hand against the cold pane. It shook with the force of the wind. “How do I attach it?”
“Here.” Jack tied the red-and-silver ribbon around the top of the wreath. Then he stepped onto a settee, reached for thecurtain rod, and hung it from the middle. The wreath settled against the windowpane.
“There. How is that?” Jack came down off the settee and took a step back.
“Lovely.” The green wreath decorated with dried berries and flowers contrasted with the white outside. The delicate glass birds reflected in the firelight. “It’s so lovely.”
Jack slid his arm around Avery’s waist. Avery leaned his head against Jack’s shoulder.
“It’s nice being all tucked away inside whilst the snow rages outside. Makes me almost wish the snow wouldn’t end.” Jack squeezed Avery’s waist. “We should put out the rest of the decorations too.”
Avery nodded. But neither moved. They just stood admiring the wreath and watching the snowfall.
