Page 6 of Dragon, Actually
“What kind of dishes?” I ask, eager to know every detail about her. “Any in particular you’ve been craving?”
She eats a few more bites, thinking, then says, “My parents own a walnut orchard, so our family faves all have walnuts: chiles en nogada, my abuela’s legendary mole. My craving right now is polvorones, though. They’re a type of cookie that melts in your mouth. My mom sent me a box, but I ate them all already, and the ones from the bakeries here are all made with almonds, not walnuts.” She sighs wistfully.
“Sounds incredible.” I mentally file it all away—if she likes a dish, I’ll learn how to make it exactly the way she likes. “Do you miss it? The orchard, I mean.”
“Yeah,” she admits. “I love the city and everything it has to offer, but...it’s hard being so far away from everyone back home. Especially during the holidays. I have five siblings and a ton of cousins, so I’m used to a lot of company and noise. I don’t regret moving here, but…it’s lonely sometimes.”
I nod, understanding all too well. “I don’t know how much you know about dragons, but we live in communal hives. I can’t imagine living by myself. It seems like a lot of pressure to manage everything on your own.”
She nods, her eyes welling with moisture. Gods, I didn’t mean to upset her. Thankfully, she seems to shake it off, trading containers with me to try the ribs.
“Do dragons celebrate Christmas?” she asks after a few bites, licking the spicy sauce from her lips. She ducks her head slightly. “Sorry if that’s an ignorant question.”
“It’s not at all. Um, it’s a human holiday, but we’ve kind of adopted it….because if there are two things dragons love, it’s feasting and giving gifts! Every hive does a big thing,” I frown, remembering what she said about being lonely this time of year. “What about you? Are you doing something with friends?”
Her smile fades and she shakes her head. “Work.”
I sit up straighter. “That’s unacceptable.”
Her lips twitch with amusement. “You’re going to march into Hoardstrom’s and tell them that?”
“Maybe.” I grin, but inside, I’m serious. She deserves so much more than a lonely Christmas shift. I’m going to make sure this holiday is unforgettable—for both of us.
Chapter 7
Jewel
“You know what’s unacceptable?” I set down the food and tilt my head, narrowing my eyes at the handsome dragon sitting next to me. “That I still don’t know your name.”
“Oh, I’m an idiot! My name’s Myrran,” he says quickly, rolling the Rs. “And you’re Jewel. I saw yours on your nametag, and I completely forgot you didn’t know mine.”
“Myrran,” I repeat. “You know whatelseis unacceptable?”
“What?” His horns catch the glow of a streetlamp as he looks at me with a concerned expression, completely oblivious to the fact that he’s unfairly attractive, especially now that I’ve tasted his cooking.
“That you’re not kissing me right now.”
His golden eyes widen, and his tail, which has been casually draped along the back of the bench, twitches. “Oh!”
I can’t tell if he’s flattered or horrified, and honestly, I’m ready to laugh it off if he turns me down. But instead, he scratches the back of his neck, looking sheepish. “I, uh... I’ve never done that before.”
“You’ve never kissed anyone?” That can’t be right. He’s gorgeous, talented, funny, sweet. “You should have dragonchulascrawling all over you!”
He tips his head back and laughs, but he doesn’t deny it. “Dragons don’t usually kiss. It’s not part of our mating rituals. We do…other stuff.”
I blink, not sure what he means. “Like what?”
The scales on his cheeks tint burgundy. Aw, he’s blushing. I didn’t know that dragons could blush. “We, uh, lick. Especially in our feral forms. But I know humans don’t necessarily go for that. Your kind maybe finds it…unsanitary?”
I laugh, the sound bubbling out of me before I can stop it. “Unsanitary? Myrrancito, I’ve been licked by a lot worse than a feral dragon.”
His eyes narrow, and his voice drops into a soft growl. “Like who?”
“Relax.” I nudge his arm with my elbow. “I’m just saying, I wouldn’t mind a little face-licking from the right guy.”
That makes him smile. “You’re serious?”
“Completely. I’d be honored to be your first human-style kiss, and you can be my first dragon-style one. If you want.”
