The Loneliest Dragon at Christmas (An MM Monster Christmas #2)

Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

J ack heard the bell tinkle.

“Guess who’s here?” Lacy whispered in a voice that carried far too much.

Leo and Jasper turned and stared as Avery entered the bakery.

“Who is it?” Leo asked.

“Is it Avery?” Jasper whispered.

They weren’t even trying to be subtle.

“Aren’t you meant to be at the Christmas markets now?” Jack groused.

“Trent, Ordelia, and Grady are already there.” Leo waved dismissively at him.

Lacy had told everyone about how she thought Avery and Jack would be perfect for each other. Then she’d repeatedly told them they’d been flirting and sharing long lingering glances. Not that Jack had been flirting or exchanging long lingering glances with Avery.

Jack had just been serving a customer.

“I don’t know who you’re talking about.” Jack feigned innocence. He put the dough in a bowl and covered it with a cloth. He set it aside, allowing it to rise. But he wiped his hands on his apron and took a step towards the front of the bakery.

“Come on, Jack!” Lacy whined. “Avery is sweet and kind and very attractive. He’s perfect for you! And I see how you look at him. And I see how he looks at you.”

Jack’s throat tightened. He bit back the question, How does Avery look at me? Because although he’d been certain Avery wouldn’t want him, he couldn’t help but think he’d also noticed some appreciation in those stunning golden eyes.

But that couldn’t be right. Could it?

Avery had been back quite a few times now, every single day since the first day. Jack always ended up being the one to serve him. His interfering siblings made sure of that.

Jack could admit he was attracted to Avery, liked him even. And if he was completely honest with himself, he had thought it might be nice to go on a date at the Christmas markets like Lacy suggested.

But what if Lacy was wrong? What if he asked Avery on a date and made a fool of himself? Surely there were flashy servants Avery would prefer to date.

“Well, if you are too busy, maybe I should serve him?” Cas flew past him, batting his pretty eyelashes innocently. “I’d be more than happy to get to know Avery. Maybe I’ll see if he is free to go to the Christmas markets with me.”

The twins laughed.

“I can serve,” Jack groused and went to do just that. He paused. “And aren’t you fucking that orc Graal? Isn’t that why you keep taking such long breaks and coming back looking dishevelled and thoroughly fucked?”

“Yeah. I am.” Cas smiled, completely unashamed.

The others laughed. Jack shook his head.

“And don’t forget,” Lacy whispered. “Ask him to the Christmas markets!”

Jack ignored her.

“Hi, Avery.” Jack smiled, reached for a plate, and placed a cookie on top. He slid it across the counter. “One vanilla crescent cookie for you.”

“Thank you, Jack.” A smile stretched across his cheeks. “You remembered!”

“Of course.” It was a relatively easy order.

Avery lifted the cookie to his mouth. Jack held his breath as he watched Avery eat. Avery groaned softly as he chewed, eyelashes fluttering shut.

What did Avery sound like when he was kissed? Would he make those same soft noises of pleasure? And what sort of noises did Avery make when he was in bed with a lover?

Jack’s belly tightened.

Avery licked his plump lips as he finished. “Delicious as always.” Avery tilted his head, brows furrowing. “But it tasted slightly different today.”

“Oh.” Jack frowned. “Sorry. Was it bad?”

“No! It felt…intense.” The word came out a little breathless.

“I see.” Jack flushed. He scratched at his neck. “I…ah…made that batch.”

Cas normally made those cookies. But Jack had offered to do it instead today. This had not gone unnoticed by his siblings. And whilst Jack had mixed the ingredients and formed the dough into crescents, he’d thought of Avery the entire time, of Avery eating the cookie, enjoying it, moaning as his eyelids fluttered shut.

“You made these for me?” Avery’s eyes widened. “I mean,” he exhaled, “not for me, obviously, but for?—”

“I did,” Jack cut him off.

Avery’s mouth hung open, ever so slightly.

Fuck, I want to kiss those lips.

“Thank you.” Avery licked his lips again. “I liked it very much.”

They stared at each other.

“What’s going on?” Cas’s whisper broke the silence.

A round of “shhs” followed.

Jack let out a breath. “Sorry about them.” He pointed behind him. “My siblings are idiots.”

“But you love them dearly.” Avery said the words matter-of-factly.

“Yeah.” Jack smiled. “I do.”

“How many siblings do you have?” Avery asked softly.

Jack laughed. “There are ten of us in total. Two sisters. Eight brothers.”

Avery’s golden eyes widened. “That many?”

Jack nodded. “I know it is a lot.”

“Jack,” Lacy called out.

Jack ran his tongue over the front of his teeth, trying to push down the flare of annoyance. “Yes, Lacy?”

“Don’t forget to ask Avery about the thing.” His youngest sister could be very annoying and determined.

“The thing?” Jack repeated.

“You know, the Christmas market thing.”

“What Christmas market thing?” Avery tilted his head.

“Well, you know the Christmas markets?” Jack asked.

Avery nodded. “Of course.”

“Well… We have a stall. We split our time working here and there during December.” Jack could feel his body heat as he spoke.

Then again, Jack always felt warm around Avery. “I was wondering if you might like to stop by the stall. I’ll be there tonight. I’m there most nights. You could say hello.” Jack took a deep breath. “And then maybe we could walk around, check out all the stalls, food, and festive stuff. We could do it together.”

“Really? At the Christmas markets? Like a…” Avery sucked in a breath. “Like a…a date?”

Jack nodded.

“I’d like that.” Avery smiled widely. “Very much. I can come tonight!”

Jack smiled back.

Everything would have been perfect if he couldn’t hear his siblings’ excited whispers behind him.