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

Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26

J ack blinked awake. A deep red colour filled his vision. His hand pressed against something smooth, scaly, hot, and moving.

Jack lifted his gaze, looking up. And up. His eyes widened. Yanking his hand back, he shoved himself away from the sleeping dragon.

Jack’s heart thumping, his mouth fell open.

“Fuck me,” Jack muttered.

The scales shone in the dying embers of the fire. But the heat coming off the dragon more than kept him warm.

Something tickled his bare arse. Jack startled and turned. A tail slithered against his skin. His breath caught.

It’s Avery. It’s just Avery. Don’t panic.

But as the tail coiled around him, Jack found himself unable to keep the fear at bay. He tried to evade the tail, but it curled around him, pressing him with surprising force against the dragon’s large body.

The tail stilled, seemingly content now that Jack was placed beside the dragon.

Jack closed his eyes, trying to calm his breathing and racing heart.

It’s Avery. It’s just Avery. Avery isn’t scary. Avery isn’t dangerous. You just fucked him.

But it was easier to believe Avery wasn’t a threat when he was a tall human with cute freckles. In his dragon form, when he was at least twice as tall as Jack and who knew how many times as long, it felt a little harder to believe.

A rumble vibrated through Avery’s body. A puff of smoke rose from his snout. The smoke smelled different from that of the fire, sweeter and with a slight metallic tinge.

The dragon’s head slid across the floor towards Jack, and he opened his eyes. Avery’s dragon eyes stared at Jack.

For several moments, Avery didn’t move. Then the dragon’s head lifted. And tilted, in a movement so reminiscent of what Avery did in his human form that Jack almost laughed.

Avery stared down at Jack. Suddenly, the air shimmered. The dragon’s form grew less solid. His body warped and altered. The neck shortened. Wings retracted. The tail that wrapped around Jack withdrew, and the body behind him disappeared. Dragon limbs turned into human.

A naked Avery sat beside Jack on the carpet. “Sorry. I… I didn’t mean to. I just sometimes…when I sleep, I shift. I hope I didn’t scare you.”

Jack gave a shaky laugh. He scratched at his neck. “Honestly, you did a little.”

Avery’s eyes widened in distress.

“But just because I wasn’t expecting it,” Jack rushed out. “It was a little startling to wake up next to a dragon.” Jack placed his hands on Avery’s waist. “Next time, I’ll be ready.”

“Are you sure?” Avery swallowed. “I can…try not to shift.”

Jack pulled him close. “It’s fine.” He kissed Avery on his freckled nose. “You’re a lovely dragon.”

Avery smiled shyly. “Really?”

“Looking for compliments?” Jack chuckled.

Avery blushed.

“You are a magnificent dragon.” He stroked Avery’s locks.

Avery hummed and leaned into the touch.

“In fact, you can even shift back if you like.” Jack didn’t think it would scare him again, not if he expected it. “Honestly, I’m curious to get a better look at you as a dragon.” He hadn’t really gotten a proper look at Avery in his dragon form. He’d been too shocked.

He’d only ever seen dragons from a distance before when they flew far off in the sky. And it had probably just seen a strange bird.

Avery tilted his head. “You really don’t mind?”

“No.” Jack wrapped his arms around Avery. “I’m happy for you to be in whichever form you feel most comfortable in.”

“And will you sleep here, curled up next to me?” Avery’s voice sounded breathy.

Jack considered. The adrenaline of waking up next to a dragon had woken him up completely. “I’m not that tired. Maybe I’ll read for a bit.”

“You’ll read.” Avery sat up straight. “Will you read to me whilst I’m in my dragon form?”

Jack smiled. “If you like.”

Avery nodded rapidly. “Yes. I’d like. I can’t read as a dragon.” He bit his lip. A little whine escaped his lips. “I’ve always wanted someone to read to me when I’m a dragon.” He got up onto his knees. “Will you really read to me?”

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?’”