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

Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

“ T he warlock entered the chamber. The king rose and met his gaze,” Jack read, voice steady and clear. “‘What are you doing here?’”

Avery slid his tail across the floor. It slithered onto the rug, curling around Jack. Absently, Jack stroked Avery’s tail and kept reading, “The warlock approached the king.”

Avery murmured his pleasure. Happiness glowed in his chest. Lazily, he watched Jack read. Firelight flickered across his skin. The man looked so good leaning against Avery’s scaly body, wearing nothing but his undershorts.

Mine.

The thought stirred inside Avery, rising from his gut. Pleasure rippled through him.

Mine.

Mate.

It was not the first time in the past few days Avery had thought those words. His tail tightened around Jack. Not enough to hurt or cause discomfort. Avery just wanted to hold Jack a little more securely.

Avery huffed. He shouldn’t let his dragon get away from his control. Because no matter how much he wanted it, Jack wasn’t his. He was not his mate.

Not yet, at least.

But Avery wanted it. He wanted Jack. He wanted to claim him. He wanted to mate him. He wanted to keep him here in his den to fuck, read, and be with Avery forever and ever and ever.

Avery knew he could stop Jack from leaving. He could keep Jack trapped here with him. After all, Avery was a dragon.

But Avery wouldn’t let his possessiveness control him. He wanted Jack happy. Not a prisoner. And even if Jack consented to be his, he’d want to leave Avery’s home at times. He’d want to keep working in the bakery. He’d want to see his family, who probably missed him.

But Jack didn’t seem sad. He seemed to like being with Avery. And every day he seemed more at ease. He’d even made them cookies. He’d complimented the kitchen and said Cook had been very nice.

Jack is happy with me in my den.

Avery hummed. What else could Avery do to make Jack happy? Jack liked Avery’s books.

More books probably wouldn’t be the answer though. Jack hadn’t even touched most of them. He’d not had time. Still, Avery planned to start buying books that Jack might like when the snow stopped.

Avery had never really sought out books on baking or cooking before. He’d do that now. He had a sense Jack would appreciate old, loved, and used cookbooks. Jack said there was power in passing on recipes. Perhaps Avery could fly to far-off cities and find recipes Jack had never seen or heard of.

Would Jack like that?

When the snow cleared, Avery would start looking.

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 the curtain 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.