“Sorry!” Nix offered quickly. He felt terrible. Like he almost wanted to cry.
“Sit down, Nix.”
Oh! Evan was mad-mad.
Nix shuffled to the side until he reached the mattress and sat. Folding his hands into his lap, he tried to hide how nervous he was. Would this be the point where Evan realized that Nix was too much work? That when he got an idea in his head it was near impossible to let it go? Had Nix not only ruined their first Christmas morning, which had started out with amazing sex, but now screwed up their entire relationship?
His eyes burned.
He loved Evan.
It would kill Nix to lose the only man that he had ever loved with all his heart. Evan was more than just a boyfriend. He understood Nix like no one else ever had.
Evan crouched in front of him and held Nix’s hands.
Nix sniffed and looked up.
“I’m not angry,” Evan said softly.
“Yes, you are.” Shit! Why couldn’t he keep his damn mouth closed.
“I don’t like that you stomped your foot and started to throw a tantrum,” Evan said. “But I’m not mad about that.”
Nix narrowed his eyes. This seemed like a trick.
“However, I think we need to discuss this further.”
Of course Evan wanted to talk it out. That was torture in itself.
“Can you tell me why this is so important to you?”
“Because I promised Eirwen,” Nix admitted.
“I know you want to see—”
Nix shook his head. “That’s not it! I mean, of course I want to see my dragon. He is the most beautiful dragon in the world. But I promised him. We don’t know how long it will be before we come back. I can shift any damn time I want. I love to shift. It isn’t fair to him.”
Evan pressed his lips together. “I wish I could allow him more time in his form. I’ve spent so much time trying to get people to forget what I am to protect him that maybe I’m not being fair to him.”
“You want to keep him safe,” Nix said. “I get that. But we’re here! Why can’t we go up the mountain before we leave?”
“I don’t want to take time away from your family,” Evan said.
“This is my idea,” Nix reminded him. “And they would understand.”
“I can let him take over in the backyard like I did when he made your ice rink,” Evan offered.
“But he can’t fly from here,” Nix reminded him. “He needs a good fly before we go back to Florida.”
“Baby.” Evan squeezed his hands. “It’s sweet you want to give him that.”
“And what if he thinks I lied to him?” Nix demanded. He didn’t want his dragon mad at him.
“Why would he think that?” Evan looked confused.
“Because I promised him. And I can’t tell him that you wouldn’t let us.” Nix huffed. “If he’s mad at anyone, it should be you.”
Evan’s lips twitched like he wanted to laugh.
