Evan groaned. “You do remember that we are leaving before everyone else so we can go up the mountain?”
“Fuel!” Nix replied with a grin.
“You are not going to be able to sleep with that much sugar in your system,” Evan pointed out.
“It’s not too much,” Nix argued.
Evan turned to Gem. “I thought you were the responsible one?”
Gem waved at his plate. “I am being responsible.” He pointed at Aries then Nix. “They’re your problem now.”
Since Vin was rubbing his belly, Aries stuck his tongue out at Gem and didn’t bother to respond to the taunt.
“That’s fair,” Evan said.
Nix swallowed audibly. “It’s tradition.”
Yes, it was! And Aries has someone to share this with. He picked up his fork to scoop up a big bite of apple pie. Aries offered Vin his treat. “Join our tradition, Daddy?” He was confident calling Vin by his true title.
Vin smiled and leaned forward, taking the food from the fork.
Nix swiped his finger into the whip cream pile and offered it to Evan. “You in?”
“With you, baby? I’m always in.” Evan sucked Nix’s finger into his mouth.
The spark of pleasure that lit Nix’s eyes couldn’t be missed.
Gem cleared his throat. “Welcome to the family, guys.”
Chapter Nine
Nix
“Who’s a good dragon?” Nix rubbed Eirwen’s massive snout.
Eirwen blew out freezing cold air from his nose while leaning harder against Nix’s chest.
“Did you enjoy your flying? You were so gorgeous up there.” Nix had stayed outside the cave this time so he could catch glimpses of his beautiful dragon. Eirwen had flown for a couple of hours but every fifteen minutes or so he would circle above Nix.
With the magic fire at his back, Nix huddled inside his jacket, but the warm gigantic dragon on his lap kept him comfortable. Nix didn’t want to leave. He loved hockey and there was nothing better than the anticipation before the game or the energy of a game but this was intimate. Special.
Eirwen nuzzled him again. His dragon was such a cuddler.
Neither of their condos was big enough to have this moment often. From head to tail, Eirwen was bigger than Nix had pictured. His massive head had to weigh as much as Nix. It seemed so unfair when Nix shifted several times a week.
It had become habit for Nix to shift into his fruit bat and get hand-fed pumpkin from Evan before napping in Evan’s lap as his Daddy read a book. Eirwen was locked inside, having to wait for the space to be let out. He was already trying to come up with something special he could do for his dragon.
“I’m glad that Evan reminded me that I can talk right to you,” Nix confessed. It was vital that Eirwen knew how Nix felt. He would continue to nurture this budding bond with his dragon.
Eirwen bumped him again.
Nix scratched under his dragon’s chin as that usually resulted in some happy rumbles. “My sweet dragon.”
* * * * *
Gem
The snowfall was heavy outside his bedroom window but the view was mesmerizing. Gem’s apartment was in the heart of downtown close to the arena he played in and nicer than most hotels he had stayed in. The Boston Beans hadn’t spared any expense to bring Gem onto the team.
