Ottis set aside the mobile and unstrapped Marcie from her chest carrier. He pulled up his shirt and let her latch onto a nipple.
The dragon watched them keenly. Then he leaned closer and sniffed, only to grow still when Marcie turned to look at him.
“Is she going to cry?” the dragon asked warily.
“She’s never seen a dragon before.” Ottis glanced at Marcie, who was looking between him and the dragon. “If you want to shift back...”
“Oh, milk.” The dragon slid a warm, curved claw up Ottis’ chest, gathering the milk that was leaking from his other nipple. He brought it to his snout and sniffed, then dragged his thick pink tongue over his dripping claw. His eyes fluttered shut. “Mmm.”
Ottis flushed bright red. “What’re you doing?!”
“Tasting you.” The dragon caught another trickle of milk, sliding the smooth curve of his claw up Ottis’ chest. He stopped an inch before it touched Ottis’ nipple. “You’re sweet.” He licked his claw again.
Ottis wasnotimagining that big tongue on himself. Not right now, anyway. “L-Let me feed Marcie first. When she’s asleep, you can do whatever you want with me.”
The dragon’s attention snapped back onto him. “Oh?”
“I promise.”
The dragon retreated to the other side of the nursery, but he continued to watch them avidly. Ottis’ skin prickled; his heart thumped.
“I’m going to need some soft food,” he said. “Things like meat, eggs, bananas, yogurt, sweet potatoes. Marcie’s teething and I’m transitioning her to solid food.”
“I’ll have Hijinks put them on the grocery list.”
“Thank you.” Actually, this kidnapping gig might be the best thing that could happen to Ottis and Marcie. Food, shelter, and safety, all neatly provided in one place.
And the price of that?
The dragon watched him hungrily, long tongue flicking out to lick his lips.
Ottis gulped and quickly looked back down at Marcie. When she was done, he changed her diapers, cleaned her two little teeth, and rocked her to sleep. Then he carefully set her in the crib, a surge of warmth filling him; she was all comfy and safe.
The moment he stepped back, the dragon’s gaze intensified.
“Let’s move this into the hallway,” the dragon murmured.
This time, even though Ottis tried his best to hide his limp, there was still a bit of it showing. The dragon didn’t remark on it. Instead, he waited for Ottis to join him, pulling the nursery door almost shut. He tucked his snout into Ottis’ hair, warm breath puffing onto Ottis’ scalp.
“You smell good,” the dragon said. “I will make this kidnapping worth your while.”
Ottis blushed. “Sounds like you’re coming onto me.”
The dragon laughed, low and rich. “In more ways than one. Let me show you where you’re sleeping tonight.”
4
PROBED AND INSPECTED
At the endof the hallway was a set of double doors, reddish wood inlaid with gold. Twin dragons were frozen in a perpetual dance on those doors, their golden scales gleaming.
Instead of heading for those doors, the dragon paused in front of a plainer guestroom. “This is yours.”
Ottis was baffled. “You’re not making me sleep in your bed?”
“No. I will perform all... inspections here.”
“You’re not looking for a full-time sex slave? After all those details in that contract?”
