“Who is he?”
A smiling image came to mind, causing Elouan to smile as well. “Jules Carter. Slender, blond hair, blue eyes, about yea high.” He placed a hand at shoulder height, recalling Jules standing close to him at the coffee shop. “He’s studying engineering.”
Coffee spewed from Curtis’s mouth. He stared at Elouan slack-jawed for a few moments. “What the hell? Jules Carter? For real?”
Not the hoped-for reaction, though Curtis’s opinion wouldn’t matter much in this case when Elouan and his dragon both agreed. “Is something wrong with me seeing Jules?” Regardless of his best attempt not to, Elouan put a bit of a growl into his voice. What the hell, indeed?
“Nothing!” Curtis clumsily mopped at the coffee mess with a kitchen towel. “It’s just that he’s a loner and human. I don’t think he even has any friends. He’s kind of weird, too, like he’s lived under a rock or something his whole life.” He rolled his eyes. “One of those homeschooled kids whose mommy and daddy feel is too good to go to public school with everyone else. He seems smart; we had a statistics class together, but he doesn’t know how to talk to people, know what I mean? Gives you a blank stare when you mention concerts, celebrities, or movies. Can you believe he’s never heard of heavy metal? Who doesn’t know Metallica?”
Elouan hadn’t until three years ago.
“What’s wrong with humans?” Again, Elouan failed to stifle a growl. The rest wasn’t news, as he knew of Jules’s situation, and no mommy or daddy kept him away from the world, but an aunt and uncle. Was Jules an orphan? Abandoned by his parents?
Elouan should’ve asked.
“Dad always told me that only an omega would truly attract an alpha dragon. I’m just surprised, is all.” Curtis rushed to add, “He’s just not who I thought you’d like. If you want me to, Ican introduce you to suitable dragons, but you've always said no before. Three omegas live here in town, besides me. Two of ‘em are even cute. The other’s a bit of a geek. You know, might be cute if he got out more and learned to talk about something other than Minecraft.”
Elouan’s dragon balked at the very idea of anyone else. “I’m not talking about taking a mate. I just had lunch with the guy and plan to take him out.” Curtis dated humans and even introduced a few to Elouan. The relationships never lasted beyond a few weeks. “I’ve been here for three years, and there’s no telling if I’ll ever get to go home. You don’t expect me to be celibate, do you?” Celibacy wasn’t a dragon trait, though married pairs were monogamous and often lived a life of celibacy after a mate’s passing—if the death didn’t kill them both.
Curtis deflated, shoulders hunched. “I’m just trying to look out for you, okay? When you suddenly appeared in the woods not knowing anyone or how to function in the human world, I kinda developed a soft spot for you, you big lug. I want you to be happy, but you haven’t sat through all the lectures I did about ‘dragons good, humans bad except for your mother.’”
Curtis did an amazing impression of his father. It also said a lot that he called Elouan “big lug,” when in the past he only used Sir or Your Highness. Still, big lug? Who said that? Yet it had taken three years to get the guy to relax, so Elouan wouldn’t comment.
“Humans take advantage.” Curtis nodded, as though his proclamation settled the matter.
But…was Curtis trying to guilt Elouan?
Sakaris sent more of Elouan’s hoard than was needed for a lifetime here. Only, flashing wealth around in the human world, with no proof of how he gained a ridiculous amount of money, would cause questions Elouan didn’t want to answer. So, helived a modest lifestyle, far beneath his means. Not that wealth and luxury mattered, except for his hoard.
In all honesty, his book hoard mattered equally to his gold and jewels. Possibly more.
Curtis placed a hand on Elouan’s forearm, something he’d seldom done before. “Just be careful, okay?”
What brought about this bit of caring? Elouan covered Curtis’s hand with his own. “Always. You too.” Maybe he shouldn’t say any more, because Jules’s situation wasn’t his story to tell, but compulsion had him wanting to make life easier for the guy. “Just so you know, he lives with his overprotective aunt and uncle. I don’t know what happened to his parents. You could be a little nicer.”
Color bloomed to life on Curtis’s face. “Point taken.” He glanced at the plastic rooster wall clock hanging above the counter. “I gotta go.” Escaping the conversation? “My parents are taking me to the mountains this weekend to stay at a friend’s cabin, and I need to do some shopping first.” He flapped his arms like two wings, pursing his lips. “Dad’s still hoping I’ll shift one day.”
Poor guy. Expected to be more than he was, a situation Elouan knew all too well. “How long will you be gone?”
“Leaving Sunday night, returning the following Sunday.” Curtis waggled his brows. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” His smile fell. Was he remembering who Elouan might do those things with?
No roommate and the apartment all to himself, but based on Jules’s history, he likely wouldn’t want to come over for a quick roll in the sheets. Or a long roll. Still, a guy could dream.
And count the moments until Saturday.
Chapter Six
Saturday morning finally arrived. Elouan studied his wardrobe. T-shirt one? Coffee stains. Second choice? Too many rips. Speaking of rips, should he wear torn jeans or new ones?
He didn’t accept your offer for your clothes,he reminded himself. Okay, faded but intact jeans and a T-shirt advertising the local Harley shop. The wall clock stopped him three different times from dashing out the door too early. Finally, a reasonable time arrived, and he donned his leather jacket, hopped on his Harley, and made his way to Coffee, Tea, and More.
His heartbeat kicked up a notch when he spotted Jules outside the coffee shop, and a smile bloomed to life before he realized it. Sunrise had nothing on Jules.
Fallen leaves littered the sidewalk, and most patrons wore jackets. The scent of pumpkin spice escaped every time the coffee shop door opened. Small centerpieces graced each table, made up of some form of pumpkin decorated with fake leavesand flowers, bringing back memories of first encountering Halloween three years ago.
Curtis was a huge fan. Elouan had eaten three pumpkins before Curtis finally explained they were only for decoration. Good. The shells were hard, and they didn’t taste very good.
His dragon thought hams might work better than pumpkins. They’d be tastier, too.
