Page 33 of Connor and the Dragons

“You did very well, little brat,” I said.

“Me? Brat?” He blushed bright red and giggled, clearly pleased.

After my heartbeat had settled, I stood and got water for both of them, then bread and cheese, cleaning them both with a soft cloth as they fed each other and giggled together. I noticed that Kessrin’s hands were still warm, that his body stayed warm as he pressed close to Oallian.

Kessrin blushed. “I guess I didn’t do my job.”

“How so?” I asked.

“I was supposed to keep him from distracting you, and instead you became distracted.”

I leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. “You were perfect. Beautiful. No notes. Oallian, do you feel relaxed enough to stop pestering us now?” I asked, tossing the rag I’d used to clean them aside.

Oallian paused for a moment, like he was doing a status check. “I think so. At least for a little while.”

“See, Kess? You did do your job.”

Smiling, I propped myself against the headboard, spread the transcriptions across my lap, and got back to work, and my two dragons watched me do it. Oallian was drowsy and sated. Kessrin sat a little awkwardly in the middle of the bed, like he didn’t know what to do with himself.

“Kessrin. New assignment. Keep touching Oallian. Keep him aroused, keep him anchored, keep him human.”

Kessrin looked at Oallian, magnificent and sprawling, and he nodded. “It’s only practical.” Cautiously, Kessrin scooted over and settled against Oallian’s shoulder. Oallian’s arm slid easily around Kessrin’s waist.

“He fits quite nicely here,” Oallian said.

Kessrin ignored him, but also didn’t move.

“I told you naked cuddling would be good,” Oallian said.

“Shut up. Connor is decoding.” Kessrin’s hand started at Oallian’s chest and moved slow, unhurried, thorough, and Oallian hummed, deep and contented, and went boneless. Beside them, I slipped my bracelet off and worked through the cipher by lamplight, with one dragon blissed out under my elbow and the other one focused on his assignment.

The pages came apart fast now that I had a key, line after line surrendering in plain Liminian, and I read until the lamp burned low with a warm weight against each arm.

CHAPTER 13: OALLIAN

“Sit,” Connor said, pointing at the wooden chair. “Wait your turn.”

I sat, then pouted. “I was waiting my turn!”

“You were not, you were bouncing.”

It wasn’t like I could control the bouncing, it just happened. The more I thought about what was coming, the more I bounced. I gripped the seat of the chair, and held myself as still as I could. My left knee bounced.

Connor stepped in front of Kessrin, brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes, and smiled. “You ready?”

“Not as ready as our fire dragon,” Kessrin said, a small puff of frost forming under his feet.

“Remember, this is just a test run, to see if the locals buy me as a wizard and you as my lovers.”

“I mean, obviously we’re believable as your lovers, you just fucked us!” I blurted, earning a hard look. Which made me wonder what kind of things Connor liked to do when punishment was in order. Perhaps something delicious.

Connor took his time dressing Kessrin, sliding the silver breeches up those long pale legs and lacing them snug, probably trying to torture me with how beautiful Kessrin was. The breeches left so little to the imagination that my imagination simply stopped bothering and used the source material. Currently, my imagination was imagining nuzzling the gorgeous bulge in the front of his trousers and planting kisses on him until he was hard.

Kessrin was even prettier hard.

Connor looped a fine web of silver chains across Kessrin’s chest, more designed to display than cover. “The wealthy wizards display their consorts in finery,” he murmured as he placed a silver cuff on Kessrin’s upper arm, and several bracelets on his wrists. “Showing off your beauty will be a sign of my wealth and power.”

Kessrin gasped softly, eyes widening at the compliment, which was silly because we all knew he was the most gorgeous creature in any room.