Chapter 7
Jewel
“You know what’s unacceptable?” I set down the food and tilt my head, narrowing my eyes at the handsome dragon sitting next to me. “That I still don’t know your name.”
“Oh, I’m an idiot! My name’s Myrran,” he says quickly, rolling the Rs. “And you’re Jewel. I saw yours on your nametag, and I completely forgot you didn’t know mine.”
“Myrran,” I repeat. “You know what else is unacceptable?”
“What?” His horns catch the glow of a streetlamp as he looks at me with a concerned expression, completely oblivious to the fact that he’s unfairly attractive, especially now that I’ve tasted his cooking.
“That you’re not kissing me right now.”
His golden eyes widen, and his tail, which has been casually draped along the back of the bench, twitches. “Oh!”
I can’t tell if he’s flattered or horrified, and honestly, I’m ready to laugh it off if he turns me down. But instead, he scratches the back of his neck, looking sheepish. “I, uh... I’ve never done that before.”
“You’ve never kissed anyone?” That can’t be right. He’s gorgeous, talented, funny, sweet. “You should have dragon chulas crawling all over you!”
He tips his head back and laughs, but he doesn’t deny it. “Dragons don’t usually kiss. It’s not part of our mating rituals. We do…other stuff.”
I blink, not sure what he means. “Like what?”
The scales on his cheeks tint burgundy. Aw, he’s blushing. I didn’t know that dragons could blush. “We, uh, lick. Especially in our feral forms. But I know humans don’t necessarily go for that. Your kind maybe finds it…unsanitary?”
I laugh, the sound bubbling out of me before I can stop it. “Unsanitary? Myrrancito, I’ve been licked by a lot worse than a feral dragon.”
His eyes narrow, and his voice drops into a soft growl. “Like who?”
“Relax.” I nudge his arm with my elbow. “I’m just saying, I wouldn’t mind a little face-licking from the right guy.”
That makes him smile. “You’re serious?”
“Completely. I’d be honored to be your first human-style kiss, and you can be my first dragon-style one. If you want.”
“I do if you do.” He hesitates for a moment, his golden eyes searching mine. Then he leans in, slowly, as though afraid he might mess it up. His lips brush mine, soft and tentative, and I can’t help but smile against his mouth.
It’s sweet and awkward and as adorable as he is.
“How was that? Am I doing this right?” he murmurs, retreating just a fraction to look at me. I cup his face with my hands and pull him back toward me. His scales are warm beneath my touch and smoother than I expected.
He leans in again, this time with a little more confidence. His lips move against mine, and when I part mine slightly, he makes the tiniest low grunt that sends a shiver down my spine.
Then his tongue darts out—a quick, experimental swipe across my bottom lip, so fast I barely feel it.
I laugh into the kiss, and he immediately pulls back, looking mortified. “Sorry! I didn’t mean—I was trying not to—”
“It’s fine,” I say, giggling. “I liked it.”
“You did? Are you sure it wasn’t too weird for you?” His brow furrows, as though he’s trying to figure out if I’m making fun of him.
“I was just laughing because it was over before I could enjoy it. You don’t have to hold back. Human like licking. I like it, anyway.”
The low rumble in his chest sounds a lot like approval. He wraps one hand around the back of my neck and brings our faces together again.
He moves slowly, like he’s savoring the seconds before our mouths finally meet. His tongue flicks out to trace the corner of my mouth, more slowly this time. It’s tender and curious, somehow more intimate than any kiss I’ve had before.
I try to respond the way I would with a human guy even though the shape of his mouth is different—a slight tilt of my chin, parting my lips just enough to deepen it.
He takes the hint and brushes his tongue against mine, deliberate and unhurried, learning the shape of it.
A shiver races down my spine that has nothing to do with the snow that has started to fall around us.
Then Myrran flicks his tongue beneath mine, making me suck in a breath in surprise.
I feel him smile as he does it again, his movements exploratory, playful, and just a little wild.
The warmth of his breath, tinged with a faint smokiness that I’m starting to associate with him, sends my senses reeling.
“You taste like my cooking,” he rumbles, sounding smug.
Before I can reply, he tugs me back into the kiss.
Or the lick or whatever he wants to call it.
All I can say is that I’m enjoying it. It’s making me forget my sore feet and tired hands and cold nose.
It’s like we’re in a little bubble of warmth, steam curling around us from the heat of our kiss.
We’re interrupted by the creak and groan of the bus pulling up to the stop. Its doors hiss open.
I pull back with an apologetic smile, shouldering my tote bag. “This is me. Thank you for everything. Dinner. Company. Whatever this was.” I motion awkwardly to my mouth.
He grins sheepishly. “Told you I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“It was great. Really. Five stars, would kiss again.” I want to stay here. I want another dragon kiss. But if I miss this bus, I’ll miss my connection to the next bus. It’ll take twice as long to get home, and it’s already late.
As I climb onto the bus, I glance back to see him still watching me, a small smile playing across his face. My own lips tingle, and I can’t help but return the expression as the doors close and the bus pulls out from the curb.
I take my seat among strangers in a city full of strangers, but for the first time in a long time, I don’t feel so alone.