Chapter 13
Chapter
Thirteen
D aniel wasn’t sure what he thought.
He could be crazy, he could be hallucinating, he could be drugged, or this whole thing could be real. It really didn’t matter he didn’t suppose, at this point.
If he was being drugged deliberately or if he had been slipped LSD accidentally or something, he could go with the trip.
He was insane. Well, then it didn’t matter. He could just be out of his mind because it was cool.
If it was real, then it was real and that was that.
So, it just seemed like a complete waste of time to be panicked about this whole thing.
Because honestly he was sitting on the back of a dragon rubbing its scales and that dragon was Hayden and Hayden was talking to him.
So it was a win-win situation.
Hayden’s scales on his back were huge. Easily the size of plates—they were beautiful with streaky colors and they were iridescent. They seemed to change constantly in the low light as he rubbed and moved.
Every so often he’d ask Hayden to hand him up a bit of sand, and he’d use that to rub and polish another set of scales.
He wasn’t sure how the sand didn’t get under the scales and make everything worse, but obviously Hayden knew what he was talking about, what he needed.
Are you all right up there?
“I’m good. I’m going to be tired tomorrow, though. This is a lot of work. You’re really a good-sized beast.”
I am. That’s why I have this sand pit, so I can just wallow and rub everything all at once. This is far superior though.
“I would hope so.”
Hayden was laughing at him now.
He swatted one scale, but he doubted Hayden even noticed. “So has Jacks ever seen you as a dragon?”
No.
“Oh, I guess that’s smart. I mean, he’s tiny compared to you.”
He is. And also, he’s unpredictable, so I can’t take a chance on him bursting into flames or teleporting someplace because God knows he might be able to do it.
“Dragons can teleport?” That was dangerous. Please say that Jacks couldn’t do that.
Not all of us, I can’t for example, but Jacks—who knows what his talents are going to be?
Daniel pondered that while he scratched, getting another handful of sand from a helpful paw and scrubbing and scrubbing.
He was working his way down and when he hit the place where Hayden’s neck met his amazing shoulder and wing joints, Hayden let out this moan that kind of shook the cavern around them.
Daniel forgot about Jacks and his possible transporting then because that sound was so wonderful, and he wanted to make it happen again.
He was really enjoying this even if he was working up a serious sweat.
In fact, he was going to have to stop and get some water soon.
The sand pit was like twenty degrees hotter than the house, at least.
Are you all right, love? Do we need to head back up to the house? I know it’s hot in here.
“I just need to get some water.”
Come on and step down. This is a lot. Your nervous system is probably overloaded a little bit.
“Aw, do I have to?”
When they went back to the house, he would have to deal with this and think about it, and he’d start to panic. He would have to see Hayden in his human form and look him in the eye, and then he would really think he was nuts.
You’re sweating profusely. Eventually you’re going to drop because you need hydration. We need to go back to the house, love.
Okay. He took a deep breath, nodding. He could do this. It wasn’t like it was the end of the world or anything, right? He had been with Hayden for days, weeks, and they really liked each other. So he just needed to get his courage on.
He didn’t know what he was supposed to do, or if he was supposed to do anything.
That was when a drop of sweat fell off his nose and onto one of Hayden’s scales, splashing and making the scales reflect prisms all around the room.
The world was spinning, and he was falling, he knew he was.
“Come on, love. Let’s go. You’re soaked.”
Daniel realized that somehow Hayden wasn’t huge anymore, was just a man, and he was carrying Daniel up the stairs, bare as the day he was born.
“What if the ladies see you?”
Hayden snorted softly. “Well, they’ve seen me naked before. I guarantee you, they’re not interested.”
Well, they hadn’t seen him naked.
Thank God he wasn’t.
Or was he?
Daniel closed his eyes and just let Hayden carry him.
Suddenly he was being soaked in lukewarm water, the shock making him shiver, and Hayden pressed a bottle of water against his lips.
“Drink, babe. It’s time to drink now. You’ve had a lot.”
“Sorry, I don’t know what…I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, you’re fine. Drink.”
Daniel drank deeply, feeling the water gurgle all the way down and hit his stomach like he was completely parched, and his body was soaking it up.
“That’s it.” Hayden petted his hair and then washed him off a little bit, the water cooling everything down. He felt like he might have started boiling at one point, but now he was starting to get to feel better.
He shivered, and Hayden pulled him out of the tub? Shower, maybe? And wrapped him in a big fluffy towel. “I’ve got you, love. I do. How about we take a little nap while Jacks is still not looking for us?”
“I would love that.” He wrapped his arms around Hayden’s neck and clung. “Jacks isn’t going to be scared though, is he? He’s not going to be worried about us.”
“He’s not going to be scared even a little. He loves those ladies. You know that.”
Daniel felt like he was floating when Hayden carried him to the bed and then laid him out on it before crawling in with him and pulling the covers up over them.
Somehow it wasn’t like being on the hot sand.
It was warm, but not roasting. And Hayden pressed the water bottle back to his lips, giving him more, hydrating him.
His eyelids drooped because he was so tired after everything that had happened, but he didn’t really want to just let go. He wanted to hold on to Hayden and make sure he stayed there, that he was real.
“I’m real.” Hayden stroked his face, soothing him on a cellular level. “You did so well. You’re so brave, mate. I was worried you would just panic.”
He snorted softly, blowing a bare raspberry. “Yeah, it might still happen.”
He’d bet on it, in fact. He had the fear that was absolutely what was going to happen.
No question.
But not right now.
Right now he was too tired. Right now his head kind of hurt. And he… yeah, he was pretty sure he didn’t have the capacity to deal with a whole lot more.
“The simple fact is, no matter what this is, no matter what is actually happening, we’re going to figure it out, because what’s important is Jacks and you.”
“And you.” Hayden kissed him again, and he could feel his lover’s smile. “You’re the most important man I’ve ever met.”
Daniel wasn’t sure that that was absolutely one hundred percent true, but right now he’d take it. “Thank you, love.” Oh, maybe it was too soon to say that. “Dragon.”
“Both work, or mate. I’ll take whatever you call me.”
Daniel grinned, unable to even keep his eyes open. “Just long as I call you?”
“Exactly. Sleep. I’ll still be here when you wake up.”
Daniel hoped so. They had things to talk about