Chapter 6

six

SAMMY

When he walks in the room, I try to look as bright as I can, the way I used to when I had to go in to work at five in the morning to train an early bird client. It’s my ‘customer service’ face, intended to put some distance between me and my client.

“Hi,” I say, trying to flap one hand, though it’s restrained to the table. “Nice to see you.”

He pauses in the doorway, and tilts his head to one side. “You, too,” he says, like he’s confused by my greeting. He has hunger in his eyes as he takes stock of me, but then he pauses on my face. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine!” I say, perhaps too cheerily. Those ridged brows of his lower as he closes the door behind him. He approaches me, surveying me from head to toe, and slowly his slit begins to part. His black tongue flicks out, licking over his teeth before vanishing back into his mouth.

This time, when he palms one of my breasts, I try not to look too closely at him, because looking at his face does things to me. When he slides his claws down between my legs, testing me out, I try to keep a straight face.

We’re here for a reason, and the deeper this connection gets between us, the harder it will be to part.

When I don’t give much of a reaction, the dragon rises back to his hind legs, and studies me with his head tilted.

“Well?” I ask, nodding toward the adjustment lever.

His frown deepens, but he does what I ask, tilting the table so he can better climb on top of me. This time, there’s no begging. There’s no dirty talk. That frown remains on his face as he takes his upper cock this time and fits the tip inside me.

Oh, does he feel good. But I try to keep it out, to wall myself off from how incredible he feels, how intimate this is, and keep my head turned.

Suddenly, he slows down. When I look at him, his expression is one of deep worry.

Then he pulls out.

“What is it?” I ask, growing concerned myself. “Am I not doing a good job?

He backs away from the table. “You’re not here.” He shakes his head, and looks away from me. “I can’t do this if you’re not here.”

Fuck. Is he going to... fire me?

“I am,” I say, with as much sincerity as I can muster. “I am here. Right here, and you’re going to fill me up with a hatchling, right?”

The dragon studies me with those piercing yellow eyes and the long, black pupils. His nostrils flare, then, with a sigh, he nods. He clambers back onto the table, and this time, he doesn’t look at me either as he fucks me.

He still feels so good, but the sizzle has evaporated between us. We go for a long time while he tries to make me orgasm, and eventually, I do, as unnecessary as it is. Then he releases inside me with a low grunt. Very little come trickles out of his upper cock where it lies over my belly.

Once he’s regained his breath, the dragon pulls out and gets back off the table, using the lever to return it to its original position. His shoulders are slumped as his cocks retreat back into their place inside him. He didn’t gush inside me, like he usually does. Only a few drops leak out when the table tips me forward again.

“Thank you,” I tell him, smiling. He doesn’t return it.

His lips are turned down and his brow is furrowed as he finally says, “Well, next time, then?”

I nod in agreement, and he waves at me weakly, then vanishes out the door.

ZAKARION

My human was someone else today, and I didn’t like it. Not at all.

It was as if she had carved a wooden cut-out of herself and left it in her place. There was no magic, no affection, just professional politeness. Even when I teased her body the way she likes, she wouldn’t look at me.

As I leave DreamTogether and spread my wings, I wonder what I’ve done wrong. I launch into the air and fly home, my heart sinking deep into my gut.

Has she changed her mind? Does she no longer want to do this?

Does she dislike me for something I don’t remember doing ?

That night, I curl up in the bedroom of my house, where I moved out the bed and built a nest from some blankets and pillows instead. There, I go over everything that happened today, and everything that happened last time, to try to deduce where I misstepped. But I don’t know where I crossed an unmarked line. What made her put on that fake, shallow version of herself, when I know there’s so much more underneath?

I feel dirty all over for how I took her today. It was a transaction, nothing more, and she made that clear enough.

That’s when I realize that I’m an idiot. A fucking idiot.

I was the one who thought this meant more to her than just a job, but that’s clearly not the case. She’s being paid to be there, to be my vessel. That’s all this is, and I was a fool to think it was anything else. She was just trying to tell me that.

It takes eons for me to fall asleep, and it’s bright and early the next morning when I get a call.

“What is it?” I ask, yawning as I hold the tiny phone to my ear.

“Zakarion?” says a man on the other end, with a gruff, deep voice. “Is this the dragon, Zakarion?”

“Yes, that’s me.” I yawn again and climb out of my nest, stretching my neck and tail as far as I can. “What is it?”

“I’m with the Department of Antiquities. Are you the prior owner of the Goblet of Hilumeni?”

What? No one should know about that. Well, no one except Rodney, the pawn shop owner, and I. It was the goblet I sold to him a few months ago for enough cash to keep paying DreamTogether.

“Why?” I ask, guarded.

“Because this is an item of international interest,” the man says in a tone that’s almost... threatening. “And you sold it under the table to an imp for fourteen thousand dollars. ”

I mean, I know I was taking a bad price, but Rodney was the only one who would pay cash.

“So?” I ask. I don’t know what business it is of anyone else’s.

“That violates a number of international treaty laws. This is a protected item. It has been seized, and we would like to ask what other invaluable cultural artifacts you’re planning to sell on the black market.”

“Black market?” I growl into the phone. “What are you talking about? It’s mine to do with as I want.”

But I already know where this is headed.

“What else is there?” the man on the other end presses. “We can’t prove yet that the goblet came from you, but if you try it again...”

Fuck. That was my plan for my future hatchling. Though I’ve already paid for the full package at DreamTogether, each of the breeding sessions costs extra.

But now? It’s all over.

I hang up the phone, no longer listening to the man on the other end. I’m going to have to find a new pawn shop to sell my wares, or dig further underground, which doesn’t sound appealing.

Hell, I don’t know. I’m too old for this. And that means parting with even more of our ancient treasure, my links to my past and my family.

No. Perhaps... perhaps this is a sign. After my poor showing yesterday, and the coldness of that room, it might be time to throw in the towel. What I have with my human will never be anything else, nothing beyond our occasional meetings in the breeding room. It will never be the closeness and connection I’m imagining.

Will she give me that empty, fake-happy face again when I tell her?

The threatening man tries to call me again, but I silence it and stash the phone in my bag. I hope Rodney hasn’t spilled what other treasures he’s fenced for me, too, or I could be in real trouble.

I decide to retreat to my mountain earlier than usual. I need the fresh air, the sunshine, the cool comfort of my hoard—which is now mostly useless to me. And I need to be far away from the government’s prying eyes until things cool down.

I suppose I could dig out some raw gold coins and sell those above-board, but there’s no point any longer. It was never going to work for me at DreamTogether. I have one last appointment already paid for, and that will be the last.

After chasing down some prey in the woods and devouring it whole, I stretch out over the immense pile of treasure I’ve accumulated in my many years. My mind keeps flitting back to that moment in the white tile room, how my human kept her head turned away while I... what?

While I what ? While I made love to her?

That’s not what this is. I hired her for a reason. I went to DreamTogether because I don’t need a partner—just a hatchling that I can devote my life to raising. There’s no emotion involved in any of this, and she knows that.

I should know that, too. Maybe that’s what she was trying to tell me with that pasted-on smile: that we went too far last time.

I’m not surprised when I never receive the call. If it hasn’t worked yet, what makes me think that poor showing I put on at our last session will make a difference? Whenever I think of it, my cocks shrivel even further inside me .

Finally, I drag myself up to my feet and head out to the landing, then spread my wings. Time to return to civilization, and give notice to DreamTogether that it’s over.

I won’t get my money back on the package, unfortunately, but I find I don’t care that much about the money. It’s my human who I won’t see again. It’s the memory of her pert, round nose and soulful, brown eyes that drives a dagger through my belly.

SAMMY

I feel awful about it after seeing the dragon’s face as he left, but it’s the right thing to do. DreamTogether put boundaries in place for a reason, to protect our clients. I already let this go too far, probably the very first time the dragon came in and introduced himself to me with no name. I was too open with him, too receptive to the affection he lavished on me.

I wasn’t a professional about it, and now that’s back to bite me in the ass. It was always our mantra in the gym: kind, friendly, attentive, and professional, no matter what. Even when you have your hands on someone’s ass while you try to balance them on a workout ball, you were professional, professional, professional .

It’s been getting colder out lately, so I know I have no choice but to fix the roof before it starts to snow. I pay what I can so the roofers can get started, hoping the dragon doesn’t cancel our next session.

But the guilt eats at me as the tests still come up negative. He has all of his hopes for the future of dragons pinned on this .

I wonder what’s wrong? There isn’t much online about dragon fertility—only that the population has been in decline for some time, and few new hatchlings have been born since the 70s. I look up everything else I can, including how lizards mate, to see if I can discover a solution, but all I learn is that they’re highly sensitive animals.

The day of the appointment, I’m strapped onto the table that’s held up well enough so far. It helps when he isn’t desperately fucking me with everything both of us are worth. I wish I could bite my nails as I wait for him to come in, because all I can think about is his dejected face as he left last time.

Then the door opens. In steps one long, crimson leg, and behind it, the dragon appears in the doorway, all nine feet of long neck and claws and fangs. His tail looks stiff behind him as he walks in, and his brows tilt down as he studies me.

“Hello,” I say brightly, but all this does is appear to upset him more. He closes the door behind him, then walks towards me until we’re face to face at a polite six feet apart.

“I’m not going to mate with you today,” he says, before he’s even greeted me. The smile falls from my mouth in my surprise.

“What?” My body feels heavy. He really is going to fire me. “Why not?” A spark of panic flares to life. But I’ve gotten so used to this job, and I need the money right now. I can’t?—

“It is nothing against you,” he says, his eyes sliding away from my face. I don’t know him that well, but it sounds like a lie. “I’ve run out of money.”

I can almost breathe again, but perhaps this is worse, because then I can’t convince him to keep trying.

“I thought you had a hoard?” I ask tentatively.

He shakes his head. “It’s now without any value,” he says, his tone a little guarded. “I can no longer pay. ”

I search his yellow, reptilian eyes for some sign that this isn’t true, that we’re not done. Now I regret last time immensely. He won’t even use his last appointment. We’re out of time and out of chances.

“I’m sorry,” I say, lowering my head. “I know this was a dream of yours. That there aren’t many of you left. I know it was—” I’m surprised when my own voice comes out choked. “—important to you.”

He looks resigned. “I don’t know if it was going to work anyway.” His tail curls around his feet, like he’s protecting himself. “Perhaps it wasn’t meant to be, at least, not for me. I was not intended to have a hatchling.” He rubs the back of his head, his neck hanging low, making him look even smaller.

“Of course it’s meant for you,” I say, almost harshly. His eyebrows rise. “You’re sweet, and kind, and gentle. No one deserves a baby more than you.”

It’s all true. Faced with the threat that we might not see each other again, I have to admit that he’s become incredibly special to me, and so has his mission. He invested so much in this, the idea of having a child of his own, and now that dream is crushed.

Confusion settles on his face. “I thought I had offended you,” the dragon says. “Is that not the case?”

I blink at him, equally perplexed by his question. “Offended me? No, of course not. You’ve been nothing but a gentleman. A... gentle-dragon.” I offer one of my most enthusiastic customer service smiles, but when I do, he frowns deeper.

“I see.” He lifts his chin and his expression hardens. Whatever’s happened, my attempt to play happy and friendly is having the opposite effect on him. “I suppose our business is concluded, then. ”

What? No. I can’t let him leave like this.

“Wait,” I call out as he turns around. I wish I could pull out of these damn straps and reach towards him. I want him to stop and just think for a moment. “What are you going to do?”

He pauses, but doesn’t look back at me. “Nothing. I will return to life the way it was before I met you.”

He doesn’t say before DreamTogether . No, it’s before me .

It’s infinitely sad to see him like this, hardened and hopeless. I don’t like it. He’s cheerful and considerate and open, optimistic about the future of his species.

I open my mouth to speak again, but I don’t know what to say. That I don’t want him to go? That I want a proper goodbye?

Instead of any of those things, I say, “Let me help you.” It just comes out, but the moment I say it, it’s all I want. I’m not ready to say goodbye to him, and I don’t want him to give up.

Now the dragon does turn to me, one eyebrow lifted. “You have helped me enough,” he says. “It was never going to work.”

“But we were both tested!” I say, helplessness creeping into my voice. “There’s no reason it shouldn’t work. It just needs more time to?—”

“There is no more time.” The way he says it isn’t harsh, but final.

“There’s no more time here ,” I counter. “At DreamTogether. But...” I know what I’m about to say is crazy—crazy and probably stupid. “But there’s plenty of time if we, um, left.”

Those reptilian eyelids of his rapidly blink. “Left?” he echoes.

“Yeah. What if we...” I flounder for the right words. I know that DreamTogether is listening, but if he’s going to terminate today anyway, then who cares? I’m certainly not going to be bred by a stranger, another monster, after this. I only want him, and it would feel strange, wrong, with anyone else. “What if we met outside of here?” I finally ask. “Maybe it has something to do with this room. We could try it somewhere else, and see if that makes a difference.”

Am I really offering what I think I’m offering? To keep doing this, even outside the company?

Yes. Yes, I am. I think my dragon deserves everything he wants and more. And the truth is that I’m not ready to let him go.

“You want to continue this?” he asks, aghast. “I couldn’t pay you. And what if they get upset with us?”

“So what? What are they going to do about it? Once your business is concluded with them, they’re not the boss of either of us any longer.”

He studies me, his neck elongating towards me as he tries to read my face.

“You would do that?” he asks, a hint of hopefulness in his voice. “Truly?”

I nod. “I would. You should have what you want.”

“What does that get you?” he asks, his eyes narrowing as he turns back around to face me. “This is your job.”

I wish I had an answer for that. I have no idea what I’ll do, but I’ve always been a hustler. I’ll figure it out.

“Leave that to me,” I say at last. “I can handle it.”

Still, the set of his mouth is uneasy. “It doesn’t feel right to?—”

“You’re still arguing with me?” I pull on the strap holding me down. “Do you want my help or not?”

His tail thrashes behind him, like he’s thinking hard and doesn’t know what to say. His wings even extend a little, then readjust and return to their resting place .

At last, he says, “I do. I do want your help.” He crosses the distance between us, and I inhale sharply as he stops right in front of me. He raises one clawed hand to my cheek and strokes it with one of the sharp tips. “More than anything.”

“Then let me help,” I say more firmly. “And get me the fuck out of this thing, will you?”