Surrogate of the Sleeping Dragon

mb

versation long a

mehow warm blue eyes, and the intricate dragon tattoo I'd seen peeking over his shoulder. I

ound a round-faced clock. I picked it up, running my hand over the

before I realized the ti

ck back on my desk and racing to the

as I could while thinking about DracoK4u's hands on me, rubbin

g the water from hot to cold to c

lowed me to my closet, then do

ith rhinestones on them perched primly on her nose. "A

ully cutting open the box on the counter with a scissor so as n

ed," Rowen

lved," I

hen smiled, her wrinkles crinkling almost up to her

eplied quickly, though I was sure m

drop on the beaded chain around her neck and shuffled over to the desk. "One of these days, I want you calli

book dangling betwe

nned into the system. 'The Complete Encyclopedia of Dragons.' "I hav

was kind of disappointed we didn't have many books on drag

ause all of our collection

ll make sure he gets this

o downstairs if you're finish

dragons out there who ho

es. "Ember, darling,

I held up my gloved hands an

et to see you grow wings and a tail

of books. In the process, I knocked the cardboard

ut as the mail had fallen behind the counter

ds, bright red like an ang

t th

ounter with her gnarled f

ling back the top of one PAST DUE bill to

ectric and the water," I gasped. "And this one says if you d

," Rowena said, chasing me around the counter to try

diately. Letting me live upstairs is payment enough. Look at these medical bills. Rowena

her floral cane. "Wicked girl, just give those over and don'

d her. "God, have you been trying to keep up o

of hardbacks. "You really shouldn't have to

you are," I said, getting more and more dist

dare!" Rowe

o help,"

my hand. "Oh, darling, you might need that money to run again,

ut

ere now. You just keep working and don't worry your pret

this..." I trailed off as her cataract-r

e, not letting one fal

I love you, Rowena. Please kno

w. Now, you shelve those books. It won't do for

nt to shelve the books while Rowena went behi

her something more hope

*

me back upstairs. I'd offered to stay lo

t in my gaming chair and opened my forums, st

there. I pray

away, and I smiled,

. How was your

answered. *Can we

ate?* he replied

*No. I mean like

dsome face appeared o

and I didn't care. "Hi," I croaked. It was

aid, concern evident in his

My... my boss, who I love dearly, she's... she's, you

ney, I'

ills for the bookstore. Everything is past due. They're threatening to evict us." I

art. Baby, that's terrible. It's so sweet of you to

right now," I sniffled,

closer to his monitor could somehow cross the physical distance between

as he said, leaning back in my chair an

from despair into peace and calm. "I come into the room and smooth a hand over your hair,

atmosphere, becoming

h eyelids and both of your cheeks. I carefully pull off your

y traced my hands over my skin. Feeling a warmth

ess my ears, "and hold you against my chest. I can hea

r trickled down my cheek and I imagine

stay with you all night. As lon

t listening to him breathe. Then I opened

e I really can do that for you. In real life. And I

wet laugh

I know you have work in the morning, and today was rough en

really wanted was to talk to

kiss. "I'll see you tomor

eplied. "I'

een wen

clothes around the apartment, not really caring. Not tonight. Tomorrow I could

I pulled those off as well, setting them on the bedside tabl

harp intake of breath, and, naked, I whirled aro

s glowing?" came the grumble o

'd forgotten to d

I

njoy the stripping, but... u

mutter before slamming my finger d

ir. Oh God. Oh Jesus. He'

day. How could I ever see him again

then decided against it. I couldn't le

bed, hugging my

e night, terrified of