Page 16 of Snowed In With the Ice Dragon
I stood in front of our tree with my arms crossed and my head cocked. “Do you think the topper is crooked?” I asked Ísarr. He was sprawled lazily in his chair, which was now accompanied by a smaller version for me. His long legs were kicked up on the coffee table, right beside the tea splotch he’d made the day we’d met. He’d refused to buff it out because he said he wanted to be forever reminded of that moment. Who knew my dragon was such a romantic?
“So what?” he drawled, one eye slowly opening to squint at the topper. “It still looks pretty, but not as pretty as you.” He made me smile by saying things like that, especially because he was always dead serious when he did so, like it was no big deal to toss out a compliment. Perhaps it wasn’t, but it still made me go all fluttery inside.
The past two weeks had been crazy, and today was Christmas Eve—the day he’d promised we’d visit my family for dinner, and the first time he’d leave the safety of his Hillcrest Hollow home to venture out into the world of humans. At least the forecast was clear—no storms predicted—so he seemed calm enough. Calmer than I was, actually.
I’d knitted the dress I wore myself, a new pattern I’d come up with after being surrounded by all of Isárr’s artistic carvings and winter themes. It was pale blue and clung to my curves far more boldly than I’d normally dare to wear. Ísarr really liked it, though; but the real test would be Mamma, later tonight. Iwanted to make a good impression, and I wanted everyone to like Isárr the way I did. I knew it had all gone crazy fast, but my dragon assured me that’s how it was for soulmates.
The idea that he was mine… it still boggled my mind, but I’d accepted it because I wanted it so badly. Then, a few hours after we’d made love in his bed for the first time, the mating marks had shown up—right in the middle of cutting down our tree for inside the cabin. They were snowflakes, right across both our chests: delicate and pale silver, they shimmered in the light. His were bigger and a bit more pronounced, but both held a heart at the center.
I blushed, recalling the moment, because Ísarr had abandoned what he was doing, tossed me over his shoulder, and hauled me to his hoard. That sex had been incredible, and much repeated over the past two weeks. His hoard… not quite what I expected, and yet exactly right. Blue gems, yes, many crystals, and gold too. But it was also a cave big enough for his dragon to sleep in undisturbed, and a place where he kept the carvings he could not part with.
“I think it needs a few more ornaments,” I said, reaching for my crochet hooks in the basket next to Ísarr’s feet. His hands folded around my nervous fingers, halting me in my tracks and sending a shot of heat through my body.
Living with a dragon involved getting used to some odd things, like possessive growls, clingy arms at night, and suddenly cold tea when he got a bit moody. Mostly, it felt like I was constantly being pampered and cared for. And this was no different. He should have been the one who was nervous, but he remainedcool about the prospect of meeting my family, while I was a wreck.
“It will be fine, Elskling. I’m sure I can dig up some manners, and you’ve prepared them for my skin ‘condition.’ You said yourself that your mom wants you to be happy, and you’re happy with me, right?” When I nodded, he rose from his seat and began to drag me to the door. It was still early, but darkness was already falling outside.
“Let’s go, better get this over with,” he added as he dropped my pink hat on top of my head. I was smiling and feeling much more settled by the time we were wrapped up for the cold and standing on the front porch. Since Ísarr didn’t have a car, he was going to fly us to my parents’ home under the cover of night. I thought that might be risky, but he assured me that for a short trip like this, it would be fine.
We’d picked out a field nearby for landing and would walk into town. By the time we arrived, the cool night air had cleared my mind and settled the rest of my nerves. Yes, this would be fine. I loved Ísarr, so my mother would love him, too.
The door was cherry red and decorated with a big Christmas wreath. Isárr knocked and then ran a softly rumbled commentary on the state of the house’s woodwork. It needed new paint, the lower sill was crooked, and the door probably stuck in the frame because it had swelled with moisture. I muffled a laugh and asked him if he wanted to volunteer to do the work for my parents—and that shut him up. Surprisingly, not because he didn’t want the work, but because he looked like he was seriously contemplating flying back to fetch his toolsright that instant. Hmm, maybe he was the one who was nervous right then.
My mama opened the door, warm light spilling out along with the scents of cooking and the laughter and murmur of my family. She smiled warmly at me, then her eyes flicked to Ísarr and they grew huge, and then radiantly happy. “Ah, welcome, son! Come here. My, you’re a tall one. Duck, orsacchiotto.” Teddy bear. Yeah why not? She was fond of nicknames for all my siblings. I shouldn’t be surprised she’d have one for my boyfriend, too. Kevin had apparently never made the cut.
Ísarr ducked, and my mamma grabbed his horn like it was no big deal, then kissed him on the cheek. My dragon was smiling politely, and that’s when I knew it was going to be perfect.
THE END