Page 4 of The Dragon’s Surprise (Tahoe Dragon Mates #7)

Chapter Three

L exi tried not to think about how Kyle Baker would be naked soon, as he changed from human to dragon. She most definitely didn’t try to imagine what his shoulders might look like, let alone the rest of him.

Although his probably muscled body—given what she knew of dragon-shifters—wasn’t the only reason.

She’d never seen a dragon-shifter actually change forms in person before.

Going from a six-foot-something human to a fifteen or twenty-foot dragon was magical and yet had to be a little uncomfortable.

Not that any dragon-shifter had discussed that kind of thing with her.

She tried her best to get to know the people adopting the orphan children, and yet she’d always been kept apart.

Not just because she was human, but also because she tangentially worked for ADDA.

A loud grunt brought her back to the present. Jenny motioned for them to turn around, and as soon as she saw the golden dragon glinting in the sun, her jaw dropped.

Of course he was a gold dragon. The sunshine made him look like some sort of living statue, his scales almost flashing like glitter in parts.

His eyes, though, were serious like before, if a lot bigger with slitted pupils.

As he glanced at her and then Ethan, uncertainty flashed.

Was the gorgeous dragonman insecure? That seemed impossible.

Ethan stared and tugged at her hand. The boy. That’s right, she needed to stop acting like a dragon-obsessed teenager and focus on Ethan. So she asked, “What do you think?”

He never took his gaze from Kyle’s dragon form as he replied, “He’s really big.”

Jenny chimed in. “He’s about average for a male dragon.” The dragon grunted, and Jenny laughed. “Okay, a little bigger. How about we go up and pet him?”

Lexi frowned. “Pet him?”

Jenny bobbed her head. “Dragons love having their scales stroked. However, if you really want a dragon to become putty in your hands, then you scratch one behind their ear and they kind of purr.”

She looked skeptically at Kyle’s dragon. “Like a cat?”

“Yep. They’re more like cats than you’d think. Difficult to win over at first, but once you do, you have a loyal friend or mate for life.” Jenny held Ethan’s other hand and tugged gently. “Come on. I’ll show you what to do.”

Lexi and Ethan followed Jenny’s lead until they stood in front of Kyle’s lowered head. The scales were even more beautiful in person, although the brief glimpse of giant teeth reminded her that if it came to it, a dragon would always win over a human.

Jenny reached out and patted Kyle’s snout. “Try it. The scales are really smooth but warm, and not at all cold or metallic like they look. There’s nothing like curling up against my mate’s side when it’s cold, in either form, and getting nice and toasty.”

Kyle moved his head closer, until it was just in front of Ethan. He slowly released Lexi’s hand to touch the snout. The boy laid his hand on the scales and rubbed back and forth. “They are warm and smooth!”

Lexi smiled and decided to find out for herself—because, really, when would she have this chance again?

—before placing her hand at the side of his snout, just behind his nostril.

As she stroked, she met the large dragon eye in front of her, and the pupil dilated a little.

Did that mean the two halves were talking?

Then a rumbling sound made her jump, and Jenny laughed. “That means he likes it. Even buttoned-up, serious Kyle likes his dragon form pampered. If he lowers his head, I can show you how to really make him happy and be even louder.”

Ethan nodded. “Yes! I want to hear him purr louder.”

The dragon huffed, and Lexi smiled. “It’s not quite a purr, Ethan. It’s more like a cross between a purr and a growl, but more charming.”

Jenny laughed. “I like that description. I may have to use it, since I’ve been trying to think of the best way to describe it.”

Kyle’s dragon lowered his head further, and Jenny snorted. “His dragon is impatient and wants pets.” She motioned to behind the ear. “See that small patch of skin without scales? That’s the spot. Try it.”

Ethan looked at her, and Lexi nodded. “You go first.”

The boy gingerly scratched the strip of skin, and a louder rumble came from the dragon’s chest, and Ethan laughed. “He really is like a cat and purrs!”

The dragon huffed, and Lexi whispered, “Let’s see how he does with both of us at the same time.”

She moved to the other ear and scratched her nails at the tough but warm skin. The sound grew even louder, and she grinned before looking into the eye closest to her. She wasn’t good at reading a dragon’s body language, but she swore there was humor dancing there.

After about a minute, Kyle lifted his head, and Ethan cried out in protest. But the dragon tapped his tail against his side, and Jenny interpreted for them.

“He’ll let you slide down his side, if you want to.

I think you should, since sliding down a dragon is one of the best things ever.

And don’t worry, he won’t let you fall or get hurt. ”

Ethan looked up, up, up, and whispered, “But he’s so tall.” He looked at Lexi. “Will you go first and show me?”

She resisted blinking. “Me?”

Jenny spoke up. “I’d do it, if I wasn’t pregnant. But my coordination isn’t the best when I’m not carrying a dragon baby, so I really can’t do it when I’m this big. I promise it’s safe, Lexi. I did it all the time when I first mated Daniel.”

As Lexi eyed the height, Ethan tugged her hand. “If you’re scared, it’s okay. Because I’m a little scared too.”

She glanced down just as Ethan’s pupils flashed, and he shut his eyes. She kneeled down, and when he opened them again, his pupils were round. “Are you okay?”

“He’s just loud. And wants to have fun.”

Ethan’s uncertain gaze went to the dragon’s side again, which decided it. “Then let me try it first, so you can see that it’s safe. Because I think that will make your dragon happy, won’t it?”

“I think so.”

“Okay.” She stood. “So what do I do, Jenny?”

“He’ll pick you up with his tail, put you on his back, and then you slide down when you’re ready.”

As Jenny spoke, Kyle laid down with his rear limbs under him and his front ones out straight in front of his body, with his tail moving back and forth. Lexi blurted, “He really does look like a cat.”

The dragon nearly glared, but Lexi ignored the look, took a deep breath, and walked over, closer to his tail.

Kyle had never really had anyone touch his dragon form since he was a teenager, back when he and his friends had made stupid dares, ones that could’ve killed each other.

However, as first Ethan and then Lexi caressed his snout before scratching behind his ears, tension faded from his body, relaxing him in a way he hadn’t experienced for years. Probably not since he’d become a fully-fledged doctor.

His dragon spoke up. They could become our family.

What are you talking about?

He’s our son, just as lost as us. And she should be ours.

Not wanting to think too hard about what his dragon was saying, he was glad when Lexi finally walked up to him and said, “Okay, Mr. Dragon, be nice. I’m not the best with unstable heights, but I’m willing to try. However, if you drop me, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”

Kyle wanted to smile. If this female wasn’t intimidated by his dragon form, she probably wasn’t afraid of much.

His dragon said, She’s strong, yes, but also vulnerable, remember?

Not wanting to dwell on the hurt look in her eyes from when she’d shared about her mother, he wrapped his tail around her middle and bobbed his head.

After waiting a beat, just to make sure she didn’t want to back out, he lifted her gently.

She sucked in a breath, but he placed her in a sitting position on his back, keeping a hold of her until she seemed steady.

Then he slowly unfurled his tail and moved it away.

She froze for a few beats before stroking his scales. His beast hummed, and Lexi smiled at him. She really was beautiful when she smiled.

His beast mentally laughed. You’ll want her like I do soon enough.

Lexi said, “Okay, it looks pretty steep. Won’t I fall off?”

Kyle’s dragon moved out his hind leg, to create a gentler slope.

The female took a few deep breaths before she nodded. “I can do this.” She glanced at him. “Don’t you dare let me fall.”

He shook his head.

She hesitated, and then slid down his flank and leg, until her feet reached the ground and he steadied her with his tail.

Lexi grinned at him. “That was actually pretty fun.”

His beast spoke up. She could have a lot of fun with us, in our human form, too.

Don’t start.

I want to see how long you can resist her.

Ethan’s voice stopped him from replying to his beast. “Can I try, Dr. Baker? Please? Then maybe he’ll stop demanding things in my head.”

His dragon swung their head around, and at the boy’s expression—a mixture of uncertainty and distress—both man and beast softened. Kyle sometimes forgot how confusing it could be when a dragon-shifter’s inner dragon started talking to them.

His beast spoke up. Let’s help him.

We’ll see, dragon. We’ll see.

Kyle bobbed his head and extended his tail before motioning for Ethan to come. And for the next little while, he focused on making the little boy smile.

Lexi watched as Kyle set his son on his back and helped him slide down his leg. She wished this were enough, and that by Kyle seeing his son happy, it meant everything would turn out well and he’d want to take care of Ethan.

However, in her experience, dragon-shifters who found out they suddenly had a child didn’t always take it well. Especially since having a half-human kid meant greater scrutiny from the American Department of Dragon Affairs.

But even though it was far from easy, Lexi always kept trying to find the children families, even if it was with a new, adoptive family and not with their birth parent.

Unlike a lot of other people, she’d gone into this job with her eyes wide open.

Her sister was a few years older, and so Lexi had been in high school when she’d first learned about the dragon orphan side of things and had volunteered.

Even though she’d thought about joining ADDA, there were never enough people helping with DOCS, especially since the pay was worse.

However, as a kid who had been abandoned herself, she didn’t care if she made a little less money. Every child who was formally adopted and found a forever home was something she couldn’t put a price on.

And as she watched Ethan have another turn, she wished she had a better read on Kyle Baker. Even in his human form, she’d had trouble pinning him down and usually she was a good judge of character. At least when it came to how people viewed and treated children.

Jenny’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “This is the most relaxed I’ve seen Kyle since I arrived.”

She looked at the other woman, pouncing on the chance to find out more about the dragon doctor. “So he’s usually the buttoned up, grumpy fellow from earlier?”

“Not always grumpy. But to be fair, he had a difficult surgery earlier today. One of the Protectors got injured by some human assholes, and he almost couldn’t save him.”

“But he did?”

Jenny bobbed her head. “Yes. He’s an amazing doctor, especially with surgeries. Although, given his past…”

The other woman clamped her jaw tight, and Lexi asked, “What about his past?”

“No, I shouldn’t have mentioned it. You’ll have to ask him. But I think he likes you, so getting him to talk shouldn’t be that hard.”

She barked out a laugh. “Likes me? Why in the world would you say that? He’s been nothing but dismissive since I arrived.”

“He let you slide down his dragon.”

“But that was just to help Ethan.”

Jenny shrugged. “If you say so. Although here comes the boy.”

Ethan skidded to a halt in front of them, his eyes bright with happiness. “That was really fun! Maybe I can do it again later? I only went three times. But my dragon liked it. He hummed for the first time in my mind!”

Lexi smiled at him. “I’m glad. And as soon as we settle in, we have an appointment at the school, and they should be able to help you get along even more.

And don’t worry, everyone will be gone by then, so you don’t have to face the other kids just yet.

However, I thought you might want to meet your teachers. ”

Ethan’s happiness faded a little. “But I don’t know anything about being a dragon-shifter. The other kids will make fun of me.”

He glanced down, and Lexi squatted and stayed down until he finally met her eyes.

“They’ll teach you things slowly, okay? And you’re the second older kid who’s become a part of Clan MirrorPeak in the last few years, so the teachers know what to do.

It’ll be all right, I promise.” He still didn’t say anything, so she added, “I’m human, and learned a lot about dragon-shifters over the years, but not all.

Maybe I can sit with you for the first private lesson, where it’s just you, me, and the teacher? That way, we can learn together.”

Ethan bobbed his head. “That sounds good.”

She stood and took Ethan’s hand. “Now, should we go and see where we’re staying? It’s supposed to be near a playground, one we can check out later, if you like?”

“I like swings, if they have some.”

Jenny spoke up. “Yep, there are swings, and even a tire swing. I like the tire swing myself. Well, when I’m not pregnant. And I can bring my niece to come play too, as she’s about the same age and really nice and friendly. She’s the daughter of my mate’s brother, if that makes sense?”

Ethan frowned. “Not really.”

Jenny snorted. “Well, all you need to know is that she likes the swings, too. You could even have a competition to see who goes higher. Well, as long as you don’t go too high. But you know what I mean. Do you want to meet her later?”

“Okay,” Ethan said softly.

Jenny took Ethan’s other hand. “Well, then let’s get a move on. You still have a lot to do before you can play, and I definitely need a nap.”

As Jenny kept chatting to Ethan, they walked away from the landing area.

However, Lexi looked over her shoulder to see Kyle’s dragon watching them.

And once he finally disappeared from sight, hidden behind the wall surrounding the landing area, she pushed aside regrets at not getting to see him shift back into his human form.

Although she refused to think too much about why she was disappointed.