Page 17
“No, it’s beautiful. Now put it on me.” Brayden came to stand close, and move the mass of hair away from his strong neck.
Brayden’s hair was so different from his. His mane was smooth, whereas Brayden’s was thick and textured. It did not fly in the wind. Indeed, it defied a small caress.
Harden went to Brayden and carefully slipped the necklace on him, making sure the knot was solid and held.
He couldn’t help but steal a deep breath as he did it, filling himself with the man’s scent. “You still smell good.”
“I’m glad. It would be awful if your lover didn’t think you smelled good.” Brayden brought him around and took a deep kiss, making him forget all about cazik and pastries and anything but that mouth on him
When the kiss ended, Brayden’s forehead rested against his, and they both panted.
“Good morning.” Those eyes fascinated him, with their green and blue.
“It is.”
“It was a blessing to wake with you in my bed.”
His words seemed to make Brayden happy. “You have an amazing bed. You have an amazing house.”
“Thank you.” What next? What was his next step? Brayden’s growling stomach answered that question for him. “Would you like to break our fast up on the balcony? We can do that, or there’s a space out in the grasses. I have a table and chairs there.”
He had a table in his house as well, but he rarely used it, even in the winter. In the winter, when the dark came early and it was too cold to enjoy the outdoors as well, he ate near the fire. That was where he carved chains from blocks of wood and plaited strip after strip of leather to create tack.
“I’d love to go outside and sit and see your animals. Would that be okay?” Harden had learned okay was a word that dragons from the human realm used to find something between good and not good.
“That sounds wonderful. Let us take our food out and sit then.” He grabbed mugs and the ewer of cazik, while Brayden carried the pastries and some napkins so they could wipe their fingers.
Personally, he would rather lick Brayden’s fingers clean, but he wondered if that was too much.
The morning was clear and bright but not hot so he had no doubt it would be lovely to sit in the sun and have a long leisurely meal.
One of his ciucui came to put its middle head in his hands. Brayden had come out here with him, so he was going to be considered friendly, if not a friend. One of the other heads was sniffing Brayden’s leg very intensely, learning his scent. The third head, of course, had eyes on the dafydd. Brayden stayed relaxed and easy, and he did not reach out to try to touch the animal.
“Who is this?” Brayden asked. “He’s a great big boy, isn’t he?”
“He is. He’s the leader of my little pack and his name is Osli. He is the one you have to make sure knows you’re a friend so the others will follow his lead.”
“Will you tell me when it’s safe to pet him?”
“Of course. For now, just sit there and let him sniff.”
“I feel as though I can do that. It’s sitting and doing not much.” Brayden winked at him, which made his cheeks heat.
He spread the pastries out and poured their drinks. It didn’t take long before Osli relaxed, one head on his lap.
“So, do they think as one animal, since they have one name?”
Harden nodded. “They move and act as one — if they did not, they would not be able to function and do their task. They always watch.”
Brayden tilted his head. “Always.”
“Yes. That is their role. We love them, feed them, care for them. They watch.”
“I don’t suppose you breed these guys?”
He frowned. “I do. Why? Are you going to start breeding dafydd?”
“No. I’m going to suggest getting Penny and Fredda a pet. A guard ciucui.” Brayden looked hugely proud of himself.
