Page 50 of Wishes and Research

Daddy laughed, shaking his head. “No, but a mage will use it that way sometimes. They’re dramatic and judgmental.”

I didn’t know what to say to that description, so I just skipped over it. “What are…what are dragons?”

That was the strangest question ever.

Daddy’s eyes sparkled again, though…oh, they actually sparkled. I had to push all the odd things that were falling into place to the back of my head as he grinned. “We’re impulsive and playful and have a thing about making the mages insane.”

“That…that would be interesting to see if it’s based on exposure or genetics.” Yes, some of their behavior could be species-based.

Oh, Daddy was another species.

Chapter 14

Fraser

“Are you a dinosaur?” He looked down at me and I could see his scientific mind trying to classify me by what he already understood. “Did they not go extinct like everyone thought?”

“First of all, don’t ask that in the diner. It makes the old men nuts. Secondly, though, there is some discussion on what we are, so it’s not a bad question.” My answer was definitely confusing, so I was prepared for an odd reaction.

But Paxton just sighed and nodded. “People don’t like it when you question their assumptions.”

He was taking the whole thing better than I’d expected.

“Yeah, I’ll explain all the biology and information that we know, but we fly and we look like dragons in a cartoon or a coloring book. So not dinosaurs in the way you mean and there is magic involved.” I figured I’d just treat it as normally as possible until he freaked out or panicked, but he just poked my chest.

“How are you magic?” His frown was adorable and made me want to laugh. “I can see you’re human.”

“I look human now, but I can be a dragon whenever I want and I have at least one great-grandfather who was a mage because he slept with everybody. So I’ve got a few mage-ish characteristics too.” It wasn’t exactly a deep dark secret, but most people seemed to have forgotten that our ancestors used to be flexible with who they slept with.

My grandma said her parents were hos but I wasn’t sure that was a good way to explain it anymore.

“That’s fascinating.” More pokes and frowns said he was still working on it, so I was surprised when he climbed off my lap and nodded. “Okay. I’m ready.”

It took me a few seconds too long to get it. “You want to see me shift?”

“Yes.” Paxton gave me a look like he thought I was stupid but it was gone in a blink. “Thank you very much for this opportunity.”

I was pretty sure I was one of his bugs now…and he thought his new bug was kind of dumb.

“You’re welcome.” Okay, manners were still in place but did he really want to see me shift this quickly? “I have two other forms, a smaller dragon and a larger form. Which would you like to see? Oh, but for my full form, we have to go outside.”

He was quiet for a few seconds before he looked down at himself. “We should probably do the inside form, please. I’m not sure your neighbors want to see me naked and I’m kind of hoping for another orgasm, so I’m not ready to put on clothes.”

I had the weirdest mate ever.

I probably would’ve told him that but he kept chattering.

“They might not mind, though. I’m pretty sure I could claim mate nonsense and they’d have to agree to ignore it. The social rules around here are curious.” Frowning again, he raised one eyebrow. “Are you shy? You haven’t taken off your clothes much.”

“No.” I was trying not to laugh, though. “I just didn’t want to make assumptions or for you to worry.”

Still looking thoughtful and confused, he nodded slowly. “That makes sense. I thought that was what you were doing until the not-human thing came up and then I wasn’t sure anymore.”

He was adorable…and as nuts as everyone else in town.

“Think of it as a human brain with some extra instincts thrown in. The Dom parts of me don’t change no matter what form I’m in, but it also means that I’m not quite human in any form.” When Paxton’s frown didn’t shift, I kept going. “My senses are slightly better than a human’s and we have hoards. But I’m not dangerous to you and I can fully process thoughts and logic.”

I was a thinking dinosaur.

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