Page 20 of Grumpy Dragon Christmas

So many things happened yesterday, including a massive Sarkarnii who blew more than just my mind. But of course the seamstress in the marketplace was interested in an assistant, and I was supposed to stop by today.

“This way.” Qrow steers me onto a side street which traverses the steep-sided hill in between numerous egg-shaped dwellings, all pastel colors.

We walk on for a short while before there are several sharp turns into passageways and through small open squares where there are food vendors, little cafe style places with outside seating, and aliens of all types enjoying a meal or a snack.

I probably shouldn’t think about “snack”…because it makes me think of a big, bad red and black grump.

“Here we are,” Qrow trills as we come to a halt outside a square rather than egg shaped building.

The place has a large window, and suspended inside are various beautiful outfits, which move and twist as if they’re being worn. I’m mesmerized for a second or two before Qrow ushers me inside.

The scent is the first thing which hits me, calming, sweet, and with a hint of patchouli. I inhale deeply.

“Ah, the little one is here!” The elf-like alien, Gelvira, appears from behind a screen. “Do you like the scent? I created it for you.”

“For me?” I put my hand on my chest. “That’s very kind, thank you.”

“I create a scent for all my customers,” she says with an easy smile.

“Oh? Oh, no, I’m here for a job, not as a customer. I don’t have much…credit.” I stumble over the words, embarrassed.

“But I do.” A familiar voice rumbles through the store as Drekkan strides towards me.

I look at Qrow who is grinning like an idiot as usual. Inside the shop, somehow Drekkan is even bigger than I remember him. And I certainly remember what happened when I saw him last. My treacherous lady parts clench as Drekkan slowly and deliberately licks over his bottom lip.

Annoying male!

“Well that’s lovely for you, Drekkan. I’m sure there’s something in your size here somewhere.” I give him my best smug smile.

He’s immediately in my space, as if Qrow and Gelvira don’t even exist. His smoky, spicy scent surrounds me and continues to do very bad things to my body which my brain is not consenting to. He lifts an arm, and with one claw he picks over the fabric on my shoulder.

“Your beauty deserves to be shown off, not hidden away under rags,” he rasps, all sin and velvet.

“I’ll have you know I made these garments myself,” I say, filled with indignation.

“And you did a good job hiding your true nature, but now I want you to show it off,” Drekkan says. “There’s nothing better in this galaxy than a female filled with young.”

JADE

Iam absolutely gobsmacked, uncharacteristically unable to respond to Drekkan at all as I’m torn away from the heat of his body by Gelvira who chuckles to herself as I’m escorted behind the screen at the rear.

“The Sarkarnii likes you, yes?” she asks, sizing me up with an experienced eye.

“I’m not sure.” I feel my cheeks burning because I know what he did like. “I don’t know why he’s buying me clothes. I shouldn’t let him.”

Gelvira huffs. “He can afford it, and besides what Sarkarnii doesn’t like to treat their mate?”

“I’m not his mate,” I say, probably too sharply as she runs a small device over me, checking the display every so often.

“He thinks you are. Sarkarnii fall fast and hard. They rut for their mates, and he is so clearly in rut for you.” Gelvira chuckles.

“I don’t think so,” I say, although the heat sweeps my body, after the way he made it sing yesterday.

Gelvira levels a very scary purple gaze at me. “He ruts for you, little one. You should let him.”

“He’s an arrogant, grumpy, smug Sarkarnii. All they ever do is cause mayhem. I should know, I spent the best part of a year with a whole bunch. I don’t need Drekkan.”

Gelvira’s mouth quirks at the corners. “What if he needs you?”

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