Page 20 of To Fall for a Dragon

Hakko rubbed his eyes and shook his head. Hakko being frozen with shock was enough to get Poe moving. His heart bruised but not broken, Poe waved jauntily before sliding his feet into his worn shoes. The letters he longed to see once more could wait a few years, as long as he snagged both journals, the one on Hakko’s counter and the other in the museum. Poe braced himself for the cold and opened the door.

“No, you’re not doing this.” Hakko wrapped an arm around Poe’s waist and pulled him back into the warmth. The door shut behind them. “You’re deliberately trying to taint my perception of you, and I won’t let you.”

Poe wiggled out of Hakko’s embrace and stood in the kitchen, the island in the way. “I saw your face.”

“Oh, fuck off,” Hakko snapped. He paced the kitchen, his hands interlocked on top of his head. He grumbled as he walked, but Poe couldn’t make out the words. Hakko stopped near Poe. “Allowing a person time to process is considered polite.”

“Same with letting them go when they want,” Poe retorted. “Listen, Hakko, you’re impressed with the novelty. You’re infatuated by the mere idea of a letter writer in your space, but there’s nothing else. I’m not—oomph.”

Hakko was there in a flash. He lightly pinched Poe’s jaw as he brought his mouth on Poe’s. The kiss was harsh and punishing as Hakko pulled Poe into his embrace. Poe tried to wrench himself free, but Hakko’s determination followed him until Poe accepted it and gave in to his own needs.

Hakko released Poe so he could whisper, “I won’t let you say stuff like that.”

“But it’s true,” Poe whispered right back. Hakko shook his head before kissing Poe with a devastating softness.

The touch was light and reverent as Hakko sought entry. The gentle caress of lips made Poe weak in the knees. Hakko was tearing apart every argument and piece of armour Poe had with affirmations and acceptance. Poe pressed close, giving in to the urge to seek pleasure. Hakko cupped the back of Poe’s head and returned the kiss with fervor. Each harsh breath and drawn-out moan told Poe in no uncertain terms someone desired him.

The kisses were addictive, and Poe expected to be wooed to more comfortable places, but Hakko remained in the kitchen. Poe assumed clothes would be flying off and Hakko would sate his arousal with a forceful pinion. The caresses remained chaste and sweet. Minutes later, he released Poe from their kiss and rested his head on top of Poe’s. The easy hold from any other person would have Poe itching to break away, but he… trusted Hakko. Which was absolutely impossible, as Poe had lost faith that other people could be nice.

They swayed gently in the kitchen, dancing to a secret song heard only in their hearts.

Hakko straightened up and brought his hands to Poe’s hips. He ducked his head until he could connect with Poe’s eyes. “You are a good person. You’ve had a rough start, and you’ve made questionable choices, but who hasn’t?”

“Oh, bloody hell, Hakko. I saw your face. You were repulsed by my actions.”

Hakko swooped in and stopped the flow of Poe’s complaints.

“You—” Another kiss. “You can’t—” A longer kiss. “Stop kissing me!”

“I was not disgusted by you. You’re trying to make me a bad guy. You lived under terrible circumstances. So…” Hakko trailed off, waiting for Poe to interrupt. His brown eyes were soft as they gazed into Poe’s. “Are you going to stop putting yourself down?”

“No.” Poe sighed honestly. He burrowed into Hakko’s arms, seeking the warmth of his dragon. “It’s a chronic condition.”

“If you’re joking, are we good?”

Poe opened his mouth and snapped it shut. He snuggled closer to Hakko, resting his cheek on the muscled chest. He wanted to say yes. His emotions were all over the place, and he couldn’t lie. “I don’t know.”

“Sit with me on the recliner.” Hakko drew him over to the cozy chair and draped Poe across his lap. His big hand stroked Poe’s hair away from his face, soothing some of the jagged edges. “Yes, I had a bit of a reaction to you robbing graves. It’s hard to hear that. It was just a knee-jerk one, and I believe you’ve punished yourself long enough.”

“It’s not just that. I had these terrible urges, and people were justified when they called me a sod?—”

“You can stop right there because you’re insulting me now. Do you want that?” Hakko asked sternly. The gentle sweep of Hakko’s thumb on the back of Poe’s hand was at odds with the harshness of his tone. Poe had to concentrate on how he said things. He had never considered about how they affected people.

“I can’t stay here with you, though. I’d ruin your life,” Poe insisted, but his heart, his lonely heart, begged for the peace Hakko offered. “Why do you suppose Sawyer chose me?”

“You were an easy target, no offense,” Hakko returned. He hugged Poe close, his nose tickling Poe. “I will take this slow. Until you are sure about me and about yourself. No matter what you decide, I will protect you. My home will always be open to you.”

Peace settled over Poe’s shoulders, and an added warmth filled the space. Hakko’s words were a spell cast over his living room. Poe wondered if Hakko knew what he had done. He narrowed his eyes and made the hardest decision. He’d tell Hakko the reason for his return to Granite. “I have to show you something.”

ChapterTwelve

Hakko braced himself. Poe’s hesitance in opening up and his need to protect himself was a burden Hakko was willing to endure. He was playing the long game. Hakko desired Poe in his life, but it’d be a great challenge for him. Hakko never wanted to pressure Poe into sharing because he seemed to be under a great amount of strain all the time. And the self-flagellation hurt Hakko’s heart.

Poe offering to share a secret? Willingly? Hakko would sit and listen.

“Don’t do this unless you feel absolutely okay with me having this information,” Hakko begged. Poe being comfortable in Hakko’s space was far more important than anything. Especially after their tumultuous night. He took a deep breath. If Poe was willing to bare himself, so would he. “Stay here for a second. I’ll be right back.”

Poe’s expression did a funny twist before settling in its usual attempt at a blank slate. Hakko smiled as he realized that reading Poe was a new talent. “I wasn’t going to run away.”

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