Page 28 of To Fall for a Dragon

“Can we go back? My toes are getting cold,” Hakko whined. Poe rolled his eyes and agreed.

Hakko held Poe’s hand in his claws, and it was nice. Poe rubbed the scales with his thumb, fascinated by the texture. The heat emanating from Hakko was enough to block the bitterness of the cold, but not enough to stop the snow from seeping into Poe’s shoes. Once they arrived at the back door, Poe stared at his holey socks and cringed.

“I can’t go to the gala like this! I’m an embarrassment.” The twinge of shame shredded every bit of Poe’s confidence. Everything about him was dirty and wrecked. He imagined all the guests in their finery and shuddered. He’d be the grubby joke. “You should have led with me going to your party, Hakko. There’s no way I can participate. I’d be a laughingstock. No.”

“Poe, do you trust me?” Hakko asked gently after the kettle was placed on the stove. He sliced the fleshy part of his thumb and dribbled a few drops of blood into Poe’s tea. This was the first time Poe had witnessed Hakko creating his concoction for Poe. The sight of ruby red made him salivate. “Poe?”

“Yes! Yes, I trust you,” Poe admitted as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He sat at the island in his spot and watched as Hakko deftly poured hot water over the tea leaves. Peace had settled over Hakko like a blanket, which had Poe wondering about Hakko’s own loneliness. He was a giving man and yet he seemed so alone, like Poe.

“I have it all sorted out for you. Let’s drink our tea and relax for a minute.” Hakko set the mugs on the counter before he bumped shoulders with Poe.

“But shouldn’t you get dressed?” Poe asked, sipping the hot drink and closing his eyes as it warmed him from the inside out.

“Plenty of time. I like these moments with you. They give me hope.” Hakko blushed. Poe smiled foolishly, understanding what Hakko meant. “Anyway, you can have a shower, and I’ll have everything set out for you when you’re done.”

Poe curled his hand around Hakko’s head and pulled him to his level. He kissed Hakko lightly because he could. It wasn’t romantic or sweet, but it was enough for Poe to show Hakko affection on his terms. Nodding once, he left Hakko alone and ducked inside the enclosed room.

The hot water was a luxury. He revelled in the steam and the consistent pressure. He loved the power as the spray massaged his back with piercing steadiness. Poe heard the door open and close but didn’t say anything as this was his time. The shower was his to enjoy. It was a treat to wash himself at his own pace without worrying about safety or if the water would turn freezing cold.

In the back of his head, the timing of the gala loomed. Hakko needed to be there at the beginning to greet the guests. So Poe twisted the faucet shut and stepped out into the humid space. He was in a cloud as he dried off the best he could. A pair of pants was on the closed toilet seat.

Wearing the fine woolen pants, Poe stood in the hallway, lost. He’d never ventured to this part of Hakko’s apartment before. “Hakko?”

“Down here.”

Poe followed the voice and entered a room that was pure Hakko. Every surface area had soft blankets and pillows in tones of green and brown.

It was obvious this was Hakko’s haven, his safe space, and Poe was intimidated by the permission to exist in it. He glanced around, trying to find Hakko, but no luck.

“What’re you doing?” Poe asked, forcing himself to not touch the fluffy blanket on the big bed.

“Getting my suit. Ethan brought a shirt and jacket for you. You’re around the same size.” Hakko’s voice was muffled. “It’s hanging on the back of the door.”

Poe found the items and was unnerved by Hakko’s thoughtfulness and generosity. Getting dressed was quick, and he was buttoning the stiff cotton when Hakko emerged. The dramatic pout on his face made Poe smile a bit, even as his stomach began to knot and his fears bloomed.

“Aww, I wanted to help you with your shirt. It would have been so romantic,” Hakko grumbled, finished as well. He wasn’t wearing his normal cardigan and corduroy pants. Hakko’s outfit was pressed and tailored to him. His suit was a dark emerald colour with a snowy white shirt underneath. The richness of the emerald brought out the jewelled tones of the scales along Hakko’s neck and jaw.

“You look… handsome.” Poe’s mouth dried, and everything he had imagined about men, dragons, and sex replayed in his head, one reel at a time. He almost wished they didn’t have to go to the gala. Almost. Having carnal relations with Hakko brought along its own nerve-inducing worries.

Hakko preened, unaware of Poe’s crisis, and spun around, showing off his back to Poe. “I had this specially made, and it’s delightful. The fabric is soft, and the colour is perfect.”

“Everyone will be gaping at you, not the exhibits,” Poe said as he eyed Hakko. This was Hakko’s big show. Hakko was a leader, a big deal, and Poe was a former poorhouse resident. He’d make Hakko look bad. This was a terrible idea. “You know? I think… I think I’ll stay here. This is too important of a night to you for me to wreck. What with the, um, mayor and me like this. I’ve seen the letters. That’s alright for me. I can?—”

“Poe.” The one word was enough to stop Poe from blathering on and on. Hakko dropped his hands on Poe’s shoulders and stared deeply into his eyes. “We’ll be fine. This will be a fun event, and it’s meant to be happy and cheerful. It’s not a big production like people made it out to be. I’d like you to meet some friends. You’ll get along great with them. If you stay five minutes, that’s fine.”

“The mayor?”

“I won’t let him ruin it. And it’d be him, not you. So relax and enjoy this with me? Please?”

Poe nodded. Hakko’s words were thoughtful, and they soothed some of the jagged feelings inside him. “I’ve never hobnobbed with the upper crust before.”

Hakko held Poe’s jacket out and helped Poe with the sleeves. He straightened the shoulders, getting the fit just right. Poe grinned as the adjusting seemed a lot like caressing.

“Come on. Let me show you how it’s done.”

ChapterSixteen

Hakko recognized an attack of the nerves right away. He realized he shouldn’t pressure Poe into doing something he didn’t want to do, but Hakko ached to show his collection to Poe. Poe needed to see how well Hakko took care of the items he had borrowed.

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