Page 20 of Training my Human

“Cows are delicious, as are sheep, goats, camels, horses, and crocodiles.”

“I can see you saying that about beef, because you did steal my steak, but I know for a fact you haven’t eaten any camel, horse, or croc.”

“I just know,” Abaddon stated.

“What if your tastes are different from this ancestral memory you have? Could be you hate goat,” I argued.

“Is this a suggestion to put cat on the menu to see if I change my mind?” His gaze narrowed on Princess who ignored him. Judging by his flared nostrils, that annoyed.

“No eating the cat,” Maddox stated sternly. “No pets at all, actually. People would get very upset, and by people, I mean me.”

“Humans. Always ruining everything,” groused Abaddon.

“I have something better to chew on than fur. Have you had an ice cream sundae yet?” Maddox asked as he placed the first dessert in front of me, a work of sugary art replete with banana, whipped cream, drizzled caramel, and a cherry on top.

“Dude…” I exhaled. “This looks decadently delicious.”

“It’s my second favorite dessert,” he admitted.

“Second?” I queried with an arched brow. “What’s the first?”

“Sitting across from me driving me wild.”

I suddenly needed a fan.

“Where’s mine?” complained Abaddon, ruining the moment.

“Give me a second to get it ready,” Maddox grumbled.

Ready after he’d made his own, that was. My date wisely gave Abaddon the rest of the ice cream tub with a few bananas and cherries tossed in along with the last of the whipped topping. Ever seen a baby dragon with a frothy mustache? Not as cute as you’d think, especially when his forked black tongue emerged to swipe it.

After dinner we adjourned to Maddox’s living room, me with a glass of wine that had me feeling mellow and wondering how I’d get home. Then again, I’d bet Maddox had a big, comfy bed.

Princess chose to perch on her throne—a chair with a fat pink cushion embroidered with her name.

I might have raised my brow at it and a ruddy-cheeked Maddox admitted, “I didn’t buy it. My mom did. Said Princess needed it.”

“You’re close to your mom.”

“Yeah. She’s awesome. Raised me on her own after Dad died. Worked two jobs to support us.”

“She lives nearby?”

“Yeah, although she’s away at the moment. She won the lottery last year and it was sizeable enough she could quit her job and go on a six-month cruise.”

“I didn’t think anyone ever won those big jackpots.”

“Me either, until she did. She deserved it though. What about your parents?” he asked, only to quickly add, “Sorry, didn’t mean to piss you off.”

Damn my face for being expressive. “It’s not you, it’s them. Let’s just say a child wasn’t what either of my parents wanted. Granny raised me in the trailer. I slept on the pull-out couch until she passed.” It took me months before I could enter her bedroom. Even more months before I finally stripped the room and made it my own. “She was my rock and made me who I am.”

“You must miss her.”

“I do.” I sighed. “She died a few years ago. Drunk driver.” I’d been a wreck for weeks afterwards. A good thing the dude also died or I might have been in prison for getting revenge.

“Didn’t mean to kill the mood so let’s change the subject. I did some research on dragons today.”

“And?”