Page 25 of Training my Human

“I doubt he’ll want either of us near him now.” I’d seen his face when he saw his cat threatened. The usually mellow man had turned hard in that moment. Sexy as fuck, I should add. But he shouldn’t have been put in that position in his own home. All because I had a naughty dragon with no manners.

“The male will not abandon us.”

“Says you.” The light changed and I gunned the bike, the fresh air doing much to clear my mind.

Even Abaddon enjoyed it. “Whee.” He poked his head out of the bag. Like a dog, he angled his face to catch the wind.

The childlike enjoyment softened my anger. I slowed the bike to a stop and said, “Get between my legs.”

“Really?” He wasted no time scrabbling from the saddlebag to the crevice between my thighs, his body short enough he didn’t impede my arms and ability to steer.

We took off, just a woman and her dragon riding a steel horse into the night. The empty road was wide and beckoning. I was almost tempted to keep on driving. Just keep going …

To where?

Everything I owned was in the trailer. My life, my friends, my job were in Terrace. Sure I had the funds to roam for a little while, but did I really want to dip into my nest egg because of a bad date?

It wasn’t like I loved Maddox.

Not yet.

We’d only shared a kiss and nothing more.

Only because we’d been interrupted.

I barely knew him, so why did I mourn his loss already?

Because for just a moment, I’d felt as if I’d found my person. Someone I could see myself dating. Someone who didn’t just crank my sexual motor but engaged my mind. Bah. Look at me acting like a girl.

My evening might have ended unpleasantly, but that was no excuse to run. I wasn’t my mother. I could face uncomfortable situations—even those not of my making.

I veered into my driveway abruptly, and Abaddon jostled, digging his claws into my thighs as he steadied himself.

I parked the bike and set Abaddon on the ground before striding to the trailer door to open it and let him inside. But I didn’t follow.

He turned to me. “Aren’t you coming to bed?”

My mouth opened to say no. I wanted to get drunk by the fire and wallow.

Only he looked at me with big eyes, the contrition real.

I hesitated and he suddenly flung himself at my leg and hugged it with his paws. “I’m sorry, Pip. Don’t be angry. I’ll do better.”

“I know you will,” I murmured as I bent to pick him up, his small size reminding me that despite his ability to speak, he remained a baby. Babies needed to be taught, even those that thought they knew it all. Abaddon might have some genetic memories, but those applied to a time that no longer existed. It was up to me to explain how things worked. To show him right from wrong. To set the example. Because, truth be told, while Abaddon drove me slightly nuts, I was fond of him.

“Want to share a bag of popcorn while we watch a movie?” I asked. Tomorrow was Sunday, my day off, so we could stay up late.

“Yes.” He wiggled in my arms but settled down once the movie started—me with half a bag of popcorn, and him with a full one plus the other half of mine.

We watchedThe Land Before Time, a kid’s movie, but then again, Abaddon was one. Maybe the story of the little dinosaur that had a strong theme centering around family and friends and helping one another out despite differences would have an effect.

If it did, it got lost behind Abaddon jumping up and down with excitement every time Sharptooth appeared in the movie. Yes, he cheered on the T-Rex.

Sigh. In better news, he simmered down and appeared somber when Little Foot’s mom got chomped.

We went to bed and snuggled. Nice, but not as nice as Maddox’s bed would have been. No point in dwelling on what wouldn’t happen.

The next morning, I woke around nine to bright sunshine and a hungry dragon. I made a stack of toast and laid out some paper towels on the floor so he could learn to slather his own peanut butter and jelly. His claws could grip the butter knife, and while sloppy at first, he managed to get most of the spread on the bread.

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