Hidden Passions (Hidden, #7)(62)

"Hey, brats," Tony said, giving them the side slaps they liked.

Verdi burst out with a string of dragon chatter, complete with expressive wing gestures. Tony didn't know what it meant but found it amusing.


"You're totally Italian," he told the dragon, who didn't disagree. He went to his knees to stroke Verdi's muzzle with both hands. It was impossible not to smile at him. The dragons had an amazing gift for conveying affection with their eyes. Assuming Scarlet's squawk meant me too, he gave her a share of the petting.

A shadow came up behind him. Somewhat to his surprise, Tony recognized its shape and scent.

"They really like you," Liam said.

Tony looked up at him. The tiger's manner was tentative--and also a smidge sulky, like he wondered why Tony deserved the favor of these rare creatures. Tony's wolf wanted him on his feet to meet the potential threat, but Tony overruled its impulse. Liam was huge and a pain in the butt, but when you got down to it, he was just a confused kid. As a fellow omega, Tony understood his need for approval. Liam wanted to do what he thought would earn it, but couldn't always puzzle out what that was. It took courage for a low-ranked shifter to decide to be his own damn self and to hell with his clan's opinions.

Tony couldn't swear he'd done that a hundred percent himself.

"They're used to me," he said, maintaining a pleasant expression. "I dragon-sit sometimes."

"The red one just finished your martini."

"Crap." When he spun around to Scarlet, she blinked at him innocently. Not fooled, he took her pretty muzzle between his hands. "Drinks aren't for dragons, you little lush."

"There were only a few sips left," Liam assured him. He shifted his weight on his giant feet. "Could you . . . show me how to pet them?"

That was a concession. A guy like Liam preferred to pretend wolves--especially gay wolves--couldn't school tigers in anything.

"Sure," Tony said, working to keep his thoughts from showing. "Come down to their level and let them sniff at you."

Liam dropped to the grass a bit awkwardly. The dragons were friendly, and there wasn't much danger, certainly not with Tony to smooth the way. He'd observed the brood had good instincts about people, seeming to know their moods and intentions by reading their energy.

"Their sides are the safest place to stroke them," Tony said. "Use your palm and go head to tail, in the direction of their scales. You can use some pressure. They're too heavy and well balanced to push over."

Liam tried the technique on Verdi, who was closest and seemed the most settled. The biggest of the dragons stood patiently, gazing past Liam in apparent fascination with the bass player. The tip of his sinuous tail swished in time to the rhythm.

"He's warm," Liam said.

"They use their magic for heat, I think. They enjoy sunning, too, like cold-blooded reptiles do."

Liam accidentally bumped Verdi's wing, which caused the dragon to twitch the appendage into a tighter fold.

"They're protective of their wings," the big cat observed.

"Yes," Tony said, "and you should definitely avoid their dorsal spikes. The bigger the dragons grow, the sharper those become. You could slice a finger off on one."

Verdi made a grumbling noise in his throat.

"Just making an observation," Tony said. "I didn't say you'd do it on purpose."

Liam laughed, then looked surprised he had. "Do they understand human speech?"

Tony could not resist this opening. "They're a bit like cats. They understand instructions when they want to."

Liam smiled a little and looked down. "About before. I'm . . . sorry I gave you a hard time."

That was a nice vague statement, but Tony didn't press for more. "You're not the first to give me grief, and I doubt you'll be the last. I appreciate the apology, though. Nate and Evina are both my friends. I'd like us to get along."

Some reaction tightened Liam's face. Had Tony said the wrong thing? He must have. Liam's expression was suddenly closed down.

Tony pushed to his feet, abruptly wishing he were wearing more clothes. His mom was right. He was way too naked for some people. Liam could barely look at him. "I'm going to hit the pool. Why don't you hang with these guys a bit?"

Liam's gaze jerked to his. "They won't mind being left with me?"

"Nah. As long as you're not pushy, they like company."

"Okay," Liam said. "I'll keep an eye on them."

He seemed alarmingly serious. "Uh," Tony said. "If they're naughty or whatever, don't try to control them. They're powerful, and that's better left to Rick and Cass. Or Cass's father. He used to train dragons."

"Sure," Liam said. "Anything goes wrong, I'll find one of them."

~

Chris didn't mind playing bartender. He could people watch, and it supplied a polite excuse for not dancing with every woman who hoped to seduce him. Being a fireman and not plug ugly, he got plenty of offers. Ironically, the other tigers thought he liked mixing drinks because it made him a babe magnet.


Their misconception aside, he was so used to the tasks required he could do them on autopilot. He blended daiquiris while watching Tony introduce Liam to the dragons. Chris should have thought of that as a way to win over the grumpy cat. Who wouldn't want to make friends with magical creatures? But maybe it was better to let Tony be himself. The wolf was good with people when they gave him a chance.