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Contest Entry for "RUAIDRI [June 2013]" by BRNQuil || Limit: 5,000 Words || Wordcount: 5,000

|||Social Lubricant|||

Vaughn sat away from the hustle and bustle; alone at the table for four, the swinging door of the inn occasionally letting a cool draft through, to ruffle through the lusher fur of his exposed collar.

His hair hung low over his eyes as, raising his hand to his muzzle, he let himself swallow a sip of the sweet cider he'd finally relented and bought while waiting. He wasn't afraid of his own company - it wasn't like the space to think could bother him, and he enjoyed the privacy of his own thoughts. It was just a little troubling -- tonight, of all nights, he'd actually expected some company.

"I'll see you at ten, alright?"

He'd been fun to talk with - the handsome wolf who had approached him in the tech lab, not unafraid to chatter about the music Vaughn had been composing. His name had been Rolf.

Sure; Rolf had seemed genuinely curious and interested. Asked a few questions, seemed to know quite a bit about the musical arts; Vaughn had admitted that much. The white-furred wolf had even seemed completely honest, not trying to tease, probe or push, patronise, or mock; exhibiting that perfect kind of attitude that let Vaughn begin to open up and explain - and although creating music was the black-furred Fennec's hobby and trade (and after all, everyone knew making a pittance for a living wasn't really... fun, per se) it had become kind of entertaining to talk it through with the stranger.

For a moment, what was just a joy-turned-job had returned... how it used to be; how it was meant to be. Music had brought him and someone together. So, it hadn't been a hard decision to accept the invitation. This was Vaughn's local pub - turned out that Rolf was, apparently, nearby; though he had never said exactly where he lived.

The fennec didn't drink like this too often; but company wasn't the most frequent visitor. It was a reward to himself, maybe.

Though then again, it was now ten past eleven, and Rolf hadn't showed up.

The pub was dimly lit, but atmospheric; a popular recent release he'd been hearing everywhere was pumping from a set of huge speakers [thankfully facing away - plebeian "wub"step was no match for the historic, classical old-time stuff] in the corners of the ceiling, washing over other relaxed drinkers and smokers alike, as two couples stepped to the beat on the padfloor on the other side of the inn. The heady atmosphere merged with tobacco and the heat of the pub's fireplace, and the pub was almost soporific; or would have been, if it hadn't just been so damn frustratingly alive.

God, why was he even still here? There was just something about most other people he just... augh.

The bar ahead of him was a little busy, but the two spirited bartenders seemed to handle it fine. The smell of fur hung heavily - lupine, vulpine, feline, all mixed up. And even though it was busy and noisy, it wasn't crowded; and at least he wasn't surrounded. Thankfully, this was the only table this side of the inn entrance - and it was that fact that had made him make a beeline straight for it as he'd stepped in, hours ago.

It wasn't like Vaughn was clinging to false hope - Rolf wasn't coming to the date, he knew - but he couldn't shake a nihilist's curiousity to see whether the wolf would ever show at all, even to apologise.

The bar doors swung open again, and the chilled near-midnight breeze swept across the bar; air currents pushed the cool air right along Vaughn's seating, rushing through his lengthy, soft ears; rustling the red-dyed fringe that blended to the same black colour as the fur on his body. Dimly, through his fur and the cider-glass, Vaughn glanced at the newcomer.

Amber eyes pierced out of dark, heavy brows, as the feral, feathered half-dragon pushed his maw with a regal confidence through the large swing doors, padding inside. His sleek body brushed the same navy as the mane on his head, curving past his quadrapeds and hinds -- his long, feline tail bearing a remarkable golden tip of fur that swished across the floor, as if to dispell the last of the evening cold from the outside.

The new entrant pressed forward to the bar, looking from side to side as his amber-tipped clawed paws clacked at the wooden floor below him.

Vaughn watched as the heavyset, feathered dragon reached the bar and glanced at the dancefloor - and smiled into his diminishing cider as it quickly looked away. The disco-lights twinkled and burst alight as the bass fell to another dubstep climax, and booming, bass-driven sounds pumped through the air with equivalent subtlety to the dragon's grimace. Clearly, the stranger had similar tastes in music. Either that, or the sounds were no friend to Dragonkind's fine senses.

It wasn't long before a bartender - just a youthful mouse, perhaps an employed student - stepped deftly around the bar to offer the dragon his service. Vaughn didn't overhear what the sizeable dragon had ordered - but the small smile cresting the fennec's muzzle grew just a little wider as he saw the dragon seem to tense and relax at the fleeting contact, as if an insecurity had been removed. Even spectating from here, it was clear; the raptor-dragon, for all his impressive appearance, was a little shy. The poor soul.

Barely a few seconds passed as the dragon nodded down to the barkeep - Vaughn guessed that at seemingly nearly seven foot high, it was hardly surprising the dragon would be looking down a lot - and then simply turned around, revealing his large, gold-filled glass - three times the size of the fennec's, and floating on empty air alongside the dragon neck, a small amber aura pulsing softly at its base.

The deft movement had caught the fennec off guard, and Vaughn's eyes met the dragon's for a second. The creature looked over to his right, as if towards the dancefloor, before back to Vaughn, the furthest table from the bustle.

Vaughn looked away, trying to relax from the sudden tension --

.Do you mind if I sit with you?

Vaughn blinked.

He'd... 'heard' the dragon speak... rather than hearing the speak of the dragon. The voice seemed to just exist, in his head; like a mental broadcast - and somehow, he knew it was the creature's own, natural voice. Mildly surprised, but dignified enough not to let it show, he looked back - gathering the social confidence to smile.

"Take a seat. It's ok." Vaughn's soft voice, quiet, but strong. He surprised himself with the sound of it... he was usually so much more the shy one himself.

They sat together in silence for a little while, merely becoming accustomed to each other's presence. After a time, they shared their names. Vaughn learned the dragon's name was Aesin. Names, lubricated by strong beer and a heady atmosphere, quickly led through to more conversation -- and Vaughn, happily surprised, found himself listening and learning.

'Aesin', of the dragonkind. Not always social, but a bright and curious character. Not always chippy, but often helpful. And to top it all, it seemed that the raptor-dragon was a powerful user of the Dragonkind's magic.

The fennec had shared his own name, too - Vaughn, just a humble fennec, as his long, floppy black ears proudly showed. A humble studio musician, having the fortune to work with an orchestra here and there, and not a huge fan of 'popular' radio releases. The classics - and the classical skills of composition - were more important than all that noise.

.Do you often find company here? You seem quiet.

Pause. Vaughn swallowed the last of his cider before replying.

"I don't often come here. I don't spend much time around people."

.Then... why are you here?

"I was... expecting some company, tonight. I got let down."

.Funny we should find each other tonight, then, maybe... I've been let down tonight, too. Didn't really expect to find much solace, so like a smart dragon I've come to drink down golden solace itself. Ah haha.

The Fennec grinned, despite himself. The dragon was already on his fourth of the triple-pint glasses; drinking them down was certainly what Aesin had seemed to plan to do, and at least twice as fast as Vaughn.

"I'm out of cider... I'll stay for another one. Maybe... we can cheer each other up a bit? After all, it's late; I'm probably leaving soon."

.No need... it seems we have the same taste in this divine amber liquid. Take the rest of mine; I've enough of your monies from this one you've bought me, furry one.

The giant glass of cider seemed to glow amber for a second, before sliding easily along the table, towards Vaughn, and pouring itself into his own glass. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a small, confident smile faintly swell on the dragon's maw, as he practiced his magic.

.There...

There was another long pause, as the pair drunk together in silence. The clock tinged; it was one in the morning, and Vaughn was starting to feel a little tired as the cider played on his system. Aesin, however, didn't seem to need to stop at all - the giant glass floating to his muzzle, and pouring in that sweet, golden cider, bit by bit, sip by massive sip.

Vaughn could almost admire it.

"Do you like music, Aesin?", he asked, starting to grow curious about his companion. He felt a little woozy by now; but the dragon's company was, despite himself, enchanting.

.In the dragon world? Hmm, perhaps. We sing a lot.

"And no instruments?"

.But how would we play them? The dragon lifted a large, clawed paw - and showed off another sly, confident, half-humoured grin. .Magic does much for the world.

As time passed, Vaughn felt himself opening up. The dragon was absolutely shy, but pushed himself past it, and made even him willing to talk by proxy - and despite himself, the company was pleasant. It was almost half one in the morning; there had been no sign of Rolf. But he wasn't disappointed - the night had absolutely been worth it.

Yet as suddenly as he'd begun to enjoy the night, with the dance music turning somber and then finally off completely [they'd both thanked respective gods]; as the dragon paid willingly for glass after glass of rich, sweet cider; as the noise drained from the pub; as the hours passed; and as he simply sat, drinking and quietly talking with the regal Aesin - the last, night-shift bartender arrived at their table, the last two customers in the pub.

"Sorry guys. Pub's closing. Going to have to ask you to leave in about fifteen minutes or so; I'll be cleanin' up behind the bar, if you need me." The elder fox seemed tired.

And despite everything, Vaughn couldn't help feeling just right - relaxed, comfortable. Aesin's slow, quiet, shy company was enjoyable, even despite his own misgivings about company in general.

.It is a pity...

"What is?", Vaughn asked.

.Closing. The raptor-dragon flicked its neck a little; an odd dragon-shrug. .I have no home tonight. It is why I am here...

"But... where will you sleep?"

.Where must I? In the sky, alone, I should think. It is not so comfortable, and sometimes cold, but I have nowhere to be, and so needs must.

In the sky... Vaughn looked over the dragon's regal crest of fur, navy and gold, and those intelligent, amber eyes...

"I have a spare bedroom, in the studio flat, if you wanted somewhere warmer.", he heard himself offering. But as soon as it was out, it felt right to ask - but anxiety, curious anxiety.....

.Would you...? That... It would be a big help. Thank you.

Vaughn blinked, those anxious feelings disappearing - suddenly replaced by a confidence that seemed to flood right through his body. No way... it had definitely been right to ask. A charming stranger needed a hand; what better man would offer anything less?

Or maybe it was the drink talking. God dammit.

He admired the dragon's eyes, letting them warm him up inside.

"Can you... walk?"

.Oh, psh.

---

Keys fumbled in the lock before the door opened, welcoming Vaughn into his own apartment.

'Almost' open-plan, the well lit room seemed perfectly big enough for even the lengthy Aesin. Not being much for furnishings, merely a bookcase welcomed them; shelf after shelf of music theory, classic literature - some English, and some older Spanish works. It was the only thing packed and messy which, in contrast to the open room, with kitchen appliances sitting snugly on a surface near a small table, and a door to the side leading to his own bedroom, and one old, leather sofa in the middle, absolutely made the bookcase seem to be the most alive thing in the room.

It made a curious view, of which Vaughn was suddenly self-conscious - how had he not noticed how bizarre that looked before? - especially as Aesin looked right at it, the dragon mentally chuckling_quite_ noticeably.

Behind one other door at the end of the tall, open-plan chamber, the other 'spare' bedroom was left unused -- serving intermittently as a humble study, thought it had become less and less used as he'd finally dropped from university.

"Make yourself... at shome, Aesin..." blinked Vaughn. He wasn't drunk - he thought he wasn't drunk - but... tipsy, almost gigglish. It was a ridiculous state, but he couldn't help feeling pleasant...

.Thankyou, Vaughn...

Suddenly, Vaughn was caught by surprise, as a warm slickness slipped at the back of his furred neck. Vaughn flinched, turning quickly around as he felt Aesin's tongue, the weight of that affectionate lick.

"Ah-", he sighed. "Just you."

The dragon looked right at him, those amber eyes his hazel-green, before a soft rumble echoed through Aesin's throat. It didn't take Vaughn long to realise the dragon had chuckled quite openly, and once again, he felt self-conscious.

Oh god. Was he about to blush?

.Yes, just me. Who else?

"I wouldn't know. Maybe the company I had been expecting?"

Vaughn chuckled, trying to hold back the heat in his face. Rolling his shoulders, he slipped off his walking-hoody, and let the warmth of the heated flat soak through to his bare chest-fur as he tugged off his thin shirt. Nonchalance and cider filled him with a pleasing buzz, and he pointed towards the second bedroom.

"That's the... spare bedroom. You can make yourself at...", he began, before catching his words, as he looked back at the dragon.

Aesin took a pad towards the fennec, his strong neck lowering his head to the level of Vaughn's, catching him eye to eye. His regal musculature was more visible in the low-level evening lamp-light, rippling beneath the fluffy down of a thousand slender navy feathers and, despite everything he felt, all the insecurity and the memories and disappointment of Rolf's no-show, none of it seemed to matter as Aesin rested his head softly on Vaughn's shoulder.

.I must honestly thank you for letting me stay here tonight. The skies are not so friendly to a lone dragon... I do owe you.

Without really realising it, Vaughn slipped a paw across the side of Aesin's cheek, down his neck - letting his digits splay apart, to run them through the thicker feather-down of the creature's mane. Feeling the fennec's paw against his fur, the dragon flinched; blinking once or twice, before craning back gently, softly laying the crest of his snout against the black-furred fennec's forehead.

A swath of fuzz fazed the free thought of them both. The cider-fuelled conversation for the night at the bar had truly loosened their boundaries with each other, and in the warmth of the flat, Vaughn craned his neck upwards.

"Hey, hey. Easy..." murmured Vaughn.

His thoughts seemed to stick, stutter and start over and over as the fennec rolled a paw gently across the side of the dragon's leathery head, touching the base of dark, silken navy feathers at the crease of its neck... Aesin had suddenly seemed about to collapse, but contentedly nudged his heavy head into the side of Vaughn's neck, lightly nuzzling the fennec appreciatively.

How drunk were they both? Bleh... how drunk was he?

"It's fine. Not... not shure what you've been up to, but..."

.I have been cast; my group has left me. It is... difficult, for a dragon.

"Well, fuck them. They lost a great guy," Vaughn continued, trailing a paw down the sombre dragon's throat. His paw dug beneath the feather-down... caressing the soft leather beneath, feeling the creases of skin and the power of the muscles under the raptor-dragon's body. Christ... he's warm...

.Opinion, and perhaps a lost detail... I am still cast, regardless.

"What'd you even do; chat up the wrong girl?"

.Ah, you knew it was mating season, hm? I... propositioned the Alpha.

Vaughn hadn't known it was mating season, but nodded nontheless, hoping the dragon's powers didn't quite reach mindreading. His thumb grinded softly against the flesh beneath Aesin's feathers - rolling against lightly bumped scales and the nudges of feather-hilts, exploring the dragon's underbody. He'd... never been quite this close to a dragon. It was a breathtaking experience.... either that, or the cider was telling him so.

"Wewf... talk about the friend-zone. She must be one hell of an Alpha."

.Errum. Yes, "he" is quite worthy of respect... a strong leader.

The fennec winced, knocking himself mentally for assuming - and then knocked himself again, as the rhythm of his stroking bounced off-beat. It was enough.

The dragon pulled back his head, jerking out of Vaughn's soft paws, hissing.

.YES! Like that. All the dragons were like that - not a single one of them! - they'd slice you to pieces for admiring a male--

"Aesin, wha-"

.-- I suppose I should not be surprised that trust is misplaced here, too!

"Hey! No!", yelled Vaughn.

The dragon was quiet. Vaughn panted.

Dust spiralled softly down, as a resident from above them kicked the ceiling.

"Shut the fuck up, Vaughn, or I'll kick your ass! It's three in the fuckin' morning!".

Aesin was looking up, now; suddenly meek. Minimised, he scuttled backwards - clawless paws pushing against the linoleum floor, as his tail flicked, bumping the golden end-tip against the wall, hindquarter tapping a door-frame --

.I am sorry... I have caused so much trouble. I shoul-

"No...", whispered Vaughn. "I'm sorry; I was surprised, that's all. And I don't care about the noise up there; _fuck_that." Shaking his head, the Fennec rushed forwards, hugging Aesin's thick neck.

"Don't get me wrong, how could I possibly care you wanted your Alpha?" He smothered a laugh into the raptor-dragon's feathered neck, recovering. "I like the dicks too, you marvellous idiot."

.I... what? Then...

"Yeah... I was just surprised. That's all," reassured Vaughn. Something was... different, though. Something... other. Something had drifted through their mental channel; some revelation. An image, half-constructed, of Aesin... and....

No, it was gone. Vaughn smiled, though. Regardless... he bet he could tell what it was. Or maybe that was the cider, too. Or projection? Fuck it. He was drunk.

But whatever the case, with his black paws tight around the feather's raptor-dragon's neck, Aesin felt... warmer, and Vaughn felt he knew why.

.Then you... I am sorry for my noise, Vaughn.

"It's alright," whispered the fennec. "At least they can't hear you upstairs."

---

Awkward, jumbled, cider-driven half-speech stutteringly led them through an erratic maze of fuzzy conversation to an equally ungracious goodnight.

It was a goodnight that had quickly been completely repealed, as Aesin bumped his shoulders on the sides of the door that would have led him into the borrowed spare room, utterly unable to squeeze through it -- leaving him padding in a circle on the vinyl flooring in embarassment as Vaughn struggled to keep down throaty laughter, rolling on the ground.

Either inebriation or time had widened the mental channel that the raptor-dragon had opened to Vaughn's mind, and now, it wasn't even just speech that fired through -- even the dragon's emotions and ideas, muted and distant, bounced through like the phone-line between them had become a television, and the dragon's own swelling embarassment was all the more hilarious for it.

The connection was like the closest friendship, and it stripped away borders; the fennec hadn't even felt bothered as Aesin had finally poked the golden-feathered tip of his long, slender, feline tail right into his maw, muffling his laughter. Vaughn had briefly wondered how much of his own thoughts the dragon could see -- grabbing onto the tail with his two hands and sliding it back out of his maw -- but didn't mind overmuch. There was something about being able to see the dragon's mind passively that completely augmented his trust.

Trying to quell the last pulses of reflex, Vaughn slowly picked himself up. "Okay, okay... I'll stop laughing," he chuckled - rewarded for the mirth by a light jab of the dragon's tail-tip into his chest.

"Oof!"

.Seriously, little-one, you're going to make my navy feathers red.

"P-probably... didn't even know you dragons could blush!"

Vaughn stumbled, pushing a paw into the wall of the flat to catch himself. God, he was off-balance... he knew he wasn't this drunk; was Aesin's own drunkenness feeding into his? Was his own inebriation reverberating into the dragon's? These mental games were crazy things...

He caught his balance, stumbling back to a full stand, eying up the dragon.

"Y-you... you want to get comfortable on the couch, Aesin? I'll grab a cover for you..."

.Mmm, I'll be fine without. Such things ruin feathers. As does embarassment.

"Suit yourself... a pillow, then...", he mumbled, as Aesin padded onto the sofa - his hefty paws clawlessly gripping the cream-coloured leather, gracefully heaving the raptor-dragon's slender form on top.

.I'll pass, little-one. This is comfortable enough...

Vaughn shrugged, resting one paw on the side of his door-frame, murmuring. "Suit yourself..."

Looking into his dark room, he blinked. The blinds were down. His bed was messy. Scores of small, collectible statuettes of Pokemon lined two head-high shelves. A laptop, plugged in but off, sat at a skewed angle on a coffee-table; it lorded over an emptied crisp packet and an old chair. The carpeted floor needed vacuuming... ... he hesitated.

He looked back over his shoulder at the slender dragon. Aesin's body, feathered in a glorious deep navy, rested on its side. A golden streak ran down its slender tail, curling over the edge - joined awkwardly by his strong, thick hindquarters. The dragon was far too long for the sofa.

And yet... there was an obvious space between the dragon's soft-fluffed belly and the lip of the couch.

Vaughn looked back at his room, and back at the dragon. His long, slender ears flicked at the back of his head; a troubled expression shot over his eyes.

Goddammit, he thought, as he closed the door of him room behind him.

He was way too shy.

---

Vaughn had given up on sleep a long, long time before Aesin's mind faded to fuzz. He wasn't counting the minutes, but the night sky outside had passed from black through navy.

For the second time that night, he stood in his door-frame, admiring the dragon's body - this time, knowing that Aesin was asleep. His eyes swept up from the tip of the raptor-dragon's tail; rolling upwards to his pretty thighs, which were gently spread along the armrest of the couch. Aesin's downing gradiated from silky, soft fluff on his thighs and underbelly, casting seamlessly into graceful, navy feathers that covered the most visible parts of his body; the creases of his thick neck hid away the strong muscles that supported his curved, supple head...

Beyond all that he could see from him, though, he could remember most of all just how warm his body had been; all the strength and power he had felt rippling under the dragon's fur, feathers and skin. The closeness of their minds, and the desire Aesin had hidden from him...

Vaughn's mind was clearer now - but cider, or something else, gave him a strange and curious courage. The fennec took slight steps... silently stalking forwards on the linoleum floor, until he was besides the sofa at last; unable to resist placing a paw against the dragon's soft-furred thigh.

...So warm.

From here, besides the couch, he could see the raptor's underbelly. His paw rolled gently against Aesin's fur... stalking downwards, along the insides of his thick thigh; changing to a single, gentle digit as Vaughn knelt down in front of the sofa.

Vaughn paused... trying to pace his breathing. From here, he was struck once more by the regal size and power of the raptor-dragon's body; the fennec's whole body was overcome, his legs, bent beneath his kneeling form, were shaking with some unknown excitement - and as his paw-digit made the slow, tense crawl from the insides of the dragon's thighs to its soft underbelly, he squeaked - a childish sound.

Vaughn glanced up at the dragon's head - seeing the closed eyes, watching and hearing the slow breathing of his guest and friend.

This is... so crazy.

Mentally, he probed at the link between them - stretching and tugging. The mind-pipe was like elastic; and even while Aesin was sleeping, he knew he could find out what he was thinking, feeling, imagining...

With a last mental tug, he suddenly found himself with open flood-gates. His mind tumbled and whirled; the dragon-raptor's dream-world swallowed him whole, flooding his entire consciouness with images and ideas. It was heavy and hot; his mind recoiled from the pressure, but drunk in the information - - a tumultuous swirl of thoughts and feelings of heat and lust - - until suddenly, Aesin's head spat him right out again - leaving the fennec reeling.

It had been just a split-second, but Vaughn had seen every desire the dragon had had, including the memory that Aesin had sent when they first entered his flat.

The memory and intensity of it made him blush, panting from the dual intensity of the secret experience and the shared dream-space. Above all, though, he'd been right... the dragon had wanted him... and that dream was pretty god damn raunchy.

Not unexpected for a dragon who's just been blue-balled. Vaughn bit his lip, stifling the childish smile. Oh god, he was such a _nerd..._his finger still lay hesitant on the underbelly of Aesin's furred body, sunk into an inch of soft, fluffy downing between the dragon's thighs. And still, even after seeing the dragon's dream for himself, he couldn't pull this off... could he?

Courage, curiousity... he blinked. He swallowed. And he let himself continue to slowly slide that finger up the raptor's body, inch by hesitant, curious inch...

... until finally, his finger sunk gently inbetween two soft, fleshy lips, hidden from sight under the raptor's fluff. Vaughn gasped, feeling something solid and warm grace the touch of his finger - and swallowed one more time... letting the warm interior clench and squeeze against his finger with each breath the dragon took.

Even his arms were shaking now... Vaughn leant forwards, placing his spare hand on the lip of the couch, guiding his digit against the warm length inside Aesin's body -- before curling his digit deftly around the thin item.

Aesin's fore-paw flinched forwards, grabbing at something; Vaughn ducked on instinct, looking fearfully up at the dragon's face for any sign of lucidity; feeling something burst through their dimmed mental connection. He was still asleep... but thrill soaked through the Fennec's body. He wondered how Aesin's dreams were going now...

He could feel the creature's maleness swell, the slit squeezing tighter against his finger - as the tip of the raptor-dragon's shaft poked outwards from the swelling male's lips; parting the creature's fur as the slit became a small mound, bringing Vaughn's single finger with it. With each breath of the dragon, it grew larger; slick with some clear coating from the dragon's own body, and shaped exactly like a curved tentacle; Vaughn couldn't help but finally fully blush.

Holy shit.

It took him a while to realise his jaw was hanging open from the sight, and he slowly closed it, swallowing, as Aesin's shaft grew in front of him. A small flare swelled around the middle of Aesin's length - a ring, thin and fleshy, pulsed lightly as his tip twitched.

He admired it for a moment, unaware of anything else; tracing the length of the shaft with that same, slickened finger; periodically glancing up at Aesin's still, resting head.

He gently curled his finger around the tip of the slick length, feeling Aesin's true, hidden warmth... and unfurled the finger, sliding his touch down the length, over the ridge-ring; down to the base, where its thickness was enough to let his thumb meet the tip of that finger as he curled both digits around it.

Mating season indeed... that had been so easy... and so worth the view. Vaughn's ear twitched, the light, silk pants he was wearing over his legs feeling incredibly uncomfortable.

He leaned forwards, gripping the lip of the sofa tighter, just for a better view - not noticing Aesin's tail-tip flick behind the armrest, or the slow, heavy movement of the raptor's forepaw, or the increasing heartbeat and warmth of the dragon's body... not until he suddenly felt Aesin's thick tongue slide once more over the side of his black-furred neck, and the four claws of each of Aesin's digits grip softly, affectionately, at the back of his head, pushing him closer...

.Gooo-ood boy...