FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

With his arms wrapped around her shoulders, Mike slowly pressed his face into her thick chest fur. Snuggled close, he could feel one of her hind legs between his thighs, gently separating his knees to stop them rubbing together. With a deep, content sigh, he gave her a gentle squeeze, enjoying how soft and comforting she was.

"Mmmm, good morning, Michael," Liiria murmured and smiled when she was rewarded with a tighter hug. Wrapping a paw around him, she held him close, content to feel his bare skin against her body. "Did you have fun last night?"

Mike's mind was sluggish and groggy, nodding as he tried to recall their date. "I did, that food was good," he mumbled, "and the company was even better." Slowly running his hands up and down her back, he could feel her soft body beneath his touch and smiled. "We need to do that again sometime."

Liiria gently ran her paw up his bare shoulders and back down again, enjoying the smooth friction of her delicate paw pads on his skin. "How do I compare to Taalli?"

Mike shook his head slowly in confusion and kissed her chest. "You're nicer," he said sleepily. "You have a pretty smile, and you give great hugs." Holding her tight, he wiggled against her to enjoy her warmth. He could feel his member becoming excited at their closeness and tried to ignore it. "She was bigger, which made things awkward."

"What happened to her?"

Mike sighed softly. "I don't want to talk about her." With his face buried in her fur, he stroked her back further, enjoying how the fur would run between his fingers. "Liiria is better." He added simply.

Her stroking became more deliberate, a gentle brush of a claw against his spine sent a shiver through his body. "But Michael, surely you know where she is."

Mike shook his head slowly. "I haven't seen her in ages. Can we talk about something else? I really don't want to think about her."

Undulating her body against him, he felt his smaller form be rocked on the soft mattress. "Aw, surely you can tell me," she said playfully, rolling slightly to put some of her weight on him. "Please?"

Mike could feel the sweat building on his brow and relaxed his embrace. "What's so important about her?"

"Because I need to know," Liiria said, her voice deepening and becoming more serious. "I've been paid a lot of money to find her, and you know where she is. Don't you, Michael?" She said firmly, rolling on top of him and lifting her chest off his face. "I'll let you make me coffee if you tell me."

"I-I don't understand."

"Oh, please, Michael. Did you really think that interview with Kaarak was just an interview?" Liiria asked, the playful tone of her voice completely gone. "You did, didn't you? Oh, Michael, you were such an easy mark. Kaarak hired me, so how about you tell me where she is, and we can have coffee, just you and I."

Mike's heart hammered in his chest as he looked up, her lavender-colored fur changing and shifting into black scales. "Tell me where she is, Michael, and then you can make me coffee."

Mike's jaw dropped as her kind face was replaced with the dark-scaled head of Taalli's father. Glancing down at the mattress, his eyes widened as he realized he was sleeping in a pile of green bills, each one beginning to bleed crimson blood. "Where is my daughter, Michael!" His voice was low and deep, reverberating through his bones like an earthquake. "I want my daughter, and I want my coffee, Michael."

"This isn't real," Mike exclaimed as the black dragon shook him with a paw.

"I want my coffee!" Demanded the black drake, his venomous green eyes burning into his mind.

"Mike, come on, I want my coffee."

Mike jolted awake and yelped, the looming face of Geevin hovering inches above him. "Gods! Geevin! What the heck!"

Pulling his head back, Geevin sat down on his haunches. "I want my coffee, Mike," he said simply. "Are you opening the store today or what?"

Looking around the small apartment, Mike began to piece together where he was. The living room of his former boss' apartment was dominated by the large double mattress of Mike's, leaving only a tight lane for Geevin to be sitting. Running a hand over the mattress, he confirmed it wasn't bleeding and shook his head. After graduating from university and the dramas that followed, his former boss had kindly rented his living room to Mike, and while he had his own business, he still hadn't found anywhere to live within his price range.

"What? The store? Yeah, darn." Mike mumbled, lifting his phone, he discovered he had forgotten to put it on charge. "What time is it?"

"About five minutes past when you usually open the store," Geevin said simply, inspecting a claw.

"Nnngh, darn." Mike exclaimed and threw back the covers. Wearing nothing but a pair of briefs, he rummaged through a pile of laundry on the floor and stood up, holding a bundle of clothes. "That's not good."

"No, it's not. Dragons like routine, order, and a bit of consistency," Geevin explained and stepped back, allowing Mike to dash to the bathroom and begin hastily getting ready. "I take it you had fun last night?" Geevin teased as the bathroom door closed, and the sound of the shower filled the apartment. Smiling, the brown drake shook his head and picked up Mike's phone. Holding the charging cable between two digits, he carefully inserted it into the bottom of the phone and smiled when it made a happy chime.

While he waited, his nose twitched at the scents from Mike's bed. Hints of the purple dragoness made him grin, along with the arrangement of pillows the human had been clutching. A nostalgic smile crept onto his snout as he remembered what it was like to be Mike's age and chasing 'nesses.

His head whipped to the bathroom door as he heard the shower turn off. Moments later, Mike stumbled out of the bathroom while tightening his belt. His work shirt was still unbuttoned, and he wasn't wearing any socks as he frantically tried to get himself ready for the day.

"Hey, Geevin. You know how you are the best drake in the world," Mike started, giving the dragon a warm smile and a nod toward the sliding balcony door.

"No."

"Oh, come on, the morning rush is where I make the most money, and I am already late," Mike explained while trying to slip on a pair of shoes without undoing the laces.

"Maybe you should have gotten up earlier," Geevin chastised and passed Mike his wallet and phone, its battery only just keeping it alive.

"Oh, come on, please—"

"—No, my ancestors worked hard to not have you humans using us as taxis. It would be a dishonor to carry you to work, even if it is because you were out last night with a 'ness," Geevin said firmly.

Mike quickly continued to button his shirt. "But Geevin, if I get to work sooner, you can have your coffee sooner."

"Nice try, other places sell coffee. I can go there first and then go to your place once the bus gets you there," Geevin retorted.

"I remember you saying that my coffee was better, though," Mike replied, patting his pockets to make sure he had everything, "and how you simply couldn't settle for another's."

"It's a sacrifice I will have to make," the brown drake said with a smile and picked up Mike's keys from beside his mattress, passing them over.

Mike sighed and shook his head. "You are really going to be difficult, aren't you?"

"It's not my fault you don't have wings," Geevin shrugged. "Or woke up late. Don't take it personally, I don't even give Ben rides."

"That's not what I get woken up to some nights."

"Okay, I don't let him ride on my shoulders," Geevin corrected.

Mike squinted at Geevin in frustration before heading towards the front door of the apartment. "That's a shame. I guess I'll have to talk to a stranger on the bus about my night," Mike said, taking his time to unlock the door.

Geevin's tail flicked back and forth in curiosity as Mike opened the door. "You do that," he said flatly.

"Oh, I will," Mike teased, knowing he had piqued the dragon's interest. "But being a stranger, I don't know if I can go into the saucy details," he added and saw the brown drake's eyes widen slightly. With a dramatic sigh, he began slowly closing the door behind him.

"Nnnngh, fine!" Geevin snapped and stood up. "Details, all of them, and endless coffee and muffins for the day."

He smiled as he stepped back inside. "Details, coffee, but six muffins, and I won't tell Ben you gave me a ride," Mike counted. "IF you can get me to work in the next ten minutes."

Geevin cocked his head. "Fifteen minutes, I haven't had my coffee yet."

Mike knew the dragon would need to have the last say on the negotiations and nodded. "Come on then, I'll meet you on the street. I know the balcony can be tricky."

---

"So, where was this place? The one with the sexy dancing?" Geevin inquired as he landed heavily outside Mike's cafe.

Mike waited a moment for the drake to descend, but when the brown drake didn't, he swung a leg over Geevin's neck and slid down his shoulder, stumbling to the ground in the process. "Really? That's what you took away from that."

Geevin rolled his winged shoulders and stretched his neck before giving it a shake, clearly unaccustomed to flying with the weight of a rider. "What? You made it sound sexy."

Mike shook his head in disbelief and noticed the few customers standing on the pavement outside the cafe. "Sorry, everyone, let me get this door open for y'all." He announced to their frustrated expressions and crouched to unlock the door and collect the daily newspaper from the pavement.

Opening the door, he gestured for the group to enter, and he quickly set about opening the store. Lights clicked on, and the coffee machine began to whir to life. Mike danced between taking orders and operating the machine while his morning customers waited, frantically trying to keep pace with the orders and maintain a professional smile.

Geevin collected the newspaper from the counter and went about finding his favorite cushion from the pile. Setting it down next to the window, he patted it firmly with a paw before lying down and beginning to peruse the newspaper.

"Again, so sorry for the wait," Mike said loudly to a very unimpressed yellow dragoness who snatched her flask from him and left without saying a word. Only when the door closed did Mike sigh and lean back against the back wall.

"Oh, Michael, I want my coffee," Geevin said with a smirk.

Mike jumped at the words, vague memories of his dream coming back to him. "Oh, of course. Yes." Pulling out a large mug, he began the process of making coffee to the brown drake's liking. "Hey, Geevin," Mike started, trying to think of the right words. "I had a really weird dream last night."

"Oh? Did it involve our favorite fluffy dragoness?" Geevin teased and saw Mike blush. "It did! Didn't it!"

"Oh, forget it then," Mike retorted with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"Ah-ah-ah," the brown drake counted. "You said you had to give me all the details, this counts."

Mike sighed in defeat, realizing he wouldn't be able to take back what he had said. "Fine... It was just Liiria and me, but she was really interested in Taalli."

"In a 'let's invite Geevin to join in' kind of way?" the drake asked with a wide smile.

"Gods, never mind!" Mike exclaimed, shaking his head. "Why do I bother with you?"

"Okay, okay, so she was interested in Taalli, how?" Geevin said, turning the page of his newspaper to pretend not to be interested.

Mike rocked his head from side to side as he tried to remember the details. "I don't know, I think she was hired by Taalli's father to find her or something. It was weird."

"That's odd," Geevin remarked. "Was Taalli there? In the dream?"

Mike shook his head and turned the knobs on the machine to stop pouring coffee into Geevin's full mug. "No, it was just me and Liiria, and then she turned into Kaarak." Holding the large mug close to his chest, Mike carried it over to the lounging drake. "It was probably just a nightmare."

Geevin nodded sympathetically. "A 'ness turning into your ex's father is probably someone's kink, but not mine." He added with a smirk, chuckling when Mike glared at him. "But what I'm really hearing is, Mike has dreams of Liiria as a private investigator. Was she wearing the coat? I always liked the coat."

Mike shook his head in disbelief. The more he thought about his dream, the more ridiculous it became. Liiria was her own dragoness, and he knew he had to shake the idea that everything involved Taalli.

"Muffin, please, Michael. Maybe one of those with blueberries?"

"Hmm, all I have is cyanide. I hope that will do," Mike replied while heading back to the counter and retrieving a medium-cake sized muffin for the drake.

"My favorite," Geevin teased. "But okay. It's probably just guilt, I'm sure it will pass."

"You think so?" Mike asked and pointed to the microwave, placing the muffin inside when Geevin nodded.

"100 percent. You are going two for two on cute dragonesses. With a heavy dose of drama along the way."

Mike leaned against the counter while waiting for the muffin to warm and nodded after contemplating the drake's words. "You really think Liiria is cute?"

"Um, yeah. Not in a 'sleek, sexy harness model sorta way' like Taalli was, but definitely a 'ness to take home and meet the folks." Taking a sip from his mug, he continued, "Like, she is a little more stout than when I first saw Taalli. But not needing to fly means she can be a bit more cuddly. I mean, she isn't chunky or anything, just a bit less muscular than Taalli was."

Mike cocked his head, "I hadn't really noticed, to be honest. But that would explain some of the awkwardness last night."

"Oh?"

Mike shrugged. "The skinny dancer 'ness. I joked about her needing some meat, and I don't know, Liiria really opened up after that."

"She might be a little self-conscious, I don't know. People probably look at her strangely here because of the fur."

"You're probably right."

"Of course I am," retorted the brown dragon smugly. He opened his mouth but was interrupted by the microwave bell and let Mike focus on plating the steaming treat.

Rolling onto his front, he curled his neck in a graceful curve when Mike carried his breakfast over to him. "That smells good."

"It's hot, so take it easy," Mike remarked and placed it down on a low table between the drake's front paws.

"Um, Mike, I'm a dragon," Geevin retorted and took a deliberately large bite of the hot muffin, his eyes widening and beginning to water as the microwaved blueberries scalded his mouth.

Seeing the look of shock in the brown drake's eyes made Mike chuckle. "Oh, my mistake. The mighty dragon is far superior to ones like myself," Mike said dramatically and gave a low bow before turning and retreating to the counter.

Regretting the large bite, Geevin tried to swallow as quickly as he could and tilted his head upwards to help the hot mouthful down his long neck. Coughing once to clear his throat, he tried to play down the pain and forced a smile. "Good, that was good."

Mike noticed how glossy the drake's eyes were and shook his head again. Returning to the coffee machine, he began the process of cleaning it, the various components coming apart with ease.

"So, as I was saying," Geevin said, slicing with a talon to open up the large muffin and release the moist heat from within. "Liiria seems nice. Try not to ruin it by thinking of Taalli."

Mike shook his head. "Oh, of course. Why didn't I think of that?" he replied sarcastically.

"That's why I'm here," Geevin chuckled, looking back down at his newspaper while his muffin cooled. "Taalli could be anywhere in the world right now. But you know where she isn't?" Geevin asked, flicking his eyes up to look at Mike, who shrugged. "Here. She isn't here and told you to find someone. Liiria is here, and she is someone." Seeing Mike still unconvinced, he continued, "After the hell her family put you through, you deserve to be happy."

"Yeah, you're right," Mike said in defeat. "I did enjoy last night, and it sounds like her parents aren't psychotic."

"Always a plus."

"And she seems pretty down to earth," Mike added before pointing quickly at the drake who had his smiling mouth open. "No! No wingless jokes!"

"I would never!" Geevin retorted with a paw across his chest in mock offense. "I was simply going to say she is a bit more your size. Ben says he keeps getting a sore back from looking up at me."

"Oh, I'm sure it's just from looking up at you," Mike replied and chuckled, while the brown drake smiled broadly.

"Speaking of… We don't want to sound like we are kicking you out. But if things become a bit more serious with you and Liiria…" Geevin said, giving a slight nod of his head for Mike to fill in the gaps.

Mike nodded quickly. "Of course. The living room was only meant to be temporary anyway, I just got distracted."

"Okay, good. Like I said, you are welcome to stay for as long as you need. But I just don't think Liiria is the 'sleep on the floor' sort of 'ness. If you know what I mean," Geevin added.

"Yup, I understand. I think Ben would be happy to get his gaming space back too."

The brown drake gave a relieved smile and nodded. "Cool, no rush though. Whenever works for you." Turning the page of the newspaper, he then lowered his head and took another bite of his muffin.

"Anything interesting?" Mike asked as he began reassembling the coffee machine, giving a small nod to the newspaper when Geevin looked up.

"Standard stuff, war here, a movie star did something regretful there," Geevin replied casually. "Some French artist has disappeared, his fans are sad and miss him. Pretty usual stuff."

Mike nodded in understanding and finished assembling the coffee machine. "Hey, Geevin, can you cover the shop for a sec? Just need to go to the bathroom."

"You know, if you hired someone, they could open the store in the morning and cover your bathroom breaks," Geevin remarked, turning the page with deliberate slowness.

"If I hired someone, I wouldn't be able to move out."

"Maybe hire a high schooler or something? I hear they are always looking for jobs," Geevin replied and looked up.

"Okay, I'll look into it. But if you don't cover me, I'll have to kick you out," Mike threatened and undid his apron.

"Fine, but don't expect all the pastries to be there when you get back."

"Thanks, buddy." Tossing his apron onto the counter, Mike collected the bathroom key and stepped outside. The one downside of the cafe's location was that it shared a bathroom with the other stores on the ground floor, and in the winter, it wasn't a pleasant walk.

---

"He just stepped out but will be back in a minute," Geevin said as the bell above the door rang, his head still buried in the newspaper.

"Oh, okay," replied Liiria as she scanned the otherwise empty cafe. "I'll wait then."

Geevin's head snapped up at the sound of her voice. "Ah, Liiria, was it?" he said with a smile, giving a polite nod of his head. "I'm Geevin."

"Hi! Nice to meet you," Liiria replied happily, rocking awkwardly from side to side.

Catching himself staring at her fluffy coat, Geevin quickly looked down at his paper and pretended to be engrossed in the Dragonball results. The sound of the large clock on the wall seemed to echo through the heavy silence that hung between them.

"Sooo, ah. Come here often?" Liiria inquired, deciding to pull a cushion from the stack and make herself comfortable.

Geevin gave a snort of amusement, "I guess I do, don't I."

"How do you know Mike?" Liiria asked with a smile and sat down on her cushion.

Geevin closed his newspaper and looked at her with a warm smile. "He used to work for my boyfriend, but now he is our roommate."

"Oh, that's neat," Liiria mused. "So you, his old boss, and Mike all live together?"

Geevin gave a nod and then glanced out the window to make sure Mike wasn't returning. "Actually, could I ask a favor? It's our anniversary tonight, and I was thinking of doing something special for Ben, my boyfriend."

"Okay…" Liiria said with confusion.

"If it's not weird, and you were free, would you be able to make Mike scarce tonight? Maybe go see a movie or something?" Geevin asked and saw her eyes light up in understanding. Their anniversary was months ago, but she didn't need to know that, and he was sure Mike would thank him one day.

"Oh! Right… um, I guess. Sure!" Liiria said cheerfully. "I was hoping we might do something anyway, so that works well."

"Oh good, fantastic, thanks." Geevin flustered, "It would mean the world to Ben and me. He is a good kid, but sometimes we need some space."

"Totally!" Liiria exclaimed, "I won't bring him back until after midnight, does that work?"

"Thank you. I really appreciate it." Geevin replied happily, and a silence hung over them once again. "He shouldn't be long."

Liiria nodded and found herself looking around the cafe. The walls were painted a warm terracotta color with black trim to match the bold logo, numerous black and white photos of famous dragons hung in smart frames around the cafe, which made Liiria's mind wander. With so many cushions, it was clear that Mike had put a lot of effort into catering to dragons.

"Hey, Geevin. Can I ask you something about Mike?" she asked and turned to face the lounging drake. His eyes were slightly wider than usual as he slowly nodded. "What's the go with his ex?" she asked and frowned when he coughed nervously.

"I-um, what do you mean?" Geevin stammered, his tail curling around himself defensively.

Liiria observed the nervousness in the drake's body language and shook her head. "Sorry, it's probably not my place. I'm just wondering what happened between them, in case I say something wrong."

Geevin swallowed and looked out the window again before replying. "I don't think you can say anything wrong. He has a tough shell." Geevin started and double-checked the window, his mind quickly formulating a response that put his friend in the best light. "I don't know how much he told you, but Leena and Mike used to go to university together. Her family are complete nut jobs, and he was arrested."

"He mentioned the being arrested bit. But what happened afterwards?"

Geevin cocked his head as he tried to work out how much he should say. "Well, afterward, she made a video confessing to the crimes Mike was arrested for and then disappeared."

"What do you mean?" Liiria asked. Before her interview with Large Scale Developments, she had done a few online searches and saw mentions of the owner's troubled daughter, but most were focused on Kaarak himself.

"Well, maybe Mike is probably the one to fill in the blanks. But she made sure he was cleared and then left him."

"Oh."

"Really did a number on the poor kid. The pair of them were going to open this coffee shop together. But no one has heard from her since she left." Geevin said and tried to read her reaction. "But that was a long time ago, and he really likes you."

"Um, thanks," Liiria said, her inner ears turning a reddish hue. "I won't lie, I saw her picture online and… well, damn."

"What can I say, the man's got good taste." Seeing Liiria's smile broaden and ears flush darker, he chuckled loudly. "Just don't go breaking his heart," he added.

"Oh, I don't plan on doing that," Liiria replied with a giggle.

"Good! He is a good egg, and I haven't seen him this happy since—" Geevin paused as Mike walked back into the cafe and spotted the lavender dragoness.

"Liiria!" Mike exclaimed joyfully and hurried toward her. The purple dragoness swiftly rose to her feet to meet him halfway. He paused in front of her, his arms half-extended for a hug, unsure if he was being too forward.

Liiria smiled, her head at the same height as his, and stepped closer. Lifting a forepaw, she wrapped it around his lower back, pulling him into an embrace. She smiled with her head leaning on his shoulder when his hands wrapped around her shoulders. "Geevin was just telling me about Leena," she said gently, feeling him stiffen and suddenly pull away.

"What?" Mike asked, looking into her eyes and then snapping his head to Geevin. "What did you say?"

The brown drake gestured subtly with a paw for him to calm down. "I just told her that Leena left you in the lurch after she made the video. And how she hasn't spoken to you since," he said carefully, his words measured. "That's all."

"Mike, it's okay," Liiria reassured, seeing the concern in his eyes. "I was just curious is all." Shuffling closer, she brought her long snout next to his face. "I should have asked you. Sorry."

Mike turned back to face Liiria, seeing warmth and compassion in her eyes. "I-I, no, it's okay," he finally said, lifting his hands to stroke her cheeks. "It was a long time ago."

Smiling as his hands stroked the dense fur behind her jaw, she leaned closer, moving her head over his shoulder again, allowing his hands to travel down her neck and back to her shoulders. "Don't worry. I won't fly off on you," she said softly, smirking when he snorted in amusement.

Gently stroking up and down her neck and shoulders, he enjoyed their embrace. Her soft fur felt even softer than last night, and he found one hand moving up her neck to gently hold her head against his cheek.

"Ahem," Geevin said awkwardly. "I might get my next muffin to go," he added, smiling when Mike looked at him and nodded.

Separating from the fluffy dragoness, Mike's cheeks burned scarlet. "Coming right up." With a small smile and nod to Liiria, he turned and collected the brown drake's plate, then returned to the counter.

"Is it okay if I apply for jobs again?" Liiria asked while turning around and returning to her cushion.

"Of course!" Mike exclaimed and began retrieving another large muffin. Slipping it into the brown paper bag, he slid it across the counter to Geevin, who gave a nod of thanks and left with a wide grin on his snout.

"Would you like something to eat, or another hot chocolate?" Mike asked, smiling as her eyes lit up, and she nodded.

With her tablet set up on the floor, she quickly got back up and trotted over to the counter. "I haven't eaten since last night. Let's see what you've got." Lowering her head to the glass cabinet, she looked over the dozens of delightful treats. "Is the banana bread good?" She asked, looking up to him with her bright green eyes.

"Oh, it's good," Mike chuckled and crouched to retrieve the loaf. "One dragon slice?" He asked while getting a knife and saw the confusion on her face. "I cut it short ways for humans and lengthways for dragons," he explained.

"Oh! That's clever." Liiria smiled, "I don't know if I could do a full slice. But maybe we could share one?"

Mike felt his cheeks flush again and smiled. "That sounds good. I haven't eaten since last night either. And a hot chocolate too?"

Liiria beamed at Mike. "Well, I was thinking maybe I might try one of your coffees? I've never had a fancy one before."

"Well, I will be honored to be your first," Mike chuckled before going red, "I mean. That's not what I—"

"—Oh! No, of course," Liiria exclaimed with a nervous laugh. "I know what you meant," she hastily added.

Mike cleared his throat nervously and donned his apron. "How about something like a mocha? It's like a hot chocolate with a shot of espresso. I can make it a half shot if you want."

Liiria nodded and found herself grinning. "Go easy on me, Mike. It's my first time." She teased and roared laughing as he blushed bright red again. Slipping a paw into her black leather harness, she fished out a twenty-dollar bill.

"Oh, don't worry about it," Mike exclaimed and waved a hand dismissively.

"No, I want to," Liiria replied and slid it across the counter.

"And I don't want you to," Mike retorted and slid the money back to her before turning to the coffee machine.

Liiria grinned as she spotted the tip jar on the counter, quickly sliding the note into it before he could object, giving it a friendly pat on top.

"You're going to be trouble, aren't you?" Mike teased, hearing the tip jar jingle.

"Maaaaybe," Liiria playfully retorted, her body wiggling with excitement.

Mike smiled, placing a large mug under the machine to fill as he focused on slicing the banana bread lengthways. "Butter?" he asked.

"Just a little bit," Liiria replied, settling on her haunches to watch him work. "Busy morning?"

"Oh, nightmare," Mike replied. "I forgot to set an alarm, and it's only just quieted down."

"Do you have to travel far?" Liiria inquired politely as Mike placed the buttered slice into an industrial oven and pressed a few buttons.

"It's about a half-hour bus ride," Mike said, moving back to the coffee machine to stem the flow. "So not too bad."

Liiria nodded in understanding, her mouth watering at the scent of warm banana bread wafting from the machine.

"Take a seat if you want, I'll bring it over," Mike offered, lifting the large mug to his chest and following Liiria back to the cushion she had occupied earlier.

After placing the mug in front of her, he returned to the counter, opened the oven as it finished, transferred the bread to a large white plate, and brought it to the smiling Liiria. He noticed that her fur seemed to almost glow in the light streaming through the window.

"Did you do something different with your fur?" Mike asked warmly, placing the plate next to her tablet.

Liiria's eyes lit up, and her smile broadened. "I did! You like it?" Her body wiggled with pride as he nodded. "I kinda smelled like incense and spices from the restaurant, so I spent all morning washing my fur."

"Well, you look amazing," Mike complimented, sitting down next to her forepaw. Placing a hand on her forearm, he marveled at how soft and silky her coat was. "And your fur is really smooth."

"Naww… Thanks," Liiria said happily. "This banana bread smells great!" She added and lowered her head to take a good sniff of the tasty treat. "Did you want to cut it in half? Or how do you want to do this?"

Mike leaned forward and picked up the plate, placing it on his lap. "Well, how about this?" He said, breaking off a large chunk, her eyes going wide when he held it up for her.

With a warm smile, she gently took the piece from him with her mouth and hummed in bliss. "Thank you," she said with her mouth full and chewed the tasty-buttery bread. Swallowing, she looked down at him with a twinkle in her eyes. "Something tells me I'm not going to get much work done."

Seeing a few crumbs on her lip, he gently reached up, smiling when she closed her eyes and let him brush them away. "So still hunting for jobs?" He asked, and she nodded when he broke a small piece off for himself. "You mentioned that Drag'n'Drop was looking for someone?"

Liiria nodded again. "They are, but I'm not one to put all my eggs in one nest. I want to have a few options lined up, in case they say no." Looking down at the piece of banana bread, Mike followed her gaze and broke off another piece for her. "My folks kind of taught me that if I'm not working, my job is finding work. So, I try to hunt for jobs for like 7 hours or so a day."

"That's a pretty good work ethic," Mike commented and held the piece up for her to take, smiling as she deliberately took his fingers into her mouth and gave a playful slurp. "What is it that your parents do?"

Liiria took her time chewing before swallowing, looking around the humble cafe. She chose her words carefully. "Remember how I said that I used to work on the ski slopes? They sort of take care of the lodge and things."

"That's cool," Mike remarked and broke off another small piece of banana bread. "What made you want to do the whole dragon and human ergonomics thing?"

Liiria softly cocked her head one way and then the other as she thought. "I don't really know. I took a gap year after high school and traveled around Europe, and I saw how some cities did things, and others did them differently. Which was fun, but sometimes frustrating. So when I came back, I kinda threw myself into it."

Mike lifted the last of the banana bread up for Liiria to finish it off. Brushing his hands on his apron first, he wrapped an arm around her foreleg and leaned gently against her shoulder. "You are really warm, is the aircon okay for you?"

Finishing her mouthful, she nodded, "Yes, it's good. Honestly, I'm okay with the heat here, as long as I'm not running or doing anything too physical."

"Oh, that's good to know. I know some dragons love it really warm, but honestly, working behind the coffee machine gets hot enough."

"I think you've gotten the temperature just right. Thanks." Dipping her head down, she took in the scent of the coffee Mike had made for her. "So, a mocha, you say."

Mike squeezed her leg and stroked his hands up and down her fur. "Yeah, let me know what you think. I made it half-strength, so it shouldn't give you too much of a buzz."

Taking a small sip of the hot drink, she swirled it around her mouth for a moment before swallowing. Seeing his expectant expression, she smiled and gave a nod of approval. "Not bad. You're right, it is just like hot chocolate, but a bit different."

Smacking her lips, she took another sip and leaned into Mike as he held her arm. "I'm glad you like it. The secret is in the beans and how they are roasted."

Liiria could hear the enthusiasm in his voice and turned her head to look at him. "Oh? How so?"

"Well, Ethiopia is known as the birthplace of coffee. But Brazil grows the best ones for dragons. It's more chocolatey and nutty, which, stereotypically, dragons like," he explained. "And then they need to be roasted low and slow… Sorry, I kind of nerd out over this stuff," Mike added hastily.

"No, it's good. You're passionate about your work," Liiria said reassuringly. "I think it's cool that you like what you do. So many people work jobs they hate just because of the money."

"Oh, tell me about it," Mike chuckled nervously, thinking back to working for Taalli's father before pushing the memory away. "So, you like doing what you do?"

"I do. At my last gig, the reports could get pretty dry, so I tried to make them fun to read."

"Oh? And what would you say about this place?" Mike asked and looked to the door as it opened, a familiar gray dragon stepping inside with a heavy limp. "Nuut? What happened?" Mike exclaimed and quickly got to his feet.

The handsome drake turned his head to Mike and gave a weak smile, his eyes flicking between the two, knowing he had interrupted something. "Oh, hi Mike. I'm fine, just a little sore is all." Unhooking two flasks from his harness, he placed them on the countertop. "The usual for me, and another strong one for my friend," he added with a nudge to the black flask.

"Sore? What have you been getting up to? More deck work?" Mike asked and began cleaning the two flasks.

"Um… yeah," Nuut said sheepishly. "Is it okay if I sit down? I just need a moment."

Mike gestured to the cushions. "Please, make yourself at home."

Walking to the cushion that Geevin once used, he stepped onto the padded surface and sat down with a sigh.

Liiria looked around the cafe while Mike worked and took another sip of her drink. Her green eyes flicked to the counter height, the door size, and the general layout of the space. "I think I would give it an eight out of ten," Liiria concluded, her voice loud enough to be heard over the coffee machine.

"An eight? Why's that?" Mike called over his shoulder.

"It's a good score. You have a counter at a good height for both dragons and humans. The cushions get you easy points. Likewise, the open plan allows dragons to sit where they want, regardless of size. You also have enough room behind the counter for a dragon to work, which is great to see," Liiria said and continued to look around the room. "But you don't have anywhere for hatchlings to play, which means new parents aren't encouraged to spend time here."

"That's fair," Mike replied, sealing the lid on Nuut's flask and beginning to adjust the dials for the second coffee. "What else?" He asked, “don't hold back." He hadn't thought too much about hatchlings and started to think of ways he could make a corner for them that wouldn't disturb the other patrons.

Liiria saw Nuut watching her curiously and continued. "If there was a way to maybe bring the baked goods up a little to a higher sight line. Oh, and maybe some music? Nothing loud, but just background stuff. But overall, it is welcoming for dragons, and the owner is pretty cute too."

"Well, thanks," Mike said with a smile. Turning with the two flasks, he saw Nuut looking at Liiria with a thoughtful look in his eye. "Want anything else, Nuut? The banana bread is a favorite today."

The gray dragon shook his head, "No, I'll be good, thanks, Mike." He said and looked at the purple dragoness. "Say, are you a restaurant critic or something?"

Liiria laughed merrily. "Oh, no. I consult in species augmentative design, helping companies make their businesses safe and friendly for humans and dragons."

Nuut nodded in contemplation. "Have you thought about writing reviews?" He asked and slowly stood up with a subtle wince.

"Um, like for a blog sort of thing? Not really. I've been more focused on working from inside the company to make changes." Looking to Mike, she saw him deep in thought too. "But it's probably not that dissimilar."

Reaching into his harness, the gray drake retrieved a postcard-sized business card. "Well, if you want to take a shot at it, write a report and shoot it over to me. No promises it will see the light of day, but I'm happy to send it up the chain."

Liiria frowned and accepted the business card. A bold HH logo was embossed on one side, and Nuut's contact details were on the other. "HH, wait, you work for Heated Harness? The magazine?" Liiria asked, noticing Mike cock his head in surprise.

"That's the one," Nuut said with a smirk. "My boss is always talking about having more articles rather than just photos of models prancing about."

Liiria snorted in amusement and frowned when she saw Mike become very busy cleaning the coffee machine. "I'll think about it. Thanks!" Liiria said politely.

With a groan, Nuut took a few gingerly steps. "Like I said, I can forward it on, and if they like what they see, they will pay you. Usually quite well too." Nuut gave a farewell nod and slowly walked out of the cafe, one hind leg taking more weight than the other.

The bell above the door tinkled as it closed behind the gray drake, and Mike turned to Liiria with a smirk. "Thoughts?"

Liiria grinned sheepishly. "I don't know. Writing for a porn mag wasn't exactly on my career plan."

"It's not a porn mag!" Mike exclaimed and came over to her. "It's a fashion thing, or so I've heard."

"Uh-huh," Liiria said, unconvinced. "Let me guess, you read it for the articles?" she asked and smiled when his face went red. "Was the tail pouch section your favorite?" she teased, pulling him down to the cushion with a paw.

"I-I… Shut up." Mike laughed along with her. "I may have skimmed the tail pouch section," he admitted, remembering the seductive poses the models would strike to flaunt the latest in practical fashion. "But what do you think? It's a bit of a change from the corporate presentation vibe."

"Yeah, just a bit," Liiria admitted, shuffling slightly so Mike was sitting between her forepaws with his back against her front. Lowering her head over his shoulder, she took another sip of her cooling coffee and pondered the idea. "I like the idea of people reading my work, rather than the 'thanks, we will consider your recommendations' that I get from some places."

Mike guided one of her paws into his lap and gently stroked the fur, running his fingers between her digits. He was surprised at how thick her toes were, marveling at how his knuckles had to adjust. He realized her pads were likely so large to help with walking on soft snow. "What's holding you back?" he asked and looked up to her face.

"I'm not sure if I want my name on something next to a 'ness flashing her bits," Liiria chuckled.

Mike paused the massage of her paw while he burst out laughing. "Hey-hey-hey. They have drakes flashing their bits too," he retorted.

Liiria's sides vibrated with her laughter as she joined in. "Oh, my mistake. That changes everything," she giggled.

"You could always use a pen name, just in case."

"True, a fake name could be useful," she mused and saw Mike's eyes narrow. "What should mine be?"

"Hmm, maybe skip the fake name thing," Mike said. Looking up, he could see the confusion on her face and smiled. "I mean, don't do anything you're not proud of. Right?" he quickly added.

Liiria nodded. "You're right. If I'm going to do this, do it properly. And hey, they might not even publish my ramblings."

"Well, that too. But I think you could probably write circles around the usual 'ten tips to stop strap rash' that they usually print."

"Oh, so you do read the articles!" Liiria teased, pulling him tight against her front with a paw. "So, would it be okay if I write about your cafe first?"

"Of course! It could maybe drum up some business too," Mike said, holding her paw against his chest. "How many marshmallows will get me a ten?"

Liiria giggled and took another sip of her coffee. "Maybe two, and an interview with the owner tonight? Maybe back at mine? Geevin said he wanted you out because of his anniversary or something."

Mike frowned, doing the math. He shook his head before smiling broadly. "Oh, yeah, I think he mentioned something about that. Your place sounds good. How about I bring some dinner?"

"Ooo, that sounds good. What are you thinking?"

"I'm not sure. What does Liiria the journalist like to eat?" Mike asked and adjusted his position to run his hands up the sides of her lavender neck.

"Well, maybe something warm, like soup or something," she said softly, lowering her head to his level and looking into his eyes. "Forewarning, my place can be a bit cold."

Moving his hands behind her jaw, he looked into her eyes and then to her nose. Moving closer when she leaned in, he pressed his lips to hers. Feeling her warm tongue against his made him deepen their kiss, and his hands gently rubbed just behind her ears. Breaking their kiss, he smiled. "I'm sure I'll be warm enough," he said and kissed her nose when she giggled.

"And maybe we could watch a movie or something," Liiria suggested softly.

"That sounds good. It's a date," Mike smiled.

Remembering the state she had left her home, she smiled nervously. "Okay, well. How about this, I'll go home and start writing the thing, and you come over with dinner after work?"

"Sounds like a plan," Mike replied and sealed their deal with another kiss. "I'll bring something for dessert too."

"You're too good to me," Liiria murmured and kissed him again, rotating her head to deepen their kiss before pulling away suddenly. "Okay, I need to go, or else I won't get any work done," she said sheepishly.

"Of course," Mike said warmly and began to get up off the low cushion. "But! Give us your flask, and I'll make you something for the road."

Liiria felt giddy as she removed her flask for him. "Thanks. Hit me with your best mocha. Maybe full strength this time."

"Coming right up."

---

Reevian offered a polite smile to a drake as she slid a large bowl of noodles across the counter of her market stall. The afternoon sun was slowly fading over the city, casting the skyline in an amber glow, signaling the end of the day for many and the beginning of a busy evening for her.

Lifting a cup of water with her paw, she tipped it into the large wok and began swirling it around to clean. The cool water quickly turned into steam with a violent hiss. Glancing over to the counter, she confirmed she had no one waiting and watched the water boil on the hot iron pan.

Her market had become her refuge. The monotony of taking orders and preparing dishes for her customers allowed her to momentarily forget the fact that she wouldn't see her little brother again. Watching the pool of water become smaller and smaller, she lost herself in the white noise of the angry steam.

Tilting the wok one way and then the other with a teal-scaled paw, she recalled the fight she'd had with her brother, Teeslah. Though they hadn't come to blows, their abusive father's nature had reared its ugly head in a moment of rage that had left her shaking and needing to run. As the eldest in what remained of their family, she knew it was her duty to keep them all safe. Yet, she couldn't shake the idea that it was Teeslah's fault that Riimack enlisted and was killed, compounded with the guilt that she left them with their father for too long, which drove Riimack to do what he did.

As the last of the water drops boiled away, she looked across the marketplace. Families of humans and dragons milled around the various vendors, inspecting their wares and sampling the many food options. A small smile pulled at her snout as she watched a hatchling perched on the shoulders of a dragoness, the mother educating them on the importance of manners.

Swallowing, she tried to bury the maternal longing feeling and began preparing more ingredients with an old wooden-handled knife. A cloud of doubt filled her mind—would she be a good mother if given the chance? She couldn't keep her family safe, so why should she subject a hatchling to her failures?

"Hey, Reevian!" called a friendly voice, snapping her out of her destructive thoughts. Turning her head, she smiled politely at the human who approached the counter.

"Hey! I haven't seen you in ages! Mike, right?" Placing her knife down, she padded towards the register. "How have you been?"

"Ah, can't complain. You?" Mike asked.

Reevian blinked and smiled politely. "Yeah, not too bad. What can I get you?"

"I was wondering if I could get a big bowl of your famous noodles to share?" Mike asked and retrieved his wallet from his black business pants.

"To share? Is she back, is she?" Reevian asked, looking around the marketplace for any signs of the orange dragoness before noticing the pained look in Mike's eyes.

"Um, not exactly. Leena and I sort of broke up," Mike said softly. He hadn't come back to the marketplace since they parted ways, and it pained him to say the words.

Reevian recoiled in surprise. "Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. I thought you were good together."

Mike nodded, beginning to regret not coming here earlier. "It's okay, it was a while ago," he said with a small shrug, "and I've met someone else," he added.

"Well, good on you!" Reevian said politely. "Who is the lucky new 'ness? Or, sorry, woman?" she quickly added.

"She is a dragoness, and her name is Liiria," Mike replied, feeling his cheeks burn slightly.

Reevian gave a nod and began pressing buttons on the register with a claw. "Well, she is a very lucky 'ness. So, one big bowl to share. How spicy do you want it?"

"Maybe go mild. I'm not sure how hot she likes it," Mike replied, passing over more cash than needed. "Keep the change."

"Thanks, Mike," Reevian said warmly, slipping the bill into the register. She then began pulling prepared ingredients out and tossed them into the wok.

"Busy night?" Mike asked politely while watching the teal dragoness work. Flames licked the outside of the wok as she tossed the contents and added a pinch of spice.

"Tonight hasn't been too bad yet, but generally, it has really picked up now that the Drag'n'Drop building opened," she commented while adding some extra meat. "I think the marketplace is on most dragons' way home, so things get really busy just after sundown."

"Well, that's good!" Mike exclaimed, having to raise his voice over the sound of the sizzling meat and vegetables.

Reevian nodded and added the noodles to the wok, tossing them around to combine evenly. Her eyes flicked to Mike as she worked, memories of how sweet he was with Leena coming back to her, and she wondered what must have gone wrong to split them up. As much as she wanted to ask, she knew it was not her place.

Folding the noodles over and over again, she retrieved a large takeaway bowl from behind the counter and began transferring the contents from the wok.

"One big bowl to share, for Mike and his lucky 'ness," Reevian said warmly and secured a lid. "I hope she likes it."

"I hope so too," Mike replied and collected the large bowl.

"Also, bring her down next time. Nothing beats eating it fresh."

"Will do. Thanks, Reevian. You are the best." Mike gave a small nod and began carrying the heavy salad bowl-sized dish.

Leaving the marketplace, he hailed a cab and began his journey to Liiria's townhouse.

---

"Are you sure I'm not rushing things?" Liiria asked while fussing about her apartment, shifting trinkets and plants a few inches here and there to straighten things up.

Her mother's voice emanated from the large tablet perched on the kitchen island. "My Mishka, you need to relax. If you like him, then go for it. There isn't such a thing as too fast for a man," she said warmly. "He sounds nice, and it's good to see you smiling so much."

Liiria nodded and looked over her shoulder at the tablet. "Well, he is quite sweet," she called back and began rotating the pillows on her couch this way and that, cocking her head before swapping them back to how they were.

"So when do we get to meet him?" Her mother asked and grinned broadly when Liiria snapped her head around to face the camera. "Oh please, we didn't get to meet the last one."

"Well, how about you get on a plane and come visit us sometime," Liiria teased. "The summer is nice here."

"Oh honey, you know I can't handle the heat. How you do it is beyond me."

Liiria poked her tongue out at her mother playfully before continuing to tidy up. "Oh, it's honestly not too bad in the city. The buildings cast a lot of shade, and air-conditioning exists."

"Well, don't you go racking up a big electricity bill, your father will not be impressed."

"I won't, promise," Liiria called over her shoulder with a smile, her eyes going wide as she remembered her conversation at the cafe. "Oh, and I may have found a job. Well… maybe."

"Oh, look at you! Doing what?" Her mother asked with a proud smile.

Liiria trotted over to the table and sat down on her haunches to look at the tablet. "So, it's kinda funny. But I'm going to write a review of Mike's cafe for a magazine. If they like it, then who knows," she said with a smile and grinned further when her mother's eyes lit up.

"Oh, my Mishka! That's so clever of you! My daughter, writing for a magazine. Wait until I tell your father, which magazine is it?" The older dragoness asked.

Liiria's ears flicked back and burned in embarrassment, a reaction not unnoticed by her mother. "Well, that's the funny bit," she said, fidgeting with her claws. "You know that harness magazine that Dad likes…"

Her mother's roar of laughter eased Liiria's nerves, making her smile. The older dragoness' face disappeared from the camera's view momentarily as she laughed, her infectious joy causing Liiria to giggle until her mother composed herself. "Well, congratulations. I guess your father has a valid reason for his subscription now."

Liiria chuckled and gave a small nod. "Well, it's early days. I still need to finish it, and it may not even get accepted. But it's something."

"Of course, of course," her mother quickly said. "I'm proud of you, Liiria."

"Thanks, Mama." Liiria's head snapped to the door at the sound of the buzzer being pressed. "Oh, Mike's here!"

"Oh, let him in. I want to meet him."

"Ma!" Liiria exclaimed, seeing the cheeky grin on her mother's face.

"Please?"

"You're just going to call back if I hang up, aren't you?" Liiria asked, sighing when her mother nodded enthusiastically. "Okay, fine. But please just be cool."

"I can be cool," her mother claimed with a wink.

Rolling her eyes, Liiria sighed dramatically. "Fine." Trotting across the room, she made her way to the front door and unlocked it with a flick of her talon.

Opening the door, her ears perked up when she saw Mike holding two plastic bags, one with a collection of expensive ice cream tubs and the other a large bowl. "Hey, you!" Mike exclaimed happily.

"Hey, you too," Liiria said, wanting to pull him into a hug but refraining due to the heavy bags. "Oh, that smells good!" She added, catching a whiff of the warm noodles. "Um, just a heads up. I'm on a call with Mama. Is it okay if she says hi? She will be quick."

Mike swallowed and gave a weak nod. "Sure. I can say hi," he said awkwardly, readjusting his grip on the heavy bags, his heart beating nervously at the idea of meeting her parents so quickly.

"Cool! Come, that looks heavy," she said quickly, turning around to lead him inside.

Mike noticed the doormat inside that Liiria must use to wipe her paws and quickly slipped off his shoes, his socks offering some protection against the cool tiled floor.

His eyes widened as he followed Liiria into a spacious living room. Clearly designed with a dragon in mind, the entire floor featured an open-plan layout, with a large gray couch against one wall facing a wall-mounted television. The kitchen boasted large stainless steel appliances and a center island that doubled as a table. The air smelled fresh and clean with a hint of chemicals, and Mike mused that she had probably tidied up for him. A flicker of movement from the kitchen island caught his eye. Liiria's familiar tablet sat propped up on its kickstand, displaying the face of an older dragoness whose fur was a few shades lighter than Liiria's.

"Ah! So you must be Michael!" she said warmly, moving closer to the camera to see him more clearly. "Liiria, you didn't say he was that good-looking!" she added with a smile.

Mike chuckled awkwardly and saw Liiria's inner ears burn red as she took the bags from him. "Oh, ah, thanks?" Mike replied and moved closer to the tablet. "It's nice to meet you, Miss... sorry-"

"Riilary, please call me Riilary," she replied with a smile. "Liiria has told me all about you and your lovely coffee shop. You must have a good head on you, opening your own business at your age."

"Ah, well, thanks. It's just a small coffee shop."

"Small now! Give it time, it will grow. If you have managed to make my Mishka like coffee, I'm sure you will do well," Riilary exclaimed with genuine enthusiasm.

"Well, thanks. Fingers crossed."

"You take good care of my daughter, okay? She likes raspberries and chocolate-"

"Ma!" Liiria exclaimed and quickly bounded over to the tablet. "I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Okay, Mishka! You two have fun now-" her picture disappeared when Liiria tapped a claw against the red end-call button.

Mike couldn't help himself from chuckling at the awkwardness. "Well. She seems fun."

Turning the tablet face down for good measure, Liiria grinned sheepishly. "Sorry about that, she can be a bit much." Turning to face Mike, she looked into his eyes and felt her heart swoon when he gently reached out and traced his hands along her jaw.

"So I take it she is okay with us," he added with a smirk and stepped closer when Liiria nodded. "You have no idea how good that is to hear," he said softly and guided her into a kiss.

Turning her head slightly, she opened her mouth gently to press her lips against his. His taste and his tongue made her heart soar, her paw lifting and found its way to his lower back as their kiss deepened.

His hands continued to stroke and caress behind her jaw, enjoying how soft and smooth her fur was just below her long ears. Finally breaking apart, Mike looked into her eyes and smiled. "Your dad isn't weird, is he?"

Liiria snorted in amusement. "Oh, you have no idea. But I'm sure you two have a few things in common," Liiria hinted, “and I don't think he would get you arrested." Seeing him smile, she leaned in again and kissed him deeply before moving her head to his shoulder and pulling him into a hug. "Like, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't," she added with a chuckle.

Mike shook his head in amusement and held her close, content to feel her against him until he shivered from the chill of the air-conditioning. Pulling away, he could see the concern in Liiria's eyes, but he waved a hand dismissively. "It's fine, once I get some food in me, I'm sure I'll be okay."

"I can change the temperature if you want-"

Mike interrupted her with another kiss, this time on her nose. “It's fine, honestly," he repeated, his voice as soft as his lips. “Shall we eat? I brought noodles, I hope that's okay."

“They smell amazing!" Liiria exclaimed happily. “I haven't had noodles since I was in university."

Mike chuckled at her enthusiasm, “Don't worry, these are not some instant kind. I discovered this lovely place when I was studying," he lied and turned to walk to the kitchen counter where she had placed the large bowl. Pausing when he saw that there were no chairs in sight other than the large couch.

Seeing his hesitation, Liiria gasped, “I knew I forgot something!"

“It's okay!" Mike replied hastily, the couch was a beautiful light gray color, and he pursed his lips. “Probably not the plan, is it?" He said and nodded to the couch.

“Maybe not, we could sit on the floor? I could get some cushions from upstairs. I can't believe I didn't think of chairs, it's literally my job to think of this sort of thing."

“The floor works for me."

Liiria nodded. “There are some wine glasses in the corner cupboard. If you want some. I'll be back!"

Mike observed as she briskly exited the room, the sound of her footsteps bounding up a flight of stairs. Surveying the modern kitchen, he located the glasses and withdrew two, both notably large for a human. He shrugged, figuring he didn't need to fill them completely.

The faint sounds of her movements resonated from upstairs, prompting Mike to commence a search for any wine. Peeking into the fridge, he was taken aback by its contents. Despite her playful demeanor, Liiria possessed an extensive collection of ingredients, leading him to surmise that she engaged in a fair amount of cooking herself.

Failing to find wine, he heard a dull thud originating from the bottom of the stairs. Poking his head around the corner, he witnessed a sizable cushion resting on the ground. "That's one!" she called from above.

"Hey, Liiria. Where do you keep your wine?" Mike called up the stairs, seizing the large cushion.

"Oh! Um… second pantry door, just not the ones on the top shelf!" she responded with a muffled voice.

Mike dragged the hefty cushion back to the living room, situating it in the middle of the floor before strolling around the kitchen island. Upon opening the second pantry cupboard, his jaw dropped. Dozens of large bottles were meticulously arranged from floor to ceiling.

Perplexed, Mike scrutinized the labels of the wine. While accustomed to serving a few cheap bottles at the bar, he was unfamiliar with many of the brands, some inscribed in languages he didn't recognize. Scanning upward, he noticed that the bottles grew dustier, their labels fading with age.

He glanced over his shoulder at another dull thud, followed by rapid footsteps descending the stairs. Liiria, with a corner of another cushion in her mouth, rounded the corner and suddenly halted.

"I swear, I don't have a problem," Liiria said with a grin, letting the cushion fall to the floor.

"I-I wasn't going to say anything," Mike chuckled. "I take it you like wine?"

"I do… but this is mostly my father's. He could tell you everything about each one and what it pairs with, etc., etc."

"Do you have a favorite?" Mike inquired, peering back into the cupboard.

Stepping up behind him, Liiria stretched her neck over his shoulder and pointed towards one with her snout. "That one should go well with the noodles."

Lifting the sizable bottle from the shelf, Mike rotated it to read the label. “I don't think I can pronounce that," he admitted.

Liiria shuffled back until her head rested on his shoulder, saying, “It's okay. It's similar to the Merlot we had last night."

“Well, I liked last night." Mike chuckled and turned to give her a kiss on her furry cheek.

“Me too. Come on, let's get it open, I'm starving." Liiria smiled and gave him a small nudge with her cheek before turning around and picking up the cushion in her mouth.

Mike busied himself with opening the sizable bottle and pouring the burgundy liquid into two large glasses. Glancing at Liiria as he poured, he smiled as she nestled the two cushions next to one another and moved the bag of food down to the floor.

The bottle filled one large glass for her and had some left after he poured himself a smaller glass. With one in each hand, he came around the corner to see Liiria sprawled out on the cushions, playing with her tablet and occasionally glancing up at the television. “Food, wine, aaaaand… Fireplace!" She exclaimed with a giggle as the large television began playing a looped video of a roaring fireplace.

“What more could we need!" Mike smirked and placed the two glasses down on the ground. Seeing Liiria pat the cushion next to her, he quickly sat down and pulled the bowl of noodles out of its bag.

As Mike peeled the lid from the container, Liiria couldn't help herself from lowering her snout and taking a deep sniff of the contents. “Oh damn, that's definitely not instant noodles."

“Oh no. These are amazing. I got mild ones, I wasn't sure if you liked them spicy or not."

Liiria cocked her head slightly, “I'm okay with a bit of spice, but not so much that it's not enjoyable."

“Well, I'm sure raspberries and chocolate would make it all okay." Mike teased and retrieved a fork from the bag.

“I can't believe she said that!" Liiria exclaimed with a giggle. “She can be so embarrassing sometimes."

“Hey, I think it's great that you two get along," Mike mused and collected a forkful of noodles. “Not everyone has that sort of relationship with their folks."

Liiria chuckled and lowered her head to the bowl, savoring a small mouthful. She lifted it back up with her head tilted down to avoid any stray noodles on her fur. "Mmmhm," she almost moaned, closing her eyes. The succulent meat, tender vegetables, and mixed noodles sent her taste buds on an adventure.

"Good?" Mike asked, grinning when she gave a small nod. "I'm glad you like it!"

"It's really good!" Liiria exclaimed after swallowing, waiting for Mike to take another bite before dipping her head down again.

“So…" Mike began after swallowing. “How did your article go?"

Liiria rocked her head from side to side as she chewed and then swallowed. “All done, I think. I was going to sleep on it before sending it to Nuut."

“Damn, the 'ness works fast," Mike smiled.

“Well, I still have a few gaps that I was hoping the owner could fill in," Liiria said, freezing as she lowered her head. Her eyes widened, and looking at Mike, she saw his jaw agape with a fork full of noodles. “That… wasn't what I meant to say. I mean, I wanted to write about why you made it dragon-friendly and what your plans are for the future."

Mike blushed and nodded. “Of course!" he said with a smile. “That's what I thought. Besides, I only brought chocolate ice cream, no raspberries -"

“Oh my god!" Liiria roared in laughter. “You are not going to forget that, are you?"

“Oh hell no!" Mike retorted with a grin. “I'm not above taking tips from your mom… if they work," he added while playfully rubbing her forearm. “Maybe I should get her number, pick her brains for date ideas."

Liiria glared at him but smiled when he laughed. “So far, you haven't needed help." Reaching with a paw, she held the stem of the wine glass between her toes and lifted it slightly to take a sip. “Ah, yes. You have to try this."

Mike reached for his glass and took a sip. “Yeah, okay! That's really good!" he remarked. “Where did you get this from?"

Liiria gave a little shrug, “My father brought a case of it over when he visited last. But I haven't seen it in the shops here."

“Does he visit often?" Mike asked, remembering her comment that her parents owned the townhouse and also the expensive-looking wine.

Liiria swayed slightly, enjoying the warmth of the alcohol coursing through her veins. She rocked her head from side to side as she finished another mouthful. "Not really, maybe a few times a year. Some of his clients like it when he picks them up from their apartments."

Mike frowned, observing her focused on her food. "I thought both your folks worked at a ski lodge."

Liiria nodded and smiled sheepishly. "They do, but some of the guests are quite well-off, so he picks them up from the city and flies them back home."

"Oh, on his back?" Mike asked, cocking his head when she snorted in amusement.

"That would be hilarious to see!" She giggled before bursting into laughter. Seeing the confusion on his face, she grinned and brought her head down close to his. "My father is human."

Mike recoiled, his eyes wide. "What?! How? That's not possible-"

"Sure it is," Liiria said with a knowing grin.

"No, no, it's not! That's like one of the major arguments against… us," Mike exclaimed, remembering the awkward biology lessons in school and the religious leaders' arguments against relationships between dragons and humans.

Liiria could see his mind racing and nodded. "Why do you think I don't have wings?"

Mike shook his head in disbelief. "Because of the cold, an evolutionary trait. Human and dragon DNA are completely different, there isn't a chance that it is compatible of producing a-"

Liiria's laughter cut him off, her sides vibrating with merriment. "Oh, you are cute!" Seeing the confusion still etched on his face, she lifted her head and closed her eyes to try and compose herself. "Of course he isn't my sire!" Liiria giggled, opening an eye she looked down at his red face and broke out into another bout of laughter. "Oh, I am totally telling Mama that!"

"So wait, who is your father?"

Finally composing herself, she wiped a tear from her eye and took another sip of wine before explaining. "Oh, he is my father. He helped raise me, looked after me, filled in when Mama was busy and everything, and well… technically he kind of sired me." She said with a smirk, the strong alcohol helping to loosen her tongue.

"What do you mean, 'technically'?" Mike asked before shaking his head. "I mean, if that's not too weird to ask."

Clearing her throat, Liiria smiled. “Oh, it's no secret, and my folks are quite proud of how it happened. So… Well, you know what a strap-on is, right?"

Mike blushed and looked down, memories of his time with Taalli coming back.

“Oh, you do! Don't you?" Liiria giggled and pressed her snout against his cheek to whisper softly. “Some come with tubes in them." She said and opened her mouth in a playful smile when he quickly looked at her with wide eyes. “Like I said… technically…" her words drifted off with a broad grin.

Mike's eyes widened in disbelief, his mind racing to comprehend what she had just said so casually. “I… what?"

“Hey, you wanted to know!" Liiria giggled. “You aren't the first person to ask." She lowered her head to take another mouthful, pausing with her snout just above the bowl. “And it's a great conversation starter," she chuckled.

“I guess… That's… one way to do- Wait, so who was your…" Mike frowned as he stumbled on what the correct term would be.

“Donor?" Liiria suggested and continued when he nodded. “Apparently a handsome drake who visited the lodge," Liira said casually. “No idea who he was or his name."

“That's wild," Mike said finally. “Have you ever wanted to find him?"

Liiria shook her head. “Not really, my mom and dad were pretty great growing up. I got my mother's purple, and apparently his eyes, but I love my father and that drake was just a means of having an egg. Does that make sense?"

Mike slowly nodded. “I guess. I had heard of couples adopting, or a surrogate, but never making an egg by doing doing… that." He said, his cheeks burning red.

“Hey, leave a couple in a lodge during a cold winter, they get creative." She said with a smirk and took another mouthful of noodles. “She loves him, and he loves her. So that's how they wanted to have an egg… and a few months later, they had me!"

Mike looked at the open and honest purple dragoness and found himself admiring her long ears and sleek horns. “So, I guess that explains why your mother is okay with you dating me."

Liiria nodded with a mouthful of noodles and gave a smirk as she finally swallowed. “Both of them know I'm not a hatchling anymore, and I think she is just happy I'm not with some deadbeat drake."

“Me too," Mike said with a smirk and swirled his fork in the remnants of the noodles. “Last one for me, if you want the rest."

“We definitely need to get this again," Liiria commented and dipped her head down to eat the last of the noodles. “Usually…" she said with her mouth full before swallowing. “Usually, I eat in. I find I can't sit alone at a restaurant without getting looks, or a drake saying hi."

"Not into drakes at all?" Mike inquired, noticing small splotches of the dark sauce clinging to the sides of Liiria's snout. He reached into the bag, pulled out a napkin, and gestured for her to bring her head closer.

"I'm not against them. But I'm not really into that whole big, burly alpha drake vibe. And, well, I am a little smaller than most dragons here," she explained, holding her snout still for Mike to clean her up. "Does that make sense?"

"Hey, I'm not complaining," he replied with a smile and kissed her on the nose. "And I'm not into burly drakes either," he added.

Liiria giggled softly and pressed her lips to his again, his delightful hands gently caressing her neck, fingers combing through her soft, silky fur. "Besides, your hands are nicer in my fur," she murmured. "So there's that too."

Looking into her bright green eyes, he gave her another kiss on the nose. "You like this, don't you?" he asked, gently massaging his fingers down her spine, smiling when she shuddered.

"I do," Liiria said, rolling slowly onto her side. Her forepaws moved to Mike's hips as she guided him to lay next to her. "Cuddle while dinner goes down?" she asked, her heart swooning as he shuffled closer and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

With his chest against hers, she curled herself around him, her long, fluffy tail finding its way against his back as she held him close. "Mmmkay, this is warm now," Mike murmured. With his legs between her thick thighs, he marveled at the warmth. Her front legs wrapped around his shoulders and held him close, soft paw pads pressing against his back and gently kneading his muscles.

Curling her neck, Liiria looked down at him and smiled. "See why we like cuddles?"

"I'm surprised you get anything done," he replied, wrapping an arm around behind her shoulder and dragging his fingers through her coat. "You are really beautiful," he murmured honestly.

"You think so?" Liiria asked with a smile. She knew he was being honest but held him closer when he continued.

"Without a doubt. Your eyes are stunning, and I love your sense of humor," he whispered, kissing her chest, his face becoming lost in her fluffy white fur. "I think you are brilliant."

Liiria's heart soared, and she rewarded him by holding him tightly. "You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that," she said, kissing the top of his head. "So many males just prattle on about my fur or my size."

"But you are so much more than that," Mike said warmly and looked up to see her smiling face. "Like, it helps. Your fur is very cool," he added with a smirk.

Liiria returned his smirk with a chuckle and lifted him up along her, slightly, to kiss his lips gently. With her eyes closed, she held him close and pressed her forehead to his. "Back home, I wouldn't really get a second glance. Purple isn't as sexy as a crisp white or a shaggy black."

"I disagree," Mike said and kissed the top of her snout. "How do you even notice a white 'ness in the snow? It would be like dating two floating eyes," he whispered warmly and smiled when she snorted in amusement. "And a black 'ness at night… I would need a headlamp or something."

Liiria's laughter was like music to him as he kissed her again with a smile on his face. "That's… one way to look at it. But I think that's why they are desirable."

"Dragons like dating floating eyes?" Mike teased but saw the seriousness in her eyes.

"No… but once upon a time, it was advantageous to be able to blend in with the snow or trees."

"For hunting prey?" Mike asked and frowned when she shook her head.

"Other way around," she said flatly. "If I was born a few hundred years ago, I would probably have ended up as a coat or something." Seeing the concern in Mike's eyes, she tried to smile, "Sorry. That got a bit dark quick."

Mike kissed her nose and moved his hands to her jawline to gently caress her cheeks with his thumbs. "Well, I'm so glad that doesn't happen anymore." Feeling her smile with his hands, he gave her a wink. "Because if you were a coat, you would be so expensive. Beautiful purple fur like yours! It would be fit for royalty," he added and smiled when she snorted in amusement. "But it's so silly, why make a coat when you can have big snuggles with a sexy dragoness?"

Liiria nodded and held him tighter. "I know, right? Humans back then were pretty dumb."

Mike looked her in the eyes and nodded. "I think we still are."

"Not all of them," Liiria replied and kissed him deeply, her tongue gently running over his lips before pressing into his mouth. She murmured with pleasure as his hands slowly ran down her neck, following its curved shape and dragging through her fur with just enough pressure to make her shudder in bliss. She could feel his smaller tongue against hers and continued to explore his mouth, tilting her head slightly to explore other areas. Breaking the kiss, she gave another quick peck and smiled warmly. "So, why was it that you wanted to open a cafe for dragons?"

Kissing the top of her snout, he smiled. "I always wanted to open my own business, and I kind of got good at making coffees," he said simply. "So many other cafes only do takeaway for dragons, and they usually use cheap beans because of the volume. Also, as there are more and more dragons with money nowadays, I saw it as an opportunity to sell higher quality coffee."

"That's such a human thing to do, taking gold from dragons," Liiria teased and kissed him again to show she wasn't serious.

"Maybe my uniform should be plate mail," he replied with a chuckle.

"Oh my god, yes!" Liiria laughed. "Can you imagine, 'Here is your banana bread, 'ness,' crash-crash-crash?"

"I would get so jacked, though. Those things weigh a ton."

"Well, we don't want that. I like my Mike just as he is."

"Oh, do you now?" Mike beamed and curled his fingers through her fur absentmindedly.

"I do! I think he is cute, funny, and really kind. Not many people would just offer the clothes off their back to a damp dragoness." Her eyes met his with a look of genuine warmth.

"Well, it wasn't exactly the clothes off my back. It was just an apron," Mike replied humbly, his mind wandering back to a conversation with Geevin. "Um, hey, can I ask an odd question?"

"Ooo, an odd question. Those are fun," she teased and gave a small nod.

"So, I was having a conversation with Geevin, and he mentioned that dragons bringing something of someone else's back home was like… I don't know." Mike paused as he struggled to find the words. "Like a first step or something."

Liiria grinned in amusement. "Maybe once upon a time. Dragons of old would often give one another a trinket, or a scale to significant others. Why? Oh! Did he think your apron was like that?" She asked and saw him blush profusely. "Oh my god! He did, didn't he!"

"I knew it was silly." Mike backpedaled. "I take it, that's not really a thing anymore?"

Liiria shook her head. "Back when dragons were all territorial and fought amongst themselves, sure! But can you imagine how a shared house would work if we kept that tradition?"

"Okay, can I ask a follow-up question because Geevin said something else, and I'm pretty sure he is full of shit."

"Shoot."

"So, that apron. He thinks you would have used it as a pillow-"

Liiria roared with laughter, her entire chest heaving as she turned her head away from his face.

"That answers that, now he owes me twenty," Mike grinned, rubbing his hands against the dragoness who erupted in more laughter.

"Wait, so he said I would have snuggled up to your apron? Like, for your scent or something?" she asked, grinning broadly when he nodded. "Oh my god, does he think we all still live in caves and hunt deer?"

Smiling, Mike kissed her snout. "Oh, don't pretend you wouldn't like to snuggle in a cave, somewhere away from the city," he teased, glancing at the television playing a video of a crackling fireplace. "Maybe with a real fire."

"Oh, don't get me wrong. A nice cave, a fire, and a view are great and all that. But I also like picking up groceries from the shops and not licking blood off my paws."

"Always a plus," Mike commented happily. "Maybe one day, we could get some groceries and then head to a cave. Get the best of both worlds," he suggested, remembering the time he shared with Taalli between her training.

"Deal. But! There has to be snow," Liiria said warmly and ran her paws down his back. "I know without proper winter clothes it may be cold. But I can keep you warm, and I kind of like how your skin feels."

Mike cocked his head and looked up into her green eyes. "Really?" he asked and smiled when she nodded enthusiastically.

"It's like your whole body is like one giant paw pad, it's cute."

It was Mike's turn to laugh, pressing his forehead against her snout as he tried to compose himself. "I have never heard it said like that."

"Well, it's true! Like, scales are just too smooth and slippery, but your skin is kinda... grippy?"

"Is it now?" Mike mused.

"Yep! Although, these clothes are kinda lame," she said and saw his eyes widen slightly. "Like, I get it. But I think it's nice to touch when we are alone."

"Would you... prefer if I... took them off?" Mike asked nervously. "I don't know if that's moving too quickly."

“We are both adults, Mike, not nervous teens at school. But I'm happy to take things slower if you want," Liiria said warmly and stared into his hesitant eyes. “I know there is a stereotype that dragons are just horny all the time and will lift their tail at a moment's notice. But, I really like you, Mike, so… we can see where things take us, if you want."

Looking into her bright green eyes, he smiled. He could see vulnerability in her eyes as she wasn't sure if she was pushing him too far. “Well, how about we take tonight nice and slow, starting with getting rid of these lame clothes," he whispered and saw her smile playfully.

“I-I would like that," she whispered back.