FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Well, that was lovely, and I definitely ate too much," Mike said warmly as he and Liiria stepped out of the lodge's reception and into the cold afternoon.

"No such thing," Riilary chuckled, standing on the threshold with her mate beside her. "If you two need anything, and I mean anything! Just radio us or come say hello. We can always get stuff carried up to your cabin." She added, leaning against Jeremy, who rested his arm around the dragoness' shoulders.

"Thanks, Mom. Don't worry, we will be back," Liiria chimed in and stepped forward to embrace her mother, their fronts meeting while pressing their cheeks to one another.

Mike stepped forward and stretched out his hand to shake Jeremy's but was pulled into a hug by the older man. "Ah, come here. You are part of the family now," Jeremy said cheerfully.

"Thanks," Mike chuckled before finally pulling away, catching a wide grin on Liiria's face as he gave a nod farewell.

Turning, Liiria stepped close to his side and kissed his cheek. "See? That wasn't scary, was it?" She whispered once they had walked out of earshot of her parents.

Wrapping an arm over her shoulders, he pulled her close as they walked towards where Liiria had stored her sled. "No, that was nice," Mike admitted. He had spoken to her parents on the phone or on video calls many times, but meeting them in person for the first time had been a milestone that he had been secretly on edge about. "I was hoping for a few more fledgling Liiria stories. But maybe I'll wait until later in the trip." He added with a chuckle and laughed when she turned her head to look at him in disbelief.

"Oh, and when do I get to hear about your upbringing?" Liiria retorted, nudging him with a shoulder as they came to her sled.

“Pfft, never!" Mike chuckled. “Okay, fine, it started when I was little. Then, I grew up and met a beautiful dragoness. She was rich, smart, funny, gorgeous—no, stunning! But in a way where she didn't think she was," he added and saw her smile fade. “She came into my coffee shop, looking for somewhere to hide from the rain, and I think you know how it goes from there." He smirked when her smile returned.

Flipping the sled over, she placed it on the ground and looked at Mike. “You think I'm stunning?"

“Cover model worthy," he said without hesitation and stepped closer to her so he could place his hands on her cheeks and gently guide her head down to his chest. His heart warmed as she pressed into him, even though the layers of ski clothes he wore; he knew she was his. Stroking the back of her neck, he ruffled her fur before flattening it down again. “So, what's the plan for the afternoon? I could go for a good cuddle on the bed, maybe a nap."

“Pfft, alright old man." Liiria giggled, lifting her head to kiss his forehead.

“Oh, shh you! It's jetlag!" Mike retorted, “and that food."

“Well, if it is jet lag, you should try to stay awake until it's bedtime here. Or else you will never adjust, and besides, I still have another surprise or two in store for you," she added, pulling back to look him in the eyes. “I promise, tomorrow can be our rest day. Just you and me, the bed, the couch…the floor by the fire again." She whispered softly.

“I think I like your idea of a rest day." Mike chuckled and kissed her nose. “So, what is next on the mystery Liiria tour?

“I saw how your eyes lit up at the idea of ice caves, so I thought I could show you them."

Mike nodded, “Okay, I'm keen. Where are they?" Following his gaze towards the top of the mountain, he felt his full stomach drop. “Please don't say we need to walk." He asked. He could see many skiers riding ski lifts up to the summit, but the only dragons he could see had feathered wings and were just flying back up.

“Oh, you are going to love this bit." Liiria chuckled at his confusion and laughed as he looked back at her with a skeptical look. “Oh, it will be fine, come on, sit." She said and patted the metal sled with a paw.

---

Mike tried to ignore the looks and smirks he received from skiers as he sat in the middle of the metal disk and was pushed toward the base of the ski lift. The thick steel cable that looped its way around the mountain included disks on retractable cables every few yards that the riders could place between their legs to be dragged gently up the slope. Still unsure of Liiria's plan, he tried to remain composed as he looked up at the intimidating mountain.

While they waited their turn, Mike saw the large black drake Keekzee supervising the skiers as they started their journey up the slope. At the base of the ski lift was a large red square; once a skier was ready in the zone, he would reach up with his jaws and extend one of the disks from the main cable and pass it down for the rider to use.

Once it was their turn, Liiria pushed the sled with Mike on it into the zone and sat behind him. With her front paws paced just in front of his crossed legs, he wrapped his hands around her forelegs and held on.

“I don't think I need to tell you the safety spiel," chuckled Keekzee and reached up to pluck a disk from the main cable, passing it to Liiria, his eyes holding her gaze as she took it from him with a paw and slipped it through the handhold on the front of her sled.

“You two have fun," Keekzee said with a mix of sadness and understanding in his voice.

As the retractable cable became taut, Mike and Liiria surged forward at a brisk walking pace. Leaning around Liiria's front leg, he called back to the black drake. “Will do, thanks, Keekzee."

While their pace wasn't fast, it was undoubtedly faster than it would have been if they were walking in the thick snow. “Not going to lie, I wasn't sure if we would have to hold onto the ski lift disk thingy," Mike chuckled and looked up at Liiria. Her expression focused on their journey ahead before shaking her head and looking down at him with a smile.

“Oh, your hands are amazing, but I don't think they are that strong," she mused. “Hey, what is your read on Keekzee? He has been acting weird," she added and glanced back at the large black drake, who was helping the next riders.

“Weird?" Mike asked. “I thought he was just like that. But, how is he meant to act?"

“I don't know…" Liiria said softly, her words drifting off as she pondered his behavior.

“Well, I think it would be kinda weird, working for your ex's parents and having to watch your ex with a new guy," Mike explained. “Like, how would you act?"

“I don't know," Liiria murmured, “I probably wouldn't keep working for my ex's parents; that would be weird. But I'm glad he isn't hovering around us or doing anything to get between us. I guess he has matured a bit in that way."

“I'm glad he isn't either," Mike said warmly, stroking a hand on her neck to bring her attention back to him. Shuffling around on the disk, he gingerly turned so he was facing her as they continued their journey and looked up at her with a smile. “Because, I am really done with petty family drama," he added and guided her head down for a gentle kiss.

Pulling away, Mike gently stroked her soft fur and took in the view. The tall snow-capped mountain range offered a grand vista of the surrounding countryside. Rolling hills of forests and farmland spread out for miles and miles with only the briefest hint of the city on the horizon. “It's really beautiful up here," Mike mused.

Turning her head, she followed his gaze and nodded. “It is, but it's a bit remote."

“Maybe that's the beautiful bit," he chuckled. “Do you miss it?"

Liiria cocked her head as she tried to think of the words. “Yes, and no. I grew up on these slopes, so for me, it's kind of the norm? I don't know, it's hard to explain."

Mike continued to stroke her fur while looking across the horizon. “I don't think I could get bored of this."

“Oh, you will run out of things to do, that's for sure. I think after a few months, you would get a bit stir-crazy. Trust me, stay here for long enough, and the people here become the most interesting thing," she chuckled. “But It's still where I grew up, I have so many memories here and will always want to come back. But, I think the city is my new home now."

“Really? I think most people would kill to live up here, with the fresh air-"

“Oh, that is a huge plus, don't get me wrong. But I like being able to walk places and discover something new, or try a new restaurant or anything. Up here, if you want to see something new, it's like a four-hour bus ride to the city. Which kind of writes the day off."

Looking at how far away the city was and how long it took for Keekzee to fly him, he nodded in understanding. “It would still be a good place to retire too."

“Oh, for sure. Maybe once I'm old and gray," she giggled and kissed him on the forehead.

“Wait, does your fur go gray?" Mike asked and looked up at her in confusion. “Your mother doesn't have any." He added, which made Liiria roar with laughter.

“Oh, Mike! You're too sweet," she giggled. “Yes, we get a bit lighter around the eyes and lips," she said and lowered her head down to his ear. “My mother dyes her fur, but I didn't tell you that."

“That's a thing?" Mike asked in disbelief.

“Oh Michael, sweet Michael," Liiria chuckled. “Yes, sweetie, that is very much a thing. Just like scale paint, it's not a fun process and very messy."

“I can imagine. Have you ever dyed your fur?"

Liiria snorted and laughed with a nod. “I went through a bit of a rebellious phase growing up. I was mad at my mom for some reason and decided to have an entire recolor done. Needless to say, mother was not pleased." Seeing his smile, she tried to change the topic. “So, are you enjoying the trip so far—"

“Oh no, you can't end it there! What color did you go?" he asked, trying to imagine what she would look like without her lavender fur.

Seeing him smiling with glee, she sighed, “So, do you remember the band, Backscale Boys?" she said with a smirk when he nodded with a grin. “Well, I sort of made them my entire personality at the time, and I had a crush on their lead drake, Keeven. So I dyed my fur to match his scales, even got my ears pierced too." Seeing Mike frown, she chuckled, “Black. Head to tails black. Oh, mom was pissed!" She added and grinned when Mike laughed.

“So wait, no white under fluff?" He asked, stroking her chest.

“Nope! The ness at the salon asked the same thing, 'I basically just sat in a tub of black ink for half an hour and paid a fortune for the experience.'"

“Oh dear, how long did it last?"

“Oh, mom threatened to shave me bald as a punishment, but dad stepped in and calmed her down. I was out on trail check duty for a month, which is a lot of walking in the snow. After a few days, the black became patchy on my paws, so I asked dad for money to bleach and redye something more natural. Mom was then pissy at dad for caving. But that was a long time ago," she chuckled.

“Well, I prefer your natural color," he said warmly and reached up to gently stroke behind her large ears. “What happened to the ear piercings?"

“Oh, I kept them for a while, but they get really cold in the snow. So I took them out one day and kinda just forgot to put them back in."

“Is the horn ring okay?"

“Oh, that's fine. It's not touching my skin, and besides, once we get back home, the cold won't be an issue."

Mike nodded in understanding and looked over his shoulder at the long stretch of cable lift ahead. “How long does this lift go for?"

“Oh, it's one of the biggest in the country. It goes almost all the way to the summit. The ice caves near the top are the only ones that don't melt in the summer; trust me, it's worth it."

“I have no doubt," Mike said, stroking her shoulder. “Everything here is beautiful."

“Nawwww." Liiria swooned and kissed his forehead. “You are more beautiful here too." She giggled. “Although, the coffee is tastier back home."

“Sorry, the beans your folks had aren't the same as the ones I get for the cafe."

“Was that what was different? That makes sense." Liiria mused. “So what is the next big step for Claws on Coffee? Your student debts have gotta be almost cleared now, right?" Liiria asked. She had offered many times to pay for them, but each time he had declined, saying he needed to do it himself.

“Just about paid off. Then, I don't know," Mike mused. “A part of me wants to expand, but that means I'm going to need to hire staff, do payroll stuff, and other boring things."

“Mike, you said you wanted to do a business degree. What did you think that was going to include?" Liiria giggled.

“Oh, I know, trust me. But I find it weird that it was only a few years ago I was handing out resumes. Now I'm getting teenagers and fledglings dropping them off to me."

“Oh Mike, you have grown so much since then. You have your own business, that is profitable, in the city. Not many people can say that!" She remarked, planting a kiss on his forehead. “You have a growing customer base, and you need to take time off every now and again. If you had some staff, we could enjoy weekends together."

“I know, I know. Maybe this will be the year I let someone make me a coffee," Mike chuckled. “It would be nice to not have to worry about opening the store when I'm sick."

“See, also. If you ever wanted to open a store here in the resort, I'm sure my folks would be more than happy to give you a good deal."

“That would be a commute and a half."

“Well, you wouldn't have to be here for the whole time, just the setup. And… maybe… a few quality control visits that are totally tax-deductible," Liiria smirked.

“Oh, they are tax-deductible, are they?" Mike laughed, “Given your family's colorful history with money, don't be offended if I double-check the laws."

Liiria lifted a paw to her chest and looked up in mock offense. “Colorful history? Please, I prefer creative accounting," she said with a smirk, looking down at him with one eye before lowering her head down to his ear and whispered, “Remember, there wasn't any gold in the convoy my great-grandfather stopped." She said with a smirk. “But on an unrelated note, it was pretty cool that he found a small gold vein in the ice caves."

“Very cool, some might even say convenient." Turning his head, he kissed her cheek and held her head close. “So, this gold vein, was the ore already in bar form?" He added and laughed when Liiria snorted.

"Oh no, but apparently for efficiency's sake, it was more cost-effective to smelt them into new bars in the cave," Liiria mused. "And it was way more cost-effective to smelt them with the aid of a small group of trusted individuals—individuals that all fought together during the war."

---

Liiria lifted her sled and drove it into the snow with both front paws alongside rows of skis, a common practice for the visitors of the ice cave to avoid burdening themselves with gear while inside.

“Looks like a bit of a queue," Mike mused as they trudged through the snow toward the line of people waiting to enter.

“They have to limit numbers inside; otherwise, the ice may melt," she explained, standing next to him and lifting her head high to try to see who was on duty.

“At least we have a good view." At their altitude, there were clouds below and above, giving him the impression that they were somehow standing on a flying rock.

“I hope the clouds clear, though," Liiria said under her breath while shuffling forward and spotting the dragon on duty supervising the guests.

Tearing his eyes from the vista, he noticed she was quiet and saw the coy look in her eyes. “What have you done?" Mike asked. “I've seen that look before."

“Nothing!" She said with a smirk, finally catching the attention of the dragoness on duty and giving her a nod.

“Uh-huh," Mike said unconvinced. “Does it involve adrenaline?" he asked and sighed when she thought for a moment and then nodded. “If it's something like base jumping or bobsledding, please, I've eaten way too much."

“Oh, no. I wouldn't do anything like that to you," she said with a nudge against his side.

“Oh really, and this morning's surprise sled ride wasn't that?" Mike retorted.

“Pfft, please. That was different." Looking down, she grinned at his unconvinced expression. “You hadn't eaten, see? Totally different."

Mike opened his mouth to retort before he was cut off by the loud voice of the dragoness on duty. “Ladies and gentlemen, drakes and 'nesses, may I have your attention. Unfortunately, we will be needing to close the ice caves early today. Due to the temperature rising too high inside the cave, we need to ensure that this natural treasure doesn't melt and is available for generations to come," she said firmly but politely. “We will be opening the cave first thing tomorrow as the temperature should neutralize by the morning. I wish to apologize for any inconvenience caused and hope that you understand that some things are out of our control."

There was a collective grumble from the queue as they turned and returned to where they had left their skis.

“Well, I guess we can come back tomorrow," Mike said and turned to leave before Liiria's paw stopped him.

“Let's just enjoy the view," Liiria said happily as a group of skiers walked past them. “We came all this way," she added with a small nudge.

Mike shook his head and looked toward the dragoness on duty, who was trying to re-explain the situation to a disgruntled family. “Why do I think you have organized something?"

“Because you know me too well," Liiria giggled, wrapping a paw around his stomach to hold him against her front as she sat back in the snow. Together, they watched the late afternoon sun casting long shadows through the trees below and casting the white snow in an orange glow.

Finally, once all the guests that were inside the cave had left, Liiria gave him a gentle squeeze. “Come on, you are going to like this."

Standing up again, Liiria and Mike made their way to the entrance of the caves. “Thanks, Kiirah, I can lock up," Liiria said warmly and held her paw out for the keys to the heavy grate that covered the entrance when not supervised.

“You owe me, sweetie," replied the blue-furred dragoness, her feathered wings tucked close to her body. Reaching into her harness, she retrieved a large iron key and passed it to Liiria.

“I always do." Liiria grinned and took the key. “Mom still has leftovers if you are quick."

“Okay, I guess we are even," she said with a warm smile and glanced at Mike. “Make sure it's locked when you guys leave. Some teenagers tried to get in the other night."

“Of course. Thanks again," Liiria said and guided Mike through the entrance of the cave before working with the dragoness to close the heavy grate and lock them in.

Once the lock clicked shut, she turned back to Mike and grinned. “Oh, don't give me that look. It's a private tour!" Slipping the key into her harness, she nudged Mike and laughed. “Trust me, it's more beautiful when there isn't a crowd of tourists blocking the views. Come, come! I promise you will like it."

With a smirk, Mike shook his head in disbelief and started to walk down the ice tunnel. Along the walls were small displays of antique tools and smelting equipment, along with plaques explaining the process of mining the mountain of its gold.

“Got to keep up appearances," she giggled.

“What are you talking about? Your ancestors did a great job forging the gold bars!" Mike exclaimed with a tap on his nose and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “But if I'm honest, I'm glad they did good work with the gold." Mike mused and held Liiria tighter.

Walking down the ice tunnel, their path was illuminated by colored LED lights that had been embedded in the ice, creating an enchanting atmosphere that almost didn't feel real to Mike. His arm around her shoulders became lighter as they entered the main cave; the ceiling climbed away from them to create a large cavernous space. Despite all the walls being covered in ice, he couldn't help but notice it was a lot warmer in the cave than outside.

“It's... incredible," Mike muttered, lifting his arm off her as she stepped away.

“My great grandsire carved it out of the ice," Liiria explained. She knew every inch of the cave by heart but smiled as she watched Mike experience it for the first time.

“Carved it? It looks so natural," Mike said, wandering over to a wall. He couldn't make out any tool marks in the thick ice and looked to Liiria in confusion.

“He could breathe fire. He didn't carve it all at once, but bit by bit, he would melt away the ice and then wait for it to cool before doing the next section," she explained. “Before they built the resort, he and his war buddies all lived up here, just like the dragons of old. Well, except there were also their riders."

“That's incredible," Mike mused, trying to imagine a group of dragons lounging in the large cave. “Your great Grandsire and his rider. Do you really think they were just friends?"

A cheeky smirk crept onto Liiria's snout as she became distracted by the smooth walls. “What happens in the trenches, stays in the trenches," she chuckled. “His rider's old diaries are kept in the vault, down under the reception in the lodge. Like mother said, it was a different time back then. Even after the war, it was decades before a relationship like ours would be accepted, let alone legal. It's not something that you would write down on paper," she explained, her words drifting off.

“But…?" Mike asked with a smile.

Liiria grinned, “Well, those diaries don't say anything about the gold either." Her smile broadened when Mike grinned. “I don't think we will ever know for sure, but I like to imagine they were close."

Mike nodded and continued to look at the large ice walls, finding the temperature warmer than expected. He unzipped his jacket but kept it on. It was easy to become disoriented in the large cave; none of the walls were straight, all smoothly carved by fire into bold curved shapes that caught the light.

Walking around the space, Mike noticed a roped-off area displaying a collection of old antique furniture that the group had brought up for their lair. On top of a small wooden set of drawers stood a collection of photos. Although they were copies of the originals, the faded pictures showed the group standing together in a forest. Each dragon sat proudly with their rider standing formally next to them, hands on their belts. Scanning the group, Mike noticed that the dragons were a mix of winged and wingless creatures, all covered in dense fur to protect them from the cold.

Pausing on one of the pairs, he noticed one rider's hand on her drake's shoulder, deviating from the official pose. Turning back, Mike saw Liiria sitting and watching him explore, and he smiled. "I think I know which one is your great grandsire."

"See what I mean?" Liiria chuckled and came padding over. With a paw, she unhooked the rope that acted as a barrier and stepped onto the display.

Mike opened his mouth to protest but caught himself; this wasn't a museum or art collection, but her history, and if anyone had the right to touch the display, it was her.

Picking up the picture with a gentle paw, she brought it closer to Mike. "I remember reading in an old art book that when a painting of a noble figure was commissioned, everything in the scene meant something. Like, if a duke or lord had a book on his desk, it would mean he knew how to read. Or, if there was a bottle of ale, he was a drunk," Liiria explained, looking down at the photo. "While it's not a painting, it would have been staged; cameras back then were not the same as they are now. So they would have had time to plan things out. What I'm trying to say is, the fact that her hand is on his shoulder and how his tail is curled in her direction. I like to think it's a sign."

"You said there was her diary in the vault?" Mike asked. "I wouldn't mind giving it a read one day. I haven't read a good story in a while."

"I'm sure Mom will be more than happy to make you a copy. I think you made a good impression by being interested in our family's history," Liiria said and forced herself not to place a paw on her harness pouch where a certain gift was kept. She giggled before composing herself once again, "and asking to eat my mother out was hilarious-"

"Oh my God! Am I never going to forget that?" Mike exclaimed, waiting for her to set the picture down before wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close.

"Nope!" Liiria giggled, encircling his waist with a paw and drawing him near. Curling her neck, she met his gaze and smiled. "But it's sweet that you're trying to learn our language. It's not an easy one, that's for sure." Lowering her head, she kissed him, and swooned as his hands traced up her neck to behind her jaw. Their tongues pressed together as she tilted her head, deepening the kiss.

Mike's heart raced as their tender embrace continued. Her paw on the small of his back kneaded against his jacket, as if pleading for it not to be between them.

Parting, Liiria panted softly and gazed at him with playful eyes. "You know, we're all alone up here."

"Liiria!" Mike exclaimed. "This is public—"

"Closed to the public, remember?" Liiria teased. "This cave is all ours until sunrise."

"But it's weird; this is like your family's cave. They lived here—"

"They probably did it here too," Liiria retorted with a grin. "One could say it's against my family's tradition not to do it." She grinned.

Mike scoffed in disbelief, “You're insatiable." Stroking her jawline, he pulled her into another kiss before parting again. Looking around the barren ice cave, he felt giddy and looked back to his dragoness, “I'm not against it, but it's gonna be pretty cold, for me, that is."

“Oh, Mike, don't you worry about that," Liiria said with a knowing smirk and stepped away. Trotting to the drawers, she slid one open and retrieved a collection of warm blankets to spread on the stone floor.

“And how long have they been there?" Mike asked, frowning as the blankets looked almost brand new.

“Oh, I hid them here the day after I flew in," Liiria chuckled, “Yet another surprise for my Mike." She added before putting the blankets in her jaws to trot over to the middle of the cave.

Mike watched as she unfolded them and started to make a soft bed for them. With the light diffusing and reflecting through the cave, he found himself captivated by how the light caught her fur. Her white underfur seemed to almost glow in the artificial light, and he smiled when she grinned up at him with a twinkle in her green eyes. “Are we really doing this?" He asked and started taking off his jacket.

“If you want to. It may be just a dragon thing, but the cave kinda does things for me," she explained. With a paw, she straightened out any wrinkles in the blanket and patted the ground for him to come closer. “Also, remember when you were booking flights, and how you were disappointed that we were not going to be flying together? Why was that again?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

Mike blushed while bending down to remove his thick boots. “I think I made a joke about wanting to join the mile-high club. Given, I assume the dragon bathrooms are more accommodating than the ones on human flights."

Liirria grinned from horn to horn. “Well, Michael, I think we have more room here than in a dirty lavatory." She giggled excitedly and continued when he frowned. “This cave, it's just over a mile above sea level. So, I'm going to say it counts."

Mike kept his socks on as he finally stepped out of his troublesome boots and onto the layers of blankets she had set up on the floor. He came in for another kiss. “I think it can count, also the whole cave thing is kinda hot." He whispered and pressed his lips to hers.

Their kiss deepened as he cradled her jawline with his thumbs, gently caressing her cheeks. Parting for air, he smiled at her. “You are the most beautiful dragoness in the world, you know that, right?"

Liiria smiled bashfully, “I'm not sure, maybe I need reminding."

“You are!" Mike said warmly. Stepping closer, he stroked his hands down her neck to her shoulders until he reached her harness straps. “Even more beautiful without this on, can we take it off?" He asked.

“Please," she said and leaned against him as she felt his noble hands unhook the buckles from the straps. With a paw, she clutched one of the heavy side pouches to stop its contents from being damaged and gently lowered it to the ground. Stepping out of the leg loops, she helped Mike move it off to the side before stepping back into the blankets. “Can we, um… try something?"

“Oh?" Mike asked, feeling his pants tighten in anticipation. “What did you want to try?" Over the years they had been together, Mike felt like they had experimented with almost every position, but seeing the nervous look in her eyes, he frowned.

“I- um. Promise not to laugh?" Liira murmured and gave a weak smile when he nodded warmly and continued to stroke her neck. “It may be the whole cave thing, but… I kind of want to be like a dragoness of old, I don't know…"

Mike guided her head to his shoulder so he could whisper into her long ears. “You want a big alpha to take you?" He asked and felt her tremble.

“Yes." She whispered. “Wait, no. Not like a big alpha. But one who provides and is like… in charge."

A smirk tugged at Mike's lips as he inspected her harness. “Oh, I think I understand, and I have something that could help," he whispered, planting a kiss on her cheek. “How about you get comfortable, and I'll be back in a few seconds. If it gets weird, we can stop."

“Deal."

Pulling away, he grinned up at her and approached her harness. “I sneaked something in here in case you got hungry," he said, crouching down next to her.

“Wait!" Liiria exclaimed, “not the side pouch." She added nervously, recalling where her mother's gift was stored. While she knew Mike was familiar with the concept of the toy, she wasn't in a hurry to explain why it had a tube and syringe, or why her mother gave it to them. “It's… got something private in there."

“It's okay, I put my surprise in the front," Mike assured and slipped his hand into the leather pouch. Feeling the plastic wrappers, he pulled them out but shielded them from view. “Okay, I'll be back in a minute."

Liiria watched as he left the main cave and returned to the entrance tunnel. Her heart beat faster as she tried to decide whether she should lay down seductively or stand. Taking a deep breath, she looked around the cave and tried to imagine being a wild dragon in the times of old. In the sanctuary of her lair with her mate set to return from a hunting trip, she felt a warmth building within her. Opting to stand, she reached back between her hind legs, running a toe pad across her slit. Her folds quickly became soaked as she waited for her mate to return to her.

“My mate! I have returned from my hunt," Mike declared loudly, trying not to laugh as he kept his voice low and deep. “I have brought back some of my spoils for my beautiful mate..." His words drifted off as he rounded the corner of the cave to see Liiria standing in the middle with her rump towards him, looking back over her shoulder. His cheeks burned red in embarrassment as he wore only his socks, even in the cool ice cave, and held a raspberry-flavored candy bar in each hand.

Liiria tried not to laugh, her grin extending from horn to horn as she witnessed her bare human approaching with what he had 'hunted' for her. "And what does a dragoness need to do to earn such a fine... treat," she said, her sides vibrating as she attempted to stifle a laugh at her poor attempt at roleplay.

Mike smirked as he realized what she was trying to lead him to say. "Well, lift that fine tail of yours, and I'll give you a treat... sorry, was that too blunt-"

"No!" Liiria giggled and rocked her hips as she lifted her tail and cleared her throat. "My mighty alpha, you look cold. Please, use me to warm you up," she added with a snicker.

Moving closer, Mike was relieved to feel the cave become slightly warmer around her. Looking at her furry rump, he could see her slit nestled between her thighs, already glistening with arousal. "My hunt has left me thirsty," he said and dropped to his knees.

Liiria's eyes went wide as he wasted no time in pressing his lips to her slit and began eating her out hungrily. His tongue slathered quickly around her puffy vulva before delving into her folds, parting her lips with ease as he enjoyed her taste and texture.

While kneeling down, her groin was at a perfect head height for him, and he couldn't help himself from wrapping his arms around her thighs. While not gripping her like a drake would, the added pressure of his embrace took her breath away. "Mike! Yes!" she gasped as her mate took care of her. Her walls quivered and clenched on his tongue, while repeatedly flicking his tongue as deep as he could; he marveled at her velvety texture and how her body tried to grip him. Adjusting his position, he alternated between roaring his head left to right and up and down, enjoying the higher-pitched moans of pleasure his dragoness made.

The chill quickly faded into oblivion, the proximity to his dragoness, and the warmth emanating from her intimate embrace, caused beads of sweat to form on his brow. Clutching her hips fervently, he intensified his efforts, relishing in the incoherent moans that escaped her lips. Lowering his head, he directed his focus to her exposed clit, a triumphant smile playing on his lips as her thighs tightened and hips swayed in ecstasy.

Arousal dripped down his chin, staining the blanket beneath, as her pleasure reached new heights. Claws dug into the fabric, signaling her imminent plunge into the abyss of bliss.

Sensing her climax approaching, he abruptly pulled back, a chuckle escaping him as she took a half step away. "Easy, Liiria. We're just getting started," he uttered, his deep, gravelly voice causing her eyes to half-lid. Swallowing his pride, he stood, holding her tail against his chest with one hand and his hardened member with the other. "I'm going to make you scream. Would you like that?" he inquired, his cheeks ablaze.

"Uh-huh!" Liiria panted, urgently rocking her hips back against him.

Aligning his tip with her slick folds, he began a deliberate descent into her warmth, effortlessly reaching full penetration in a single thrust. "Can you lower your front?" Mike requested, leaning further over her.

Without hesitation, she lowered her chest to the ground, gasping as his free hand traced up her spine to her shoulders. With his weight upon her, one hand on her tail and his rigid length inside her, he initiated a rhythmic thrusting. "Yes! Like that!" she cried out, feeling him drive forcefully into her with each determined thrust.

"You feel so good, so wet, so warm," he groaned, maintaining the tempo of his passionate coupling. Pressing himself into her warm fur, he continued to mate with his dragoness, delivering firm yet affectionate thrusts reminiscent of a drake tending to his mate on a cold winter's night.

Sweat dripped from his brow as he continued his steady pace, every time he pulled back, her tunnel would tense and clench only to swallow his length again as he plunged back in. She lay her head down on the ground as he rocked her steadily, the wet slick sounds of his shaft sliding in and out of her becoming a background noise to their ragged breathing.

Her eyes began to lose focus as her mind was awash with the sensations of a worthy male taking her. While not as large as a dragon by any means, the way he held her body and tried his best made her heart swoon and beat faster.

She could feel her climax building, every thrust of his cock into her body caused her heart to skip a beat. He adjusted his grip on her tail and guided her hips to rotate further so he could press against a more sensitive area of her wet vagina. “Don't stop! Please, don't stop!" She moaned with her head on the blanket.

“I've got you, it's okay." Mike said warmly between breaths. “Let go, I've got you." He added and ran his fingers through the fur on her shoulder before holding her tighter. He continued to thrust away at her, his balls smashing against her lips and clit with every thrust as he brought her closer and closer to release.

Feeling her body tense, he sped up his thrusts. Despite their size difference he rocked her body in a steady rhythm, not holding back in taking her as hard as he could. Her claws dug into the blankets as the world lost all meaning, looking back with lust filled eyes she watched as he continued to pound away, focused on bringing her to release before he did. When his eyes met hers, she saw nothing but love and adoration in his eyes and felt her orgasm build to an unsustainable level.

Mike felt her climax start to wash over her, her thighs tensed as her vagina quivered and clenched. Her whole body was determined to bring him to climax and fill her with his seed as he continued to thrust in and out of his furred dragoness. With a deep groan, he felt his balls tighten and gave her a series of hard fast thrusts as he lost his battle with his loins. Mashing his hips against hers he shoved as deep as he could before unleashing inside her.

Her eyes fluttered as she felt his hot seed shoot inside her, her walls ripping and milking him as best they could to draw every last drop from him. As his hard length continued to throb inside her, she let out a satisfied moan and gently rocked her hips against his in an attempt to draw out their combined climax.

Gasping for breath, Mike slumped over her for a moment to recover. Her hind legs kept her hips elevated while she remained sprawled out on the blanket, her jaws agape. “That… that was hot," Liiria panted as she felt his shaft start to soften inside her.

A shiver ran up Mike's back as the sweat that had formed on his skin quickly cooled. “That was," he gasped and lifted his weight off her. Stroking her rump, he withdrew from her depths and saw the mess he had made. “Let me get my clothes, and I'll clean you up."

“Thank you," Liiria murmured and lay down on the blanket, watching him disappear around the corner while plucking one of the candy bars from the ground.

Returning and zipping up his jacket, Mike knelt down beside his dragoness and helped undo the candy bar's wrapper. Before he passed it to her, he took a small bite and grinned when she gave a look of mock offense. “Alphas get the first share," he giggled.

---

"Okay, this was worth the hike," Mike announced, out of breath. It had been a short but very steep walk from the ice caves to the summit. Guided only by the moonlight and a horn-mounted torch that Liiria had liberated from the ice caves, they stumbled their way to the very top of the mountain.

Pulling out the blankets they had used in the cave, Liiria made sure to set them down clean side up and shook each paw one by one before laying down. Doing the same with his boots, he stepped onto the blanket and lay down next to his dragoness, snuggling against her side and enjoying her warmth.

"It's quite special, isn't it?" Liiria said proudly, looking across the star-filled sky. "The ski lift lights should go off soon. They look even better then."

"Just out of curiosity, how exactly are we going to get down from here in the dark?" Mike asked, sensing the answer from her grin, the moon giving just enough light to see her features.

"Like I said, I know this mountain like the back of my paw. But don't worry, we will take it super slow on the way down," she said and curled her tail around them to drape over his lap.

Running his hands through her sensitive tail fur, he leaned back against her and relaxed. "Okay, I trust you," he said warmly. "I must say, I always thought the summit would be like a ridge, with steep drop-offs on each side. It's actually kinda flat once you get here."

"If you come here as the snow is falling, sometimes it kinda builds a peak. But the wind quickly erodes it flat again," she explained. "Oh, I have some leftovers. Want some?"

"Yeah, alright." Mike leaned forward for her to shift around and reach into her harness and produce a plastic tub of food her mother had packed for them. Passing it to Mike, she sealed her pouch and leaned onto one side to let Mike rest against her more comfortably.

The crack of the lid disturbed the otherwise serene landscape. "We have a bit of everything; what would you like?"

"I'll fight you for the venison. Or do you want to eat that out?" Liiria teased, her sides jostling Mike as they both laughed.

"Oh god, no. You can have it," he said and fished out the meat, passing it to her.

As she ate, he plucked out another piece of meat for himself and began to eat. "Okay, real talk. I much prefer this than a big flash Christmas lunch," he confessed. "No offense to the work your mom did, but give me a blanket, leftovers, and my beloved-"

Liiria's snort of laughter cut him off. "My beloved? I'm sorry, what?"

"My beloved? What's wrong with that?" Mike asked. "It means I love you."

"It means you have been reading too many sappy romance novels!" Liiria giggled. "Oh dearest Michael, doth my beloved wish to cometh with thy to thee caves?" she teased in an overly aristocratic voice, roaring with amusement when Mike broke out into laughter.

"Oh shh, it's not that bad!" Mike said while wiping a tear from his eye. "What do you prefer, then? My love? My furry ball and chain-"

“Gods, no!" Liiria cried, still giggling. “Anything but that!"

“My beloved, it is then," Mike retorted with a chuckle while stroking her tail.

“Let's just go with… Mishka, my Mishka," Liiria said warmly. "We can call each other that."

“Okay, I need to ask, what does that mean? I've looked all through the Polish dictionary and can't find it. Is it something your mother made up?"

Curling her tail closer around Mike, she kissed his cheek. “It's not Polish. But it has a few meanings depending on where you go in the world. My mother calls me it because it means little bear," she said and closed her eyes when Mike moved a hand to her snout and caressed her cheek.

“Little bear, huh." Mike smiled while stroking her fur. “My Mishka, I can get behind that." Turning his head, he kissed her on the nose before leaning back against her and looking up at the star-filled sky. “And what would you call me?"

“Well, that's easy," Liiria chuckled and looked up at the night sky with him. “Mishka, in other areas of the world, is short for Michael. My Michael"