Read Online A Boy and His Dragon by R. Cooper - Free Book Online

aside because it wasn’t going to happen. He sighed as he headed back out to the kitchen.
    A Boy and His Dragon
    45
    The kitchen was empty. Arthur took a moment making sure he looked composed before he went searching for his employer. Bertie was in the main room, leaning against the couch with a large bowl of fruit resting on the table behind it. He had a bunch of red grapes in his hand. Of course he did. And of course he was eating them one at a time and licking his lips after each one.
    Arthur approached carefully, stifling his second sigh because he should have been comforted to see a dragon eating fruit and not people. Comforted , not turned on.
    There was a pomegranate in the bowl, surprising him, but he left it where it was, not wanting to make a mess over a rug he couldn’t afford to replace. He avoided the bananas too—no way could he take Bertie’s response to those right now. He chose more grapes and tried not to push too many in his mouth at once when he realized they were seedless.
    “God.” It slipped out with the first bite, breathless and edgy. It had been a long time since he had fresh fruit. He really shouldn’t be making noises over some grapes, but they were so good. He popped a few more into his mouth before he forced himself to slow down and eat properly, then he looked over at his employer.
    “Poor, hungry Arthur.” Bertie breathed the words without looking at him. He was glaring at the fireplace as though annoyed to find no fire burning inside. “If you won’t feed yourself, you’ll force me to do it.” When Arthur stopped chewing, Bertie glanced over at him. His eyes, though still full and black, lacked their usual glitter.
    “Humans are so—” He gestured as if starting to understand something that he didn’t feel like explaining. “—fragile.” Arthur’s eyebrows drew together. He wasn’t fragile. He knew how the world worked better than Bertie did—he was willing to bet on it. The world with money and magic was a lot different than the world without it.
    “While we’re on the subject,” Bertie said as though he’d read Arthur’s protest before he could voice it, “there are guest rooms here, Arthur, as well as this couch, which is very comfortable. You are welcome to stay if you find yourself here late. I’ve seen what you call transportation.” He turned up his nose at the very thought of R. Cooper
    46
    Arthur’s bicycle. “Riding a bicycle isn’t very safe at night even with those reflective lights.”
    Arthur bit his tongue before he could point out that he delivered food all over town on that bike: at night, in the rain, on busy streets. He had a feeling that the less Bertie knew about his other remaining job, the better.
    “My bike keeps me in shape.” It was an invitation for Bertie to look him up and down, and Bertie did not waste the opportunity.
    Arthur fought not to shiver as those eyes took their time traveling from his shoes to his face as if Bertie was imagining what was hidden by Arthur’s clothing. Arthur didn’t think of himself as a strong man—he was too little for that—but he could ride up hills other delivery boys couldn’t manage and could carry most heavy loads without losing his breath.
    He closed his hands under Bertie’s stare and saw Bertie’s eyes go back to his forearms. Bertie exhaled and then his lips curved up.
    Arthur went on quickly before Bertie could say anything about what he thought of Arthur’s shape.
    “I’ll be fine, really. There’s no need to….” The word worry stuck in Arthur’s throat. His eyes burned for a moment. “You barely know me,” he whispered, then tossed his head and looked at his feet when Bertie looked like he wanted to say something. This wasn’t a normal job, but Arthur didn’t deserve that, not with part of his intent in coming here so… dishonest. It didn’t matter that he would never take anything from Bertie. The fact that he ever considered it, as if any part of Bertie was for