Claws (Shifter Rescue 2) by Sean Michael Page A

softly, obviously pleased.
    Drill rubbed Az’s head, stroked along his back, then knocked on the door out of the stairwell. “Is the corridor clear, Pirou?”
    “It is,” Pirou called through the stairwell door. “Come on, you’ll share this floor with the boss.”
    Drill opened the hall door and drew Az through it. The only one in the corridor was Pirou, an encouraging smile on his face.
    “The boss is my brother,” Drill told Az. “He’s… not as good people as Pirou here, but we can trust him.”
    “Not good?” Az asked, frowning.
    Pirou fluttered. “He’s perfect.”
    Drill rolled his eyes. “I love my brother, but he’s my brother. There’s nothing wrong with him, but he’s far from perfect. Unless you’re Pirou.”
    “He is Pirou’s keeper?” Az asked as they followed Pirou to a door that had to be to their rooms.
    Drill looked at Pirou, one eyebrow raised. Privately, he thought Pirou would very much like his brother to be exactly that. Keeper, master, sir, Dom, however you wanted to put it.
    “I’ll unlock your door for you.” Pirou punched in the key on the number pad.
    “You don’t have an answer for Az?” Drill grinned and turned to his dragon. “Pirou would like my brother to be his keeper.”
    “Oh.” Az went to Pirou, wrapped around him. “If you know it, you should claim him. Bite him.”
    Oh, fuck, that was the sweetest thing Drill had ever seen.
    “I know it’s scary, but keepers are very important,” Az told Pirou.
    “He’s right, Pirou. Besides, that was how Az got me.” Drill still had the bite marks on his hand, though they didn’t hurt at all.
    Pirou was about a thousand shades of red. “I’ll keep that in mind, Az. Thank you.”
    Az fluttered and beamed. Drill stroked Az’s spine, pleased his dragon was being friendly with Pirou.
    “Come on, let’s see your beautiful new space!” Pirou opened the door with a flourish and went in.
    Nodding, Drill followed Pirou, aware that his dragon was right on his heels. The doors opened into a space that was pure magic. Huge windows, open spaces with soft furniture that nonetheless looked sturdy enough.
    “Oh, Pirou. This is awesome.” Drill made a big circle, looking at everything.
    Instead of a bunch of smaller rooms, it was one huge room with a kitchen at the far right, separated from the rest of the place by a bar with four stools next to it. There were doors on the left side that he guessed were the bedroom and the bathroom.
    “You have a bedroom with a playroom behind. The bedroom has a balcony.” Pirou told them.
    “And a large tub in the bathroom?” Drill knew how eager Az was to bathe.
    “I…” Pirou hesitated.
    Oh, no. Drill had promised Az a tub large enough for them to bathe in together. He knew with as big as Az was in his dragon form it had been a huge request, and he’d been counting on it.
    “Come see.” Pirou opened the bathroom door and Drill could simply kiss the man. That wasn’t a tub. That was a small swimming pool.
    “Oh, Az, come here. You have to see this. You have to. And if I didn’t think my dragon would bite you if I did, I’d kiss you, Pirou.”
    “You’re pleased?” Pirou asked.
    The entire room matched Az’s eyes and it had a swimming pool in it. How could he not be pleased?
    “You’ve outdone yourself. I’ll be sure to tell my brother that you are a treasure and if he ever lets you leave I’ll have to beat him.”
    “Oh, Master.” Pirou was blushing again. “You’re an angel. Az? It’s good.”
    Az simply stared at the water.
    “I think that means it’s good, Pirou.” Drill spared a smile for Pirou but his attention was mostly on Az. “Seriously, he’s been wanting this so much. Would it be rude if I hurried you out? We’d love to have you for dinner -- in a few days.”
    “Go. Or stay.” Pirou threw up his hands and laughed. “You know what I mean. The refrigerator is stocked for you. Have a lovely evening.”
    “Thank you so much, really.” Drill