Claws (Shifter Rescue 2) by Sean Michael Page B

might have been doing Pirou a favor by taking on Az, but Pirou had returned that favor a hundred times over.
    Az, for his part, never looked away from the water, just vibrating.
    As soon as Pirou left, Drill began stripping, eager to share the pool with his dragon. “Okay, Az. It’s just you and me now. Go ahead.”
    “Yes? Yes, Keeper?” Az looked like he would explode if he didn’t get to go into the pool very soon.
    “Yes. Get in the pool. Bathe.”
    Az kissed him and then barreled toward the water, leaping in and spinning around and around. Oh, God. Look at that. Drill stood at the edge, just staring. Az went from one end to another, immersing himself, tail lashing. Drill could see Az’s joy. He could feel it even.
    Finally Az raised his head, smiling for him. “Keeper! Come on!”
    Laughing, Drill sat on the edge and then slid into the pool. The water was clear and cool and Az whipped around him, sliding against him. Reaching out on one pass, he grabbed hold of the scales along Az’s back. Az carried him, dragging them through the water. Oh, fuck, it was made entirely of magic.
    “Oh, Keeper.” Az nuzzled him. “Better. Good.”
    “You’re happy, yeah?” That was what mattered.
    “Yes, Keeper. So happy.”
    “Then I’m happy.” Drill floated in the little pool.
    Az swam and swam, then crawled onto the edge. Looking up at the ceiling, Drill noticed a light by the edge, where soft, spongy tiles lined the floor. Getting out, he flicked a switch, a warming lamp flooding the area with light and heat.
    “Do you like basking, Az?”
    “Oh…” Az crawled over, stretching under the light.
    “That’s a yes.” Drill had noticed a huge window seat in the living room, too. It looked like they would put that to good use.
    “Keeper.” Az blinked at him, slowly.
    “You want some company, Az?” His animal form could lie in the light for a while.
    “Please. Please, Keeper.”
    “Give me a second.” He closed his eyes and thought of wolf and bear and instincts over intellect and humanity. His bones and muscles shifted and then he was his bear-wolf self.
    Az trilled for him, offering him room. He went and lay with his dragon, making low noises in his throat. Az groomed him, stroking his fur with careful fingers. Drill licked Az’s muzzle, but otherwise let his dragon groom him. It soothed him, down in his bones.
    He put his head down on his paws and let his eyes drop closed. He was a very lucky bear-dog.

Chapter Two
     
    Sun. Sun and wind and water. His keeper slept, but Az did not. He explored and watched, looking at everything. There was a room for sleeping, there was a room for bathing, and there was a room that was for… nothing. It was behind the sleeping room.
    His hearing caught his keeper waking, stretching and yawning. He left the nothing room, moving quickly. His keeper. The big wolf-bear was awake, one paw testing the water, then Drill brought his paw to his mouth, licking the water from it.
    Az pressed close, nuzzling. Keeper. Keeper. Keeper. Sun. Sun and wind.
    His keeper snapped at the air and turned to him, licking his scales. Az stretched, claws sliding on the tile. Nudging his head, his keeper licked at the scales of his throat. Az stretched high and tall, offering all of himself. That tongue continued down along his belly, nose bumping. He chirruped, tickled.
    Drill’s voice answered him with a low chuffing sound, then his belly was bumped again. His laughter huffed from him, happy and warm. His keeper continued to lick and rub, and nibble.
    Slowly, the nibbles turned to play, both of them running and romping. Az showed his keeper the big door-window where the wind came in. Drill stood there and raised his head back, howling. Az listened and answered happily, roaring back. His keeper whipped around to stare at him, then he chuffed and howled again.
    Az bounced, then pounced, wrapping around the beautiful, huge body. Drill rolled with him and they kept rolling until they hit one of the