Finding The Red Dragon

Honeysuckle

"Ragnar?" Ella knocked again. "I know you are in there. Open the damn door." She knocked harder. "Go away you crazy human." His deep grumbly voice vibrated the door.

"Let me in. I have questions." "I am sleeping." "It's 10 am, get up!" "Go away." Ragnar growled. "I am just going to keep standing here, so you might as well let me in." She heard a loud growl from the other side of the door and then the latch flipped.

"What do you want?" She could barely see inside the darkness, but his eyes stood out and she knew just where to walk. "I did not invite you in." He seemed surprised. "I knew you wouldn't, so I invited myself." "You are a pain in my ass." "Get used to it. I have a project to finish, and you are going to help me." She flipped on the lamp and he groaned.

"I hate the bright light." The dragon growled. "Sunlight is good for you." She took hold of the heavy curtains and moved them aside as he roared at her. "Human put those back!" "My name is Ella, and you might do better to call me that. No, you need sunlight." "I need sleep and for you to go away." He eased back into the shadows.

"Ragnar, this will be so much easier if you just cooperate." She saw a sofa and dusted it off before sitting down and taking out her notebook. "Please, help yourself to a seat." "I did. Thank you." "I am not answering questions." "Ok. Then let me observe you." "No." He turned, causing his tail to slide through the sunlight and she gasped at the site.

"Ragnar." She stood and followed his tail. "Now what?" He huffed. "Your color is magnificent." She stopped at the edge of the darkness. "Go back to the sofa." He grumbled. "Let me see you in the light." "No." "Please." "No." "I will make you brownies." She taunted and he paused.

"With walnuts." Ella knew she had him by the sound he made. "Enough for a dragon size appetite." She added. "One look. And I get enough, or you make more." He huffed again. "I will make all you want. You have to come outside though." "No." He growled again.

"Gooey chocolatey brownies." She licked her lips as she teased him. "Two minutes and then you go make them." "Deal." She giggled and he paused, then huffed and opened the big rolling door.

"Go first." He groaned. "Aww, a gentleman." "No, I do not want to step on you." "Even sweeter." She laughed as he groaned yet again. She liked to tease him. It was just too easy and he seemed to like it even though he tried not too.

Ella stepped out and waited as he moved towards the light. She could see his giant talons, then his feet and legs, finally is head moved through the door and out into the light, where he squinted against the bright sun.

Her breath caught and the air rushed from her lungs. He was stunning. "Ragnar...you are...wow...beautiful. Like the color of a flawless ruby." She was in awe as she looked him over.

"I used to be." He hung his head. "No, you still are. Each scale is almost its own color." She stepped forward and looked up at him. "May I?" She held out a hand and he nodded.

Slowly she ran her hand over his leg, down his side and across his back. He was the most beautiful thing she had ever laid eyes on. Not dull and flat like an alligator, but full of color and almost dimensional. It was beyond words.

Ella's hand skated across his back and along the ridge there. "Alright, enough." He shook, like a dog would when removing water, and it made her grin. He was so massive yet moved with ease. He was incredible.

"Can you even feel my touch?" She felt breathless. "Yes." He looked down at her, then away. "What does it feel like?" She was so curious. "Gross." Ragnar huffed, but she laughed at him. "My touch feels gross?" "Yes." "You touch me then." "No!" He looked uncomfortable. "Touch me." She demanded and he rolled his eyes. "Did you just roll your eyes at me?" Her hands were on her hips and he moved back a step.