It was a strange picture, had there been anyone there to see it. A pale, naked and very battered young man was nestled affectionately against a large green dragon, running one hand lightly across the smooth scales of its side. The bed they lay on looked like it might have been attacked by a tornado, if tornadoes had teeth, and on the floor a gleaming dagger lay forgotten.

It was all rather unusual, and Chase wasn't sure exactly how it had happened.

He'd meant to do something dramatic, like kill Jack in the midst of climax, but when the time came it just hadn't seemed worth it. And afterwards. . . Chase had been prepared for attack or surrender. He had not been prepared for Jack to snuggle against him and start lazily petting him. Jack's hands felt heavenly, and Chase was utterly enamored with the novelty of snuggling. Thinking back, he couldn't remember ever snuggling with any of his lovers. They had all been so much ingested meat by the next morning, and even if he had held them, it would never have been in dragon form.

If it was some kind of ploy, it was working perfectly.

Chase looked down at the red head lying so trustingly on his pillows, suddenly very aware of how easy it would be to crush it with one paw. Distress shot through him at the thought, and he realized with a pang that he didn't want to give up Jack. He wanted to keep this intriguing, amusing, homicidal creature. It was absurd, of course. The boy was a killer. However much Chase might admire the trait, he couldn't afford to have one in his home.

Jack spoke up suddenly.

"You know what you oughta do?"

"What should I do?"

"You should let me be a minion."

"A minion?"

"Minion, henchman, evil team member, whatever. You should keep me, is what I mean."

Once again Chase found himself astonished, a refreshing feeling for the jaded immortal. Had Jack known what he was thinking? How?

Betraying none of his surprise, he queried "And why would I want to do that?"

"Because I'm cute, funny and make a damn good sex toy."

Chase couldn't help it; he chuckled. Jack grinned at him, clearly pleased.

"And anyway, you're an evil wizard, right? You can always use a spare evil genius. And since I doubt any poison I've got works on this," he tapped Chase's scales, "you don't have to worry about me trying to do you in."

"Hmm. Even if I believed that, are you sure you know what you're asking for? You would have to live here, under my command, and much of your old life would be lost to you."

"I spend my days mixing illegal chemicals to sell on the black market and my nights finding men to take home, sleep with, and murder. I assume you'll let me carry on the mixing and the murder, and you can keep me sexed up."

Chase considered it. The proposition was absurd, and the boy was sure to get on his nerves within a week, not to mention probably try to kill him again. Even so, it was very tempting.

He tensed as Jack rolled away from his side, only to place himself between Chase's legs. He began kissing his way up one black-striped thigh and Chase quivered, tail lashing gently as those soft lips moved higher. Jack looked up at him, face alight with wicked desire.

"I bet I can convince you," he purred.

Looking into those blood-red eyes, Chase knew he was lost.