“So a latte has more milk and just a little foam on top.” Sam gestured with his hands, demonstrating layers. “A cappuccino is equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and foam. Much frothier.”
“And which would you recommend for someone who doesn’t like their coffee too strong?”
“Definitely the latte. I can make it with a half shot if you’d like, but the milk ratio keeps it smooth.”
The woman beamed. “You’re such a dear. I’ll have the latte, then.”
Sam’s smile transformed his whole face, and Rux’s dragon rumbled,he’s so perfect.
Sam glanced up as he reached for a cup, and his gaze landed on Rux. His eyes widened slightly, just a fraction, before his professional smile returned. “I’ll be right with you.”
Rux managed a nod. It was best not to speak in that moment because his dragon wanted to rumble something possessive and wildly inappropriate for a first meeting.
He forced himself to look at the menu board instead. Americano. Espresso. Flat white. Words that meant coffee, but his brain couldn’t quite process them because Sam wasright there, less than ten feet away. Every fiber ofRux’s being wanted to close that distance.
The espresso machine hissed. Sam’s hands moved quickly - pulling shots, steaming milk, creating that ideal ratio he’d described. He chatted with the elderly woman about the weather, about her grandson’s upcoming wedding, and about whether she’d tried the lemon scones.
Then she left, and Sam turned to Rux with that same gentle smile.
“What can I get for you?”
Rux opened his mouth.
His dragon chose that moment to flood his brain with completely unhelpful suggestions:Tell him he’s beautiful. Tell him we’ve been waiting centuries. Tell him about the gold. Show him the heart stone. Shift. Claim him. Take him home where he’ll be safe and warm and…
“Coffee.” The word emerged too loud, too abrupt. Rux cleared his throat. “I’d like coffee, please.”
Sam’s smile remained patient, kind, the same expression he’d given the elderly woman moments ago. “What kind?”
What kind? Right. Because there were dozens of kinds. Because people didn’t just walk into coffee shops and demandcoffeelike some kind of…
His gaze darted to the menu board. Letters and words swam together. His dragon was still chantingours, ours, ourson repeat, making it almost impossible to think.
“Pumpkin spice.”
Sam blinked.
“With extra...” Rux’s eyes landed on the description. “Foam?”
A beat of silence. Sam’s pen hovered over his notepad, and something flickered across his face - surprise, maybe, or confusion - before the professional smile returned.
“Sure. One pumpkin spice latte with extra foam. What size?”
Size. There were sizes? Rux never had issues dealing with humaninteractions in the past – it was why he was the one who did the grocery shopping. But with his dragon taking up most of his brain space, Rux could barely think at all.
“Large.” Rux paused. “Please.”
“Coming right up.” Sam turned toward the espresso machine.
Rux stood there, watching Sam reach for a cup, and then the pumpkin spice syrup. His hands curled into fists at his sides because he needed todosomething. Mabon had said to talk to him, to seem normal and friendly.
“Nice weather we’re having.”
The words tumbled out before Rux could stop them.
Sam glanced over his shoulder, and his expression shifted - just slightly - toward polite bewilderment. His gaze flicked to the windows where brilliant October sunshine poured across the street, golden and obvious.
“Yeah.” Sam measured out espresso carefully. “It’s been really sunny today.”
