A story from the Love is an Open Road event sponsored by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. Members of the Goodreads M/M Romance Group were invited to choose a photo and pen a letter asking for a short M/M romance story inspired by the image; authors from the group were encouraged to select a letter and write an original tale. Kestrel Drake responded to this request. PHOTO DESCRIPTION: Through the mist-swept streets of the capital city, a young knight leads a dragon on an enormous pair of reins. Though the creature towers over the knight, it follows willingly, its intense blue gaze focused on the man who looks back over his shoulder, the connection between them intense and undeniable. STORY LETTER: Dear Author, Remind me why I�m doing this? Walking through the not-surprisingly empty streets of Dorbarra behind a man holding reins. My reins? Like I�m one of those stupid sirit that humans use? I could breathe on him and poof! bits of ash drifting in the morning mist. He�s barely longer than my forearm. I could curl my claws around him, lift and snack. Though probably not. Great-great-great-Aunt Grnvlia had one once during an attempted hoard heist, and she said the rumors are wrong. They don�t taste like chicken. At all. Nasty after-taste, too. I could raise my head, yank him off the ground, shake, and see how far he�d fly before bouncing off� something-or-other. I could stand tall, walk forward two fast steps and drop. His king�s street sweepers would have something to sweep� or mop� up. I could� shift. Rip my clothes off. His. Bend him over and fuck him here and now. Or perhaps not in the street. Humans are so touchy about public displays of affection. But there�s a nice, shadowed alley over there. No one would notice. Much. Though they�d hear his howls of pleasure. And mine. If I could do all that, and I so easily could, then why� Oh. Fantasy. Dragon shifter. Sex, please. Humor would be nice, too. I hope someone will want to have fun with this. Sincerely, Eric (of the Alan Westfall variety)