Skin or Scale

by Jaime Samms

Dear Author,
Every time I look at this picture I think of the same few things. They are, in no particular order: he's waiting for someone, he's away at university (studying magic), and that he's had something of a sheltered life.

Photo Description: The young man's green eyes can just be seen peeking out beneath the windblown cap of white blond hair. His pale face and blushing cheek only add to his beauty. He stares pensively into the distance.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is Always Write" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

Read the story here or find it in Love Is Always Write: Volume 9.

Genres: M M Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Short Stories, Romance, Magic

33 pages, ebook

First published June 8, 2012

About the author

Jaime Samms is a plaid-hearted Canadian who spends the too-long winters writing stories about love between men and the too-short summers digging in the garden. There are dust bunnies in the corners of her house—which she blames on a husky named Kai. There are dishes on the counter—which is clearly because teenagers! There is hot coffee in the pot and the occasional meal to keep her from starving—because her husband is remarkable and patient.

A multi-published author whose work has been translated into French, Italian, and German, Jaime delights in the intricate dance of words that leads her through tales of the lost and broken hearted men she writes about to the love stories that find and mend them.

And when the muse is being stubborn, she also makes pretty things with yarn and fabric scraps because in her world, no heart is too broken to love, and nothing is too worn or tired it can’t be upcycled into something beautiful. All it takes is determination and the ability to see life a little bit left of center.

Reviews

[Mandy*reads obsessively* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting world building and I liked the dragons.
They really are 'animals' when they are mating and in heat.
I liked the story, but it felt more like a chapter out of a longer story, since I was left very unsure about the relationship between Alec and his two friends and how it will end up .

And it gave me just enough info to get me interested but left me with tons of unanswered questions...why can Alec not shift? What's with the null area, why was the other dragon able to shift for the first time there, dragons aren't gay, yet both of Alec's friends seemed to want to mate with him....what's Alec's history..from tending other people's animals to studying at the school....


If this is ever turned into a longer story I would read it for sure!

[Bubbles Hunty Honest & Direct Opinions · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like shifter stories better when they are more human than animal and if the story makes sense. This one they were pretty much all animal will kill anything weaker than it and will kill while mating.

Then they all seem to be fighting over Alec since he is unmated. Why are they all fighting over Alec, why not the other unmated ones? And then at the end it says dragons can't be gay and mate same sex? Then why they all fighting over him?

There is no background info given apparently they have been living this way for three years, not sure how.

Character development? Only that they savage mindless beasts in a mating frenzy.

This is not romance this is dragons fighting over the twink that can't shift like he is a meet sack. The twink doesn't care who wins he wants both. Why? That's not said just that he thinks about both. Then the one gets him and the end. So no tension since twink is fine with any dick fucking him no preference. And the other two guys see him as a prize but then when it comes time to claim him say wait, dragons can't be gay. Finishing this I'm like what was the point/plot of this story?

The world/characters and everything was just really underdeveloped for a magic and paranormal world story. Lots of stuff was just like "huh" or just didn't make sense since it wasn't explained.

That said the writing was fine. If you like the stuff I mentioned above you'll probably enjoy this

[Jaime]

I'm not really reviewing my own book, don't worry. I'm just letting readers know that the story here,as it turned out, is more a work in progress. I just didn't have the time and space in this venue for all the questions to be answered or all the characters to be explored properly, and I thought readers might like to know to watch this space for future developments. At some point, I will complete the story.

[Wendy❤Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was just enough of a teaser to introduce us to a fascinating world of dragon shifters and magic, but left us with more questions than answers, and a whole array of possibilities for the future direction of the story should the author decide to continue. I’d love to see more to come – I was definitely intrigued and appreciate this donation as part of the LiAW event. Thank you!

[Cole Riann · Rating 3 out of 5]

LOVE dragons! This was a great world the author built but it seemed barely explored and ended with many unanswered questions. Ripe for expansion (which I'd love to read), but as it stands only so so.

[Pete W · Rating 3 out of 5]

The few unresolved issues lingered when the story end marred my enjoyment for this story quite a bit. I guess it's can't be help with this being a short story and all.

[Bookbee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really 3.5 Stars for potential.

This story needed to be longer! As it stands there are just too many unanswered questions.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting Setting in an interesting world. But I was a Little disappointed, because I hoped for Alec and Robert to come together for the whole time. Also, the Story wasn't really finished and left me with more Questions than it answered.

[Sandra]

Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group, Love Is Always Write: Volume Nine.

[Katy Beth Mckee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alex is at magic university and is an almost dragon shifter. During a dangerous time to be him he has to decide between friend or roommate. It is a strange little fantasy story about settling on wants and needs and making them work together.

[BTina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the world, the story could have been a bit longer.

[Hal Evergreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting worldbuilding, but the story feels incomplete.

[Neko · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Gwendolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this because the prince who kept Alec locked away while he went out and mated with others didn't "win." Hooray for not bending to the usual awesome prince crap.

[Kiki · Rating 1 out of 5]

ending too unfinished, too unresolved

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - I really enjoyed this story. It felt like a prequel though. I would love to read more about these two and their world. Thank you Jaime Samms, for donating your story, time and talent.

[Lexi Ander · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Elske · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I very much enjoyed the beginning and middle, the end just didn't feel like an ending though. Fun read, still.

[Blue Dragon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the story but felt like it was missing pieces.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

More please.

[Lila Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great world development. I just wanted a little more after the plot resolution.

[Shaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story and hope it continues.

[Tamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sure hope there's more of these stories!!!

[GlamLawyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars Great world building around dragon shifters. I want more of that world.