“Mind if I have a seat?” Kyndel motioned to the rock next to Aidan’s.
“No, not at all,” Aidan tried to force a calm and friendliness into his voice that he just didn’t feel.
After a few minutes of silence and fidgeting he wasn’t surprised when Kyndel spoke, “Enjoying the scenery?” He appreciated that she was trying to lighten the mood.
Aidan snorted, “Yea, something like that.”
“Bet it gets boring.”
“Not really. I like the solitude. Gives me time to think and I really like the outside.”
“Yea, I bet y’all like the outdoors seeing as how you guys change into big 1000 pounds dragons that can fly and shoot fire from your nostrils.” She visibly flinched and hurried on, “Oh, shit! Sorry about that. I shouldn’t have blurted that out. I have a bad habit of engaging my mouth before my brain.”
She chuckled. Aidan was reminded of another’s giggle he’d heard what seemed a lifetime ago and still carried in his heart. She thankfully spoke and broke his melancholy walk down memory lane, “I didn’t mean anything by that. I was just trying to start a conversation. Standing around and waiting is making me crazy and…”
“It’s ok, don’t worry about it,” Aidan felt the smile break across his face. This little female had a special way about her. She was going to make a great addition to their clan.
“No, really! I am sorry. I’m going to have to get used to this kind of thing if Rayne and I are really going to try to be a couple.”
“I’m sure you’re going to be more than just a couple, from the way the Commander looks at you.”
He saw how she wrung her hands and could feel her anxiety. She was trying to help and he wasn’t making it easy on her, no matter how hard he tried. She surprised him when she placed her hand on his forearm. He tensed but instead of moving her hand away, like he’d expected, she rubbed little circles of comfort before putting her hand back on her leg.
“Did I say something wrong?” He heard the worry in her voice.
“No, vibria, you didn’t. There are just some things that are better left alone.” He answered and with his tone tried to reassure her.
“Well, Aidan, I want you to know that as long as I’m around, you always have someone to talk to if you feel the need.” He heard her conviction to help him in her words.
“I thank you, Kyndel. You’ll make a wonderful addition to our clan and the perfect mate for our Commander. And speaking of our Commander, I think he’s done listening to us from behind the tree over there.” He pointed in the direction Rayne was now walking from, “It looks like your mate is looking for you, Miss Kyndel.”
She surprised him when she started laughing and called out, “You are so busted, buddy!” He wasn’t surprised at all by the way Rayne marched forward like he owned the world, but he did catch the fact that his Commander was more than a little embarrassed at being caught spying.
Aidan had to laugh when Kyndel squealed as Rayne scooped her into his arms and swung her around like he’d seen so many fathers do with their daughters. He soon took his clue to leave as Rayne let his mate slide down his body, stopping her slide when their lips were level.
“Ahem,” Aidan cleared his throat, “I will leave you to it,” he chuckled just a bit and turned on his heel.
Before he could take a step, Kyndel called out, “I meant what I said, Aidan.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Kyndel.” He nodded his head and then looked at his Commander, “Enjoy your mate.” And with that he was gone. But not before he heard Kyndel sigh at whatever attention Rayne was showing her.
He really was happy for them, really. Now if he could make the ache around his heart go away, if only just for a moment.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
He simply could not get enough of this woman. He knew the mating call was alive and strong between them but this was so completely all encompassing that just a few minutes away from her and he was crazy with the need to touch her, to inhale her scent. The sight of Kyndel that close to another man, even though it was one of his men, had triggered a primal need; the innate desire to be buried deep inside her again, the circumstances they faced be damned. He needed to feel his mate and there would be no waiting. The man and beast had to reassert their possession of her. They had to mark her with their scent inside and out. He couldn’t get the picture of her hand on Aidan’s arm out of his head. He had actually thought about throwing her over his shoulder and paddling her behind for touching another man.
He continued to reason that his very caring mate had seen the sadness inside Aidan and instinctively reached out to ease his pain but the incredibly irrational alpha mate and dragon that resided inside of him never wanted those beautiful hands touching anyone but him.