There wasn’t a real need for the device, except backup. They could all talk by telepathy, and yet in human form they still relied on mechanical devices. Whatever. He couldn’t wait to get back home where everything made sense. Their magic wasn’t predictable here. He was only relieved that Maddie appeared to be fine, finally.
Now, mission one was to find his mate, and then food. Then back to the ship.
Peeking down the hall, he followed the sounds of clanging and banging. Kal could pick out Maddie in a crowd, but add her scent to whatever she was cooking and his stomach wasn’t the only thing waking up.
“What is that delicious smell?” he asked, coming up behind her. Wrapping her in his arms, Kal breathed her in.
She relaxed into him, a perfect fit. Their soul, his dragon, they were going to be okay. This had been what he needed. He was too young to be abstinent too, but moreover he was too young to lose himself to the power. He rubbed up against her backside and hoped she’d get the hint.
“Kal? That better not be what I think it is.”
He smiled. “What do you think it is?”
She dropped the spatula on the stove and turned in his arms.
“Well, I’ve established you don’t seem to own a gun or any other weapon. So…”
He liked this little witch.
“Maddie? How are you feeling today?”
She shrugged. “You mean other than being sore in places I didn’t know existed? Yeah, actually. I think I’m good.”
Kal placed a hand against her cheek and her forehead. Her temperature seemed to be relatively normal. Her skin contained a glow that he found beautiful and pretty much what came with the territory of being his mate.
“Well, there is one thing, Kal, this.”
He watched her hold up her hand as a tiny flame appeared. He shrugged.
“Is that not normal?” he asked. “Fire is very normal for a dragon.”
She pursed her lips. “Only, I’m not a dragon and I didn’t conjure it.”
Kal lifted her hand and kissed it through the flame.
“Kal!”
He pulled away.
“You are a dragon’s mate. You share some of my powers. You can’t transform, but you will be able to communicate with me through your mind.” He leaned in and kissed her temple. “You will be able to control fire and it will never hurt you.” He slipped a finger over the flame. “You are nearly immortal.”
Kal took her hand and rested it over his heart. “You are my heart. As long as my heart beats my life is yours.”
He couldn’t make out her thoughts yet. Not really. That would come though.
Maddie pinched her lips closed. She was indeed thinking, that couldn’t be good.
“Mate? What has you silent now?”
Kal liked the way she looked up at him. Reaching for her, he tried to pull her in, but she pushed away.
This was not how he saw his morning going, which had his dragon chuckling. This was exactly how they’d seen finding a mate happening, though minus the chicken.
“Right. So that’s my question. You bite me and I’m now your mate?”
He nodded, his senses on edge. Where was she going with this now?
“So my wedding present is this scar, some tattoos, and fire?”
Kal didn’t think he was exceptionally good at reading females anymore, but he could definitely see the warning bells going off. Okay. He’d bite.
“Wedding present?” Kal asked.
Maddie’s nose wrinkled as if something had just spoiled and was smelling up the kitchen.
He wasn’t sure if he should apologize right now or wait until he actually understood what had just happened.
“Great. This is my life. I don’t get a wedding. I get screwed, both literally and figuratively.”
Her face reddened, and he didn’t have to ask what she meant as the air scented of her. He ran a hand down her back to her hip. He was dying to get under the shirt she wore, but as clouds rolled into her eyes he dropped his hands and surrendered.
“Maddie, if I have done something wrong, please let me know. In our culture we would have feasts and celebrations. We will, when we return home. The warriors are highly revered, and finding our mates is something to be celebrated. But not here.”
Her shoulders relaxed, and she rested her hand on his forearm.
“I asked for your permission, I assumed you understood what I meant. On this planet everything is wrong. I don’t know all your customs, and I assumed that you felt what I felt.”
Her fingers twisted on the hair along his arm, the only sound a popping on the stove. She quickly spun around and turned a knob, coming right back to him.
“No. I understood what you wanted to do,” Maddie said.
She stopped scowling, but he wasn’t any less confused.
“I suppose I just want what any little girl wants. To be the center of attention.”
Center of attention, he understood.
“You are the center of my world, mate.” Bending down, he gently took her lips with a soft kiss.
“I understand. But-” Maddie let out an audible sigh.
“But what?” Kal was back to feeling like maybe he wasn’t enough. Why did he have to learn the feeling of doubt now? Or ever. He didn’t need this useless feeling.
“But, now that I found someone that…” she stopped.
Good, Lord. That what? Was this a guessing game? He really sucked at humanity. He needed the whole telepatic communication to start kicking in at any minute.
“Well, it’s just that I finally found someone worth walking down the aisle for. Someone worth celebrating. I’ve never wanted attention, but right now I can see that whole dream that everyone says you see when you find the right one.”
Kal followed her movements as she swayed one side then the other, then she lifted a finger and brought it to rest on his stomach. He liked where this might be going, if it was going anywhere near his dick, anyway. This woman had him ready to do as she wished. Wherever she wished.
“Well, I suppose I don’t
