I know she could hear the few thoughts I sent her way just as I could hear hers regarding me. She can scent my mark and judging by the way her pupils would dilate, Posey enjoys it. She can handle the heat of my body, my touch left no marks on her skin, and I'd go as far as to say she wanted more of that. Her jealousy over that ridiculous blonde woman was adorable and I felt a mixture of pride and lust when Posey looked as though she may have used a corkscrew on her.
Even with all of those signs, clear indicators that Posey is my fated mate, my beloved, I need to be one hundred percent sure before I initiate the mating ritual in any way. Which is going to be torture since my body already reacts to hers as though I've claimed her.
If Posey isn't my mate and I try to claim her? I could end up killing her.
Typically dragons do not mate with humans but it's not unheard of. The human would generally be very strong and may have dragon blood somewhere far back in their lineage, but that can only be confirmed through a successful pregnancy that results in a child who has dragon traits or is fully capable of shifting.
Many view mating with humans beneath them, tainting pure lines and desecrating our clan, but since our mates are predetermined by fate, no one fights it too hard.
My gut growls again so I exit my bedroom, walk through my living space, pass my den, library, and office toward the double doors that close off my wing from the rest of the house.
Slowing my steps so as not to look over eager if any of my brothers are up, I still end up almost running down the stairs.
"Where to this morning, brother?"
I skid to a stop in the doorway of the kitchen to find Henrich drinking a can of soda with a frown. I step in and see that Andrej and Milos are sitting at the table doing the same, all of them quite miserable with the cold carbonated beverages in place of the coffee we've all come to appreciate.
I sigh. "Out."
All three of them smirk and I roll my eyes.
"Out to see a feisty little barista and bartender, perhaps?" Milos asks with a wag of his brows.
Andrej frowns hard. "You were going to a coffee shop and not ask us to join you?"
"I didn't expect any of you to be up," I grit out.
Great.
Now my drive into town to see Posey is going to become a field trip for all four of us. Especially since I ate all four pinwheels on my way home yesterday and was scolded by Andrej, albeit silently, for not saving him any. Aside from myself, our eldest brother has the biggest sweet tooth, a trait not common in dragons but acquired through our mother’s affinity to indulge.
Thinking as quickly as possible of a way to avoid any company as I venture into town I add, "I can bring coffee and pastries home with me."
Milos laughs. "Then we'd have to wait for you to return after you've decided you've watched your mate long enough to leave her alone until you venture to that pub to see if she's tending bar."
"Not to mention..." Henrich grins as he empties his soda into the sink. "As your brothers, bodyguard to the king and elders of the Dragovihk Clan, we really shouldn't allow you to go into town alone."
"Again," Andrej throws in for good measure.
It's moments like this that I'm reminded I am in fact a middle child.
For the most part I don't feel it since there is only a year between each of us and we've always been more equals than anything else, but right now as my two elder brothers remind me to take safety precautions and my youngest razzes me about being an overprotective mate? Yeah, I'm feeling the middle child thing.
I look at each of their faces, faces so much alike yet so very different and sigh. "You have five minutes to get ready. If you're not out to the SUV on time, I leave without you."
* * *
Thirty minuteslater I'm parking the Hummer next to the spot where Posey's ancient truck should be sitting, but it is still in the same place it was last night—the goddamn pub down the street. Which makes me wonder how the hell she got to work.
I should have given her my number, offered to pick her up and drive her to the shop. At the very least I could have made sure she had someone to call so she could get here or help coordinate a tow truck.
Some mate I am.
I stuff my hands into my pockets as we round the front of the shop in our usual and all too militant formation. Which we need to stop doing because the four of us are already going to be quite the spectacle once we enter; walking in as if we're a special ops unit will only make matters worse.
The bell dings announcing our arrival and I immediately perk up when I'm greeted with the fantastic flavor explosion that seems to reside here.
Fresh ground coffee, multiple pots brewing.