Finding the Dragon (Dásreach Council Book 1) (4 page)

“Now, Maureen, you own a bookstore. You provide the crack for my addiction; you know I will bring you some swag back. It’s the least I can do since you’re dropping me at the airport.”

“Oh, nice segue.”

“I thought so.” Kai could hear the smile in her voice and wished he could see it.

“Uh huh, and that’s your way of asking?” He heard a snort from one of them.

“So can you, drop me at the airport? Please?”

“Alvena Irene, don’t you dare use those puppy dog eyes on me.” Maureen said with false sternness.
Ah
, Kai thought,
Al is short for Alvena
. He liked it.
Different… but lovely
.

“Come on, I’m sure Roger can keep the store running for a few hours and close up for you for one evening.”

Laughing Maureen responded, “Oh, Okay, you had me at swag. When is the flight?”

“Thanks Maureen! It’s the only time I regret not having a car. I’m flying Southwest and my flight leaves at 7:40 p.m., so I figure you should pick me up around 4 p.m."
BINGO
!

“You sure that’s going to give you enough time?”

“Yes, they say you should be at the airport at least an hour early and that gives me a bit more than three. I’m more worried about my luggage getting lost.”

“I’d be more worried that your boss will come up with reasons not to let you leave at 4 p.m.” Maureen said.

“Not this time. I put in my time off requests and on Thursday I’m sticking to them.” Alvena said vehemently.

“Seriously, Al, I hope all goes well. You deserve this trip and I know how much you like the ladies you are going with. I’m glad to see you doing something with someone other than me.”

“Why would I need anyone other than you? Like I said Maureen, you’re my crack dealer.” The women laughed.

Kai closed his eyes as he sat the book down and prayed his thanks to the Great Spirit. He now had all the information he needed to get himself on the same flight. The way his luck was going, he would be sitting next to her in three days.

Thinking it best that Alvena didn’t see him, he didn’t want her to think him a stalker the first time he was able to speak with her. Hopefully she had been distracted enough talking to her friend, that she wouldn’t remember him at all. He walked out of the bookstore and hurried back to his hotel room to begin searching for flight information from his laptop. Thank goodness the small hotel provided Wi-Fi.

*

Three days later, once again at the airport.

Kai walked as close to his mate as he could. Watching her struggle with her carry-on bag, he wanted to rush up and help her with it. Sadly, he couldn’t, he had to play it cool. Even with how late they were for the flight, there were a few people ahead of him in line. The last to board the plane, he prayed that the Great Spirit continued to guide those things that were out of Kai’s control; such as getting a seat next to his mate.
Why couldn’t this airline assign seats?
He held his breath as Alvena stepped up to the last completely empty row of seats and the two people in front of him moved past her, each taking spots further back next to people they seemed to know. Kai let out his breath and walked slowly up behind the curvy woman who held his focus. Her back still to him she struggled to get that carry-on bag in the overhead compartment.

“Can I help you with your bag, lass?” Alvena startled and her bag fell out of the compartment, Kai grabbed it before it could hit the man in the seat in front of them.

“Thank you.” She said as she turned to him. “Again.” She said and smiled.

She stared at him for a couple of heartbeats. Heartbeats he could count by the thumping of her heartbeat in the vain on that sexy throat. Her attention drifted down his chest and out to his hands, making him all the more aware of her. He cleared his own throat and couldn’t help but adjust his stance. Her dark eyes snapped back to his own deep blue.

“I’m sorry that I had to rush off after you kept me from visiting the ER.” She twisted her fingers together and looked at her feet. “When I felt my foot slip, I was positive it was an ER visit and not a vacation with my friends for me.”

“No problem. Either time. It’s always a pleasure to help a bonny lass.” With a smile he poured on the Scottish brogue for her.
All women love an accent right?
“Just let me put this in the overhead for you.” Kai easily lifted and slid the bag smoothly inside the compartment above her seat. He motioned for her to sit.

“Are you going to sit in this row?” She asked with a look of hope mixed with fear.

“If that’s alright with you, lass.” Kai gave her his most innocent and hopeful look.

“Um, sure. It’s open seating on Southwest.” She looked down at the seats and over at the window. “But, do you mind sitting by the window?”

“That would actually work out great for me.” He replied.

They both got comfortable and buckled their seat belts in preparation for takeoff as she responded with gratitude. Relief was evident on her face and in her voice.

“Terrific. I hate heights, so it’s better if I can’t see out the window. Would be lovely if you kept the window closed too, but I understand if you want to look. I wish I didn't have to fly, but I don’t have a car and riding a bus for 8 to 12 hours with a bunch of strangers, no thank you. A necessary evil you know.” She babbled.

Kai chuckled. His mate was adorable and amazing. Here she was afraid of heights and obviously not a fan of flying, but she was facing her fears to do what she wanted to do. She just made him want to hug her close and reassure her. Instead he said, “That won’t be a problem. I have a friend in New Orleans, so I’ve made this trip lots of times.”

Not to mention that flying in an airplane was nothing compared to flying as his dragon. Kai stilled and looked at Alvena.
She’s afraid of heights?
How could his mate be afraid of heights? Part of being a mate was being able to spend time together in their shifted forms.

“New Orleans. Really?” She snapped his attention back to their conversation. “My friends and I are going there. That’s why I’m on this flight. However, Rogue – she lives in Memphis – agreed to drive us from Memphis, so I only have to take this shorter flight from Ohio to Tennessee.”

“A vacation with friends, that sounds like fun. Unfortunately for me, I’ll be stuck at the airport and on another plane. I’m taking the connecting flight straight to New Orleans. Malkum expects me to start work tomorrow.”

“Wow, no chance to rest up, huh?”

“Not really, but that’s okay, Great Spirit Tattoo doesn’t open until 11, so I can sleep late if I need to.”

“A tattoo parlor? You work at a tattoo parlor?”

“Aye. I’m an artist.” He answered. Maybe it wasn’t the complete truth, but still true. He hated to give her half-truths, but until they could get to know each other better, it had to be. ”Painting doesn’t pay the bills, but laying ink does.” He clarified further. Growing up Dásreach meant learning a lot of things – fighting, history, tactical planning, basic healing, and the humanities. From a young age he had enjoyed illustrating and painting. Pen and ink sketches honing the skills he would need to be a tattoo artist in the Dásreach shops.

“That’s awesome! Nat, Rogue, and I are planning to get a tattoo when we are down there. Maybe we should check out your shop.”

“Definitely, it’s one of the best if I say so myself.” He winked at her.

“I wouldn’t know the first thing about getting a tattoo, this will be my first…”

“Ah… virgin skin.” Kai interrupted.

“What?”

“Virgin skin, that’s what we call it when you haven’t had a tattoo yet.”

Al giggled, “Of course you would.”

“I didn’t make it up. It’s an industry term.” Kai grinned.

Kai watched as she got comfortable in her seat. She tucked her hair behind her left ear with long delicate fingers. Fingers he wanted on his skin. A movement in his jeans seemed to agree with that sentiment. He adjusted himself in the seat, which didn’t alleviate the pressure in his groin. He hadn’t been able to get her sweet curves out of his mind and had been hard since the moment he had seen her. But, Kai had to be careful. He couldn’t scare her off before he had a chance to convince her to stay.
My mate. My bonny mate.
He was a damn lucky man.

“You know a lot of tattoo shops give discounts when you’re a virgin. You should ask when you go in to the shop you choose.” Kai suggested.

“Really? Well that would help me, but not the gals, Rogue and Nat already have tattoos. I’m the only virgin.” She stuttered over the last word and blushed.

So innocent and sweet.
“You know you lasses come to the Great Spirit and I’ll take care of you. I can make sure all three of you get a good deal." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. “Here’s our card.”

“Thanks. I’ll have to see what the gals think, but this is great of you to offer.”

“Not at all … thank you. I would love the chance to take your virginity.” He said with an evil grin and a twinkle in his eye. Alvena smacked his arm lightly.

“You’re terrible.” She said, once again blushing. “You said that just to make me blush, didn’t you?”

“Of course not, lass.” Kai chuckled as he rubbed his arm. The spot where she made contact burned. It literally felt like it was on fire from her touch. This woman had to be his mate. Their instant connection and the way she made him feel from one innocent touch with two layers of clothes between their skin had to mean something.

***

All of a sudden, Al realized that the plane was vibrating. The fasten seatbelt sign was still on, but the flight staff were walking the aisles handing out earphones, pillows, or other things the airline provided passengers.

“Are we in the air?”

“Yes, lass. Why do you ask?”

“Oh. My. Gawd! You distracted me and I didn’t have a chance to get nervous during takeoff.”

“That’s me, your friendly neighborhood distraction.” Kai said. Al laughed at the comic reference.

“Yep, today, you’re my hero.”

“I’m no hero, lass, I just do what I think is right and helping bonny lasses is definitely right.”

Al laughed, “With that brogue of yours, I can’t tell when you’re being serious.”

“Serious about what, lass?”

“I love to hear you call me lass, but my name is Alvena.” She held out her hand to shake his. He took her hand in his larger one. His was so large that it swallowed her own. Once she was touching his skin, electricity crackled between them. Her libido lifted its head and took notice of the heroic man sitting next to her on the plane. It had been a long time since she had seen her libido. It was good to know she still had one.

“Alvena Anderson. But, you can call me Al.”

“Isn’t that a song?” Kai asked, trying to keep a serious face.

“Ha. Ha. Funny man. Now what’s your name, or do you want me to call you Hero?”

“Hero has a nice ring…” Al raised her free hand to bop him in the arm again, “Now, now, Alvena. I’m just jokin’ around no need to get violent. My name Is Kai, Kai Darrow.” He still held her other hand and his thumb was making small, soothing circles against her skin. It did funny things to her. It caused a tingling sensation all the way to the core of her being. "And you can call me Handsome.”

“I think I’ll stick with Kai, if that’s okay?”

“And, I’ll stick with Alvena, if that’s alright?”

“Fine with me. I love how it sounds when you say it.” She grinned at him.

“So, Kai, it looks like we have a few hours to kill, want to keep me
distracted
?” She grinned at him, fully aware of the innuendo in what she said.

Kai barked out a laugh, “Why, lass, I think I’m a bad influence.”

“Not at all. I think the Book Worms get that honor.”

“And, who are these Book Worms to steal my chance?”

“Well, they are my best friends,” she said with a grin. “We’re a group of women who share a love of books. Rogue and Nat, they are my friends I’m meeting in Memphis, are in the group with me.”

“I thought you said that one of them lived in Tennessee?” He asked.

“Well, Rogue does, the rest live across the United States and a few in Europe.” Al clarified for him.

She loved speaking with Kai; his voice rumbled in that brogue and made her insides tingle with memories of long forgotten dreams. Dreams of a man who could make her burn. She shook her head trying to concentrate on the conversation and not his large arms and chest. His t-shirt stretched over the muscles and defined them. Her fingers wanted to do the walking.

His next question snapped her out of her lust filled daydreams.

“If you live all over, how did you meet them?”

“On Facebook. We met because of a love of books and I found friends that I never had before.” She waited for him to criticize like her parents and some of the people she spent time with had.

“That’s terrific, lass. Good friends are not easy to find and all the more amazing when you do.”

Al couldn’t help but grin at this man, who she was thinking was going to constantly surprise her.