Wyvern Protection Unit - Chapter 93: Chapter 93

He knew he shouldn’t do this. Under no circumstances should Zircon ever touch her. At least, not if he wanted to be able to sleep that night. But what was he supposed to do when she challenged him like that?
“That’s right, Conny. I am my own person and I belong to no one.”
As soon as the words penetrated his brain, his Wyvern snarled and scratched across his skin. Fuck that. She belonged to him. All rational thought flew out the fucking window and he blurred across the space and had her body pressed to his in seconds flat.
“Wrong, baby, you belong to me.”
Then he crushed her mouth under his and the rest, as they said, was history. Zircon was like one giant pulsating need. And what he needed was her. Their kiss began as something rough and wild, like he had something to prove. Maybe he did.
Years of waiting, longing, of needing her more than he needed air. She’d been pushing him away for so long, he was braced for the slap, only. It didn’t come. Instead, she touched him. Jennifer, his sweet Jennifer, just reached out with her small hands and wrapped them around his neck, and all the tension left his body.
Zircon melted into her then, and their kiss became something combustible. Any second now, he was going to go up in flames just from the constant pressure of her lips against his. Once her tongue pressed inside his mouth, oh, he was a fucking goner. All thoughts of doing anything else besides this right there did not even exist.
Jennifer took up all the space in his brain, his heart, his very soul. She was everything to him, and so much more. He would do anything she wanted, anything at all. He’d waited years for any sign she wanted him too, and finally, he thought they’d crossed the last bridge, leaped over the final hurdle, but she’d pushed him away all over again. And it was like dying.
He might not be the brightest of his brothers, or, hell, not even the strongest, but no one was more steadfast than he was for this woman. And right then, he existed purely for that moment right there. Nothing was better than kissing Jennifer.
But all too soon, she eased back. Zircon cursed his own headstrong response, but what was he supposed to do? The woman owned him body, heart, and soul. That she rejected him time and again didn’t seem to matter to the stupid piece of muscle. It just kept beating away, pining for the female who had more power than any other being should over him.
“When are you going to stop building walls, Jenn?” he asked, eyes closed on the anguish he felt when she pressed against his chest.
“I can’t,” she whispered, and fuck, the sadness in her voice nearly tore him apart.
He moved away, granting her space, even though it was the last thing he wanted to do. Pain lanced through him with every step he took away from her. But he continued on until the whole length of the room divided them. If only that were the only hurdle in his path to happiness. Something was wrong. Something he was not privy to.
Jennifer ducked her head, placing papers and her laptop inside her bag. She wouldn’t even look at him, and that hurt more than her pushing him away.
“This isn’t going to just go away, Jenn. I’m not going to just go away,” he began.
Frustration lent itself to anger, and Zircon’s growl reverberated inside the small room. Shit. He didn’t want it to be this way, but she was so damn frustrating. How was he supposed to prove his love if she didn’t even give him a chance?
“Conny, look, I’m sorry about what just happened. I think, um, maybe coming here was a mistake. Do you want me to talk to Mother, try to get them to find a different place for all of us? I could ask him to put someone else in charge of the assimilation project. I don’t know, maybe I could go investigate the missing Shifters or something?” she asked.
“No! I mean, no. Fuck Jenn, I don’t want you in danger.”
“Oh, please. I am a professional. I can do my job.”
“Hunting down kidnappers isn’t your job,” he growled, noting the fury in her gaze. “Fuck. Okay. Look, I apologize. You are excellent at your job. Just, you know this is important, too. And Caro and Kim need you. I know you know what you are to me, Jenn, and how I’ve been keeping a leash on it,” he murmured.
“I know, Conny, but I can’t,” she whispered, and closed her eyes as if she was in pain.
Fuck.
Yes, she knew. He’d said it a dozen times or more that one glorious night he had with her. It was killing him that she refused to acknowledge it. Even so, he felt the bonds they’d started to form that night pulsing between them. So small and fragile, but it was there.
Bonds were like seeds that way. They needed love and light to grow, otherwise they’d shrivel. Zircon believed in their bond. He just needed to prove it to Jennifer, but she was holding out on him. Like she didn’t trust him with the truth and try as he might not to let that hurt, it did. A fuck ton.
Fuck. Please don’t kill us before we have our chance, Jenn, his heat seemed to whisper.
Jennifer turned her back on him, but he felt her pain and sadness radiating off her in waves. Such a different feeling from the calm, confident, and always in charge Jennifer he knew so well. But he didn’t care. He loved her still. Any way she came. Her vulnerability made her that much more real, and his heart squeezed with wanting her.
“Look, um, I have work to do. I can’t get into this now, Conny,” she murmured and rushed out of the room.
He was left standing there, trembling in her wake. The woman was like a hurricane, he mused. She had the power to completely turn his world upside down. Did she know that? Did she care?
“Yo, Con! I’m going on an ice cream run for the girls, wanna come?” Dor asked from the hall.
“Yeah,” he replied, needing to get out of there asap.
The Wessex house was beyond full with their Wyvern, er, Drakein brethren in residence, not to mention Medjed, his brother by choice, was visiting with his mate, a bonafide Christmas Elf named Candy. Oh yes, they’d done well for themselves, chasing their fated mates without rejection or reservation.
Zircon had been the first to find his fated mate, but the confounded woman wanted nothing to do with him. He couldn’t figure out why. She’d held him at bay for years, refusing to even discuss the matter.
After discovering the truth about his heritage, that he was an Alien from a planet full of Wyvern Shifters, or Drakeins as they preferred to be called, Zircon and his brothers were completely taken aback by the knowledge. Not only were they Aliens, but they were the long lost Princes of their Clan—born leaders. And wasn’t that a kick in the head?
The decision to aid the surviving Drakeins in their assimilation to life on Earth was made, and he’d been thrilled at the prospect of having Jennifer on hand day in and out. But he didn’t know if he could survive twenty-four hours a day of her giving him the cold shoulder.
Truth was, it hurt like fucking hell. Conny would rather duel with any one of his brothers than deal with that.
“Where are we going?”
“Thought we’d make a run to Honey Sweet creamery in Barvale. They’ve got some incredible flavors and Kim texted me a list,” Dor told him.
His face was twisted in a stupid, lopsided grin when he said his mate’s name. Conny shoved him into the wall as he passed. Lucky fucker.
“Ow! What was that for? Asshole,” Dor growled at him.
“Nothing. Let’s go, already.”
His brothers’ mates were having what they called a girl weekend, and with Carolina, Kimberley, and Candy all expecting, it was no wonder they wanted ice cream. Of course, five minutes after they started towards the creamery, Kim texted Dor again with a list of other things the women deemed necessary.
“Here, read off what she wants while I drive,” Dor said.
Zircon grabbed the phone, rolling his eyes as he scrolled down the list. The fuck?
“Okay, they want half-gallon cartons of the following flavors, Peanut Butter Raspberry, Chocolate Lovers Delight, Peppermint Bark, and Strawberry Pecan. Next, they want us to go to the Pickle Palace to pick up three gallons of spicy bread and butter pickles. Then we have to stop at the Shoe Barn to get nine pairs of fuzzy slippers. Preferable all pink, but we can get purple if they don’t have them all. Oh, and pick up ten bottles of Bubble Gum nail polish from the salon. What the fuck, Dor? I’m not doing all this.”
“Oh, yes you are, little brother. Better get used to it,” he replied with that same stupid grin.
“Fine. But I don’t need to get used to anything.”
“What does that mean? I thought you and Jennifer were making progress,” Dor started.
Zircon shrugged. Fuck. He didn’t want to talk about it. Every time he mentioned his mate, his heart hurt like it was being ripped from his chest. Even worse was his Wyvern. The stupid whiny creature couldn’t understand what he did wrong to make his mate reject him. The beast was tearing him apart from the inside. He couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, couldn’t do a fucking thing except want her.
“Nah, man. She don’t want me.”
“Look, Conny, you know I love fucking with you, bro. But I have seen the way Jennifer watches you when she thinks no one is looking. That Owl has got it bad.”
“She could have me, Dor. I made it pretty fucking clear. But she turns me away every time I get close. I-I think I’m going out of my fucking mind, bro,” he said, rubbing the top of his head.
“Nah, I get it. That’s your beast. He wants his mate. I understand completely. You try seducing her?”
Zircon scoffed at his brother and lifted his lip to snarl at his imbecile brother. What was Dor thinking? Had he tried seducing her? He’s tried every fucking thing to get her to notice him!
“What is this, some fucking chick flick? You think sex will fix my issues with Jenn? It’s not that easy., Dor.”
“First off, if you think sex is easy, you really don’t know shit about women. And second, well, I mean I was just gonna give you some advice on account of, you know,” he grumbled.
“No, I don’t know. What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about you like saving yourself and shit. You know, you being a virgin and all.”
Zircon’s mouth dropped. Had his brothers known the entire time? It wasn’t like he was keeping it a secret or anything, but while they’d been out spreading the love, he’d been concentrating on his studies and training his Wyvern. Each of the brothers had unique abilities, and he’d learned early on that his particular power could be right fucking dangerous if he didn’t get a handle on it. It seemed his beast had an affinity for lightning—something he learned rather unfortunately after zapping his rebuilt vintage Mustang after he and Jasper had gotten into a fight over the leather trim.
“Heliodore, I appreciate what you are trying to do, but I don’t want to discuss my sex life with you. Jennifer is precious to me⁠—”
“No doubt, but sex is like the language of love, man.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Look, I was a virgin, I am not anymore. Okay? Just drop it!”
“Oh snap! Did my little bro finally hit a home run? Good for you, pal!”
Heliodore pumped his fist in the air, and Zircon was two seconds from punching him upside the head. What the fuck was wrong with his brother? He realized sex was big for Shifters, but for him it was more than bodies. He’d simply never wanted to experience that level of intimacy before he met Jennifer.
“I swear to the gods, Heliodore, I will end you if you don’t stop this bullshit,” Conny grunted.
Truth was, ever since he’d had a taste of what it meant to give in to his physical desires, seeking refuge in Jennifer’s bed after that horrible battle when he could have lost her, his Wyvern had been slipping from his control. The beast didn’t care about giving her space or time. He wanted to claim her for his own, and the man wasn’t too far behind the animal.
“Sorry, Conny. I was just trying to lighten up the situation.”
“This is my life, Dor. It’s fucking serious. But if you’re just fishing for some info, then I will tell you cause we’re brothers. Yes, I had sex with Jennifer⁠—”
“Oh snap! Way to go, Conny! So, you guys are mated now, right? Damn, I am so relieved. I thought you were gonna be rocking your cherry forever.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Zircon grumbled, wiping his hand across his face. “Men don’t have cherries, asshole. I was just saving myself for my mate. Sex has to mean something, bro.”
“True. I mean, now that I’m mated, sex has never been better. So, that was like months ago, why didn’t you two tell anyone you’re together now? In fact, why isn’t she still wrapped around you? Hey man, do you need advice? Like about sex. I mean, it was your first time. Maybe you sucked at it?”
Gods grant me patience.
Zircon took a quick scan of the roads and punched Heliodore right in the arm, making sure if he swerved there would be nothing to hit. The motherfucker didn’t budge, but he grunted and the lightning bright glare he flashed at Zircon made him grin. He was an asshole, but he was still his brother.
“Fuck you, Dor. I already said we went to bed together after the battle with that Viper motherfucker. And no, for your information, I didn’t suck at it. We fit together perfectly, man. It was, I mean, yeah, it was everything. She’s everything, but she still pushes me away. I guess Jennifer just doesn’t want me,” Conny confessed.
He was rubbing his fist against the hollow part of his chest right over his heart where it ached too much to contain. Admitting the fact his mate rejected him repeatedly was like slicing his veins open. Anguish filled him, and Zircon stared out the window as Dor sped down the highway.
His eyes were wide open, but he saw nothing at all. How could he when Jennifer took up every waking moment? The world was gray and cold without her, and Conny felt nothing but despair.
Fuck.
He was pathetic. Maybe he should just give up. Let the Wyvern loose and force his brothers to put him down. No, that was the coward’s way out. He had to fight for her. To be the man she deserved. A man he could live with and face in the mirror every single morning. The sound of the phone ringing brought his attention back to Dor, who was using Bluetooth to make a call.
“What are you doing, man?”
“Little brother, you are having mate problems, and it’s time to call in the big guns.”
“What’s up, Dor? I sent you the list,” Jasper spoke through the receiver.
“Brothers, is this a group call?” Medjed asked.
“Yo, I was napping,” growled Larimar.
“Stop bitching, Conny needs us, boys. I need you all to meet us on the target range after we drop off the girls’ stuff, got it? We are having a WESSEX FAMILY MEETING! And it’s mandatory, motherfuckers, so don’t puss out.”
Conny grinned and shook his head. He didn’t know if this was gonna help, but having his brothers with him while they got in some practice using their Wyvern powers was bound to be entertaining.
“Thanks,” he murmured.
“No worries, bro. We got you,” Heliodore replied with a nod.