"But wait. I thought you were a history teacher?"
"I am. Before…before Rachel died, I was an electrical engineer for Lochguard. The work was demanding, but I loved it. However, after, my job was a constant reminder of Rachel since that's how we met—she also studied the same courses at MIT. So once I was able to pull myself together enough after Rachel's passing and return to Lochguard, I gave up my previous job to teach. That way I could spend more time researching in the archives and not be faced with a constant reminder of my late girlfriend."
Kiyana wanted to keep asking questions, to learn more about how he met Rachel, and then some. However, if she was to be part of a mate-claim frenzy in a matter of days, she should focus on what to expect instead. Not to mention, deep down, she wanted to have a nice evening with him without the sadness of his past.
Maybe, just maybe, she could help him achieve that.
So she packed away her questions related to Rachel, MIT, and the like for later. "So, what's this surprise you mentioned?"
The sadness vanished from his eyes. While it was only temporary and it would take more than one conversation to help Alistair move on, it made her heart lighter to see it.
He took her chin and lightly stroked the underside. "It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, now, would it?" Glancing down, he nodded. "You wore sensible clothes, including shoes, just like I asked. Good, because you'll need them."
She hoped he didn't plan on making them walk through mud or something. Kiyana had only been allowed to bring two suitcases to Lochguard and didn't have a backup pair of trainers. "Not so much as a hint as to where we're going?"
"Aye, well, I suppose I can say we won't be flying anywhere, what with my dragon still being silent and all."
She blinked. "Wait, you fly and take humans up sometimes?"
"Not just any human. But you, lass? Aye, I would."
His words made her cheeks warm. "Then I'll remember that for later because it sounds fascinating."
He kissed her quickly. All too soon his lips were gone and he murmured, "Now, come. We can chat as we walk, but if we dally here too much longer, we might miss it."
"Okay, that hint only made me more curious."
He winked. "Good."
She shook her head. "You're awful."
His grip slackened in hers. "I hope that's a joke."
Her eyes instantly found his. "Of course. I'm only teasing you."
Alistair let out a breath. "Good. I was just afraid you wanted grumpy, hermit Alistair and not the true me. Some of my old ways are creeping back, mixed with the new, and I don't want to disappoint you."
Even if he hadn't said it, Kiyana was starting to think Alistair had been lonely in his self-imposed isolation over the last few years. While probably not as outgoing as Finn, she suspected they had been close back in the day. "I rather like the new mix. He can be fun or serious. All that matters is that it's you being honest."
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. The light brush of skin made her belly flutter.
Alistair's deep voice rolled over her. "Now, let's go before I decide to keep you in my office and kiss you for the rest of the evening."
It was on the tip of her tongue to say do it. However, she truly did want to know more about Alistair while she had the chance. After all, she would probably soon be carrying his child.
Correction, carrying their child. And not just any child, but a half-dragon-shifter child. Given her research over the years, she knew the risk of her dying in childbirth, too.
No. She wouldn't ruin the evening by thinking of darkness and death. That could come later.
And so she asked Alistair to take her to his surprise, and did her best to talk about anything apart from what could happen to her in nine months' time, or what had happened to him three years ago.
~~~
Alistair had barely managed to complete all his teaching duties during the day. Even though he was nearly thirty, he'd acted like a teenager, not wanting to think of responsibilities and duties but rather his evening with Kiyana.
However, his true mate deserved someone who was responsible and reliable. So he'd done his best to focus, arranging everything for a two or three week absence, and survived the day.
Discovering her in his office, on the other hand, had been harder to resist. The image of her straddling his lap as he claimed her in his office had turned his cock instantly hard. There was something about the possibility of being caught that made it that much more arousing.