But she’s flirting with him.
It’s just a smile.
Ginny laughed. “I’ll be back in two hours to show you how. Judging by the look in Nikki’s eye, she wants you all to herself.”
Rafe darted a glance at Nikki. “Is that so?”
Nikki merely stared back, and Rafe chuckled. He moved toward her again and leaned against her good side. “I’ll keep her company. If there’s a way someone could bring a makeshift desk, laptop, and something for me to sleep on, I’d much appreciate it.”
Nikki blinked. Rafe was going to live in the tent with her until she was better?
“I’ll pass that along,” Ginny answered. “Although I came across Aaron Caruso on my way here and he’s going to talk with you as soon as I’m finished. He tried to weasel his way in before me, but I wasn’t having it.”
Nikki smiled as much as a dragon could. Ginny was one of the few females who could stand up to any dragonman, much like Dr. Sid.
Maybe she could ally with the two women to propose some change
s. Her dragon hummed in approval before saying, I like that idea. Maybe our daughter won’t have to put up with the same crap we do.
There’s absolutely no way you know it’s a girl. Dragons aren’t psychic.
No, but I like siding with Rafe to irritate you.
Nikki ignored her dragon. Nothing like a bloody rebellion inside your head.
Ginny’s voice cut through her conversation. “Two hours. Don’t forget.” She then waved and exited the tent.
Rafe continued to lean against her side as he thumbed through the files. Him leaning so casually against her dragon form was cozy. It was a familiarity she’d always wanted but wasn’t sure she’d ever have. She wished she could tell him so. From here on out, Nikki wanted to be as honest with her human as he was with her.
Not being able to talk to Rafe for a week was going to be torture, pure and simple.
Her dragon chimed in. I will enjoy it. I want him to pet every inch of our hide. It will feel good.
You and the petting. We’re not a dog.
Her beast huffed inside her mind. Of course not. But it feels nice, and that’s all that matters.
Nikki mentally smiled. I want to try something else first.
Before her dragon could stop her, Nikki picked Rafe up gently, turned him toward her tail, and placed him on the edge of her back. Not wanting him to protest and stop her, she moved her tail into a straight, downward angle and lightly pushed him. Rafe slid down her tail and onto his bum on the ground.
She waited to see if he’d call her childish and demand for them to go back to work.
However, when Rafe met her eyes, it was with a grin. “I’ve always wanted to do that but was afraid to ask. Let’s try that again.”
And so Nikki played with her human. His laughter filled the tent as he slid down her tail again. It seemed even her human soldier liked to have fun once in a while. She wondered what sort of trouble she could talk him into later.
She only hoped that she could be doing the same antics in her seventies as she was now. But in order to do that, she needed to find a way for Rafe to stay.
Her dragon whispered, Finally, before watching Rafe go down their tail yet again.
Chapter Sixteen
Rafe was perched on Nikki’s back, about to slide down her tail again, when Aaron Caruso’s voice filled the tent. “I haven’t tried that since I was a teenager. Do you think Nikki would let me have a go?”
Frowning at Aaron’s grin, Rafe growled out, “What do you want, Caruso?”
“I was just going to share some information Zain gained from the prisoners, but if you’d rather lark about, then by all means, do so. The true soldiers can do the dirty work.”