My Commander

"Leave him alone, you goof. Commander, what can I get started for you?" Justice pushed his mate out of the way.

"Thank you Justice. I have a whole new respect for you now that I've met Meryn."

"Hey!" Meryn heard Sydney echo her outrage.

"I understand you perfectly Commander." Justice nodded sagely and he and Aiden shared a moment.

Sydney's eyes narrowed and he turned to Meryn, "You know what I've learned after being mated for five years Meryn? Big, funny men sometimes forget that their smaller mates have access to their unconscious bodies when they go to sleep. Sometimes you have to remind them of that." Sydney crossed his arms over his chest.

"That sounds brilliant to me." Meryn glared at Aiden. Both Aiden and Justice visibly gulped.

"Now baby you know I love you to pieces, my life would be absolutely boring without you to make each day worth living." Justice pulled Sydney in his arms and was peppering the man's face and neck with kisses. Meryn could see the love between them. Sydney giggled and threw his arms around his mate.

"Forgiven. Get the brooding Commander his coffee and I'll start the latte for Meryn." Sydney laid a scorching kiss on his mate and then began pulling out bottles from under the counter. Justice, smiling like a goof, walked back over. Meryn turned to Aiden.

"I hope you were taking notes."

"As if it would do any good treating you like a normal person. I'd have to do something different, like buy you an espresso machine, right?" Meryn gasped.

"Really! You weren't kidding at breakfast? Really?" Meryn hopped up and down in excitement.

"Yes, you little menace, I'll buy you an espresso machine. I'd fear for my life each morning if you didn't have one." Meryn jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck. When Aiden's arms wrapped around her, she began to kiss his face.

"Thank you!" Meryn wiggled and until he put her back down.

"Where are they? Are they here? Do we have to order?" Meryn looked around the shop.

"Go around the far side of the counter, I have some of the more popular ones on display. I recommend a one button, super automatic. They are easy to use and can give you anything from an espresso shot to cappuccinos." Sydney advised.

"Of course we can also set you up on an espresso bean delivery schedule as well." Justice added. Aiden sighed.

"Go ahead. I knew that this would be expensive, but she's worth it."

Meryn felt tears fill her eyes. No one had ever done anything like this for her in her entire life. Unable to help herself, she let the tears fall. Instantly Aiden was at her side.

"Hey, this was supposed to make you happy, not sad." He wiped away her tears with his callused fingers.

"No one has ever done anything so nice for me before. Thank you." Meryn whispered and buried her face in his chest.

"Get used to it. I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy spoiling you." Aiden rubbed his cheek along the top of her head. She suddenly felt more at ease knowing he was trying to mark her.

"You two are so beautiful!" Sydney sniffled behind the counter.

"He's pretty amazing right?" Meryn asked, stepping away from Aiden wiping her eyes on her shirt.

"You both are. Now. Which machine do you think you would want?" Sydney wiped his eyes on his towel and walked her over to the shelves.

"I like that one." Meryn pointed to the silver one that boasted ease of use, not only in making drinks but also in the maintenance of the machine.

"Great choice. To set you up on a reoccurring bean order, I need to know how many shots you'll go through. How many drinks do you think you'll have?"

"In a day?"

"Sure." Sydney pulled out a clipboard from beside the register.

"Um. Two to wake up. One for mid morning, one after lunch. One afternoon pick me up and one after dinner. So six." Meryn held up her fingers. Sydney stared.

"Do humans process caffeine different than shifters?" Sydney asked. Justice cleared his throat and responded.

"Caffeine affects them more." They all stared at her.

"What?" They continued to stare.

"I need it to live!" She stamped her foot.

"She's scary in the morning." Aiden shuddered. Both Justice and Sydney looked at her in renewed horror. Evidently, anything that is bad enough to scare a Unit Commander was pretty bad.

"I'll set up that delivery order immediately. In fact, take some beans from stock for the next few days." Sydney went behind the counter and pulled out a bag of beans.

"I'll get the machine." Justice disappeared heading to the back.

"Girl, kudos to you. I can't wait to see how those hoity toity society puppets will react to you." Sydney snickered.

"Don't remind me. She's been invited to participate in mother's sewing circle tomorrow." Aiden groaned.

"The Daughters Lycaonia Sewing Circle? Seriously? Is that wise?" Sydney eyed Meryn.

"Probably not, but my mother wants to show her off."

"She's met Meryn right?" Sydney asked. Aiden nodded.

"I'm right here guys!" Meryn whacked Aiden, "I said I would be good and I will." Meryn's sour mood evaporated when Justice walked back from the stock room with a brand new espresso machine.

"Okay girlfriend, here's the beans, a few bottles of syrup, a recipe list and my phone number. Call me later and I'll give you the scoop on all the proper ladies you'll meet tomorrow." Sydney handed her a pretty paper shopping bag filled with coffee supplies.