Darin wants Jade. It's as simple as that, but she won't take him seriously. Now they are sent on a colonization mission that will use all their talents and maybe she'll see that he's a mature warrior. He's waited long enough and it's time to show her the amazing chemistry that lies between them waiting to be released.
Jade feels bad, okay, not really. Darin is handsome and he's got the body of a warrior, but when she compares him to some of the others, he doesn't seem ready to be a mate. Others tell her it's his sense of humor and when they're old, she'll be thankful for it. She's just not sure and that means he'll have to wait. How long is anyone's guess.