Chapter 9 Lila
NINE
LILA
The stone steps felt like they were pulsating with energy beneath Lila’s feet as Draven guided her from the castle, his hand resting possessively at the small of her back.
The deep forest green dress flowed around her legs like liquid silk, and she caught him stealing glances at how the fabric moved with each step.
This certainly isn’t another therapy session.
The sleek black car waiting in the circular drive looked more like Earth luxury than alien technology, though she noticed the subtle differences—the way the metal seemed to shimmer with an inner heat and the crystalline headlights that pulsed with soft amber light.
“Allow me.” Draven moved ahead of her with fluid grace, opening the passenger door with a courtly gesture that made her stomach flip.
His golden-brown eyes held hers as she slipped into the plush leather seat, the intensity of his gaze making her acutely aware of every breath she took.
When he closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side, she watched him through the tinted glass—the confident set of his shoulders and the predatory grace in his movements.
He’s everything I’ve ever wanted.
The thought hit her with startling clarity as he settled beside her, his large hands gripping the steering wheel with easy control.
The midnight-blue shirt stretched across his broad chest, the top two buttons undone to reveal a tantalizing glimpse of his bronzed skin.
His black hair fell loose around his shoulders, giving him a wild appeal that made her fingers itch to touch him.
“Comfortable?” His voice carried that low rumble that seemed to vibrate through her bones.
“Very.” She buckled her seatbelt, hyperaware of how small the space felt with his commanding presence filling it. “Where are we going exactly?”
“My favorite restaurant.” The smile that curved his lips held secrets and promises that made her heart skip a beat.
As they pulled away from the castle, Lila pressed her face closer to the window, watching Nova Aurora’s alien landscape roll past in the gathering twilight.
The volcanic ridges glowed with inner fire, and the twin moons hung like pearls in the darkening sky, casting everything in ethereal silver light.
“It’s so breathtaking,” she whispered.
“It is.” But when she glanced over, Draven wasn’t looking at the scenery. His eyes were fixed on her profile with a burning intensity that made her skin tingle. “Though the view has improved considerably since yesterday.”
Oh, he’s definitely not hiding his feelings tonight.
The flirtation in his voice was unmistakable, sending warmth surging through her veins. She should redirect the conversation and maintain those professional boundaries she’d worked so hard to establish. Instead, she found herself smiling.
“You’re shameless tonight.”
“Completely.” His grin turned wicked. “I find honesty works better than pretense.”
The restaurant perched on the cliff’s edge like a jewel, its glass walls offering panoramic views of the pink sea stretching to the horizon.
As they entered, Lila noticed the way other diners turned to stare—some with curiosity, others with barely concealed shock at seeing their king dining with a human.
“Your Majesty.” The ma?tre d’ appeared instantly, bowing low. “Your usual table?”
“The private dining room,” Draven commanded, his tone brooking no argument. “We’re not to be disturbed.”
Lila felt his hand settle on her lower back as he guided her through the restaurant, the possessive gesture both thrilling and dangerous.
The private room overlooked the most spectacular view—volcanic ridges rising like ancient sentinels, their peaks wreathed in aurora light that danced across the sky in ribbons of green and gold.
“This place is really magical.” She moved to the floor-to-ceiling windows, mesmerized by the alien beauty spreading before them.
“It’s more magical with you here.”
The words, spoken low and close behind her, made her breath hitch. She turned to find him watching her with an expression that was pure predator—all focused intensity and barely leashed desire.
He’s trying to wear down my professional boundaries.
The realization should have alarmed her.
Instead, it sent a thrill of anticipation through her body.
Between his devastating good looks, the romantic setting, and the way he stared at her like she was the most fascinating creature in the universe, her defenses were crumbling faster than she could rebuild them.
“The chef here is exceptional,” Draven continued as they settled at the intimate table. “Trust me to order for us? The three-course meal is to die for.”
“I—”
Three courses sounds like a lot.
“It’s the best here,” he assured her, signaling the waiter with a subtle gesture that spoke of absolute authority. “You won’t regret it.”
The waiter materialized beside their table with practiced efficiency. “Your Majesty, the usual wine selection?”
“Bring us the Sidaii Reserve.” Draven’s eyes never left Lila’s face. “And the tasting menu—all three courses.”
As the waiter departed, Lila leaned back in her chair, studying the man across from her. Gone was the tormented patient from this morning’s session. In his place sat a confident alpha male who commanded everything around him with effortless grace.
“So this is you outside the therapy room,” she observed.
“This is me with someone I want to impress.” His honesty was disarming. “How am I doing so far?”
Before she could answer, the wine arrived—a deep red liquid that sparkled like liquid rubies in the crystal glasses. Lila took a sip and felt the warmth spread through her system immediately, loosening the tight coil of professional anxiety she’d been carrying.
Oh, this is strong.
The Sidaii wine was nothing like Earth alcohol—it was richer, more complex, with an almost effervescent quality that made her feel lighter and more relaxed.
“Careful,” Draven warned with amusement. “That affects humans differently than shifters.”
“I can handle my wine.” The words came out with more confidence than she felt, especially when she noticed how his eyes darkened at her challenge.
“Can you?” His voice dropped to that rumbling tone that made her toes curl in her shoes. “Good to know.”
The first course arrived—some kind of delicate fish that melted on her tongue, paired with vegetables she didn’t recognize but that tasted like pure sunshine. As they ate, the conversation flowed as smoothly as the wine, moving from Nova Aurora’s history to her life on Earth.
“So, you raised your brother after your father died?” Draven’s expression softened with understanding. “That couldn’t have been easy.”
“Someone had to.” Lila took another sip of wine, feeling the edges of her usual caution blurring. “My mother... she retreated into herself. Liam needed stability.”
“And what did you need?”
The question caught her off guard with its gentle insight. Trevor had never asked her that, never seemed to wonder what toll her caretaking had taken.
“I needed...” She paused, the wine making her more honest than usual. “I needed someone to take care of me for once.”
The admission hung between them, vulnerable and raw. Draven’s hand moved across the table to cover hers, his touch sending tingles up her arm.
“You deserve that,” he said quietly. “You deserve someone who sees your strength and wants to protect it, not exploit it.”
How does he see me so clearly?
The magnetic pull intensified as the second course arrived, the sexual tension building with each shared glance and each accidental brush of fingers as they reached for their wine glasses. Lila found herself leaning closer, drawn by his gravitational field like a planet orbiting its sun.
“Tell me something real,” she heard herself say, the wine making her bold. “Something you’ve never told anyone else.”
Draven’s eyes held hers, and she saw past the Alpha king to the man beneath—complex, wounded, and utterly captivating.
“I’ve been waiting my entire life for someone to look at me the way you do,” he said, his voice rough with honesty.
His confession hung in the air, and Lila felt heat bloom across her cheeks that had nothing to do with the Sidaii wine. Her heart thundered as she searched his golden-brown eyes, finding nothing but raw sincerity staring back at her.
How does he do that? Make me feel like the most important person in the universe with just a look?
“Draven, I—” she began, but the words scattered like leaves in the wind as the waiter appeared with their dessert.
The chocolate truffle cake looked like edible art—layers of dark ganache swirled with gold dust that caught the aurora light streaming through the windows. Delicate sugar flowers crowned the creation, so beautiful it seemed almost criminal to disturb it.
“This is too pretty to eat,” she breathed, momentarily distracted from the intensity crackling between them.
Draven picked up his fork with predatory grace, scooping up a perfect bite that captured cake, ganache, and a hint of the gold dust. Instead of bringing it to his own mouth, he extended the fork toward her, his eyes never leaving hers.
“Let me.”
The simple words carried weight that made her pulse quicken. She’d never been fed by a man before—Trevor had been too self-absorbed to think of such gestures, and every boyfriend before him had lacked the confidence to be so boldly intimate.
This is dangerous.
But the wine had loosened her inhibitions, and the way Draven watched her with such focused attention made her feel reckless. She leaned forward slightly, her lips parting to accept his offering.
The moment the fork slipped between her lips, the rich chocolate exploded across her tongue—decadent and sinful and perfect. But it was the way Draven’s pupils dilated as he watched her eat from his fork that sent liquid heat pooling low in her belly.
“Good?” His voice had dropped to that tone that made her shiver.
“Incredible,” she managed, acutely aware of how his gaze lingered on her mouth.
He fed her another bite, this one catching a sugar flower that dissolved like spun dreams on her tongue. The intimacy of the gesture—his complete focus on her pleasure, and the care with which he chose each perfect morsel—was more arousing than any kiss she’d ever received.
Professional boundaries. Remember those exist.
The thought felt distant and unimportant as Draven set down the fork and leaned back in his chair, studying her with satisfaction.
“Tell me about your worst patient,” he said, surprising her with the shift in conversation.
“That’s confidential,” she replied automatically, then smiled. “But I can tell you about the most stubborn one I’ve ever encountered.”
“Oh?”
“This dragon king who thinks he can handle everything alone.” She took another sip of wine, emboldened by his answering grin. “Brilliant strategist, natural leader, but absolutely terrible at asking for help when he needs it.”
“Sounds like a complex case.” His eyes sparkled with mischief. “What’s your professional assessment, Doctor?”
“He’s stronger than he gives himself credit for. And he’s been carrying the weight of the world since he was sixteen.” The wine made her honest, stripping away her usual professional detachment. “He deserves someone who sees past the crown to the man underneath.”
The teasing light in Draven’s eyes shifted to something deeper and more intense. “And what do you see when you look at that man?”
Everything I’ve ever dreamed of.
The thought hit her with startling clarity, but she wasn’t quite brave enough to voice it. Instead, she stood abruptly, needing distance from the magnetic pull between them.
“I think I need some air,” she said, her voice slightly breathless. “This wine is stronger than I thought.”
Draven rose in one fluid motion, moving around the table with that predatory grace that made her pulse skip. “There’s a scenic overlook just outside. The view is spectacular.”
The night air soon hit her flushed skin like a cool caress as they stepped onto the restaurant’s terrace.
The aurora lights danced across the sky in ribbons of emerald and gold, reflecting off the volcanic ridges that stretched toward the horizon.
The pink sea glittered like scattered diamonds far below, and the twin moons hung like celestial pearls in the star-drunk sky.
“It’s beyond beautiful,” she whispered, but when she glanced at Draven, he was watching her instead of the view.
“It is,” he agreed.
They walked in comfortable silence along the winding path that led to the cliff’s edge, the charged air between them growing thicker with each step.
The wine hummed through her system, making her hyperaware of everything—the way his hand almost but not quite brushed hers as they walked, the subtle heat radiating from his powerful frame, and the masculine scent of him that seemed to wrap around her like an embrace.
This is insane. I’m supposed to be his therapist.
But the rational voice in her head grew quieter as they reached the scenic overlook, where a stone railing was all that separated them from the dramatic drop to the sea below.
The aurora lights painted everything in otherworldly colors, making the moment feel suspended outside of time and consequence.
“Lila,” Draven said softly, turning to face her.
The way he said her name—like a prayer, like a promise—made her breath catch. She turned toward him, and suddenly they were standing impossibly close, the space between them crackling.
“I need you to know something,” he continued, his golden eyes burning with intensity. “What I said in there—about waiting my whole life—I meant every word.”
Before she could respond, before she could remember all the reasons this was a terrible idea, his hands framed her face with surprising gentleness. His thumbs traced the curve of her cheekbones as he searched her eyes.
“Tell me to stop,” he whispered, giving her one last chance to retreat.
Instead, she rose on her tiptoes, closing the distance between them.
The kiss was electric fire and liquid starlight. His lips moved against hers with passionate hunger that spoke of years of loneliness finally finding their answer. She melted into him, her hands fisting in his shirt as he pulled her flush against his powerful chest.
This is what I’ve been searching for my entire life.