Chapter 13 Lila
THIRTEEN
LILA
Lila’s heart thundered in her chest as Draven’s dragon’s powerful wings cut through the crystalline air.
When she looked down from their impossible height in the sky, the volcanic landscape of Nova Aurora spread beneath them like a living canvas.
She’d never imagined herself doing something this wild, yet she didn’t regret a single second of it.
The rush of wind through her hair and the steady rhythm of his wingbeats created a symphony that made her feel more free than she’d ever felt in her thirty-one years on Earth.
His obsidian scales were warm beneath her palms, and she marveled at how perfectly she fit against the powerful curve of his neck. She could somehow sense Draven’s emotions through their growing mate connection—his contentment, joy, and something deeper that made her chest tight with anticipation.
He’s so strong and so beautiful in this form. Every part of him is perfect.
When they finally descended toward a hidden cove nestled between towering volcanic cliffs, Lila felt a pang of disappointment that the ride was ending.
The secluded beach was even more breathtaking than Draven had promised—pink-tinged water lapped at black sand shores, and crystalline formations jutted from the cliff faces like nature’s own artwork.
Draven’s dragon landed with graceful precision and lowered his massive head. Lila slid down his neck, her feet touching the warm sand as laughter bubbled up from her chest.
“That was incredible!” she exclaimed, spinning around with her arms spread wide. “I never wanted it to end.”
The air shimmered around Draven’s dragon as he shifted back to his human form, and suddenly he stood before her in all his naked glory.
Lila’s breath caught in her throat as her gaze involuntarily swept over his muscular chest, down the ridged planes of his abdomen, and lower still.
Heat flooded her face as she took in his impressive length, already semi-hard from their flight.
Dear God, he’s enormous. And gorgeous.
“How was the ride?” Draven asked, his voice rougher than usual, his golden eyes darkening as he caught her staring.
Lila forced her gaze back to his face, though her body hummed with newfound awareness. “It was everything. I can’t wait to do it again.”
His deep chuckle sent a shiver through her. “Well, we’ll definitely have to fly back to the castle, or we’d be stranded here.”
“That wouldn’t be so bad,” Lila admitted, gesturing toward the stunning vista around them. “This place is magical, just like you promised.”
Draven stepped closer, unashamed of his nudity, and Lila felt her pulse quicken. “Are you going to stay naked?” she asked, trying for lightness despite the fire building between them.
“I didn’t exactly think this through,” he admitted with a smile. “Is that okay with you?”
Lila’s tongue darted out to wet her suddenly dry lips. “It’s a bit distracting,” she confessed, her voice barely a whisper. “But maybe it would make you more comfortable if I were naked too. We could go skinny dipping in the cove. I’ve never swum in pink water before.”
Draven’s eyes flared with unmistakable desire. “That sounds like a great idea.”
With trembling fingers, Lila reached for the hem of her yellow sundress.
The fabric whispered against her skin as she pulled it over her head, letting it flutter to the sand.
She’d expected to feel shy and exposed, but the way Draven watched her—as if she was the most precious thing in the universe—made her feel powerful instead.
She unhooked her white lace bra next, letting it fall away, then slowly pushed her matching panties down her hips. With each piece of clothing that joined the pile on the sand, Draven’s breathing grew more ragged, his arousal becoming impossible to ignore.
I should be nervous. I should be terrified. Instead, I feel beautiful. Confident. Alive.
When she stood completely bare before him, Draven moved toward her with predatory grace, his gaze drinking in every curve and hollow of her body.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he said, his voice thickened with reverence and desire.
Heat bloomed across Lila’s cheeks, but she met his gaze boldly. “And you’re the sexiest man I’ve ever seen.”
The tension between them crackled with possibility, but before either could act on it, Lila spun around and ran toward the water with a delighted laugh.
“Catch me if you can!” she called over her shoulder.
Draven’s answering growl was pure alpha male as he gave chase, his powerful legs quickly closing the distance between them. Lila laughed breathlessly as she splashed through the pink water, her heart racing from the thrill of the chase.
She glanced over her shoulder just as he lunged forward, closing the remaining distance between them.
Before she could get away, his strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind, pulling her flush against his chest. Her laughter dissolved into a gasp as his warmth enveloped her, the heat of his skin igniting something primal within her.
“Caught you,” he growled against her ear, his voice low and rough, sending a shiver down her spine.
Lila giggled as she turned in his arms. “Not fair! You’re… unnaturally fast.” She tried to splash water at him, but he barely flinched, his gaze locked on hers with a burning intensity.
“You think you can escape me?” He smirked as his hands slid up her arms, his touch leaving trails of fire on her skin. “I’ve been waiting eighteen long years for you. You’re not getting away now.”
His words sent a jolt through her chest, a mix of exhilaration and tenderness that made her stomach flutter.
Before she could reply, his mouth crashed down on hers, claiming her with a hunger that stole the air from her lungs.
Lila melted into him, her hands tangling in his damp hair as their tongues met in a dance that felt both raw and inevitable.
It was as though every moment of loneliness and every ounce of restraint he’d ever clung to, shattered in that single kiss.
“Draven,” she breathed when they finally pulled apart, her voice trembling with need. She wrapped her legs around his waist under the water, the friction of their bodies stirring a heat that threatened to consume her.
His hands slid down to grip her hips. “Tell me if you want me to stop,” he murmured, though his voice was thick with the same desperation she felt.
“Don’t stop,” she pleaded, her nails digging lightly into his shoulders. “I want you.”
His answering groan was a deep, rumbling sound that vibrated through her chest as his lips trailed down her neck, sucking gently on the sensitive skin until she gasped.
“You’re mine, Lila,” he whispered against her throat, the possessive edge in his voice sending a thrill through her. “Always have been. Always will be.”
Her head fell back as his mouth moved lower, capturing one of her nipples and teasing it with his tongue. She moaned, her fingers tightening in his hair as waves of pleasure rippled through her.
“Draven,” she whispered, her voice breaking as he moved to the other breast, lavishing it with the same attention.
His hands roamed her body, possessive and reverent, before one slid between her thighs. She gasped as his fingers found her most sensitive spot, his touch coaxing her arousal higher.
“You’re so responsive for me,” he growled, his breath hot against her skin.
She cried out as his fingers slipped inside her, thrusting in a rhythm that matched the movement of his tongue on her breasts.
Her thoughts blurred, everything narrowing to the sensations he was pulling from her body.
She felt like she was teetering on the edge of something vast and infinite, held there by the sheer force of his presence.
“Come for me, Lila,” he commanded, his voice rough with desire. “Let me feel you fall apart in my arms.”
And she did. Her orgasm crashed over her with powerful force, her body trembling as the pleasure consumed her. She clung to him, her cries echoing across the cove as he held her through it, his lips brushing against her ear in soothing murmurs.
When her racing heart finally began to slow, she rested her forehead against his, her breath ragged. “That was… amazing,” she whispered.
Draven chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. “You’re amazing,” he corrected, his arms tightening around her.
Lila smiled wide, her heart swelling with warmth as her legs remained wrapped around Draven’s waist in the warm water of the cove.
The heat of their bodies pressed together, the way his strong hands held her hips, and the intensity in his brown eyes made her feel more wanted and alive than she ever had.
She tilted her head back, the twin suns casting a golden glow over the secluded cove, and let out a contented sigh.
“Draven,” she murmured, her voice soft but firm, “I’m ready. I want you to claim me. Maybe not mark me yet, but…” She paused, searching his eyes for understanding. “Let’s take this first step. If things keep going this well, we’ll figure out the rest.”
His gaze darkened, a flicker of something primal flashing in his eyes. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice rough but tender. “I don’t want to rush you. I can wait longer if you need.”
She cupped his jaw with her hand. “I’m sure. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
Without another word, Draven lifted her effortlessly out of the water, his arms holding her securely as he carried her to the shore.
The black sand was surprisingly soft beneath her back as he laid her down gently, his body hovering over hers like a protective shadow.
His hands braced on either side of her, his muscular frame blocking out the light as he looked down at her with a mix of desire and reverence.
“You’re sure?” he asked again, his voice low and thick with need.
Lila reached down between them, her fingers wrapping around his hard cock. He let out a loud groan as she guided him to her slick entrance, her heart pounding in her chest. “I’m very sure,” she whispered, her voice trembling with anticipation.
He groaned again as he slowly pushed into her, inch by agonizing inch, stretching her in ways she’d never imagined.
The sensation was overwhelming—pain and pleasure mingling in a way that made her gasp.
He was impossibly large, filling her completely, and yet it felt so right, as if their bodies had been designed for each other.
“You feel so good,” Draven breathed, his voice strained as he paused, giving her time to adjust. “So tight and so perfect.”
Lila wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer and impossibly deeper. “Draven, please move,” she pleaded, her nails digging into his shoulders. “I can handle it.”
He obeyed, his thrusts slow and deliberate at first, drawing out every ounce of pleasure with each movement.
But as her moans grew louder, he picked up the pace, driving into her with a rhythm that was both fierce and tender.
The sound of their bodies meeting echoed across the cove, blending with their ragged breaths and gasps.
“You’re so beautiful,” Draven muttered against her neck, his lips brushing her skin as he drove into her again and again.
Lila felt the coil of pleasure tightening inside her, building with each thrust. But beneath the physical sensations, she felt something deeper—a pulse of energy that seemed to emanate from Draven, brushing against her soul.
It wasn’t frightening; it felt like recognition, like being seen and claimed in a way that transcended the physical.
For a moment, she felt their connection deepen, a bond that was both ancient and new, before the sensation faded back into warmth.
“You’re all mine now, Lila,” Draven growled as he moved faster, his thrusts growing harder. “Say it.”
“I’m all yours,” she gasped, her body trembling as she felt her orgasm crescendo.
The moment peaked, a merging that felt more spiritual than physical. Lila cried out as her orgasm ripped through her, overwhelming her senses. Draven groaned her name as he followed her over the edge, his powerful body shuddering as he spilled himself deep inside her.
As they rode out the waves of their shared pleasure, the pulse of energy between them returned—brighter and stronger.
Lila felt it lock into place, a connection that went beyond flesh and bone.
The mate bond, Draven had called it. She could feel him now, his emotions brushing against hers, his presence a steady warmth in the back of her mind.
“That was…” she whispered, her voice shaky as she tried to catch her breath.
“Perfect,” Draven finished for her, his lips brushing against hers in a tender kiss.
Lila couldn’t help but smile, her heart full as she wrapped her arms around him, feeling the steady beat of his heart against hers. She didn’t fully understand what had just happened, but she knew one thing for certain—this was just the beginning.