Arching under his luxurious kiss, Layla smiled. Gazing up at Rake as he pulled back and watched her, she saw the passion in him; the generosity. Somewhere deep inside, Layla felt her Dragon stir, though she still wouldn’t rise in Layla’s veins. But as the petals above soothed her and Rake’s breath swept her out into the stars, Layla made a decision.
To embrace life tonight – and this beautiful angel who was her friend.
“I could never regret being with you, Rake. Ever.”
Lifting up, Layla set her lips to Rake’s and she felt him smile. A very human heat rose inside her as Rake touched her, as his lips explored hers. She was kissing him, heating to him now, but it was like a beautiful dream as she enjoyed the softness of his lips and the hardness of his body. His body moved with the dance of the cosmos as he lay down upon her, and Layla’s did also as she arched into him, winding her legs up around his hips as they kissed.
His fingertips stroked her shoulders as he gently positioned himself; as he breathed her higher. Rake flooded Layla as he slid in, filling her – not just from his breath, but from his body taking her. It was the sweetest sensation Layla had ever felt as an incredible love rose up through her, spilling her over in a wave of bliss. Heady yet so very grounded, she cried out as she suddenly came; cored deep by Rake’s beautiful flows. As Layla spiraled out into the universe, Rake slid into her again, breathing bliss into her every pore through her needfully parted lips.
Stretching that bliss into one endless wave of light as he took her further out into the night.
CHAPTER 4 – RETURN
When Layla woke in Rake’s palatial bed, it was morning. As a colorful dawn rose over the canyon and his open-air Zen bedroom, Layla found Rake still held her close to his warm, lean body. Stroking his fingers over her shoulder as if deep in thought, she felt him stir as she woke, then smile. Moving his chin, his lips found hers as she lifted up – kissing her in the dawn as red and gold blossomed through the desert sky.
“Good morning.” Rake breathed as they parted, smiling a sweet, not-so-shy smile this morning as Layla curled around him and he cuddled her closer under the covers.
“How long was I asleep?” Layla yawned, feeling amazingly refreshed this morning as if all her troubles had vanished overnight.
“You got about five hours.” Rake smiled, kissing her lips again.
“Were you awake this whole time?” She asked, glancing up.
“I got a few hours.” He smiled more, his green eyes twinkling with delight. “But I only need three hours, and I like watching you sleep. You twitch. And peep when you’re dreaming. How do you feel this morning?”
“Amazing.” Layla spoke honestly, feeling beautifully calm today. “If I slept like that every night, I think I might actually age backwards.”
Rake laughed; a slow, bubbling delight that ended in a chuckle. “I’m glad. But more specifically, how are you feeling about your magic this morning?”
Pausing, Layla delved in to where her Dragon-magic lived inside her. She couldn’t feel her drakaina this morning, but as she arched, shivering with a good stretch, she realized every part of her felt soothed today. After her final meditation last night and the revelations it had brought, plus her incredible hours-long lovemaking with Rake, she felt incredibly rejuvenated.
And with it came readiness – to face whatever was next in her search to get her Dragon back.
“I’m ready to get back to Riad Rhakvir today.” Layla spoke solidly. “I’m ready to face whatever I need to, to figure this thing out and get my magic back.”
“Good.” Rake spoke with a smile. “Then we should get up. Adrian’s jet is scheduled to arrive within the hour for your pickup.”
Kissing her lips briskly now, Rake pushed up from the bed. Something keened inside Layla as he rose, not wanting to lose his closeness after everything they’d shared. But Rake only moved to his walk-in and fetched an outfit of tan slacks and a slim white collared shirt, his manner professional this morning. But though he moved as if he was ready to send Layla off back to her men today, he watched her in the mirror as he dressed. Slipping into formal shoes and adding a slim leather belt, Rake rolled up his sleeves. Running his fingers through his short blond hair to calm it, he glanced at her in the mirror.
His jade gaze lingering – and full of conflict.
As Layla rose to stand naked beside Rake’s bed, he paused, truly staring at her now. Layla felt a sharpness in his aura as he watched her, his vivid eyes penetrating. Moving down the bed’s steps, she felt attraction draw them together hard, even though their night of eros had passed. When she was close to Rake, he reached out, netting her around the waist with his strong, lean hands.
His aura was intense now as he stared down at her, and Layla felt his sweet breath find hers, tinged with hot-cool passion. As they stood together, Layla felt Rake’s hands tighten at her waist; a possessiveness she had never felt in him before. Something shivered deep inside him, like a wave of bright-dark energy Layla could feel all through her. As that rush swept her, her body pulled closer to his, a strangely fierce tension humming between them. It affected Layla deeply, as if Rake had let her feel more of who he was beneath his practiced calm.
Someone deep – and deeply ferocious.
“Layla. I want you to know…” Rake spoke, gazing down at her with that strange intensity.
“Know what?” Layla asked.
“I want you to know that I would kill for you, Layla Price.” Rake spoke, his jade gaze dire as that dark energy still swept him. “I know I’m not one of your Bound lovers, but I would do it all the same. You mean more to me than I let myself acknowledge; and after our time together, I can’t deny it anymore. My Lineage has very strict laws against using our power to kill. But if it came to it – if you needed it – I would.”
“Thank you.” Layla spoke quietly, deeply moved as she stood with him, feeling how much he offered even against his better judgement.
Still holding her with a deep intensity, Rake pulled her close. As he did, Layla felt how much he wanted to protect her with the dark side of his power – and she suddenly knew she could never let that happen. She couldn’t let him break his vows to his people; she couldn’t put him in danger with the Intercessoria. She saw him understand it too, as a wry smile curled his lips. Sadness took his eyes as he pulled her in, breathing his lips over hers. Lingering, they melted into each other as they kissed, beautiful and deep.
Before Rake pulled away.
