“I’ll let you dress. I’ll be in the main house. Come out when you’re ready.”
Like a gentleman, Rake stepped back, bowing formally to Layla now like the Hotel Courtier he was. His smile was sad as he turned, walking back to the main house. As she watched the jade doors close, Layla felt that deep pull stretch between them, then sigh away. Her eyes teared as she set a hand to her heart, realizing Rake had shut down their connection on purpose. Blinking back a strange sensation of loss, Layla took a moment to steady herself. But it was better this way, she knew; and as she finally looked around, she found Rake had already packed her bags, which now sat by his walk-in. Moving to her suitcase, she pulled out a peacock silk maxi-dress with beaded straps and a deep neckline. Finding a pair of strappy tan and gold sandals, she put them on next with some plain gold jewelry. Retrieving her cell phone from her red leather purse, she sent a text to Adrian’s co-pilot.
That she was ready for her pickup.
But Layla’s heart still ached for Rake as she curried some water through her long sable curls, then clipped them up for the jet ride back to Morocco. Turning, she surveyed his sanctuary one last time as a sad smile touched her lips. She had enjoyed being with him, but Rake was right to have shut their connection down. He wasn’t one of her Bound lovers, and as Layla surveyed his beautiful domain with the sun rising over the canyon, she realized his bright-dark angelic nature would never be a part of the Bind. Rake was an incredible partner, he was a beautiful soul, but he was right; he wasn’t incomplete. Unlike Layla’s other Bound men, Rake had a life he loved that worked perfectly for him. Healing would always come first for him, just like he had once healed himself of that intense darkness Layla had glimpsed in him today.
And it would be wrong of her to Bind him and take that healing away.
Deep within, Layla felt her Dragon stir in agreement. It was only a slight brush of scales inside her this morning, but it was enough to let Layla know her understanding was true as she put a hand to her rolling bag and pushed out through Rake’s doors. He was in the kitchen, and as he turned, wiping his hands on a towel from doing dishes at the sink, their gazes connected. Layla saw a deep relief pour through him as his lips quirked, understanding that she’d come to the same conclusion he had about their time together. And though his beautiful face was sad as he set his towel down and came to her, his gaze was tender, also.
“We’re better just as friends, aren’t we?” Rake murmured, taking Layla’s bag as he smiled down upon her wistfully. “I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels it. Even though I still want you.”
“I respect the life you’ve built, Rake.” Layla spoke, though she still deeply enjoyed being close to him. “My life is dangerous, especially right now with Hunter putting us in a position of fighting for our lives again and again. I don’t want to put you at risk with your Lineage and the Intercessoria, not with everything you stand to lose. Far more, in certain ways, than my drakes.”
“Yes.” Rake breathed, before he gave a wry chuckle. “I could be a powerful addition to the Bind, but it would undo everything I am; everything I have become my entire life. I think your Bind doesn’t want to ruin men, Layla, it wants to make them whole. I’m already whole. I’ve fully embraced my darkness, and now my deepest heart’s desire is simply to help people heal, everyday. We did that for you with our time together. And in a way… it was healing for me, too. I want you to know that I am here for you anytime, if you need to heal again.”
“Thank you.” Layla breathed, feeling her heart expand at Rake’s beautiful generosity. Pulling back, he gazed down at her, something amazing shining in his jade eyes as he smiled. And then he leaned down, pressing her with the softest kiss before pulling away.
“Come on. Let’s get you to the jet.”
They had no more words as Rake escorted Layla out of the house and up a path that led to the upper rim of the canyon. It was the way they’d come when she’d arrived, and Layla wound her way up with an easy feeling in her heart now as she watched the sun rise gold and pink over the Utah desert. She knew she and Rake had made the right decision as they reached the upper plateau beside the canyon, and he beckoned to his black Range Rover waiting at the top. As he heaved her bag in back, Layla got in the passenger side, and they exchanged a smile.
Just like they always had as friends.
Both of them were calm as Rake fired up the engine and pulled away from the canyon’s rim, driving the meandering dirt road around rock formations in a comfortable silence. As he drove, Layla rolled her window down, smelling the morning air in a beautiful solace as she felt Rake’s energy breathe around her peacefully now. Before she knew it, they’d arrived at the small airstrip five miles away and were getting out, moving to Adrian’s Learjet already waiting on the tarmac.
With a surprise.
As Layla and Rake neared the Learjet, a familiar face jogged down the jet’s stairs – beaming a ginormous smile. Midnight and diamond gold-serrated Dragon-scales flashed at his temples and high cheekbones, blending into his artfully-styled dark hair. The Crystal Dragon King Dusk Arlohiam’s pure sapphire eyes were bright beneath the morning sky as he rumbled a big laugh to see them. Dressed in one of his impeccable midnight-colored slim Italian suits, Dusk swept Layla into his arms as she laughed also, stunned to see him. Hefting her up effortlessly in his strong hands, Dusk slid her down his rock-solid body so she could feel his every viciously cut muscle, as he growled the sexiest chuckle Layla had ever heard. Gripping her close now with his strong hands, he dove in, kissing her.
Rumbling his magics through her until she was breathless in his arms.
Pulling back at last, Dusk beamed at Layla brightly. “Wow! Somebody feels good today!”
“You mean me, or you?” She grinned as she kissed him again. This one lasted a while, until Rake finally cleared his throat.
“I’ll just put Layla’s bag in the jet.” Rake spoke, though Layla could tell he was smiling also, amused by their canoodling.
“Rake André, you’ll do no such thing! Come here.” Reaching out without letting Layla go, Dusk hauled Rake into their cuddle – giving Rake a deep kiss as Layla looked on. Rake chuckled under Dusk’s kiss and Dusk grinned before they parted. “You healed our girl. You get brownie points, pretty boy.”
“I didn’t heal her. We just figured a few things out this week, that’s all.” Rake spoke, though his shy-bold smile was pleased as he stood close with Layla and his occasional lover, Dusk. “Layla made great progress this week. She can fill you in on the flight back to Morocco.”
“Actually…” Dusk cleared his throat as his gaze moved to Layla, something cleverly reckless in his bright sapphire eyes now. “We’re not going back to Morocco. At least, not right away.”
“We’re not?” Layla blinked, confused. “Where are we going?”
“Well.” Dusk gave one of his big mischievous grins that Layla loved so much. “You know how I promised you some time in the Caribbean, drinking rum on the beach once all this Hunter shit was over?”
“Yeah?” Layla lifted an eyebrow, grinning also now from Dusk’s infectious enthusiasm.
“Well, I realized there’s no time like the present.” Dusk spoke firmly, palming Layla’s waist and making her melt. “We need a vacation, considering all the intense shit that’s happened recently. So, I arranged it. My duties as King of the Crystal Dragons are being managed by Norbu Gyatso for the next two weeks, since the Crystal Plateau is re-building nicely. Adrian’s putting Rachida in charge of the Desert Dragons so he can join us, and Rhennic has postponed his next dominance-challenge in the Maldives to come join us also. Fury is still healing up at Deep Harbor, so unfortunately he can’t come and Reginald is busy managing the Paris Hotel and visiting his twin. But the rest of us are going down to have a little all-expenses-paid vacation in Antigua, in the Caribbean. Courtesy of one Crystal Dragon King, of course, who can now spend his money how he likes. You want?”
“Wow!” Layla blinked, stunned as she grinned with tremendous pleasure now. “Yeah, I want!!”
“Rake? You want to come also?” Dusk turned, glancing at his friend and sometime lover. “We’ve got room for a sexy, skinny mystic at our destination.”
But with a sweet smile, Rake shook his head. “I can’t. I’m scheduled to be here at the canyon for the rest of the month, and now that Layla’s leaving, my clan have a whole host of people for me to help. But I wish you all the best. Drink some rum punch for me. Preferably with those fun little umbrellas.”
