To his amazement and delight, she climbed on eagerly, settling herself between his shoulder blades with natural grace. Her small hands gripped the ridge scales along his neck, and when she was secure, he launched himself into the sky with powerful beats of his wings.
She was meant to be here, flying with me like this,he thought as they soared above the volcanic landscape.
This is everything.
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. “Butmaybe 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.
