“You were wonderful.” I turned her gently, cupping her face. Her eyes met mine. Fates, I couldn’t hold it back anymore.
“I love you.” The words tumbled out. “Not because of a practical arrangement or a political match, but because of who you are as a person. I love the way your mind spins through problems, your stubborn streak, your laugh that brightens every room. I want more than convenience. I want your hopes, your dreams, and every smile. I want the good days and the bad ones. All you’re willing to share with me.”
She blinked, tears sparkling in her eyes. “Raoul…”
“I fell hard, sweet. My dragon knew from the start, but the man needed time to catch up.”
A tear slipped down her cheek, and she laughed through it. “I love you too. So much it scares me. You’ve crashed into my life and made everything better. I didn’t expect this, but I want all of it, with you.”
Joy surged through me. I kissed her, softly at first, and she melted into me.
“There’s more,” I murmured against her lips. “We’re fated mates. That’s why we can talk in our minds, why the bond feels so strong.”
She pulled back, her eyes wide. “Truly?”
I nodded, grinning. “Dragon shifters recognize them right away. The mind link is one of the first steps.”
Her happy laugh burst out. “You should’ve told me.”
“I was waiting to be sure you felt it too.” I nipped her lower lip. “I didn’t want to scare you off or make you feel pressured.”
“Scare me? Never. This explains the pull I felt from the start.” Her fingers traced across my jaw, sending sparks through me. “Fated. I like that.”
Our kisses deepened, heat building as her body pressed against mine. I groaned, sliding my hands down her sides.
“I need you, Adele,” I whispered against her mouth. “All of you, every day.”
“I need you too.” Her breath hitched as I kissed her neck. “Take me to bed, my dragon king.”
With a growl, I scooped her up, carrying her into our bedroom.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
ADELE
Raoul carried me across the room, his amber eyes locked on mine with an intensity that made my pulse sing. The air in our suite felt charged, the fire’s crackle the only sound besides our breathing. He’d just confessed everything, and my heart was still catching up, fluttering like a storm cloud ready to burst.
He set me down gently beside the bed, his hands lingering on my hips.
“You’re mine now, sweet,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “And I’m yours. Let me show you.”
I nodded, words escaping me because fates, this was happening. Our first time. He reached for the laces of my tunic, his fingers deft and unhurried. The fabric whispered against my skin as he tugged it open, exposing my shoulders, then my breasts. Cool air hit me, but his gaze burned, making my nipples tighten.
“Beautiful,” he said, sliding the tunic down my arms and letting it pool at my feet. His hands skimmed my sides, his fingertips brushing the undersides of my breasts. “Every bit of you.”
In no time, I stood naked while he remained fully clothed.
Heat flooded my cheeks—and lower. I wasn’t used to this kind of attention, not from someone who looked at me like I was everything he needed.
I pulled his shirt over his head, revealing the hard planes of his chest, the ridges of muscle that spoke of his dragon strength. I traced the lines of his abs, feeling him shiver under my touch.
“Keep that up, and we’ll never make it to the bath,” he teased, his voice low and gravelly.
“Bath?” I blinked, distracted by the heat radiating from him.
His wicked grin rose. “I want you relaxed for what’s next.” He made quick work of his pants, kicking them aside, and there he was, fully naked, his arousal evident and making my mouth go dry. Thick, hard, and all for me. My practical mind short-circuited for a second, replaced by pure want.
He scooped me up again, cradling me against his chest, and carried me to the adjoining bathing chamber. Glowing stones embedded in the walls gave the room a warm feel, and steam rose from the pool in the center. The water shimmered, inviting, scented faintly with minerals that reminded me of rain on stone.
