Raoul stepped down into the pool, water lapping at our bodies as he lowered us both in. I gasped at the heat enveloping me, contrasting deliciously with the slight chill still clinging to my skin. He settled on a submerged ledge, positioning me on his lap, my back to his chest, the water up to our shoulders.
“Perfect,” he whispered, nuzzling my neck. His hands roamed, not hurried, just exploring. He reached for a clothand soap from the edge, lathering it up. “Let me wash away the past few days.”
I leaned into him, trusting him completely. This was Raoul, my fated mate, the dragon king who’d fallen for me as hard as I had for him. He started with my arms, the soapy cloth gliding over my skin, rinsing away the grime of travel and dispelled magic. His lips followed, kissing along my shoulder, my collarbone.
“You smell like wind and power,” he said. “My favorite scent.”
A laugh bubbled out of me. “Better than sweat and exhaustion?”
“Much.” He washed my back, trailing kisses down my spine. Each one sent sparks through me, building the anticipation.
Turning me, he lathered my front, paying particular attention to my breasts. He remained gentle, the cloth circling, teasing, before his mouth replaced it. He kissed the swell of one, then the other, his tongue flicking out to taste. My nipples.
I arched into him, heat pooling between my legs.
He hummed in approval, moving lower. His hands dipped under the water, washing my stomach, my hips, then between my thighs. The cloth slipped away, and he used his fingers.
He kissed my neck as he worked. “So soft here.” His fingers slid across my clit. “And here. I can’t wait to drive my cock inside you and feel your body tremble around me.”
My breath hitched, his words stoking the fire inside me. He wasn’t making demands, just being honest, and that made everything more intimate. Once he’d washed himself quickly, he pulled me close for deep kisses that kept me breathless.
He stood, water cascading off his body, and lifted me out, setting me on the warm stone floor. But instead of drying off, he pressed me against the wall, his body covering mine, his erection hot and insistent against my belly.
“Now,” I said, my voice a growl. “I need you now.”
“Soon, mate. Soon.”
Our mouths met, hungry and desperate, our tongues tangling as the slow burn ignited into something fierce inside me. This felt like a claiming, like we’d been building to this since the day we first met. His hands roamed my body, while mine explored him, feeling the shift of muscle under skin, the heat of him.
He broke the kiss, trailing his mouth down my neck, sucking lightly at the pulse point. His hand slipped between my legs, his fingers stroking. “Fates, Adele, you’re so wet for me already. This pretty pussy is mine now.”
His words sent a thrill through me, making me clench around his fingers. “Raoul, please…”
He chuckled. “Patience, sweet. I want to savor you.” But his fingers didn’t stop, circling my clit with just the right amount of pressure, making me buck my hips toward his hand. “Look at you, riding my fingers like you can’t wait for my cock.”
I gasped, heat flooding my face, but I didn’t deny it. I was vulnerable with him, trusting him with this side of me. The witch who usually controlled everything was unraveling under his touch. “I need you inside me.”
“Not yet.” He kissed my breasts, sucking one nipple, then the other, his tongue swirling while his fingers kept up their rhythm below. Pleasure built, sharp and sweet, and I threaded my fingers through his hair, holding him there.
“Raoul, I’m close…”
“Come for me,” he said against my skin. “Let me feel it.”
An orgasm crashed through me, my body shaking as I cried out his name.
He caught me as my knees weakened, his kiss tasting of satisfaction. “That’s my girl. So fucking responsive.”
I laughed breathlessly, feeling bold. “Your turn to fall apart.”
His eyes darkened with heat. “Is that a challenge?”
“Absolutely.” I pushed him back toward the pool’s edge, where a wider ledge sat just above the water. He sat, legs spread, his cock hard and curving up toward his stomach. I straddled him, the steam rising around us like a veil, water lapping at our calves.
He gripped my hips, guiding me down, but let me set the pace. “Ride me, Adele. Take what you need.”
I lowered myself slowly, feeling him stretch me, bit by delicious bit. Thick and long, he filled me completely, and I paused when he was fully seated, adjusting to the feel. “Fates, this is good.”
He groaned, his hands sliding up to cup my breasts, his fingertips teasing my nipples. “Your tight, wet heat was made for me.”
