“There,” he said, drying himself quickly before carrying me to the furs that were as soft as clouds.
He followed me down, pulling a light fur over us as we curled together, my head on his chest, our legs tangling. Cool night nipped at my skin, but his warmth enveloped me, our shared heat building a cocoon. We lay there, listening to the distant trickle of the springs and the rustle of wind through trees.
“I don’t know how you do it,” I said. “Carry the weight of a kingdom, all those expectations, and still find space to be like this.”
He stroked my back. “I don’t always. Some days it feels like it’ll crush me. But then I remember that people are depending on me.” He paused, his voice dropping. “Now there’s you. You make it lighter.”
I searched his face in the dim light. Shadows played over his features, softening the strong lines. “I’m the one adding complications. A witch queen who’s supposed to solve everything but keeps missing vital clues.”
“You’re the first person who’s made me feel like I don’t have to carry it all alone. Like maybe partnership isn’t just political; it’s real.”
The vulnerability in his voice cracked open my chest. I’d always been the solitary one, buried in books and theories, convinced I had to prove myself. But here, with him, I felt like we were in this together.
“I’ve spent my life chasing answers, thinking if I were smart enough, thorough enough, I could fix anything,” I said. “But this mystery is showing me I can’t do it all alone. And that’s terrifying.”
He pulled me closer, our bodies aligning. “Terrifying, but true. Strength isn’t going off on your own all the time. It’s knowing when to lean on someone else.”
He cupped my face, brushing my cheek with his fingers, and he kissed me slow, deep. Exploring, like he was memorizing every taste. I kissed him back, pouring in the gratitude I couldn’t voice, our mouths moving in a heavy rhythm that built heat without hurry.
His hands roamed, sliding down my sides, and I arched into him, the furs shifting beneath us. The kiss deepened, our tongues tangling, our breaths mingling, until I was lost in sensation. He rolled us, his weight a welcome press, and trailed kisses down my neck, collarbone, lingering at my breasts with gentle nips and licks that made me gasp.
“Let me make you feel good,” he whispered against my skin, his voice rough with emotion rather than command. “Let me help you forget, just for a little while.”
I nodded, words failing, and he moved lower, settlingbetween my thighs. Unlike that night in the cottage, where passion had been fierce and urgent, this was tender and unhurried, his mouth exploring with soft kisses along my inner thighs, building anticipation. The stars watched as he finally tasted me, his tongue circling slowly, learning every response. No rush, no frenzy; just devoted attention, his hands holding my hips steady as pleasure built in waves. The night breeze cooled my flushed skin, contrasting with the heat of his mouth, and when he added fingers, sliding inside with gentle thrusts, I shattered quietly, my soft cry escaping into the darkness, my magic sparking snowflakes that melted before they hit the floor.
He kissed his way back up, gathering me close, and we lay tangled, our breathing slowing. I explored him, gliding my fingertips along the lines of his chest, down his abdomen, wrapping my hand around his thick length. We touched each other with lazy strokes and caresses, my fingers teasing him while his did the same for me, building to another peak for me, his release following with a low groan against my neck.
After, we curled together again with the furs pulled high for warmth, talking quietly.
“I used to think vulnerability was weakness,” he said, his voice rumbling through his chest. “But with you, it feels like strength. Like admitting I need help doesn’t make me less. It makes me more.”
“I’ve always hidden behind logic and facts. But you see through who I truly am.”
We shared our fears and doubts, the parts of ourselves we’d kept guarded. Each word deepened our bond, trust weaving tighter, emotional intimacy blooming like the stars overhead.
Eventually, his breathing evened, his body relaxingfully. He fell asleep in my arms, his head on my shoulder, one arm draped over my hip. I watched him, the starlight softening his features, making him look peaceful and unguarded.
Dangerous thoughts about forever crept in, about how this man had crashed into my life like a storm and rearranged everything in the best way.
This could be real and lasting.
Even as my mind warned caution, my heart whispered about love.
I let myself imagine a future where we faced everything together, not only as allies, but as something more.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
RAOUL
Iwoke to find Adele stroking my chest, her finger following the lines of muscle with an expression of deep concentration that made me smile.
“Studying dragon shifter anatomy?” I asked, my voice rough with sleep.
She looked up, startled, and smiled. “Maybe. You’re very symmetrical.”
“Is that your professional assessment?”
“Extremely professional.” Her hand splayed across the area above my heart. “Accelerated heartbeat. Elevated body temperature. Increased respiratory rate.”
