Page 13 of Tempest Rising

"Alright, alright," I said, shaking my head with a grin. The river's call, coupled with his surprising vulnerability, made me decide. I tugged off my shirt, feeling the cool breeze against my skin, followed by the rest of my clothes, though mindful to keep some distance from Draven.

I dipped my toes into the water, gasping softly at the cold. It wasn’t long before I was neck-deep, the river swirling around me, and I could feel both the chill of the water and the heat of Draven’s gaze, even if heclaimedhe wasn’t watching.

“How’s the water, then?” his voice purred.

I let out a breath, feeling some of the earlier tension melting away. “It’s perfect.” I turned toward him, seeing that wicked grin once more.

He floated closer, still keeping a respectful distance but closing the gap just enough that I couldn’t help but notice the thickening tension between us. The river's cool water lapped softly around us, but beneath that surface, heat simmered, potent and undeniable.

The rational part of my mind, the one that normally kept me grounded, was struggling to be heard. This wasn't who I usually was. I was careful, I kept my walls up, always overthinking and analyzing everything. But something about Draven broughtout a more daring version of myself, one I wasn’t familiar with. Maybe it was because recently, my life had become an outright fantasy—dragons, magic, supernatural beings, all of it too surreal to process in any logical way.

Standing on the threshold of a completely different world had made me braver, or maybe just more reckless.

"So, Tempest," Draven began, his tone lazy but probing, "What's it like being you? Coming into our world, bonding with a dragon, and suddenly being everyone's topic of conversation?" His eyes, framed by thick, wet lashes, seemed to study me with far more focus than I expected.

I swirled my hand lightly in the water, taking a moment to gather my thoughts. “Honestly? It feels like I’m constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop.” I laughed softly, but there was no humor in it. “Every day, it’s something new. More eyes watching, expecting, waiting for me to fail. Sometimes it feels like I’m drowning in it.”

He tilted his head. "You’re not one to drown easily, though," Draven said, his voice quieter now, more thoughtful. “You've got something about you—resilience. Strength that most wouldn’t expect.”

His words struck a chord, and I found myself wondering just how much he could see. But instead of feeling exposed, his statement steadied me. Reassured me, even. I hadn’t asked to be special, hadn’t asked to stand out, and yet here I was. "I don’t always feel that strong," I admitted, my voice softer now. "I just… I don’t have much of a choice."

Draven let out a light, slow chuckle, the sound rich and smooth like the currents around us. "Funny how those of us who think we have no choice always end up being the strongest."

I gave a small smile. “Yeah, well... I'm not sure if it’s strength or stubbornness, but it’s getting me this far.”

“Stubbornness can be a virtue,” he said, eyes sliding back to meet mine.

I smiled at his words, their sincerity catching me off guard. This certainly wasn’t what I had expected—a deep, intimate conversation with an incubus while we were both naked in a river. Draven was supposed to be playful, seductive, maybe even smug. But standing here, without any pretense or armor between us, it felt... different. Maybe it was the literal lack of barriers—both physical and emotional—that seemed to strip away the posturing we usually wore.

I cleared my throat, hoping to break the weight of the moment before it suffocated me. “You’re awfully observant, Draven. But what about you? I don’t know much other than the fact that you’re probably one of the more mysterious applicants.”

Draven's grin widened, flashing teeth. “Ah, a mystery, am I? Let's see…the short version? Former military, left after a mission went sideways, and decided to start my own security firm.”

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Military? Sounds like there’s a story there.”

He chuckled, the sound low and throaty as he ran a hand through his wet hair. “Plenty of stories, most of them still classified. Let’s just say I handled things that never made the news.” His tone was casual, but something dark flickered behind his eyes, like a shadow he couldn’t fully shake off.

“And your firm?” I probed, intrigued by the layers beneath Draven’s smooth exterior.

“Aegis Elite Security,” he explained, shrugging one shoulder. “Put simply, I keep powerful people’s secrets safe. During the day, I’m the guy in a suit, negotiating contracts or bouncing entitled execs out of boardrooms. By night…well, let’s just say I have certain ‘skills’ that come in handy.” His eyes gleamed wickedly with that last comment, the weight of unspoken truths hanging between us.

The wry grin I shot him didn’t quite match the flutter of curiosity building in my chest. I sensed that Draven's “skills” extended far deeper than personal security, and I had the distinct impression that I was only scratching the surface.

“So a jack-of-all-trades,” I teased, raising my hand to splash at him lightly. His laugh echoed across the river, a smooth and easy sound that belied the hint of danger lurking beneath.

Draven's eyes sparkled with mischief as he suddenly cupped his hands in the water. "Come on, Tempest," he teased, his voice rich with playful challenge. "Let's see if you can handle a little storm of your own."

The splash caught me off guard, and I laughed in surprise. “Oh, is that how it is?” I asked, repaying him with a splash of my own.

The cool water arced, catching him across the chest, and he mock-gasped in exaggerated offense. “Now you've done it,” Draven warned, his eyes gleaming playfully as he swam forward with a speed that made my breath hitch.

And suddenly, we were laughing, splashing water at each other in an impromptu water fight. A couple minutes into the battle, he lunged forward, his powerful form cutting through the water with effortless grace. I squealed, trying to dodge, but his arm snaked around my waist, pulling me close. For a moment, I felt the heat of his skin against mine, our bodies pressed together inthe cool embrace of the river. My breath caught in my throat as I looked up, meeting his intense gaze.

"Okay, okay, you win!" I called through breathless laughter, raising my hands in submission. My palms rested lightly on his chest, and I could feel his heart racing beneath my fingertips. Draven stopped his splashing, his head tilting to the side with a smug look. Water dripped from his long, dark lashes, drawing my attention to his mesmerizing hazel eyes.

"Oh, I always win, Tempest," he drawled lazily, his voice a low rumble that I could feel vibrating through his chest.

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "You know, you can call meTess," I corrected, my voice quiet but firm as I met his teasing gaze.

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