The firelight danced across his golden scales as he leaned down, his warm breath ghosting across her lips.Her heart thundered against her ribs, every nerve ending alive with anticipation.When his mouth finally met hers, the world tilted on its axis.
His lips were softer than she’d imagined, moving against hers with a gentleness that made her knees weak.Heat bloomed in her chest, spreading through her limbs like wildfire.She’d been kissed before, but never like this—never with such tender reverence that made her feel precious instead of possessed.
“Alaysia,” he breathed against her mouth, his voice thick with emotion.
She wrapped her arms around him, pressing closer.The hard planes of his chest met the soft satin of her gown, and she gasped at the contact.Dernin took advantage of her parted lips, deepening the kiss.His tongue swept into her mouth and Alaysia’s mind went blank with pleasure.
His strong hands slid down her back, leaving trails of fire in their wake.She arched into his touch, wanting more, needing more.The kiss grew heated, desperate.Years of holding herself apart from others, of protecting her heart, melted away under the onslaught of sensation.
“I never knew,” she whispered between kisses, “it could feel like this.”
Dernin’s response was a low growl that vibrated through her body.His tail curled around her legs, supporting her as her knees threatened to give out.The possessive gesture should have frightened her, but instead it made her feel safe, cherished.
Her fingers traced the scales at the nape of his neck, drawing another growl from him.The sound sent shivers down her spine, awakening a hunger she’d never experienced before.She pressed even closer, wanting to dissolve into him completely.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Alaysia’s world had shifted irreversibly.She looked up into Dernin’s golden eyes, dark with desire, and saw her own feelings reflected back at her.
“That was...”She trailed off, unable to find words adequate enough.
“Perfect,” he finished for her, pressing his forehead to hers.
Chapter 23
Dernin
Thefireplaceintheparlor room crackled, casting a warm glow over Alaysia’s features.Dernin’s eyes locked with hers, a silent exchange of desire passing between them.The energy in the room was palpable, a testament to the bond they shared, one that had grown despite the chaos that surrounded them.
Dernin’s gaze drifted to her lips, slightly parted in anticipation.His hand reached out, gently cradling her neck as he leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to the hollow of her throat.She let out a soft sigh, her body leaning into his touch, seeking more.
“Is this okay?”Dernin asked.
“Yes,” Alaysia breathed out.
His fingers deftly found the ties of her black satin dress, loosening them with reverence.The fabric slipped from her waist, pooling at her feet, revealing the curves of her body in the firelight.Her naked breasts rose and fell with each breath, her nipples hardening under his intense gaze.
Dernin’s control was a thin veil, threatening to tear at any moment, but he held it together for her.He lowered his head, his lips and tongue exploring the soft mounds of her breasts, lavishing attention on each peak until her breath hitched and a moan escaped her lips.
The mate bond surged between them, a current of electricity that needed no words.Alaysia’s fingers threaded through his hair, pulling him closer, her body arching into his touch.He felt her arousal, a mirror of his own, a tangible force that bound them together.
His hands trailed lower, tracing the contours of her stomach before his fingers hooked into the waistband of her panties.He looked up at her, seeking permission with his eyes.At her nod, he slowly drew them down her legs, leaving her completely exposed to his gaze.
With a gentleness that belied his warrior’s strength, Dernin guided Alaysia down to the plush carpet beside the fire.The heat from the flames licked at their skin, adding to the warmth that blossomed within them.He settled between her thighs, his eyes drinking in the sight of her, laid bare before him.
He began a slow descent, his lips leaving a trail of fire down her stomach.When he reached the apex of her thighs, he paused, looking up to meet her gaze once more.The anticipation hung heavily in the air, a silent question lingering between them.
“Please,” Alaysia whispered, her voice laced with need, giving him the final encouragement he needed.
Dernin’s mouth found her center, his tongue delving into her folds with deliberate slowness.He explored her with a singular focus, each lick and kiss designed to stoke the flames of her desire higher and higher.
Alaysia’s responses were like music to his ears, her soft cries and gasps guiding his movements.He felt the tension building within her, the mate bond amplifying every sensation that coursed through her body.
As her orgasm approached, her fingers gripped his hair tighter, her body tensing beneath him.And then, with a final flick of his tongue, she shattered.
Dernin’s eyes darkened with desire as he watched Alaysia’s body shudder and quake.Her orgasm was a symphony, each moan and gasp a note that resonated within him, stirring his own desire.He felt the coil of need tightening in his lower abdomen, his throbbing member aching for release, but his focus remained solely on her pleasure.
With gentleness, Dernin slid his hands beneath her and lifted her hips to meet his descending mouth once more.His tongue danced over her sensitive nub, eliciting a sharp intake of breath from her.He reveled in her reactions, each one spurring him on and driving him to new heights of need.
His fingers teased the slick entrance of her core, gently probing and seeking entrance.As he eased two fingers inside her, Alaysia’s body welcomed him with a fresh wave of moisture, her inner walls clenching around his digits in a desperate embrace.