Page 20 of Naga Healer's Mate

The mate bond tugged, urging him to close the distance between them, to wrap her tightly in his arms.But he held back, his tail twitching with the effort of restraint.She needed this moment of peace, away from the chaos of her life.

“Thank you for showing me this,” she said, turning to face him and giving him a small smile.The bioluminescent light played across her features, making her eyes sparkle.“It’s nice to forget about everything else, even if it’s just for a little while.”

His chest tightened at her words.He would give anything to keep that smile on her face, to protect her from the harsh reality waiting beyond these walls of the underground sanctuary city.

Nirrn soon settled onto the stone bench nestled in the corner of the hidden garden.Islae sat beside him, close enough that her thigh pressed against his scales.The contact sent electricity racing through his body, making his muscles tense.

She leaned forward, reaching out to touch one of the glowing flowers.“These remind me of the night-blooming jasmine my mother used to grow.”

The soft curve of her neck caught the ethereal light, making his hands itch to trace the delicate line.His tail shifted restlessly, wanting to wrap around her waist and pull her closer.

“Tell me about your mother’s garden,” he said, his voice deeper than usual.The mate bond thrummed between them, growing stronger with each passing moment.

“She had this tiny patch behind our house.”Her fingers brushed the luminescent petals.“Even after working all day, she’d spend hours tending it.Said beauty was worth fighting for, even in the darkest places.”

When she sat back, her shoulder pressed against his chest.The thin fabric of her shirt did nothing to mask her warmth.His scales rippled in response, and he had to fight the urge to envelop her in his arms.

“Like you,” he murmured, his breath stirring her hair.“Fighting to heal others, even in the darkest corners of Jorvla.”

She turned her head to look at him, their faces inches apart.“I’m not—”

“You are.”His tail coiled around the bench, bracketing her without touching.“Your strength draws me to you, Islae.”

Her breath hitched, her pupils dilating as she met his golden gaze.The air between them grew thick with tension.His scaled shoulders flexed as he fought the primal urge to claim her right there.

She shifted slightly, and her hip pressed against his abdomen where his scales gave way to smooth skin.The contact sent fire racing through his veins.His tail twitched, nearly wrapping around her waist before he caught himself.

“Nirrn,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

The way she said his name made his control slip another notch.He gripped the edge of the bench.

Her brown eyes searched his golden ones, something unspoken flickering in their depths.Before he could decipher her expression, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.The tentative touch sent electricity crackling through his entire body.His scales rippled with pleasure as the mate bond surged between them, stronger than ever.

Acting on pure instinct, his hand cupped the back of her neck, his fingers threading through her soft hair.His tail finally gave in to its urges, coiling around her waist to draw her closer.The kiss deepened as she parted her lips, and a low growl rumbled in his chest.She tasted like sunshine and possibility.

But then suddenly, she jerked away, stumbling to her feet.The loss of contact left him cold.His tail dropped limply to the ground.His muscles coiled with tension as he watched her retreat a few steps, her arms wrapped around herself.

“I-I shouldn’t have done that,” she stammered, not meeting his eyes.

His chest tightened.He hadn’t expected her to kiss him, but now that she had, his body screamed at him to pull her back into his arms.Still, he forced himself to remain seated, knowing she needed space.

“Islae.”His voice came out rough with restraint.“Look at me.”

She shook her head, backing up another step.“We should go.The market will be busy soon.”

The mate bond ached between them, but he understood.He could sense her fear—not of him but of connection itself.Of letting someone close enough to matter.After losing her family so tragically, her walls were built high and thick.

He gathered his composure and rose to his full height, his tail unfurling behind him.“The market it is then.You must be hungry.”

Relief flickered across her face at his easy acceptance, though her cheeks remained flushed.As they made their way out of the garden, his tail twitched with the effort of keeping distance between them.But he would wait.His mate was worth waiting for.

Nirrn slithered silently behind Islae through Haven’s bustling market.His eyes followed her every movement, watching how she kept a careful distance between them.The mate bond throbbed like a physical ache in his chest, demanding he close that gap.

The market vendors called out their wares, but he barely heard them.His mind kept replaying the kiss—the softness of her lips, the way she’d melted against him for that brief, perfect moment.His scales rippled with the memory, and his tail twitched with the need to wrap around her again.

They gathered food from various stalls—fresh bread, some kind of underground-grown vegetables, and dried meat.Islae barely spoke two words to him, keeping her eyes down and her shoulders tense.Every instinct in his body screamed at him to pull her close, to tell her about the mate bond, to make her understand why that kiss had felt so right.

Instead, he followed her to a small table in the communal eating area, his massive form coiling beside the bench while she perched on it.The space between them felt like a chasm.

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