“In a moment,” he said, his voice husky.
With his good hand, he tugged her down until they were resting on the soft carpet of moss. She sighed at the warmth of his skin against her own.
He was alive. He was alive, and so was she, and they were together.
That was a lot to be grateful for.
But right now, with Timothy’s body against her own, all powerful muscles and hard planes, gratefulness was the last thing on her mind.
Need for him kept making her heart pound. Now that the fear and terror of the battle in the sky was behind them, it felt as if there was only one thing that could comfort her.
His body against hers. His skin hot against her own.
Timothy reached out and pressed his hand against the bare rock of the cave. For a moment, the blue light in his eyes intensified.
Then he smiled, dropping his hand. “Now the earth dragon will know that we are safe.”
“Good. Then you can finally rest and heal,” she told him, reaching up to brush back his wet hair.
In answer, Timothy gave her a soft laugh. His arm wrapped around her to pull her tightly against him—and then his mouth was on her again, his tongue teasing hers until she moaned.
“You are supposed to recover from your wounds,” she gasped when he finally drew back.
“Oh, I’m recovering,” Timothy murmured, trailing a finger down her cheek. “And you’re helping me heal.”
“Oh, is that what they call it now?” she said breathlessly, although she wound her own arm around his shoulder to press herself closer.
His eyes were still filled with blue light, shining like the water lapping at the rocks below them. And now they darkened. She could feel his shaft where it pressed against her thigh, hard and hungry.
She swallowed, feeling a moment of insecurity again. How could she tell him what she wanted without sounding ridiculous?
But then, he already knew that she was a thirty-year-old virgin, and he hadn’t cared at all.
“I want you,” she said softly.
Her throat was tight; she needed him so much. She needed to feel that he was alive, that everything was real.
Gently, he moved over her, keeping his weight on his good hand.
“I want you too,” he said hoarsely. “I’ve wanted you since I first saw you. Not just for one night. Forever. You’re my mate, Liana. And I’m sorry that I’ve put you in danger, but—”
“Shh.” She pressed her finger to his lips. “That wasn’t your fault. Blame the fire dragons. And if I’m your mate, I was exactly where I needed to be. By your side.”
“If you hadn’t brought me to the water...” His voice trailed off. Then he swallowed, azure light blazing in his eyes.
“You deserve so much better than this—a real bedroom, a palace, chains of gold and pearl and silken sheets. But right now, this is all I have to offer. Will you—”
“Of course,” she breathed, interrupting him before he could even finish his question.
Joy and rising need were bubbling beneath her skin. Everything felt too hot, too sensitive—but at the same time, it wasn’t enough. She needed to feel him closer. She needed him in her.
She ran her hand down his back. “I’m your mate. And you’re mine. Claim me. Here, now. I don’t want silk. You’re all I need.”
She could feel the connection between them pulsing, golden light streaming towards her. In the flow of emotion, she could feel Timothy’s disbelieving, joyful happiness—and that same desperate hunger for her touch that was making her own body ache.
The chain of golden light wound more and more tightly around her. It seemed to gain in intensity when Timothy pressed her down into the cool moss.
She could feel his hard shaft slide against her thigh. Wetness dripped from her folds as everything inside her ached to be one with him.