Darklis
In the darkness, Darklis awoke with a jolt.
Where am I? And... and where’s my dragon??
Panic lanced through her as she looked around wildly. She didn’t know this room. Where was she? And who had brought her here?
A gasp left her lips as she suddenly recalled her dream – a dream of glowing red eyes in the darkness, of powerful wings and shining teeth and claws.
Erik Lukich.
The dragon who had imprisoned her for years – who had ordered her family killed, and would have killed her, had her brother Stefan not found her when he did.
But he’s gone now. Isn’t he?
Stefan had beaten him. Erik had been exiled. He was no further danger to anyone.
But in the darkness of the unknown room, Darklis found it difficult to be certain.
Still disoriented, she looked around, searching for something familiar. She hadn’t woken in terror now for some time – but then, she usually slept in her clan’s lands, with her hoard nearby. Occasionally when she went traveling she would still have these nightmares, but not for some time now.
She reached out, trying to sense something, anything that she knew. But there was nothing. Inside her chest, her heart pounded. She raised her hands in blind panic, sitting up on the bed.
And where is my dragon???
“Darklis?”
An unfamiliar male voice sounded to her left.
Ordinarily, this might have only added to her terror. But instead, she found that the deep, soothing sound of it cut through the adrenaline surging in her veins, slowed down her thumping heart.
“Who –”
“Shh, Darklis. It’s me. Liev. Do you remember?”
Warm hands clasped her shoulders. Strong arms pulled her against a hard, muscular chest, embracing her tightly.
“Liev,” she murmured, trying to take a deep breath with lungs that simply did not want to co-operate with her. A sob rose up within her. “I – I – Liev –”
Sudden warmth flooded her.
Yes. Yes, I remember.
Darklis could hear the beating of his heart, slow and steady, where she rested her ear against his chest. The arms around her held her as if they would never let her go, while his hot breath tickled against her ear.
My mate. My mate. He will never let any harm come to me.
For some reason, she knew it was true as soon as she thought it.
As long as Liev was with her, she didn’t need to fear Erik Lukich – or anything else.
“It was just a dream, Darklis,” Liev murmured soothingly, his hand rising to stroke through her hair. “There’s nothing to be worried about. We’re in a hotel room in New York. Do you remember?”
Darklis took a shuddering breath as the day’s events flooded back to her.
Of course – now she knew where she was.
“I remember,” she said, blinking her eyes as they threatened to spill over with tears. “I’m sorry. I... I had a bad dream.”
“Please don’t apologize,” Liev said, his right hand still moving slowly through her hair, his left warm against her shoulder. “This is a strange situation we find ourselves in. It’s understandable.”
Darklis took a shuddering breath. That was true, she supposed. As much as she thought she had overcome her nightmares of her time as Erik Lukich’s prisoner, being stuck here without her dragon was something that could have set them off again.
But now, here in Liev’s arms, it was clear there was nothing to be frightened of.
As her fear began to leach away, Darklis found it was being replaced by a warmth that tingled through her limbs, winding its way into her belly and then lower, lower...
Swallowing, Darklis closed her eyes, trying not to let a groan slip out between her lips. Having Liev so close, having his arms around her... it was doing strange things to her head. Never before had she felt such an intoxicating heat inside her. She had always prided herself on her ability to think clearly, to make decisions quickly and rationally.
And he’s just holding you because it’s the gentlemanly thing to do, Darklis told herself. You woke him up in the middle of the night with a nightmare. He’s just trying to comfort you. He doesn’t remember what you are to each other.
But despite the cold reality of that thought, Darklis found it did nothing to help the throbbing desire that was slowly building within her. She wanted to press herself closer and closer to Liev, to feel his skin against hers, to know there was nothing at all between them...
Darklis almost started as Liev let out a groan of his own, shifting slightly on the bed. It was then that she felt it – the hardness at the apex of his thighs, pressing against her hip.
That’s not very gentlemanly, Darklis thought suddenly, and couldn’t stop her slight giggle as she did.
She barely let herself breathe as she raised her head to look at him, finding his eyes in the dark.
“Liev?”
Liev groaned again, and then, terribly, began to withdraw his arms.
“Darklis, I’m sorry,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I – I shouldn’t have – please forgive me –”
“Liev, wait.” Darklis reached out, gripping his forearms before he could move away completely. Alarm suddenly thrilled through her. He couldn’t leave her. He couldn’t stop touching her. Not yet! “Please, don’t go. You have nothing to apologize for. I –”
Darklis cut herself off, unsure of what to say. She had never had to talk to a man about these things before. She wasn’t sure if she knew how. She was used to shutting herself away with books and studying arcane magic, and her childhood had been spent utterly alone, locked away from the world by the Lukich Clan. How could she say what she wanted to say?
But... but if Liev feels it too... if he knows...
Unsure of what she wanted to say, but utterly certain of what she felt, of what Liev felt, Darklis raised her hands to the sides of his face, before pulling him close, kissing him as fiercely as she dared.
His lips were searing against hers, sending white-hot heat surging through her, all the way to her core.
He responded in kind: he drew her back into his arms immediately, his large, strong hands spreading over her back, pulling her into his chest. His lips parted and his tongue swept into her mouth as fire raced through her, setting everything within her alight.
She could feel his hardness pressing against her as she pushed herself against him, eager for more. When at last the kiss broke and she glanced down, she couldn’t hold back a gasp at the sight of the bulge in his jeans. Swallowing, Darklis slowly trailed a hand down his neck and over his chest, until her fingers rested lightly on the hot hardness between his legs.
“God, Darklis,” Liev groaned, throwing his head back. His hips bucked forward as she stroked him gently, marveling at how even the lightest of touches could elicit such a response from him. “Please – do you want –”
“I want everything,” Darklis said quickly, without needing to think.
And it was true. Liev was her mate; her one true mate.
Liev, his eyes shining in the dark, looked down at her a moment longer before slowly lowering his head to kiss her again. The kiss was soft and gentle for a moment – before the fire of passion overcame them both once more, and Darklis parted her lips, her tongue darting inside Liev’s mouth.
She gasped as his hands slid down her sides, his touch sending bolts of pleasure across her skin. He tugged at the bottom of her t-shirt, pulling it up and over her shoulders. She raised her arms so he could remove it completely, and then her own hands were on him, the tips of her fingers sliding over the hard grid of his abdominal muscles.
Liev groaned at her touch, and Darklis could feel him trembling against her, his muscles straining against his skin. Entranced, she ran her fingers over him again, watching as he shivered.
All this, for me...
It seemed unbelievable that a man like Liev could respond this way to her. He was so strong and brave and handsome and a prince...
It was almost as if one of the ancient dragon knights from the stories she had read had come to life. And he was here with her, in bed, saying her name as she pulled his shirt off over his head and threw it onto the floor with her own.
He kissed her again, pulling her down with him onto the bed. Unable to stop herself, she arched her back, pressing herself against him. She could feel her core, hot and eager, as she parted her legs, letting him slide between them. The hot jut of his erection pushed against her thigh, and she gasped.
Liev lowered his head, his mouth ranging across her breasts as his hands fumbled with his jeans. Darklis couldn’t stop herself from crying out as his tongue at last found her nipple, teasing it before he took it gently between his teeth. Desire raced through her like wildfire, sweeping away all before it.
Darklis frantically shoved her jeans down her thighs, kicking them off once they reached her calves. The desperate ache between her legs had only grown more urgent, and she writhed up, parting her legs, wanting to feel him against her.
“I can’t wait any longer,” she gasped, arching her back. Raising her hands, she twined her fingers in his hair. “Please, Liev – please –”
His mouth captured hers before she could finish the sentence. With his hands on her hips, he lifted her as if she weighed nothing at all, pulling her up against him. She could feel his massive length against her, hot and hard.
Darklis wound her arms around his back, so desperate she could barely think straight. She wanted him, needed him –
She cried out, throwing her head back as at last, at last, he slid inside her. She had expected it to hurt, if only a little – Liev’s girth and length were impressive, after all – but instead, she felt only a delicious stretch, as if, finally, she had been made complete.
“Oh God, Liev,” she couldn’t stop herself from crying out as he moved slightly within her, pushing against her inner walls, finding the deepest parts of her. She clenched herself around him and he groaned in response, his hips bucking forward, as if he was fighting to keep control of himself.
You don’t need to, Darklis thought. Please, Liev.
As if he had heard her, Liev pulled back slightly before thrusting forward again, burying himself within her. She cried out, arching up into his thrusts, fingers digging into his back as ecstasy spiraled through her.
Lifting her legs, she wrapped them around his hips, pulling herself up to meet every thrust. His arms, glistening with sweat in the meager light of the room, held him up above her, his hands buried in her hair.
“Darklis,” he whispered, his voice holding an edge of desperation. “Oh God, Darklis...”
She could not reply. Not with words, in any case. Instead, she simply lifted her head, bringing their mouths together. His tongue plundered her mouth, muffling their moans as together, they rose to the peak of their pleasure.
Wave after wave of brilliant light raced through her with every movement Liev made, building upon one another, until at last a final, intense wave crested within her. She moaned, arching up one final time. Together, they cried out as one as pure bliss crashed over them both, filling them completely, both body and soul.
For a moment, Darklis thought she could see a shining golden ribbon behind her eyes as she shuddered, crying out – but then, as the pleasure of their joining slowly began to subside, it too began to fade, disappearing into nothingness once more.
Was... was that...
Her mind was too muddled from ecstasy to complete the thought. Liev still filled her, his breath hot on her face, their chests heaving in tandem as they slowly came down from their climax.
At last, reluctantly, he moved aside, settling next to her on the small bed and gathering her up in his arms. Utterly content, she snuggled into his side, her hand playing lightly over the groove of his pectoral muscles.
“That was... that was...” She wasn’t sure she had the words to describe what that was.
To her relief, Liev only laughed softly, before dropping a warm kiss on her forehead. Slowly, his hand trailed down her spine in a gentle caress.
“It was amazing,” he finished for her.
Together, they lay in silence as their breathing slowed. Darklis had never felt so content in all her life – so warm or safe. Closing her eyes, she pressed her forehead against Liev’s chest, breathing in the scent of his sweat, feeling his arms around her, listening to the beat of his heart.
“Darklis.”
His chest rumbled as he said her name. Opening her eyes reluctantly, she gazed up at him.
“Mmmm?”
“I wonder... at the end... did you see...?”
Excitement flashed through her as she remembered the golden rope that had briefly appeared in her mind as they had climaxed together.
“The mated bond?”
Liev blinked, and then released a breath as if he was relieved.
“Then you saw it too? It wasn’t just my imagination?”
Darklis shook her head. “No, I’m sure I saw it. It was only for a moment. But it was there.”
Nodding, Liev pulled her against him once more. “I thought you didn’t remember,” he said, after a moment’s silence. “I wasn’t sure if I should tell you, or wait until we had reached your hoard and hope that you remembered then.”
Darklis fought down the urge to laugh. “And I thought you didn’t remember,” she said. “If we hadn’t gone through the portal and if we still had our dragons, there’d be no way we could even doubt it, though – isn’t that right?”
“From what I’ve heard, yes,” Liev replied. “But if what we saw just then was really the mated bond –”
“– then it’s definitely not gone for good,” Darklis finished for him. “We can get it back. And our dragons, too.”
Darklis could almost feel Liev’s relief.
“Thank goodness.”
Laughing, she leaned up to kiss him. His lips were soft against hers, his fingers playing gently through her hair.
Pulling back, she bit her lip. “Liev,” she said, feeling nervous. Again, she found herself not quite sure how to put this into words. “There’s something else I should tell you. It’s... well. It’s just that. I’ve never done that before. Sex, I mean. That was... that was my first time.”
Liev blinked at her, as if surprised. But then, a small smile began to creep across his face.
“Mine too.”
Now it was Darklis’s turn to be surprised. “Really? Because that did not seem like someone doing something for the first time.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth she snapped it shut, a deep flush of embarrassment creeping up her neck. “I mean – I just meant that –”
Liev’s soft laugh halted her words. “No, I’ll take it as a compliment,” he said quietly. “Perhaps I had opportunities before now. But I had my – and the lady’s – honor to consider. I could not have called myself a worthy man if I had ever brought harm to someone through my own carelessness.”
Darklis couldn’t help but laugh. “I don’t think you would have harmed someone by doing that.”
“No, not in itself,” Liev said, his voice warm with humor. “But I couldn’t ever forget that I was a Drakos prince. I would never want to make a promise I didn’t know if I could keep. And this... I see this very much as a promise.”
Darklis’s heart clenched in her chest. “A promise?”
Liev’s warm lips pressed against the top of her head. “A promise, Darklis. I promise you that from this day on, we won’t be parted. You’re my mate. And I won’t let anything stand in the way of that.”
Closing her eyes, Darklis rested her cheek against Liev’s chest. She knew what he was talking about: the fact that she came from a poor clan – a clan that everyone had thought was extinct until just a few years ago. She was hardly the kind of dragon royalty his parents could have wanted or expected for him to marry.
But as long as we have each other...
“We should try to get a little more sleep,” Liev said. “As you pointed out, we have a long journey ahead of us, and it’s still some time before dawn. We should take the opportunity to rest while we can.”
“You’re right,” Darklis agreed reluctantly. “You’ll stay here in the bed with me, won’t you? I know it’s cramped, but –”
“Of course I will, Darklis,” Liev said, before he dropped his head to kiss her again.