Everly had never been in Kian’s bedroom before and was enchanted by the oak four-poster bed and the huge windows that looked out on the grounds. In a sitting room off the bedroom, he had set up a table for two near the fireplace.

She had dressed in a form-fitting red dress, put her hair up in a loose bun, and had carefully done her makeup with the products from the salon. She felt good about herself, happy and complete.

He took her hand at the doorway and led her into the sitting room. They sat at the table for two, with the fire crackling in the fireplace. It reflected in Kian’s eyes. He reached across the table and took her hand, running the pad of his thumb over her knuckles. It sent a sensation of desire up her arm and down her spine, igniting her core.

She blushed shyly and smiled. He lifted the domes off the plates, revealing a delicious gourmet meal. Her stomach grumbled in anticipation and she took a knife to cut into the perfectly cooked steak. She popped a bite into her mouth and chewed, savoring the flavor of Kian’s cooking.

“For an alien who just awakened from a million-year slumber, you certainly are a good cook,” she said with a giggle.

“I enjoy it,” he said.

They ate their meal, chatting about the past and the future. Everly learned more about his home planet and asked questions about the years he'd spent in stasis slumber.

“Did you dream? Were you aware that you are sleeping?”

“It was a deep, dreamless sleep,” Kian said. “It's almost as if not a day has passed since we first went into the stasis chambers.”

“That must be awfully strange,” she said.

“Not particularly. We never saw the time pass. We have no attachment to it. We landed on a primitive planet with no civilization and no mates and we went into stasis. We awoke to a place where there are cities and roads, and most importantly, mates for us. It went exactly as we had hoped.”

“And what about the others? What will the others do if they can't find their mates?”

“I hope for all of our sakes that their mates will arrive soon.”

“What about the vampires?” she asked.

“We have learned more about the vampires. The elder vampires are sleeping. It is a genetic capability the vampires possess. They are essentially immortal, but to maintain their mortality, they must sleep for extended periods of time to regenerate their strength. The longer they live the stronger they become. But most of the older vampires are absent from the world at this time.”

“Are you worried what they might do?” she asked, taking on the bite of steak.

“As it is now, I don't fear the vampires. They are weak and without technology. A dragon can take on several dozen of them without problem. But we can't kill them. Not directly. So, we are at a stalemate. The biggest problem is that they prefer Dragon Souls for their food. And since we are here to protect both Dragon Souls and humans alike, I don't see how we can maintain a neutrality with the vampires. We are taking it one day at a time in relation to them.”

“That seems wise,” she said.

“But enough about the war between dragons and vampires. I don't want you to worry about that. I want you to focus on Ember and yourself. I want you to be happy and comfortable and safe. The war is not for you to fight.”

“Anything that affects you affects me,” she said.

“I know it does, my love. But as long as I live, my greatest priority is to keep you safe and happy.”

“And you do,” she said with a smile.

Kian revealed two pieces of chocolate cake that he served to them as they sipped their fruity, sweet red wine. She had to pinch herself to believe that she was with such a gorgeous, protective man. It was the greatest dream of her heart. There was only one little thing missing. She hoped someday soon, she would have it too.

After the cake, Kian stood and took her hand and held her as they danced to the slow music that piped through the stereo into his bedroom.

She inhaled his spicy scent as she rested her head against his chest. He held her hand in his, his other hand cradling the small of her back, moving with her in a slow dance. She felt so safe in his arms. It was a place she never wanted to leave.

He reached down and cupped her chin in his hand, tilting her face up toward him to claim her mouth. She groaned as his tongue slid over hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. Their kiss grew deeper and more intense.

“I must claim you,” he said with a growl, lifting her up off the ground. He carried her through his bedroom and deposited her on the bed as he tore off his jacket and shirt. “I can't wait a moment longer,” he said, prowling over her and resting his hardness between her legs.

“Oh, Kian,” she breathed, wrapping her arms around his neck. He kissed her deeply and sweetly as his cock pressed against her softness.

“You will be mine forever,” he said.

“What are you going to do?” she asked with a shiver of fear going down her spine.

He kissed down her chest as he unzipped her dress and revealed her lacy bra. As he tugged the dress off of her body and devoured her exposed flesh, he looked up into her eyes. His eyes shined with a kind of animalistic glow, and she could see the fire of his dragon in their depths.

“I will bite you, and then I will inject a special venom into your blood. Once I have claimed you, you will become even more like a dragon, stronger, with a longer life and new senses.”

“Will it hurt when you bite me?”

“Maybe a little. From what I have learned, the mating bite is highly erotic.”

“Oh,” she said with a gasp, as he tugged off her bra and panties.

She was naked on the bed as he dipped between her legs and ran his long, wet tongue up the slit to press between her folds to her clit.

“Oh my God,” she gasped as his tongue began to vibrate on her swollen, sensitive bud.

She ran her fingers through his hair as he devoured her pussy, sliding his tongue between her clit and her channel. The sensation built and built until he slipped two fingers inside her core, pressing upward as he vibrated his tongue on her clit.

Her orgasm broke like gushing well. She called out his name. Her pussy throbbed and clenched. The sensation enveloped her entire body. She arched her back as her nipples went erect, buzzing with desire.

“Oh, Kian,” she said again.

He growled and kissed a trail of fire up her stomach and over her breasts, sucking one nipple and then the other into his mouth, exciting the sensation inside her yet again. He drew back and pulled out of his clothes, revealing his massive cock for the first time. She gasped at the size of it, so long and thick. It almost seemed it would be impossible fit inside her. She reached up and stroked his length with her fingertips, her eyes wide and her mouth open.

“Do you think you can take this?” he growled as he crawled over her again, resting his massive shaft against her sopping wet core.

“Oh yes,” she said with a growl, arching her back.

She looked up at the ceiling as he devoured her breasts and stroked her pussy. His tongue lathed her nipples as he teased out her desire once again. He rested the tip of his cock against her opening, inching in and out with the tip. She groaned at the feeling of him, wanting him to fill her. Wanting to be so close, with no space between them.

He entered her just slightly and then pulled out again, dipping in further with each thrust. She was growing frustrated and hungrier with each dip inside her.

“I need you,” she growled, pressing up against him.

“Easy, little human,” he whispered into her ear as he licked her neck. “I'm not going to split you open. I’ll take you nice and slow. Open you up like a flower before I thrust my cock inside your depths. Over and over until you scream with ecstasy.”

“Oh yes!”

He slowly stretched her wider with each thrust of his hips. He was so thick and long, it shattered her mind. He finally found her depths and kept going, her eyes went wide at the sensation. She had never been so full, completely taken. When he rested his hips against hers, sinking all the way to the base of his cock, he held her there, allowing her body to grow accustomed to his size.

She felt impaled, opened beyond her imagining. She had a sense of oneness with him, as if they had become one being. She growled and claimed his mouth. He kissed her deeper and deeper as he rested inside her. Her body throbbed with release at the size of him, and as her pussy clenched on his length. He pulled back and slowly thrust forward again.

With that first thrust, she came again, mindless and screaming. He held her tight, rocking his hips back and forth in waves as he rode her. His tongue licked the crook of her neck, up to her ear, kissing her, nuzzling her. His sharp teeth ran over her sensitive flesh as he thrust inside her again and again.

She held him tight to her, not knowing when one orgasm ended and the next one began. It was all a blinding white light of pleasure and lust.

He growled into her ear as his teeth began to bite into her flesh. His tongue had somehow desensitized her skin and all she felt was a biting pleasure as his teeth sank deeper. She gasped as he clamped down. His cock throbbed inside her as he shot his seed deep into her core.

She held him tight, scratching her nails down his back as she came wildly and completely. Her mind shattered apart. She could feel his claiming venom running into her veins. It ignited her soul and broke her open, only to be pieced back together anew. More whole, more complete and bonded with her other half.

This beautiful alien warrior, who had come from a distant star to claim her and make her his. To make her life new and beautiful. She could see galaxies spread out across the sky. She could see their hearts entwining and their souls merging. She was lost in a vision of totality and love. She could feel his hot seed sinking into her womb. In a blinding light of lust and passion and connection, they came together.

Slowly, she came back to herself. Kian's teeth slipped from her neck as he licked her wound clean, and it healed almost instantly. He pulled himself gently from inside her. And held her in his arms under the blankets. She rested her head against his muscled chest, listening to his heartbeat. He stroked her hair and her cheek, kissing the top of her head affectionately.

“My beautiful love,” he said. “We are now mated forever.” He tilted her chin up to look into his eyes. “I will eternally worship you.”

Everly couldn't respond. Her heart was beating too fast and buzzing in her ears. Her whole life seemed to come into sharp focus. She rested against his chest, holding him close.

“This is the greatest day of my life,” she whispered.

She felt him holding her close, breathing into the top of her head, his body radiating so much affection. She could feel his mind and his heart inside her. It was like their bond had allowed her to view the depths of him. She felt him whisper inside her mind.

“I love and adore you, my Queen,” he said.

Everly drifted into sleep, filled with happy dreams of the future.