They’d only just touched the ground when Timothy’s dragon form began to shimmer beneath her. A moment later, he turned back into his human form—and Liana unceremoniously tumbled to the ground alongside him.

The grass beneath her was soft. Even so, her shoulder felt bruised, but she paid no attention to it.

All she could think about right now was Timothy. He’d been trying to hide his pain from her, but she’d felt his agony through the mate bond.

He’d been injured. This hadn’t been like that fight in the alley, where the fire dragons had barely been able to touch him.

This was bad.

She hissed when she turned him around and saw that the shirt had split open at the front. It looked almost burned. The frayed edges had turned black.

Worse, his skin looked burned as well.

Or perhaps not burned—but there was a strange darkness that had begun to spread across his skin.

She swallowed, then began to carefully check for other injuries. She knew that his right wing had been wounded—and just as she had feared, she found another spot of darkness at his right wrist.

He groaned when she touched his arm. He didn’t wake up, but she could see that he was in pain. Even unconscious, there were deep lines around his mouth.

It was terrifying to see him like this. Timothy was so full of life—he was the most alive person she’d ever met.

And now it almost seemed like something was leeching the life out of him...

Shit, shit, shit. What do I do?

She wasn’t a nurse or a doctor. She wasn’t even a shifter!

I don’t know how to heal weird magical injuries! I just code games—I’m not a wizard or a cleric.

She swallowed against the rising panic. She had to stay focused.

With every passing moment, Timothy seemed to grow paler.

On a whim, she leaned over him and pressed her lips to his. She kissed him gently and desperately, praying that for once, everything would work out like in a fairytale.

Timothy seemed to breathe a little easier, but he didn’t otherwise react. He was still unconscious—and the darkness on his chest seemed to spread out further with little tendrils of blackness.

I’m his mate—but we’re not mated yet. Maybe that’s why I can’t help him.

Why hadn’t they done the mating right there on the sandbank?

Tears appeared in her eyes when she thought of it. That moment had been so perfect. Just Timothy, her, and the ocean. She’d thought she’d have that kind of happiness until the end of her life.

And now Timothy might die right here in her arms, because she wasn’t as strong as him, and because she didn’t know enough about shifters and their powers to save him...

Tears kept running down her face as she looked at him, praying for a miracle.

One of her tears dripped down—and it splashed right onto his chest, at the center of the spreading darkness.

For a moment, the weird, dark tendrils seemed to flinch back. She held her breath.

Then the blackness began to spread out once more, but Liana no longer paid it any attention.

She’d realized at last what she had to do.

He’s my ocean dragon. The master of water!

Hastily, Liana stripped out of her clothes. There was a stream running through the valley, right along where the meadow ended and the forest began.

She pulled off Timothy’s clothes as well, ignoring her own terror when he groaned every time his wounds were jarred.

And then she gritted her teeth and began pulling him towards the stream.

It wasn’t far. The water was only a few steps away—but those were the longest steps she’d ever taken in her entire life.

By the time they reached the stream, she was utterly exhausted and out of breath. The darkness had spread over more than half of Timothy’s chest now.

But Liana ignored the terror in her own heart. Maybe she wasn’t a shifter—but she knew about dragons, in her own way. Mainly from games and books, true. But that was enough to know that there was only one thing that could heal him.

Taking a deep breath, Liana closed her arms around Timothy’s powerful body. Then she tumbled them both into the river.

The water was cold as it closed over her. Liana didn’t struggle or kick her feet. Keeping her arms still tightly wrapped around Timothy, she gave herself up the river. Slowly, they sank to the bottom of the stream.

She ignored the panic of being unable to breathe. All that mattered right now was Timothy.

It was dark at the bottom of the river. She could no longer make out the darkness infecting his chest. Was it still spreading?

And then, all of a sudden, there was a gentle glow. She couldn’t say where it had come from, but it was illuminating the water with a soft blue light.

In the eerie glow, she could see that Timothy’s body had relaxed. As she watched, the light intensified. She watched as it concentrated in two spots.

Timothy’s wrist and his chest were enveloped by the light, which grew in intensity.

At the same time, the tendrils of darkness that had crept over his skin began to writhe, almost like they were fighting back against the light.

Liana was still holding him. As she watched, little by little, the darkness was forced back. Timothy tensed in her embrace all of a sudden, his mouth opening so that bubbles of air escaped. For a heartbeat, she could feel a terrible, dark presence, like a shadow that wanted to smother all joy and life.

And then the light-filled water began to swirl. It lifted them both, up and up and up, until at last their heads burst through the surface of the water. Even now, the light surrounded them.

As Liana gasped for air, still holding on to Timothy, the light pulsed so brightly that she had to close her eyes for a moment.

Even from behind her closed eyelids, she could see nothing but the overwhelming, blue light.

And then Timothy was coughing and twisting in her arms. When she opened her eyes again, the strange darkness had disappeared from his body. There were only raw-looking patches of reddened skin left.

But most importantly, Timothy had regained consciousness.

His eyes were filled with light again. They gleamed like sapphires with the deep, clear blue of the ocean.

Despite the earlier terror, she suddenly found herself smiling. She couldn’t say how she knew—but something told her that he would be all right now.

No. I know because he knows.

The connection between them was pulsing with that reassurance. Where before, the darkness seemed to have leeched his strength out of him, now the bond was filled with his power once more.

“You saved me.” His voice was still rough, although he was returning her smile.

Carefully, she rested her hand against his chest. There was no trace of the darkness left—just the comforting beating of his strong heart against her palm.

“You saved me, too.” She tilted her head at him. “I figured it was time to return the favor.”

He laughed at that, his voice deep and warm. It made her shiver with sudden desire—and made her realize that she was still naked.

They were both naked, in fact. And she wasn’t the only one filled with sudden, overwhelming need.

Against her thigh, Timothy was hard, his length hot where it pressed against her skin. It made her swallow, her nipples suddenly tight and aching while her stomach twisted with need.

“We’re not safe here,” Timothy said a moment later, his voice husky. “Come. The river told me of a place where we’ll be safe while I heal.”

Worriedly, she gave his chest another look.

“I’m fine,” he said softly, his hand curving around her back, pulling her close again. “Shifter healing will take care of it. I could probably even fly, in an emergency. But my wing is still injured. I don’t want to chance another encounter with the fire dragon who wounded me.”

“That’s sensible,” Liana said breathlessly, trying very hard to not think about Timothy ravishing her right here in the water.

It was the completely wrong time to think about how incredible it had felt to feel his body against hers.

But then, they’d nearly died.

She’d always thought that before she died, she wanted to visit Tokyo, Paris, and see the pyramids in Egypt.

Now she added another item right to the top of her bucket list: don’t die a virgin.

Or perhaps: don’t die without having been ravished by Timothy in a thousand different ways, on sandbanks and lonely islands and in his bed and the kitchen and—

His mouth met hers. She moaned, her lips parting for him. He kissed her with the same desperate hunger she was feeling.

As if he, too, couldn’t stop thinking about how close they’d come to losing each other forever.

She didn’t even realize that they’d sunk back into the water until she felt the current pick up around them.

Timothy was holding her tightly, his tongue exploring her mouth. Her entire body was filled with heat.

She wasn’t afraid, even when the water carried them away. All she could feel was the warmth of Timothy’s skin against hers and the way her body ached for him in a way she’d never experienced before—as if she’d always been incomplete without him, she just hadn’t known it.

But now that he was here, her body was crying out for him. She needed to feel him. She needed to hold him close and never let go again. She needed to feel that he was still alive, that he was still hers—and that she was still his, in every way.

When they broke through the water again, finally breaking the kiss, Liana was gasping for breath. Timothy’s shaft had slid between her thighs, hard as a rock. She wanted him so badly that her entire body felt tight with need for him.

It took her a moment to realize where the river had carried them.

It wasn’t sunlight she was seeing. They were in a small cave... A cave filled by the same gentle, blue light that had illuminated the water earlier.

When she turned her head, she saw that there was an exit behind them. It was covered by a curtain of water rushing down.

We’re in a cave behind a waterfall somewhere...

“They won’t find us here,” Timothy murmured. “Not for quite a while. The water will keep us hidden from fire.”

“So you can heal in peace.” Liana rested a careful hand against his chest again.

His skin still looked raw, and she winced in sympathy when she saw that his right wrist was red and swollen.

“Shifter healing works much faster than human healing,” Timothy reassured her. “I’ll be as good as new in no time.”

He helped her climb out of the pool into which the stream had carried them. Light was still dancing on the water, illuminating the cave.

The walls were glistening. Pale blue and green crystals were covering the rock, growing in beautiful, twisted formations all throughout the cave. The light made them sparkle until it felt as if she’d been transported into an underwater palace.

Or an ocean god’s bedroom.

But all she had eyes for right now was Timothy. Despite the injuries, he looked glorious. His wet skin was gleaming in the pulsing light, showing off every single flexing muscle.

In a corner of the cave, moss was growing copiously—almost as if the cave had tried to provide a resting place for them.

And perhaps it had.

Carefully, Timothy pulled her down. He was trying not to put any weight on his right wrist, and she could see him wince when he tentatively tried to flex it.

“You should sleep,” she told him.

“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.

“My mate,” he murmured hoarsely. “Forever.”

“Forever,” she gasped, winding her arms around his neck. “Make me yours.”

“You’re already mine,” he said, a soft growl in his voice.

And then he pushed into her.

Liana gasped, moaning as he filled her. He felt large, almost too large—but there was no pain, only an incredible feeling of being stretched, and the overwhelming sensation of Timothy inside her.

Another moan escaped her when he drew back, and then slowly pushed back in.

Ripples of pleasure ran through her. The sensation made her gasp. It was as if every nerve inside her body had suddenly come alive.

She hadn’t even known that it was possible to feel so much. Now every inch of her skin tingled as if electricity was flowing between them. Her inner walls tightened around Timothy, pleasure flooding through her with each of his thrusts.

His mouth nuzzled against her throat. She could feel his breath hot against her skin. He still smelled like sunshine and salt water, now mingled with the musk of his desire.

Moaning again, she tightened her hold on him, needing more, needing him deeper.

And with the next thrust, he slipped his fingers between their bodies. Even as she gasped for breath, helplessly arching against him, his finger found her clit, circling the sensitive nub.

Sparks of pleasure raced through her, making her tremble—and then pleasure crashed over her like a wave, carrying her away with it.

With pulse after pulse, her body tightened around Timothy in desperate pleasure. She moaned his name as she clung to him, closing her eyes as he kept stroking her demandingly. His caresses made her orgasm last and last until she didn’t even know where one ended and the next began.

And then, at last, his own thrusts began to falter, every muscle in him tightening as he groaned against her skin.

She could feel him coming, his release hot inside her as he shuddered against her. He drew her away with him into one last, slow climax that rolled through her almost lazily, like ripples spreading through a pond. Overwhelmed, she arched, her body tingling with pleasure down to the tips of her toes and her fingers.

Even as she gasped for breath, she could see the light of their bond again. It wrapped all around them now, like ribbons of gold. They kept tightening with every pulse of ecstasy until at last, they were completely surrounded by it, and she couldn’t say anymore where she ended and where Timothy began.

And then the light slowly receded. Instead, warmth began rushing in.

Warmth, exhaustion, and overwhelming love and joy.

Timothy. Those were Timothy’s feelings.

Awed, she reached out to touch his cheek.

He smiled at her. His eyes were luminous, the bright azure of the Caribbean ocean. His skin was flushed and damp with sweat, his hair tousled.

He’d never looked more glorious, or more alive.

And he was all hers, just as she was all his now.

Contentedly, she allowed him to draw her against his side as he pulled back, settling down in a way that wouldn’t put any pressure onto his injuries.

His chest already looked much better. The red, raw looking skin was reduced to a patch no larger than her palm.

He laughed softly as he noticed her look of surprise.

“I told you, you’re helping me heal.”

“How convenient,” she said, unable to hold back her answering smile. “But next time, let’s do this without the excuse of injuries, hmm?”

“No more injuries or battles,” he promised, nuzzling her cheek.

He sounded exhausted and happy and proud, his arm tightening around her waist to hold her pressed against him.

And perhaps this wasn’t how she’d imagined her first time to go—but she wouldn’t change it for anything in the world. Because her ocean dragon was still alive. Her ocean dragon would fly again.

And now, he was truly hers, just as she was his, bound together in heart and soul.

She rested her head against his shoulder, the golden glow of the mate bond warming her as she at last sank into sleep.