He drops his gaze to the floor, sadness visible in his expression. “I will never force you to be mine if you do not wish it, Lilliana.” His green eyes meet mine evenly. “I will keep my promise to help your people. It matters not if they refuse to take mine as mates. No human will ever be forced into anything they do not want.”
I rush toward him and wrap my arms around his neck. Stretching onto my toes, I press my lips to his.
When I pull back, his eyes meet mine furtively. “You forgive me?”
I answer without hesitation. “Yes.”
A devastatingly handsome grin curves his mouth. He lifts me into his arms, returning my kiss with equal fervor.
“I love you, Lilliana.” He smiles against my lips. He walks me back to the cleansing room.
“Let me take care of you, my mate,” he murmurs.
Chapter 20
Lilliana
Gently, he sets me down on the edge of the pool and slowly begins to undress me. He dips his hands beneath the hem of my shirt and pulls the fabric over my head, discarding it on the floor beside me.
His eyes meet mine. “We will not do anything until you are ready,” he assures me softly. “I merely want to take care of you. My instincts demand that I make certain you are safe, warm, and happy, my linaya.”
He carefully pulls me into the water beside him as he runs a cloth over my body. He pulls me into his lap, kneading the muscles along my neck and shoulders, and I relax against him, enjoying the feel of his strong hands.
My worries slowly melt away beneath his ministrations as I close my eyes and allow my thoughts to float to the surface of my mind untethered.
I’ve always had a plan for my life. An idea of what I thought my future would be. I chose my profession to help people; I wanted to be someone who could both serve and lead. That’s why I ventured into the desert by myself the day I met Varus. I’ve never backed down from a challenge, so when we landed on this desolate planet, I was determined to take risks to survive and ensure the survival of my people.
The colony ships were never supposed to land here. And yet, fate brought us to Drakaria and delivered me into the arms of a caring, attentive man. Isn’t that what I’ve always wanted in a partner—someone who cares for me as much as I do for him?
As his hands run soothingly up and down my back, desire pools deep in my core. I want him. But his people mate for life. I have to be sure before we take the next step.
I pull back just enough to meet his reflective green eyes. “You say we are fated, but are you certain that you love me?” My voice is barely a whisper as I wait with anxiety and anticipation for his answer.
He leans forward and touches his forehead to mine, closing his eyes briefly before opening them to send me a look of intense love and devotion. “You are fierce, brave, intelligent, kind, and beautiful. Everything I could ever wish for in a mate. I will never love another as I love you, Lilliana. Please accept me as yours.”
My heart squeezes painfully in my chest at his vulnerable expression. I wrap my arms around his neck and press my lips to his. He opens his mouth and my tongue curls around his, deepening our kiss.
He locks his arms around my waist and pulls me forward until I’m straddling his lap. His stav is a hard bar between us, resting against my inner thigh. His scales are soft like silk against my skin as I trace my hands over the muscles of his abdomen and chest, memorizing the hard planes of muscle beneath the tips of my fingers.
I’ve never made love before, but already I ache, longing to take him deep inside me. I roll my hips against his and he groans low in his throat.
He grips my left thigh, careful of his claws as he kneads the tender flesh. He runs his other hand gently over my hair. Grasping the strands between his fingers, he tips my head up, his gaze fiery and possessive.
He slants his lips over mine, spearing his tongue into my mouth as he claims me with a branding kiss. “Mine,” he growls low in his throat, sending shivers of pleasure through my body.
“Yours,” I agree as I return his kiss with equal fervor.
My entire body aches with pent up need. I want him inside me, but I’ve never done this before. I’ve always heard that the first time can be painful. I’m starting to lose my nerve.
Sensing my hesitance, he pulls back. He cups his hand to the back of my neck and rubs the soft pad of his thumb across my cheek. “We do not have to mate if you are not ready, my Lilliana.”
Heat flushes my cheeks. “I—It’s just that I’ve never done this before and I… don’t know what I’m doing,” I admit shyly.
He takes my hand, guiding it to his hardened length between us. He’s so large, my fingers don’t quite reach as I try to wrap them around his girth. I study his stav, noting all the ways he is different from every image I’ve ever seen of a human man.
His erection is ridged with soft, textured scales. He inhales sharply as I run my hand along his length before placing the head against the entrance of my core. “You are certain?” he rasps.
“Yes, Varus. I want you.” I press my lips to his.
His gaze holds mine as he slowly enters my channel. Tight heat blooms inside me and I gasp. He goes completely still, waiting for my body to adjust to his invasion. “Are you all right?” he asks, worry written across his features.
I nod, then carefully lower myself
