Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
He didn’t.
Letting her drift her top away, he captured one of her pretty nipples before his tongue swirled over his new precious artifact. After taking his time caring for one, he then showed the same interest to the other.
Eira was certain if she could combust, this was it, that she would implode at any moment. Yet it was only the beginning. She felt as if her next breath could be her last, so how were they supposed to even complete their mating?
If she had ignited the fire, Ryu did everything in the power of his mouth to make it go ablaze. So, when his mouth left her skin, she thought she would burst into tears.
“What are you doing?” she whimpered when he buttoned her blouse back up.
“You need rest,” was all the excuse he gave before placing a kiss on her cheek. “Sleep.”
What? Did he not feel that? How in the world was she supposed to sleep after that?
Her exasperation only grew, yet Ryu turned over and went right to sleep like what they had just shared was nothing. How can he sleep after that?
It was only when she tossed and turned for almost half an hour, that she heard him say, “Are you okay?”
“Do you not feel”—she waved her hand between them, not able to find the words at a moment when her blood boiled like lava under her skin, even though, on the outside, she looked completely normal—“this?”
Was she crazy? He shouldn’t’ve even let himself have a taste of her …
Yet he couldn’t help himself. Could I?
“Of course I feel it.” Ryu’s hoarse voice almost cracked, and when he could tell she didn’t believe his words, he pulled her closer to him so she could feel for herself.
Lying in his arms, she could feel the heat that seared under his skin, like hers, but there was something else entirely as she could practically feel the vibrations coming off him.
“Oh.” His father had been right. It was obvious the dragon felt way more of their bond than she did. “But why did you stop?” she breathed, unbelieving he would keep himself in this pain.
Finally, he told her the selfless truth, “Your body and our mating are only telling you that you are ready, and in this life, I don’t want you to ever doubt why you are with me, fated mate or not.”
After his profound words sent her heart into a frenzy, she intently listened to the strong, constant thumping of his heart as she rested her head on his chest until her heart began to beat with his. The beautiful melody as they beat together in harmony practically put her into a contended sleep.
It had been a long time since Eira had felt safe and protected, but she had never felt sheer love and adoration like this from someone who wasn’t family.
And it was completely reciprocated.
With a yawn, she gave in to sleep only a moment after she voiced her revelation. “I love you, Ryu.”
Even though he knew she was fast asleep, he would tell her in her dreamless dream what he had known from the moment he had met her. “And I love you, darling.”
The next day, Ryu had taken the opportunity, when her grandparents were busy settling in, to take Eira for a walk.
They walked hand in hand, yet she had no idea where they were going. Again.
As they took their journey, Eira had to admit the island was officially growing on her. There was nothing left for her anywhere else, and all the important people in her life were here, as well as some new ones. She felt a serene peace for once. Like the weight of her scars had finally been lifted.
“Are we close?” she asked when they were no longer passing homes but fields. Was the island bigger than it appeared from her cliff?
“Just a bit further.”
She was certain the island was when they went further out in the fields that were sprouting.
“You see, we are known for growing this on the island,” Ryu began, bending down to dig up a sprouted plant and handing it to her.
Eira recognized it immediately as the root she would get from Kenji at his cart.
“It’s customary, when someone finds a person they want to spend the rest of their life with, to come here and pick a root to take it back and give to their lover as a gift and a promise of what they hope to build together in the future.”
Her heart pounded, understanding two things all overwhelmingly at once.
That this root did mean something secretly to Kenji, like Ryu had said.
And secondly, what it meant for him to bring her here and tell her this.
When she continued staring down at the root in disbelief, Ryu lifted her chin with a strong finger to force her gaze to his. “Eira …”