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Chapter Twenty-Seven

Elena

I bolted upright from the bed, the absence of the familiar warmth and tight embrace jolting me awake.

I had become accustomed to the sinuous, serpentine coils of a dragon when I fell asleep.

Now, I found myself surrounded only by a tangled heap of blankets, their soft folds failing to replicate the comforting, living grip I missed.

Anaki wasn’t in the bed, and I couldn’t tell if it was night or day.

I haven’t slept that well in ages. Each time I slept with Anaki, I woke up more refreshed than the last. Orgasmic-induced sleep was the definition of the way to go.

There was a tray filled with food. Fruits, meats, and pastries were laid out on a large tray we had used before. I immediately dug in because my stomach rumbled. I fell back on the blankets and ate my fill while I hummed contentedly to myself.

Where would Anaki be right now? Or would it be his dragon? His dragon was different than Anaki’s sweet soul. Rather demanding creature, more self-assured and knew what he wanted, while Anaki was on the cautious side. I liked both, and I would definitely enjoy the Jekyll and Hyde personalities.

I licked the last of the bacon off my fingers and rose. I let the blanket tumble down from my breasts and gazed around the room. Light music played, and still no one else was in the massive cave.

The wind whispered its way into the tent, causing the delicate tulle hanging from the ceiling to sway gently toward me as they danced in the breeze.

I felt the cool touch of the outside air, a refreshing contrast to the lingering warmth that clung to my skin from being cocooned beneath all the layers.

Where was he? Anaki the human and Anaki the dragon?

And did Anaki the dragon have a name? Because he didn’t act like Anaki at all, he should have one. I scratched my head. Bossy Scales would fit.

Bossy Scales it is.

“Did you sleep well?” Anaki’s voice came from the other side of the cave, where the kitchen was, and just beyond the turn to find the bathroom. I slung my head around to see him, the first time since turning into his beastly form, but he was nowhere to be found.

“Anaki?” I sat up further and pushed the tray away. “Where are you? Why are you back there? Come here.”

Was he embarrassed? He turned into a dragon, wasn’t anything to be embarrassed about, unless he was upset that he saw how his dragon tongue and tail fucked me. In that case, I should be the one embarrassed.

Anaki cleared his throat and leaned his head around the corner. His hair was a mess, and his cheeks were rosy.

Aw, he was adorable.

I giggled and covered my mouth with my hand. “What are you doing, silly dragon?”

He ducked his head away to hide again. “I thought I could do it, but I can’t. I changed my mind.” He yelled in panic.

I sprang to my feet, wrapping a silk blanket snugly around my shoulders.

My footsteps were as soft as a whisper, scarcely stirring the air as I moved across the intricately woven carpets he had gathered.

I reached the shadowy corner of the cave and cautiously leaned forward, peering around the edge.

There he was, his back pressed against the rough cave wall, his head rhythmically tapping the chilly stone surface, a steady, muted thud echoing softly in the dim light.

I gazed down at him. He was shirtless and wearing an outfit that was extremely…

hot! He’d added a chain to his nipple rings that went from one side to the other.

There was another chain that connected in the middle, that went straight down to his navel, which now had a blue spherical stone settled in it.

My mouth watered as I gazed at the intricate dips and bold curves of his muscles.

The familiar bulge of biceps and the chiseled outline of his abdomen were human enough, but there were also ridges that seemed to ripple like dragon scales along his forearms, lending him an otherworldly, almost mythical appearance.

The sarong that I usually saw him wearing inside the cave had been swapped for a luxurious silk garment, its fabric shimmering with vibrant hues of deep blues, rich greens, and pristine whites.

The edges were adorned with intricate gold trimming that caught and reflected the light like a delicate halo.

Even his feet were adorned with jingling bangles, matching ones circles his wrists, clinking softly with every movement. He looked like a typical belly dancer at first glance, with the chains wrapped around his waist.

My eyes took their fill of how handsome he looked, how delectable he appeared. Did he get dressed like that for me? Like the dragons back in his homeland for their females? Was he going to dance for me? And was he nervous?

He danced on the bar just fine, days ago, and now he can’t?

His eyes were closed, and he panted. The pretty lashes on his eyes fluttered while he counted to ten.

My hand reached out, and the back of my knuckles brushed his cheek. “Aw, sweetie, what’s wrong?”

Anaki jumped, and his bangles clinked together. When he looked down at me, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me to his body as he held me tightly. “You can’t see me like this, you naughty minx.”

I laughed in his chest. “Why not, were you going to change your mind?” I poked his side to make him laugh.

“Maybe?” His voice cracked, and I pulled away to run my fingers through his hair.

“I hope not, I was really looking forward to this.” I ran my finger up the chain, from his naval to his stomach, and then his chest. Then I ran to the right side of his chest muscle and gave it a pull.

He groaned, and I leaned in and gave it a lick.

“Aren’t you supposed to give your soulkin a dance before you claim them? ”

Anaki’s mouth dropped, and he wrapped his arm around my waist to pull me even closer to him.

“Soulkin…how did you know—”

“Your dragon, whom I will now refer to as Bossy Scales, explained what it is.” I popped him on the nose with my finger. “Soul mates, huh? And you didn’t want to say anything because I was mad at Abuela about all of it?”

Anaki slowly nodded. “I didn’t want to force you into anything, I didn’t want—”

I covered Anaki’s mouth with a kiss. “At first, I wasn’t sure.

I was a mad, little girl trying to follow in my older sister’s footsteps.

All I know now is that I found what I want.

What powerful feelings I have for you.” I caressed his cheek.

“You bring out the best in me, the happiness I’ve been missing, and the magic I’ve craved.

If you say we were always meant to be, I’m going to follow my heart as crazy as it sounds. ”

Anaki’s mouth dropped, and then his whole body did. He picked me up and twirled me in the small space until he brought me out to the main part of the cave.

“You mean it? Really mean it?” he cried and had us fall into a big pile of pillows. The light in his eyes brightened, and I could no longer see the darkness that usually hid beneath. For once in my life, I felt excited, happy with a decision I had made.

I cupped his face and pulled him toward me, giving him another kiss. “Of course, silly dragon. Why would I make it up?”

He peppered kisses along my jawline and down my chest.

“Well?” I moaned when he bit into my breast hidden beneath the fabric. “Do I get my dance now? Aren’t you supposed to seduce me?”

Anaki’s head popped up, and he bit his lower lip. “You want that, huh?”

Of course I did. I nodded excitedly, and he jumped up on his feet. The skirt he wore was thick around his intimate parts, but had fabric that weaved down to his ankles so it swished and swirled around his feet.

The bangles around his ankles and his wrists continued to jingle when he ran across the cave to where an old record player sat.

I continued to watch, trying to figure out exactly how all this electricity worked, when I noticed wires that were neatly wrapped in dark electrical tape leading out of the cave.

Have to ask about that later.

Anaki was on his tiptoes as he danced while he tried to get the right song to work. I got comfortable and crossed my legs. I made sure nothing was showing on my end. I wanted to see him in all his glory. A dance, for me. For no one else, and I was thrumming with excitement.

The song started, which reminded me of a mixture of Middle Eastern and Indian music. It was slow at first, and the movement of Anaki’s hips startled me as he quickly adapted to the music.

Did he know the music? The beat already?

I gasped. He practiced??

The idea he had practiced to this song already had my heart pounding. He had practiced for his mate. Me! The person he would spend the rest of his life, I guess eternity, with. He said he loved to dance, but was he seriously that dedicated to dance, like this?

All of his muscles showed as he moved his torso.

Muscles that showed in the dim light. Outside, it was dark, as no light shone through.

I didn’t know if I had slept for a day or if I had woken up in the middle of the same night, but I didn’t care anymore.

I was wide awake and already turned on, as Anaki began to move his body in ways no man should be able to move his body.

His hips gyrated rhythmically as the pulsing beat echoed through the cave.

His eyes met mine, filled with passion and desire.

A smirk spread across his face as he moved closer, reaching out to trace his fingers along my cheek.

He pulled at my arm, his fingers dragged along my skin, and placed me in a chair that I hadn’t seen on the bare floor.

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. All playful giddiness fled from me. I wasn’t laughing because of how crazy this was; he was hypnotizing me with his body, and I couldn’t understand what he was doing to me.

Anaki’s smile grew wider, and he took a step closer, his body brushing against mine. The sensation sent electricity coursing through me, igniting a fire within.