Page 12 of Pursued by the Dragon Alien (Zarux Dragon Brides #4)

TWELVE

Lilas

Lilas couldn’t breathe. Or maybe she was breathing too fast—shallow, uneven. All she knew was that Razion’s touch on her hand sent heat curling through her veins, a slow burn that had nothing to do with fear and everything to do with something far more dangerous. This had been a long time coming. Hearing his story, learning how he’d become the male he was and hearing the vulnerability in his voice as he told it, had unraveled her. So he’d waited to tell her about the location of her friends. She forgave him for that. He’d told her freely and accepted her anger.

And he cared for her. He trusted her.

He was watching her now, searching her face like he was looking for hesitation. He would give her a way out if she wanted one.

She didn’t.

Razion pulled her right down the corridor, across the quiet hum of the ship, until they reached his quarters. The moment the door slid shut behind them, sealing them away from the rest of the universe, the air between them shifted, crackling with the weight of everything unspoken.

For a heartbeat, they just stared at each other; the only sounds were their slightly ragged breaths and the distant growl of the ship’s thrusters as they departed the trade station.

Then Razion moved. He was on her in an instant, his hands bracketing her waist, his wings flaring as he backed her against the nearest wall. His body was so much larger than hers. Heat radiated off him like a living furnace.

“Tell me to stop,” he rasped. His forehead almost touched hers, his breath hot against her lips. “Tell me now, and I swear I will.”

Lilas swallowed hard, her pulse a drumbeat in her ears. “I won’t.”

Razion made a low sound in the back of his throat, something between relief and something else—something raw and hungry. His hands flexed against her waist, his thumbs brushing beneath the hem of her shirt, teasing against bare skin.

Lilas shivered. Not from cold, but from the sheer intensity of him.

“I’ve wanted this,” he admitted in a rough whisper. “From the moment I pulled you out of that bastard’s ship.”

Lilas sucked in a sharp breath, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. “Stop talking,” she whispered. “Show me.”

A growl rumbled low in Razion’s chest a moment before his mouth claimed hers.

The kiss wasn’t gentle. It was heat and hunger, teeth and tongue, nothing tentative or uncertain. Razion kissed her like he was starving for the taste of her, like he had been holding back all this time and now that he had finally let go, he couldn’t get enough.

Lilas kissed him back with equal fervor. Her hands slid up his arms, testing the smooth texture of his gold scales, which gleamed dark in the dim light. Her fingers tangled in the fabric of his vest. The hard planes of his muscles jumped beneath her touch. The shift of his wings brought a soft breeze as they moved restlessly against his back.

Razion’s hands left her waist only to slide up her arms. His fingers traced the line of her shoulders, her neck, leaving tingles in their wake, before burying in her hair. He tilted her head back, deepening the kiss even further. She was lost in the sensation of him—the heat of his body, the scent of his skin, the possessive grip of his hands.

Lilas’ knees wobbled, but Razion was there, holding her up, pressing her back against the wall. His hips pinned her in place. The hard length of his arousal jutted even through the layers of their clothes. The sensation of it sent a jolt of heat straight to her core, making her ache with a need she had never felt before. None of this was a mystery. Terian females were taught all about the male body and what it did to a female during the mating process. Although none of the lessons she and her friends had sat through had included what to do when one actually desired their mate. No, Terian females were taught endurance, not pleasure.

So this… This was everything—new, intense, overwhelming, and extremely pleasurable.

Razion’s mouth left hers to trail hot, open-mouthed kisses along her jaw, down the side of her neck. His teeth grazed her skin, just this side of too much, before he soothed the sting with a swipe of his tongue.

Lilas let out a low moan. Her fingers gripped his shoulders as she arched into his touch. She could feel the smooth texture of his scales against her palms and the solid strength of him surrounding her, overwhelming her senses.

Razion’s hands moved to the hem of her shirt, pulling it up, breaking their kiss just long enough to strip it off her. His gaze raked over her, dark and glittering with desire. “You’re so fekking beautiful.”

Lilas’ breath caught as the fabric fell away, leaving her exposed to his gaze. She thought she’d feel self-conscious under the intensity of his stare, but she felt undone with desire. Warm wetness slicked between her legs as her sex readied for his cock to penetrate it. She shivered with a desperate need for him to touch her. If this was what bondmating was like at the Terian settlements, fewer females would need to be bound at the ankles so they wouldn’t run away.

The difference was that she’d chosen Razion and he’d chosen her. And now that the choice had been made, she wanted him to claim her in every way.

Razion didn’t make her wait. His hands gently cupped her breasts. His thumbs brushed over her hardened nipples, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through her body. Lilas let out a gasp, her back arching, pressing herself more firmly into his touch.

Razion’s mouth followed where his hands had been. His tongue lapped at her nipples, teasing them into even more sensitive peaks. She threaded her fingers through his hair, holding him to her as waves of pleasure coursed through her veins.

“Razion,” she breathed in a desperate plea for more.

He responded by lifting her off her feet. His hands gripped her backside as he carried her to the bed. They tumbled onto the mattress together in a tangle of limbs and heated skin. Lilas couldn’t keep her hands off him. She explored the contours of his body, his scales, the thick knots of muscles where his wings met his back.

Razion’s own hands were busy, stripping away the rest of her clothing, leaving her naked and vulnerable beneath him. But she didn’t feel afraid—she felt powerful, knowing that she was the one who had driven him to this point of no return.

“I want you, Lilas,” Razion murmured. His gaze roamed over her body with a hungry reverence that made her feel like the most desirable creature in the galaxy. “I cannot hold back much longer.”

She reached for him, tugging at the fastenings of his clothing, desperate to feel his skin against hers. “Then don’t.”

Razion let out a ragged groan and helped her, shedding his clothing with practiced ease until he was as naked as she was. Lilas’ breath caught at the sight of him—powerful, awe-inspiring, and very, very aroused.

She reached for him. Her hand closed around the thick length of his ridged cock. Razion hissed in a breath. His hips jerked forward into her touch. Encouraged, Lilas stroked him. She explored the smooth, heated skin of his shaft and dipped her hand back to cup his heavy balls.

“Enough.” With a low growl, he caught her wrists in one hand and yanked them away from his body. His other hand slid down her body, slipping between her legs.

She heard his breath hitch as the slick heat of her desire wet his fingers. She was more than ready for him. Her body arched into his touch with a desperation that felt wanton, maybe even feral. “Razion,” she panted in a sultry plea. Her legs parted, inviting him in. She was done waiting.

He positioned himself at her entrance. The blunt head of his cock nudged against her slick sex. Her gaze met his and a silent communication passed between them—a question in his gaze, a fervent nod of agreement from her.

“Relax for me,” he whispered. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t,” she said, but he was rather large. She bit her lower lip and unclenched her quivering pussy. The lessons had said it would likely hurt, especially the first time with a male.

With a deep, shuddering breath, Razion pushed forward, sliding into her tight, wet heat in one slow, steady thrust. There was a pinch as her body took him in. Her body tensed around his invasion. She could feel every inch of him, stretching her, filling her in ways she had never imagined. Razion stilled, giving her time to adjust to his size, his heart pounding against hers in a rhythm that was both reassuring and wildly arousing.

“Okay?” he gritted out. His voice was barely recognizable.

“Yes,” she breathed.

He held still for a moment, then slowly— very slowly—began to move. Quickly, pleasure exploded along her nerve endings. It built, becoming so intense it swamped her. He was so hot, so snug inside her, like they were made to fit together perfectly.

“Oh, fek .” She clawed at the mattress. “Don’t stop.”

She needed more. She needed to chase the growing ache that was building inside her. Razion seemed to understand. His hips drew back before thrusting forward with more force. He set a rhythm that was both demanding and tender, as if he wanted to consume her, to brand her as his, but he also wanted to cherish her.

Lilas’ body moved in perfect sync with Razion’s. Each thrust of his hips sent jolts of pleasure through her. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper, wanting to feel everything.

Razion’s rhythm quickened. His control seemed to slip as if the primal need to claim his mate was taking over. Lilas burned as tension built inside her—a sweet, aching pressure that was going to drag her under and pull her apart.

She clung to him. Her breath came in short, desperate gasps. Razion’s name was a chant on her lips, a plea for the release that hovered just out of reach.

Razion’s hand slipped between their bodies, his fingers finding the bundle of nerves at the apex of her thighs. He stroked her there, expertly, relentlessly, until Lilas felt like she was going to shatter into a million pieces.

“Razion, I—” She couldn’t finish the sentence. Couldn’t form coherent words as the first waves of her orgasm crashed over her.

Her entire body tensed, then convulsed. The most intense pleasure she had ever known consumed her. She shattered in a cry that echoed off the walls of the small cabin. Razion thrust with relentless abandon, muttering words that made no sense to her, curses, vows, nonsense. All the while he drew out her climax until she was boneless, spent. Gasping.

Razion’s own release followed quickly. With a final, powerful thrust, he buried himself deep within her and let out a guttural roar. He shuddered violently and Lilas felt the hot pulse of his seed as he came, marking her as his in the most primal way possible.

For a long moment, they lay there, locked together, their bodies slick with sweat. Their hearts pounded in unison. Razion’s wings enfolded them both, creating a private, intimate cocoon where nothing and no one else existed.

Slowly, reality seeped in. Lilas became aware of the softness of the bed beneath her, the steady rise and fall of Razion’s chest as he caught his breath, the unfamiliar feeling of being utterly and completely satisfied.

Razion rolled onto his side, taking her with him, careful to keep their bodies connected. His wings folded back, no longer needed to shield them from the world. His silver-gray eyes held hers, and in their depths, Lilas saw something she hadn’t expected—a vulnerability that mirrored her own.

“Lilas.” His voice was a soft rumble. His hand came up to brush a stray lock of hair from her face. “This changes things.”

She knew what he meant. It wasn’t just the physical act they had just shared. It was the raw emotion, the undeniable bond that had formed between them. She had given him a part of herself that she had never given to anyone else, and he had done the same.

“I know,” she whispered, her fingers tracing the contours of his chest. “I’m not afraid.”

A small, genuine smile curved his lips. “You should be.” A teasing note crept into his tone. “I’m not an easy male to be with.”

Lilas chuckled, leaning in to press a kiss to his jaw. “Aw, not fair. Since I’m so sweet-natured.”

Razion’s arms tightened around her, pulling her closer. The warmth of his body gave her a sense of peace she hadn’t realized she was missing. For the first time in her life, she felt truly safe, truly cherished. “You are perfect.”

They lay together in silence. The bond between them grew stronger with each passing moment. Lilas knew that they had entered uncharted territory, that the path ahead would be fraught with challenges and dangers. But she also knew that she wouldn’t have to face them alone.

After a while, Lilas disentangled herself from Razion’s embrace and sat up. The cool air of the cabin hit her skin and made her acutely aware of her nakedness. Razion propped himself up on one elbow, watching her with a hooded gaze.

“Where are you going?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.

She turned to look at him, a smile playing on her lips. “Nowhere,” she said. “I just wanted to make sure this wasn’t a dream.”

Razion’s slow, lazy smile sent heat curling low in her belly. A shiver moved through her body. “I assure you,” he murmured, his voice thick with satisfaction, “this is very real.” He reached out, his fingers tracing a featherlight path down the gold spots on her spine. “I like these, by the way. I was so curious to see what they felt like.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips to them. “What they tasted like.”

Lilas exhaled sharply, something fragile and warm blooming inside her. “Now you know.” She had spent cycles feeling like she didn’t belong, like she was always grasping for something just out of reach. But here, with Razion’s touch, she felt something she hadn’t dared to claim before—she felt truly wanted . Just as she was.

Lilas sank back down beside Razion. Her fingers absently traced the intricate patterns of golden scales along his chest. The steady rise and fall of his breathing. The warmth radiating from his skin—it was grounding in a way she hadn’t expected. She had spent her entire life fighting, surviving, wary of every touch, every offer of safety. And yet, here she was, curled against a space pirate, wrapped in his arms like she belonged there.

Razion shifted, tilting her chin up with a single finger. His storm-gray eyes reflected something unreadable, something intense. “You’re thinking too much.”

“Get used to it.” She huffed a soft laugh. “I don’t know how to do anything else.”

His thumb brushed across her lower lip, his expression darkening with something utterly possessive. “Then let me distract you.”

His mouth claimed hers again, slow but insistent, and Lilas melted into him, letting herself forget— for now —that the galaxy still waited outside this stolen moment.