Perhaps he really was made for her.
“When did you know I was your mate?” she asked.
“From the minute I saw you,” he said. “Well, here, not at the castle. I felt something when I looked at you, but I assumed for some reason that you were taken, so I didn’t explore the feeling.”
“I felt something, too. When I looked at you, it was electric.”
His full lips curved. “You did?” He seemed pleased by it.
She nodded. “So that’s why when you came over, you asked if I had a mate?”
“Yes.”
“So funny,” she said. “So weird that you can just know like that.”
“I’d rather it was like that,” he said. “Then I have one chance and have to work really hard for it.”
“I know,” she said. “I’m still getting used to the idea, but it seems like a nice system.”
He continued to stroke her hair, and she continued to feel warmed and slightly aroused by it. “We can still get married. Would you like that?”
She shook her head. “I mean, we could do it for the certificate. Make it legal and, you know, take care of money stuff.”
“You can have all my treasure,” he said. “Whatever you want.”
“So you really think I can just stay home and do things with you? Travel the world?”
“If you want to,” he said. “If working truly makes you happy, then I won’t argue with you doing it. But sometimes I felt you were working to avoid happiness, not to feel happy.”
“You’re right,” she said. “It filled my life when I had nothing else. I’ll still want to give two weeks’ notice, but then I’m open to just living with you. Really getting out there and enjoying the good things that have come to me.”
He held her close. “I’m glad.”
Then he pressed a kiss to the bottom of her ear, gently sucking the earlobe into his mouth and grazing his teeth along it. She shuddered. “Liam.”
“Kate,” he replied, twirling his tongue over the sensitive skin on the shell of her ear.
“That’s nice,” she said, arching as he made his way down her neck, hitting the sensitive area where it met her shoulder. He flipped her over so she was beneath him, and his lips trailed to her collarbone, the tops of her breasts, and then over to the edge of her shoulder, placing a long kiss there, sucking gently.
She sighed as his hands moved down her body, caressing her breasts, her waist, her hips. She felt something lightly sharp cut the waistband of her panties, and then he tugged her underwear away.
“Dragon claws come in handy sometimes,” he said with a grin. He leaned over to kiss her breasts as his hand settled between her legs, working her into a frenzy with soft, circular touches. She moaned, and he came up to kiss her on the mouth, tongue thrusting deeply in time with his finger. His other hand came to her breast. How could he do all of this at once? She didn’t even care so long as he didn’t stop.
The mixed sensations built up a flurry inside her that exploded with mind-blowing pleasure that made her whole body seize up against him. One arm went behind her to hold her against him while his other hand stayed at her center, stroking as she convulsed around him. It made the orgasm even stronger, longer lasting.
“Liam,” she moaned again, digging her nails into his back as he began to stroke her again. Another orgasm overtook her, warm and soothing in some ways, exciting in others. But the best part was having him there with her, knowing he’d done it to her and that he was here to stay.
She finally had someone of her own, and it was more than she’d ever hoped for.
She rode out the orgasm, and he wrapped both arms around her this time, holding her tight as she cried out and tensed up with the last of the aftershocks.
Holy hell, life was going to be hot with her dragon.
Liam felt his mate’s body jerk in his arms, heard her moans, and felt like he was in utter heaven.
Was he really allowed to do this for the rest of forever? He could hardly wait to be inside her, but he wanted her to be ready so it was perfect.
When they came together this time, with his bracelet on her wrist, they would be mated. They would have to discover what that meant together, but he knew somehow deep inside that it would be okay.
“I’m ready,” she said, writhing against him. Her curves felt so soft, cushiony, perfect. Feminine.
He loved every bit of her. His hands dug into her hips, cradling the soft roundness of them. He was hard, ready as well, and there was nothing between them. He spread her legs swiftly, and she gasped, but in a good way.
He positioned himself at her entrance, and she wriggled slightly, inviting him.
Without the water or darkness around them, this was a totally different experience. The only sensations were the soft light of the bedroom, the soft covers around them, and his beautiful, curvy mate spread on the bed beneath him, flushed from pleasure, hazel eyes glowing, brown hair spread out like flames around her head.
“I love you,” he said, pushing inside her.
She bit her lip as her body stretched to accommodate him. He went slowly, watching her movements, and when she nodded, moved farther until they were all the way joined.
And that was the best feeling in the world, knowing she was safe and with him and that they fit together like two puzzle pieces that had been lost in the wind.
“I love you, too,” she said quietly, still controlling her breath as she fought to deal with the sensation of having him inside her.
“I’ll be careful,” he said.
She nodded.
He began to move, withdrawing only a little and shuddering slightly at how good even that felt. She was so tight, so hot, and when he pushed back in, he had to bite back a groan as pleasure shot through him. Especially when she arched back with a little moan, showing she felt as good about it as he did.
He put a hand between them, gently rubbing over her clit as he pulled out and pushed in again, wanting to pleasure her both ways. She gasped and moved against his hand, pushing her into him. He increased the rhythm, thrusting out and then in, and worked his hand over her at the same time. It became more difficult as they went faster, but he didn’t give up, rubbing over her and enjoying the excitement on her face as she got close again. As she went over the edge, he went still inside her, enjoying the feel of her clenching around him, the look of her as she clutched the sheets and twisted, lost in pleasure.
“Oh, Kate,” he murmured, sure she wouldn’t even hear him.