"You can't take back the past, but now you can focus on a future with your mate."
"That doesn't fix any of the problems in the world," Raiden said.
"It may not save the world or solve everyone's problems,” Hanish said, “but the love that you share is what makes life worth living in the first place. We came here and seeded this planet not only to continue our race but also to share our love with the world. You have a love for Flora that only you can give, and with every true love match that exists, the world is a better place.”
"Since when did you become so philosophical?" Raiden asked.
"Maybe since I found my mate and she became pregnant with our child. It changes your perception. I understand things now I never would have understood before. I am a much better man because of my mate. Not only am I a better person, but I also feel more whole, more contented. And I want the same thing for you and for all of us. Hell, I want the same thing for the humans too. If they could feel the kind of love that fated mates feel for each other, I don't think there would be wars or crime. They would be too busy loving each other to bother with any of that."
"It's a nice thought,” Raiden said. “If our presence can influence humans, maybe our dedication to each other will rub off on them."
"That would be good, wouldn't it?" Hanish said. "And I hope that you're right. I hope that I get to see it in my lifetime."
"So do I, Captain," Raiden said. "So do I."
Chapter 13
Flora looked at herself in the mirror, assessing her hair and makeup. It had been a long time since she'd been out on a date. She’d borrowed one of Penelope's pre-pregnancy outfits, a simple black wrap dress with sparkly detail along the V-neck and belt. She spun, watching the skirt flair, and came back to face the mirror. With a sigh, she decided it would have to do. She looked nice—pretty, even.
Her friendship with Raiden had been so confusing that she wasn't sure what was right or what impression she should give off on their first date. Now that they knew they were fated mates, their relationship was different. But since she wasn't a dragon, she didn't know what to expect.
Her sister peeked through the door with a sly smile then walked in, holding the baby. She gave Flora an assessing look. "You look gorgeous in that. I wish I still fit into it."
"You don't need to worry about your figure," Flora said, rolling her eyes. "You just had a baby, and your husband adores you."
"I know. But still, I miss wearing flirty dresses like that. Where is Raiden taking you tonight?"
"He said something about getting dinner reservations at a fancy French restaurant in the city," Flora said.
"Wow. That sounds exciting."
"I am not sure what to think.”
"About what?" Penelope asked, rocking Effie, who stirred in her sling.
"About me and Raiden."
"Well, now that you know you're fated mates, there's nothing holding you back."
"Do you think that he will want to claim me tonight?"
"If you're lucky," Penelope said with a snicker.
Flora rolled her eyes. "I don't know if I'm ready for that."
"Do you not want to mate with him?"
"It's not that. I don't know. It's just…"
"You're confused. You shouldn’t feel guilty about it."
"Do you think Raiden will understand?"
"If I had to guess, I would say that Raiden is feeling the same thing. He could never sense that you were his mate. It's probably really confusing for him too."
Flora let out a deep sigh, her shoulders relaxing. "I'm blowing this all out of proportion, aren’t I?"
"No, you're not. Your feelings are totally genuine.”
"I just don't want to screw things up," Flora said. "I want to be with him. But everything's so crazy right now with the vampires and the attacks and my work. Finding out I'm my best friend's mate after all this time is just a lot to process."
"I'm sure whatever it is that you feel, Raiden is going to be one hundred percent understanding. These dragons always are. That's what makes them so special and such good mates. Being with Cato was like a dream come true—he’s everything I ever wanted in my dating life all wrapped up in one person, without those little compromises and disappointments. He's strong and capable and takes care of me, but he also listens to me and understands me and is sensitive to my feelings. I've never experienced that before in a regular dating relationship. It's like I really do get to have it all. And I think if you give it time, you will have the same thing with Raiden."
"That does sound really nice," Flora said wistfully. She looked down at her watch and gasped. "It's time to go."
Penelope gave her a kiss on the cheek and a wink, and Flora scurried out of the bedroom. She found Raiden dressed in a suit at the bottom of the stairs. She had never seen him dressed like that, and it was a sight to behold. He was groomed and tailored in a dark-blue suit with a red tie and a pair of sneakers. His hair was coiffed perfectly with gel, and he smelled of expensive, alluring cologne.
"Wow, you look amazing," she said.
He took her hand and twirled her around, taking in her outfit. She wore her long brown hair in coiled curls over her shoulder and had done her makeup with dark eyeliner and shades of brown for a night of romance.
"Wow," he said when she came back to stand in front of him. "You should dress like this more often."
"You too," she teased.
"We should go out on a lot of dates. That'll give us the excuse to dress up for each other."
"That sounds lovely," Flora said, trying to forget that the world was falling apart around them, people were disappearing off the sidewalks, and the human race was becoming increasingly suspicious of the cause. She tried to not let her concern show on her face.
He took her hand and led her outside to the white Lamborghini parked in the front driveway. He opened the door, and she stepped inside. Raiden turned on the motor, and they zoomed off into the sunset, making the trek up to the city for a night of luxury.
When the waiter seated them at the restaurant, Flora took in the candlelit tables, the vases with white roses and pink peonies, the crystal chandeliers with golden light from above, and the tinkling of conversation and classical music. The waiter brought them a basket of bread and butter and uncorked their bottle of red wine. Flora took a long sip of wine, enjoying the delicate flavors of the fine vintage and looking into Raiden's eyes as they sparkled in the firelight on the other side of the table. He was so handsome and sweet and such a good friend. He always made her feel at home. And even though a French restaurant was not the typical night out for a genetic biology student, she wouldn't want to be there with anyone else.
After they ordered their fancy French foods that neither of them could pronounce, they laughed at themselves and tried to talk about anything but the vampire attacks and work. The conversation soon shifted to their mutual favorite pastime, and they began to banter and argue about the best methods for capturing an opposing faction stronghold in one of their favorite games.
"I'm telling you, a rear attack coupled with an aerial strike is the best way to overpower the opposition."
"But that lacks any subtlety," Raiden countered. "What you want to do is send in a rogue in stealth first and then, once he is in the flag room, surround the position and wait until the flag is captured before the support units strike."
"But in doing that, you leave your flag completely exposed and vulnerable."
"But it's only for a few moments. If the rogue is worth taking, then he should be able to do the job."
"That's putting way too much responsibility on one team member," Flora said.
"Would you like dessert?" the waiter asked, interrupting their discussion.
"We would," Raiden said, glancing over at the dessert cart. "We'll take one of everything."
Flora gasped and giggled as the waiter raised an eyebrow.
"Very well," he said.
A moment later, they had a table covered in ever
y dessert the restaurant had. Chocolates, soufflés, pastries, cream-and-berry sauce, rich and flavorful cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom—all the flavors of the sweet, moist cakes and pastries passed her lips.
"I think I am having a sweet attack. These flavors are so rich—I might just be able to die now."
"I know how you feel," Raiden said with his mouth full of chocolate cake. "It’s too good to live."
They finished off the bottle of wine and as much of their dessert as they could before walking out into the crisp fall night air. It had rained while they were in the restaurant, and the ground was slick, the lights of the city reflecting on the pavement.
"I think we need to walk that off," Raiden said.
Flora hooked her arm into his, and they began to stroll down the street, their faces happy and their eyes twinkling when they looked at each other. Flora's heart was bursting with the joy she felt. She glanced up into the night sky, able to make out the blanket of stars even through the lights of the city.
As they stood on the sidewalk, waiting for the stoplight to change, Raiden pulled her into his arms and kissed her on the lips. His hot mouth warmed the chill in her, and she groaned as she tasted the sweet flavor on his lips. He pulled her closer and cupped the back of her head, kissing her more deeply.
The crosswalk light dinged, and pedestrians brushed past. Someone whispered, "Get a room."
Raiden and Flora released each other and laughed.
"Maybe we should." She chuckled.
"I was hoping you'd say that.” He held up a keycard for the luxury hotel right across the street.
"You didn't." Her mouth dropped open.
"I did. I even had some clothes packed for us. But I didn't want to presume."
"Let's go," she said, taking his hand as they scurried across the street to make the light.
They giggled as they tumbled into the hotel and took the elevator upstairs. Everything was a blur. She barely noticed the high ceilings in the lobby and the intricately tiled floor. When they made it to their room, she kicked off her heels and twirled around, taking in the space.
"I had a bottle of champagne brought up," he said, uncorking the bottle and pouring them each a glass.
"You thought of everything, didn't you?"
"Just about," he said, handing her a champagne flute.
There were chocolate-covered strawberries in a dish, and even though Flora didn't think she could eat any more sweets, she popped one in her mouth anyway and moaned.
"I think this is the best date I've ever had," she said, looking out the window at the city below. The lights of Seattle sparkled in the waters of Puget Sound.
Raiden put his arm around her and kissed her neck. She took a deep breath and let it out. He lifted his champagne flute and clinked it to hers. "To the best date we’ve ever had."
Chapter 14
Raiden turned to Flora and took her in his arms, enveloping her in his strong embrace. She melted into him, feeling the flood of passion ignite in her core. Their lips touched, and her heart raced. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. He kissed her, his lips brushing tenderly over her forehead, cheeks, and lips.
She felt so adored by him in that moment as the stars twinkled over the bay and the lights of the city glowed in the crisp night air. She ran her hands over his hard, muscled chest and felt his heart pounding under her palm. The smell of him and the taste of his mouth filled her with longing. Desire, wet and warm, coiled at the base of her spine as her heartbeat sped up and raced beyond her control.
She slid off his coat as his hands explored her hips and waist and back. She explored his body too, wrapping her arms tightly around him to pull him against her. She could feel his erection rising, hard and stiff, making the gushing desire in her core burst with a hot flood of need.
He pulled the curtain closed and tugged the tie at her waist, opening the wrap dress to reveal her black lace bra and panties and the garter belt that held up her stockings. His eyes grazed over her body, sparkling with intensity. Growling, he devoured her with kisses across her neck and chest. He palmed her breasts as he grabbed the globe of her ass and pulled her against him. She tilted her head back, gasping as his consuming touch overtook her. The flame of her desire burnt her up inside.
Raiden ran his hand down her hip and thigh and hooked it under her knee, pulling her leg up around his waist. He tilted his pelvis between her legs, pressing his hardness against her needy core. She groaned, kissing him more deeply.
She fumbled with his belt buckle, needing to feel his body and grasp his thick manhood in her shaking hands. Flora managed to open the button on his pants and pull down the zipper. She tugged at the waistband of his boxer briefs. Sliding her hand inside, she felt the hot intensity of his throbbing cock. She stroked him as he moved his hands inside her bra and tweaked her nipple between his fingers.
The burst of sensation pushed her to the boiling point, and she didn't know if she could hold back a second longer. But she didn't have to. Raiden picked her up in his arms, her dress falling away. He carried her to the king-sized bed, where he deposited her, quivering and open in nothing but her lingerie.
He pulled off his clothes and climbed on the bed, prowling and stalking her like a predator. The dragon in his eyes was ferocious and hungry, and it sent a shiver of fear and lust through her entire being. She reached up to him, and he sank between her legs, pressing his hard dick against the softness of her sex.
He slid back and forth over her as he kissed her, consuming her. He removed her bra, sucking one nipple into his mouth as he tweaked and taunted the other. Flora wrapped her legs around him, pulling him against her with all her strength. She needed to feel him inside her. It was something she required to survive another moment on this planet. As he nibbled and sucked on her nipples, he slipped his fingers inside her soaking-wet panties. He stroked her pussy slowly and languidly, and his mouth mastered her breasts.
With the flick of his fingers on her swollen clitoris and the nibbling of his teeth and suction of his lips on her nipples, the intensity of release surged toward her like a deluge. It came on fast, so overwhelming and consuming that she didn't have a second to anticipate it before it overtook her in every way.
Her senses exploded as her body throbbed, pulsating and clenching Raiden's fingers. She gasped, arching forward as the force of pleasure contorted her body and ruled her mind. Raiden growled, licking the fingers that had been stroking her wet core. He slid down her body, slipping off her panties but leaving on the stockings and garter belt. As he spread her legs and took a long sniff, his eyes flashed. Flora's mouth dropped open with surprise as he dove into her body and licked her entire core in one fluid movement. He growled as he tasted her, using his tongue and lips and teeth and fingers to draw out the most tantalizing extremes of pleasure. As her body climaxed over and over under Raiden's expert administrations, her mind went blank, and she was left as nothing but a body, ready and open and consumed by a pleasure she had never known possible. The intensity of his relentlessness sent her over the edge again and again. She felt as if she had died and gone to heaven. She wanted to remain there for all eternity.
He crawled toward her, his cock swollen and angry red, pointed toward the ceiling. The need in his eyes had become feral. Then he descended, pressing that gorgeous tool against her quivering wet opening as he claimed her mouth. She could taste the flavor of her juices on his tongue and opened her legs wide to wrap around him. He angled back slightly, pressing the tip of him against her.
She shook and groaned as he slid forward, inching inside. She nearly screamed with frustration, her need was so great. She pulled him closer, and he thrust deep into her core. It split her open with agonizing perfection. Light burst around the corners of her vision, and her mouth dropped open as she came.
Raiden moved slowly inside her, his powerful hips gliding back and forth, in and out as he rode her and pushed her and claimed her and owned her body. His mastery of her pleasure allowed her c
omplete release in every way—release from her mind, release from responsibility, release from control—and the most magnificent state of bliss she had ever imagined. It was total and complete ecstasy.
"I need to claim you," he growled, his teeth grazing her skin.
"Yes. Yes."
He pressed against her jugular vein as her body reached for a new level of climax. She braced herself for the exquisite pleasure and pain of his claiming bite.
"Raiden," came Hanish's voice through his wrist device. "Raiden."
Flora felt her own wrist device vibrating with an urgent message. There was an emergency. Raiden was in the mating thrall but managed to pull back at the very last instant, growling, and answered the communication. Flora watched him, panting and sweating. His throbbing erection slowly disappeared as he listened to his captain's words. Flora slid her finger over her own wrist device and read the message. They looked at each other, knowing that this night was now at an end.
"We have to go, my love," he said.
"I wanted this. I wanted you."
"We'll have a chance again soon. I promise you. But we have to go, the Storm house is being attacked."
"But it's the Flame house that's being attacked."
"No, it's—" he began.
"It's both houses."
"I'll have to take you back to the Storms. You can stay in the safe room with JoJo and the baby."
"What about the vampires?"
"I should be able to avoid them with my stealth shields. I am better at using stealth than any other warrior alive. We'll make it through, I promise."
They quickly dressed and hurried to the roof of the hotel, where Raiden took Flora in his arms and activated his stealth shields. He shifted into his half-dragon form, spread his wings, and took them up into the sky.
Flora held on tight, feeling the wind whipping through her hair. Her emotions were a mixture of disappointment and fear. She felt guilty for being disappointed but was wishing that Hanish could have waited just one more minute for them to finish what they'd started. Now the moment was lost, and the dissatisfaction stretched between them like a taut cord.
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