Nick undressed quickly. He was breathing deeply, making the tattooed leaves on his muscular chest seem to stir in a breeze. His old scars were still there, but he had no new ones; all his wounds had healed without leaving a trace behind. When he pulled off his jeans and boxers, his cock rose up hard and throbbing.
Then he knelt naked on the bed before her, wearing only the silver dragon coiled around his left arm. Its winding shape emphasized the strength of his forearms, and its sharp angles highlighted the curves of his muscles. Because it was silver, the metal of Raluca’s dragon, she could sense it when she was close. And with the heightened bond of their mating, she could feel the warmth of Nick’s arm, the softness of his skin, and the hard swell of his muscles through the silver, as if she was touching him herself.
“This is the dragon mating ritual,” Raluca said. She trailed her fingers along his arm, tracing the edge where skin met silver.
Nick sucked in a deep breath. “I wear this to bed?”
She smiled. “Yes. But I would like to bedeck you a little more.”
“A ring?”
Raluca glanced at his big-knuckled hands, his deft fingers. Rings would look good on him. Perhaps she could bedeck him that way later. But for now... “No. Something more versatile.”
She rolled over, reaching for the safe behind the bed where she kept her hoard. As she unlocked it, she could almost feel Nick’s hungry gaze on her back, her backside, the nape of her neck...
“Don’t touch,” she warned.
She’d guessed right; the bed rocked slightly as he settled back.
“You’re making me crazy, Raluca,” he muttered.
“So impatient,” she teased. But she was impatient too. She could feel the warmth coming off his body, and smell his natural masculine scent. Heat gathered between her thighs, and she shivered with excitement. It made the safe hard to unlock; she fumbled several times before she managed to get it open. Then she drew out her surprise.
Nick’s eyes widened as she dangled it before him. “Is that...?”
“It is another mating gift. But this one is only for us to use in private.” She handed him the long, thin length of silver chain.
His fingers closed convulsively around it. The delicate skin of his throat bobbed as he swallowed. “What do I do with it?”
Raluca smiled. “Have you truly no idea, Nick?”
“Oh, I have ideas!” He tugged it between his hands, testing its strength. “But you said it’s a dragon ritual. Is there something specific I’m supposed to do?”
The sight of him naked with the silver dragon on his arm and the silver chain in his hands was almost too much for her to bear. Abandoning teasing, she said, “No. The ritual is only to wear your mating gifts in bed. You are already wearing the dragon, and I am wearing your ring. The chain was simply an... an idea of mine.”
“A fucking hot idea.” Nick’s voice was hoarse, almost a growl.
“You could wind it around your other arm,” Raluca said, savoring the image. “You could bind my wrists to the bedposts, or I could bind yours. Or —”
“I know what I want.” Nick caught her hand in his. Then he wound the chain around their wrists, sliding cool silver around and around her heated skin and his, until his right hand and her left were bound together.
She tugged experimentally. They were caught tight. She clasped his hand, locking their fingers together. And then they fell to the bed, unable to hold out for one second longer. They kissed with passionate abandon. Nick’s stubble was rough against her lips, his mouth hot and eager. His body pressed against hers, moving urgently as the desire she felt.
; The silver chain and armband were cool, a thrilling contrast with the warmth of his skin and heat of hers. Every time he moved, her arm was tugged by the chain that bound them, and every time she moved, he was tugged as well. Not only did she love the touch of silver and the sensation of their wrists being tied together, but every single movement was a reminder of their closeness. Whatever she did affected him, and vice versa. It was a metaphor of their love made real.
Raluca wanted to tell him how clever he was, but before she could, he reared up above her. Their bound wrists were already pressed into the mattress above their heads, but Nick moved her other hand there as well, and pinned it with his own.
“Love you,” he whispered. “My dragon.”
Raluca’s heart was too full to reply. After all those terrible moments when she’d thought he was dead or they were both about to die, she finally felt in her heart and soul and body that they had triumphed over death, and were reclaiming their lives and love.
Nick bent to kiss her, his mouth hot and hungry. She surged up against him, needy and desperate with desire. He slid into her like a key into a lock. She gasped into his mouth, shuddering with the intensity of the sensation. Each thrust rubbed against her sensitive pearl, and each movement of his body pushed their silver-bound wrists against the sheets.
Nick was panting and flushed, his eyes brilliant and intent, his black hair disheveled. He’d never looked so handsome. The silver dragon glittered on his strong left arm, the one he’d used to save her with. He’d used his entire body to save her. She was as overwhelmed with love as she was with pleasure.
“I love you, Nick,” she gasped.