CHAPTER 414: NIGHT OF SCENTED CANDLES (III)

Warning: Mature Content in the Chapter

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Evaline:

The warmth of the water wrapped around me like silk. The soft glow from the candles danced across the walls, reflecting off the surface of the water where rose petals floated lazily. It felt unreal - the kind of scene that looked stolen from a dream.

Every time Draven’s skin brushed mine, I felt it - that pull, that bond between us thrumming with heat and affection. His arms came around me, strong and sure, his chest pressed to my back.

For a while, neither of us spoke. The gentle sound of water sloshing and the faint crackle of candle flames filled the silence. Then, he reached for the jug beside the tub and poured warm water over my hair. I closed my eyes, sighing softly as it cascaded down my shoulders.

"Lean back," he murmured against my ear, his voice low and velvet-smooth.

I did, trusting him completely. His fingers moved through my hair, slow and patient, massaging my scalp with small, firm circles. The scent of lavender filled the air... mixed with his own natural scent, that dark, grounding mix that always seemed to steady me no matter how tired I was.

His hands moved lower, working down to my shoulders, kneading the tightness from my muscles. A low hum escaped me before I could stop it. The past two weeks had been grueling - River’s training had left me sore almost every evening. But right now, under Draven’s touch, every ache began to melt away.

"You have been working hard," he murmured, his voice vibrating against my ear. "I can feel it here," he added, his thumbs pressing gently into the curve of my shoulder blades.

I let out a soft sound - half sigh, half laugh. "River doesn’t let me breathe. I think even the wolves in the woods are afraid of his training sessions now."

Draven chuckled quietly, a deep, rumbling sound that made something flutter inside me. "You are stronger than you think, little moon. I have seen the way you move now... even he’s impressed."

"Really?" I turned my head slightly, glancing up at him over my shoulder.

He met my gaze with that same smile - the one that was both proud and utterly, hopelessly in love. "Really."

My heart gave a little lurch at the warmth in his eyes. He leaned forward and kissed the top of my head, his lips lingering against my damp hair. Then his hands began to move again - slower now, gentler. They trailed down the length of my arms, his thumbs tracing lazy circles on my skin. When his fingers brushed over my wrists, I felt goosebumps rise all the way to my neck.

I bit my lip, trying to stay still as he continued... from my arms to my sides, following the curve of my waist with a kind of reverent care that made my breath hitch. It wasn’t rushed or demanding, it was a kind of quiet worship. Every touch said you are mine - not in the possessive way he had been before, but in a way that reminded me how deeply he cherished me.

I inhaled sharply when his palms brushed lightly along my ribs before he pulled me closer, his lips brushing the side of my neck.

"You are so damn perfect," he whispered against my skin. "Every part of you."

He then reached for the shower gel, working it into a lather between his palms before gliding them along my shoulders and down my back. The warmth of his hands, the way he moved - slow, patient, deliberate - made my pulse race faster than I wanted to admit. His touch wasn’t just cleaning me, it was claiming me in a language only we understood.

By the time his hands reached my lower back, I could barely think straight. The world outside the bathroom ceased to exist, there was only the sound of water and the rhythm of his breathing behind me.

When he slid his arms around me again, drawing me back against his chest, I let out a small, helpless sigh. My head rested against his shoulder, and I could feel his heartbeat against my back - steady, strong, grounding.

"I could stay like this forever," I murmured, almost to myself.

His breath brushed the shell of my ear. "Then we will," he said softly. "For as long as you want."

His fingers traced slow, soothing patterns along my sides, circling the curve of my waist before coming to rest on my hips. My skin felt alive wherever he touched, heat pooling under his fingertips.

He pressed a kiss to the back of my neck, then another just below my ear. The soft scrape of his teeth made me shiver. My hand came up to rest over his arm, squeezing gently.

He answered it with another kiss - slower, lingering this time - and then turned my face toward his. The kiss that followed wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t desperate. It was deep and grounding, like coming home after being lost for too long. The taste of him, the warmth of his lips, the way his hand cradled my jaw - it all sent a warmth spreading through my chest.

When we finally broke apart, the air between us felt charged, heavy with everything we didn’t need to say. My breath came slower, steadier now, but my heart refused to calm.

He smiled faintly, brushing a damp strand of hair from my face. "Better?"

I nodded, unable to trust my voice. "Much better."

He chuckled softly, kissing my temple. "Good. Because it’s time to take our game a level up."

I arched my eyebrows as I looked at him with questioning eyes, but I soon got my answer when I felt his hands coming to part my legs. I inhaled deeply, feeling his fingers moving over my inner thigh before they found their way between my folds.

Just as his thumb brushed over my aching clit, his mouth landed on his mark on the side of my neck... and sparks flew all across my body.