15. Meera

The gardens are particularly lovely this time of year. I follow Kavian through a maze of flowers and intricately cut bushes that block us from the rest of the world.

In the center of this flower haven is a stone bench. He pops open the bottle of wine and we take a seat.

The moon is high in the sky, illuminating the garden with a soft, ethereal light. The intoxicating fragrance of exotic flowers fills the air, mixing pleasantly with the aroma of old wine.

Kavian raises his glass in a toast, his serious eyes catching the faint glow from the moon above. "To victory," he says, and I can"t help but mirror his hopeful smile as I clink my glass against his. The first sip of wine dances on my tongue, rich and full-bodied with a hint of sharpness.

Our conversation flows freely from strategies to past battles, our shared laughter echoing around the silent garden. He listens intently as I recount tales of my upbringing in the humble village I grew up in, my words painting vivid pictures of warm summer days spent helping my father in the fields and quiet evenings spent by my mother"s side learning to cook and sew.

As Kavian begins to share glimpses from his own past, I listen in rapt attention. His tales are filled with daring adventures and close encounters—far removed from my own simple childhood.

His words weave tales of treacherous political machinations, deadly sword fights, and clandestine missions. Stories that seemed to belong more in an epic tale than a conversation over wine.

Yet despite the danger that constantly shadowed him, there was always a note of wistful longing in Kavian"s voice when he spoke of simpler times before his life was consumed by politics and war. It was these stories that truly intrigued me, stories where he was just Kavian, not a famed tactician or a feared warrior.

The hours slip away unnoticed as we sit there sharing our pasts underneath the watchful gaze of the moon. The bottle empties and our speech slows as we both allow ourselves to succumb to the tranquility around us.

A sudden gust of wind sends a shower of blossoms cascading down around us, the delicate petals dancing in the moonlight before settling on the ground. I watch a petal land on Kavian"s shoulder, and with a soft laugh, I reach over to brush it off. He catches my hand and holds it for a moment longer than necessary, his eyes meeting mine.

In the dim light, I can see the flecks of gold in his usually stern eyes. His grip gently tightens and he inches closer while a new level of understanding passes between us. He releases my hand slower than he caught it.

Neither of us speaks for what feels like an eternity, the silence broken only by the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of a bird. It is Kavian who finally breaks the silence, his voice softer than I"ve ever heard it.

"You're beautiful, Meera. You know that?"

I blush under his praise. He is a demon and I know that, and perhaps it's the wine freeing me of all inhibitions but I lean closer to him. He smells so good and he's so handsome and strong.

His gaze flickers to my lips and I see a shadow of hesitance. It's a vulnerability I've never seen from him before. It's intoxicating. I inch closer, closing the distance between us, until our noses are almost touching.

We both stop breathing for a heartbeat, caught in the moment. Then I whisper his name. "Kavian..." It's more an exhale than actual speech, but it's enough.

What happens next is so unexpected. He grabs me tightly and pulls me closer, crushing my lips under his. Like he can't get enough of me.

"You are an incredible sight," he murmurs into my ear.

His deep, commanding voice sends shivers down my spine.

My heart is pounding in eager anticipation as he moves his strong hands to my waist, pulling me closer until our bodies are pressed together in an intimate dance. His lips find mine again, deepening the kiss with a fervor that leaves me breathless.

Slowly, he starts to explore me. His hands wander up and down my body, eliciting gasps of pleasure with every touch. I reach out for him too, my hands running over the hard muscles of his back and shoulders, feeling the strength that lies beneath.

Time stands still as we lose ourselves in each other. Every lingering touch, every passionate kiss stokes the fire within us. Our bodies move in perfect harmony, a silent song playing only for us under the moonlit sky.

His hands travel higher and I flinch slightly at the cool air against my skin as he discards my clothes, slipping them off my body carefully. No wonder he gifted me dresses that were easy to slip down my shoulders. I watch as his eyes roam over me appreciatively, their warmth making me forget about the chill.

He lowers himself to kiss me again, sealing our connection with a passion that threatens to consume us both. His hands continue to explore me, each touch leaving a trail of fire on my skin.

Suddenly, Kavian pulls away and I can"t help but whimper at the loss of contact. But he silences any protest with a soft hush before effortlessly lifting me into his arms.

"I"ve been imagining this moment from the day we met," he confesses in a heated whisper that makes my heart flutter.

He carries me to one of the stone benches by a pond in the garden, setting me down gently in his lap. He kisses my shoulder affectionately and then his lips find their way back to mine in another searing kiss that melts all resistance.

As he pulls away from me again, there is something new in his gaze. Undeniable adoration mixed with intense desire. It"s like I"m seeing him again for the first time. Kavian, not just as a leader or warrior, but as a lover. And I can"t help but surrender to the intoxication of this newfound revelation.

Wetness pools between my thighs as his fingers plunge inside of me. I arch and cry out at the incredible sensations.

He takes his time, exploring and teasing, each movement causing me to gasp and moan. A sense of urgency builds up within me as he stokes the flame higher and higher. I grip onto his shoulders hard enough to leave marks as waves of pleasure crash over me.

Kavian groans in response, a low primal sound that pushes my arousal even higher. He falls to his knees between my legs and replaces his fingers with his mouth, and the wet heat of his tongue sends sparks throughout my body.

"Kavian..." My voice comes out as a broken whisper, drowned out by the night"s silence.

He doesn"t respond verbally but I can feel him smirk against my skin before he increases the pressure, driving me closer to the edge. I squirm in his hold but he keeps me still, firmly anchored to him.

Suddenly, there's a flash of pain as his teeth graze my inner thigh, replaced quickly by the warmth of his mouth soothing the spot. I yelp in surprise and look down at him.

I see something savage and feral lurking in his eyes that sends a thrill of fear and excitement through me. He grins before returning to his ministrations with renewed fervor.

Pleasure washes over me in an overpowering wave as I climax, Kavian's name ripped from my throat in a raspy shout. He waits till I ride out the high before pulling away, my body shuddering with aftershocks.

He lifts me to cradle against his chest, peppering gentle kisses along my collarbone. "You're magnificent, Meera," he murmurs into my skin with reverence that has me blushing again.

I give him a shy smile. He mirrors my expression before leaning in to kiss me deeply while his hands work on removing the rest of his clothes.

Kavian then positions himself between my legs, the hardness of him nudging against my entrance. He pauses one last time, looking into my eyes. I respond by wrapping my legs around his waist, urging him closer.

He enters me slowly, allowing me to adjust to his size. Once he's fully inside, he stops moving again, savoring the moment. Then slowly, inch by inch, he pulls out before thrusting back in.

Each movement is deliberate and controlled as he builds a rhythm. My heart flutters as I watch his face contort with pleasure—each grunt and groan from him makes me clench around him even tighter.

In this moment, everything else falls away—the mansion, our duties, the looming threat from Vex. All that matters is Kavian and me under the moonlit sky. The pleasure builds steadily again until we're both teetering on the brink of another climax.

Kavian leans down to capture my lips in a heated kiss as he quickens the pace. The pressure building within me intensifies with every thrust, every glance exchanged between us. His lips upon mine serve as an anchor in the storm of pleasure that threatens to consume me.

His movements become less controlled, more frantic as he also nears his release. With a final deep thrust and a throaty groan, he collapses on top of me, his breath ragged and hot against my skin. I follow soon after, my body convulsing as waves of pleasure wash over me.

In the aftermath, Kavian"s weight on top of me is comforting. The feeling of his heart pounding against my own makes me feel tethered to him in a way I"ve never experienced before. He kisses my forehead softly before lazily moving to lie next to me on the stone bench.

We lay there for what feels like an eternity, bodies entwined under the sky, letting the sounds of the night lull us into tranquility. Neither of us speaks—words seem insignificant after what we have shared.

After a while, Kavian gently lifts himself off the bench and reaches for his discarded clothes on the ground nearby. He dresses in silence, then extends a hand towards me to help me up.

I take it gratefully and together we dress ourselves again amidst soft smiles and lingering stares. Kavian wraps an arm around my waist as we head back toward the mansion together. Soon enough, the alcohol and the exhaustion make my knees buckle under my own weight.

My eyes drift close as my head lolls to the side. In the darkness, something elevates me and brings me a warmth I've never known.