BONUS Chapter between 28 and 29

Implied Smut.

The salty water washed its foam around their feet as their eyes gazed at the mesmerizing sunset.

After an exquisite lunch, Iris found herself being led out of the house by Dom and towards the beach. The weather wasn't particularly sunny, but it was perfectly cloudy enough to walk in the not-so-hot sand barefoot and roam around without sunglasses or hats. The salty sea wind blew through their hair and clothes, and Iris felt a sense of euphoria she had always yearned for.

Dom couldn't help himself but keep his eyes fixated on his mate. Lady luck had smiled on him, and he couldn't be more grateful. He wanted to provide her with everything she had been missing for centuries. They kept walking silently on the beach, savoring each other's company and the gorgeous beach around them. No exchange of words was needed. Somewhere along the walk, Dom's hand found Iris subtly. She didn't pull it away, relishing in the little skin-on-skin contact they were allowed before the rituals started.

Cool brine hit their toes and traveled up their ankles. They kept walking as the salty seawater reached their shins, spreading an electrifying feeling in their bodies, intensified by the holding of hands. At that moment, neither could have asked for anything more, and neither could have exchanged that moment of peace and freedom for anything in the world.

Dom let Iris have her moment. He let her take in the bliss of freedom for a while, and then,

He scooped up as much water as his huge fist would carry and splashed it at her, snapping her out of her trance. Iris felt a sudden shock as she felt the seawater seep into her clothes. She looked at Dom who had a mischievous smirk decorating his handsome features. Making up her mind, Iris mirrored the same mischievous look, the look which when Dom noticed, turned him on. She suddenly screamed at something behind him, taking him by surprise, and scooped as much water as both her hands could carry and splashed it on the unsuspecting Dom who was busy finding whatever was behind him that had made his mate scream.

Dom looked at Iris with a pleasantly surprised expression that said, 'The game is on!'

With that, they started splashing water on each other until both of them were soaked. Their clothes stuck to their bodies and their wet hair stuck to their faces and shoulders. Dom's man-bun had loosened and made his long hair wet and stuck all around his head, giving him a smoking hot look. Water dripped down his stubble and nose as he used his hand to wipe some of the water away from his face. His white button-up had turned to a see-through and stuck sexily at his tough six-pack abs. His bulging biceps were nothing compared to a certain bulge further down than the abs. And that was because of the goddess of beauty standing before him.

Iris was at a loss for words, she felt wet for an altogether different reason than the water soaking her. The Adonis standing before her didn't seem to notice what he was doing to her. Iris felt herself blush under the intensity of his gaze, and his friend down south seemed eager for her as well. What she didn't realize was, what she was doing to him. She had missed noticing that her silk frock which was now dripping wet had stuck to her body like the skin and had also turned see-through.

Her dark green lace lingerie from underneath the frock was clearly visible and left little to the imagination. Her nipples were hard and protruded from the cloth screaming for attention. She was just as much dripping with seawater as he was. Her skin had a flushed look and her lips parted slightly making it hard for him to think about anything else and to control his dragon. That is when an idea struck him. They were not supposed to have sex before proper mating and wedding rituals but nobody had said anything about doing anything else.

His gaze changed and she shivered involuntarily at the passion, intensity, and range of emotions dancing in his steel grey orbs. He took a predatory step towards her through the water as a soft sea breeze made her shudder in anticipation. His gaze was dangerous and she didn't know what he had in his mind, but instead of feeling afraid like any such situation would make her feel, in Dom's presence all she felt was a want for him and anticipation of a pleasure she wasn't sure about receiving yet.

In one swift motion, he had wrapped his arms around her and had her caged in his strong arms. That is when he lost control. He had made up his mind. He gave in to his desire for her and she saw it happen in front of her. She was ready, she had been anticipating it since their encounter in the old dusty room. With her eyes wide, breaths irregular, and lips parted she welcomed his warm breath to fan her wet face and then dived in for the long yearned-for kiss.

It was everything they had wanted it to be and more than they had imagined it could be. The mating bond had been set in motion. A gesture, more intimate than day-to-day activities had taken place. They felt a connection, like a magnet pulling metal and they, couldn't pull away, they didn't want to.

At first, it was just a simple touch of the flesh of lips. But it wasn't enough. They had waited too long for this. This moment and the feelings it brought were too much for them to control. Their hearts and the animal spirits inside them were in control. Under the sun, with gushing sea water with white foam and sand under their feet, Dom and Iris stood kissing each other as if their lives depended on it. Their shadow was not of two people anymore, it was one now. They were going to be one now.

Dom moved his hands to hold her head and body in place as he deepened the kiss and Iris moved her hands around his strong biceps to his strong neck and then rested to play with the hair on the nape of his neck. Her hands gave him goosebumps and sent tiny electric shocks wherever they touched. Standing up proved to be a harder feat now since the closeness of their wet bodies made the heat of the day feel even hotter.

In one smooth motion, Dom picked her up. Lifted her, so that she sat settled with her legs wrapped around his firm torso and they kissed each other senseless. Like they were providing each other with much-needed oxygen. Like they hadn't properly breathed for so long and now the feeling was euphoric, neither wanted ever to break apart.

Their tongues danced in a battle of dominance that Iris happily lost and let Dom discover her hot cavern and taste her, trying to memorize her forever. They reveled in each other's presence until Dom couldn't take it anymore. But he needed his mate to feel pleasured first.

He swiftly dropped her in the water below them and then without a word led her towards the beach. She followed him with rasped breaths and at that moment she knew she would follow this man anywhere and everywhere. She would go wherever he asked, wanted, or needed her to go with him.

Dom laid his mate down on the sand and kissed her again like it was their first time and they hadn't kissed mere seconds before. He came on top of her and she let him, she wasn't in much condition of dominance due to the frenzy in her veins that his touch was causing. Their minds were blank except for the name of their mate and the need for each other that seemed to increase with every touch. So much so, that the restriction of wet clothes was an agony.

Dom brought up his hands and cupped her breasts through the clothes and she took a sharp breath in. His touch was gentle like he was afraid to hurt her. Like she was his porcelain doll and he felt like a little stronger touch would hurt her. He rubbed the hardened nub of her breasts through her dress, making an involuntary moan escape her lips, that did the job of making him even harder for her than he already was. He kissed the nubs from above the cloth and she arched her back for him, thrusting her full breasts in his face, making an animalistic groan emerge from his throat. Iris felt like the sound made her further ruin her panties.

He was worshipping her body without even touching an inch of her skin except for her plump lips which were now swollen due to his passionate kissing. Her hands in his hair were doing wonders. He didn't know how a simple act of playing with hair could be such a turn-on. Her every touch ignited a fire in him that could only be put out by her. He kissed down her belly till he reached the belly button and blew air gently to it, which made her arch her back even more and suck a sharp breath, due to the coldness of the drag on the wet dress.

He moved further down and kissed her pubis softly. He was about to raise her dress and kiss the silky skin underneath that he had been lusting for a while now but Iris started coughing.

**Author's note:

Reading between chapters 28 and 29 will add to the effect of an implied smut scene between the main characters.Can be read on its own.I hope you enjoyed this little extra version of the scene. I hope you guys enjoyed it. <3**