**mini mild sexual content**

All of my instincts kicked into high gear when I noticed Asra's muscles bunch. Just before he could leap for me, I was running. It was strange, my brain still unsure if it was even possible, but my body had its own thoughts. Asra's grumbling only spurred me further as I ran toward the waterfall. I climbed it like it was nothing, my feet and hands falling into their perfect placements as I scaled the rocks.

I had done this so many times, but this time, it just came so fluidly. Asra was bulkier, but the man climbed it well, and once I reached the top, I was quick to throw my jumper and tee in his direction. It smacked him square in the face and gave me the moment to discard my trousers and shoes. I saved him the pain of being smacked my shoes, but made sure to kick my trousers a little too south of his stomach.

Hurrying toward the edge, I heard his deep grumbling growl come from behind me. Standing in only a bra atop an edge of the waterfall was as exhilarating as it was cold. I was thankful there was no breeze, but the air was cold and damp.

"Tulip..." Asra warned as I slid off my bra.

I grinned, knowing he was cautioning me about consequences. With a sharp, adrenaline fuelled giggle, I launched the bra at him. He grunted and just as the grumpy male jumped toward me; I threw myself off the waterfall backward. As the sounds whooshed past me, I saw the briefest glimpse of Asra staring over the edge as I fell headfirst into the water.

Bliss!

Utter, fucking, bliss.

The water was as warm as a winter hug of hot chocolate by a bonfire. I sank into its crystal clear depths, watching as the bubbles from my arrival fizzed up to the surface. My fingers ran along the bottom, picking up the fine pebbles and rocks before I floated back to the surface. If I tried hard enough, I could usually stay along the bed for a little longer, but I was curious to the whereabouts of Asra.

Resurfacing, I gasped for breath, pushing my hair down the back of my skull. Wiping my face, I blinked through droplets, finding Asra sat at the top of the waterfall. He stared down at me with a soft smile, his bare feet swinging in the cool air. Despite being partly out of the water, no coldness touched my face or shoulders, and I thanked the magically blessed lake for giving me such shelter.

"Are you going to just sit there, or are you going to join me?"

Asra grinned. "I'm enjoying my view. The water is very clear today."

I scoffed, tipping myself backwards into the water. I submerged, raising my arms as dived into the lake's depths. A sudden thought passed through my mind and I turned to head toward the rock face. My body was smooth, my lungs barely burning as I kept beneath the surface. The gentle pelting of the waterfall rippled the water, and I turned to resurface on the other side.

Brushing my hair from my face, I then placed my palms on the rock, the water gently lapping up my wrists. My fingers automatically found the rose from before, except this time, it was wilted. How? I don't know, but the carving had changed.

It was as enchanted as much as Asra had been.

My lips curled down into a frown, about to spiral into conspiracies. I had just glimpsed the scratched out three-worded warning, when a sharp splash had my body swaying and crashing into the rocks. The lake strangely warmed, and I grunted, pushing away from the brick as I turned to face the culprit.

I could not see Asra, but the growing warm hug of the lake told me he was coming. With a roll of my eyes, I braced for his impact, and wasn't disappointed when it came. Hands wrapped around my ankles and he heaved me under, but I was ready. With my arms crossed, breath held, and the best sarcastic eyebrow quirk I could do, Asra's stoic face erupted into a grin before me. Bubbles left his mouth, and he pulled me closer.

I grinned, unfolding my arms to place them on his shoulders. My body buzzed, understanding who he was, and the lake only amplified it. He kissed my throat softly as the lake brought us to the surface.

Inhaling the fresh air sharply, I blinked through the droplets to gaze at my mate. He pulled me with him as he swayed sideways, and to save my legs from being left behind, I wrapped them around his waist. It only made his smirk deepen, his eyes having that hint of spark whenever we'd play.

To my surprise, my feet suddenly touched rock, and I lifted my gaze from Asra's side profile to see what was beneath me. The water was darker here, but I glimpsed the same rock as the walls beneath my toes. Then, when my butt came to rest on the same rock, my head practically spun like an owl.

It was a small cave. A teeny, tiny, barely room for two people, alcove. I wasn't sure if we could class it as a cave, to be fair, but it is what I would call this crevice. With a roof shielding us from the skies and the rain, there was a ledge for us to sit on and another for our feet to rest like stairs. The water came to rest beneath my breasts, and just beneath Asra's belly button.

"How have I not found this before?" I muttered, staring at the waterfall a mere ten feet away.

"How often do you come behind here?"

"Rarely." I murmured. "You know, it's funny. The last time I was under here, somebody left me a clue."

His eyebrows furrowed, the hand on my waist tightening. "A clue? Who?"

"I wasn't sure, but now I am guessing a witch." I shrugged.

"What was the clue?"

"A rose." I grimaced. "But also the words trust your instincts."

"A rose?" He growled.

I patted his chest, rolling my eyes. "It was a positive message, Asra. No magic can touch the lake, no bad person can enter, right?"

"Correct." He grunted. "But that is besides the point. Why was a witch leaving you messages? Cryptic messages."

"Doesn't matter. It helped me." I frowned.

"I will find out." He promised.

I shrugged, rounding his naked body to sit on his lap facing him. It caused his eyes to darken, chest expanding with a deep inhale. His hands settled on my hips, fingers into my skin.

"You have got thinner." Asra grumbled.

"You have got harder." I cocked my head, hinting at his developed muscle mass.

His lips quirked, and I knew I had hit his perverted thoughts. Instead of rolling my eyes, I leaned in closer, my elbows squishing until I pushed my breasts closer to his face. His eyes dropped immediately, fingers tightening around me.

"Naughty, Tulip."

A soft giggle escaped me, my hands curving around his neck to entwine in the thick hairs on the back of his head. His jaw flexed, eyes darkening as he pulled me closer. A soft gasp escaped me as his hardened length pressed between us.

"Naughty, Butterscotch."

A roll of his eyes had my laughter tumbling louder, and he bent down to nibble at my neck. I grabbed his jaw in one hand, pulling him from my skin. Asra pouted, actually pouted, his beautiful night skies blinking up at me. My lips curled into a grin as I tutted at him.

"My mouth is up here." I told him.

Making the move, I pressed my lips to his. It surprised him, because it took him a moment to respond, but when he did, it wasn't gentle. He growled, taking immediate control and dominating my mouth. His teeth nipped my lips, parting them so his tongue could dance an untold rhythm with mine.

It wasn't long until the heat of his embrace, the magic of the bond, and his tongue worked my body into a hot, simmering heat. An ache built between my thighs, a tense stimulation that had a fire burn in my belly.

Pulling away for breath, Asra stopped and gazed down at me. His lips were parted; swollen and perfect, as he caught his breath. I was breathing slightly heavier, my bare chest heaving with little attention. He licked his lips and my eyes followed the movement. I took the chance to take him in as he gazed down at me with controlled restraint.

His eyes were the darkest of blue, the shimmering waterfall making them come alive like the sky itself. With skin so smooth and hard, I dug my nails into his shoulders, dragging them down his biceps. He was so hard and tight, and it had my legs tighten around him. My eyes continued to drink him in though, from the curve of his nose to the scar on his jaw, to the way his long, damp lashes brushed his cheeks. Even his hair...

This man was beautiful.

A sudden blush coated his tanner complexion, and my eyebrows furrowed. "What's wrong?"

He shook his head, a soft chuckle leaving his mouth. "Your mind is open."

My lips parted with soft realisation, and I lazily grinned. "What? Don't enjoy being called beautiful?"

Asra's lack of sarcastic comment only spurred me on.

"Because you are." I grinned. "So beautiful."

"Men are not beautiful." He shook his head.

"Yes, they are. Yes, you are."

"I am an alpha." He puffed his chest.

A sarcastic eyebrow quirk and a well-placed tut had him roll his eyes at my reaction. His alpha bravado doesn't work that easily on me.

"You are a beautiful man and alpha." I grinned. "When we have a son, would you say he is not beautiful?"

Instead of more sarcasm, his expression changed. Asra had been trying to hide his emotions, but the moment I spoke, his face fell blank and he stared at me with soft awe. This time, it was my turn to get confused, and my eyebrows furrowed at his reaction. What had I said that made him so... weird?

I patted his cheek. "Are you okay?"

"Yes." He breathed, blinking.

"You sure?" I laughed. "You kind of froze there. I thought I'd have to resuscitate you. Kiss of life, or something?"

His chuckle was too soft, too happy, to follow on from what we had been talking about. His hands softened around my waist, and instead of a needy grasp, it turned to one of comfort. This time, he just held me to him, his fingers tracing patterns into my damp skin.

"Asra..." I muttered. "Now you're being weird."

He leaned closer, kissing me softly. It was enough to have my body hum, melting into his warmth. It was gentle, so much different from the one before. The slide of his tongue was caressing, savouring my taste as much as I savoured his. I had a hard time biting back my moans as his hands moved, caressing my waist, my ass, my breasts... His hands roamed and his mouth tasted with the softest of soliloquies.

My body shuddered, pleasuring burning between my thighs. When his hands traced my breast, I couldn't help let the moan fall free.

Asra pulled away, lips moving to suck across my jaw. I arched my neck, gasping for the breath I had been desperately seeking.

"Good," He purred. "Don't bottle that up."

"But..." I breathed; my mind fuzzy.

"Nobody is near." He muttered. "If they are here, they will not care."

"Asra..." I whispered.

His teeth dug into my skin the same moment his thumb and finger teased my nipple. I gasped, his name a startled gasp on my tongue.

"Don't," He muttered against my skin. "Don't stop"."

Then his mouth found my mark, and it was like the world around me disappeared. My nerves were on fire; like heat from the barrel of a fired gun as the smoke blurred my senses. I arched into him, my eyes slipping closed as I admired the feeling. My hips jerked when his teeth brushed my mark, bring the tip of him close to where I desperately wanted it.

"Asra..." I moaned softly.

"Yes?"

"Please stop teasing me." I whispered.

He chuckled, the vibrations sending my body into a sharper flurry of shock. My fingers gripped his shoulders, nails digging into his skin. My hips thrusted as I lost my composure, his name a startled shout of ecstasy. The cooler temperature of the lake lapped at my body, but it did nothing to sate the warmth that burned within me.

"Are you sure?" Asra breathed in my ear. "You seem to enjoy this."

My lips parted with pleasure when his finger made a surprise appearance at my slit. It dived between my folds, dipping inside my warmth, and I rocked into it, whimpering.

"So needy," He teased.

My eyes opened, raising my head to glare at him. "I swear to the Goddess if you don't stop teasing me-

"Or what, Tulip?" He grinned, interrupting me.

It startled me, because the carefree, wild look in his eyes was ethereal. Despite how on fire I felt, how much I burned for him to fill me, I could not help but admire him once more. I could never get enough, and seeing him so relaxed and full of colour had my stomach tightening with warmth. This man was all I ever wanted, all I ever needed.

I would go to the end of the fucking earth for him. I would die for him. Go to hell and back if he needed me, too. And I knew he would do the same. The warmth in my heart, the soft butterflies in my stomach, felt like the first time I ever saw him smile. A mystery, a promise, a devilishly handsome, fucking beautiful man. And he was all mine.

"I fucking love you." I sighed, digging my nails in. "But please, please don't stop."

******

to leave you on a steamy cliff hanger, or to not....