*(Halias POV – R18)*
I was dreaming I knew that much. My feet were bare. They touched the soft forest floor. It felt warm and alive like it was humming or something. But it did not feel like a dream it felt real. It felt like it had been waiting for me for a long time.
The trees were whispering to each other in a language I did not understand. The air was filled with the smell of jasmine and something else something darker and wilder. The moon was shining down on me but it looked wrong it was too big and too red. It was like it was watching me or something.
Then I saw him a man standing in front of me. He was tall. His shoulders were broad. His chest was bare and it was glistening with dew or sweat I could not tell. His skin was a golden brown color and it looked like it was kissed by shadows. I could not see his face. I felt drawn to him like he was pulling me towards him.
He did not move,. I did. I took a step closer to him. My heart started beating faster. I took another step. My breath caught in my throat. It was like my body knew him even though my mind was telling me that this was impossible. I did not know him. I felt like I needed him. My whole body was buzzing with a hunger that I could not explain.
"You came " he said, his voice was deep and smooth like velvet and smoke.
My lips. I said "Do I know you?"
He said "Not yet. You will."
Then he reached out. Touched my jaw. It felt like electricity like a shock of white heat. My knees felt weak. I almost fell over.
Then he kissed me. It was like everything around me shattered. I melted into him. His lips felt like they were claiming me. The kiss was slow at first. Then it got desperate and deep. His mouth was like it was starving for me. My fingers got tangled in his hair it was thick and black like midnight. He tasted like rain and something else something burnt and forbidden.
When he picked me up in his arms I did not say anything. My nightgown slipped off. His body was pressed against mine. He was hard and strong. He was holding back like he was trying not to lose control.
"You are mine " he whispered against my throat. "You have always been mine."
He laid me down on a bed of moss and the world around us was spinning. His lips were trailing fire along my skin. Each kiss made me arch my back. I was. It sounded like I was praying.
Then his mouth moved lower. It felt like heaven. His tongue was slow and knowing and I cried out I was not ashamed. He was devouring me like he was worshiping me like he was trying to leave his mark on me.
I came undone. It felt like stars were exploding behind my eyes. But he did not stop he kept moving he lined his hips with mine.
"Say it " he groaned.
"Say what?" I asked.
"Say that you remember " he said.
He pushed inside me. It felt like the world had collapsed. It was painful and pleasurable at the time it was hot and intense. My body was pulsing around him. It felt like he was filling me with something new something ancient.
He leaned close. His breath was tickling my ear. "Halia " he said.
I stiffened, because I had never told him my name. The dream started to crack. He stilled, he was deep, inside me. "You will remember soon " he said. "You will come back."
His lips brushed my temple. He said "The Gate will open."
Then he turned to smoke. The forest got dim. The moon. Darkness swallowed me whole.