I'm so stupid.

Her brain stopped working for a moment. She should have left immediately, apologized and bolted away. But she couldn't take her eyes off him.

His back faced her, water dripping down bronze skin over muscles that looked like they were carved out of stone. Wet hair fell past deliciously broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist.

Scales, black scales with red edges were littered across his shoulders, and down his spine disappearing into the water.

He was beautiful, dangerously so.

He ran his hands through his hair, the movement making every muscle in his back flex and shift.

She could neither breathe nor think. Move. Don't let him see you.

He turned slightly, reaching for something at the edge of the pool. She caught a glimpse of his profile, a sharp jaw dark with stubble and the sensual curve of his lips, his golden eyes half closed, relaxed.

Then his head tilted slightly. Oh gods, he knows I'm here.

"I can hear your heartbeat." he said without looking back. His voice was lower, rougher.

Elara's throat completely closed up. She quickly bowed her head.

"Your Majesty, I....I didn't know you were....I was told to clean the bath chamber. I deeply apologize for my intrusion. I'll just....."

"Stay." A command

Her feet were rooted to the floor.

"Shut the door."

She unconsciously shut the door behind her. The soft click echoed in the steamy room.

She was alone with the King now, completely alone.

"Come closer." he commanded again.

"Your Majesty, I...I shouldn't. It's n..not appropriate..."

"I don't like to repeat myself." "Come closer." This time dragon compulsion threaded through his voice. Not strong enough to coerce her but enough to make refusal difficult.

Still clutching her cleaning supplies like a shield, she took three shaky steps forward.

He turned around.

Elara forgot how to breathe.

The water ran in rivulets down his chest and over abs that looked like they had been carved by a sculptor obsessed with perfection. There were more scales scattered across his chest and sides. His arms were corded with muscles, powerful enough to snap her into two.

And lower....

She jerked her eyes up before it could travel below his waist but not before catching a glimpse of the sharp v of his hips disappearing into the water.

Her face was on fire.

He ran a hand through his damp hair as his lips curved up into a slow, predatory smile. He'd noticed, of course he had.

"You're new." His deep voice echoed through the steamy chamber. Not a question.

"Your name?"

She was startled by the question. Why did he want to know her name? She was a mere kitchen maid.

"Elara, Your Majesty."

"Elara." He tested it slowly, deliberately.

"I don't recall seeing you before?"

A lie. He'd seen her multiple times. But she didn't need to know that.

"I..I w..work in the lower kitchens your Majesty, I've only just been reassigned." she stammered with her head bowed desperately trying to look anywhere but at him. "I've only been here for a year."

"Interesting." He purred, moving a bit closer through the water, his steps were slow, unhurried, like he was stalking his prey.

She visibly flinched at the movement making him chuckle darkly.

"No need to be scared of me, little mouse."

"I.. I'm not scared..." her voice quivered miserably betraying her.

He grinned wickedly. Oh but she was terrified, he could smell it on her, her fear mixed with lavender and something sweeter that made his mouth water.

She was different from his usual women, so.. innocent, delicate like a frightened little rabbit. The contrast between her softness and his own primal power made heat pool in his groin.

"You lie to me, little mouse." "But I can forgive it..this time."

He slowly rose from the water not bothering to cover himself. Water dripped down the hard planes of his stomach, down his hips and over thick powerful thighs. His thick shaft, dark and engorged sprang free, its head a deep angry red pulsing with a life of its own.

Elara's eyes widened with barely concealed shock. Her violet blues impossibly large as they trailed up his emerging form. She had been trying impossibly hard not to stare, but human nature won. Her sharp intake of breath echoed loudly over the gentle lap of water. She had never seen one before but she didn't think it would be this large.

How utterly shameless

He stretched languidly, muscles rippling under damp skin and watched as she swallowed hard.

Her gaze darted downwards again, just for a second before jerking back upwards. She looked like a ripe tomato.

"Come here" his voice softer than before yet even more commanding.

She stood frozen as she forced herself not to look at him, her cheeks burned hotter.

The air in the room grew thick with steam and something else entirely, something primal.

"I...Your Majesty I'm here to clean" her voice came out as a whisper.

"And I require assistance with my bath."

"Yes, Your Majesty," she replied hesitantly as she moved quickly to the edge of the bathing pool where he stood. Any more excuses and she'd be dragon food.

"Begin with my hair"

Her fingers trembled as she took a vial of scented oil from her basket. She knelt down on the edge and reached for his hair, her knuckles brushing against the wet strands.

"Good." He shut his eyes slightly tilting his head back. "Now, my shoulders."

A jolt, sharp and electric shot through her arm as it made contact with his skin, making her gasp. He sharply inhaled with a low rumble vibrating in his chest.

Her hands, still tingling, moved down, hesitantly at first, then with more purpose as she began to rub the oil into his skin. His muscles felt hot beneath her palm. A strange warmth began to bloom in her chest spreading outwards and it was definitely not the steam. It was him.

A deep, guttural groan escaped his lips as his skin flushed darker beneath her touch.

"Lower." He said with a strained voice, laced with urgency. "My chest."

Elara hesitated once more as her hands hovered over his broad back. Moving to his chest meant she would have to face him fully, it also meant facing the undeniable evidence of his arousal.

"P..pardon me, Your Majesty but I..."

Before she could complete her sentence his hand shot out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her forward. She stumbled, losing her balance and plunging into the steaming water with a loud splash.

Her drab linen dress, now completely drenched, clung to her like second skin revealing her every curve and dip.

He tightly held her wrist preventing her from scrambling back. Her body was pressed flush against his as the water swirled around them reaching her waist.

Her nipples, hardened from the sudden chill, brushed against his hard chest.

His strong arms wrapped around her waist pulling her even closer until there was no space left between them. The prominent hardness of his cock pressed against her soaking thigh.

Her eyes, wide and terrified, snapped up to him. His golden orbs burned right into hers, hungry and possessive.

"Continue, Elara" his voice was a low dangerous whisper, hot against her ear.

She fumbled nervously, her fingers brushing against his chest. The strange warmth intensified. Her hands moved over his pectorals, feeling the ripple of his muscles beneath.

He deeply groaned, his hips subtly thrusting forward, grinding against her. She could feel his erection against her thigh growing.

"This..this is enough Your Majesty." She gasped, her voice barely audible. Her breath came out in short gasps as she felt the full weight of his desire.

His arms tightened, crushing her body to his. His large powerful hands slid lower, past her waist, molding over the curve of her hips, then cupping her soft ass, lifting her slightly and pressing her more firmly against his throbbing cock.

His head dipped down as his lips grazed the delicate skin of her neck sending shivers straight to her core. His tongue traced a wet path from her earlobe down to her collarbone. She let out a loud whimper, a sound foreign to her. No one had touched her like this before and she couldn't name what he was making her feel.

"Release me." Her voice cracked as she cried out, her small fist pounding against his solid chest. The heat that emanated from him was intoxicating and that strange pull she had felt before, the one she dismissed, now undeniably pulsed through her veins.

Her desperate shoves against his chest only made him tighten his grip on her ass as his fingers dug into her soft flesh, lifting her further against his erection. He nipped at her neck, a playful yet possessive bite that drew another whimper from her lips, louder this time.

"Let me go, Please, Your Majesty." She begged.

He pressed his lips onto the shell of her ear, his hot breath making her shiver. "Why would I let you go, little mouse, when you feel so perfect against me?" his voice was strained as if he was barely holding himself back from completely devouring her.

"This isn't r.. right." She stuttered even as her traitorous body responded to his touch.

"Right?" He chuckled. "I'm the Dragon King, I decide what is right in this entire kingdom."

One of his hands moved from her ass to tangle in her silver blonde hair, gently but firmly pulling her head back to expose more of her throat to his hungry gaze.

The severe knot had finally come undone and the wet strands cascaded over his arms like moonlight.

"You're trembling." His lips brushed against her pulse. "Are you cold, Elara? Or is it something else entirely?"

"I'm scared." She said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You're the dragon king and I'm just a kitchen maid. I'm nothing. This will ruin me."

Before he could respond a sharp knock echoed from the outer chamber followed by a male voice.

Noticing his distraction she pushed herself away from him with all her might. She immediately stumbled back through the water putting distance between them.

"Your Majesty! The council meeting begins in Ten minutes"

He released a frustrated growl that sounded more dragon than human.

"Luck seems to be on your side little mouse, but make no mistake, this is far from over."

He emerged from the pool with grace, completely unbothered about his nakedness or his evident arousal.

"There's a dressing chamber through that door." He said, wrapping a towel around his waist. "Get changed and wait in my chambers till I return."

"I need to return to my duties.."

"Your duty is to me now." His voice cut through her protest. "You are my personal attendant, you will wait in my chambers and you will not speak a word of today's occurrence to anyone, understood?"

It wasn't a question, it was a command.

"And Elara, don't even think about running, I can find you anywhere in this palace. Your scent...." He inhaled deeply, his pupils dilating "it's burned into my memory."

"Yes, Your Majesty." She whispered with defeat. But deep down, beneath her fear and confusion, a spark of defiance flickered to life. She silently plotted her escape.

Elara's gaze lingered on him as he disappeared through the doorway, her ears straining for any sound of his return.

The moment she was certain he was gone she quickly stripped out of her soaked dress, her fingers fumbling with the clinging fabric. She ventured into the dressing chamber, shocked at the sheer amount of fine silks and linen, she reached for one but hesitated, staring at it like it was poisoned.

No, absolutely not. Wearing his clothes, or worse, clothes meant for the women he bedded was definitely not a choice. It felt like crossing an invisible line.

She gathered her wet dress and walked back to the main chamber, draping it over the ornate chair nearest to the fireplace. The flames had died down, but hopefully there was still enough heat to dry it before he returned.

Her eyes darted to the door every few seconds, her heart jumping at every distant sound in the corridor.

How long does a council meeting even last? Thirty minutes? An hour?

She caught sight of her reflection in the polished surface of a decorative shield mounted on the wall. Wild silver hair and pale flushed skin standing in nothing but her undergarments in the Dragon king's private dwelling. I'm insane

She tried to retie her hair but the knot just wouldn't hold properly partly due to how badly her hands were trembling.

"Damn it." She hissed beneath her breath finally managing a messy bun.

Deciding she could no longer wait she grabbed her dress from the fireplace. It was now partially dry, still damp in some places but it would have to do.

She couldn't stay a second longer, not with his scent still clinging to her skin, not with the memory of his hands burning into her flesh.

She frantically pulled the dress over her head, her hands fumbling with the lace.

The dress clung uncomfortably to her undergarments, but she barely noticed.

The door. Just get to the door.

She walked to the door, her hands trembling as it closed around the knob hoping it wasn't locked. She half expected it to be locked and half expected dragon fire to consume her for her disobedience.

The handle smoothly opened.

He didn't lock it.

She stared in disbelief. The arrogant bastard hadn't even bothered to lock the door. He'd simply assumed that his command alone would keep her caged like a docile pet. He'd greatly underestimated her.

The hallway was exactly as she remembered, lined up with draconian guards, her heart hammered so violently she was certain they could hear it.

She composed herself, erasing all emotion from her face and stepped out, waiting for something, anything.

Invisible. Be absolutely invisible.

The nearest guard's dark eyes flicked towards her. Her breath caught but she refused to stop as she kept her gaze lowered and movements unhurried.

The guard's attention slipped away dismissing her as beneath notice.

They have no idea he ordered me to stay.

She passed the guards one by one keeping her breath study. She turned a corner, then another. The Opulent tapestries and polished marble gradually gave way to simpler stone.

A few more turns, down four flights of stairs and finally, finally, she heard the familiar sounds of the lower quarters. Clattering dishes, raised voices and the chaos of servants preparing for the midday meal.

She slipped into the communal washing area, her legs nearly giving out from relief.

She pressed her back against the stone wall and tried to calm her breathing.

"Elara? Is that you?"

Her eyes snapped open to find Serena staring at her.

"Good heavens, you look like you've seen death itself." she whispered, rushing to her.

"What in the world happened? Did he...Did the king...."

"Nothing happened Serena." She said quickly, her voice flat. "I cleaned his chambers, and I left, that's all."

Serena's freckled face creased with suspicion. "You're such a terrible liar and you know it." "Your dress is wet, your hair's a mess and you're shaking."

"I'm fine," she said, pushing past Serena towards the servants' dormitory. "I just need to change and get back to work,"

"Back to work? Elara you've been reassigned to the king's.."

"No." the word came out sharper than she intended. "I'm going back to the kitchens, to my old duties. I'll speak to Mistress Calloway, tell her I'm unsuitable. I'm not going back to those chambers.

Serena grabbed her arm, "You can't just refuse a royal assignment, that's not how it's done."

"Then I'll make myself so incompetent she'll have to reassign me."

Elara's eyes flashed with determination. "I'll burn his breakfast, shrink his clothes, break his things, I'll do whatever it takes."

"Are you insane? He'll have you executed."

"Better dead than..." Elara stopped herself.

"I just...I can't go back there Serena, I can't....I refuse to."

Serena stared at her stubborn friend for a long moment and sighed. "Fine, but you're playing a dangerous game. Dragons don't like being denied what they want. And from what I hear, that one always gets what he wants.

Elara remained silent as she grabbed a clean uniform from her trunk and began undressing.

Over the next few hours she immersed herself into the most menial tasks she could find. She scrubbed pots till her hands were raw and she hauled buckets of water.

She volunteered for jobs everyone else avoided. Anything at all to stay busy and anything that had nothing to do with dragons.

By late afternoon she was covered in grime, sweat and fish guts, exactly as she wanted. This way no one would look at her twice. She was finally invisible again and invisible meant safe in her world.

But as she worked she couldn't shake off the feeling of eyes on her back.

She recalled his last words once again as a shiver ran through her spine,

"I can find you anywhere in this palace, your scent is now etched into my memory."

She scrubbed harder in an attempt to completely erase the memory of his touch, the heat of his body and the confusing ache it awakened in her.

When the dinner bell rang, she sat at the farthest table, making herself appear even smaller.

For a few precious hours, Elara let herself believe she'd escaped him. She was oblivious to Mistress Calloway's narrowed gaze from across the hall.

She failed to see the draconian messenger who arrived at the entrance and little did she know that the dragon king's rage had set the very air ablaze.

Draeven's POV

___________________________

Draeven stormed through the corridor towards his chambers, each footstep echoing loudly against the marble.

Council members scattered from his path like frightened mice, very smart of them. The air around him radiated heat as smoke curled from his nostrils with each controlled breath he took.

Three hours. Three long torturous god-damned hours of listening to Lord Ronan drone on about trade disputes and Lord Theron argue about military positions and all he could think about was her.

The way she'd felt pressed against him in the water, soft and trembling, perfect.

The way her innocent violet eyes had gone impossibly large with shock and fascination when she'd glimpsed his cock.

The way her tiny hands had set him on fire from the inside out when she'd touched him.

He'd been half hard through the entire meeting as his mind replayed the moment her palm made contact with his chest. That jolt of electricity, raw and primal shooting straight through him like lightning.

And she'd felt absolutely nothing.

Well, not nothing exactly. He'd seen the way her breath had caught slightly and the way her pupils had dilated. But she hadn't felt that soul deep recognition, that instantaneous realization that she was his.

Something was definitely blocking it.

And he blamed it on that damned necklace she always had on. He sensed ancient magic when he had her in his arms.

As he approached the door, he couldn't sense her presence. His hands clenched into fists as he stood in front of his chambers, his claws extending unexpectedly. Blood welled from his palms where they pierced skin, dripping onto the floor and sizzling on contact.

The guards attention immediately snapped to him, their eyes widening at his barely controlled rage.

"The servant," Draeven said, his voice a low growl making the guards flinch.

"The silver haired woman, when did she leave?"

The guard on his left swallowed hard. "Approximately three hours ago, Your Majesty. Shortly after you left...."

"And you let her go?" The temperature in the corridor suddenly spiked as the tapestries began to smoke at the edges.

"We received no orders to detain her Y..your Majesty," the guard said nervously, sweat beading his forehead. "She seemed to have completed her duties so we assumed...."

"You assumed?" Draeven's voice dropped to a lethal whisper. "I gave her a direct command to wait in my chambers, she looked me in the eye and said 'Yes Your Majesty' and ran the moment my back was turned."

Both guards visibly paled.

"Get. Out. Of. My. Sight.

They fled.

His chest heaved as he stood alone, his entire body vibrating with barely suppressed fury. And underneath all that rage, something else, something that made his jaw clench and hands shake.

She'd run from him.

The audacity, the sheer defiance.

No one defied him. No one dared.

And yet she had.

Women grovelled for his attention. They schemed and plotted for a single night in his bed. They wore their most seductive gowns, perfumed their skin and practiced their most sultry looks all to catch his eye.

And this mere servant girl with her drab grey dress and her terrified face had fled from him like he was a monster.

The thought alone should have further enraged him, but instead, some twisted sick part of him found it thrilling.

Part of him wanted to hunt her down and drag her back to his chambers, make her understand what exactly happened to those who defied him.

She'd disobeyed him, the Dragon King. Challenged him. Refused to simply submit and spread her legs like all the others.

His cock, which had finally begun to soften hardened once again at the memory of her wide violet blue eyes and the way she'd gasped when she'd felt his erection pressing against her soft thighs through her wet clothes.

Untouched.

He'd known right from the moment he'd smelled her. That untouched sweetness, unmarked by any male. The knowledge of this had sent his dragon into a frenzy. Mine. Claim her.

He pushed open his chamber doors, stepping into the empty room. His eyes were immediately drawn to the chair by the fireplace where her damp dress had been placed.

She'd refused the fine gowns he'd offered, she refused to accept anything from him.

Stubborn little mouse.

He moved to the bathing chamber, where the water still held traces of her scent....Lavender and something uniquely her. Sweet, pure and intoxicating.

He stripped his clothes off as he tried to figure out what exactly she was and why her touch alone deeply affected him. But his body had a mind of its own.

He looked down at his straining erection, rock hard and aching for release. He'd been in this state for hours making the council meeting absolute torture for him.

Every time the fabric of his pants rubbed against his cock he'd thought of her.

"Fuck" he growled, palming himself through his pants. This was absolutely ridiculous, he was the Dragon King, he could summon any woman, take the pleasure he sought and completely forget about the confusing servant girl who'd managed to get under his skin.

But he didn't want anyone else.

He wanted her. That delicious combination of innocence and a hidden fire.

*Flashback* 6 months ago

_________________________

Draeven Thorne, dragon of the scorched peaks, Sovereign of the Obsidian palace, keeper of the eternal flame, prowled the eastern corridor after another mind numbing council meeting, when he laid eyes on her for the very first time.

A flash of silver in his peripheral vision. He turned his head.

A skittish servant girl, carrying linens with her head bowed, moving quickly along the wall trying impossibly hard to be invisible.

She glanced up as he passed, just for a fraction of a second.

Violet blue eyes met golden ones.

Then she quickly looked away, pressing herself against the wall and hurrying away like his gaze would incinerate her on the spot.

His dragon stirred, stopping him in his tracks.

What in the world was that?

He turned to watch her as she disappeared around the corner, silver blonde hair escaping from a messy braid.

Just a servant, nothing special.

Yet something in his chest had shifted when those eyes met his.

Then he shook his head and continued walking. He'd forget this by morning.

*5 months ago*

__________________________

"Kael."

His second in command glanced up from the military reports scattered across the war room table. "Yes, my king?"

"There's a girl. Silver blonde hair. Works somewhere in the lower levels. Do you know who I'm talking about?"

Kael's eyebrows shot up. "That's..... remarkably vague. There are hundreds of servants in the lower levels....."

"Never mind." Draeven sharply turned back to the territorial maps. "It's nothing of importance."

"If you say so my King."

But when Dreaven looked back Kael was smiling. The bastard was actually smiling.

"What?"

"Nothing at all." Kael's expression remained infuriatingly amused, "Just that you've asked me about three different girls in the past month. All young women. That's very unlike you."

"I'm keeping my options open. Variety makes things much more interesting."

"Of course, very pragmatic of you." Kael's smile widened "What color was her hair again?"

"Fuck Off Kael."

"Silver blonde, Noted. I'll make enquiries."

"I didn't ask you to...."

"But you would have eventually. This saves much more time."

Draeven seriously wanted to set his second on fire.

That night he dreamt of violet eyes and woke up hard and furious at himself.