RETH

He'd meant to leave her alone tonight, especially when he learned she was sore from this 'working out.' But her laughter soon turned to sighs, as his pretend feasting on her became a feast in truth. He sucked on her skin, tasting her, inhaling her scent; desire climbing in both of them with every passing second. They still stood in the corner of the bedroom when their twin breaths began to echo in the quiet room.

He'd only pressed her against the wall so he could nudge his knee between her thighs and give her some pressure there, but it was more successful than he'd anticipated, and within a minute or two, she was beginning to drop her head back, out of the kiss, gasping as he pressed and rolled her against the wall in time with his kisses.

Then he'd popped the button of her pants and slid his hand into her warmth and groaned when he'd found how ready she was for him. He'd only meant to tease her, but when he started to retreat, she'd grabbed his arm and kept him there, pleading for him not to stop.

How was it possible that she yearned for him as much as he yearned for her? Was it the mating bond? Or was she simply that passionate?

He hoped it was the latter, that she wasn't somehow being compelled to want him, because he adored watching her tremble and gulp for air. He shuddered when her fingers dug into his shoulders and her jaw dropped open.

Desperation rose in both of them. He pulled away from her just long enough to get his own pants off, while she tugged the blouse off that she'd been wearing, and pushed her trousers own down, yanking them off her ankles.

They threw themselves at each other again a moment later, both sucking in hard when she wrapped her legs around his waist and he lifted her hips to sit her on the drawers next to the closet, pinning her back against the wall. His arousal slid against her and she sighed his name, so he did it again, trembling at the sight of her, head back, breasts pressed against his chest, and her softest places open against him.

"Elia,

" he grunted.

"Maybe we should… take this... to the furs?

" Fingers digging into her thighs, he dipped his head to nip at the claiming marks that were still healing.

But she shook her head, her eyes closed and head back against the wall.

"You promised,

" she breathed.

"The wall was on the list? Remember?

"

He growled and nipped at her throat and she gave a throaty laugh that made her tighten around him further until he was shuddering and forcing himself to close his eyes so the sight of her wouldn't send him over the edge.

Steeling himself because it was clear he would reach his limit quickly if he wasn't careful, he made sure she was balanced on the drawers, then took himself in hand to find her, sliding himself against her with a pressure and precision that had her eyes flying open and her grip digging into his shoulders so tightly it hurt.

They met eyes, gazes hot and hooded, and he breathed her name. Her eyes went wide, and liquid, and she stayed locked on him as he found her core and thrust, entering her in one, long, slow slide that rolled her eyes and threatened to close them again.

"No, Elia, look at me,

" he pleaded, his voice rough with desire and emotion.

She forced her eyes open and cupped his neck, holding his gaze as her breath heaved, mouth wide and teeth bare to him when he moved within her.

He buried one hand in her hair, the other held her secure as he thrust again, and again, and again, her breath catching and holding each time.

He took her lower lip in his, dragging it between his teeth.

"I love you,

" he whispered against her mouth.

"I love you, Reth. It doesn't say enough, but it's true,

" she gasped, her eyes beginning to close again with each roll of his hips.

He let her sink into it this time, let her get lost in the sensation of heat and light climbing everywhere they joined, his own control at a ragged edge when she began to clench around him and her skin pebbled under his hands.

He sucked on her neck and she whimpered, pushing against him, seeking her release, trembling with desire. For him!

What had he ever done to deserve this? To deserve her?

"Elia… oh **… I can't…

"

"Please, Reth!

"

With a grunt, he lifted her and carried her, still writhing against him, over to the sleeping platform where he lay her down, right on the edge. As she tipped back, the angle shifted and she gasped when he pulled one of her legs up, pushing her knee to her chest, cupping her ankle in one hand and bracing on the bed next to her head with the other as he leaned over her, into her, and began to thrust faster, and faster.

"Oh! Reth!

"

"Hold on my love!

"

"Reth!

"

She clawed at his hair and he snarled, teeth bared, barely holding onto the last thread of his control.

Then she slid her own hand down to pinch her own nipple, which had him shuddering, then down, between them. He bellowed her name when he felt her there, around him, against herself. Then she arched again, tensing, and her breath stopped for several seconds as Reth's control snapped.

He pumped in and out of her, shouting her name, erratic and breathless, as his own release hit him at the base of his spine, pummeling him from every side, exploding in every inch of his skin until he almost lost his feet, even as she sucked in a shuddering breath and her eyes flew wide again.

"Elia, Creator's Light! My love!

"

"Never stop, Reth,

" she groaned through his final thrusts, her voice jagged.

"Never, ever stop doing this to me. Please.

"

With a ragged groan, he collapsed over her, his fingers in her hair, kissing her neck and bracing so he would crush her, but he couldn't even think.

She was… unspeakable.

And she was his.