RETH

"Are my signals clear enough, Reth?

" she sighed into his mouth.

"Strong enough?

"

He growled in response, fighting himself. But a minute later, she wasn't holding his ears anymore, she was kissing him with an edge, pawing at his chest and shoulders, and he was reeling—and still kissing her.

"Elia,

" he panted through the kiss.

"Yes?

"

"I'm still angry,

" he said hoarsely, groaning when she sucked on his tongue.

"Me too,

" she huffed, still kissing him.

"But I hear… angry sex is kinda hot. Maybe we should… put it on the list?

"

Reth grunted and slid a hand down to cup her ass, pulling her into him.

She bit his lip and it sent a spear of desire straight to his already aching groin.

With no gentleness at all, he backed her up to the wall of the cave, only remembering just in time to put his hand behind her so she wouldn't be slammed against it. She gasped as her shoulders hit, and her eyes went wide, but she was smiling. She dropped her head back against the flat of his hand and her eyes narrowed.

"You want to punish me, Reth? You want my throat? I'll still give it to you. I trust you not to kill me.

"

"Don't tempt me,

" he growled and buried his face in her neck, sliding his teeth down the column of her neck, his breath thundering against her skin.

She buried her fingers in his hair and pulled him in—harder than was strictly necessary—and he growled with pleasure, then latched onto her shoulder and sucked. Hard.

Her breath caught and her hips rolled towards him. He purred his approval and reached between them to unzip her pants, then slid both his hands inside them, over her hips and down her thighs to push them down.

As they dropped to her ankles she hummed in her throat. She still had her hands in his hair and when he brought his face up to kiss her, she held him off until he opened his eyes—dark with desire, but alight with the edge of his anger.

"Do not tease me, Elia,

" he rasped.

"I am not in the mood.

"

"Such a grumpy King,

" she said.

"I just want to know if you're thinking what I'm thinking?

"

"Depends,

" he said and slid a hand between her legs, then raised a single eyebrow.

"Looks like we might have found a meeting of the minds.

" He slid a finger inside her and her lower lip dropped open, but she didn't let go of his hair, or break eye contact.

"Do you remember, Reth?

" she asked breathlessly.

"What?

"

"The very first night—when you carried me out of the bathing pools?

"

His pupils grew even larger.

"I may… but perhaps you should remind me.

" He used two fingers then, plus his thumb to roll over her most sensitive spot, and her breath caught. Twice.

"Y-you were carrying me.

"

His eyebrow levered up again, then with only a small jab of grief at losing his touch on her warmth, he grabbed her ass with both hands and hiked her up so their hips were level and she could put her legs around his waist.

"Like that?

"

"Y-yes,

" she said.

"And do you remember—

"

"You kissed my throat,

" he said huskily.

She nodded and pulled back on his hair. He resisted her at first, their eyes locked.

For a moment, the hint of a smile she'd had faltered. Then he groaned and closed his eyes, letting his head drop back, as far back as he could.

"Yes,

" she whispered, then laid her open mouth on his throat.

A low, growling call rolled in his chest when she sucked, and he almost gave in and took her right there. But he wasn't ready to give himself over yet.

"Take off the shirt.

"

"I'd rather you did—

"

"Elia,

" he snarled,

"I find my hands rather full,

" he panted.

"I thought Lions had teeth?

" she whispered and he roared—half in desire, half in rage, then bit down on the fabric and yanked, popping the buttons at the top so the shirt fell open, but only bared one breast.

He lifted her higher so he could reach her nipple, opening his mouth over it, biting gently and sucking at the same time.

A tiny noise broke from her throat.

"Reth, I—

" He growled, his mouth coming off her breath with a pop, and let her drop down his body, entering her hard and thrusting immediately.

"Oh!

" she cried, one hand slapping to his neck to brace herself as he thrust again.

"Oh!

"

Reth's back rippled, his beast clawing for freedom, but he shoved it back with a roar of dominance, and thrust into his mate again, who cried his name, her head dropping back against the cave wall.

And the sight of her like that, eyes closed, throat bared, her lips wet and breast perked because of his kiss, broke the tether he'd been trying to hold on himself.

Bracing one arm on the wall, the other holding her, with her legs wrapped around his waist, he pounded into her so hard her breasts jumped and bounced, again, and again, and again, a relentless assault. She could only cling to him, sound breaking from her with each thrust, her voice rising higher and higher with each cry.

She was already close, but he was feeling wicked.

He pounded once more, holding the peak, but then didn't move.

She sucked in a breath and her eyes opened.

"Reth—what?

"

"Is that what you want, Elia?

" he rasped.

"Y-yes!

" she gasped.

"Yes!

"

Pressing in closer, leaning his elbow on the wall, he cupped the back of her head and took her mouth, curling his body to invade her, his tongue only a parody of what he took elsewhere.

She cried his name into his mouth in time with his rhythm, and he almost came a minute later when she was washed in goosebumps from her neck to her knees. The sheer pleasure on her face… But again, just as she threatened to crest the wave, he made himself stop and she panted back to reality.

"What are you doing?

" she groaned, her fingers digging into his shoulders.

"Punishing you,

" he growled with a smile.