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*****

RETH

"Reth, you're shaking!

"

She stood between his feet because he'd hurriedly put her down when he'd realized he was still standing over the hole. He was terrified of losing his grip on her, of accidentally dropping her as all the strength went out of his limbs in response to the tidal wave of adrenalin that flooded him when she'd almost dropped to her death.

Straight to the rocks.

There would have been no way her fragile human body could have survived that.

He'd never intended…

He'd seen an equine fall from a cliff to rocks below, once. The image of Elia tumbling to her death that way rocked him. A wave of nausea hit him and he swallowed hard and backed away from the hole, stumbling slightly, then catching himself.

"Reth! Reth, are you okay?

"

"Yes, I'm just… recovering,

" he said gruffly. He sat down on the stump and put the heels of his hands to his eyes.

"Elia, that was—

"

"That was AMAZING, Reth! I'm so glad you forced me. I never would have done it if you hadn't insisted. And I did it!

"

She was full of adrenalin too, and ecstatic with it. He wanted to share her joy, but he was struggling to get past the mental image of her dead on the floor of the bathing pool cavern.

Then she stepped up, between his knees, pulling his head up. When he met her eyes, she leaned down and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck and tilting her head, her breath already rapid from the climb, now shallow as well.

He sucked in and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into his chest. She came willingly. Then she groaned and tipped her head back, and he devoured her neck with lips and tongue.

"Elia, I…

"

"Thank you,

" she whispered to the sky.

"Thank you, Reth.

"

"You could have died, Creator's Light, Elia, I almost lost you.

" He pulled her in so tightly she squealed. But when he loosened his arms, she didn't move, leaning into him, then crawling over him to straddle his thighs and keep the kiss.

"You didn't lose me, Reth. I'm here. See? I'm here.

"

He groaned and leaned back when she started kissing down his neck.

"Please don't ever do that again,

" he whispered, his hands fisted in the back of her shirt.

"Of course I'll do it again,

" she chided, kissing his mouth before he could argue, biting his lower lip almost hard enough to bring pain.

"I'll just wait until I'm a little stronger. Then see how much faster I can do it!

"

Her arms, still on his shoulders and wrapped around his neck, trembled. He took one of her hands and unwrapped it, kissed her palm, then her wrist, and up her arm. She giggled.

"You're shaking,

" he said.

"You need to rest now.

"

"Please, there's no time to rest. You know that.

"

"You have time for your mate, surely?

"

She pulled back far enough to meet his eyes and lifted one eyebrow.

"I don't know. I woke up late this morning. And I still need to bathe. It's going to be a busy day.

"

"If not your mate, then time for you King,

" he said, his voice husky.

"Your King orders you to take at least… thirty minutes, right now. To rest and… enjoy yourself.

"

She tilted her head and ran her fingers through his hair.

"Only if my King promises to rest and enjoy himself with me.

"

She laughed when he dove for her neck again, but soon her laughter turned to pants as he unbuttoned her leathers and shucked them off, frantic to find her skin.

His need for her was sudden, and absolute. He had to prove to himself that she was there, and safe, and his.

Only his.

"Elia,

" he groaned as she stepped out of her trousers, then reached for the belt of his. Then he stood, pulling her around the stump to the grass behind them, and the blanket he'd brought up earlier.

"Lay down,

" he rasped.

She looked at him for a moment, then smiled and raised a hand to her shirt.

"Did you want to take this off, or should I?

"

He was already pulling his belt free and shoving down his own pants. Her eyes widened at his obvious arousal. He didn't even bother answering, just reached for her blouse at the hem and pulled it up and over her head. It stuck on her chin for a moment, but she twisted out of her, her eyes twinkling as she stood in front of him completely naked and he raked her with his eyes, from crown to toe, reassuring himself that there were no new bruises, no wounds, nothing bleeding. He turned her around and she hummed, thinking he was going to take her, but he just knelt, running his hands down her legs, then back up, to check that she was safe. He found nothing amiss, and tipped his forehead against her spine, sighing heavily.

"Reth?

" she asked quietly.

"Are you okay?

"

A shiver rocked his whole body. But when she twisted as if to turn, he held her in place and placed another kiss on her spine.

"I'm just praying,

" he murmured against her skin.

She coughed.

"About what?!

"

"Thanking the Creator that you're safe,

" he said huskily.

"For a moment there… I saw it, 'Lia, I saw what it would be like if you were—

" he cut himself off. He couldn't say it.

She turned in his arms, her face lined with worry.

"Reth, I'm fine. You knew I'd be fine.

"

"I… I never thought… You were very brave, Elia. It was never my intention that you would do that. Not yet. Now I find myself… afraid.

"

She frowned.

"No, Reth. Don't be afraid. Be proud. I did it. It was hard, but I did it.

"

"It very nearly cost you your life.

"

"But it didn't. See?

" She took a step back, away from him, and lifted her arms.

"I'm fine!

"

He scanned her again, but this time let himself focus on the places her skin blushed—her cheeks, her thighs, her rosy nipples. The mating huff tore out of him and her eyes went wide.

"I love that sound,

" she whispered.

"I only make it for you.

"

"Now.

"

"No, Elia. Ever. I've never made that call to any other female in my entire life.

"

Her small smile grew and she stepped back up to where he knelt, cupping his face.

"I love you, Gareth.

"I'm pretty sure, I love you more,

" he whispered, then took her in a searing kiss.

*****

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