RETH

"My stunning mate,

" he whispered, then tangled their tongues, his hands following her shape, stroking and rubbing.

"My magnificent lioness.

"

He could hear her heart pounding, feel her pulse thrumming under her skin as he stroked down her back, and his responded, his heart calling to her as she called to him.

"Reth, I…

" she whispered, but then got lost in the kiss.

"What, love?

" he asked, kissing his way down her neck, to the spot where the scarf was, then purring when he found it. He let his fingers dance up her spine until he found the tie at the back, pulling it to reveal her skin underneath, and the spot where he'd marked her. He laid his lips to it, licked it, purred into it, and she dropped her head back to give him better access, her breath coming faster.

"I just…

" she said in a small voice, her face pinched, half with desire, half with pain.

"I am just terrified of losing you…

" she admitted in a breathless rush.

His fingers tightened at her waist and he growled.

"We will not think of it.

"

"I hadn't. You're so strong, so vital,

" she gasped, then dove into his kiss again.

"I hadn't thought about it until Aymora…

"

"Ah,

" he whispered, and pulled away, just far enough to meet her eyes.

"Did she tell you the story?

"

Elia's chest rose and fell quickly.

"No.

"

"Then… I will let her do that. It is her story to tell. But… just know, we are unlikely to find the same disaster. Few Anima die young.

"

Her brow furrowed when his eyes darted away for a moment, but then he smiled and let his fingers trail up her arms.

"Now, tell me about this dress. How do I unwrap you?

"

Elia coughed, blinking quickly.

"That's exactly the word Candace used!

"

Reth's waggled his eyebrows.

"Remind me to thank her tomorrow.

"

"Reth!

"

"I'm joking, love.

"

Elia gave him a pointed look, but he just kept letting his fingertips draw trails on her back and soon she softened and slid her hands up his stomach with that wicked grin he loved.

"The tie at the back of the neck, the ribbon… I think that is likely where you'll want to start,

" she said.

"But be careful, there's another under it. Don't untie that one.

"

That was odd. Then his eyes flashed.

"You aren't naked underneath?

" He said in mock-offence.

"Such a disappointment!

"

"Trust me,

" she purred.

"You won't be disappointed.

"

Heart pounding, he dove for the ties at the nape of her neck, finding the ones on top and tugging at them until they pulled free, eagerly watching as the beautiful fabric loosened, then slid down her chest until it revealed… yet more fabric?

"What human insanity is this?

" he growled, then blinked.

Elia giggled and pulled at the ties at the neck so the fabric loosened further and the entire dress slid down her body to puddle at her feet. Then she stepped out of it and picked it up, folding it carefully before moving to lay it at the corner of the fur.

"I don't want it to get dirty,

" she said.

"I think that's the most beautiful dress I've ever worn. I don't see many dresses here, is that not standard clothing for Anima?

"

But Reth was speechless, watching her kneel to put the dress on the ground, out of the way. At first he thought she'd worn a second dress under the first and he'd been confused. But this… this was no dress.

His breath caught as she bent forward. The material of the dress fell so low at her back it bared the very top of her backside—but the sheerness of it teased him with hints of what was underneath. Shadows and shapes he could almost make out, but… not quite.

"Elia?

" he croaked and she straightened quickly turning to check if he was okay, her face wide with concern.

"Reth, what—?

"

But the front of the damned thing was even worse, hooked at her neck, it was cut in a way that it hung off her curves, peaking where she peaked, round where she was round. And always, those hints of her skin.

Especially around her breasts. Where the stitching covered slightly more, and yet…

He could see the hint of blush where her nipples peaked underneath it.

"Creator's Light, Elia!

" he rasped and leapt forward, pulling her to him so he could explore this tantalizing creation.

"Where did you get this?

"

"Candace made it for me.

"

"I will give the woman a Festival of her own,

" he groaned,

"if she will make five more.

"

Elia giggled and raised her arms to rest them on his shoulders, her hands falling to the nape of his neck.

"Kiss me, Reth,

"

"Oh, I will,

" he growled.

She giggled and lifted her chin, leaning into him, but he took her lips for barely a breath. Instead, kissing his way down the column of her neck, to her collarbones—hidden at the front by the fabric—then…

"Dear Lord,

" he groaned.

"Thank you.

"

The fabric was paper-thin, and so light, so sheer, so soft, that when he touched it, it merely slid along her skin. Thick with her scent, it brought friction against her and she gasped when his thumb slide over her nipple.

"Do that again,

" she gulped.

So, he did.

And as her head began to sink back, he dropped to place his mouth on the nipple right over the fabric, sucking and wetting it. The temptation to bite was strong, but he wanted to see and… He groaned when he straightened, then dropped again to lave the other nipple because the fabric, when wet from his attentions, was entirely see-through, and it stuck to her skin, puckering to reveal the rosy blush of her nipples, and peaking where they stood out, hard under his tongue.

"Oh, Reth…

" she gasped and clutched at his hair.

"Elia, please, I've waited so long,

" he mumbled around her nipple.

But she had already dropped her hands to his belt, pulling it loose.

"I'm ready, Reth. I've waited too.

"

As soon as she dropped his trousers and he stepped out of them, he lifted her, his hands at her ribs, so she was high, her nipples level with his mouth. She braced on his shoulders, and for a moment the sight of her—beaming smile, her hair falling over her face, and her breasts dangling under the fabric—threatened to overwhelm his control.

But with a quiet groan—still mindful of the guards who would be out of eyeshot, but still listening—he slid her down, urging her to lock her legs around his waist as she dropped, shifting, pulling her onto himself until her weight took him into her, right to the hilt.

They both gasped, and he staggered.

He hadn't meant to take her so quickly, but he'd been unable to resist, and for a moment, all he could do was center their weight, lean her back and thrust.

"Reth! I—

"

"I have you, Elia,

" he rasped.

"I won't let you fall.

"

She shivered as he thrust again, then with her arms hooked at his neck, and her legs at his waist, she let herself lean back slowly as he rocked into her again, and again.

They both sighed, and Reth could have stayed there all night with that sight of her, with himself inside her, with their bodies rolling together. But his knees were shaking with the force of his desire for her, and he feared, whether he dropped her or not, he might injure them both if his orgasm hit and he tumbled her to the dirt.

"Hold on, love,

" he whispered and, holding her weight with one arm, he sank carefully down to the furs.

She unhooked her ankles as he leaned back, and the moment her knees took her weight, she braced on his chest and began to roll against him, whimpering desperately.

"Holy—Elia… **.

"

Her head was tipped back, her hair brushing his thighs. Her breasts, still shrouded in that insane…whatever it was, were emphasized because her elbows pushed them in. And her nipples… Light, her nipples beckoned him.

With a groan, he lifted one hand to her breast and tweaked the nipple as she rolled against him and she sucked in. Then she cried out, again and again, as he began to play both hands over her, tweaking, pinching, rolling to bring friction to those sensitive peaks, in time with her rapidly increasing pace.

The sensation of her, clenching on him, her hips rolling over him, her breasts beginning to bounce with the force of their joining, and her throat, open and bare to him, marked with the sign of her vow, it all conspired to shred his control.

He wouldn't last, but she was still climbing the wave of her own climax. With a prayer to the Creator that he could hold it together, he slid his thumb between them to find her, hot and slippery.

A moan tore out of his throat when she clenched harder, but it took only three slides against her for her eyes to fly open and her to suck in a gulping breath as she shuddered and broke apart.

While she still shook and cried, he wrapped her in his arms and rolled them over, holding her knee over his hip and bracing on the ground next to her head with the other arm as he pounded into her, his teeth gritted against a roar.

"Reth! Reth!

"

"Elia! My love! My love!

" His entire body jerked and shivered as he lost control, his thrusts first erratic, then slowing, until he gasped and lowered himself over her to catch his breath.

*****

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