RETH

Reth groaned with the sheer ecstasy of being inside her again. It was not only his favorite place to be, but it fed something deep at his core, something entirely un-physical.

Lord, he'd missed her.

When he was seated all the way, his breath puffing in her hair, he pulled her back, pressing her up and against him, both hands sliding to find her breasts and hold the weight of them in his palms once her back rested against his chest.

Her skin pebbled and her nipples, already hard, pressed like rivets into his palms. She'd warned him she was tender there so he was careful. But from the way she pressed into his hands and sighed, he gathered she enjoyed the touch.

Then she let her head drop back onto his shoulder and she rocked her hips, and he almost came on the spot.

They both groaned. Elia's hands slid up, up over his own hands cupping her, then up her shoulders, and back, up, to find his neck, his hair, her elbows high as she clasped her hands behind his neck to keep him close—the position only raising her full, heavy breasts higher.

The feeling of her fingers sliding through his hair, along his scalp, sent goosebumps chasing each other in waves down his back and he groaned again.

Elia whispered his name and began to rock and even though he wanted to be so careful, he was at the mercy of her, his body aflame and driven to reach for her, to press into her, to meet her need.

The position left her entire body open to his hands and, with his chin on her shoulder so he could watch her breasts bob, watch her body writhe, he began to stroke and slide, letting his fingers dance along her sides, then down her thighs almost to her knees, then dragging them back up the insides of her legs where she straddled him.

The tiny hairs on her legs stood tall under his touch, and if he'd had any room to think, he would have been smug about the whimper that broke in her throat. But he was as desperate for her as she was for him, and this all felt too right, to perfect, to be broken by anything other than sheer love.

They rocked together, finding the rhythm that made her breath come faster, that made her fingers grip and her eyes flutter closed.

Reth needed to grit his teeth against the pleasure of it all. He didn't want to come too quickly. But it had been so long and she was so lovely.

"Creator's Light, Elia,

" he croaked, nipping at her neck and rolling this thumbs gently over her nipples that had darkened and thickened in pregnancy.

"You're so beautiful.

"

'I need you, Reth!

" she panted, rocking faster, gripping his neck harder.

"Please!

"

He had to take his eyes off the way her breasts jiggled or he wasn't going to last, so he turned his face into her neck, dropped his lips to the scars from the claiming, laving the spot where her shoulder met her neck with his tongue.

"I love you, Elia,

" he rasped, his hands at her hips, pulling her into him, praying he did her no harm as his need increased.

"I love you.

"

"I love you, Reth!

" she cried, her voice high and frail. Still arched backwards, she was riding him now, and her voice began to break at the peak of each roll, crying his name in a gasp. He yearned to have her closer, always closer, their bodies plastered together, and his arms around her, pulling her in tight.

He curled himself around her, putting their bodies in contact at every point available, yearning for her. He wished he could take her within himself, hold her away from the world, do whatever needed to be done for her, certain he was strong enough to meet what he had to face. He only wanted her safe!

Her warm softness called to him and he groaned the mating call. Her head tipped back again when she replied and their voices echoed in the cave together, rhythm and counterpoint to their bodies.

Then Reth let his hand slide down, following the line of her swollen belly, to that space between her thighs above where they were joined.

Still sensitive, she jolted when he found her, clenching around him tighter and he bellowed with his need for her.

"Don't let go! Don't let go!

" she cried, her arms still high as she clutched at his shoulders.

"Never,

" he rasped, sliding his fingers against her and feeling her shiver.

"Never. You're mine, Elia. Only mine!

"

Sliding his finger from where they were joined, up to that bundle of nerves that set her alight, he felt her crest the wave again, screaming his name, her body tight and tense, her breath catching, body arching, on and on until she shuddered and her body jolted again.

Grasping her hips, Reth pulled her against him two more times before he gave in, roaring his claim to her and defying any one, anything to try and take her from him.

Then his body shoulders finally slumped. Wrapping his arms around her, dropping his chin to her shoulder, he held her to him, both of them trembling.

They sat that way for a full minute, both of them blinking, breathing, trying to find themselves again in the wake of that wave.

Elia's breath heaved, her shoulders rising and falling with it, and for a moment Reth was concerned.

"Elia,

" he croaked, his voice deep and jagged.

"Are you—

"

"I'm fine,

" she panted.

"I'm really fine, Reth. Oh, thank the Creator. I needed you so badly.

"

He sighed with relief and kissed her hair. She turned her head, leaning slightly to reach his mouth with her own and he held her face as he kissed her, letting his lips tell her how he still needed her. How he loved her.

When their breathing was beginning to return to normal, he whispered to her to hold his arms. Then he gripped her close and shifted, laying them on their sides on the furs so she used his arm as a pillow and he spooned her, but she could relax.

Still within her, he kissed her neck again, let his hands roam all over her body, his knees fitting behind hers.

"Never, ever stop loving me, Reth,

" she whispered, tracing the lines in the palm of his hand that was extended in front of her.

He curled his fingers over hers, catching her hand and kissed her neck again.

"Never, Elia,

" he whispered.

"Never.

"

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