AUTHOR NOTE: (Added after publication so you aren't charged for these words)

This is the last scene with Gahrye and Kalle for this book. I want to thank you for your support of Gahrye from day one. Gahrye is the guy I want to see succeed, and whose heart I want to protect. The fact that you have loved him and wanted good for him since he first showed up as has been a joy for me. So thank you for sharing that journey! And don't forget... you'll get more of his story later in Taming the Queen of Beasts, so add it to your library today!

If you enjoy music while you read, try listening to

"Always Love You

" by SayWeCanFly while you read this. It's the song I've listened to while writing Gahrye and Kalle's emotional scenes for the past few months. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

*****

GAHRYE

"Yes,

" Kalle gasped back immediately.

Her hands had slackened in his grip, but he kept them high over her head as he took her mouth, letting his lips drag against hers and his tongue tease and taste. Then, as the fire rose within him, and the rush of the water faded because all he could see or hear was her, he deepened the kiss. Reaching down cup the back of her thigh and ease her leg up, opening her to him, then resting his forehead against hers and holding her gaze, he slid against her again and again until her breath was hot and coming through gritted teeth.

Seeing her like that—eyes sparking with heat and cheeks pinking—only fueled the flames rising in him.

She whimpered and rolled her hips. But she pinned as she was, she couldn't get any real leverage against him.

He enjoyed having her laid out like that for him, but if he was going to do this he needed both hands, and she needed to be safe from slipping. So, with a whispered smile to be a good girl with those hands, he let her go and began to stroke, exploring every dip and valley of her beautiful body that had thickened slightly as the winter months set in.

He liked it. She was soft where he was hard, her body warm and welcoming, always.

He'd always enjoyed a female that wasn't all points and joints, but then, he'd enjoyed any female form, really. Until he'd met her—until he'd made love to her—he'd never really cared what a female looked like.

But now… now when anyone spoke of the ideal female, or the perfect wife… now his mind held a picture of Kalle.

Her hands were all over him, his shoulders, his chest, his sides… Her head dropped back against the tile as he kissed his way down her neck. He marveled again at how she offered herself to him so freely—not only that she felt safe to do so, but that she seemed to enjoy it.

Then he let his fingers play between them, to make sure she was ready, and she whimpered. Gahrye growled like a predator.

"Hold on,

" he whispered. She nodded quickly, eyes still closed as she concentrated on where he touched her, her hips bumping and rolling into him, seeking to join. Positioning himself, he found her other thigh and pulled, taking her weight, lifting her against the wall, finding her and entering her, in one smooth stroke.

Kalle cried out in joy, then her hands cupped the back of his neck and pulled him closer, her tongue taking his mouth in the same way he took her.

They rolled together, groaning, their bodies in perfect time, and for Gahrye, everything disappeared except his gorgeous, sensual mate, her warm, wet skin, her legs wrapped around his waist and pulling him in, and the beautiful, beautiful taste of her skin.

He opened his eyes to look on her and his body shuddered at the sight of her open mouth, wet hair slicked against her face and neck, and her breasts, bobbing in time with their joining.

One hand holding her ass, he cupped her face, then trailed his hand down, watching his darker, bronze skin contrast against hers—not only paler, but pinker—until he reached her breast and palmed it, pressing it higher so he could curl to get his mouth on that peak.

"Oh! Gahrye! Gahrye!

" she cried. Kalle had always been so responsive to his touch, but he'd noticed since his return that she seemed to find climax more easily.

It was a joy to him, then, watching her eyes glaze and her mouth fall open, hearing her cries echo around the room as they rocked together.

Then she clenched around him and her fingers dug into the muscles of his back. He thrust again, and the tightness of her tipped him over the edge, so that they tumbled together, their voices as mingled as the water trailing from his chest to hers, and back.

The world around them disappeared—along with his fears for the future, concerns for Anima, for Reth and the bears—and there was nothing left to his mind, but the beauty of Kalle, the thunder of her breath in his ear, and the soft, strong press of her body.

The moment seemed to last forever. But when Gahrye finally slumped, one hand under her ass, the other against the wall, and sucked in a breath, Kalle clung to him, panting and blinking against the spray of the shower on his back.

He cursed, then tasted the skin on her shoulder, shifting her higher, then shaking in the wake of the jolt when sensitive skin moved against sensitive skin.

"Gahrye… that was…

" Kalle panted.

"I know.

"

She combed her fingers into his hair and pulled his head back to force him to meet her eyes.

"Never, ever stop doing that to me, please,

" she whispered.

"It will break my heart the day you don't want me,

" he whispered back.

Kalle shook her head.

"What did we do to deserve this?

"

"I don't know. But… but I'm so grateful for you, Kalle. Everything else could fall away… I could lose all of it. But as long as you're here—

"

"I know,

" she said, her chin trembling.

"Me too.

"

They stared at each other and Kalle cupped his face.

"Merry Christmas, Gahrye.

"

"Merry Christmas, Kalle.

"

"You're the best present I've ever received.

"

"Me too, Kalle.

"

Then he kissed her again, and didn't breathe for a very, very long time.

*****

SURPRISE! I wanted to reward all of you who have supported me by buying privilege this month, as well as… well, I just missed Reth. That's the pure truth. So this story is just a little bit of fun and fluff to give us all a chance to enjoy a little more time with Reth and Elia. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! There will be 10 chapters released today, one every 20 minutes starting NOW! Thank you for your support, your encouragement, and your love for these characters.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ME AND MY LOVED ONES TO YOU AND YOURS!