n

n

nRETH

nReth woke hours before dawn, his nose full of her scent and his body aching to join with her.

nHe'd dragged himself into the furs well after high moon. Elia had left the meetings hours earlier, and was soundly asleep by the time he made it to the room. His only comfort had been that she'd chosen his furs to sleep in. He'd slipped between them into the warm pocket she'd created and wrapped himself around her. But either she hadn't woken or she hadn't spoken, and he'd fallen asleep immediately.

nBut now… now he was awake.

nVery firmly awake.

nElia lay with her back to him, her hair scattered over the pillow and her face. Her shoulder pressing up and out of both the furs, and the wide neck of her sleepshirt.

nThe bare skin was an invitation he couldn't turn down.

nHe shifted closer to her, noting how much better his ribs felt, and thanking the Creator for the Anima blood that allowed him to heal so quickly. He'd seen how long the human body took to heal itself. It worried him should Elia have any serious wounds.

nPushing the dark thoughts away, he pressed himself against her back and pulled her hair back, off her neck and cheek, so that skin was bare also. Then he set his mouth right on the spot where her shoulder met her neck and laved it with his tongue, humming his approval at her warm scent.

nShe came awake slowly, her eyes fluttering. Then she stretched, and he let his hand slide down the inside of her arm, to her breast, which he cupped, as he continued to explore her neck and shoulder with his lips and tongue.

nHer breath came more quickly and she leaned back into his chest.

"Is it morning?

" she rasped.

n

"Not yet,

" he said against her skin.

nHer hand slid down to where his cupped her breast, and he thought she might remove it. But after a moment, she only pressed him in harder.

nReth's breath sped up. His arousal was plain already, but he didn't want to frighten her.

n

"You were incredible last night,

" he whispered in her ear, then nipped her earlobe. She shivered and goosebumps pebbled the skin on her neck and back.

"I like seeing you… defiant.

"

n

"Reth?

"

n

"Yes?

"

n

"I waited for you last night.

"

n

"I know, I'm sorry, I'd missed so many—

"

n

"Reth?

"

n

"Yes?

"

n

"Shut up and kiss me.

" She rolled over to face him and with a purr of desire he pulled her in. But she was already there, kissing, her tongue against his, her hands all over his back and shoulders.

nShe seemed frantic, and Reth was surprised. She'd been asleep just second before. Had she had a dream?

nThen she arched against him and gasped,

"Please, Reth!

" but her scent held more fear than desire and he pulled away to search her eyes—which flew open as soon as he stopped kissing her.

n

"What's wrong?

" he said, trying to calm his breathing.

n

"Nothing? Why?

"

n

"You're… I can smell your fear, Elia.

"

n

"I'm not afraid of you!

"

n

"You're afraid of something. What is it?

"

nTo his shock, her face crumpled and she buried it in her hands, her shoulders shaking with tears that he'd had no warning were coming.

n

"Elia, love, what is it?

" He was alarmed. Had she been hurt? Had she had a nightmare? He stroked her hair back and crooned to her, pulling her into his chest, but she only sobbed harder.

"Sweet girl, please. What's wrong?

"

n

"They killed the romance!

" she cried and if his hearing wasn't so sharp, he would have thought he'd misheard her.

n

"What? Who?

"

n

"Those—those men. With all their questions and… like this is some kind of plot. Or plan. Like I'm trying to trap you—and Aymora with all her instructions. I can't… we need to just get this over with so they'll all stop talking about it and then maybe we can enjoy it!

" She buried her face in his chest and clung to him.

nCursing himself for an insensitive fool, Reth held her, stroking her hair and her back, shushing her until she calmed. When her tears finally eased and she pulled back far enough that he could see her eyes—puffy and still shining with unshed tears—he sighed.

n

"Don't worry about them. Any of them,

" he said, stroking her hair off her face.

"Don't worry about the timing. They'll all survive a few more days—weeks even!

"

n

"Reth, don't be ridiculous. You have entire tribes working on assassination attempts just because we haven't done the dirty—we need to get it done!

" She tried to pull him in, but he stopped her.

n

"No, Elia, I won't do that. I won't let you do that, either. This is between us. I promise you, the day it happens, it will stop being their business. They'll stop caring.

"

n

"They care now!

"

n

"Only because they don't understand it. I know it's frustrating. But I promise you… we can take our time. Our own time. I'll handle the critics until then.

"

n

"But you shouldn't have to! It's so unfair!

"

nReth rolled over onto his back so his most insistent body part could stop being brushed by her legs and making the argument for her. He pulled her into his side and sighed, raking his free hand through his hair.

"No, you're right. It isn't fair. But… life's not fair. So for now, my people are confused and some of them are angry. But when the time comes, they'll get over it. Until then, I'll deal with it. None of that means that you have to rush into… anything.

"

n

"But—

"

n

"No, Elia, I won't be moved on this.

" He hadn't meant to make it an order, but he knew it sounded like one. She went very still in his arms and he sighed again.

"How about we get our minds off this and… Are you hungry?

"

n

"Not really,

" she sighed. Reth frowned.

"What I really want is a shower. I miss showers.

"

nHe turned his head.

"Didn't anyone show you the bathing pools?

"

nShe shuddered.

"Yes, but… I'm not going to go have a bath with all those people!

" her voice got so high it was almost a squeak.

nReth smiled.

"No, I meant my bathing pools.

"

nShe blinked.

"No.

"

nHis grinned broadened and he pushed the furs back, leaping out of bed.

"Come on then, I have just the thing.

"

n