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nELIA

nElia had kissed men before. She'd even engaged in other… activities occasionally. But the truth was, she'd never truly wanted a man before. She'd always felt slightly afraid—or on one occasion, downright bored.

nBeing in Reth's arms, she forgot all of that. It was as if his touch lit fireworks under her skin—little points of light and heat that sparkled and trailed to fade away long after his fingers had moved on.

nHe made her feel alive.

nThe warmth of the water, the gentle hiss of the waterfall in the next pool, the echo of the rocks… it all felt like a cocoon of love and heat.

nShe wanted more.

nBut, remembering that Reth was so intent on her being the one to choose, she didn't know how to show him. So as his breathing got heavier, and his hands began to shake as they danced on all the places she'd always tried to hide, she found a pressure building inside her, low in her belly. It made her want to move. It made her feel hollow inside.

nIt made her feel like he was the only one who could soothe the ache.

nThen he began to walk her slowly backwards towards the edge of the pool.

n

"Reth…

" his name was gravel in her throat.

nHe pulled away, just far enough to meet her gaze, his hair falling into his eyes so he peered at her through it like he had that first night—when she'd compared him to the lion in the grass, without any idea how appropriate the metaphor was.

n

"Yes?

" he rasped, his fingers curling to cup her neck, his thumb stroking her jaw.

n

"I want you,

" she said breathlessly.

"I don't care about what anyone else thinks. I just… want you.

"

nHe blew out a breath and dropped his forehead to hers, his eyes squeezed shut, like he was in pain.

n

"Is your side hurting?

" she gasped, starting to pull away. She'd forgotten about that!

n

"No,

" he breathed, keeping his arms an iron cage around her.

"I'm just trying to remind myself of all the ways you've been pressured by every damn Anima—

"

n

"No, Reth. That's not what I mean. Look at me.

"

nHe opened his eyes, his warm brown eyes that looked black in the moonlight and stared into hers.

n

"I want you whether it matters to anyone else, or not. I want you now. Today. I've been waiting for you, all this time. I don't want to wait anymore.

"

nHe huffed.

"It's been a week. The elders are just being stubborn. It's not unreasonable—

"

n

"No, Reth, you aren't listening. I've been waiting for you. I didn't even know it until now, but I've had choices before. I've had men who wanted to be with me. And it never felt right… this—

" she put her hand on his chest,

"—this feels right. I want this. I want you.

"

nA shudder rocked through him as she went up on her tiptoes, pulling him down and tilting her head to bring their mouths together, open and gasping, her tongue searching for his.

nThen, when he still didn't move except to kiss her, she brought a hand down his chest, his stomach, low, to the place where she could feel his arousal, like velvet covered steel, nudging at her belly.

nBut before she'd even reached for him, he caught her hand and rasped,

"No. No, not… not now, Elia. I want to do this right and that… that might not help.

"

nShe frowned, but he grinned pulling away suddenly to kneel and pick her up. She yelped and threw her arms around his neck, but he carried her to his chest as he waded through the rest of the pool, then stepped up on to the bench, then out completely, trailing water in his wake.

n

"My shirt!

" she squeaked, clinging to him as he kept walking.

n

"I'll get it later,

" he growled, kissing her as he carried her out of the moonlit chamber and back into the cave.

nShe giggled and pulled his hair back off his neck as he walked her into the greatroom, then opened her mouth against the cord of muscle at his neck and sucked.

nReth groaned and stopped abruptly, cursing, to sit her on a side table against the rock wall, bracing one hand against it as his entire body trembled.

n

"Light!

" he croaked.

"Do that again.

"

nWith a soft laugh, she let her tongue follow the tendon that stood proud on his thick neck, then kissed the hollow at his throat. He groaned, his fingers tight in her hair, shaking.

n

"You like that?

" she whispered against his jaw.

n

"Elia,

" he rasped,

"Fuck.

"

n

"That is the goal,

" she giggled.

nHe took her mouth then, desperate and wild, strange noises in his throat that called for her, his hands pulling her legs around his waist so when he rolled his hips, it brought them skin-to-skin in ways that made Elia pant.

nShe clung to his back and held on as he trembled and shook, kissed the side of his neck as he pressed against her, threatening to take her at any moment. The slide of him against her making that pressure build even higher until she was gasping too.

nHe kissed her again and she clawed a hand into his hair, desperate to be closer, always closer.

n

"Reth,

" she gasped as the hardest parts of him slid against the softest parts of her. And even though it twisted her stomach into a spiral of desire, it wasn't enough.

"Reth, please!

"

n

"Light, Elia, are you certain?

"

n

"Yes!

"

nWith a growl of frustration, he leaned in, cupping her bottom with both hands and lifting her to carry her through the rest of the cave and into the bedroom.

nTaken off guard, she grabbed at his shoulders.

"What—I thought—

"

n

"I'm not screwing you against a wall on your first time,

" he muttered through his teeth, then kissed away her protest.

n

"But we can try it another time, right?

"

nHis eyes lit up.

"Start a list,

" he growled, shouldering the bedroom door open, then kicking it closed behind them and tumbling her onto the sleeping platform as she laughed.

n*****

nIMPORTANT: This is the final free chapter for Reth & Elia. I can't tell you how wonderful your support for this book has been so far. I'm truly grateful. You are world-famous in my home, ha! Thanks, and hold on, because this is where things start to get interesting!

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