n

n

nRETH

nRestraint had never really been an issue for him, but she wound him so tight, he felt like he'd explode the moment he entered her. He needed a moment to get himself back under control. So when he tumbled her back onto the furs and she laughed, he didn't follow immediately. Instead he stood back to look at her, sprawled there, her hands reaching for him, a beaming smile on her face.

n

"Come here, beautiful,

" she giggled.

nHe snorted.

"We'll discuss that later,

" he growled.

nHe let his fingers trail so lightly up the side of her leg that she shivered and her knees fell open. His chest rose and fell like a bellows, giving away his increasing need. He couldn't quite believe this was actually happening. Elia was here. In Anima. Forever. And she was his.

nThank the Creator.

n

"Reth,

" she pushed herself up on her elbows.

"Why aren't you coming up here?

"

n

"Because I need to remember this,

" he said hoarsely.

"I've wanted this for so long… I thought about this. Dreamed about it. Elia… you have no idea…

"

nHer face went serious and she pushed herself up to kneel in front of him, one hand on his chest, the other on his shoulder, her breasts bouncing as she straightened.

"Reth… this is our life now. We can have this whenever we want. You don't have to… this doesn't have to be perfect. If we get it wrong, we'll try again. If I don't like something, I'll tell you. Stop overthinking and just… show me. Please?

"

nHe pulled her into a searing kiss—how had she ended up reassuring him, in this moment? Then, still kissing her, crawled up onto the platform with her, leaning her back until she lay flat and he covered her completely.

nThe mating call huffed in his throat without his will. But she sighed and clawed her fingers into his hair, kissing him, frantic for all the right reasons this time. He cupped her thigh, then dragged his hand slowly up her leg, hooking her knee up and over his hip as he rolled against her again, seeking that perfect slide that had made her mouth drop open last time.

nListening carefully to what made her breath catch, and what made her cry out, he stroked, and kissed, and thumbed until she was panting and her hips writhed.

nInside him, deep in his chest, something came alight as he nudged at her. She shuddered and gasped, her hand slapping on his back when she clung.

n

"This will hurt,

" he gasped through his teeth.

"I'm so sorry, but I can't stop it.

"

n

"It's okay, it's okay!

"

n

"But it will ease with time, love. I promise.

"

n

"Reth, please—

"

nWith one long, shuddering thrust he entered her, expecting to take his time, to work his way to her barrier. But she was so ready, so open to him, he slid all the way to the hilt, crying her name as she gasped and became his.

nShe tensed around him and under him and he froze, trembling. Breath heaving, he waited, one hand cupped over her head, the other holding her leg.

n

"Elia?

" his voice shook.

n

"I'm fine,

" she whispered.

"Just… just give me a minute.

"

n

"I'm so sorry my—

"

n

"Reth, if you apologize to me one more time, I swear I will never sleep with you again.

"

nHe snapped his mouth closed and she laughed, and it squeezed her around him so beautifully, he almost lost the shred of control he had left. He groaned and dropped his head to her shoulder, inhaling deeply as that warmth in his chest spiraled out, twisting together with her scent and the pounding of his pulse, and snapping a lock on his heart that he could feel. As if the shape of her under him, the warmth of her hands on his skin, the whisper of her voice were the keys, and only they could open it.

nReth shook and his breath caught.

n

"Are you okay?

" Elia asked in a small voice.

n

"Yes, yes… I just… I love you, Elia,

" he breathed.

"I love you.

"

n*****

nELIA

nShe'd been crawling the heights of that pressure inside that built with every slide of him against her, and every touch of his hand. She'd gasped his name, and rocked against him, pleading. She'd made noises she'd never heard, and grabbed at him, desperate, begging him!

nWhen he finally plunged inside her, for a moment it was as if he'd come home to her, as if she'd found the place he was always supposed to be. Her head rolled back and her mouth dropped open with the joy of it.

nThen pain stabbed deep inside like a shock of cold water on a hot day, and she froze.

nReth stilled, immediately, though with a shudder that told her he'd struggled to do it. She could think again. She was more than just a bundle of nerves. She was aware. Aware of the pain. But also aware of him. Desperately.

nHe was… everywhere. Over her, inside her, around her—his skin was her blanket, his hand her comfort, his breath in her ear called her name.

n

"Elia?

" his voice trembled.

n

"I'm fine, just… just give a minute.

"

n

"I'm so sorry my—

"

n

"Reth, if you apologize to me one more time, I swear I will never sleep with you again,

" she snapped, then laughed when he closed his mouth so quickly his teeth clicked.

nHer laughing made her… feel him. Inside. She was awed, suddenly so aware that they were as close as two people could be. She bore down on those muscles again, experimenting, and Reth groaned, burying his face in her shoulder and taking a deep breath. Something was happening. She could feel it. Something rolled around inside him and he shook to contain it, his breath catching like he was in pain.

n

"Are you okay?

" Elia asked, slightly afraid that making him stop may have done him harm.

nBut he lifted his head, and though she couldn't see the color in his eyes, she saw them shine.

"Yes, yes… I just… I love you, Elia,

" he breathed.

"I love you.

"

nWhatever had been inside him hit her right in the chest, an embrace to her heart that stole her breath and overwhelmed her with emotion.

nShe took his face in her hands as her heart lit up like one of those lanterns in the forest, glowing with warmth and light—and it eased out of her to envelope him.

n

"Oh, Reth,

" she gasped.

"I love you, too. I think I always have.

" She kissed him then and his breath shuddered across her lips.

n