~ SASHA ~

Sasha’s entire body tingled with heat and joy. She whispered his name and tried to pull him closer, but there was already no space between them.

She’d never had sex during her cycle before and had initially been apprehensive. But as soon as he started kissing her, as soon as they were touching, she’d forgotten everything else in the rush of being close to him—the smell of his skin, like earth and rain, the sound of his deep voice vibrating against her chest. The growl that puttered in his throat when she dropped her head back to give him easier access to her throat.

They were slathered together and everything in her wanted more—she clawed at his back, grabbed his ass, and pulled him closer, gasping, panting, kissing his neck, and nipping at his earlobes.

He whined in his throat and whispered her name and the sound of her name on his lips immediately followed by those lips on her skin were a shivering thrill that she’d never felt.

She’d meant to tell him how precious it was to be close to him again, to show him all the ways she’d missed him, to explain… but the moment they touched it lit a fuse within her that demanded to find its release.

”Zev… I…”

”God, Sash.”

Then he entered her and her entire body responded, waves of tingling pleasure chasing themselves up and down her spine. As they threw their heads back in tandem, groaning cries erupting from both of them, she forgot everything except the weight of him pressing her into the furs, the delicious slide of his hands in her hair, his lips on her neck, and the sound of his voice, calling her name.

There was some pain at times, tight muscles stretching to accommodate, but it barely registered as their bodies called for each other, and they climbed the heights of pleasure, each stepping on the other’s shoulders as they climbed towards the summit.

Then Zev, his back growing damp under her hands, braced his elbows above her shoulders, wrapped his hands over her head, dropped his forehead to hers, and began to pound, calling her name.

Sasha cried out and gave herself up. Clinging to his biceps that had become steel under her palms she met him stroke for stroke, barely breathing as he pressed and slid and invaded, pushing her closer and closer to that edge.

The world sucked in and disappeared until there was nothing but his hot breath mingling with hers, his frantic cries, his lips hovering over hers, his tongue flicking.

Then he tilted his hips found that perfect spot deep within her. Sasha cried out and dropped her head back as her entire body was consumed, her orgasm washing over her like water down her skin, at the same moment her blood went hot and cold, and the bond spun in her chest, shooting through her veins to reach for him.

Zev cried out a moment later, back-arching, the tendons on his neck standing proud as he gasped and shuddered, clinging to her as his jaw went slack and he groaned her name.

Then he slumped over her, both of them sweating, panting, limbs tangled and hair sticking to their faces.

Sasha found herself emotional with the sheer joy of having him back and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held him close, despite the heat.

He’d dropped his head next to hers while he struggled to recover, his breath rushing over her shoulder and raising goosebumps there that he kissed away.

And she was so happy, so relieved, humming with the joy of the bond, that she could finally relax. For the first time in weeks, she just breathed.

Zev didn’t move, his back rising and falling with his panting breaths. Sasha just held him and thanked God that they’d found each other again.

There was so much they would have to face, so many things that would try to tear them apart, but at that moment, she felt only the certainty that she was for him, and he was for her. And that she was safe in that.

She laid back on the furs, drawing a hand up and down his spine until it stopped of its own accord and she drifted off into blissful sleep.

*****

A few minutes later, Zev sucked in a breath and raised his head, startling Sasha back to awareness.

Her body felt delicious—tingly but relaxed. She didn’t want to let him go. She didn’t want to get up, or deal with the females, or even leave the house, but Zev’s heart was pounding as if something had frightened him.

”What is it?” she asked quickly, putting a hand to his face. He looked around the room as if he was disoriented.

”Nothing,” he said quickly. “I just… we need to get you cleaned up and back out there.” He was tense under her hand, but he looked down at her with love in his eyes, and stroked her face. “I can’t believe you’re back. I can’t believe they let you come back,” he murmured.

She shook her head. “I’ll be honest, it kind of shocked me too.”

He tucked a strand of sweaty hair behind her ear and smiled. “My beautiful Alpha,” he murmured. “You did the impossible.”

”That’s the thing, Zev, I don’t feel like I did. I feel like… like I played into their hands somehow. But Nick said I persuaded Horace and… I don’t know. I’m just glad we’re here. I really don’t ever want to be away from you again. Ever.”

”Me either,” he said softly, kissing her, then stroking her cheek with his thumb.

Soon, they got up and went to the bathing room together. Sasha’s heart squeezed, when Zev took the soap and thick cloth and started washing her—not only where they’d had sex, but all over her body, his face pinched in concern and protective care.

It made her want to weep. But not as much as when they both sighed and started to dress.

”Tonight I’m taking you to the bathing pool I know near the City,” he said, his voice dark with promise. “We’re going to wash the stink of that place off you, and I’m going to love you and…” He made a strange noise in his throat, then pulled her into another soft, lingering kiss. “I don’t want to let you go,” he sighed a long moment later.

Exhausted, but happy, Sasha leaned into his chest and inhaled him as he held her. With her eyes closed, and not letting her mind drift, she could find that peace again, just from being in his arms.

And she was very, very grateful.