AARYN

At some point, Elia returned to the Tree and Reth's eyes lit up when she walked it. It was a relief to Aaryn to see them loving each other again, though a little unsettling when Reth pulled his mate into his arms and kissed her for a long moment before she'd had a chance to greet Aaryn.

He stood there, waiting, wondering where Elreth was, until they were done, then Elia pulled out of Reth's arms and turned to him.

"Oh, Aaryn, it's so good to see you. How are you holding up? It sounds like it was a rough day?

"

He shrugged and accepted her hug, immediately reminded—and shamefully guilty that he hadn't thought about it sooner—that he still needed to go see his own mother and hug her.

"We'll get through it,

" he said.

Elia pulled away, nodding.

"Thank you for taking such good care of her. She's so in love and… that's a blessing honey. You did good.

"

He stammered for a minute, but Reth started laughing again so he had a reason to glare until the moment passed.

"Where is she?

" he asked nervously. Had she stayed away because she was angry with him? Or was it the whole situation.

"She's waiting for you at the cave, she asked me to send you back. She said we've got a meeting this evening, so she's going to rest and try to think some stuff through.

"

Aaryn's stomach tightened. Elreth was in bed?

The rest of the conversation with her parents was kind of a blur as he tried to focus, but his mind kept turning back to Elreth alone and in bed, and possibly falling asleep because he was taking too long to get there.

But finally, he got one more hug from Elia, then left the tree and ran across the meadow to the cave, locking the door behind him in case Gar got any funny ideas, then rushing through to the bedchamber.

Except, the sleeping platform was empty—and the furs undisturbed. He frowned and walked back into the Great Room, but she definitely wasn't there. Had she been called away for something while he was talking to her parents? Or was she upset enough that she'd left? Or maybe she'd thought of something—

"You're home.

" Her voice was warm and husky—and coming from the doorway beyond the kitchen.

The bathing pools. Of course. He should have known. All the running and travel today. She must be exhausted and dirty and…

His face split into a grin and he went for her, pulling her to him in a searing kiss.

She seemed surprised, but warmed up quickly, her hands flat on his back as she kissed him back. When he pulled back to look her in the eyes he combed her hair back off her face and over her shoulders.

Her bare shoulders.

Which was when it registered that she was already naked.

She laughed when she caught his expression.

"I'm going to get cleaned up, did you want to join me?

"

He raised his eyebrows.

"Do I need to answer that question?

"

She giggled and kissed him quickly, then started to pull away, to lead him through the door, but he grabbed her hand before she got a step away and pulled her back.

"El… are we okay? I know… I know we still have decisions to make and—

"

"Yes,

" she said softly, though she wasn't smiling.

"I'm not looking forward to it, Aaryn. I see this differently than you do. But I'm never going to stop loving you, no matter what we have to do. I promise. I love you and… and I'm here and I'll stay here. Always. I'll never walk away from you. I promise. So the rest… the rest we'll just have to figure out, I guess.

"

He stared at her, stunned for a moment, then took her face and kissed her, deep and longing.

She sighed into his mouth and kissed him back, arching into him as the kiss deepened and went on… and on.

Until finally, when they were both panting, he broke away and stared at her.

"I'll never give up, El.

"

"Neither will I.

"

"You realize that means we can get through anything, right? Anything.

"

"I hope so, Aaryn. I really do.

"

Then he took her hand and led her through the door and into the dim cavern where the waterfall was the music they could dance to. He stripped as he walked, putting one arm up to the back of his neck and pulling his shirt off, then unbuttoning his leathers and shucking them off when they made it to the pools.

He'd just folded them and put them down the rock when the warmth of her appeared at his back and her hands danced around his ribs to hold his back to her belly.

He grasped her hands, holding them to his chest, and for a moment they just stood there together.

Then he pulled one of her hands up and kissed her knuckles.

He was about to ask her which of the pools she wanted to start with today, when her other hand dropped to stroke him and his entire body jolted at the contact. He began to tremble slightly as she stroked him. He could feel her breasts pressed against his back, and her lips between his shoulder blades.

He let his head drop back until it rested on the crown of hers and a tiny groan escaped from his throat.

"El… that's fantastic.

"

"Good,

" she whispered, then kissed his back again.

"No matter what, Aaryn. Never stop coming for me. Please? I'm… I'm going to try to make sure I never push you away. So, if I do, you remind me of this, okay? I don't ever want there to be a day I can't touch you—or you can't touch me. I don't ever want there to be a day I don't want to.

"

He grunted and turned, breaking her grip, to take her in his arms and kiss her, sucking in with their tongues began to dance.

"You're amazing,

" he whispered into her mouth.

"I don't deserve you.

"

"Well, I guess that makes us even then,

" she sighed and let him lead her into the water.