ELRETH

She'd let her hands ripple all the way up his sides, her fingers rolling up and down over the lines of muscle that painted his abdomen. Then he growled,

"I want you,

" and every hair on her body stood up.

She raised her eyes to meet his, smiling, but he was already coming for her, mouth hot and needy, open, his tongue plunging to wrestle hers into submission.

He slid one hand up her side, up the underside of her arm, to her lace his fingers with hers, and pin the hand above her head on the tree, then pulled back far enough to see her that way again—submitted, his. She smiled up at him through her lashes, and he growled again, letting it putter in his throat as he used his other hand to tug at her braid, pulling her head back to bare her throat, then he opened his mouth over the curve of it, raked his teeth down either side of her jugular.

She shuddered and he hesitated. Was he going too far? But then she arched again, her hips bumping against his, seeking him.

"I've got you,

" he whispered.

"Trust me.

"

"I do,

" she murmured back, the words dissolving into a groan as he stroked her breast, then her side, his hand sliding down, down, down until he found the apex of her thighs and plunged greedily to her warmest, softest skin, groaning when he found her slick and ready.

He almost lost his control, shuddered as he fought with the beast within him that wanted, needed to possess her. But he forced himself remember her, to find her pleasure before his own.

He delved within her first with one finger, then, when she sighed, with two.

Her nipples, already hard, stood up under his attentions and he felt them like rivets when they brushed his chest.

Elreth was already beginning to roll her hips, shifting her feet to find the most comfortable, most effective angle for his access, and her pleasure.

Then he added his thumb, rolling over that bundle of nerves that always set her alight, and she gave a little moan.

Her body went somehow loose and rigid in the same breath. She rolled against him, seeking him shamelessly, but unable to reach him with her arm pinned high above her head. So instead she lifted her leg, wrapping her knee around his thigh and groaning when it opened her and he found that perfect slide to make her shiver and jolt.

"Aaryn,

" she gasped.

"Please.

"

"I want to enjoy you,

" he rasped, leaning back to watch her face.

Her eyes were closed and her mouth open, her head lolled back against the tree. But her body was alive and reaching for him. Seeking the join.

"I want to enjoy you!

" she said breathlessly.

"Please—oh!

"

One hand still high to pin her grip against the tree, the other between her legs and playing her like a musical instrument, Aaryn had stretched himself down to take her other nipple in his mouth.

Elreth jolted again, arching hard off the tree to press into him, her stomach and breasts jumping with the force of her thrill.

She buried her free hand in his hair again, holding him there, huffing in bursts between holding her breath completely.

"Please, Aaryn!

"

He shook with the force of his desire for her—and a little bit with fear of what he wanted to do. Coming off her breast, he gave one more long, slow, slide of pressure, touching all her most sensitive skin. She stopped breathing completely when he pressed his thumb against her. All of her skin began to heat, as the building pressure and desire low in her belly shoved at her, demanded satisfaction.

"Aaryn, please!

" she groaned.

With a low chuckle that had to be the most desirable sound she'd ever heard, he took her mouth, then took himself in hand, sinking and rolling, finding her, pressing against her, but not giving in to take her. Yet.

"What…

" she gasped…

"Why…

"

"I love you, El,

" he rasped, his voice tight and hoarse.

"I love you so much.

"

"I love you too, Aaryn.

" Her voice was too high. She clapped her free hand to the back of his neck.

"But what the hell are you waiting for?

"

His hand grabbed at the back of her thigh, lifting slighting to give himself room as he found her core and took her, sliding to the hilt in one sharp thrust.

Elreth cried out and her eyes opened. Aaryn made the mating call, but he'd leaned slightly away and was looking down, watching where they joined as he called over and over, thrusting hard and powerfully so her entire body jiggled with the force of it.

"El… El…. Oh **.

"

Then he finally let her hand go and grabbed her, pulling her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist, holding her there as he began to pound.

Elreth, laced her fingers at the back of his neck and just held on.

For long minutes, his fingers stroked, clawed, and gripped all over her body.

He buried his face where her shoulder met her neck, his breath hot and heavy on her skin. His chest brushed her nipples with every thrust, and her entire body came alive under his hands, with the force of their joining, and the sound of him calling to her.

She'd never felt so… afraid that he wouldn't give enough. Something within him seemed terrified—and yet, he took her, his mouth like a brand on her skin. Where they joined, pleasure spiraled out into her limbs. Her entire body shook—and so did he. She called to him, her voice high, frantic, needy. And he responded, taking her faster, harder, until all that was left was to hold on.

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and clung to him, held on against the inexpressible joy of having him—and the wordless fear that somehow she was losing him. And as they finally, joyously climbed that final peak together and he threw his head back, changing the angle and grinding into her, Elreth screamed as her entire body shuddered to a climax that stole her, mind and soul.

She was still clinging, rolling over and over in that wave, unable to tell which way was up, when Aaryn called again and went rigid, his body quivering, his toes scrabbling in the dirt, his forehead pressed against hers and his mouth open and hot.

"Never give up on me, El,

" he rasped, his body still twitching and shuddering from his orgasm.

"Never,

" she gasped back.

"Never, Aaryn.

"

***** PRIVILEGE WARNING *****

Don't forget: Don't buy any expensive privilege tiers now, because the whole system resets on 1 November (31 October if you're in the USA) and then will require you to re-purchase! So save your money until Halloween to buy privilege ONCE and enjoy your advance reading all month!