AARYN

He hadn't intended to start anything. He knew it was going to be a hellish day. Neither of them had slept much. And he'd taken her the night before, until they were both sweaty and exhausted.

But when she rolled over… when he combed back her hair and her eyes closed and her head dropped back… when she arched into his touch and clearly wanted him, it lit a fire in him.

There was something so precious—and so hot—about his mate who was so coy, so… unsexual with everyone else, who would give herself to him so completely.

Even the night before, with her parents, she'd been closed off. She didn't even want to give these moments words. Yet somehow, when the door was closed and they were alone, she was unfettered. She offered herself to him completely—trusting, enjoying him.

It was, he thought, the greatest joy of his life when she rippled under his palm. It was, he decided, the Creator's greatest blessing that she wanted to.

And it was **ing amazing when she touched him back.

They lay on their sides, facing each other, buried in the furs. Her hair, loose and shining, flowed in every direction around her head and shoulders, like a great, copper halo. Her eyes were mostly closed, hooded and heavy, fluttering when he stroked her, her lower lip loose and full, falling open when he reached down to find that silky heat that had called to him the moment he woke.

She arched into his touch, her hands fluttering on his chest, his stomach, lower, until she found him, thick and hard and she stroked too.

Both of them began to pant.

They were both exhausted, their movements slow and languid, but the flames in his belly rose higher and higher, as Elreth's eyes closed and her body began to writhe, pressing herself into his hand.

He cupped the back of her knee and pulled her leg up, over his hip, then found her core again, teasing and playing until Elreth began to sigh, and whimper.

They kissed, both of them still stroking, and Aaryn could have stayed there forever. But the position of her arms pressed her breasts together and then, when he curled a finger in just the right spot, her back arched, pressing them higher, offering herself.

With a groan, Elreth began to rock. Her head fell back, and she whispered his name.

In awe of her sensual beauty, Aaryn rolled her onto her back, sliding easily between her thighs, his very favorite place to rest, then rolling against her again and again until they found that perfect friction.

Bracing his elbows on either side of her head, he tasted her throat that she offered so freely, marveling again at how free she was with him, knowing no other living being had seen this side of her, wondering what he'd done to deserve it.

"El, I love the way you give me yourself… your body,

" he murmured against her collarbone, then pushing himself up to stare down at her as he rocked harder, threatening to finally, finally take her.

She hissed in frustration when he passed over her again, opening herself wider and arching up.

"I love the way you make me feel,

" she whispered, her eyes still closed, her mouth making a small

"o

" when he rolled against her again.

Growling his approval, he ducked his head, cupping her breast with one hand and holding it in place to taste its peak and tease with his tongue and lips.

Elreth jolted when he sucked at the same moment he passed over her, and her entire body tensed, then shivered.

"Please, Aaryn.

"

He chuckled and lowered himself again, but his smile faded and his breathing rasped as they kissed. Then he grasped her hip and, rolling his own, found her ready and writhing, gasping for him.

Opening his mouth over her nipple and laving it with his tongue, he sucked as he entered her and she cried his name, her body twitching, arching, seeking him.

"You're so beautiful,

" he gasped.

"Please.

" Her voice was high and tight—but with pleasure now, rather than the anger and tension she'd shown so many others.

"Please, Aaryn.

"

She clung to his back, grasping at his skin, squeezing, her fingers digging into his muscles because she didn't have the words to express what she was feeling. But her hips continued to roll and press, meeting him, finding him, she pulled him in and gasped his name again and again.

This… this moment, when she'd forgotten the world, when her head thrashed back, and her hands sought him, when she called his name and thought of nothing but him—his skin, his heat, his strength… this moment when she wanted, and wasn't afraid to show it, or ask for it… this was the moment he would relive in his mind. This was the image that would flash through his head at inconvenient times, but bring with it joy and heat.

This was his mate. His greatest joy. His everything.

She was everything.

"Oh, El,

" he groaned, burying his face in her neck, tasting her skin, inhaling her hair as she rocked with him, keening, pleading.

Her soft-soft skin under his palms prickled when he kissed her neck, and he almost came. But she wasn't there yet.

He knew the stress, all the worries and responsibilities were taking their toll. She was finding it harder to reach her peak, and he yearned for her to let go. To start this day with that shuddering bliss.

So, gritting his teeth against his own orgasm, he pushed up, bracing over her on one arm, curling to find her breast with his mouth again, teasing with his teeth, sucking in time with his thrusts until she wasn't just panting anymore, but wailing, high and thin, wordless with joy once, twice, again and she groaned, shaking and trembling, her breath catching over and over, her body quivering with her release.

And only then did he let himself go, cupping his hands over her head, taking her mouth and tangling their tongues until he gasped her name for the thousandth time, slumping over her and clinging...

His beautiful, precious mate.