AARYN

Neither of them spoke immediately as he ushered Elreth through the crowd and passed Gar at the end, whispering to his brother in law to please stop anyone following immediately.

Gar nodded, his face stern, then edged behind Aaryn as he tugged Elreth out of the market and outside onto the trails. There was some movement behind them, but he heard Gar's voice—calm, but insistent—as he took Elreth's hand and pulled her off the trail and into the darkness between the trees.

It was full dark now, the forest echoing silence in contrast to the uproar within the market. Aaryn almost took her back to the cave—his body was thrumming after watching her declare herself and her strength that way—but he knew she'd never agree. She'd told the Alphas an hour, but some of them would arrive early, hoping to have a moment to speak with her, or one of the elders first. They likely had half that time at best.

"What are you doing?

" Elreth asked from behind him, following were he led, her hand still clasped in his.

He could hear the smile in her voice and smell the desire in her. It sent a jolt straight to his groin.

He considered and discarded several plans—including one to visit a rarely-used storage tree—but he knew there wasn't time and she wasn't yet free enough to relax if he tried to take her where they might be discovered.

So, instead, he shushed her and pulled her deeper into the Wood until he found one of the great trees nestled in a thicket of smaller pines, and bushes.

Then, ears perked and checking over his shoulder to make sure they weren't followed, he pulled her between the branches until they were hidden from any view, then turned to press her against the trunk of the tree.

Elreth's eyes widened as her back came up hard against the trunk and he leaned into her, hip to hip. But her smile grew as well.

"Nice touch, making me feel you when I was getting nervous,

" she said with a little chuckle, her fingers playing along his jaw.

"You were amazing, El,

" he murmured, gripping her waist with one hand, but seeking her fingers with the other, twining them together as he leaned into her.

"You are stunning when you're strong.

"

"I'm always strong,

" she quipped.

"That's why you're always stunning,

" Aaryn growled, nipping at her jaw, then opening his mouth on her neck and laving her skin with his tongue

Elreth sighed and let her head sink back against the trunk of the tree, her eyes closing.

Aaryn's body jangled with desire for her, electric need roaring into outright flames when she dragged her hand up in the inside of his thigh to palm him over his leathers.

He took her mouth in a forceful kiss, all the death and grief and heaviness of the past few weeks suddenly lifted off him like a cloud so he could breathe, his body driving forward with need.

And to his delight, instead of being intimidated, or cautious, she met him, tongue-stroke for tongue-stroke, until a whine broke in his chest.

Perhaps he'd been too hasty, assuming she wouldn't give herself out here…

"El…

" he rasped, dragging his fingers down from her hair, down the sides of her neck, to her buttons and thumbing the first one open, then looking a question at her.

Her pupils dilated and her scent rose, hot and musky so Aaryn had to swallow back another howl.

But as quickly as it flared, the light in her eyes died and she put a hand to his chest.

"I don't have time,

" she sighed, fingering his button as if she hadn't quite made the decision yet.

"I want to Aaryn, but I can't to go into that room stinking of sex. They won't take me seriously.

"

"On the contrary,

" he growled,

"You'll probably find you've never had a more attentive audience.

"

Elreth snorted and leaned in to kiss him, but it was a different kiss. A loving kiss. Affection.

Aaryn groaned, but he knew she was right. He didn't want to simply take her out here in a rush, hurried, panting mess of arms and—

"Down boy,

" she whispered, grinning. Then the little vixen palmed him again.

Catching her hand, Aaryn growled and took her full lips again, his fingers curled at the back of her neck, his thumb pressing up on her jaw, stroking her soft skin.

"I promise you….

" he murmured against her lips, his tongue flashing out to catch the tip of hers.

"Promise what?

" she sighed.

He dropped one hand to her hip, sliding it back to cup her ass and pull her against him. She sucked in.

"I promise you that while you are with the Alphas,

" he said hoarsely, his lips never leaving hers,

"I will be the dutiful mate. I will stand at your side. I will fight for you. And I will cheer when you win. And I also promise you that the moment the Alphas are done with you…

" He flattened his hand against her stomach, sliding it into her leathers, seeking that warm, swollen heat.

"Yes?

" she whispered, tipping her head back as he kissed his way down her chin, to her throat, dipping his tongue into that hollow between her collarbones. Then he found her and rubbed her, sliding two fingers firmly to show her exactly where he wished he could be in that moment.

Elreth's breath caught and she fisted his shirt. He almost said to hell with it and tore her leathers off.

Almost.

"I promise when you're done with them,

" he growled,

"I'm taking you out to the Weeping Tree, and we're going to spend an hour thinking about nothing… but… each other…

"

He rubbed her in time with his words and she stiffened and gasped, grabbing for his shoulders, pulling him closer.

Aaryn shook his head. He had to stop. If he didn't stop now he wasn't stopping at all.

But when he tried to pull away, she grabbed his wrist and stopped him from removing his hand, tightening her thighs around him.

Aaryn groaned and brought his head up to meet her eyes, his shoulder rolling with his breath.

"Elreth,

" he rasped, a warning in his voice.

She stared at him for a long moment, her eyes hooded but bright. His heart raced—had she changed her mind?

But then, blowing out a breath so that it fluttered in the hair that had fallen loose from her braid, she let him go and unclenched her thighs.

"I'm holding you to do that,

" she said, and her voice was husky.

Aaryn growled and almost went back on his word, but with a deep breath he braced himself, pulled away, and stood in front of her, his thumb tracing the line of her lower lip.

"You've got two hours,

" he said.

Elreth snorted.

"You're insane.

"

His eyes never leaving hers, Aaryn raised a single brow and felt her shiver as her scent cascaded with desire.

"Ninety minutes,

" she said, then whipped out of his arms, leaped into her beast and was gone, the only hint of her passage a rustling branch on one of the bushes she had to slide through.