AARYN

Elreth's breath caught, but she widened her stance to give him better access and he groaned.

"You want me,

" he whispered, reveling in the warm slickness that invited him into her body.

"I always want you,

" she whispered back. Then to his delight, she stopped breathing when he pressed, rubbing and rolling that bundle of nerves that so excited her.

"Aaryn… please…

" she gasped a minute later, trembling.

He flattened his hand against her stomach, pulling her into him as he played and stroked, reveling in her tiny whimpers and twitches, the way she suddenly grabbed for his hand on her stomach and clung, as if holding herself still in a storm.

Forehead leaned against her spine, Aaryn was beginning to pant. Elreth had already dissolved into short, high bursts of breath, her body trembling and going still as she climbed the wave towards her climax.

He'd just committed, determined he would catch her if her knees gave, when she flattened both hands to his arm on her stomach and sucked in,

"No, Aaryn, not like this. I want to touch you and be close to you.

"

She stood straighter, pinning his hand between her thighs, but giving him no room.

Aaryn growled, but she laughed shakily.

"Please, Aaryn. Let me see you. Let me touch you…. please.

"

Well, he wasn't going to make his mate beg.

Springing to his feet, he swept her around and she came willingly, arching into him, their bodies both already slicking with sweat. She tugged his head down and took his mouth, a growl puttering in her throat as he shuffled backwards, pulling her with him.

Elreth, desperate, clawed at him, stumbling. He caught her weight and straightened his head so she couldn't reach his lips with hers.

She snarled at him, but opened her mouth on his chest instead, her fingers digging into his back as she rocked her hips, demanding.

"Patience beautiful,

" he rasped, almost laughing at a the irony. He shook with the urge to finish this. But he was determined to show her, with his body, with his love, how much he adored her. How sorry he was for his own sour attitudes and self-pity. No matter how screwed up his life became, she was the constant. She was the light in the dark.

He needed her.

When the back of his legs hit the long, wide lounge that was old enough to have thinned in spots, so Elia had thrown a sheepskin over it to protect it, he smiled and pulled her chin up, kissing her deeply, growling when she sucked on his tongue.

"Ladies first,

" he murmured, widening his eyes for a moment, then turning her quickly to tip her back onto the lounge.

She giggled as she fell into it, arms up and reaching for him, grabbing to force him to come with her—but she didn't need to, he was already following her down, sliding to rest between her thighs, covering her with his body, his breath shuddering out when they met and she slid against him, whimpering again.

For a time the only sound was their breaths, thick and hot, and the soft creak of the lounge as they rolled against each other.

But soon the beast inside Aaryn snarled for release, and his mate gasped and groaned, her nails clawing into his muscles, trying desperately to find him and pull him into herself.

"Aaryn!

" she hissed through her teeth.

Propping one hand on the arm of the lounge, the other next to her shoulder, he pushed himself up to look at her, awed.

She sprawled under him, her cheeks hot and eyes glazed, chest heaving with her excitement. She had one hand at his back, the other on his shoulder and the position of her arms pressed her breasts together as if she offered them up.

Her skin, so much paler than his, looked dewy in the lantern light and where he touched her, his warm-brown skin stood out in contrast.

"Fuck you're beautiful, Elreth,

" he whispered, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Thank the Creator for you.

"

She rolled her eyes, but when he leaned back down to kiss her, she arched into him, rubbing her breasts on his chest. And where they rolled together, he found her—so ready, it would take only the slightest shift in angle and he would have her.

Pulling his head up again, he waited until she opened her eyes.

He wasn't sure what expression was on his face, but taking all his weight on one arm, he locked eyes with her and took her face in his hand.

"Mine,

" he rasped, then thrust into her, all the way to the hilt.

Elreth made the most beautiful cry, her mouth falling open and lip trembling.

His hand slid to cup the back of her neck and keep her close as her eyes rolled back in her head and she shuddered with pleasure when he thrust again. Then they clung, their bodies meeting and parting, meeting and parting, joining in the way that became a dance and a battle for pleasure.

"Aaryn… oh god. Aaryn.

"

She shook from head to toe, her hands trembling on his back, her eyelids fluttering, her voice cracked and desperate as she called for him, her mate, pleading and demanding.

Aaryn was overwhelmed… there'd been so much pain, so much uncertainty, so much frustration. But in that moment, his heart was alight with joy and passion for his mate. She was the most precious thing he'd ever seen and he needed her. Not just for this. Not just for release and pleasure. He needed her to center his world.

"Elreth!

"

Her hand slapped on his back as she grabbed for him, tighter, curling her legs over his back and pulling him in with her heels.

"Don't stop! Please!

" she gasped.

"Never.

"

Then she leaned up, mouth open and seeking, her tongue flicking to catch the inside of his lip and he shuddered.

His control broke and with a snarl he began pounding into her, harder, faster, calling to her—heart and soul—and her voice rose in counterpoint, the mating call echoing around the cave as she roared and he howled, their hearts racing, slamming, their bodies shaking and twitching as they crested the wave together, then tumbled down the other side.