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Cal glanced around the lovely room. So this was where they’d do the deed and consummate their bonding. That thought sent anticipation and no little amount of nervousness skittering through her. She didn’t know why she was so anxious. Everyone knew what had to happen.
They’d made their getaway amid many knowing glances. Maggie and a few others, most notably Kenhel, told them to have fun. Everyone around them snickered. Cal had been relieved to get away, but now that she and Relian were alone, she wasn’t so sure.
Her handmaidens had decorated the bower-like retreat in which they now stood. It was a private gazebo-type room in a secluded area. The lantern-lit trees surrounded the structure and had guided their way in the lengthening darkness.
The bed, a wooden masterpiece of silk and brocade, dominated the small room. Relian went to a side table and poured water from the pitcher into a crystal glass. “Would you care for some water, my love?”
She shook her head no, even while her mouth settled into a parched state that had everything to do with the endearment that slid so easily from his tongue. He lifted the glass to his lips. As he drank, the strong column of his throat flexed. Upon second thought... “Yes, please, I’ll take some water.”
His lips quirked, and he strode over to where she stood by the doorway entrance. His hand brushed against hers as he handed her the half-full glass. A shock of energy shot from her fingers down to the soles of her feet. How much of this was the bond wanting consummation and how much was...her? She gulped the water, wanting to quench a thirst water alone couldn’t touch.
Her gaze tracked Relian as he strode toward a high-backed chair. He discarded his robe, leaving his tunic and trousers on before removing his boots. Glancing up from the endeavor, he cocked his head to the side. “Cal, you can step away from the door. I’m not going to fall on you like a raving animal.”
That was the problem. She kind of hoped he would. Still, she stepped away from the door, knowing she looked foolish loitering there.
She took a few preliminary steps farther into the room. Relian stayed where he was, still undoing the laces of his boots. He looked up and flashed her a beckoning smile. “Come here, Cal.”
Uh.... “No, I think not.” She didn’t know if she was ready for all of this. Not just the sex, but being his and Eria’s princess. Suddenly, his presence overpowered the small space.
He held out a hand, which she ignored. “You must come to me of your own free will. I cannot force you or even meet you halfway. You must do this for yourself.”
She shivered at his words. “Don’t you mean ‘by’ myself, not ‘for’ myself.”
“Nay. You have to do it for yourself. By yourself is not enough.”
She scoffed. She was nervous enough without this. Word games amused the elves to no end, especially this one in particular. “You speak in riddles, which you all seem so fond of. Why can’t black be black instead of every possible color under the sky?”
He stared at her. “I thought humans were able to lurk in murky areas that aren’t carefully delineated.”
“We can. But what does this have to do with what we’re discussing?”
“Riddles are often clothed in varied shades that are hard to untangle, would you not agree?”
“Yes, I guess so.” She didn’t know where this was going.
“Personal knowledge and experience color all we see and do, who we are. Riddles are much the same, making us see deeper if we only look.”
“So I must ‘look deeper’ to figure out what this means to me? Is that what you’re saying?”
He raised a brow. “I don’t know, am I?”
She shot him a peeved glare.
He gave a short laugh and held up his hands in surrender. “Yes, that’s what I am ‘trying to get at,’ as you would say.”
“Why didn’t you just say so?”
“Now what fun would that be?”
Aiming a scowl at him, she crossed her arms over her chest. He was infuriating. Heaven help her, she found it enticing, not that she’d let him know.
She stomped over to him as much as she could, given she was in slippers. “There. Happy?”
“Supremely.” He stood up from the chair and gestured toward it. “Here, my lady, please have a seat, and I’ll see to your slippers.”
He was going to play at ladies’ maid, was he? Just how far would he go? She sat down and waited to see his next move. He removed her slippers, setting them next to his boots. Though she’d never thought her feet particularly small, his boots dwarfed her slippers.
He followed her gaze, nodding. “My boots do look large in comparison to your slippers.” He looked back at her with hooded eyes, his voice shifting lower. “I hope we uncover a trend that will hold true in many areas tonight.”
All the blood in her body flooded to her face and nether regions. How could he unnerve her so? She’d grown up in modern America, for heaven’s sake, and knew full well what would occur—and the varied ways in which it could. Never mind that their near coupling on a garden bench in the presence of others should’ve killed any remaining inhibitions.
He stood and placed his arms about her, pulling her flush against him. There was no doubt he was ready. So was she. She just needed to shoo away the damnable shyness that had sprung up.
Start with something you know well. The thought came naturally to her. Was it actually hers or something he’d sent? Such a possibility should’ve freaked her out, but where the bond was concerned—never mind Eria—not much could anymore.
Start with something she knew? She could do that. Slipping her arms around his neck, she then pulled his head down. Her lips met his, and she nipped at them gently before deepening the kiss. His warm mouth became increasingly demanding while he maneuvered her over to a side table.
He reached up and removed her circlet. She dove her fingers into his hair, searching for the ends of his. Once she’d removed it, she set it on the table, next to where hers already lay. That done, they renewed their kisses, rediscovering earlobes and the curves of cheeks.
His lips trailed along her jawline as he removed her outer gown. The under gown soon followed, as did the undergarments that had been so lovingly sewn for her. The air cooled her naked skin slightly, even with the strong fire that burned behind the grate.
Relian perused her for a long second, causing a bloom of rose to cover her. His breath hitched in his throat. “Lovely.” Then he caught her up in another kiss.
His hands went to his own clothing. But before he loosened even one button, he murmured against her lips, “Help me.”
If she had any doubts about what he wanted, she needed no clarification when he grabbed her hands and placed them upon his chest. Her hands trembled as she struggled to undo the many buttons that spanned his tunic from neck to waist. He settled his hands over hers, guiding her, steadying her. She stared at his chest. His bare chest. She swallowed. She wanted to touch.
When she ran curious hands over him, he hissed. His chest was smooth, except for the stray hair sprinkled across the broad expanse. His nipples pebbled under her fingers. Giving them a tentative lick, she smiled when he gasped her name.
While her lips and tongue stayed busy, her fingers ventured down farther. The muscles of his abs rippled under her ghosting caress. God, she’d never seen a guy this fit up close.
When her hands reached the laces of his trousers, his breath seemed to still in his lungs. As she stole a glance down at the length that pressed against the material, her fingers fumbled. This was better than unwrapping a Christmas present. Her fingers brushed him, and he exhaled a groan. The firm flesh seemed to leap under her touch. Inch by inch, she slowly loosened the laces until his pants slid down his hips. Oh my, he went commando. He stood bare and very aroused before her.
She didn’t have much time for any last-minute self-consciousness or reflection, because he lowered her to the bed. He followed, partly reclining on her as he kissed his way down her body. He paid special attention to the beaded tips of her breasts, first flicking one and then the other with his tongue. She fisted her hands in his hair, and her back arched off the bed. Every nerve ending in her body felt sensitized and ready to rocket into space.
Relian looked up at her and grinned. “Like that, do you?”
She answered him by grasping his arousal in her hand and gently pumping. His hips undulated with her motions, and his lips parted, low moans breaking forth. The sound spiked her desire higher.
After a minute or so, he grabbed her hand and said roughly, “Unless you want me to have all the fun, you need to stop.”
She nodded and let go of him. He then picked up where he’d left off. His mouth glided down her stomach, leaving a trail of fire skittering over her skin. Once he reached the area between her legs, a dizzying array of erotic feelings gripped her. With tongue and fingers, he pleasured her until she begged for release. “Relian, please.”
He laughed against her, and she yanked his head back up. She wanted fulfillment. Now. “Make love to me.”
His gaze burned into hers as he crawled up her body. “With pleasure.” Settling over her body, he kissed her eyes and nose before taking her lips in a searing kiss. Her legs opened to accept him. With one thrust, he sheathed himself.
A sensation of being filled to the brim caused her to gasp. It was the most decadent feeling. He held still for a moment, an expression of pure bliss on his face. Then he moved, and all coherent thought that wasn’t tied to the sensations flooding her body evaporated.
Their slow rhythm drove her insane. She wanted him to move faster, yet she wanted that torturous pleasure to continue. Sweat soon slickened their skin. Her palms slid over his back and then down. As she ran her hands over the muscles flexing in his rear end, his thrusts gained speed. Her hips met his eagerly, greedily. Soon, the sound of their ragged breathing, along with the slapping of skin against skin, filled the silence.
His mouth crashed against hers, and he slipped inside easily. Their tongues dueled in a sensual dance. Relian moaned as he pistoned in and out faster.
Her hips ground against him. Her skin tingled, every nerve ending sensitized. Satisfaction... She needed it as she’d needed few things in life.
He took her upon the wind and back, or so it seemed. As pressure built up her in her sex, glittering star-like flecks filled her vision, reminding her of the veil. Then clarity hit her, and she sucked in a surprised breath. What she saw, what she felt, was the magic of their bond, tying them inescapably together. The link flared, growing stronger as they neared completion. His every shiver, his every moan, reverberated deep inside her. She knew he experienced every one of her emotions and sounds just as intensely.
The world exploded, and her internal muscles clenched around him. Euphoria filled her. Above her, Relian shouted his release, quaking overtaking his body as he collapsed against her. She slid her arms around him. And just as in her dreams, black and auburn strands meshed, spread over the silken pillows.
***
Relian collapsed against Cal, careful to shield her against his full weight. His languid satiation flooded him even as his breath came harsh against the crook of her neck. Her hands stroked through his hair, adding to his indolent state. The level of relaxation he was experiencing while being in her arms ran deeper than any he could remember in hundreds of years. All the previous mental and physical discomfort paining him had faded away. The bond had been satisfied and made whole. He shuddered to think of the state he would’ve soon been in if she hadn’t bonded with him.
He made a pleased sound as she kept up her ministrations and kissed the tip of his ear. Lying beside her forever would be no hardship.
She laughed softly. “You’re so cuddly after bedsport—” Her voice cut off abruptly.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, lifting his head.
“My bracelet! It’s gone.” She reached for his wrist and grabbed it from where it rested on her stomach. “Yours, too.”
He’d forgotten to tell her. His face blanched, and he heard her draw in a sharp breath. She’d believe he’d yet kept another thing from her.
“What is it, Relian?”
Her demand rang in his ears. He couldn’t fault her, even though he hadn’t intentionally kept the news from her. “They are as they should be.” Her face darkened, and he hastened to explain. “This wasn’t kept from you on purpose. I just...forgot.” He shot her a contrite look.
“Forgot?” she echoed.
“I was preoccupied with the effects of the bond, as I explained to you last night. It didn’t even occur to me to mention it. Indeed, it didn’t even cross my mind.” He cupped her chin. “Forgive me for letting the bracelet’s disappearance cause you alarm.” Frowning, he paused. “That’s actually the wrong word. It didn’t disappear. It just fell off your wrist.”
“Fell off?”
At her surprised look, he nodded, trying to pull off a serious demeanor. “Yes, fell off. I imagine it’s somewhere in this bed.” He smiled and leaned down to nuzzle at her neck. Her quickened pulse was his reward, and he murmured against her soft skin, “Lost somewhere in this bed that has been so rumpled by our bedsport.”
She cuffed him playfully on the shoulder. “We haven’t been completely bonded but for a few minutes, and you’re already making fun of me?”
He wriggled his brows, trying to make her laugh. “I’m definitely having fun with you, and I intend to do so again.”
Cal gasped. “Naughty old man, that’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
“You did say bedsport, and I believe it was a satisfactory win for both of us, was it not? I know I played up to my lady’s every desire.”
“How do— Oh, our bond. I guess not much was secret while”—she blushed and looked down—“while we made love.”
“There were no mental barriers in place to stop the even flow and exchange of information, which is how it should be during such times.” He lifted her still flushed face from his chest and gave her a smile. “You also had to note how you satisfied me beyond every hope.”
“Yeah, I...could sense you.” She shook her head, apparently at a loss for words about the sharing of emotion. He knew it’d take some getting used to.
“And I you.” He rested his forehead against hers.
After a few moments, she grew mischievous and bit his ear. “Want to go again? Or are you too tired and old?”
With a speed that left her head reeling, he had her pinned underneath him. “Never too old for you. I believe that you find nothing decrepit about me.” He shifted over her, and she squeaked in surprise. “Now this old man is ready to engage in another round.”