Chapter Twenty-Three

As predicted, the children didnt care about the cold water. They pulled on their swimsuits, turned up their body heat, and ran for the Tine. Lunch would have to wait.

Grinning at each other, Arach and I strode to the hot springs naked. We chose one of the smaller pools and crawled over the mossy edge to slide down the smooth basin and into the bubbling water. I sighed as great clouds of steam surrounded me. It reminded me of being with Arach and Azrael in the Fire Garden at the Castle of Eight. But this steam wasnt confined to a dome. It drifted about, twining around my husband and me to conceal us from anyone nearby but also each other.

“There you are!” Arach grabbed my waist and pulled me to him, drawing us to the center of the pool.

Bubbles tickled my legs and burst on the surface of the water. Droplets clung to my husbands sleek body. My dragon purred like a cat. Freshly shifted after a flight, she was still close, right under my skin. Ready to pounce. I couldnt be sure if it was her or me who cocked my hips to cradle Arachs erection.

The sound of laughing children echoed to us through the steam. I lifted my head. It sounded eerie, as if they were lost.

“Well be fast,” Arach promised as he lifted me.

My body spread for his automatically—arms going to his shoulders as my legs wrapped around his waist. And there, at my core, I went liquid for him. Arach speared upward, sliding in with a groan. We were still for a moment and then the water began to churn. It splashed around us, steam swirling. I clung to Arach as he moved primally, his body bowing and muscles bunching. He held me effortlessly, even moved me onto himself, lifting me, then bringing me down as his cock surged up.

“Sometimes, I miss this,” Arach panted.

“Sex?” I teased him.

“You.” He slowed, then brought me to the rim of the pool and laid me against the moss. “I miss you and me. Us. Alone.”

“Arach,” I whispered.

“I love our children.” He bent his head to kiss me. “I love them more than anything. Only my love for you exceeds my love for them. And sometimes I miss loving only you.” He slid in and out of me slowly. “I miss having you all to myself.” He sped up a little and ground against me with every thrust. “I miss fucking you whenever I wish.” Water splashed upward as he went faster. “Fucking you for days at a time. Never leaving bed.”

I pulled my legs back, then slid them up his chest to drape over his shoulders. “I miss that too.”

Arach growled and bent forward. He nipped at my lips, drawing blood before kissing me. Then he slashed his lips over my teeth, offering an exchange. Our mingled blood coated our kiss, blasting love through our minds as it saturated our bodies. Arachs thrusts became wild, the water barely getting a chance to flow back between us. And then we were cresting together, and I locked stares with him. His yellow, dragon eyes glowed through the mist. I yanked him down and kissed him to drown out our cries.

When our passion drained away at last, Arach cradled me to his chest and turned to lie against the rim of the pool with me in his arms. We sighed together, bodies languid in the hot water, and then a shriek penetrated the mist.

“Mommy!”

I grimaced at Arach. “We love them.”

“As I said.” He chuckled as I sat up.

“Over here!” I called to our daughter.

“Im hungry!”

“I told you to eat more meat!” I huffed and headed for the side of the pool as my husband groaned.