25. Eldrin

Chapter twenty-five

Eldrin

S he collapsed on me as I laid on the ground underneath her, struggling to catch my own breath. Her smooth, perfect body, the way she cried out with pleasure, the way she dared me to keep up with her, the bold way she took what she wanted…it was better than I had dreamt. Her body rested on me now, a delicate sheen of sweat over her, while I still filled her. My pleasure ebbed away, along with the thirst to claim her, content for now.

I was complete. Utterly. Perfectly. Complete.

I hated that the trees choose that moment to rustle, to remind me that this was not our paradise and our lives were still in danger. I pushed those thoughts aside, as Amber was still draped over me, nuzzling my neck with her sweet lips. Her disheveled hair was a testimony to what we had done, even as she still ground on me. I already felt myself hardening anew, ready to take her again.

But not yet. I wanted to enjoy this moment as long as I could. And we both needed a little rest.

Maybe there was a way we could be together after all of this and she would be mine before all the world. Maybe I could leave the Darkening Woods with her, if it would let me. Maybe…

Those plans would have to wait. We had to survive Vanir first. We had to cure her of the poison that was slowly consuming her. And at this moment, I had a beautiful woman in my arms. One whose eyes were heavy and sated with pleasure. Chuckling, I wiped my face and planted a kiss on the top of her head, breathing in the scent hidden in her red curls. “My ember.”

“It’s Amber.”

“No.” I shook my head. I could never forget her name. “The true word has been lost, but it means you are the spark that has ignited my life.”

She paused. “Damn. I want to know what the original word is.”

“I do too.” We moved upright, and still sitting entwined around each other, I wrapped my arms tighter, tugging her close to me and moving her so that her back was against my stomach. I cursed to myself—she was definitely stirring me again, and from the way she reacted, she could feel it too. And then she ground against me harder .

“What are you doing?” I asked. She was making me lose all control.

“Nothing,” she said and kissed me.

I returned her kiss. “That is not nothing.”

“No?” She nuzzled my neck.

“No.” I laughed softly. “I think you know exactly what you’re doing.”

“Then what is the problem?”

I bit back a contented sigh. She was going to be my undoing…

“Unfortunately, we need to settle for the night. Are you cold?” I asked. We couldn’t risk a fire, but we had garments that we weren’t using.

“No. Not if I have you.”

“And you always will.”

“Will I?” she asked.

“Amber, look at me.” She listened, shifting so that I could see her brilliant green eyes, the ones that looked at me like she never thought of anyone else. “I cannot say what the future holds, or if we will even be alive when it is done. But as long as I walk on solid ground, I’m yours. The choice is yours if you will have me or not.”

“Choice?” Amber frowned, but on her, that expression merely made her hauntingly beautiful. “I can’t stay here.”

“No.” I kissed her hand. “But we will find a way. I was alone for decades, and spent the last years wasting my life serving Vanir. Through my foolishness I lost everything. I refuse to lose you, too.”

She turned around and shifted so that her back was against me once more, and I could no longer see her face. Her even breaths mirrored my own as we settled into the grasses, preparing to sleep bare amongst the leaves and the stars. I wrapped an arm over her protectively, holding her close, doing my best to shield her from the cold. We were hidden in the Woods, sleeping with nothing but the ancient forest to shelter us, but we may as well have been in the grandest palace, for all that there was nothing I’d trade this moment for.

We laid on the ground together, her chest heaving against mine, slowly steadying into rest. The exhaustion of the day could no longer be ignored. It may have been my imagination, but before sleep took me, I thought she whispered, “You may not have a choice.”