Chapter 283

Squeezing her hair in a towel, Elain stepped back into the bedroom, her eyes landing upon her glorious mate. Smiling, she let her eyes move over him slowly, enjoying the sight entirely. Lucien was sitting on the bed, propped up against several pillows against the headboard. He wore a loose white shirt that was unlaced and his bare legs were spread out across the bed before him. His long red hair hung vibrant and unbound about his shoulders, and he held a book in one hand and his mug of tea in the other. That metallic eye clicked and whirred as he looked up to see her appreciating him, and he flashed her one of his charming courtly smiles.

"All clean, Petal?" his voice was just about a purr and Elain felt heat flush through her body almost instantly. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other as that heat continued to move through her and down between her thighs. Lucien's smile turned vulpine, and she knew by the way that he lifted his chin that he could smell it. "Ah…" he said, setting his mug and book aside, "Not anymore…" he sat up a little more, turning toward her, "and… you'd just dried yourself off, too…"

Elain felt herself blush at those words and she chucked the towel in her hand at him. "Oh, shh…"

"Now, now…" he smiled charmingly again, "You don't want to start a war. We've had enough of that for today." He flicked the wet towel onto a nearby chair, his eyes never leaving her.

"Oh, was it only today…" She staggered slowly toward the bed, and Lucien scooted out of the way to make room for her.

"It was…" He slid an arm around her, pulling her in and tucking her to his side. "But we get to go home tomorrow…"

"That sounds wonderful." Elain tucked her head up under her mate's chin, enjoying the way he seemed to fold around her. Her blood was hot in her veins and she tried to remain very still so that she wouldn't find her hands moving over him. She knew how tired he was, she had been able to feel that since he'd been struggling with the shield. He needed rest, and she wanted him to have it.

Reaching down, Elain pulled the covers up over them. She felt Lucien shift a little, allowing her to lay more completely against him, and Elain couldn't help the shudder than ran through her at the feel of his hot firm body pressed up against her. He gave a low chuckle then, and his fingers moved through her damp hair, tightening a little and pulling her head back so that he could look down and meet her eyes. Elain gazed up at him, heat flaring within her.

"What is it that you want, my love?" he asked, voice low.

Want coursed through Elain, and she shook her head. He was tired, and she knew that they should go to sleep. Running a hand up his chest, she looked at the shirt he wore in the faint light, and she frowned. "This is between me and your skin…" she murmured, and Lucien gave a soft laugh, before pulling the offending shirt off and dropping it to the carpet beside the bed.

"I could say the same thing…" his fingers plucked at the nightgown she wore and she smiled up at him, holding his eyes as his hands moved to the straps at her shoulders before they pulled the thing from her. She watched it follow the shirt to the floor and then her mate's arms were around her again, pulling her flush against himself. This was much better, she thought. Lucien's skin was hot and comforting, and she couldn't help running her hands over him.

She had thought they might die today, and the fact that she got to lay here with him now, nothing between them, brought her some much needed peace. She traced her fingers down his chest and over his abdomen, listening to his heartbeat, thankful that she still got to hear it, that she still got to have him.

"Are you thinking about today?" he asked, and she nodded, her cheek against his warm chest.

"Yes…"

"Don't." he breathed, one of his large hands smoothing down her back, fingers following her spine. "It's over. It's in the past… It doesn't do to dwell on memories like that."

"But you were so very magnificent…" she told him, smiling when she felt his reaction to that. "Shining with all that light and power… It was very impressive."

"I'm glad you found something to appreciate in that…"

"I did." Elain tilted her head to press her lips to his jaw. "And I know that you're very tired…" she tucked her head up under his chin again, her body resting almost atop his. "So, let us take some rest…" She felt Lucien draw a deep breath then, and his hand paused its stroking of her back. She looked up, wondering what had happened and she met his eyes as he gazed at her. "Wha-" she had been about to ask him why he had stopped when he bent his head to press his lips to hers, and Elain didn't hesitate to kiss him back.

Heat flooded her once again and she had parted her lips for Lucien within seconds, groaning gently when he took complete advantage of that. His hands tightened on her, and she couldn't help half rubbing against him. She tried not to, still aware in the back of her mind that he was tired, but her body seemed to have a mind of its own. Lucien pulled her more firmly against himself in response, and Elain groaned again, aware that her own heart was racing now.

"Is this what you wanted, Petal?"