Chapter 348

Elain knew that she was being manipulated. She knew that she was being influenced.

The moment she had seen Lucien, had met his eyes, the bond had been controlling her. She had been pushed to wrap herself around him. She had wanted to kiss him, and move things forward, despite the fact that they had company and were in a burning building. These were things that she suspected she would have wanted on her own, but they were seriously intensified by the bond between her and her mate. The bond was powerful, and she had forgotten just how powerful it was. Again, Lucien seemed to be better at holding those urges at bay than she was, and she was again impressed by his level of self-control. Elain just wanted.

"Lucien…" She whispered, and his hand skimmed her arm as he held her in his arms. She had a brief glimpse of Ashk and Tisia standing nearby, Day Court soldiers around them, and then Lucien had winnowed, holding Elain in his arms. She then got a quick view of the street outside the Palace before Lucien strode inside. Elain knew that nobody could winnow into the palace, and she understood the practicalities behind that, although she wished that he had have been able to take them directly to their room. At least then nobody would see them and nobody would have the opportunity to interrupt them. Her blood was racing in her veins and the bond was screaming at her to wrap further around her mate. She wanted her fingers carding through his vibrant ruby hair, she wanted to taste his skin, smell him on herself, and she just about blushed at her own thoughts, wondering if any of that had been shared with him. "Lucien…" she breathed again, her breath catching in her chest as the bond pushed and pushed at her.

"I know." He murmured, lips brushing against her temple as he carried her up the hallway. "I can feel it to… it's relentless…"

"Yes…" Elain was just about panting now. She closed her eyes, hoping that not being able to see him would help her maintain some semblance of control over herself. There was no controlling the desire within her though. She wanted to touch her mate. She wanted to smell him, to taste him… "Mother have mercy…"

"Doubt she will." Lucien replied, "I just hope she doesn't watch…"

"OH…" Elain couldn't help but laugh at that. "Yes…"

"Cauldon have mercy…" he muttered as they reached their door, and fumbled with it for a moment. Elain watched as Lucien bit his lip and kicked the door open wide enough to walk through with her in his arms.

The moment the door closed behind them, Elain just about leaped out of Lucien's arms. She wanted to climb all over him, wanted to lick him, and she whined with frustration. Lucien made a similar sound and strode quickly across the room to their bed.

Elain was throbbing. Every part of her body felt electric and the moment Lucien put her carefully on the mattress, she was on her knees, pulling him toward herself. "Lucien…"

"Yes, Petal…" his voice was husky and full of need as well as repressed desire. Elain could hear the restraint, feel the pull and the hold he had put on himself to even get them here before he allowed this to take over the way that she had. "Whatever you want, Petal…"

"I can't control it…" she whimpered, knees parting. She pulled him closer, wanting to wrap her legs around him and immense relief flooded Elain when Lucien brought a knee up onto the bed to take his weight as he moved toward her. "I… why is it so strong…?"

Lucien shook his head as one of his large hands came up to her cheek. She let him caress that cheek, enjoying the feeling of his hand moving over her skin and up into her hair. "I don't know, my love." He told her, "I don't mind, though…" Elain nodded, arching into her mate's touch as his body moved closer. She was still being driven by the bond and, now that they were in their private space and alone, she decided that she was going to give in to it. The bond had brought Lucien to her, had pushed her to get to know him, had helped her to learn about his past and helped her to fall in love with him. She trusted the bond, and she trusted Lucien. There was no need to fight it at all, and she wanted everything that was on offer to her.