Chapter 352

Lucien's forehead was pressed to Elain's and she could feel every breath that her mate took and exhaled. Her fingers were still tangled in his hair, and she smiled when he pulled her in closer to snuggle tighter. "Are you comfortable?" she asked, and she could feel his smile when he nodded against her.

"I am, Petal." He murmured, "Are you?"

"Like this?" She replied, sliding her other hand down his side. "Absolutely." She thought then about what the others would be doing, and she wondered if Ashk and Tisia would have returned to the palace. She knew that she and Lucien would be required to speak with Helion and let him know what had happened, but she didn't know just when that would be. "How long do we have?" she asked, "Before we are expected to see the High Lord?"

"I don't know…" Lucien breathed, lips gliding softly across her cheekbone. "I'm assuming that he will understand why I brought you back here first, and I suspect that nobody will come knocking on our door for a good while yet."

"Yes…" Elain agreed, "I don't suppose anyone would want to risk the wrath of the Heir feeling like his time with his mate was being threatened…"

"Most would not wish to cross a territorial male."

Carding her fingers through Lucien's gorgeous ruby hair, she gave a satisfied sigh, settling more comfortably back against the blankets and pillows on the bed. She absolutely adored having unchecked time with Lucien. She loved those mornings or afternoons where they could just freely be together, without anyone making demands or wanting a piece of their time or attention. She loved it when her mate was only hers and she was only his. They had only really had time like that back in the Night Court when he had first returned to stay with them and they had spent time in Rhys' garden while getting to know one another. There had been no demands on them then from others, and the only thing that Elain had really had to worry about would be that Nesta would come marching outside and pull her away out of misguided attempts to protect her. They would, Elain knew, have much more time to themselves in future. When everything had settled and life had resolved itself to daily routine, they would have so much time… But for now she would enjoy the small moments when they happened.

Giving a small squeak, Elain looked up, searching for Lucien's eyes when he suddenly snaked his arms beneath her and lifted her from the bed. He gave a low chuckle at the sound that had come out of her and he gave her a courtly smile, radiant as any Day Court sun. "And what are you doing?" She asked, sliding an arm around his shoulders to help steady herself.

"Well…" Lucien pressed a kiss to her cheek, soft and gentle. "I figured that maybe you might want a bath." He carried her across their room to the fancy bathroom that Helion had personally designed. "Maybe I should have let you have one when we first returned…" he looked a little unsure and Elain shook her head.

"Neither of us had it in us to wait for that…" she told him and he smiled again, looking relieved. "Even if my hair does stink of smoke…"

"Ah." He pressed another kiss to her cheek then, "As does mine, Petal."

"It's not unpleasant on you." She told him, fingers going up into his hair as she leaned into him a little closer to his body so that she could breath him in. He did have the scent of smoke clinging to him, but it suited him. "You are fire, after all…"

"It's not entirely bad on you either," he told her, giving her a wink with that golden eye. "But you usually smell like flowers… like your garden… and that is more in tune with who you are…" He set Elain on the side of the enormous bathtub and leaned past her to turn the water on. Elain allowed her eyes to travel over her mate, watching him bend and stretch and she smiled. He truly was magnificent.

When the hot water was steaming happily, Lucien tested the temperature to ensure that it was right, and then he smiled at Elain who had spent the last few minutes watching him. He gave her a wink and then she got to her feet, off of the edge of the bathtub, and strode across to the drawers on the other side of the room. She rummaged around for a few moments in the top drawer and then returned to the tub with something in her hand. When she showed it to him, Lucien recognised the small vial of honey golden liquid.

"Is that… the oil from Thesan?" he asked, remembering that she had once given him a much appreciated massage with that oil from the Dawn Court.

"It is." Elain replied, smiling at him. She tipped several drops of the oil into the bath and then set the vial aside. Lucien followed her into the hot water an instant later and they both sank down into its pleasurable depths. He drew several dee breaths, one after the other, enjoying the wonderful scent of the oil as it rose into the air on the heated steam. He watched Elain as she bent back, dipping her hair into the water, and he knew she was trying to wash the smoky scent from herself. He sank beneath the water to do the same himself, but it was hot enough that he couldn't remain under for more than a second or two. Still, he figured, it would be enough.

When he and Elain had climbed out of the bath, and been wrapped in fluffy towels, Lucien had to try particularly hard to keep his hands from his mate. He always loved the sight of her in a towel, skin still hot and damp from the bath. He found a merciful distraction when there was a quick knock on the door followed by silence and, when he opened it a crack, he found a tray of fruit on the floor just outside.

"Nice…" he said, picking it up and bringing it inside. "Guess they figured we would need a little sustenance…"

"I don't know if I want to think about the fact that somebody was considering what we were doing…" Elain looked at him in the mirror from where she sat at the vanity, pulling a comb through her damp hair.

"They know you like honeyed pears…" He showed her the dish, and Elain grinned, picking one up immediately and taking a bite. He did the same, enjoying the sweetness spreading across his tongue as he allowed his other hand to trace his mate's shoulder, still watching her in the mirror. They still had a little time if Helion had thought to feed them before he expected them to come to him.