Nesta had never been one for parties. Human parties had been tolerable, as she knew their stamina and curfews were in her favor. She could wander off unnoticed, sip wine, and leave on the earlier side of the evening. Fae parties were a completely different story. Laughter was booming, conversations were attention-gripping, and the lively dancing was a terror to her already-sore feet. Did these males and females never tire?

Feyre caught Nesta's eye from across the great room of the House of Wind. The material of her sister's sparkling gown looked as if it was spun from moonlight itself. She had worn this particular gown countless times, yet each appearance is more dazzling than the last. Her accessories differ with each event. One could assume these were gifts from her mate. This evening a delicate emerald necklace and matching dangling earrings accompanied her dress. A curt smile spread across Nesta's face as her sister approached.

"Nesta, you look well…Have I seen that dress before?", she asked.

Nesta spared a glance down at her satin navy-blue gown. She had not had an occasion worthy of this tantalizing piece yet, but she had an ulterior motive in store for this evening. The thick straps rested lazily off her shoulders, leaving her pronounced collarbones on display. That wasn't the only scandalous bit on display. The neckline of this particular gown plunged deeply, leaving little to the imagination. The silky material cinched at the waist, and softly flowed to the floor. She made a slight modification by cutting a generous slit up the front of each leg. Alas, she didn't have enough time to arrange for a seamstress to hem the length. To prevent an embarrassing fumble over the long material, this was her only option. She looked up to meet her sister's raised eyebrows.

Nesta reasoned, "This was a gift from Amren. I figured I would knock out two birds with one stone… suffering through this party gave me an opportunity to show one of my dearest friends gratitude."

Feyre narrowed her eyes and nodded with a mischievous grin. Nesta narrowed her eyes right back and hissed, "What?"

The High Lady of the Night Court took a small step back and innocently shook her head, "Oh nothing! I just think you left out a third bird…"

The muscles in Nesta's back tightened ever so slightly as she responded, "I haven't the slightest idea what you mean, dear sister." She quickly relaxed her posture and took a slow sip of her sparkling wine.

"Mhmm. Well," Feyre drawled, "on an entirely unrelated note - It seems Cassian is said to arrive in less than ten minutes, and he has sent his apologies for the delay. It seems there are still some lingering outdated Illyrian traditions being carried out that needed his immediate attention."

Nesta choked on her wine. Was she that transparent? "And what exactly inclined you to share that information with me?" She questioned.

Feyre shrugged with a knowing grin, "The only reason that could justify you staying this long at a formal celebration, is if you were waiting on a special someone…"

Nesta tapped her finger softly on her wine glass and looked to the french doors leading to the balcony as a soft breeze nudged her hair over her shoulder. "Nonsense. I'm here for the booze."

"Oh, is that what they're calling it these days?" An amused and very familiar voice purred from behind Nesta. The warm and sultry scent of spice, pine, and citrus immediately revealed who had just arrived at this gathering. Nesta slowly turned with her glass to her lips, holding his eye contact as she took a short sip.

Cauldron boil me, Cassian thought as he took in the full view that was Nesta Archeron. This dress would be the absolute end of him. The color, the fit, the revealing neckline… He almost forgot to breathe at the sight of her. As breathtaking as it was to see her in this gown, he ached to see it on the floor of his bed chambers more.

"You know, I think you have missed your window of opportunity to be 'fashionably late'." Nesta snipped as she took in his tucked wings and windswept hair. He had managed to tame back the upper portion of his dark hair, extenuating his jawline that could bring most women to their knees.

"Poor Nesta, did you miss me terribly?" Cassian mocked with a devilish grin. He brought a hand to his heart and apologetically leaned forward. "My sincerest apologies"

Nesta narrowed her eyes and prepared to retort, but Feyre beat her to it. "I should be going; my mate awaits at home with Nyx. Great to see you both." She gave Nesta a pointed look, "Come see us soon at the River House. I may or may not have a special gift waiting for you."

Nesta kissed her sister on the cheek and rolled her eyes, "I will soon. Be safe." With the farewell given, Nesta turned to Cassian. His mouth twitched as if he were going to say something charming. Instead, he began to roll up the sleeves of his solid black tunic and went to retrieve a drink from the bar. While watching his muscular build saunter over to the bar, she knew exactly how to get her way and began to put her plan into motion.

Cassian turned his back to the bar, and casually rested his elbows on the edge behind him. With a drink in his hand, he looked in Nesta's direction. She broadcasted an air of nonchalance and poise, raising her glass to her perfectly painted red lips. The sight of it made Cassian wonder how that shade of red would look on his cock later. He had to quickly push the thought aside, suddenly remembering this was a social gathering. He wished it were a private event, featuring his strong and seductive lover.

Nesta slowly turned away from him, giving him his favorite view, and walked to the balcony doors he had just entered through. Once she got to the doorframe, she turned her head over her shoulder to make sure he was still watching. Who was she kidding? Of course he was still watching. He was the hunter, and she was his prey. Or so he thought.

With a slight tip of her head toward the balcony railing, Cassian was pushing off the bar to eagerly follow. He made his way to her side, and they walked to the railing. The soft breeze swept by them both, carrying Nesta's scent with it. Cassian leaned closer to the railing to conceal his excitement. He sipped his wine as they took in the view of the mountains and stars colliding in a beautiful symphony of serenity.

"I was surprised you were still here when I arrived." Cassian drawled. "I expected you to be in your chambers with your feet up, reading a smutty novel in bed."

Nesta drew her eyes from the scenery and narrowed them at the gorgeous male. "They're not all smutty."

Cassian huffed with a grin, "Whatever you say… If that were how I found you tonight. I would have climbed into bed with you."

Nesta raised an eyebrow and became aware of a sudden warmth in her lower stomach. "Really? Planned to do some reading as well?" She asked.

Cassian met her eyes then. He could have sworn he saw something burning in her eyes. It was almost enough to make him quit this banter and claim her against the balcony railing right then and there. He pushed through, "Actually, I would have taken the book out of your hands, set it aside-"

"How rude - I would lose my page." Nesta quipped with a sarcastic grin.

He chuckled softly and set his glass down on the railing. A warm hand wrapped around Nesta's waist and pulled her close to his side, his wing sheltering them from sight of the party going on behind them. "Patience, Nes." He purred in her ear. His warm breath made the heat in her stomach travel lower, a soft sigh leaving her lips.

He tucked a few strands of hair behind her delicate pointed ears and placed a soft kiss high on her cheekbone. She may or may not have blushed at this tender act.

He continued, "I would have placed your book to the side - after marking its page."

Nesta abruptly met his eyes once more, "Ohh, Cas. I admire it when you talk librarian to me."

Cassian's eyes gleamed at the jest. His thumb began to move in slow circles on her waist. His pulse quickened as he pushed on with his hypothetical plan, "Then, with the distraction addressed, I would have taken my time getting you naked. Pulling those scraps of lace off your beautiful body-" Cassian's hand began to wander lower. He passed her waist, feeling the absence of a waistband underneath the silky material. His eyes widened briefly in surprise.

Nesta grinned and set her glass down next to his on the railing. "No scraps of lace tonight. Still want to stick with this hypothetical?" She asked.

Cassian breathed in the shift of her scent and turned so they were practically chest-to-chest. Fuck his hypothetical story, Nesta was standing before him completely bare beneath her gown. His siphon came to life, two tendrils stretching toward the french doors. They each grasped a handle and swiftly pulled them shut. He wanted to have his way with her immediately. Nesta looked him over with half-lidded eyes. It drove her wild when he rolled his sleeves up like this, and he knew it. This was the calm before the storm.

Cassian's hands returned to her waist, pulling her closer. Their lips collided passionately, as his hands went lower to her backside. His pants tightened in the front as evidence of the effect she had on him. She could feel the warmth of his taut and muscular body against hers. The hardness that rubbed against her lower stomach made her hips sway ever-so-slightly. The friction sent him into a frenzy. Nesta felt this shift, opening her mouth, allowing him to claim her further. To ground herself, she grasped the material of his tunic.

Cassian pulled back, gathered Nesta into his arms, and lifted her onto the railing. She gripped him tighter as she sat on the railing but realized his siphons had formed a smooth wall behind her to keep her from falling backward. Her head tilted back to meet the wall, and Cassian was on her neck in seconds. Nipping, licking, kissing, whispering, "You look so fucking sexy in this dress."

Nesta whimpered softly, feeling a warmth and wetness between her legs. That small sound was absolute music to the general's ears.

Nesta felt a smooth warm cuff gather around each of her thighs. She stole a glance downward, to see that Cass had used his siphons to wrap a binding around both thighs and gently pull them apart. She tilted her head back once more, allowing him to continue his feast on her neck. His straining erection was aching to be released as he pulled down the front of her gown, exposing both breasts to him. Her face flushed in ecstasy as his siphons gently clasped around her wrists as well. She was completely at his mercy.

Cassian went to work, taking the left breast into his calloused strong hand. His lips and tongue met her hardened peak on the right, tantalizing, teasing, and gently pulling with his teeth. He made sure to show its twin equal treatment, earning shivers of excitement from his lover. He lifted his eyes to see her softly reddened cheeks. She panted through her pleasure with half-lidded eyes. The male was completely undone at the sight of Nesta flustered with arousal.

He lowered the waistband of his pants to at last unleash his aching cock. He needed feel her warm, tight, irresistible sex around him. He moved the front panel of her dress aside, revealing just how aroused she had become. She was practically dripping onto the material of her gown. He couldn't let any of her essence go to waste. He slowly knelt on one knee, stroking himself as his siphons tugged her thighs farther apart. He was rewarded with a shiver of anticipation from above. He brought his idle hand up to his mouth, taking the tip of his thumb in, before bringing it to her gleaming bundle of nerves.

"Cas" Nesta breathed.

He moved in small slow circles at first, then began moving side-to-side, just how she likes.

"Mngh!" She yelped in pleasure while biting her lower lip.

Nesta couldn't possibly filter any noise that came out of her mouth right now. Her wrists strained against her bonds. She wanted more. Nesta wanted him to ravage her completely, leaving her a disheveled mess. His thumb was building momentum side-to-side, just as she does when she is on her own. She looked down to see her peaked nipples, aching for more attention. Past that she could see Cassian looking up at her from where he knelt. His eyes darkened with lust.

She was watching him pleasure them both. His hand kept stroking his cock as he grinned, and leaned forward, replacing his thumb with his skilled tongue. He continued his ministrations, leading her closer to release. She strained against the cuffs again, feeling her climax nearing. He quickened his pace, and tugged her legs further apart, exposing everything to him. Nesta felt waves of tension approaching. She arched her back, pushing her head against the wall behind her and rode his tongue into completion.

"Aaauugh… fuck" Nesta breathed with each grind of her hips against his mouth. He lapped up every wave that came his way. He rose swiftly and positioned himself at her entrance. The moment he pushed into her; her wrists were released from his siphons. She quickly brought them to his lower back and pulled him closer, fully sheathing him inside her. Cassian inhaled and exhaled deeply as he felt her stretch around him. They both looked down to admire where their bodies and souls connected. Still seated on the railing, she leaned forward and ravaged his neck and shoulder. She licked up the side of his neck and nipped on his earlobe. He slowly began thrusting into her. He would tease her; he could take his time. Her hands went again to his lower back, begging him to thrust harder. To release his tension.

He pulled her hands up to his head, so she could lace her fingers into his deep brown locks. She gasped as he gripped her thighs and pulled her closer to the edge of the thick railing, giving himself a much deeper angle. His pace began to quicken. Nesta cursed into the night, "Fuck, Cassian - so deep"

Cassian decided then that he missed her ass terribly. He pulled out, despite her brief protest. "I'm going to fuck you from behind, so you can scream my name into the mountains when I make you cum again.

Nesta's eyes widened, a grin sweeping across her face as the cuffs released her legs and she hopped down. She took in the sight of his cock coated in her cum. She turned to face the mountains. Cassian's hands firmly pushed her back, so she bent over the railing. He then gathered up the skirt of her dress and bunched it up on her lower back. His calloused warm hands roamed her ass before a light smack hit right cheek. Nesta gasped, turning her head over her shoulder to protest. However, he swiftly reentered her from behind, earning a moan from his lover. Nesta felt him completely fill her and couldn't restrain herself further. She started moving her ass back and forth. Taking the rhythm of their fucking into her own hands. Cassian was more than content watching her impale herself on his cock. He felt his balls tighten at the sight. His thighs clenched in restraint. His hands went to her hips to strengthen each movement. He was nearing his release. Nesta felt him twitch inside her, making her sex intensify in waves. Cassian felt her tightening around him. He lost his senses. He began pounding into her, fingers gripping into her hips. Their skin meeting again and again was drowned out by the music playing inside, thankfully. His thrusts became erratic, "I'm close, Nes."

"Cum inside me, Cass. I want it dripping down my thighs."

Cassian unraveled at her begging. With a final thrust, he released himself inside her. This was what Nesta needed to go over the edge. She followed him with waves of intensity, pleasure, and relaxation. His name was indeed screamed to the mountains. True to her request, she felt his essence drip down her inner thighs to the floor of the balcony. He pulled out of her and guided her to face him.

His fingers tilted her chin up. He took in her flushed face. They both were breathing deeply, as he let pride wash over him. He did this to her. He claimed her as his own once more. He would do it again and again and again.

"We're not finished here. I will meet you upstairs in the bathing chambers in 15 minutes." He placed a chaste kiss on her devilish smiling lips. With that said, he tugged his waistband back up, and allowed his siphons to cover her exposed breasts. They then opened the French doors as he turned and walked back into the great room. He turned back to wink at his lover, before proceeding to the staircase. Nesta smiled to herself and cleared her throat. She knocked back the rest of their wines and headed through the French doors in pursuit of round 2.