Announcement:
This chapter contains Elucien smut. HOWEVER- I wrote it in such a way that you can skip this chapter without missing anything in the overall CBTL storyline out of respect for Elriel shippers.
Chapter 4: Elucien
**This chapter contains NSFW content**
The excitement of the morning never quite faded, but it did settle enough for everyone to relax a bit.
Mor and Cerridwen went to the lake to help Azriel slowly introduce Nuala to the water. Cerridwen, unknown to both Mor and Nuala, had taken lessons from a distant water-wraith cousin after Under the Mountain and was practically half-seal when she got into the water. That set off a twinge of competition that had Nuala more eager than ever to learn. Azriel barely caught her before she threw herself off the porch and directly into the lake.
Cassian and Feyre went to the sparring ring while Rhysand attempted the obstacle course, and Nesta wandered into her cabin to change into strapless swim clothes so that she could lay in the sun and tan. Amren and Varian were hiking towards the mountain to explore a cavern system he'd found behind the waterfall- though everyone pretty much agreed that was code for 'sex'.
Elain and Lucien, naturally, chose to build a garden.
"When you're finished with that one, it goes over there-" Elain pointed to a marked-off corner of the empty herb garden Cassian built her. Lucien saluted his mate before returning to the board he was sawing.
Honestly, it was amazing Elain even waited the half-day they'd been at the lake so far to begin gardening. She'd spent most of the night with Lucien turning their sitting room into a planning center. Each and every herb Cassian had procured was labeled, along with detailed notes on the type of climate to that plant required to thrive. Lucien and Elain had enjoyed only a brief tumble in the sheets to christen their new bed before they fell into an exhausted sleep, and he found himself dreaming of Cauldron-damned seeds.
Now, in the hot sun, Lucien was building wooden frames that would sit below ground level- each inscribed and inlaid with detailed spells Cassian had written out for him. They would harness the same magic that kept his Illyrian garden self-managing while he was away from the cabins, while also monitoring soil nutrient levels.
Lucien was on his twenty-seventh board, sweat dripped down his tanned back, and all his body knew was the vibrations of saw through wood. His shoulders ached, his mouth was dry, but this was exactly the life Lucien loved- gardening with his mate.
Feyre had always found peace in her painting, and it showed. When she was with Rhysand she was alive, but no matter how stressed or frustrated she was, her paintbrushes and canvas were a very different kind of lover. It was as if painting brought her very soul to the foreground, and in each work she completed a piece her was embedded forever.
It was the same with Elain and gardens.
For every one she planted, Lucien saw a special kind of magic shining in her heart. It was a magic of creation- of life- and in this place more than any other that power thrived. He didn't mind the work, though it was just as exhausting as when he forged his own weapons. He didn't care about the dirt or sweat or even the inevitable blisters on his hands- all he cared about was having his front-row seat to the sheer creation Elain blessed her gardens with.
With only that in mind, Lucien kept sawing boards until he couldn't even feel his back anymore. He let the sun bake his skin- thanked the Cauldron for his natural resistance to sunburn- and stopped only when Elain insisted he take a drink of water- all so that he could help her create.
"Look at all this," Elain whistled as yet another board joined the heap. "How shall I repay my handsome mate for all of his hard work?"
Lucien accepted her kiss on his cheek, but he only offered a smile in response. He was breathing too hard to speak properly, and any movement outside of the automatic raising and lowering of the sawblade might shatter the illusion of numbness and remind him just how tired he was.
Elain gathered a bundle of four boards and brought them over to where she was sitting in the dirt to carefully copy Cassian's spells. It was slower work than what Lucien was doing, but far more difficult. The concentration it took to get the spell just right was something that took Cassian months to master. Elain was attempting it in a day.
Normally, she would just place a small white stone into the planting beds- growing stones from Day Court that Lucien bought in bulk for each garden. They could replicate the optimal growing climate of every plant, ensuring a perfect harvest for the vegetables and herbs Cassian had prepared. In the spirit of the cabin- where hard work, not magic, had crafted all- Elain and Lucien had decided to take the long way around.
"Sixty-eight," he gasped half an hour after Elain's last visit. Lucien risked walking over to where her pile of spelled boards was growing steadily larger. She was only on the thirty-fifth board, but sweat dripped down her forehead.
"You should take a break to catch your breath," she said once she'd finished sinking her magic into the board, "this is thirty-five, so count backwards."
Lucien lifted the top three boards off the pile and set them a little closer to Elain. He scooped up sixteen boards in each arm, careful to keep them in order, "I'm fine. You look like you could use a break though."
"I've got a bit of a headache," Elain admitted, "but it's not too bad. I think I can finish."
"Want me to help?"
Elain rolled her eyes, "I would love for you to help, because that would mean you were sitting down."
"I would love to help you, because that would mean you were taking a break."
She smiled at last, "Go hit things with a hammer- and do it from a chair if you can."
Her mate laughed, "If I sit down, within five minutes it will be impossible for me to stand up again." Both of them were suffering in different ways- as it always was with the first stages of a new garden. Elain wouldn't stop to nurse her headache (even if he begged her to), and he wouldn't stop because of a few sore muscles (even if she begged him to).
Lucien made a point of going over to his worktable and looking high and low for the chair that didn't exist. When Elain threw a clod of dirt at him, he laughed and actually set to work.
His golden eye helped him arrange the framing boards based on their type. Parallel boards had to match- two planks embedded with climate control spells, and two with general gardening magic. When all was said and done there would be seventeen large frames sunk beneath the soil of the herb-garden.
His hands were firm as he gripped the hammer, and so long as Lucien swung with his upper-arm, he could keep the rhythm going even through the change of tools. If his muscles didn't realize he'd switched gears, he was safe.
The boards he'd already taken formed the first eight frames, and by the time he was done assembling them Elain had three more ready to go. While she worked on spells for the last five, Lucien began measuring and scraping preliminary trenches where he would have to dig and submerge each frame.
"We're only doing a half-day," Elain called as Lucien stood and reached for a nearby shovel. "After the frames are assembled we can just set them in place, then worry about digging tomorrow. If we dig up the ground today, I'll just want to plant."
Sentences were now beyond him, but Lucien saluted her again. He picked up his hammer and began to pace, swinging the weight around to keep his muscles from cooling down.
It took another hour for Elain to finish up all the boards.
Lucien tried not to look too impatient when he monitored her from the corner of his eye. Each time she set the fourth board down, he'd swoop in and pick up the stack before she even had the next plank properly in her lap. His strength was fading fast.
When Lucien finished with the last set he'd taken from his mate, he began to pace again.
"Stand down soldier, we're done." Elain used her best commander voice and saluted him for good measure.
He didn't even bother setting the hammer down- Lucien simply dropped it where he stood. He straightened out his back and stretched with an undignified groan. It was the most glorious and horrific feeling he could imagine. Muscles that were burning cramped in protest of new movement, whereas his neck and spine practically sent him 'thank-you' notes.
"Head?" He was panting as he pointed at Elain.
"It'll be fine in an hour." She smiled, "Did you overdo it a bit?"
Lucien nodded. Elain held out her hand and he came to take it- or at least he intended to. His own hand wouldn't quite close, and when he forced it his fingers trembled.
Lucien let his mate pull him out of the garden and around the house to the tiled porch. She gave him a light shove at its edge and he unceremoniously collapsed.
"Wow." Cassian was evidently done training Feyre. He swam to the edge of the deck and turned back to face the lake, "Elain killed Lucie!" Only when Lucien was contained or immobilized did Cassian dare call him 'Lucie'.
"He's not dead," she called to anyone listening, "he just wore himself out in the garden."
Cassian made a face, "When you two say stuff like that, I never know if it's a euphemism or not."
Lucien drew on his last reserves of energy- maybe even his life force itself- just to flip Cassian off.
If he died thanks to the exertion, it would be worth it.
"Lucie, who taught you that?!" Cassian swiped his hand through the water and began to flick droplets at Lucien, "Bad Lucie! Bad! That's for grown ups only!"
Ropes of fire wrapped around Cassian's hands, ankles, and wings, pinning them tight without burning his flesh. The male sunk beneath the surface immediately.
"Let him go in ten seconds," Elain sat down and rested a hand on Lucien's chest. He mumbled something as she tapped a finger against the curve of his pectorals. "What was that Lucien?"
He coughed, "I said- you only love me for my body."
"Hot, sweaty mess that it is," she agreed, and kissed his forehead.
Cassian erupted from the water with a spray that got the attention of Mor, Cerridwen, Nuala, and Azriel far away.
"Whatever you did Cassian, stop being an idiot!" Mor yelled across the lake.
"Why do you always assume I was the one being an idiot?!"
"Were you?"
Cassian paused, "Yes, but that isn't the point!" He shot off across the water towards her to continue their argument- but flapped his wings hard enough to send a spray over Lucien and Elain.
Her mate smiled happily at the cool blessing that the water bestowed and rested his hand on hers, "I'll get up in a minute. I just want to let everything settle back into place. Is your head alright? It's not turning into a migraine, is it?"
"One of us is vertical, one of us is not. Guess which is which?" Elain poked him.
"You gave away the answer," his voice was more of a mumble than actual words.
"I'm fine. It's just a tension headache, it's going away." She stood- dragging his hand along with her, "Get up. We'll go sit in the dining area to catch our breath. After lunch I'll put you down for a nap."
"Sleep… good."
"Yes, caveman. Sleep good."
Lucien forced himself to rise off the patio tiles. At least a dozen different spots in his spine and shoulders popped. He smiled, Elain winced.
For their Illyrian lunch, Cassian prepared tandoori chicken. It was hot, filling, and just a bit spicy. Lucien ate almost as much as the Illyrians, and drank more water than was healthy in one sitting.
"I feel alive again," Lucien patted his stomach. "Thank you for lunch Cassian."
"Do you apologize for nearly drowning me?"
"I said I appreciate the lunch you made, take it or leave it." Lucien shot him a look.
Nesta hid her snicker from her mate. Cassian made a face, "Take it… I guess."
"What happened? He wouldn't tell us," Cerridwen was interested.
"Cassian earned the middle finger, then told Lucien that was 'for grown-ups only'." Elain rolled her eyes.
Azriel laughed, "So it was deserved?"
"Yes, but as I said to Mor- that isn't the point."
Rhys reached over and put a hand on Nesta's shoulder, "I hate to inform you, but you're married to an infant."
She raised an eyebrow, "You think I haven't figured that out yet?"
The group joked around for a bit longer, until all the food and drinks were finished and the housekeeping magic of the complex whisked the dishes back to Nesta and Cassian's cabinets, where they would arrive freshly cleaned. Covered plates waited for Amren and Varian in their home- though Varian had told Cassian not to expect them for dinner either.
"I've got a headache," Elain nudged Lucien, "walk me back to the cabin?"
He watched her a moment before nodding, "Sure. Ready to go?"
Lucien stood and offered Elain an arm. She stood- and just the slight tug of her movement threatened to topple Lucien. He suddenly remembered that he was exhausted.
"Is your head still bothering you?" Lucien asked when they were a good distance from the others.
"I feel absolutely fine now," she nudged him. "I just wanted to get you back and didn't feel like waiting for the 'little Lucie' jokes to die down."
He laughed, "I appreciate that, thank you."
They'd barely slept. Combined with their morning work on the garden, he knew that as soon as his stomach realized it was full and warm he would be unconscious.
Elain nudged him, "There is something I want to do before you conk out."
"What's that?" Lucien rolled his shoulders a couple of times. If he needed to exert himself again, he would.
"Bathe," she waved a hand in front of her nose, "you don't smell nice."
"You smell like sweat," he teased, "but I love it because it's you."
"I wanted to share a bath, but if you don't think I need one-"
Lucien's spine straightened, "I smell like shit, you certainly smell like shit. Elain Archeron, we need to bathe right now."
She sighed, "No matter how tired males are, you always perk up for sex."
"Sex? Elain, I'm talking about basic hygiene, which you're lacking." He did his best to sound completely serious.
Elain considered it a moment with a twinkle in her eye, "Well if that's how you feel, we should bathe separately and then see how well we did. If you have the energy, that is."
Lucien opened the door to their cabin, "Well Elain, as you just pointed out, I'm perky."
"Then get going," Elain swatted Lucien's rear as she walked by, "I'll take one of the upstairs bathrooms and meet you in the bedroom."
"What's the penalty if either of us does an unsatisfactory job?"
"I'll just have to teach you to bathe properly, won't I?"
He grinned at the thought of her hands sliding over his body- or his over hers, "Sounds like a deal."
In this game, there could be no loser.
That didn't mean either intended to play fair.
—–
Lucien took his sweet time in the shower, even though his energy was beginning to fade away. When he was done, he downed a minor healing potion to stave off the ache in his muscles before going upstairs.
If he showed weakness, Elain would pounce.
"I think I'm winning already," he crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe. Elain had obviously finished in the bath long before him.
Her bronze hair cascaded down her body in soft curls, unfortunately covering her bare breasts. Lucien thanked the Cauldron it didn't fall past her lower back as his eyes drank in the sight of her. Obscured as they were, her breasts were backlit by the one-way window, sending a buttery light to outline every delicious curve of her body.
She was standing on the tips of her toes- balanced on a chair- to attach a clasp to a hidden hook in their bedroom ceiling. From the clasp dangled two long strips that ended in padded cuffs. Elain managed to fix the clasp in place, then quickly adjusted the length of the straps to a thin red line that had been stitched into them- the marker for Lucien's height with a standard ceiling. Her own mark was much further down the straps in pink.
"If you got sweaty setting that up, I'm counting it against your score."
Elain shrugged, "I figured this was the only way to keep us both honest. You can't hide anything from me if you're all tied up." Her voice was too innocent.
"Oh, so I'm going first?" He chuckled and came to stand directly in front of her. On the chair, Elain's stomach was at the level of his eyes and Lucien simply breathed onto it. He held his arms above his head and brushed his lips across her skin, "Well then, shall we begin."
His whisper sent her blood boiling.
"No cheating." Elain swung her knee forward, forcing Lucien to step back or be kicked in the throat. He laughed and held still while his arms were bound.
Elain stepped down from the chair and shoved it aside, then looked over Lucien's body.
Nothing turned him on faster than the lustful gaze of his mate.
Her eyes were ravenous as she took in his toned muscles, still strained from a morning of hard labor. His skin was tanned to a burnt gold- brighter than Helion's because of his mother's blood, but still imbued with all the fire and radiance of the sun itself. Elain licked her lips slowly as her eyes traveled down his torso to his abdomen, where he was ridged by thick muscle. When her eyes drifted to the length between his legs-
-Elain swallowed.
"You were right," Lucien followed her gaze, "I'm perky."
"I married such a dork." She walked around him so that Lucien wouldn't see her grinning.
As revenge for his frankly horrible pun, she abruptly reached down and grabbed one of Lucien's feet. He yelped as he was suddenly thrown off balance. She brought the foot up to inspect and he slipped off his other foot. It was nowhere near comfortable with his muscles as sore as they were, and Lucien hissed in pain.
The second he did, Elain released the foot, "There's a bit of dirt there." She stood on her toes and kissed his shoulders in apology.
"Dirt from the floors."
"Doesn't matter where it comes from. One strike." Elain glanced at his leg and waited until she saw his weight shift to grab it. This time he didn't fall over, "This one too. That's two strikes so far, you really aren't doing well."
"You're getting the same two strikes, so I'm not worried." He rolled his eyes.
Elain knelt behind Lucien and ran her thumbs up the back of his legs from ankle to rear, "Just because it looks clean doesn't mean it is."
Before Lucien could ask what she meant, he felt her tongue travelling along the same exact path her fingers had taken. She was tasting him. She repeated her path up his other leg. Apparently satisfied with what she found, she squeezed his rear and stood. Her tongue resumed its journey between the two dimples above his rear and Lucien moaned at the feeling of her mouth along his spine.
"A little salty there," she stood to whisper in his ear. Her breasts pressed against his back, and he felt a soft tickle along the curve of his rear from where her mound pressed against him.
"You're making me sweat," Lucien grumbled.
"Not my fault." Elain rested her cheek against the muscles of his shoulders for a moment, enjoying the way they shifted as he gently tugged at the cuffs.
"Third strike against your hygiene." Elain stretched and licked along the side of his neck, "Well, that's clean at least."
She came around to face him and began to stroke his abs. Lucien's cock was standing straight out, and when Elain pressed up against him to lick his neck, she made sure that cock slid into the gap between her thighs and mound.
Lucien loosed a hard breath and began to pull at the cuffs again. Elain's heat completely surrounded him, and suddenly there was no game. He forgot anything existed beyond the feeling of his mate's mouth, and the silky, firm embrace of her thighs.
Elain took her own sweet time "checking" his neck, chest, and arms. She added three more strikes against him for sweat beading beneath his pectorals, bringing his total up to six. Only when she had nowhere else to go did she slide to her knees. Her tongue traced his abs and stomach, then probed his belly button just to annoy him. She sucked at the inside of his thighs (another two strikes), before finally turning her attention wholly on his cock.
"Anything wet is from you," he panted.
Elain saw some moisture along the shaft and licked at it. She considered it, "No- I think that's your taste. Point off."
"We're mates, we have the same taste! How would I have gotten anything there?"
"So what you're saying is who knows how long this has been dirty?" Elain traced two nails along his length, "That's got to be at least another point off. Ten already, who taught you to bathe?"
She didn't wait for an answer before she sucked one of his balls into her mouth. She tugged at it slightly, then released it to take the other. Lucien cried out in pleasure, but Elain only sighed, "Twelve points."
"What's wrong with those?!"
"Light stubble. You know I like them smooth."
"If that's how you're going to play, I'm showing no mercy."
Elain smirked and reached up to pull a little black string that dangled from the cuffs. They slid open just enough for Lucien to free his hands, "Go ahead, make me suffer."
She waited for him to loosen the straps and lower the cuffs to herheight, then fixed her mate with a wild grin and kicked one foot out behind her.
Lucien obediently circled her to inspected it with both hand and tongue, "How the hell did you manage that? There should be fuzz from the carpet at least."
"Shields around my feet." Elain looked over her shoulder as he inspected the other foot, "I guess I'm just better at basic hygiene than you."
"Oh really." Just as she had done to him, he bit and licked his way up the backs of her legs.
Elain squeezed her thighs together subconsciously as she felt a throbbing in her core. Tasting Lucien's body had turned her on too much. While she envisioned with this ending in Lucien taking her right where she stood, her competitive streak was still very much awake. He was looking for any excuse to give her points, and the building moisture between her legs was worth at least three already.
Lucien wrapped his arms around Elain's legs and lifted them just enough to bend her forwards. He went slowly enough that the added weight on her arms wasn't uncomfortable, but she still squeaked in indignation. Lucien took advantage of the position to stick his tongue between her legs far enough to taste the moisture there.
"One point for not cleaning your rear properly." Lucien set her down.
"That wasn't my ass, you tipped me too far forward!"
"Semantics. Another point for arguing. Ten more and we tie, eleven and I win." He began to lick up her spine, "Three points." Between her shoulders sweat was beading, "Four." His tongue curved behind her ear- far too probing to be sexual. Elain squealed when it went into her ear.
"STOP IT!" she swung her leg back to kick him when he moved her hair to access the other ear.
"Well, two points for the first ear, should I just add two for the second?"
"YES, YOU BASTARD." Elain wiped her ear on her shoulder as best she could. The entire right side of her body was covered in goosebumps.
"Alright then, two points for that ear, one for bad language, and one for whatever you wanted to hide by not letting me have a taste." He walked around her with an innocent smile, "That brings your total up to ten." Lucien clicked his tongue, "It's not looking good Elain."
She was going to lose.
Elain growled when he came around and licked the underside of each breast where just the faintest tang of sweat remained from her exertions hooking the binds to the ceiling. "Well that's a tie now…"
Lucien smiled at the look on his mate's face. She was already resigned to losing- and grumpy over it. If she'd known how he was planning on 'taxing' the refusal of her left ear inspection, she would have embraced the goosebumps.
Lucien slid to his knees just as she had, and kissed along her stomach until he was between her legs. He brushed his finger up and down through the hair of her mound, then nodded, "My apologies Elain, I wasn't in compliance with our deal, but you certainly are."
Each gave the other at some say in how they groomed. She'd asked for him to be smooth, if it wasn't much trouble. Lucien readily agreed and then said he preferred her 'however my beautiful mate chooses'. No matter that Elain gave him a point for 'stubble', he was never going to give her one for that.
"Alright," Lucien breathed in the scent of his mate's sex, "if this isn't perfectly clean then I win." His eyes promised revenge for her stunt with his cock.
Elain huffed as Lucien lifted her leg over his shoulder. He blew a breath of air onto her and she could feel exactly where the moisture soaked her. Lucien licked up one thigh, then the other, tasting every last drop.
That golden eye- and its mischievous green counterpart- watched her face while he inched up towards her center.
Despite her annoyance, Elain's breathing was heavy as the bridge of Lucien's nose pressed against her knot. She gasped when his tongue slid through her folds.
"Lucien!" she cried out as he entered her and shook his head ever so slightly, flicking her sensitive knot. His eyes narrowed and he probed further. Elain didn't know how to press harder against his face. Just as he had, she forgot the game they were playing as unbelievable pleasure woke between her legs.
He slid away from her, panting. Another second and he wouldn't have stopped until she came at least twice.
Lucien swallowed hard and wiped at the moisture on his face, "What do you think you're doing?"
"What?" Elain was squeezing her thighs together, trying to finish what he'd abandoned, "If you don't like it, get back in there and-"
"Not that," Lucien nodded to her legs. He looked at his wet fingers and sucked them into his mouth. He groaned and his cock twitched, "I meant what are you doing bribing the judge like that?" He couldn't take his eyes off her mound as he licked his lips, "It's cheating, but I want more…"
"Then take it," Elain knew she lost the game- and her sarcastic mate would probably remind her of that when they bathed later- but she didn't care at the moment. She needed release.
"I can't," his eyes were sad, "I lost."
"Wait- what? You won."
He shook his head, "The judge really likes the treat you gave him. Two points off your score."
As if he would let his mate lose this game.
"Oh no you don't, I won't take a bribery-win. Give me my points back."
"Fine, we're tied. I choose to concede to my opponent, and oh look- you win again. As your reward, you may do with me what you wish." He reached for the release cord and Elain growled, "What?"
She looked up and wiggled her hands above the cuffs, "I really want to play with this some more."
"You'll get to tie me up again." He knew where she was going, but he would make his wife say it. His shoulder still kind of hurt from when she grabbed his foot, annoying her would be his revenge.
"I'm too short, it isn't fun if you're the one tied up while we're standing." She huffed, "I can't get the right leverage and it's exhausting without you helping to hold me. It doesn't go deep enough if I'm trying to hold on to you at the same time."
"Wall sex?"
"Last time we did that I got a kink in my neck that didn't go away for a week. I don't want wall sex, I want standing sex," Elain pouted.
Lucien smiled, "I saw an icebox downstairs, if you'd like to play with that for a bit."
"No ice. No more foreplay," she glared. Usually it was among her favorite ways to play, but not this time.
He sighed and shook his head, "The things I do for my mate." Lucien came closer and lifted Elain's leg so that her ankle rested on his shoulder, her other leg wrapped around his hips, and her entrance was angled towards his cock. Elain smiled in anticipation.
"Work, work, work," Lucien held his cock and pushed forward.
Elain rolled her hips ever so slightly, and as soon as the tip of his cock parted her folds, it slid to rest against her. Lucien pulled her onto him gently. He savored the sharp gasp when his cockhead entered her, then the long, shuddering moan as an inch of his length followed.
Lucien rolled his hips gently, easing his member in and out, going just a couple inches deeper each time. Within moments, he was seated to the hilt. He hugged Elain's leg with one arm, pinning it against his shoulder. His free hand pulled the other off his hips to match. A soft cushion of air pressed against Elain's back just enough to take most of her weight off of her bound wrists.
"Ready for some fun?" Lucien whispered. He slid out until just the tip was inside her.
"Oh Cauldron yes," she cried out when his arms tightened around her legs and Lucien thrust into her hard and fast. He solidified the air behind her and released her legs so that he could hold her hips instead.
"You feel so good," Lucien groaned as he pulled out and thrust back in. "You're so warm."
"Harder," she hissed, "go harder."
Lucien obliged immediately. The sound of their bodies colliding filled the room as he pounded into Elain. She wanted to touch him- to grab him and make him go harder, faster- but she was completely unable to hold him.
That was her favorite part of bondage.
Theirs wasn't a relationship of domination or submission, it was built on teasing and trust. She knew he would tend to her, and would never leave her empty or wanting. Still- he could delay when she was granted her release, and when she had him tied to the bed her power was just as absolute.
Lucien felt Elain tightening as her pleasure built. He quickly pushed one leg off his shoulder and sent a shield of air to pin it to the ground.
The effect was immediate.
Elain had been moaning and shouting from the feeling of his cock filling her, but with the adjustment her entrance was tighter and he entered her at an angle that made him grind against both her knot and those other nerves buried deep inside her.
Either one alone would be overwhelming.
When they were combined, she had no chance of staving off her orgasm for even a second.
Lucien bit his lip as her walls clamped down around him and Elain came with a scream. He thrust even faster, and slipped two fingers in on either side of his cock, and pulled her open just a little bit wider.
All Elain knew was that halfway through her orgasm the wave that was breaking around her was struck by another wave- this one a wall of pure light and blinding ecstasy.
She screamed Lucien's name and begged him to come deep inside her.
The answering rush of heat told her he obeyed.
Lucien came with Elain's name on his lips and her body tight around his cock. He was forced to stop thrusting into her as she gripped him with impressive force, but it didn't diminish her pleasure. Elain arched her back and threw her head to the side. She bit her own arm as she cried out again- this time at the feeling of him throbbing and pulsing inside her, each hard twitch followed by a burst of warmth in her depths.
Lucien pulled the black cord, his shields vanished, and once Elain's wrists were free he fell to the floor, taking her with him.
Elain collapsed onto his chest. She could feel his heart pounding and his cock throbbing right along inside of her. It was growing soft as he came in smaller and smaller bursts.
"Anything you want," he panted as Elain slid his cock from her, "I will do anything you want if you give me half an hour to recover." His aching muscles were on fire- and Lucien couldn't tell which was from the gardening and which from that. The feeling of her around him was incredible- more than incredible- but what his mate (and cock) wanted, his body just couldn't deliver without some form of rest.
Exhaustion was beginning to claim Elain as well, so she smacked Lucien's chest and stood, "Get up."
He groaned, but obeyed his mate with minimal whimpering on the way to his feet, "That was a fast half hour."
"Come on, you tired old male." Elain pulled Lucien towards the bathroom. He looked more asleep than awake as his energy drained away. She tugged at him again, "This will only take a minute."
He followed reluctantly, "I don't work that fast. I like to take my time and really build it up. However, if you just want oral I can make it happen if I'm allowed to lay down."
"Even though I've always wondered what it'd feel like if you started snoring while your tongue was in me, I was thinking it might be nice to just clean up and have an afternoon nap. What do you say?" She laughed.
Lucien took a deep, steadying breath and nodded, "You have permission to use my body as you see fit while I sleep. Don't take it personally if I snore."
"I'll wake you up that way," Elain promised and kissed his cheek, "you'll be all tied down and everything."
Lucien smiled. When he blinked, only one eye bothered to open again.
They cleaned off in record time, and by the end Lucien was scooping Elain up into his arms and carrying her to their bed. He uncovered additional hooks hidden in the bedframe and quickly attached the ends of hand and ankle cuffs to them.
"There, when you wake up you can strap me down and ravish me," he said.
Lucien left the cuffs hanging and curled up beside Elain. She laid her head on one of his arms and pulled his other across her chest to hold. He burrowed into her hair and let her natural perfume surround him. Her scent- roses and apples- filled his world. Their scent. His favorite since long before they ever mated.
And it was just a little too strong.
"Elain?"
"Yes?" Her voice was a sleepy murmur.
"There's still a little shampoo in your hair."
"I don't care," she sighed. "I'll rinse it out later."
"That's a point though. You're unhygienic. I win."
Lucien expected a snort, maybe her elbow in his ribs or a few choice curses.
He wasn't ready when she grabbed a free pillow beside her head and whipped it around to smack him in the face.