Chapter 38

Elain stretched out before him, her hands sliding up under her pillow, groaning as he ran his own hands up her smooth back, gathering her silky hair and pushing it up over one shoulder. He watched as she turned her head to look at him over her other shoulder, meeting his eyes with a smirk. Lucien slid both of his hands down to her hips then, lifting her into the right position before he buried himself in her in one swift stroke. Elain's soft gasp was followed by a low groan and the sound sent heat burning through Lucien's veins as he held himself still for a moment, forcing himself to take one slow deep breath after another. When she dipped her head, pushing back onto him a little, he took that as a sign that he was free to move and he tightened his hold on her hips as he rocked forward into her. She groaned again and Lucien grinned.

Hearing his name fall from Elain's lips in a soft sigh was like being struck by lightning and he lifted her hips higher, dragging her back onto himself as he thrust again. She let out a small cry and he thought for a moment he'd hurt her, but then dark eyes met his over her shoulder once more and that thought vanished.

"Do that again." She murmured. Lucien did so and was rewarded with another loud cry as her eyes closed. "Ah… yes!"

Wanting to hear her continue to make those sounds, Lucien began a steady rhythm, his hands tight on Elain's hips, as he continued to pull her back to meet each of his thrusts. He listened intently as her voice became a little breathless as she urged him on and he watched as her hands slid around the top of the mattress before taking hold of the headboard. Then, she was pushing herself back onto him and Lucien slid one of his own hands from her hip, up her spine to the back of her neck, holding her in place as he continued to fuck her.

Elain continued to groan, her hands tight on the headboard, and Lucien's blood pounded in his ears. When she moaned his name, looking over her shoulder at him again, however, Lucien pulled her up and around, flipping her onto her back beneath himself. He was on her a second later, kissing her as she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist as he began to move inside of her again. When he felt her hands slide into his hair, he pressed his face into her neck, his eyes closing as she began to moan his name once more, her lips now against his ear.

When he opened his eyes in the dark, Lucien knew that his hands were already on himself. He gave a soft groan at the feel of his own touch, and then threw the sheet back and swung his legs around off the bed and to the floor. He needed to go to her.

The decision warred within him for a few moments. Everything inside him was driving him to get up and go to Elain's room. What would she think, however?

That choice was hers, he decided, getting to his feet. Quickly, he pulled on a pair of pants and a loose shirt and then he was striding for the door and up the hallway. If Elain told him to leave, he would obey. She could leash him if she wanted to. She had that control, and he would do whatever she said, but he needed to go to her. He needed to hear her say it.

Elain looked up from her book when her door opened. Lucien stood in the doorway, hair sleep-messed and his shirt halfway unlaced. She was surprised that she hadn't heard him approach, especially considering the rate at which his heart was currently thundering. The sight of him, standing there as he was, fire burning in that russet eye, set heat flooding through Elain. Sitting up a little straighter and looking at him, she knew that she was already slick with desire. She wanted him, she realised. But, what did he want? Why was he currently standing in her doorway, staring at her like that?

"Lucien?" she asked, her voice a little shaky. "… what…?"

He stepped forward, his eyes steady on her face. "Thought I might show you what else I can do with my mouth."

Elain stared at him, her breath caught in her throat. He made no move to come closer however, simply watched her, waiting for whatever she would decide. Swallowing thickly, Elain tried to think.

She thought about earlier on the couch, and the way that he had kissed her. She thought about how he had held her face in his hands, and the way she could tell he could truly see her when he looked at her. She thought about his self-doubt, which she could still feel trickling down the bond to her, growing stronger with each moment that she said nothing, and she thought about the fact that his mere presence now was just about setting her on fire.

Her hand shaking slightly, Elain set her book aside. Lucien took another step into the room, flicking the door shut behind himself as he moved closer, his eyes still on her face. Nervously, she smoothed her nightdress over her legs, watching as he approached. "I…I…" her breath caught, and she fell silent.

"It's okay." Lucien's voice was low and soft and Elain just watched him as he crawled onto the bed and toward her, his eyes on hers the entire time. Her breath was coming in short, uncertain gasps until he reached her. She made a small sound as his hand slid from her knee up her thigh as he leaned over her to kiss her softly, and Elain parted her lips for him instantly.

Moving between her legs, Lucien brought a hand up to Elain's cheek and she leaned into his touch as he sought to deepen the kiss and she couldn't help a soft moan as his tongue moved gently against her own. As his other hand slid into her hair, Elain settled back against her pillows, feeling herself relax as Lucien moved with her. When he shifted his hand from her cheek down to brace himself and support his weight as he leaned over her, Elain allowed her own hands to come up and touch him, one at his chest, and the other trailing slowly up his arm.

Heat burned through Elain at the satisfying feeling of Lucien's firm body against her own and, when his lips travelled across her cheekbone and down to her throat, she felt herself shudder. Lucien slid a hand down her side before she felt him beginning to drag her nightdress up her thighs, and Elain bit her lower lip as he pressed his lips to the side of her throat. "It's okay," he whispered, breath hot against her skin and Elain nodded silently. Her eyes slid closed again when she felt Lucien's tongue against her throat and her hand slid around to skim across his back, her nails catching in his shirt.

When he ran a gentle hand up the inside of her thigh, Elain's eyes opened. "It's okay…" his voice was soft in her ear and she found herself holding her breath. She gasped in surprise, jolting a little, when Lucien's hand reached between her legs, and she felt his fingers slide against her, moving easily through her slick desire. He lifted his head then, his russet and gold eyes appearing before her and Elain met his gaze, gasping again as his fingers continued to move. "Tell me if you want me to stop…" his voice was low and guttural and Elain shook her head a moment before Lucien's lips met hers again. She shuddered as his fingers explored her, the touch of a hand not her own, sending jolts of excitement coursing through her. A pleased satisfaction washed over Elain down the bond, and she knew that Lucien had realised the effect he was having on her. He met her eyes again for a moment before lowering his head to press his lips to her chest and Elain watched him curiously as he shuffled down, one hand tracing gently over her as he did so, his lips moving lower and lower.

"What are you doing?" She murmured, the first actual sentence she had managed since he'd arrived.

Lucien slid one of his hands along her thigh, catching behind her knee and lifting it wide as he looked back up at her. "Showing you what else I can do with my mouth…"

Elain sank her hands into the bedspread, gripping it tightly, as Lucien's hand slid along her other thigh before lifting her knee and shifting that leg out wider. His eyes met hers again, and fire filled her veins. "Lucien…"

The corner of Lucien's lips quirked up as he gave her a lazy smirk before turning to press a soft kiss to the inside of her knee, his eyes never leaving hers. "You smell delicious…" his words were practically a growl and produced a throbbing need between Elain's legs. She swallowed thickly, her hands tightening on the bedspread as Lucien knelt lower, his hands sliding up her thighs again to her hips.

Elain could do nothing but watch him as he made sure her nightdress was pushed up out of his way before he tugged her down into a better position and lowered himself between her thighs. Finding herself holding her breath once more, Elain forced herself to inhale, watching him with rapt attention as he smirked at her again. He tilted his head, eyes on her face. "Just breathe." He said, hand running slowly up and down her thigh before he turned his head to press another kiss to the soft skin there. She shuddered, hands still gripping the bedspread tightly.

Lucien held her gaze as he kissed the inside of her thigh again, moving slightly higher. Elain felt something inside of herself tighten in anticipation, unable to help her breaths coming in shallow gasps. The need in her built, mixing with the need she could feel coming from him, and she couldn't help a soft whine when Lucien slid his hands under her, wrapping his arms around her thighs and fixing her firmly in place, holding her open.

Russet and gold eyes met hers as he bent to her, and Elain felt his hot breath against her, sending shivers through her, before she felt the heat of his tongue. He licked her gently, tentatively, but Elain still let out a small cry, her hands clenching on the bedspread. She looked at him as he lifted his head slightly, and she watched as he licked his lips, smiling at her. "Oh, Petal," he murmured, "You are delicious." Elain was sure she would have blushed if she hadn't already been on fire. When she didn't say anything, Lucien smiled before lowering himself to her again.

This time his hot mouth closed over her and Elain's head fell back against her pillows as she tried to resist another gasp. Any semblance of self-control she still maintained vanished however, when she felt his tongue lick her entirety, slow and confident. "Ah!" her eyes closed as she gave a loud cry. He did it again and Elain's hands flew to his hair, carding through it and holding tightly as he repeated his action yet again, growing quicker with each repetition. "ahh-AH!" Lucien's arms, wrapped tightly around her thighs, held her in place as he continued to lick at her when her hips began to buck beneath him.

Elain let out another loud shriek, before gasping as she suddenly felt Feyre brush against her mind with concern. Her sister hurriedly retreated and, a moment later, Elain felt one of her little air shields descend around the room. If Lucien had noticed, he made no indication that he had and Elain couldn't keep her hands out of his hair as his tongue pushed into her and she screamed again.

She tried to be gentle as her hands moved through his hair, but she ended up tugging at him, seemingly tried to pull him closer and Lucien's only response was to hum his approval against her and push that clever tongue deeper. It wasn't long before Elain's back arched and Lucien released one of her thighs to bring a large hand up to her abdomen, pushing her back down onto the mattress as he attempted to hold her there, all the while maintaining his torturously blissful rhythm which was sending little bursts of electricity throughout her body. She shrieked out her warning, her hands fisting in his vibrant hair, a moment before she came with another scream as he held her down, licking and sucking at her throughout it all and never ceasing until she had gone still and lay gasping his name. Her hands moved more gently though his hair then and, eventually, he lifted his head to meet her eyes once more.

"Lucien…" she breathed his name and he answered her with a smile, pressing a last gentle kiss to the inside of her thigh before he released her and crawled up to lay beside her. Elain turned toward him, her heart still thundering in her chest.

"You see?" he murmured, a hand coming up to brush her hair back from her face, "Talking isn't all I'm good at…"