Chapter 119

Elain was barely aware of the fact that Lucien had lifted her into his arms. She didn't notice him cross the room, and was surprised when he lowered her gently to the bed. "Lucien…" she murmured, lifting a hand of her own to his shirt and taking a handful of it tightly.

"Yes, Petal…" Lucien moved up beside her, wrapping an arm around her waist as he lay down beside her and drawing her closer. Elain leaned into him, still feeling as if electricity was coursing through her. She let out a slow breath as Lucien's hands moved carefully over her. Smiling when he pressed his lips to her forehead, Elain stroked his shirt, enjoying the feel of the fine fabric beneath her fingers. "I'm sorry…" he murmured, and Elain looked up to meet his eyes. "If that was… too much."

"No…" She breathed, bringing her hand up to his cheek. "You could never be too much." Relief trickled down the bond to her, and she smiled at him.

"If you're sure…"

"Thank you." Elain held his gaze, watching as he raised a surprised eyebrow at her.

"For what?"

"For checking with me." She breathed, "Before…" she stroked her fingers down his cheek, "I know that it was hard. I know that you would have stopped if I had told you I didn't want it." Lucien nodded and she smiled again. "I love you."

"Love you, Petal." His arm tightened around her waist and he pressed another kiss to her forehead. "I'm so thankful for you." His hands moved up and down her back, "I love that you recognise when that happens…. That you understand it…"

"Well, I can feel you…" she murmured, her fingers moving along his jaw, "I could feel what you wanted… and I could feel your struggle…" Her eyes focused on his beautiful, full lips and she shifted closer, biting her own lip for a moment, "I could feel that you would listen to me. I trust you." She leaned in to kiss him, groaning in appreciation when he returned her kiss with interest.

"I didn't mean for it to be like that." He murmured, kissing her again. "I never intended to be so…"

"I know." She smiled into his next kiss, "I still liked it."

"I had thought…" he told her, "that every time would be… softer…" she could feel his rising anxiety, and she pulled him closer, grinning when he lifted both of his hands to her face as he kissed her again. "Guess I'll just have to make it up…" his kisses turned gentle and Elain felt herself melting when his hands moved down her body. The possessiveness was gone and Elain gave a soft sigh when Lucien's hands, almost reverently, slid her dress from her shoulders. His fingers caressed her skin as he traced them to her bare hips as he moved over her, settling his weight atop her.

"Oh…" Elain slid her hands up his chest, pushing his jacket back off his shoulders, "Again already?"

"Let me show you how it should have been…" his words sent a shiver through Elain and he grinned at her a moment later, moving to strip his shirt off. When he'd slipped his pants off an instant later a shiver of anticipation moved through Elain and she combed her fingers through Lucien's vibrant red hair. His eyes lifted to meet her gaze then and she tugged him down to kiss him.

Elain had not been expecting Lucien's fingers to slip between her thighs, and she gave a surprised gasp as he began caressing her. "Ohh… that… that is… oh…oh…"

"Nice, is it?"

"Ah... ah... mhm…" her eyes slid closed and she bit her lower lip as Lucien continued to move his fingers in a way that made Elain want to scream. Her hands squeezed at his shoulders as she whimpered, gasping when he pulled his fingers from her. "Lucien…"

"It's okay…" he breathed, pressing a kiss to her cheek and then moving up her jaw. "I'm going to give you exactly what you want…"

Elain felt a twisted smirk spread across her face and she slid her hands slowly down Lucien's sides to his hips. "I believe that you will…" She murmured before he bent his head to kiss her again. Lucien's weight on her increased and she felt him reach down to adjust himself. Parting her lips for him, Elain groaned when she felt him slip his tongue slowly into her mouth, licking carefully at her and sending tingles through her entire body.

He felt different this time, Elain noticed. As bits and pieces reached her down the bond, she tried to sort through everything that she was sensing from Lucien. There was caution regarding what he had done earlier, and desire to give her more than that. He was entirely focused now on her and on making her feel good. The hurried desperation from earlier was gone, and in its place was patience and tenderness, and fire seemed to follow wherever Lucien's hands moved over her body.

Elain met Lucien's gaze when he lifted his head slightly, and she could see the fire was in his russet eye as well. One of his hands tightened on her hip while the other came to gently cup her cheek, and Elain's breath caught in her throat at the feel of him pressing his hard length against her. When he still hadn't pushed into her after several moments, Elain let out a soft whine, earning another smile from Lucien, this one mischievous. "There's no hurry…" he told her gently, his thumb tracing her lips as he continued to smile at her, "I do intend to take my time…"

"Lucien…" She hooked one of her feet around behind his knee, and he took the hint. "Aah-ah…" Her eyes slid closed when he pressed forward, pushing himself slowly inside of her.

Lucien's lips returned to hers, as the hand at her waist carefully caressed her. He was still as he kissed her, licking carefully and making her want more before he moved, ever so slowly, and Elain's back arched as she felt him push deeper, inch by hot inch. Gasping, her hand tightened on his shoulder, and Lucien rolled his hips. "You… really have something to prove…?" She managed to get the words out, despite being seemingly unable to quite catch her breath.

Lucien gave a soft laugh in reply, rolling his hips again, before pressing a soft kiss to the tip of her nose. "Just want to give you what you deserve…"

She had never known him to be this slow and deliberate, and kept her eyes on his face as he moved carefully over her. She enjoyed the look in his eyes, and on his face, watching his intent expression, and she could feel him focusing on every move he made. "I think I deserve you." She breathed, and his pleasure at those words washed over her down the bond.

Lucien had settled into a deliberate and slow rhythm, and Elain kept one of her hands in his hair while the other moved over his back. He had wanted to claim her earlier, to know that she was his, and she wanted to do the same. If Helion had told the Court that Lucien was his son, then people would now see him as an heir to the day court, and rather more important than he had been before. Elain did not think it was beyond expectation that some of the other females might like the idea of Lucien in a way they had previously overlooked. When he pressed his face into her neck, She took the chance to sink her teeth into his shoulder. He gave a surprised grunt and lifted his head. Elain looked at the mark she had made, red and angry looking, and she knew that it would bruise.

"Mine." She told him, and he grinned at her.