Chapter 169

Elain gripped Lucien's shoulders tightly. His hands were tight on her, one at her thigh, holding her up and against the wall, and the other at her cheek, keeping her face where he could see her. He was moving quickly, steadily, thrusting into her over and over, and Elain was unable to help the small sounds she was making in response. She really didn't think that she needed to, however, as she could fee Lucien's reaction each time he heard a new sound from her. His heartrate would increase, and he would smile, and she knew that he loved it. With every small cry she made, Elain could feel Lucien's excitement and pleasure slamming into her down the bond. She gave up trying to hold in any of her sounds, and just allowed everything washing over her to take hold.

Holding Lucien's gaze, Elain focused on what he was doing. She tilted her hips as much as she was able in the position in which she was being held, and she grinned when he groaned in appreciation. He didn't so much as alter his rhythm however, pushing into her again and again, and Elain held more tightly to his shoulders when he gave a low growl.

With every thrust Lucien made into Elain's body, she could see the bond between them growing brighter and brighter. She could feel it becoming stronger and more vibrant. Where it had previously been a pale golden thread, it was now shining and unmistakable. It flared and flared again, and Elain's breath caught in her throat. It was as plain to her now as one of her own limbs, and there would never be a chance that she would lose it or have to search to find it. Again and again, brighter and brighter, and she felt tears welling in her eyes. "The… the bond…" she gasped, one of her hands shifting from Lucien's shoulder to his cheek.

"I know…" he sounded breathless, and his eyes remained on her face. "I know…" A moment later, Lucien lengthened his strokes and Elain's eyes closed. She tilted her head back against the wall, her heartbeat synching to each move Lucien made as she felt the bond grow stronger and stronger. This was what she had wanted. For what felt like so long now, she had wanted more from the bond, and this was it. Relief flowed through her now, and she slid her hand from Lucien's cheek, back into his hair, the silky texture of it sending tingles throughout her body.

"I love you…" she breathed, clutching at him as her back moved against the wall, "I love you…"

"Mine…" he snarled, his lips finding hers an instant later. Elain parted her lips for him instantly, allowing him to deepen the kiss as he continued to move inside of her. She heard him groan into the kiss, and Elain tightened her hand in his hair, before his lips shifted and moved to her throat. When she felt the brush of his teeth against her skin, Elain shuddered as her ears began to ring and light flashed before her eyes.

She was sitting in a bright field, flowers blowing idly in the gentle breeze, and she found herself laughing. Running through the grass toward her was a female youngling, and Elain opened her arms for her, catching her when the youngling launched herself forward. When she got a look at her face, Elain's heart soared. Her eyes moved over the delicate little face with a small nose, wide russet eyes, and pointed ears peeking out from within long honey-brown hair.

Elain gave a slight squeal then when two more small arms enveloped her from behind, and someone pressed a sloppy kiss to her cheek. Turning, she smiled at the grinning male youngling, younger than the female, who tumbled down in front of her. Helping him to his feet, Elain stroked his ruby hair back from his face, meeting the wide brown eyes that looked at her with joy from beneath that vibrant hair.

Another arm snaked around Elain from behind and, recognising Lucien's touch, she leaned back against him. Settling together, Elain laughed again then, when both younglings rushed forward again, piling atop the two of them.

Gasping at the vision, Elain's heart filled with emotions that she couldn't even begin to name. She looked at Lucien and, wanting to share what she had seen with him, she brought one of her hands to his cheek again. Not really knowing what she was doing, Elain focused intently upon the bond, and the images she had seen in the vision. She concentrated on the faces of the younglings, so clearly belonging to Lucien and herself, and she tried to push those images toward him. The bond glowed brightly in her mind, and was easy to grasp.

When Lucien's eyes opened to meet hers, Elain knew that she had succeeded. "Is… is that…" his voice sounded choked.

She nodded, her fingers caressing his cheek. He stopped then, and Elain's breath caught at the sight of tears in his russet eye. Carefully, Lucien set Elain back on her feet and she watched his face as his expression crumpled. He sank down then, and Elain went with him to the plush rug. Rubbing her hand over his back when she touched him and found him trembling, Elain realised that Lucien was crying. "Love…" she breathed, wrapping her arms around him. The bond flared between them then, and Lucien's ache hit her. His yearning for what she had shown him, his desire to have that life, and his relief at knowing that some day he would have it, all reached Elain and she tightened her arms around him. "Home…" she whispered, "Family…"

He nodded, his head still bowed, and Elain pressed a kiss to his shoulder. "Yes…"

"That's our future…" she told him, and then his arms wrapped around her, sliding around her waist and pulling her closer to himself. Elain leaned into him.

"That's our present…" Lucien lifted his head to meet her gaze, and Elain brought her hand to his cheek again, brushing a tear from his scar. "You and I…" he told her. "We are family."

"We are." She agreed, reaching for the bond in her mind and caressing it gently. She tilted her head when she saw Lucien shiver, and she smiled. "Did you feel that?"

"Of course." He sat up straighter, pulling her into his arms. Elain smiled at him when he lifted her with him as he then got to his feet. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Elain allowed Lucien to carry her across the room toward the enormous bed. "What do you say, we move somewhere more comfortable?" he asked, his lips quirking in a wicked smirk.

"I think that sounds fantastic, love." She kept her eyes on his face when he crawled onto the bed, carrying her to the centre where he lay her gently, moving down over her as Elain settled back against the many pillows. "Are you alright?" she asked, her hand caressing his cheek once more, and Lucien nodded, bringing his lips carefully to hers.

"I am." He murmured, his hands moving over her, and setting her blood alight. Elain wrapped her legs around him, hooking one of her feet behind his knee.

"Good…"

Lucien kissed her again, and she felt him licking teasingly at her as he adjusted himself over her. Opening to him, Elain closed her eyes, sliding a hand into his hair as he slowly pushed himself into her once more. Her hand tightened in his hair as he began to move, and she allowed herself a soft groan.

The bond flared again, and Elain's breath caught in her throat. She could feel both of them. As Lucien moved, Elain's brain tried to keep up with everything happening. She could feel the silky bedspread beneath her, feel as her skin moved over it, but she could also feel how good it felt to be inside of her, to move within that heat. She let out a low moan, and tried to focus on just one of those perspectives. "Lucien.." she breathed, "Lucien…"

"Got you, Petal…" he held her cradled to himself as he moved, and Elain just clung to him.