Chapter 188

Having decided that he would speak to Helion after dinner, Lucien walked with Elain around the Palace as they followed the afternoon sun. The views they received of the Day Court as that sun sank golden toward the horizon were stunning, and he revelled in the feel of the warmth on his skin, and Elain's hand in his as they strolled contentedly alongside one another. This was a life he wouldn't even need to get used to. He was used to it already. He could, Lucien knew, do this happily every day for the rest of eternity and never grow sick of it.

As the sun sank lower, he turned his head to look down at his mate. Elain's brown eyes were on the sunset, and he couldn't help but admire the golden glow to her skin in that gorgeous light, and the way that it lit up her honey-brown hair. She did very much look like she could be the Lady of the Day Court, and he smiled at the fact that this was their future. Shifting closer to her, Lucien slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her in and lifting her slightly to himself as he bent to bring his lips to her forehead. He felt Elain's hands land lightly on his shoulders, and he heard a soft laugh from her before he released her, smiling down at her and sliding one of his hands down her arm to take her hand again.

"Would you like to go in, Petal?" he asked, lifting that hand to his lips. Elain's brown eyes followed her hand, and he saw her smile when he kissed it.

"We should change for dinner." She said, her eyes lifting to meet his own. Lucien hadn't been thinking about changing for dinner, but that didn't mean that she was wrong. He just smiled by way of response, his heart beating enthusiastically when Elain squeezed his hand a little and settled into an easy stride beside him as they headed for their suite.

Lucien locked the door behind them and by the time he had turned back around, Elain was throwing open the curtains to let the last of the daylight into the room. He watched her open the door to the little garden outside, before she turned her head and looked back at him. He smiled at her, and she walked toward him, her steps even and so very deliberate. He could tell that she knew that he was looking at her, and he could hear her heartbeat quicken as she drew closer. When she reached him, Elain came to a stop and Lucien couldn't help but lift a hand to her cheek. He brushed her hair back from her face as his other hand came up to her shoulder, drawing her in closer.

"You weren't thinking about getting ready for dinner, were you?" she asked, and he knew that his grin was answer enough when he saw her carefully moisten her lips, her eyes moving over his face. "What were you thinking about?" she asked, her head tilting, and Lucien tightened his hold on her.

"How good our life will be here…"

"Ah…" Elain held his gaze when her hands slid up his chest and she leaned into him. Breathing in, Lucien took in the familiar scent of the lavender shampoo that she favoured, and his hands slid around to her lower back, sliding down over her arse. He watched as she gasped and blushed a little, even as she leaned further into him, pressing herself to his chest. "That it will." She breathed, and Lucien's own heart raced to match Elain's when she went up on her toes to press her lips against his jaw. "I can see it."

Elain could feel Lucien's hands shake, his whole body tremble, and she went back down flat on her feet as she lifted her eyes to his face once more. "You can see it?" he asked, those hands clutching at her now. She nodded. It had been something she had been able to see since they had been strolling around the palace in the warm afternoon sun. Lucien had told her that he wished to stay at the Day Court. That had been the choice he had made, and she had happily agreed. As they had taken their leisurely time soaking up that golden sun, images had continued to make their way into her mind. Elain could see her future with Lucien. She could see all of eternity; their lives entwined. The younglings she had first seen the night she had accepted the bond were a part of those images and, sliding one of her hands up the side of Lucien's throat, she held his gaze.

"Do you wish to see?" she asked.

"Yes." His voice sounded choked, and she smiled gently at him. Elain brushed her fingers carefully across Lucien's scar, sliding those fingers back into his ruby hair as she reached for the bond. When she had hold of it, she focused her attention on what she had seen, and she pushed all of it toward him. She heard Lucien's sharp intake of breath and knew that he had seen what she had sent his way. His hands became gentle on her, caressing and smoothing over her dress, and Elain smiled.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" she asked, and he nodded, his metallic eye clicking and whirring as he gazed down at her. Feeling a tug from the bond then, Elain realised that Lucien was trying to pull her closer and she allowed him to do so. When his hands moved down her thighs, she let him lift her to himself as she moved across the room and toward their bed. Need began to pulse within her, through her veins, and she found herself already tugging at Lucien's clothing, trying to remove it. He didn't speak, but he didn't need to, as he carefully set her atop the bedspread, his hands lifting and moving up her back, taking her dress with them until he could pull it over her head. Elain found herself barely able to draw breath as she just looked up at her mate, watching as those hands went to his own clothing and he had removed it within seconds. Her own hands were on him then, one gliding up his magnificent chest, while the other went to his forearm, gripping him and pulling him toward her.

Lucien moved over her easily, and Elain wrapped herself around him, hooking her legs behind his own. Her eyes fluttered closed when she felt her mate's hot lips against her throat, and she bit back a groan when his tongue followed an instant later. He knew exactly the right place to focus his attention in order to draw all kinds of reactions from her, and Elain knew that he was going to enjoy every second of it. He still hadn't said a word since she had shown him what she had seen of their future, but she could feel him down the bond. She could feel how his heart was beating wildly, and she could feel what seemed to be fire burning within. Elain would have sworn that that fire was in his touch as her skin seemed to be set alight wherever Lucien's fingers trailed. Her back arched slightly when she felt his teeth scrape against her skin, and she allowed a low moan to escape her.

Carding her fingers through his vibrant hair with one hand, Elain scratched at Lucien's hip with her other hand, wanting him to move things along a little more quickly. The throbbing need within her was only growing more intense, and her breath was coming in shorter gasps. It was clear that her mate understood what she wanted, as one of his hands slid down between them and Elain felt him adjusting himself over her. When he pressed gently against her then, Elain tightened her hand in Lucien's hair, "Yes…" she breathed, "Yes… Now…"

Lucien's lips ghosted across Elain's throat, and she felt his hot panted breath against her skin as he moved with purpose and determination and pushed into her with one fluid thrust. Elain gave a cry, her hand tightening in his hair again before she released it, not wanting to hurt him. Instead, she clutched at Lucien's back and shoulders, her eyes closing as he thrust again, his own hands moving over her until he found somewhere to hold on to her, keeping her in place as he established a smooth rhythm.