Chapter 208

Opening his eyes in the morning, Lucien was pleased to find himself still wrapped around Elain, and her own arms still around him. He smiled when he glanced down to see her face pressed firmly against his chest, her eyes still closed to the bright light. He loved seeing her like this, so soft and gentle.

For at least half an hour Lucien lay, enjoying the morning light streaming in through the window and falling across the bed. He liked the way it played with Elain's skin, highlighting here and there, and Lucien couldn't help but think that she would look the quintessential Lady of the Day Court part with the gold in her hair illuminating the lighter strands here and there. Elain was beautiful, and Lucien could still hardly believe that she was his mate. How had the Cauldron decided that he was worthy of a female like her?

Unable to help himself, Lucien traced a finger down her soft skin, over her cheekbone as his eyes watched her face, coming to focus on her soft lips. Brushing a fingertip gently across those lips, Lucien remembered the careful way he had kissed her last night when they had curled up in bed together. He had loved the soft way she had moaned beneath him, loved the way she had opened to him, returning every gentle touch he'd given her with tenderness and love. He was so very thankful that she had wanted to do that, wanted to give him those moments after what had happened out in the forest.

Combing his fingers then through Elain's hair, Lucien thought about the forest, thought about the way that Elain liked him being rough with her. It was not something he had expected, and he still wasn't entirely certain how he felt about it. He would do it because she wanted it, and it wasn't as if he didn't enjoy it to some degree. He just really didn't want to hurt her, and he didn't love the idea of forcing her to do anything she didn't wish, so he didn't really like the idea of holding her down in any way. He had seen the bruises he had given her, his fingerprints now purple and black against her perfect skin. Guilt ached within his chest. He had never meant to hurt her. Having her writhe beneath him, calling his name, however? Lucien loved that.

He also loved being able to look into her eyes as he did that. Holding Elain's gorgeous brown eyes with his own as he moved carefully inside of her was probably Lucien's favourite thing ever. He loved being able to watch her face, see every reaction she made to what he was doing to her, feel every response. She was so very expressive, and everything she did told him what he ought to do next, if he was doing something right or if he needed to try something else. Elain's face was nearly as informative as what he could feel of her through the bond. All of it together, and Lucien knew exactly what he needed to do to have Elain screaming his name.

She stirred then and opened her eyes. He continued to comb his fingers through her hair, his eyes on her face as he watched her. When she looked up at him, he smiled more widely. "Good morning, Petal."

"Mmm…" Elain arched her back, stretching, although her arms remained around Lucien. When she settled against him again, he tightened his hold on her, loving that he could feel her heart beating within her chest when it was pressed against his own.

"How do you feel?" he asked, and shuddered slightly when she pressed her lips to his throat.

"I feel great." She breathed, her breath not against his skin.

"Not… sore?" he asked, picturing the way that he'd pressed her down into the leaves and dirt, fucking her roughly from behind while her hands had slid wide as she'd dug her fingers into the earth.

"Not sore at all." He felt her look up then, and a moment later her soft lips brushed against Lucien's jaw. "I feel… relaxed… and content." She kissed him again and his own heart quickened in his chest. "Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me, Petal."

"I do." She murmured, "You did that for me." She pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Even though it wasn't what you wanted."

"I don't want you to think that I don't enjoy that…" he breathed, drawing her in even closer and kissing the top of her head. "I like it…"

"You just prefer being gentle."

"Exactly." He ran a hand up and down her back. "I just prefer that…"

"Well, I like that too." She told him, "So, I am alright with that."

"I know you like it." He grinned, smirking at her when she pulled back just enough to see his face, "I can tell by the sounds you were making last night."

"Is that so?" she asked, and Lucien gave her another smirk.

"It is."

"What kinds of sounds do I make?" she asked, and Lucien could hear the grin in her voice, even as one of her gentle hands traced up and down his spine.

"Oh…" Lucien gave a low chuckle and bent to take his lips to Elain's ear. He pressed a soft kiss to her, before he tightened his hold on her, ensuring that she couldn't get away, before he opened his mouth and loudly began imitating some of the sounds she had made the night before. Almost instantly, Elain began to squirm, a high pitched squeal coming from her. Lucien just held on, trying not to laugh as he continued to mimic her sounds.

"Shhhh!" she hissed, bringing one of her hands up to his mouth and trying to cover it, "No, stop…"

Lucien pulled her hand away, rolling to pin her beneath himself as he did so, and he met her eyes again, unable to help laughing now. Elain was giggling as she kept trying to cover his mouth with one of her hands, and Lucien grabbed both of her wrists, pining them by her head. "I think, Petal." He chuckled, "That anyone you might be concerned about overhearing us… probably already heard you last night."

"Last night was Mabon." She grinned, and Lucien was more than a little tickled to see the dark blush staining her cheeks. "This is today…"

"Does that make a difference?" he asked, and she nodded. "What difference? Am I suddenly supposed to not be great in bed?"

"What?" she gasped, laughing.

"If I could make you moan last night, why shouldn't I be able to do it this morning?"

"I just don't want them all staring at us when we go to breakfast…"

"Oh, love." He winked at her, "I rather think that we could walk in naked and everyone would still be watching your sister and Cassian…" he paused for a moment before adding, "… and my mother and Helion."

"Yes…" Elain agreed, and he could feel her amusement through the bond. "She chose him in front of the whole Court."

"She did." Lucien agreed. "That was no small matter…"

"Does it mean they're mates?" she asked, and Lucien shook his head, thinking.

"No…" He replied, "But it was a rather public declaration… rumours have been circling, and she all but confirmed them." He paused again, "If they want to be together… that would be the first step."