Chapter 244

The sun came through the window early in the morning and Elain giggled when Lucien's red hair disappeared beneath the sheets. She felt him moving his way down her body, lips caressing her skin, and she gave a startled shriek when she felt his teeth scrape carefully. He kissed the sensitive skin at her hips and she felt his laugh against that skin, hot and amused. "Lucien…" she chuckled, trying to reach beneath the sheets for him. He laughed again, holding the sheet down over her so that her hands couldn't get beneath.

"Just let me have my way with you, Petal." He said, "I did promise last night that I was going to do this for you… Like that first time…"

Elain let herself slide back against the pillows, and Lucien's hands gripped her hips. She felt those hands glide down over her skin and then his fingers slid up the inside of her thighs, parting them as he settled between. Elain let her hands fall out to the sides, gripping the bed cover as she couldn't get her hands on her mate. Not being able to see what Lucien was doing added a new element of suspense and tension and more than a little anticipation which she found very exciting and more than a little sexy.

"Very well…" she breathed, patting the shape between her legs which she assumed was Lucien's head beneath the blankets. His low chuckle reached her ears just a she felt the tickle of his hair against her thighs, and she set both hands back to grip the bedspread.

Elain had just taken a small breath when she first felt Lucien's tongue on her. She gasped, her hips jerking, but Lucien held her in place. His strong hands wrapped around her thighs, holding her open and in place as his tongue began to lick at her, exploring carefully and very deliberately.

"Cauldron boil and fry me." Elain groaned, her head falling back against the pillows and the headboard. "OH… My…"

Lucien continued to lick at her, his hot tongue seemingly sending little sparks of lightening through her body, and Elain's hands clenched at the bedspread. She could do nothing but grip the material tightly, gasping and groaning and occasionally whimpering Lucien's name. He was exceptionally good at this, and she loved every time he had felt the need to remind her of this fact.

When his lips moved down to one of her inner thighs, Elain shuddered and then heard her mate's laugh again. "Are you enjoying this, Petal?" he asked, "I can't see your face and your beautiful expressions…"

"I'm sure you have been able to hear me." She replied, her voice kind of weak.

"I certainly have." She knew that he was grinning without having to see him. "And I've been able to feel you down the bond." He added, and Elain nodded.

"That's a new element…" she replied, wondering what kind of fun they would be able to have with that.

"Doesn't beat being able to watch you, though." He said, an instant before the sheet lifted and Elain was able to look down and see Lucien grinning up at her in exactly the same way she had imagined he would be. Reaching a hand under the blanket, Elain brushed her fingers down his cheek, following the brutal scar.

"I do agree, love."

He winked at her, bending his head to press a kiss to her stomach, and Elain shuddered slightly, wanting more of him touching her. "Would you like some more?" he asked, voice low and almost purr-like.

Nodding, Elain stroked his cheek again, gasping when he returned his hands to her hips. She let him read just her, and then his hands went back to pinning her thighs apart, and she enjoyed being able to watch him this time. Lucien's lips skimmed her skin, moving up her thigh before he dipped his head between her legs and that perfect heat enveloped her again and she gave a pleased sigh, her head falling back against the pillows once more.

Looking around the table, Elain eyed those she was sitting with. Many of them were avoiding the eyes of one another, and she found herself wondering why. Feyre's eyes were also sweeping the room and, when Elain met her gaze, Feyre winked at her. Elain smiled and looked back to the others. Azriel was staring determinedly at the teacup in his hand, and Nesta's gaze was fixed firmly upon the teapot in the middle of the table.

"This seems a little… awkward, doesn't it?" Lucien's lips brushed Elain's ear as he whispered to her and she nodded.

"What do you think happened?" she asked, keeping her voice low enough that only Lucien would hear her.

"If I had to guess, Petal…" he paused to smirk at her, "I would guess that some of these fine folk stayed last night to explore the club as we did…"

"Ohh…" Elain looked back up the table, looking again at the Shadowsinger and then her elder sister. Cassian, however, looked completely open and fine, and Elain found herself wondering if Cassian would volunteer any information about what Nesta and himself found last night in that club. He would probably tell her if she asked. Elain had to catch herself, making herself stay quiet.

"So, what is going on this morning?" Rhys asked after a few moments. Elain flicked her gaze toward him, watching as he buttered a scone. The High Lord of the Night Court looked completely nonchalant. "Any news?"

"Last night was fun…" Lucien put in, and Elain knew that he was grinning again, even though her gaze remained on Rhys.

"I am pleased that you enjoyed the… performance." Rhys replied, before taking a bite of his scone.

"We did." Lucien gave a low laugh and Elain felt herself blush. Everybody knew that she and Lucien had stayed after the performance to see what else was on offer.

"Any other news?" Rhys asked, and Elain saw him smile at her expression. She was grateful for the change in topic, and even more grateful when someone took up that offer.

"Well…" Cassian said, leaning back in his chair as he pushed his plate away from him, having finished what he had chosen for breakfast. "Nesta has decided to come and see the training camps with me for a while…"