ETAN

She was begging for him. Light, how was it possible that she wanted him so badly?

Her fingers tightened in his hair as she began to writhe and he wondered if he should make her come first, then take her.

But she growled his name. "Etan, please!" pulling at him to bring him back up her body.

Unable to resist, he dropped her leg and crawled back up, kissing her skin as he went so she shivered. He stopped at her breasts, cupping one with his hand, opening his mouth over the other and flicking her nipple with his tongue.

She cried out and arched, and suddenly he couldn't wait. She didn't want him to, so on who's account did he delay?

Bracing his hands on either side of her head, he arched his back, bringing their hips together to find her, ready, and open, pressing into him, seeking to join.

He rolled against her first, letting them slide and she twitched and gasped when he pressed into her most sensitive places.

She dropped her head back, eyes closed, and her mouth fell open. But she reached for him, her hands clinging to his shoulders, her arms pressing her breasts together and towards him in a view so succulent he almost came.

"Oh, fuck, Ayleth," he rasped, "you're so beautiful."

"Please, Etan."

Teeth gritted, he let himself ease off, then entered her in one, long, slow slide, a guttural moan forced through his teeth as he held himself back.

Ayleth sucked in, whimpering and for a moment he froze, thinking he'd hurt her. "Ayleth, are you—?"

Her eyes flew open and she grabbed for him, pulling him down into a desperate kiss, arching into him and wrapping her legs around him.

And then they began to roll.

As Ayleth's breath came in short, hot pants, Etan groaned, sipping at her mouth, grazing her jaw.

Her eyes were screwed tightly shut and her mouth open, her breath catching at the peak of each thrust. She clawed at his back, not with her nails, but with shaking, desperate hands.

For minutes he took his time, holding off his own threatening orgasm while he played her body. As he thumbed her nipples and sucked at her neck, shivering when she pulled herself up to kiss his jaw, he steadily, steadily, slowly increased that sparkling, glorious roll and thrust that made his entire body come alive. That made her come alive.

Dear Lord, she was perfect.

He could feel her beginning to tremble. Her breath not just catching, now but holding at the peak every time their bodies met, rushing out of her when he relaxed, then holding again.

She clung to him, her tiny cries making him fight for control as she trailed her hands everywhere on him that she could reach.

She was almost there. Almost there. He groaned again at the sight of her, completely abandoned, offered to him.

Only him.

He kissed her again, and she tangled their tongues, sighing his name. When he thrust again, she threw her head back. Then he braced one elbow next to her ear to take his weight so he could use his other hand. But before he'd touched her, she hooked her hand on his bicep and used it to brace herself, pulling herself against him and crying out at the sweet spiral of pleasure the added tension gave them both.

"Holy fuck, Ayleth!" he gasped, then buried his face in her neck, unable to concentrate on anything but the torrent of feeling where they joined.

The world around them disappeared until it was made up only of the beauty of her, the softness of her skin as it pebbled under his touch, and the incredible, sparkling promise of his impending climax.

She no longer cried words, now only cried as her breath rushed out. Etan knew if he didn't get her there soon—very soon—he would lose control.

Opening his mouth at the hollow of her throat, he picked up the pace until she was only clinging to him, bracing against him, unable to do anything but cry her pleasure. Then he slid one hand down her side, under her hip and pulled up in same moment he thrust into her.

"Oh…oh!" Ayleth arched and goosebumps rolled down her body in wave, raising the tiny hairs on her arms and legs. Her entire body tensed and she clenched around him as he thrust again, tumbling Etan over the edge, gasping and bellowing her name as they both lost control.

Seconds later he sucked in a heaving breath and slumped over her.

She was shaking.

He turned his face and kissed her temple, still panting. "Ayleth, love… are you okay?"

She nodded, still catching her breath, but her arms and legs tightened around him, pulling him close.

They clung to each other then, both lost in the emotion of it all—the sheer relief of finally being together, coupled with desperation never to lose this magical connection.

With a trembling hand, he combed her hair back where it had stuck to her damp face. She hugged him tighter. She still hadn't opened her eyes. He could feel her chest jerking, as if she fought tears.

"Ayleth, what is it?" he whispered. "Did I hurt you?"

She shook her head. "Th-that was wonderful," she whispered into his shoulder.

"What's wrong?" He wanted to move, to see her face more clearly, but she clung to him and wouldn't let him push up.

"I thought… I thought when we married… when we were together, it would feel safe," she whispered, her voice breaking into high, faint cries that broke his heart.

"Love, you are safe with me, I promise." He wanted to weep knowing she didn't feel secure.

But she shook her head. "I know, I know!" she whispered, holding him even tighter. "That's not what I meant. I am safe with you. I'm only safe with you." Then she turned her head and opened her eyes to meet his. "Now… now I'm terrified of losing you," she choked. "It's overwhelming, Etan! The way you make me feel—to be here with you like this is the most wonderful thing that's ever happened to me. I want to be at your side always. For every second. And I know we can't… and it's just hit me. We're going back and they're going to try to tear us apart. And I couldn't take it, Etan. I couldn't take it!"

"Shhhhhhh, love, shhhhhhh." He rolled to the side, bringing her with him. Holding himself around her, between her and the world that had just become so frightening, as she sobbed into his chest.

Her head rested on his arm and he brought her close, kissing her hair and stroking her back.

"Please don't cry," he whispered. "We are still here. Together. We'll have to fight, Ayleth. We always knew that. But look at us. Look."

When she realized he meant it, she pulled her face up, eyes red and shining, to meet his. He smiled at her, though inside his heart felt like it was being torn in two.

"It isn't you and me anymore, Ayleth," he murmured, stroking her hair. "We're one now. They can never take that from us. No matter what they do. We are one. In here."

He took her hand and pulled it to his chest, twining their fingers and pressing it against his sternum. She blinked back more tears, but he only squeezed her hand and pressed it harder against himself, holding her as close as he was able until she could breathe again.