ELRETH

Turning her back to him—and suddenly uncertain if that view was complimentary—she tried to keep her pace slow as she walked through the water at the edge of the cold pool, where it met the hot, straight for the waterfall at the back.

Just before she reached it, she looked over her shoulder at him.

He stood at the edge of the water, his jaw slack, and eyes beginning to glaze.

Elreth pulled together every piece of courage she had and stepped under the water.

The cold shock of it made her gasp, and her skin immediately tightened, prickling all over as she breathed fast and hard, forcing herself to stay under it. Aaryn called to her and it echoed around the chamber.

She turned to face him, the water hitting her hair and shoulders, trailing down her chest her breasts, her sides and legs.

She pushed her hair back and dropped her head so the water would make it slick down her back. Then she straightened and locked on the hot, pleading gaze Aaryn was stroking up and down her entire body.

Letting her hands slide down from her hair and over her breasts, she murmured, "I'm cold, Aaryn."

He growled and launched himself across the space, tumbling into her, kissing her and exploring every inch of her skin as he pushed her backwards so the water hit his back and she was sheltered from it.

"Holy shit, Elreth," he groaned into her neck.

"My thoughts exactly," she gasped.

*****

AARYN

His mate had no idea how beautiful—how sexy!—she was. When she left him on the side of the pool and walked way, he watched her hesitant steps, loving the way her ass bounced, though he imagined she would be self-conscious about it. He celebrated the undulating lines of her body, and the strong muscles rippling under her skin, but grieved the way her shoulders tensed because she was bracing not to cover herself, and the careful way she held herself… she was scared, but trying. Her innocence only added fuel to his fire.

Then, when she forced herself under the water and her entire body tightened and she called him over with her wide eyes and trembling lips… he almost fell over his own feet getting to her, holding her, stroking her, putting his body between the cold of the water and her pebbled skin.

He groaned her name and she gasped his.

She was oil to his fire and at first he gave in to the flames—pawing at her, kissing her desperately, deeply, moaning when she rubbed against him, gasping when she kissed his neck.

As the kiss deepened, she clung to him, more comfortable when he covered her nakedness, but opening herself to him, forcing herself not to hide, shivering whenever he sucked at the peak of her breast, or opened his mouth on her neck.

His hands were everywhere, kneading, stroking, and she gasped under his attentions, her hips rolling instinctively until Aaryn was afraid he might lose himself before he'd even taken her.

He had to slow down. But looking at her, knowing she was his, knowing he never had to say no again… she was such a feast to his eyes and his soul, he trembled with it.

"Oh shit, Elreth," he groaned when she put a hand between them to palm him. "Stop, stop," he gasped.

She whipped her hand away. "Sorry, sorry. Did I do it wrong?"

"No, no," he comforted her, pulling her out of the waterfall so she was out of the cold, pulling her against his body so she could soak up his heat. "It's all too right, too good. I want to make love to you, savor you, not pound you against a wall."

She snorted. "Unless… is that fun?" she asked, her head tilted like she was trying to imagine it.

He muttered about vixens that tortured their mates, and she giggled. With a long-suffering sigh, he took her hand. "Come with me," he said.

It was his turn to walk back through the water, holding himself in restraint. To be braced against his own desire—though this one to bring them together not to hide. But he knew… he knew that this night would live forever in their memories, and he was determined to make it worth the reliving.

So he braced himself and didn't touch her, except to hold her hand, as he walked her back across the water to the side of the pool where he thanked the Creator for whomever had thoughtfully left a pile of towels waiting for use. He hadn't thought to get some on their way out here.

Letting go of her hand, he picked up one of the towels and turned, shaking it out, intending to dry her off.

But she stood there, cold and shivering, one arm crossed over her body—under her breasts so they were pushed up—her nipples high and proud.

He groaned again, and she looked alarmed. "Are you okay?"

"I am more than okay, my beautiful mate," he said, forcing himself to cover her fantastic breasts with the towel and rubbing her down. "I am so good I'm threatening to be good all over myself without even touching you," he rasped. "I need a moment to just… calm down. And you need to warm up.

He'd been drying her chest over and over again, he realized. He blinked and paused, looked up to find her grinning at him. "I don't need to be dried off, Aaryn," she said quietly.

"You don't?" he asked dumbly.

She shook her head. "I just need to be close to you. And maybe… maybe take a dip in the warm water."

Aaryn stared at her, silently thanking the Creator for making her, and this place, and this plan…

Then she reached up with both hands to take his face and pull him down into a kiss.

A few seconds later he dropped the towel and it slumped to the ground on their feet. But he pulled her in tight against him and she arched, willingly.

"Warm water, huh?" he said, barely coherent his brain was so addled by desire.

"Are you okay?" she laughed, putting a hand to his forehead.

"I am the best I've ever been," he said genuinely, gazing at her with eyes that spoke of all the things he'd vowed on her cuff. Elreth swallowed. But then his smile turned wicked. "Now hold on."