Anastasia's hand brushed across the scars on his back. She was dying to trace the tattoo he had on his chest, one that had peeked every time he opened his two buttons, which was extremely rare. Her hands trailed down further and she came across more scars. She wanted to kiss every one of them. Could they be any more brazen? With seven other people in the hollow of the tree, they knew that even if one of them got up, they would see them in the act. But who was bothered? Let them see. She wanted everyone to see.

She was not bothered whether it was right or not, whether as a royal of Vilinski, she should be indulged in this kind of an act with a vokudlak. She didn't want to think about anything... just wanted to be carried in the flow... in the emotions...

He pulled away and rested his head over hers, panting heavily, his golden orbs hidden by heavy lids and long lashes. Her hands curled around his head, gripped his hair and she didn't know who did it first, but they kissed each other again. She whimpered and shed those barriers that had gripped her in a death-like grip. The way he kissed her, her skin heated up. It was like he was igniting each and every part of her body.

Heat flooded him because he was all tense for a moment and then went lose. "Anastasia!" he said her name in her mouth and a tremor passed through his body. His hand slipped under her shirt and he started kneading her breast. At this point of time, Anastasia wanted to feel herself against his skin, against that tattoo and the scars that she knew curled right to his chest. She took her hands down his spine and rested them just above his hip in between them and he jerked and moaned in an answer.

His fangs had grazed her lips and she was least bothered if they had drawn out the blood, because every nick was exhilarating. His hand moved beneath her neck and curled her nape in that possessive way that he had been showing from a long time.

Ileus continued to kiss her and moan in her mouth as if he would never tire of it and she didn't want to stop him. She rolled her hips beneath him and he shuddered again.

"I want you badly, Ana," he said as he pulled away from her. "Do you want me?" His hands had stilled on her breast.

"Yes," she breathed. And he pressed a kiss again to her lips while squeezing her breast to the point that she yelped but her cries went right in his mouth. She arched her hips and he pressed them. He grinded himself against her and she moved. Her tongue licked his fangs.

"Ana!" he said as another tremor passed through his body. He pulled away and rested his head over hers. "Don't do that."

"Why?" Her hands were on his shoulders now. And when she moved, his muscles rippled beneath the touch. She loved the way his body reacted under her touch.

"Because I will lose control, and-" his voice broke. He didn't want to scare her by saying that he wanted himself wedged between her thighs. "And you elicit sinful thoughts in me!

She moved her hands from his shoulders and traced them all the way back to his cheeks. She cupped his cheeks and he leaned against her hands. "What do you want Ileus?"

He wanted to say 'more'. "Another kiss."

She planted another feather light kiss on his lips.

"Ah Anastasia!" He said and scorched her lips in another round of searing kisses that delved in her mouth.

This time Anastasia grazed his fangs again and again. He whimpered, he winced, he hissed. He felt he would go out of control now, so he pulled away. "You wicked girl," he rasped. "How long can my wolf stop from taking you, if you do that? Do you know what kind of control I am exercising right now?"

She held her breath, confused as hell. She wondered if she should feel relief that he was exercising control or she should feel bad that he was. "I am doing what I want to Ileus, because-" she stopped herself.

"Because what?" he goaded her to speak, to complete her sentence.

"Because I don't know if we are going to be together after this, after we reach Óraid, and I don't want regrets."

The way she said as if this was the last time she was going to be with him, it made him tip her chin up and he covered her mouth with his. She groaned and so did he... as if this was the last time they were going to be together. Like they would die if they didn't touch each other, like they would forget breathing.

When she pulled away from him the next, she said, "I wouldn't mind exploring Ileus, but we have a lot of company and I don't want to scandalize people."

He laughed and settled his head in the crook of her neck. He stayed there for a long time and then slid beside her. He pulled her back to his body and pressed her head to his chest. His heart was thudding loud and so was hers. They stayed quiet in each other's company, in the bliss, in the mirage of the bliss, until she said in a soft voice, "I had forgotten what it was to be so close and snuggle up to someone." Even this closeness meant a world to her. It was like he was getting under skin and she loved the sensation-a sensation she was getting used to rapidly.

He stroked her hair. "Sleep Ana, we have a long way to go."

Her eyes were heavy lidded but she had a question in her mind. "You had previously said that playing with the past wasn't right."

"Yes, it creates an imbalance."

"You say as if you have experienced it?"

He laughed and kissed her temple. "Why do you have so many questions?"

She shrugged. "I am teething like babies."

He laughed again. Kissing her again at the temple he said, "There are some things you shouldn't be bothered about."