The bed was cold, but the heat of their bodies warmed it quickly. With the bedding thrown back they were free to sprawl together, arms and legs entwined as they kissed and stroked each other.
At first Warna was content to follow Verice’s lead, but as her need grew her patience faded. “Verice,” she moaned into his mouth, trying to push his fingers deeper within her folds.
“Wait,” Verice said.
“Verice,” she pleaded, but he stayed her questing hands with his own, pinning her to the bed and distracting her with his mouth.
She arched her body, wanting more. There was no fear, only need when he urged her legs open, rose up over her and slid within. She gasped at the hot, heavy pressure.
More. It was so much more.
Verice released her wrists, bracing himself over her, studying her face intently. He held perfectly still, waiting. “Warna?”
“It’s just so-” she shifted and drew a sharp breath at the pleasure that spiked through her.
“Verice, please—” she sobbed, not sure exactly what she was pleading for.
Verice kissed her jaw, just below her ear. He shifted and she cried out as the burning heat crashed over her, carrying her further and further up. Faster, faster, and she moved as well, meeting and matching him as she laughed and cried at the sheer wonder of it all.
Until the heat built white hot and exploded, blocking out all the world, except the sound of Verice reaching his own heights, crying out her name.
The world faded back slowly, sweetly. Warna was cradled against Verice, the cooler air delicious against the heat of her skin.
Verice was stroking her hair, his movements slow. Warna murmured her pleasure, shifting just enough to reach his mouth for a long, slow kiss.
“Warna?” he asked softly. “All’s well?”
“Perfect,” she whispered.
His chuckle rumbled in his chest. “I’d agree,” he said quietly. “Shall we sleep for a bit? Tell me what you wish.”
Warna hugged him tighter. ‘I wish it could be like this forever,’She thought silently.‘I wish I could spare you the pain of the Festival. I wish joy wasn’t so fleeting.’
She raised her head to look into his silver eyes, and reached up to rub the very tips of his ears. “More,” she said simply, hiding her true desires, taking what was offered.
“As you wish, m’lady,” Verice said and pulled her into his arms.
Chapter Sixty-One
The airions spotted the entrance to the old eyrie, even thought the trees had grown up in front, blocking it from Kalynn’s sight. They back-winged into the tunnel entrance, Wolfe’s going in first. The clatter of their claws against the stone was an old and comforting sound. Kalynn had to fight the familiar urge to duck her head as they entered its cool depths. Going from sun to shadow in the stone tunnel brought back a rush of memories.
The solid stone wall at the back did not.
“Are they behind there?” Kalynn asked as she dismounted. Her airion danced toward the wall, clawing at it and clacking its beak.
“They’re there,” Wolfe said shortly. He started to unsaddle his mount, grunting with the effort as he dragged off the saddle bags. “She locked them safe away, sleeping, awaiting the call to awaken. Awaiting the day.”
“A day which comes,” Kalynn said. “The trees have grown up.” She went to the edge, peering out. “The path has certainly deteriorated.”
“Kalynn,” Wolfe added her saddle and gear to the pile. “It’s been a hundred years, give or take. Trees grow,” he added. “Rocks fall.”
“Do you suppose the rabbit hutches are still there?” She craned her neck out, looking off to the side. “You can still see a faint trace of the path.”
“The hutches are sure to be gone, but the great-great-who-knows-how-many-great grand-offspring are probably still there.” Wolfe chirped at the airions. They settled down along the back wall, curling into balls, tucking their wings in tight.
“I guess,” Kalynn hugged herself. “I guess I thought it would be the same forever.”
Wolfe came up behind her, and wrapped his arms around her. “Everything changes.”
