“Much better.” She brushed her palms together, then swiped them on a patch of plant. “I can’t wait to eat something besides fish.” Her fingers twisted in her hair. “Not that I’m ungrateful for it.”
“I agree.” Checking the cavern’s ceilings and the amount of light pouring through, I estimated our time spent under the shimmering glow. “My brathers will be here soon.”
“I’ll be glad for that.” She wriggled her brows at me. “Not that I haven’t enjoyed our time here.”
Images of me taking her on the rock filtered through my mind, but from Elena’s point of view. “You are becoming an expert at mind-speak.”
“Am I?” She wore an innocent expression as she popped a flaky piece of fish into her mouth.
I was not fooled.Yes, you are.I showed her splayed on the rock, her body laid bare in the cavern’s light, and the hunger driving me as I stared down at her.
Her arousal perfumed the air. She put the remaining fish aside and shot me a heated look. “It should not even be possible for us to want each other again after last night.”
“We are mates,” I said simply. “It’s natural.”
She snorted. “I don’t know about that.”
“Shall I prove it to you?” I stalked toward her.
Holding up the hand in a universally understood stop sign, she giggled. “Oh no, buddy. My body has gone mad. It doesn’t know what it wants, and it cannot possibly handle more.”
I lifted a brow. “I thought I already demonstrated that you can come as many times as desired.”
“Daegan!” Her squeal of my name was a new high point. I’d aim to draw that sound from her often. “Seriously, there’s no way.”
“My lovely Elena.” Lightning quick I scooped her into my arms and laid her on the rock from our shared vision. “I will delight in proving you wrong.”
* * *
ELENA
My warrior had the intense focus of a master. He played my body like a musical instrument and knew its abilities far better than me. I never would have believed after the prior evening’s escapades that I could want, let alone be capable of, more.
“I’m spent.” I sighed as he ran a cloth over my tender skin. His care of me after sex made me love him more, if that were possible.
He smirked, and I melted. His voice dropped as he eyed my swollen breasts and said, “For now.”
“Glad we finally agree.” I stretched my aching limbs. I was sore, but a good sore, the kind you got from being well-loved.
Naked under the twinkling lights, we laid together. A part of me would be sad to leave this place. It had its challenges, but it was also special. It marked the beginning of my life with Daegan.I’ll miss our cavern.I climbed on top of him and used him as a body pillow.
Shall we stay then?His deep chuckle echoed in my mind.
I didn’t have to reply. As if in answer, a hole burst open in the ceiling on the opposite side from our mossy bed. Our black and white florin friend popped into existence at the top, and a Rhonar warrior’s head and shoulders appeared through the hole.
“Well now.” The alien warrior’s smirk nearly rivaled Daegan’s, but it held more mischievous and less heat. “Hope we aren’t interrupting anything.”
The florin chittered in a reprimanding tone while a fist landed on the newcomer’s head. Then, a voice beyond him said, “Drav it, Firas. I told you to call to them, not shove your head in like a crexing zoolat.”
The apparent Firas gave an excellent eye roll that appeared far too human. “First off, Raiker, I am more graceful than a zoolat. Those little furry winged bastards haven’t heard the meaning of elegance.” His a-sound inelegancewas emphasized with an extended ahhh. “Second, and most important, you said, and I quote, ‘Tell them we’re here.’ You did not specify the method.”
A loud sigh and a string of Rhonar curses, from who I could only imagine was the named Raiker, followed these bold proclamations.
I giggled at their antics as I put on the remains of my sad clothing. At least they had dried after my fishing trip in the spring.
“While you’re entertaining my mate with your antics,” Daegan shouted up to the arguing warriors, “you mind getting us out of here?”
“You’re mate?” the two yelled back in tandem, the florin chittering away too.
