Taming the Queen of Beasts
Chapter 499 Skin You Alive

AARYN

Aaryn's entire body shuddered with the pure pleasure of her as they rocked together. He cursed, calling her name, his voice tumbling into the mating call and his hands clutching, clawing at her as he fought for control.

"Aaryn!" she cried, clawing at his back and arching to meet him as he thrust, desperate and hungry to take her again and again.

He'd meant to soothe her, to reassure her. He'd meant to make love to her. But they'd both lost all grip on their cords of restraint.

El's back was arched, her head stretched back, her throat the highest point offered, and open to him. Snarling for her, he opened his mouth on that smooth skin, sucking first, laving it with his tongue to keep the taste of her, then letting his teeth graze the line of her throat so she shivered and gave the mating call—which only made him more frantic as he howled his response. And all the while, they rolled together again, and again.

The hard surface gave her more purchase than usual and Aaryn was delightfully surprised by the shivering pleasure of taking her, harder and harder, plunging into her just to hear her cries peak—and peak they did.

Shaking and frantic, Elreth's body responded to his as she rode the rhythm he set, her hips reaching for his even as she bore down on him and her mouth fell open. She clapped one hand to the back of his neck and gripped his ass with the other, her legs curled around behind him as she pulled herself onto him, again and again, her cries growing faster, higher with every thrust, until she tumbled, near-sobbing, over the crest of the wave of her climax. Her body shuddering and twitching, gripping him.

But Aaryn gritted his teeth and rode it out, laying himself over her on the table, burying his face in her neck, using his hips to keep her moving, and calling her name as he continued to take her.

When she sucked in a breath and relaxed, languid and rippling, it wasn't to smile sweetly and embrace him.

Sweat sheened her brow and her eyes were wild. "Again," she gasped.

Aaryn took her mouth again and she bit his lip, then sucked his tongue, sobs of pleasure breaking in her throat as he didn't relent, bracing one hand on the table and shifting his weight to reach her at a new angle.

Still sensitive from her orgasm, Elreth cried out and almost came again. When she clenched around him and Aaryn had to fight a war with his own body.

"Aaryn, I… I…"

"I know!" Frantic, knowing he couldn't hold out much longer, Aaryn sucked on her earlobe and when she shivered, he whispered, "I love you, El, you're so fucking beautiful," then he straightened, sliding both hands under her lower back and pulling up as he snapped his leash and pounded into her.

For a long, desperate minute they clung to each other, their bodies shuddering with the impact of their joining. Elreth's breasts bounced and jiggled, a feast for his eyes, and her cries painted him in goosebumps and near-unbearable anticipation.

Then, with a cry of desperation, Elreth pushed halfway up on one arm, gripping his shoulder and leaning into his thrusts, moaning and clenching on him a moment later when he reached the limits within her.

Aaryn's orgasm hit at the base of his spine and he bellowed her name in the same moment, Elreth tensed, and her breath stopped again.

Still buried in the throes of his orgasm, Aaryn drew almost all the way out of her, then plunged in again, his body twitching and spasming, a guttural groan in his throat, rolling into the mating call as the entire world exploded in sheer pleasure.

Elreth flew apart, sobbing his name, then slumped backwards pulling him with her so that he collapsed over her, trembling and gasping.

The world sparkled, glittered like a diamond.

For a while they both lay there hearts pounding counterbeat, panting. Aaryn had thrown one hand around to cushion her head when she dropped back and pulled him down so quickly, afraid she'd hurt herself, but his other hand remained at her back. Cradling her like that, while she cradled him, he was moved almost to tears. It took minutes before he felt like he could speak without blubbering like a pup.

Leaning on one elbow, he finally raised his head, his hair falling over his face as he drew back just far enough to meet her eyes.

She'd had her eyes closed, but she opened them to look at him, her hands tightening on his back and shoulder, as she whispered for him not to leave her.

"I'm not going anywhere, El," he said, his voice hoarse. "I'm never going anywhere. I would never leave you. You have to believe me."

"I do," she whimpered. "I do. Aaryn, I'm just so scared. Things are happening out of our control. We're—"

Despite both their panting breaths, they both heard it then—footsteps in the tunnel outside the door. Just feet from it.

They both froze, gaping at each other, then Aaryn's head shot up as he recognized the heavy feet and made a split second decision.

A hand landed on the door, turning the handle to pull it open just as Aaryn snarled, "Reth, if you want to live through this day, you'll let go of that door, turn around, and leave without opening it. Or I swear, I will skin you alive."

There was a crystalline moment of silence while they were all frozen, then a short huff and a very deep, but very choked voice managed, "You guys really need to start locking the door. I'll see you later, then."

And the footsteps shuffled away, accompanied by a soft chuckle.

Elreth bent her head forward to press her forehead into Aaryn's chest. She was shaking, and for a moment he thought she was crying.

But as he tried to gather her in and whisper reassurance, she spluttered a laugh—though there were tears in the corners of her eyes when she threw her head back and cackled—which made her clench around him again.

Aaryn groaned and buried his face in her neck as she whooped and howled with laughter, clinging to him.

  "I'm glad you think it's funny. It's your modesty I was protecting," Aaryn muttered into her neck.

But Elreth just laughed harder and squeezed him closer.

"I love you s-so much, Aaryn," she chortled. "So much."