Ch. 181..190

Chapter 181 -

They took turns soaping each other's limbs and washing off the bubbles, at first just for the joy of it. But after a few minutes, when they moved from arms and legs to bodies, their eyes began to linger, gazes caressing.

The top of the water was soon floating with enough bubbles to hide what was below it, which meant Zev could pretend he wasn't already aching for her, and enjoy her playfulness as she leaned back and splashed him. Then her eyes got hot and she put a foot to his chest, her toes curling into his pec.

Zev dropped his eyes to her leg, wet and shining, propped against his chest. Stroking her calf, he lifted it, then after pretending to examine the bottom of her soft foot, he licked the arch.

"Zev! Gross! Don't do that! Ew!" she giggled.

"What?" he asked, then did it again.

Sasha squirmed, laughing and splashing, trying to free herself, but whenever she tried to get traction on the bottom of the bath, he just tugged her foot higher and sent her tumbling backwards again, shrieking with laughter.

The bottom of her hair got wet and began curling on her skin. When he finally let go of her foot and she sat bolt upright, still laughing, he leaned forward too, elbows on his knees. She was still giggling when he cupped her face with one hand and pulled her in for a kiss. But the laughter soon died as he trailed his fingers up and down her spine, while his lips danced with hers.

Sasha sighed and gripped his wrist as if she were afraid he would let go. But she needn't have feared, there was no way Zev was letting her go again.

He tilted his head and deepened the kiss, his breath ratcheting up as he drew that free hand across her ribs, then trailed his fingers from her navel, up between her breasts, then cupped the back of her head to hold her there.

His kiss wasn't desperate this time—but hungry. Their lovemaking had only whet his appetite, and as her hands climbed his chest, and her breathing got faster, his appetite only grew.

But they had time, he reminded himself. They had days, in fact. So he pulled back far enough to see her and waited for her to lock eyes with him. When she did, he let one hand trail down to cup her breast as he spoke in her head.

I want to know everything you enjoy, he said, his voice in her head husky and deep with his growing desire. I want to know the moment I do anything that you don't enjoy.

"I want you to tell me, too," she said. "I don't know a lot. I haven't… done this, except with you. So it's all theory to me."

Zev's lips curled up and he brushed his thumbs over her nipples, that stood up under his attentions.

Sasha's breath got faster and that curling pit of desire in his belly coiled tighter, hotter.

Tell me everything, Sash. I want to know it all.

*****

~ SASHA ~

She swallowed, staring into Zev's striking blue eyes—so bright, yet rimmed in indigo so that this close the sparks in them looked like stars in the sky.

His hands were large enough to hold her at the ribs and pull her closer. As he scooted her in, he urged her to lift her legs and hook them over his thighs, which brought them close.

Very close.

Sasha swallowed as her belly began to tingle. But Zev hadn't taken his eyes off of her.

Then he traced his thumbs over her nipples again and her breath caught.

Tell me, he said in her head.

"I like it," she admitted. She could feel her cheeks heat. She wasn't used to talking about these things. But with Zev… with Zev it was safe.

Is it exactly right? Or would you like it softer?

She blinked and rolled her lips together, her cheeks growing hotter. "Um, a little harder, actually," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Zev's eyes widened, and he did it again, applying slightly more pressure. Sasha's eyelids got heavy.

"Just a little harder," she rasped.

He did it again, pressing harder, so her nipple popped up behind his thumb after it passed, which sent a jolt right down to the apex of her thighs.

"Yes, that," she gulped.

Zev rumbled his approval, then pulled her even closer, but they were already skin to skin. So after a brief frown, he stroked down her sides to cup her butt on both sides and lift her. She gasped and grabbed for his shoulder, but Zev just straightened his legs and settled her on his thighs.

Sasha's breath grew shallow as he shifted, until she was seated right in his lap, pushed against him, his erection pressed back against his stomach.

She was terrified to look down.

As if he'd read her thoughts, his lips slid up on one side.

Put your knees down, so you're kneeling, he whispered in her head.

Sasha swallowed, but did as he said, shifting her weight until she was straddling him and sitting up. Then Zev sat up, the water rippling as he wrapped his big arms around her and pulled her hard against him.

Her mouth fell open at the sudden spike of sensation—she was still a little sensitive. But the heat in her stomach roared higher. If she'd been uncertain about whether they would do this again so soon, now she wanted to hurry him along.

Then he cupped her neck, his thumb pressed under her jaw to lift her chin and he kissed her, so softly, so slowly, at first she thought perhaps he wasn't starting anything at all. But then his other hand pulled at her lower back, bringing them hard together, and he ground against her so that she gave a tiny cry of pleasure, their breaths mingling.

He did it again and in her head, his voice bloomed. Good?

"W-Wonderful," she gasped, dropping her head back.

Good.

Very good.

Keep going, Sash. Tell me at every step. Until I get it perfect.

Sasha groaned and gave herself up.

 

Chapter 182

Zev had begun to tease her. And damn him, she loved it.

He was sitting almost upright, leaned slightly towards her, forcing her to lean back slightly. She had a grip on his shoulders for balance, but she wasn't really thinking about any of that. All she could see was his eyes, and all she could concentrate on were the feelings he was drawing from her skin.

He'd dropped his hands to cup her thighs, his fingertips teasing up the sides of her legs, raising the hair there and making her shiver with anticipation.

But his eyes were locked on hers and his face… he'd never looked quite so much like the wolf that lived in his skin, and yet she wasn't afraid. He was hungry for her—and she wanted to be devoured.

The water splashed and rippled as he raised a hand, his eyes sliding down her face, her neck, lower. His jaw slackened and he drew two fingers along her collarbone, catching the strands of wet hair stuck there and pushing them back over her shoulder, so slowly it almost tickled.

His throat bobbed and his pupils got even bigger as he gazed down on her.

"So beautiful," he murmured, letting those fingers trail down to her nipple again, to circle and tease.

Sasha tried not to embarrass herself, but she knew he'd sense her breathing quicken. He could probably smell how horny he was making her.

So embarrassing.

As he played and teased, Sasha tried to keep her eyes open. But she became so self-conscious, yet she didn't want him to stop. So she closed her eyes and let her head drift back. Zev's breath sucked in.

Every noise he made, every move, made that coil of desire in her belly pull tighter. Without thought, she'd already begun to rock her hips softly against him. He growled and leaned over her, splaying his hands at her back to hold her weight, his lips playing on her neck.

Sasha arched back to give him easier access, shivering with delight.

You like it when I kiss your neck.

"I love it," she breathed, rocking her hips again.

Zev hummed in his throat. You humble me, he said quietly in her head.

His lips had reached the spot just under her ear that always gave her goosebumps and she shivered again.

"Humble you?" she asked faintly.

For a Chimera, our throats are the most vulnerable parts of our bodies. To offer our necks to each other is the ultimate sign of submission.

Eyes closed and wallowing in the warmth of the water, and the tingling tease of his touch and his kiss, Sasha smiled.

"I trust you, Zev."

And she did. That was the problem. She trusted him so much she didn't protect herself—which meant he could hurt her so, so easily.

Zev went very still suddenly, his lips loose and full against her neck. "What's wrong?" he asked hoarsely. "You didn't like that?"

"I love that," she sighed, pulling him close so he would stop. "I just had a thought that doesn't matter. Don't worry."

"But—"

She leaned back, holding his face, and made herself meet his eyes. "I trust you, Zev. I'm scared, but I trust you. Just… don't give me a reason not to, okay?"

His eyes were fierce and protective as he slid one hand up her back to spread his fingers under her hair, at the base of her skull.

Sasha shivered deliciously again.

"You're mine," he whispered fiercely. "No Chimera would dare step between us now. And any human who tries to will face my wolf. I'm never letting you go again, Sasha. Never."

Tears pricked the back of her eyes, but they were tears of joy. And desire for him jangled through her. It was crazy. He was the only man she'd ever met who made her feel this way. She'd tried to escape her feelings for him. Tried to force herself to see someone else. To enjoy another man's kiss, or touch. But it never worked.

He was the only man for her and now, here they were. She wasn't going to let her fears overwhelm the beauty of what was happening to them. So, she pulled him closer, opened her mouth on his, traced his lips, his tongue, her breath sucking in as their bodies began to roll together. She could feel him there, ready, and she wanted him again.

She wanted him. Only him.

And he wanted her.

Was there any more beautiful feeling in the world—in any world—than two people who both needed each other, and both gave themselves over to it?

"I love you, Zev," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion on his name.

"God, Sash."

Zev pulled her tight against his chest and took her mouth, hard and demanding, his fingers clawing in her hair, his breath sucking in. The water rippled around them, beginning to hit in waves against her back and the sides of the tub as they moved together. As she curled a hand into his hair and held him against her, Sasha was beginning to wonder how hard it would be to do it like this when Zev suddenly pulled away, sitting up straighter, his eyes burning with heat and a fierce light.

"What?" she asked when he didn't say anything immediately.

"I'm just trying to figure out whether to take you here, or on that rug," he said, tipping his head towards the thick rug on the floor in front of the fire. The corners of his lips curled up and his voice purred in her head.

What does my mate want?

Sasha bit her lip and stifled a nervous giggle. The truth was, she wasn't super confident about this whole water, sitting thing. She understood it was done, but the rug…

She let her eyes trail to the thick fur and her smile widened. "I vote for the rug."

The words were barely out of her mouth when Zev lifted her under her arms, making sure she found her feet, before watching her step carefully out of the bath. He followed her quickly, holding both sides of the wide tub and pushing himself up, the muscles of his arms and shoulders going tight as he took his own weight.

Sasha's mouth went dry at the view, but a twist of worry underlined it when he winced at the pain from his side. She was reaching to help him, but he was already up, picking up the towels he'd dropped next to the tub and kneeling in front of her to dry her feet and legs.

"Zev, you don't have to—"

As he drew the thick towel up her leg he opened his mouth on her stomach to lick a drop of water from her skin.. Sasha blew out a breath and curled her arms around his head as he began to kiss his way up her body.

 

Chapter 183

Zev took his time drying Sasha, enjoying watching her skin pebble when he discovered another drop of water to lick or suck. She also flushed a pretty pink wherever he rubbed her with the towel. But eventually there were no more excuses to lick her, so he hurriedly used it to dry himself, careful to pat the dressing on his side, frustrated when he realized he'd gotten it wet. He would have to change it before he slept.

But as he lifted his arm to dry underneath it he realized Sasha was watching him, and he slowed his movements, grinning, as her eyes widened scanning his chest and arms.

Like what you see? He asked in her head as he scrubbed his chest with the towel.

Sasha blinked and met his eyes, but her smile was sultry. "Maybe. I'll have to taste it to find out."

His entire body jolted at the tang that entered her scent then, and he growled, tossing the towel aside and reaching for her.

She giggled, but came willingly into his arms, craning her neck back to kiss him, pressing herself into him, and he kissed her soundly, then growled again. "Vixen, you keep distracting me. Stay here."

She watched him trot to the bed to grab a pillow. He returned to kiss her again, unwilling to lose the contact a second longer than he had to, dropping the pillow on the rug behind her even as he cupped her jaw and tasted her sweet mouth again.

Minutes later he had her down on the floor, sinking into the thick, soft fur, her skin pink and damp, her eyes wide as he crawled over her until he knelt between her knees and had a hand braced on either side of her head, looking down on her.

Her eyes roved his chest and shoulders and he smelled her desire rise, which made his belly clench, but he let her look, grinning when her pupils dilated.

Her fingers dragged from his hips, up his abdomen, to his chest and he shuddered, his body twitching in response and he dipped his head, intending to kiss her, just for a moment, then let her go back to her exploration. But she tugged him in, one hand pressing at his back, urging him to settle over her.

"You're too far away," she whispered and opened her eyes. "Come closer."

With a groan he let himself settle between her thighs, resting his weight on his elbows and kissing her deeply.

Sasha smiled, her kisses soft and sweet as she pulled him in, her breath quickening, her hips rolling against him. The temptation was there to just take her, she was ready and willingly, her legs curling together over his back and pulling him against her in a way that made him want to groan again.

But he was determined to learn her. To understand her. To evict all memories of any other female from his head and body—to know her. So after a moment of a deep and heated kiss, he pulled back again, dragging himself down her body, then settling back on his knees to look at her, laid out for him like a banquet.

He shook his head. "You're stunning, Sash."

"Stop saying that, you're embarrassing me."

"It's the simple truth."

"Then why are you pulling away?" she said, a tiny hint of concern in her voice.

Zev put a hand to her stomach and stroked down, following the line of her waist, to her hip, to her soft thigh. "Because I want to learn you," he said, his voice gruff with desire.

"Learn what?" she giggled. "Pretty sure you know all the parts."

He raised an eyebrow at her, but then went back to his stroking, letting his fingers slide up the inside of her thigh, watched her stomach clench when he passed over her on the way back up her stomach.

"I want to learn you, Sash," he rumbled. "I want to know what makes your skin prickle. I want to know what makes your belly clench. I want to know what makes you cry my name."

Her cheeks reddened, but her eyes were sparkling. "Well, isn't the best way to learn that to… in practice?"

Zev chuckled at the way her eyes widened when she said it and he leaned back down to take her mouth, tasting her with his tongue, teasing under her lip before pulling away again. She groaned, but sighed, content to watch him as he stroked down her belly again, down her thigh, to cup a hand under her knee and lift that leg, placing her foot on his chest, and stroking his hands up and down her calf.

Sasha's face went beet red—because she was bared to him—but he made himself focus on her less intimate parts first, until she was comfortable.

"You see," he said a moment later, "now I know that you like the feeling of my hands on the outside of your calf better than the inside."

"How do you know that?!"

"Because the goosebumps on your thigh get taller when I trace the line of the muscle here."

He demonstrated and she bit her lip again.

"And yet," he said, his voice husky, "it's the inside of your thigh that makes you breathe faster."

He proved it by dragging his fingertips down from her knee, down the inside of her thigh, until he brushed the curls that made her breathing stop altogether.

"Please, Zev. I want to touch you too. I want to kiss you, and be close to you. I like that."

Leaving her foot on his chest, he leaned forward, bracing on the fur next to her waist, so her knee was bent back and she was bared to his fingers. He didn't take his eyes from hers, though he yearned to, but used the extra space to explore her, slowly, softly, shuddering when he found her slick with wanting him.

His eyes snapped to meet hers and they stared at each other as he slowly, carefully touched her there, a small whine breaking in his throat. "Fuck, Sash—"

He'd intended to go slowly, to touch and taste her all over. But feeling her there, yearning for him, he groaned and began to explore, stroking, rubbing, watching her face and listening to her breathing as her excitement rose.

"Zev…" she breathed, one hand on his shoulder, trying to pull him down. But he kept her knee bent, her leg pinned and he curled a finger within her as he slid his thumb from her core, up to that little bundle of nerves, shuddering when she clenched.

Sasha's eyes closed and her head dropped back.

 

Chapter 184

Zev's voice, breathless and husky, echoed in her head and in the cavern as he explored her, first with fingers and lips, his whispered questions broken by his own breath. She tried to hold his eyes, to watch him, but the feelings he pulled from her, the pleasure he played on her skin, it was glorious and in the end, she could only let her head sink back, her eyes closed, and the world become very small as his touches made her heart race, her skin prickle, and that tide in her belly begin to build.

His gentleness was a gift, a balm to her self-consciousness—until she didn't feel self-conscious anymore, but grew frustrated. Desperate.

When he'd touched and stroked her close to the peak three times, only to ease off, she opened her eyes and grabbed his neck, pulling his face up from watching where he touched her, forcing him to meet her eyes.

"Please, Zev. Please. Make love to me."

His eyes flashed and even though he grinned, she saw the tension in his shoulders. He was holding himself back and she didn't want him to.

"Please." She was shameless, begging for him. And she didn't even care.

Finally, with a tormented groan, he let her foot slide under his arm and wrap around his waist as he lowered himself to cover her, his weight a welcome blanket.

Sasha clung, pulling him closer, lifting her head to find his mouth before he'd even fully lowered himself over her.

A low groan vibrated in his throat and chest, sending a spike of jangling desire through her chest. She dug her fingers into the back of his neck, resisting any thought he might have of pulling away from her.

He chuckled and soothed her with kisses that got deeper and more desperate as she turned her head and laid the flat of her tongue against his.

His breath rushed out of him and he curled an arm over her head, taking his weight on that elbow as his other hand began to explore the rest of her.

But Sasha was already arching, rubbing herself on him, seeking him. Head back and eyes closed, she begged breathlessly for him, and Zev made that gorgeous call again, his wolf-song, a deep, resonant call that twanged something in her chest, right in the place where she'd felt the bond take, that new, tender spot where a piece of her had been replaced by a piece of him.

Then Zev kissed down her jaw, down her neck, and down… his chest sliding down her body as he cupped her breast and pressed it gently up to open his mouth over the peak.

He flicked her nipple with his tongue and Sasha jolted. Then he did it again and she cried out, her hips flexing, reaching for him.

"Sash," he groaned over her breast and the vibration of his voice was an entirely new texture that made her breath catch.

But she was done playing. She used one hand to pull him up into a kiss, the other reaching down to cup his butt and pull him against her. And she was so ready, when he finally entered her, he slid all the way to the hilt.

They both groaned.

*****

~ ZEV ~

Gritting his teeth against the urge to simply plow her, Zev pulled out, then thrust back into her, arching his back and huffing, every muscle in his body taut with desire and restraint.

"Oh, fuck, Sash."

"Don't stop, Zev, please."

He would have laughed—she was desperate—but the truth was, he couldn't have stopped if he'd tried. So instead, he set himself on a short leash, and began loving her as he dreamed of doing since they were kids.

Every inch of her skin was a fascination. Every tiny sound a clue. As he slowly, slowly took her, over and over, and her breathing began to rasp, he stroked and explored, trailing fingers along her shoulder and down her arm. Sliding the flat of his palm into the hollow of her waist and holding her to him as they rocked together. He tasted the skin of her throat more than once, reveling in her trust when she threw her head back and pulled his head closer, refusing to release him.

She rolled her hips, seeking him, until her breath was catching at the peak of each thrust, and he held there for half a breath before pulling out again.

Then as their desperation grew, as they both began to shake, he planted both hands on the fur at her shoulders and pushed himself up, to watch her as he thrust, using his own arms to give her resistance.

Sasha's eyes flew open and she cried out, curving her hips, pressing into him so hard her lower back lifted from the floor.

Zev shook with desire for her, breath tearing between his teeth. He'd intended to be gentle this time, slow. But his control was ready to snap.

Then Sasha called his name and grabbed for him, reaching, stretching, begging him in gasps to please, please…

Her eyelids fluttered and her mouth dropped wide, her cries climbing higher. Her muscles tightened, bearing down on him and he shuddered, groaning.

"Sash… oh god, Sash…"

She whimpered, her body trembling with need. And Zev realized she wasn't reaching her peak—she was desperate for it, could obviously feel it just out of reach.

Leaning down to take her mouth, he whispered, "relax," against her lips. Then, with a shaking hand, he found where they were joined and used his thumb to stroke from there up to the most sensitive of her soft, warm skin.

"Zev!"

"Hold on, baby. Don't give up."

A cry broke in her throat as he stroked her again, then again. Still stroking, he dropped his chin to kiss that spot under her ear, then whispered, "You're mine. Only mine. Forever, Sasha. No other male will have you. You're… mine."

On the last word, he pressed harder and slid his thumb up to that bundle of nerves.

Sasha clenched around him and broke apart, sobbing his name as he thrust again, her body taut and shuddering, twitching, clenching and unclenching, until she tipped him over the edge too, and he fell, headlong over the crest of that wave, thundering and howling, the cavern echoing with both of their cries.

 

Chapter 185

The fire popped, startling her out of the doze she'd fallen into.

Zev's weight was a welcome blanket, his face buried in her neck, the stubble on his jaw rasping against her skin when he turned his head to look at her.

She turned her head and stared at each other, nose to nose. She lifted a hand to push back the hair that had fallen over his eyes.

She didn't have words.

She'd always loved him—since she was so young. Always felt like he loved her—until recent years, when the voices of others started echoing in her head, arguing with that. But her instincts… the deepest part of her had always known, always believed that she held his heart just as tightly as he held hers.

But this?

Holding him there, joined, as close as two people could possibly be, it was as if they'd broken through some kind of barrier. She was drifting, untethered—yet tied to him. Connected. While the rest of her life fell away, he was there, solid and strong, to center her.

She kept combing his hair back even when it no longer fell over his eyes, just to be touching him. She was afraid to speak, afraid all the love she felt would just come tumbling out. So she stared her love, and stroked her love, and prayed he recognized it for what it was.

Zev held her eyes and didn't waver, searching her gaze. Then he kissed her, softly, tenderly, leaving his lips against hers. He had one hand at her back, the other over her head. He covered her with his body and she didn't want him to leave.

"Is it like that for everyone?" she whispered eventually, fearing she was feeling something the Chimera thought was normal.

He shook his head. "I've heard that it can be. But… no," he whispered, his fingers playing in her hair. "

She cupped his face, let her fingernails scrape on the stubble of his cheek. "I feel like there's this… this ocean of love in my chest and I want to just sink into it and never come out."

He nodded. "Me too."

Sasha blew out a breath. "I don't want to go back, Zev. I don't want to go anywhere. I want to just be here with you and never do anything but be with you again."

Zev sighed. "Sash, we can't—"

"I know. I'm not asking. I'm just saying… it's what I want, Zev. I wish we could leave the rest of the world—any world—behind and just… be."

He nodded, then leaned into to kiss her, slow and deep and that ocean in her heart somehow, impossibly, got wider. Deeper.

They clung to each other and Sasha prayed she wouldn't cry because it would worry him. But the truth was, she felt like everything she'd been through in the past five years had just become worth it.

Worth it to be here with him.

Worth it to have him.

Worth it to give herself to him, and to take him.

Zev frowned. "Your scent just changed. What is it?"

She cupped his jaw and kissed him softly. "I was just thinking that you're worth it. That's all. It's all worth it, Zev, to have gotten here. You're worth it. To me."

A tiny noise broke in his throat and he rolled, pulling her onto her side so she used his arm as a pillow, pulling her into his chest, curling his arms around her and holding her tightly.

"I'm not, Sash," he whispered in her ear. "But you are."

She shook her head, but she wasn't going to argue. Words would only ever fail to accurately express what she was feeling. So she had to show him.

He didn't believe her yet, but she'd show him. She was determined.

Because he was worth it.

*****

~ ZEV ~

They dozed on the fur for at least an hour, but eventually as the fire fell and the cavern grew colder, the pain in Zev's side pushed him to the bed. With hushed words and gentle nudges, he woke Sasha. But she was blinking and bleary eyed, so he picked her up and carried her to the bed.

"I can walk," she mumbled, frowning even as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I'd rather carry you," he said huskily, laying her gently in the rumpled furs, then hurrying around to the other side to get in with her.

As soon as he slid between the cool furs, she rolled to lay her head against his shoulder, her arm over his chest, curling into his side.

His heart squeezed at the simple gesture that said exactly what he felt: that there was too much room in this world. Too much space. That they needed to be closer, always closer.

He opened his mouth to tell her that, but her breathing had already evened out, slowed. She was already asleep.

So Zev rolled slowly to face her. Her hand rested on his neck, her forehead against his shoulder. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her hair and took a deep breath, his head spinning with weariness and everything that had happened.

A rumble started then, deep in his core, a warning about the storm to come. But he pushed it away.

They had much to face. Much to navigate. But they'd been given these days, and he was going to make the most of them. He'd found his mate. Impossibly, perfectly, he'd found her and brought her home, and they'd survived.

No matter what might come in future, they would face it together. They were no longer two separate people, but a pair. A unit. And he would go to his grave to keep her safe.

Flashes of the fight with Xar flickered in his head—that moment when the Tiger had leaped for her and the ice-cold spear that had entered his chest when that knife had flashed in the old man's hand. But he kissed her hair again, and held her tighter, breathing in her scent and remembering: She was alive, and safe, and—most importantly—his.

No Chimera would ever try to take her again. He could relax. He could finally relax.

And for the first time in the almost seven years since he'd met her, he finally did.

 

Chapter 186

Sasha woke slowly and for a long moment she wasn't aware of where she was or what had happened, only that she was warm and felt like she'd actually slept, deeply, for the first time in years.

Then she blinked her eyes to see glowing, ice-blue walls and oversized furniture and she almost yelped as the memories of the day before came rushing back.

The dress.

The men.

Xar.

Zev.

That was when a strong arm tightened on her stomach and she realized the warmth at her back and the flutter at her neck was Zev, curled around her while they slept.

Her racing heart began to ease and she slumped back into the pillow as a deep, rough voice rasped, "Good morning."

"Good morning," she said, smiling, twining her fingers between his on her stomach. "Did you sleep okay?"

"I slept better than I have in years," he croaked.

"Me too."

She started to roll over, but he tightened his grip on her and nuzzled her neck. "Don't move yet. Let me enjoy you."

Her heart fluttered. He was so stinking perfect! She did as he said and relaxed, pressing her back into his chest as he kissed his way along her shoulder.

Sasha stretched, reaching back to put her fingers in his hair and hold him against her neck where he'd started to do wonderful things with his tongue. And just like that, her stomach was twirling with desire again. She didn't know what it was about Zev, but apparently this whole get-to-have-sex-whenever-they-wanted thing was going to be a problem. She couldn't remember ever waking up wanting. But just then, as he leaned into her and his breath was hot on her neck, she wanted to reach back to find him and stroke that firmness that was already prodding her in the back.

It was as if by finally sleeping with him she'd flipped a switch and now her libido was in overdrive. She shook her head at herself, but decided she didn't care. That's what honeymoons were for, right?

Then Zev's hand slid up her stomach to cup her breast and she sucked in.

"Did I mention it's a good morning?" she rasped, then cleared her throat.

"Mmmmm," Zev said, his sucking on the spot where her neck met her shoulder.

"A very good morning," she breathed, pulling her hair up and twisting it on to of her head so he could reach her more easily.

For several minutes she bathed in the attention of her mate, his lips on her skin, his warm strength holding her in place, his body curved around hers.

Then those clever fingers that already had both her nipples hard and peaked, slid down and Sasha shuddered as they slid to tease and play in places that she never thought she'd share so freely.

"God, Sash," he rasped a minute later in her ear, then nipped her earlobe.

Goosebumps chased themselves down her side and Sasha giggled, then sighed as his light touches became firm slides, and that tantalizing pleasure rolled over her in waves, matching the rhythm of his touch.

Holding his head against her neck, she arched back, opening her knees to give him better access, but his hand flattened inside her thigh and he gently pulled it up as he whispered in her ear, "Hook it over my leg," and he guided her to hook her knee over his long thigh.

Open to him like that, she should have felt exposed, but with him behind her and the furs over them, it felt like an indulgence. Then he stroked her again and her entire body tensed.

"Shit. Do that again, Zev."

He chuckled and did as she asked, his own breathing fluttering faster and heavier on her neck.

He played for a minute, until Sasha was beginning to roll her hips, searching for his touch, then he kissed her neck again and, pushing up on one elbow behind her, he held her leg over his as he tilted his hips to find her from behind.

It was a shock when he slid into her. Sasha made a small, sighing cry, while Zev shuddered, but then he was seated within her, and Sasha's entire skin came alive at the sensation of him at her back, hands exploring her body, and his lips…

He leaned over her, curling his long body until she turned her head and he was able to find her mouth, but he was already rolling into her and she couldn't hold the kiss, instead leaving her mouth open to him, their lips hovering, brushing, breaths mingling as they rocked together again.

It shouldn't have felt so familiar already. Shouldn't have seemed so perfect. But her body hummed with pleasure at the feel of him and even though his pace was slower, she could feel her pleasure banking, glittering on the edge of awareness.

So she gave herself over—relaxed into him at her back, tasted him with her lips whenever his was in reach, and rocked with him, marveling at the new sensation from the different angle. And as his breath began to rasp, she began to keen, she prayed this would be every morning for them now. That they'd never stop finding joy in each other, never stop wanting, never stop loving, never stop making love.

Zev hand tightened on her stomach pulling her back against him as his thrusts picked up pace and Sasha clung, one arm back to cling in his hair, the other fisting the furs in front of her.

"Sash… oh fuck… Sash…"

"Don't stop…"

Then, with a shuddering moan, he took her chin and tilted her head up, taking her mouth in a deep, desperate kiss, their tongues tangling as their bodies tensed. He reached down to find where they joined, adding the press of his fingers and Sasha's pleasure broke in a wave that had her gasping his name, shuddering, then clinging to him as he wrapped himself around her and followed her into the abyss.

Moments later, blinking, still not fully awake, Sasha spluttered a laugh.

Zev lifted a sweaty brow from her shoulder. "That was funny?" he asked, bemused.

"No, that was spectacular. But… holy shit, Zev."

"I know. Like I said… good morning."

Sasha snorted again, stifling hysterical laughter.. "The best morning."

 

Chapter 187

Half an hour later they still lay in bed together, quietly, Zev's mind turning over everything that had happened in the past few days, and everything he hoped was to come.

He wasn't sure if Sasha was dozing, or just laying quietly like him. She lay with her back to him, her breathing quiet. He stroked fingers up and down her arm, but neither of them spoke. And her breathing was even. So, just in case she was sleeping, Zev kept to his own thoughts.

He'd told her the day before that he would keep her in bed for days, and the temptation to do so was definitely there. If his nose could be trusted, she still hadn't stopped wanting him. And he'd brought enough food and supplies to keep them going for a week, though they wouldn't be here that long unless they were snowed in.

Snowed in.

Zev sighed and raked a hand through his hair. He'd forgotten. There was a storm expected that evening. Being snowed in was a very real risk for the following day. And they'd both been so busy lately, so consumed with… well, everything… Zev rolled his shoulder in the discomfort of that trapped feeling that came over him at times, ever since he'd learned the truth about Nick and the human team, and everything Zev had been deceived about.

But he refused to let that color his Solitude. This was the time for he and his mate to bond and rest. And they would. If it was going to storm tonight, they'd go out today. They needed to do something together that didn't have a deadline. They needed to do something just for fun.

His mind immediately went to the thing they'd been doing since they reached the cave. But even though his body leaped at the thought, he knew he needed to take a break. His side was aching. The walls of the ice cave glowed blue with the sunlight shining on the other side of it. He needed to get them both out of here while it was still possible. If they did get snowed in for the next couple days, well… he could take advantage of that.

"What are you grinning about?" Sasha asked, staring at him with narrowed eyes.

"Me? I wasn't grinning."

"You were definitely grinning."

"Well, it's just because you're here and we're finally mated and… life is looking up, Sash."

She grinned then, too. He kissed her, rolling her onto her back and almost giving up on his own resolve to get out of this bed, but then she ran a hand down his side and his wounds screamed.

He needed to stop. So he too her arm and pulled her hand away from his side, pinning it to the furs next to her pillow…

Then his stomach sank.

Shit.

"What's wrong?" Sasha said, her voice hushed and panicked.

Damn, now he was scaring her.

"Nothing, I just… My side. It's bleeding again."

With a frustrated sigh, he lifted her hand and showed it to her, smeared in his blood. Her eyes went wide with horror, and he had to spend a few minutes talking her down from her panic.

No, he didn't need a healer, he'd already been told how to redress it and what herbs to use to stop the bleeding.

Yes, he was fine. (True.) No, he wasn't in pain. (Small lie.) No, he wasn't worried, and she shouldn't be either. (Mostly true.)

Then, only half-convinced, Sasha demanded that he show her how to clean and dress the wound, so they spent a very pleasant, unpleasant half hour as he taught her basic first aid for battle wounds, at the end of which his wounds were clean and re-dressed, but he was also aware that he didn't have enough bloodwort. If they were going to be snowed in tonight, he needed to find some more today to help it heal.

He suggested a picnic. They could walk to the meadow on the other side of the ravine and if he was lucky, there would still be some late season bloodwort growing near the mossy rocks.

"Shouldn't we be resting? So you don't open it back up again?" Sasha asked, her brows pinched together over her nose.

Zev stroked her face, touched by her concern. "Actually, moving some is good for it. But I do need to be careful. I've been a little… distracted," he said with a lopsided grin.

Sasha's cheeks went red, and he kissed her again. They both pulled away that time, blowing out breaths and shaking off the heat that simmered between them as soon as they touched.

"Okay," Sasha pushed to her feet from where they'd settled on the floor for her to dress his back. "What's the plan?"

"How about a picnic?" he suggested. "We can take lunch. I'll show you some of Thana, and I can look for the bloodwort while you rest or… something."

Sasha shrugged. "If you're sure that it's not going to make it worse, sure. Why not."

And so, he grieved the loss of her nakedness as she dressed in the furs they'd found for her, but twenty minutes later he had a satchel thrown over his shoulder with a rolled fur tired to it, and as much food as they might need safely inside. He filled the pot again, but banked the fire under it. Sasha raised an eyebrow when he turned.

"It'll be warm when we come back, at least. We might be cold. It's a lot colder out here than it is in here."

Sasha's expression remained skeptical, but she laughed as he flapped a hand at her and started towards the entrance. She hurried after him, taking his hand as soon as they stepped out of the crevasse and into the sunlight—brilliant and shining on the snow of Thana.

Zev took a deep breath and sighed happily.

This was the beginning of the best day of his life so far, and he was going to enjoy it.

 

Chapter 188

Sasha was half-stunned, half-embarrassed by the fact that even now, walking the trail to a nearby valley, her body thrummed whenever she looked at him.

He wasn't naked anymore, of course, but his thick shoulders looked even broader in his fur jacket, and even the furs didn't hide the trim waist and thick thighs. And nothing could obscure the way he walked with such strength and assurance.

She'd encouraged him to go first on the trail since he knew where they were going, and she'd spent most of the walk just staring at him, admiring him.

He'd finally turned and told her dryly that if she didn't stop stinking of desire he was going to tear her leggings off and take her against the rock wall.

She might have suffered a whole new surge of desire then, that had Zev raking a hand through his hair and growling. So she'd started talking, hoping that if they discussed it, she could stop thinking about it.

"Do you think all the Chimera feel that way?" she asked him, after clarifying that those incredible feelings the night before had, indeed, been the bond taking hold. That Zev had felt it too—it wasn't just her. And that apparently, the humans had indeed been wrong about him not being able to form the bond.

She hadn't really questioned it. Not really. But there was always the thought…

"I know every Chimera who takes any mate at all has the bond. And they remain loyal—unless they go stark raving mad," Zev growled.

Sasha thought of Xar the day before and her stomach plunged to her toes.

Had she really killed a man? With her own hands?

"Hey, hey, don't focus on that," Zev murmured, stopping to turn and take her hands. "You were just protecting yourself. Don't let him steal your joy, Sash. I shouldn't have brought it up, I'm sorry."

She shook her head. "I'm fine. I just… remembered."

The crack of bone under the rock in her fist and the way his eyes emptied before anything else—

"Sash, babe. Look at me."

Sasha blinked.

Zev's face was serious, and kind. "The first time you kill a man is always going to stick with you. It's not easy for anyone—no matter why it had to be done. But you are my mate, and I'm yours. It's instinct to fight to the death in protection of your mate—and yourself. He was going to take you, Sash. He was going to kill me, and take you against your will. The Chimera… we don't do that. You understand? You were right to stop him."

She nodded and let herself lean into his chest for a minute.

"Don't let him steal this from us, Sash. I'm not going to."

"We have to talk about it at some point."

"Sure. But let's wait until the end. When we're headed back. Let's turn our focus then. Until then… let's just be here together." His voice rumbled in his chest under her ear, and Sasha sighed happily, pushing away the dark thoughts.

"Okay," she murmured, pulling out of his arms. "So… the mate bond. Chimera have it and you think it feels that way for all of them?"

"I don't know if it feels exactly like that. What I know is that once they're bonded, they can't ever be separated. It's why being apart from their mate will slowly kill them. And if their mate dies…" he trailed off, watching her carefully.

Sasha swallowed. If Zev died… Her entire body wanted to shudder at that thought.

He put a hand to her face and made her look at him. "It's not going to happen, Sash. Xar is gone. The people are following you. I'm here. Things are… better than they've ever been. We'll figure out how to keep the humans out. How to get the females back. We'll figure it out. And in the meantime, we're still here. Together."

She nodded, but a shadow clouded his bright blue eyes. She needed to stop worrying him.

Sasha took a deep breath and threw off the thoughts of the future—and of the past. What they needed to focus on just then was right now. Today. The time they had together, uninterrupted. And the bond that she could feel, tied into her gut, pressing her closer to him.

They started walking again and as the trail widened, he pulled her up next to him and put an arm around her shoulder.

"What does the bond do… other than… that?" Sasha asked, trying not to blush.

"It will keep us together," Zev said quietly, looking at the high walls of the ravine over head. "Even when we're fighting, even when we're in a pain… there's always going to be this core of certainty that we have to be in it together. That we can't leave. It cements us together, Sash."

"I kind of feel like we've already had that part," she admitted.

Zev smiled down at her. "Me too."

"It really is beautiful," she said with a soft smile. "I wish humans going to have this too."

Zev frowned. "I think they do. I mean, I'm half human and I've got it. You're all human, and you do. We can't be the only ones capable of it. I think it's there, but humans are just less aware. Like we were when we were apart. We felt the draw, but we didn't understand what it meant. I think humans do have the bond, they just don't pay attention. I mean, maybe that's why getting divorced, or losing a spouse is so hard? Because they weren't ever supposed to leave?"

"Or because they weren't supposed to be together in the first place," Sasha said dryly, thinking of her own parents and how miserable they'd been in recent years.

Zev shrugged. "Maybe. I mean, for Chimera, when they form the bond it's there, regardless. Who knows if they were fated, or just chose each other? I don't. All I know is, they don't betray it. This is real, Sash. We're bonded now. And that's never going to leave us."

She smiled up at him, about to celebrate that fact with him, when he turned and looked ahead. The shadows of the ravine suddenly disappeared as they stepped out of the end, and a gorgeous smile broke on his face.

Sasha turned to follow his gaze, and her entire heart throbbed with the beauty of it.

"Welcome to The Meadow, Sash," Zev said quietly, tugging her forward.. "I can't wait for you to see it all."

 

Chapter 189

They lay on a fur in the sparse winter grass of the meadow under a crooked-branched tree. Sasha sat with her back to the tree's trunk, while Zev lay on his side, leaning on one elbow, his head at Sasha's hip.

They were eating the fruit and dried meat Zev had brought, but Sasha's mind was more on the sheer beauty of the place. She hadn't been able to see it last night when they came through in the near-dark. But now… now the wide, sloping bowl between three snowcapped mountains that stood over it like guards, called to her.

This place was gorgeous even now, with the grasses dry and sparse among banks of snow, the landscape dotted with twisted trees and jumbled boulders that must have been pushed into the wider areas of the valley by floods many years earlier. She couldn't imagine the beauty of it when the grasses were green and lush, and the trees covered in leaves.

There was a river on the other side of the valley—too fast moving in the spring and harvest seasons to cross, but slow now, though so cold he said she'd likely lose a toe if she tried to cross it. Sasha wasn't tempted, but she'd already made him promise to bring her back during the summer.

"This is Yhet's favorite place, that's why he built his home here," Zev said quietly. "But he can't stand to be here now, so he circles around when he's travelling. He's only been in the cave a handful of times—he says his grieving gets worse when he goes there. So he said he'd love for us to use it. He said… he said it's a place full of love so it would make him happy if we filled it that way again."

Sasha wanted to weep for the dear man who'd given them such a beautiful place to visit and rest. She made a mental note to figure out something to give him as a thank you when they were back.

Sasha picked up a handful of berries from the bag Zev and brought, put one in her mouth then turned, holding another out for him.

Zev looked up at her without raising his chin, his eyes alight with mischief. She raised an eyebrow. "I'm offering to feed it to you, that's all," she said, smiling.

He made a face like she'd ruined his fun, but opened his mouth so she could pop the berry in. He caught her finger, though, as she placed it on his tongue, and sucked on it, catching her hand so she couldn't pull away until he was done.

She was ashamed of how she shivered, but Zev only opened her hand and kissed her palm, before closing her fingers over the spot and giving it back to her, then reaching for more meat as if he hadn't done anything sweet at all.

Sasha's heart spun in place.

Then Zev put a hand on her ankle, his warmth bleeding through the gap between her leggings and her shoes to warm that strip of skin. He curled his fingers between the leather of her leggings and the top of her shoes, running his fingertips back and forth over that chilled skin as they spoke.

She cleared her throat and made herself focus. But all there was to focus on was the beauty of the scenery, and the beauty of her mate… and her mate was a lot warmer.

Then Zev pushed up to all fours and straddled her legs to put his face in hers, smiling, his eyes dancing.

"What are you doing?" she said, eating another berry, then popping one in his mouth as well.

When he'd finished chewing he tipped his head. "I was just thinking… you know… discovery of new places… new mate… we have an opportunity right now that we probably shouldn't miss."

"Out here?" she squeaked.

"We're alone," he said, one eyebrow up.

Sasha looked around, surprising herself by actually considering it. There were some long grasses over there that would hide them if they laid down…

She eyed Zev, her heart beating faster as much from nerves as excitement. "I don't know…"

For an answer, he leaned in to kiss her, taking her mouth with his own open and soft, teasing her tongue with gentle strokes of his own, his breath rushing on her cheek.

For a moment she got lost in him and almost threw caution to the wind—but just then she grabbed at his jacket to pull him closer and accidentally brushed his sore side. Zev winced and broke the kiss, then caught himself and turned back to her, but by then Sasha was already glaring.

"We are not doing this out here. You need to be careful and you need to go find some of that bloodwart or whatever it is. That's why we're here, right?"

Zev's lower jaw jutted out. "But Sash—"

"No, Zev. I'm not touching you out here. You need to rest and heal. I'm not jumping you out here so you're bleeding everywhere again. We need to stop."

He sat back on his heels, on her shins, his face serious. "I will bleed to death before I'll stop making love to you," he said, his voice low and rough.

"Well, the way you're going, you might get that chance!"

Zev growled and Sasha bared her teeth at him.

"Go find the bloodwort—that'll stop the bleeding, right?"

"With time."

"Well, you better find it quickly, I guess," she said, folding her arms to make her point.

He argued a little more, but she knew he knew she was right, and pretty soon he did stand up and dust off his furs. "Fine," he pouted. "I'll be in that thicket over there," he said, pointing off to her right and across the grasses. "I need to find mossy rocks, and they're only going to be near the river, or under the shade of trees."

"Sounds good. I'm going to stay here and take a nap," she said, winking. "Get some rest so I've got energy later."

Zev snorted and started walking. Sasha held the smile, but now that she watched him closely, she didn't like the way he was holding himself—as if he couldn't move as freely on that side. She would keep watch for the bleeding and the pain, and force him to go back to the healers if it got worse.

She hoped it didn't get worse.

She sat there for a long minute just listening to the rush of the river in the distance, and the rustle of the grasses when the breeze blew through. The dead grasses were thin, but still fairly tall, and with so little sleep the night before, the waving of the stalks became hypnotic.

She folded her arms across her chest and curled the bottom of the fur up over her feet an ankles, then let herself rest, her eyes first blinking slowly, then dragging closed.

She'd hear something and open them, shift her seat, blink—she didn't really want to actually sleep—but as she sat there, she'd drift again.

Then, just as she was actually drifting off, there was a soft sound of a foot on a rock—as if one of the rocks had slipped and knocked into another.

Hoping it was Zev returning with the bloodwort already, she opened her eyes and looked around—to find herself frozen in the gaze of a massive bull thirty feet away, it's head down so its eyes only just peered over the grasses, but its horns, U-shaped and pointing for the stars, long and wicked and… were they stained in blood?

Sasha blinked and blinked, but the bull didn't go away. Her heart began to race, pounding on her ribs and sending jangling alarms to the rest of her body. There was a freaking wild bull out here and it was probably dangerous. Fuck!

She wanted to call for Zev, but was afraid the loud noise might startle the bull and cause it to charge.

How was she supposed to outrun that kind of animal? She couldn't possibly. Did she need to climb the tree?

Unable to think of anything else even resembling a plan, she started slowly pushing herself up, to get her feet under her, never taking her eyes off the animal. But as soon as she did, the bull's head rose… and rose…

Sasha's mouth fell open as the bull straightened until it had to be at least eight feet tall, that thick black head and neck rising above the level of the grasses to reveal a massive, heavily muscled, very human looking body.

The thickest, strongest human body she'd ever seen.

And then it snorted.

 

Chapter 190

The bull-man thing took a single step in her direction, his eyes angry and nostrils flaring. Sasha panicked and scrambled around behind the trunk of the tree to put it between them. In order to climb it from the other side she'd have to turn her back to that thing and she couldn't… she didn't know how fast it could run and…

Suddenly, it started towards her, stalking, it's gait stiff and hands clenched to fists. Sasha swore and grabbed at the tree, the rough bark skinning her palms as she tried to climb while still watching it around the trunk, but as soon as she moved, the thing began to run.

"Zev!" she screamed. "Zev!"

"Sash?!" His voice rose in a stifled echo from among the trees off to her right.

"Zev there's a… a thing!" She grabbed one of the lower branches of the tree and tried to scramble up onto it, but it snapped and she cursed again as the rapid footsteps of that thing drew close. Panicking, she jumped to grab the rough bark of one of the thick branches, much higher.

The thing snorted again and its footsteps clattered on the rocks amongst the grass nearby, but even as Sasha scrambled, fighting and clawing to get her weight up, over the branch, she realized the tree might not be tall enough to keep her out of the reach of that thing since it could probably grab her ten or twelve feet up.

Shit. SHIT!

"Minos, what the fuck!?"

Sasha had just got her belly up and over the branch and was swinging her legs up to straddle it so she could push up to the next branch without falling off when Zev appeared out of the trees, sprinting across the meadow.

The bull-thing slid to a halt just a few feet from the tree and swung its head around. "Zev?"

Sasha just about fell out of the tree. "He can talk?"

"Minos! What are you doing this far north?" Even running, Zev's voice was bright and excited.

"Zev?! You're back?"

Zev ran across the rest of the space between them, to throw his arms around the bull-man, both of them slapping each other's backs.

Sasha winced as she saw the bull man catch his sore side. Zev stepped out of his grip and turned his sore side away, but she noticed he didn't say anything about it. He clearly didn't want to reveal the weakness. So was this guy a friend or not?

Sasha clung to the tree branch, but didn't climb higher, waiting to see what would happen between the two men.

"What are you doing here?" Zev asked him.

"I think I should be asking you the same thing—you're back? And with the humans?" The male shifted on his feet which Sasha saw were normal, human feet, but his toes were much broader and thicker than any she'd seen before.

"She's not just any human, Minos. That's my mate."

"Your what?"

"I know, it's a long story."

They both turned to face her then, Minos gaping, while Zev beckoned for her to come down. "Don't worry, Sash. Minos is one of the good ones."

One of the good ones? So, there were bad ones?

Still cautious, Sasha swung her legs back over the branch and let herself drop, catching her balance on the uneven ground and watching them both for a second before starting slowly towards them.

Her heart raced looking at this… man? Bull? What? Minos's head looked like a huge bull's, completely with the wide, wet, black nose and nostrils that had scented her from some way off, apparently. Those wicked horns rose from either side of his skull. His eyes were so dark, until she was close they looked black, but when she reached the men, she could make out the sideways-slit pupils in the middle of deep brown eyes.

His neck was almost as thick as his shoulders and covered in the same near-black hair as his face. But the rest of him looked completely human—if a somewhat hairy, very burly human.

Minos was also completely naked.

Testicles the size of tennis balls dangled between his legs, right behind… oh dear Lord.

Sasha yanked her eyes back up to meet the man… bull… thing's gaze, heart pounding in her ears.

Was he smiling? It was hard to tell with a muzzle where the mouth should be.

"Sasha," Zev said easily as she reached them. "This is Minos. He's a good male."

Minos extended a stiff hand to shake and reflexively, Sasha looked down to put her hand in his—only to catch sight of Minos's… er… manhood.

"Great to meet you!" she squeaked, averting her eyes. "Sorry for the screaming."

The male turned to look Zev. "What's going on, Zev?" he asked seriously. "You mated a human? For real?"

"She's not one of them, Min. She's Sasha. You remember? I told you about her."

The male turned his thick head back to Sasha and looked her up and down in the exact manner she was avoiding looking at him.

"You're Sasha? The Sasha?"

"I guess so," she said nervously, glancing at Zev.

But even though Zev looked a little tense, his smile was easy. "We just took the mating ritual yesterday, Minos, you wouldn't believe it if I told you—Xar tried to take her even though he's already mated and… she killed him."

The male's eyes went wider and his lower jaw went slack, though the expression didn't seem as dramatic in his cow face. "She… what?"

"I know, she's amazing. Can you believe Xar would do that? What a betrayal to his mate—"

But Minos's entire demeanor seemed to change. His hands, hanging at his sides, clenched to fists again, and his thick, veined chest seemed to push out.

Sasha watched in horror as the male turned slowly to Zev and spoke in a deep voice that seemed almost hollow, "Your human mate killed a Chimera… and you're smiling about it?"