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  She held him tightly and wrapped her legs around the back of his thighs, opening herself to him in an unmistakable invitation.

  He paused and slowed the stroking of his body, aligning himself with her to lodge is cock in her opening.

  Dromer lifted his head and stared at her as he slid inside her.

  She met his gaze and bit her lip, staring into his eyes as the bright glow of colour took over. It was odd staring into a rainbow as he slowly filled her, but the heat that rocketed along her nerve endings was unmistakably enjoyable.

  His hands clenched against hers as he slowly thrust in to the hilt. He shuddered and closed his eyes. When he opened them, there was a very particular determination in his eyes.

  He pulled back and slowly slid deep, watching her every expression. For the first few strokes, it felt as if her expressions made her more naked, but then, she caught on that her enjoyment was spurring his. Aside from her movements, her face was showing him his effect with every motion of his hips.

  It was a small-enough thing to share with the man who was inside her. She already knew what desire looked like on his face; time to even the scales.

  She looked at him with heavy-lidded eyes, “Feel free to go faster.”

  He growled. “I want this moment to last forever.”

  “We have a lifetime of moments ahead of us.” She flexed her fingers against his and undulated against him.

  “Several lifetimes, and I am not going to rush any of them.” He increased his rhythm slightly and kissed her.

  They fought to make the moment last while their bodies pushed. Ida met his thrusts and locked him in her thighs’ embrace.

  When he rolled so that he was on his back, he released her hands. Ida laughed, pinned his hands over his head and sprouted wings for extra leverage. She settled her legs on either side of his hips and rode him.

  She released his hands and sat up, her hair cascaded down her back, brushing his thighs as she slowly moved on him, stirring him inside her with a deliberate churn.

  Ida shuddered at the sensation and hissed softly when Dromer cupped her breasts. She kept her wings wide for balance and kept her hips moving while she wanted to lock onto him and keep still.

  He massaged her breasts, stroked her belly and rubbed his fingers against her clit.

  Ida wanted to bat at his hand, but she kept moving, faster and faster, until the friction between them was nearly enough to start a fire.

  Energy crackled out of Dromer, and she bit her lip to stifle her laughter. He couldn’t roll her over without her dissolving her wings, so he was stuck under her.

  It was a grand theory. It depended on physics. When the bands of energy lifted them both from the bed, she had no idea what was coming until he gripped her hips, holding her tight as he pressed her against the bedpost. The heavily carved wood pressed between her wings but gave them a bracing point as he pressed his lips to her neck and thrust into her while the power snaked around her again.

  Ida wrapped her arms around his head and listened to her voice as she gasped, moaned and cried out when the promised orgasm finally struck.

  Dromer groaned and bucked against her, pressing her to the post hard enough to make it crack. She reached up and held onto the frame of the bed while her body clasped his and her skin gloried in the feel of the magics fighting against it.

  He held his body against hers, his cock locked inside her, until she dropped her weight onto him and pulled her wings in.

  Dromer wrapped his arms around her and held her close while he dropped to his knees and eased out of her.

  Ida pressed her head to his shoulder and waited for her heart to stop thundering in her chest.

  Dromer’s hands were smoothing over her sweaty back, and he murmured wordless noises to sooth her.

  She chuckled. “My hair is going to be a mess.”

  “So is mine.”

  She looked up, and he was right. The knot that his hair had been in had come loose at some point. The dark cascade appeared to be as long as hers was.

  “Wow. That is something.” Ida ran her hand through the silky, tumbled strands.

  “Thank you. My family takes pride in their hair. We have found a number of ways to bind it over the centuries, but it always comes loose in moments like this.” He smiled softly.

  “Do you have many moments like this?”

  “Only with you from here until the stars burn us out.” He lifted her hand from his tresses and kissed her palm.

  “That is very romantic.”

  “That is what I was going for.” He winked.

  Dromer wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips to her temple. He inhaled deeply. “You smell like wildflowers.”

  She was sweaty, rumpled and had spent quite a bit of time splashing around in a pond. The musky scent of his cum was emerging from between her thighs. Wildflowers were exceedingly unlikely.

  She chuckled and nuzzled his pointed ear. “You don’t.”

  He leaned back and grinned. “I am a man. I am not supposed to smell like flowers.”

  “You are an elf; aren’t you supposed to smell like sunshine on dappled leaves or something?”

  He held her tight as he laughed. When he had calmed, he hauled her bodily back to the head of the bed and cuddled against her. “Elves are just as different as shifters. We have our magic that we are born to. It takes the shape that it selects for us. My family channels wild magic. It is what you saw... earlier.”

  She snorted. “Saw it, felt it. There isn’t anything like it. Even all the other fey that were pawing me didn’t feel like that.”

  His eyes went blank. “I see. Can you point them out?”

  “No. So, what is different about wild magic?”

  “It is almost an element unto itself. No fey can defend against it. If you are going up against the fey, it is the ultimate killing weapon.”

  “Oh. So, you didn’t so much retire as go into hiding. Even the powerful would not be inclined to keep you around.”

  “Pretty much. Normally, my people meet their ends at the hands of poisoners or assassins masquerading as lovers.”

  She stroked his cheek. “You trust me that much?”

  Dromer sighed. “I would trust you if you were holding a dagger to my skin. If I am to meet my death at your hands, I would welcome it.”

  “I don’t think of murder when I see you.” She smiled. It was weird to hold a sideways conversation, but it seemed perfectly normal with Dromer.

  She pondered things a moment more before she asked, “Is Dromer your actual name?”

  “It is components of my name. When we sign the bonding contract, you will see my name and we will have a decision to make.”

  “What decision?”

  “To stay where we are and brave the possibility of fey coming to kill me or to start over somewhere else. I am willing to deal with whatever you think is best for you.” He smiled.

  “We will do a pros-and-cons list when we are clothed and have a pen and paper. I want to remain near my family, but I don’t know what I am going back to. They may not forgive me for running. They may welcome me back with open arms. You do know that the moment we bond or balance or whatever, you become part of my family. We protect our own. The entire avian council will be at your disposal.”

  A frown formed between his eyes. “You are joking.”

  “I am not. Family is everything, and you are very soon to be family. If we are lucky, a few deadly electric swans who can cook might soon grace the world.”

  The stunned look in his brilliant eyes made her giggle like a teenager. Apparently, having the next generation hadn’t entered into his plot for getting her into his bed.

  Too bad. It had been foremost in her mind when she realized that they could finally be together. Small, dark-haired, pointy-eared little people had danced in her mind every time she closed her eyes. Her swan had images of cygnets following her across the pond. Baby crazy wasn’t something she normally associated with herself, but looki
ng at Dromer, she could see a future that featured them.

  She guessed she was the only one who had that in mind.

  Chapter Eight

  Ida frowned at the door and waited for Dromer to come back. He had confiscated all of the clothing in her room and was over at the General Store looking for somethings that would fit without constricting her.

  She was stuck with two pairs of panties and one of his shirts in an opaque black. She was wearing the shirt, but the panties were folded and tucked in a drawer.

  The sun was setting, her hair was nearly dry and she was waiting for Dromer to return. It was times like this that she had really wished her cell phone could come with her when she shifted.

  “Aw, fuck it.” She left her room and walked down the hall and to the dining room. Andor and Teebie were sitting there and going over menus and books.

  Teebie blinked at her in surprise. “Hello, Ida. What happened to your dress?”

  “Dromer didn’t like the way it fit. Is there anything I can do or read or anything?”

  Teebie grinned. “Sure. Come this way. We have a full library.”

  Ida rubbed her hands together and followed Teebie. Something made her look back, and Andor was watching her walk away. Ida raised her brows at him, and he smiled and shrugged before she turned and followed his mate into a room down another hallway.

  “The library is new. Most of the guests don’t have an interest in reading, but the locals do. As fun as this place is in the short term, in the long term, it can be a little dull. The library is a necessity.”

  Ida fought the urge to dance in her bare feet.

  “If you want to find out what Chuck gets up to in his spare time, here is the section for Charlotte Penrose. The books to the right of that are the ones he wrote with Ivy.”

  “Oh, sci-fi romance.” Ida dove in and grabbed three of the titles.

  “You should have seen them working out some of the battle scenes. The guests here were treated to truly spectacular cosplay.”

  “I am sorry I missed it.”

  “I am sure that life with your new mate will provide views that only you can appreciate.” Teebie winked. “Time passes and the moments go with them. Memories are all we have to keep them in context.”

  Ida blinked. “That was convoluted.”

  “Sorry. I have been thinking a lot about family lately. Dira is pregnant, and with the baby on the way, I am trying to keep track of everything for posterity. My mind is on my own memories of childhood. In some cases, I have lost the context.”

  Ida nodded. “Right. That can be rough. I try and focus on the future.”

  Teebie smiled softly. “That only works until kids enter the picture. Then, you want time to stand still, and it just rockets past.”

  “Well, I guess you just have to take it one moment at a time. Speaking of that, I am going upstairs to devour these books while Dromer goes over my fashion choices.”

  “What was the problem with your clothing?” her blue face was concerned.

  “Ah, I possess a top-heavy hourglass figure. It makes finding a bra and a form-fitting anything a little difficult.”

  Understanding dawned, and Teebie’s gaze narrowed in on her chest. Ida already had the books pressed there, so she just let her look.

  “What do you wear normally?”

  Ida shrugged, “Coveralls, t-shirts, jeans with belts. That kinda thing. Stuff without a waist for the most part.”

  Teebie nodded. “Right. I will make some alterations to your balance-ceremony dress.”

  “You are making me a dress?”

  Teebie’s cheeks darkened a few shades. “You arrived with nothing. The least we can do is help you on the biggest day of your life.”

  “I am pretty sure that that was the day I was born.”

  “Go and read the books.” Teebie winked, and Ida walked out of the library and up the stairs.

  She dove into the first book, and the heroine had just found the hero cuffed in the hold of the spacecraft she had just hijacked.

  A knock on the door got her attention, and Ida hissed at it before carefully marking the book with the corner of a sheet and going to open the door. Dromer was looking at her with an expectant expression.

  “Come in, Dromer.”

  He blinked and chuckled softly. “You were trying to lure me into staying before I left, and now, it appears that you have changed your mind.”

  “I found books. Good books. You interrupted.” She made a face.

  He kissed her on the tip of her nose. “You are cute when you are nerdy.”

  “Get used to me being adorable. I love books.”

  “That explains the ereader you used to bring to the diner.” He was talking and unpacking the bags he had carried in.

  “That isn’t a bra. That is a hat for conjoined twins.” Ida looked at it in shock.

  “Try it on. I have an eye for sizes.”

  She unbuttoned the shirt and slipped it off, reaching for the bra with trepidation.

  “Oh. My. God.” She finished doing up the hooks and leaned forward to settle her breasts in the cups. When she stood up, her breasts were comfortable and supported.

  Dromer was looking smug. “I told you so.”

  Ida sighed. “We are going to have a very rough time if you are one of those people.”

  “Only when it comes to the fit of your clothing. The fey are fashion conscious. Elegant dress is a lesson we all have to learn when we are adolescents.”

  He handed her the matching panties that had the same bright flower pattern as the bra.

  She shimmied into the panties and slipped on the next offering. It was a skirt, and the shirt that wrapped over it was a glittering brilliant blue.

  “So, splitting the top and bottom?”

  “Until we can get a seamstress to tailor some things for you, yes.”

  Ida made a face. “That is expensive.”

  “I have enough funds saved up for a few centuries. Tailoring your clothing won’t even make me flinch, but it will create a great deal of enjoyment in me to know that your clothing fits properly.”

  “My clothing fits just fine. It just goes around me instead of across me.”

  Dromer sighed. “Something tells me that this is going to be a long-running conversation. I look forward to it a decade from now.”

  Ida grinned and twirled. It was more comfortable than she let on. Her breasts didn’t know what to feel. They had support and that was more than any shop Ida had ever been to could offer. Smashing them flat had been the standard procedure.

  “It seems that you are in the mood to dance. Would you care for dinner first?”

  She grinned. “That seems like a good idea. I need to work the stiffness out of my legs.”

  He was suddenly concerned. “Are you sore?”

  She rocked her hand from side to side. “It will pass.”

  He wrapped his arms around her. “I was too rough with you.”

  She laughed. “I do believe that it was my legs locked around you and then me on top. I was an equal partner in the friction that caused the problem.”

  He made a strange noise like a purr. “Yes, you were.”

  “Let’s go to dinner. Any more shoes in those bags?”

  With alarming speed, he unpacked the bags and displayed an entire wardrobe worth of selections and three pairs of shoes.

  “If you sit, I will help you put the shoes on.”

  She wrinkled her nose again. “First, my personal shopper and now Prince Charming?”

  “Never a prince, but I work on the charming.” He winked and got down on one knee.

  She sat, and he lifted her foot, slipping the pump into place. He did the same to the second and helped her to her feet.

  “That will make dancing easier. Shall we practice?”

  Her swan was eager. “Yes, please.”

  She stepped into his arms and they began with a waltz and it turned into dances that had a courtly feel. Arms pressed together while they circl
ed each other.

  They changed direction again and again until she was happily dizzy and her swan was content.

  It was time for dinner.

  Laughing together, they left the café and headed for the Crossed Star. Spike was at the bar. Chuck was sitting with his mate and a notebook. The night was still young, and the population on the dance floor was sparse.

  It was the perfect place for a swan and her mate to make their connection public.

  The dancing started to a slow song and moved into the elaborate patterns with every song after that. They stayed on through every genre and remained moving in unison until Ida’s feet filed a protest.

  She leaned against Dromer and stroked his neck. “Your place or mine?”

  “We have already wrecked my bed, so this time, it is your turn.”

  Ida blushed a little. “I don’t think I am up for anything else right now. I mean, not unless I shift or something, and I am too tired for that.”

  “I will enjoy the night spent holding you.” He pressed a quick kiss to her lips.

  Ida grabbed his shirt and held tight, keeping their kiss going until it verged on foreplay.

  When his heart was pounding as hard as hers, she backed off and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Let’s go.”

  His grip tightened on her, and they moved through the crowd that was filling the bar.

  She walked in step with him, as naturally as if they had always moved together. From the first moment she had seen him, she had found him fascinating. Now, she was here and she knew how he smelled, tasted and felt. The fascination hadn’t waned a bit.

  “What are you thinking about?” His tone was low and soft.

  “About how long I have known you and how you have always been in my thoughts long before it was appropriate.”

  He chuckled. “I thought you were a chatterbox when you were a teen, but the night that you came in in your prom dress, your friends long gone and your defeated look... That was the moment that I felt something for you aside from amused indulgence. That feeling grew with every visit you made to the diner, and when you stopped coming in, it hurt.”

  She whispered. “Sorry.”