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"Yes," I promised.
"And I love you."
My response was simply to moan, because he had me exactly where we both wanted. His body ground against mine, the sheer fabric of my nightgown teasing my breasts, the hem riding ever higher. His hips hit me hard, and his dick was driving my already stimulated body higher. I couldn't keep track of anything but the way his muscles flexed beneath my hands and the darkness shining in his eyes. My cruel, dangerous lover. My beautiful, golden man. This wasn't performance art. This was Eladehl giving himself to me by taking everything he wanted.
"Ela..." I begged.
"Not yet," he said, shifting his hips. "I need you to wait for me, beautiful." But he was moving faster, thrusting a little more frantically.
I wasn't sure I could hold off. Every nerve in my body was on fire. My hips were rolling with his, taking him just a little deeper, and I could feel my walls clenching around him. My mouth had fallen open, and I was panting, caught between chasing that last bit of pleasure to push me over the edge and wanting to feel him fall with me.
"That's my girl," he breathed. "Oh, Nari, you feel so fucking good. So perfect. Just hold me, baby."
I shoved my face against his shoulder and let him do with me what he would. He thrust again, then again, before shifting his hips to grind into my clit with the next thrust. That was when I couldn't take anymore. The gasp was his only warning, but I could feel him swelling, stretching me just a bit more.
And then I knew nothing but pure pleasure. My back tried to arch away from the bed, but Eladehl's weight held me in place. The scream got stuck in my throat, but my mouth still opened, my teeth pressed against his skin as I gave myself to him completely, clinging to his back in desperation.
The groan that spilled from his lips matched the warmth he pumped into my body, and we shuddered together in completion, but I couldn't quite let go. I didn't want to feel him leave me. I just wanted to stay here, in this moment, for as long as I could.
"I love you," he breathed beside my ear. "More than I ever thought possible."
"I need you," I told him back. "The same way I need to breathe, I need you."
And his breath rushed out, shuddering as it fell from his lungs. "Just don't ever let me hurt you."
"I'm not sure you can."
He lifted his head to look at me. "I could. The more you need someone, the easier it is for them to hurt you. Don't let me."
All I could do was nod, because I had a feeling he wasn't talking about my body. He meant my heart.
Chapter 24
Nariana
The next couple of weeks were easy enough. Oryll gave us a written test in sexual orientation that I passed easily. My time in the Salle with Harlin had me improving in my grappling class. I loved the relaxation of the Service of Others course, and my other four courses for the Path of the Body were a good excuse to "practice" with Eladehl in the evenings. I also spent the night in Wraythe's room at least once so Eladehl and Talin could enjoy the suite.
But usually, the four of us piled in the same bed at night. The guys had decided that it made more sense than trying to explain why one of us snuck across the hall. If this was our normal, then everyone would soon forget to worry about it. We began talking about how to afford a new, bigger bed. The issue was that money was in short supply for initiates.
Then, at the end of my first month of classes, the weather turned cold. Priests of Obligation delivered bundles of split wood outside our door every morning. Wraythe or Talin stacked them up. Eladehl always made sure the fire was going nicely before I had to get out of bed in the morning, and my clothes began to cover up more of my god-lace.
Inside the temple, we didn't notice the passing of the seasons as much as we should, but the cooler weather managed to leach through the stone regardless. Even the training areas began to use the metal stoves to heat the space. It didn't take long before hundreds, possibly thousands, of fireplaces and stoves made the indoor temperature return to normal.
That left me debating between a purple cropped corset that would show off the lace at my belly or a coat that mimicked part of a man's tuxedo. Eventually, I decided they could work together, along with a pair of buttery leather pants and my above-the-knee boots. And while I was almost completely covered, the look still felt sexy when I walked into my Eroticism class with Eladehl.
He looked just as good. By sheer coincidence, he wore a purple shirt that was a shade brighter than my corset, and his vest was black with white pinstripes, but it worked. A few people turned to look as we took our seats. My partner seemed rather pleased at the attention, and he looked so very sexy when he was smug.
Then Priest Oryll stepped to the front of the class. "At the beginning of the year, I explained that I expected all of you to experiment with sexual relationships. I have given you a month."
Everyone fell quiet almost immediately. Our instructor had our complete attention.
"Now," he said, "it is time to expand your experience. You all have one week to find a sexual partner and sign up for a scheduled time in a session room. On the declared date, you will meet with myself or another Priest of the Word to check in. Your guardians will attend, observing the sexual act, and they will be given a grading sheet for their ward's sexual partner. No, your guardian will not grade you. Your date's guardian will."
"To what end?" Ciella asked. "Won't we all just get excellents?"
Oryll lifted a brow. "Do you not realize that the bond between a guardian and his or her ward is stronger than anything else? I'll be surprised ifanyof you are given an excellent. Guardians are notoriously jealous of their ward's affection, and always critical of their partners. They have to be. That is how they prevent the pain of their rings and keep their eyes open for any potential hazard."
A guy near the front lifted his hand. "And if our guardians are unable to complete the session?"
