GAR

Something was happening. Gar's heart raced and his veins pulsed with that incredible, fizzing light that curled through his bloodstream and wrapped itself around his heart.

"Rika," he gasped when she let herself fall backwards into his hands, her head back and throat bared. Carefully, as if she might break, he lowered her to the furs and the mating call tore from his throat as he descended on her.

Gar's entire body shuddered and everything within him lit with joy when Rika cried his name.

Covering her with his body, he began to rock, groaning the mating call over and over, rolling it in his throat and letting his trembling hands explore every inch of her jaw, her neck, her breasts.

Rika gasped his name every time she let go of her held breath, but he could feel ita€| within both of them. It called to him from his soul, twisting his insides and glaring with warmth and light.

The bonda€| Creator's Mane, she was surrendering.

Rika, breath tearing in and out of her throat, hooked a leg up over his waist and pulled him in with hands and heels, urging him, rocking into him, pleading until he took her moutha€”and took her body in a single, slow slide that made her sob his name.

Then they rocked together, bodies writhing, as his heart began to beat in time with hers, that golden, glittering light throbbing in his veins and spiraling out into his chest, his body, his limbs.

He needed her. He needed her in ways that had nothing to do with the flesh, and yet, could only be expressed by it.

And he could feel her in the moment with him, her heart yearning for his, stretching, reaching for him, that light emanating from within her as well.

Gar almost sobbed. Cupping a hand over her head, he dropped his chin, pressing her into the furs, his heart pounding so hard he felt it even in his fingertips.

"Rika," he groaned. "Rika, can I claim you?"

"Yes! You already have!"

"No, Rikaa€| the bonda€”"

"Anything, Gar. Please. Please!"

She cried out, clinging to him and something within Gar exploded. For a moment he couldn't breathe as that golden, glittering light in his veins shot through bone, sinew, skin and met hers coming for him. Their hearts spun, the light like webs, nets closed around each of them and pulled taut as their bodies rolled together.

Gar huffed the mating call, and Rika cried his name and for a long moment he could only gasp and tingle, sensation dancing across every inch of his skin.

But the needa€| the need drove even further.

"Rikaa€| be mine."

"Yes!"

"Let mea€| have you!"

"Yes!"

On the edge of control, Gar thrust into her, forgetting gentleness, forgetting caution. He was lost, surrendered to the pure sensation of becoming one.

The rope of light that had started in his heart knotted with hers and even when he shifted, he felt it, always pulling him back, pulling them together.

His jaw dropped and his breath tore in his throat.historical

Rika was gone, eyes rolled up and body writhing, she kept herself pressed into him, riding against him, pulling him in.

He could feel his release climbing to crest the wave, pleasure ballooning in his lower spine, love overwhelming even the sense of her embracing him.

"Rika! I give myself to youa€”do you give yourself to me!"

"Yes! Please, Gar, please!"

"I love you!"

"I love you, tooa€”!" the word broke off as she arched, her body tightening around him and the bond exploded.

Light, shivering glittering light raced through his veins, and without thought, he opened his mouth on the soft skin where her neck met her shoulder, and he bit down, groaning her name, the flat of his tongue tasting the delicious salt of her.

She'd been about to relax, to shudder out of her orgasm, but she arched again, screaming his name and Gar's climax hit.

His teeth still buried in her skin, he roared, and felt the bond snap into placea€”that gorgeous, golden rope snapping tight between their hearts and yanking something from his chesta€”a tiny, piercing pain that was immediately soothed as a piece of her spun into place to fill the hole she'd made.

They rolled into each other, bodies twitching, voices rising, then slumped, hearts pounding in time. And as Gar finally slumped over her, sweaty and trembling, sucking the blood gently from her skin, Rika clung to him, pulling him tight against her, sobbing.

"Oh, Rika, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt youa€”"

"You didn't. You didn't. Oh, you beautiful man, you didn't," she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeksa€”that were pressed high with a smile.

Gar leaned back to look at her, to meet her eyesa€”and found them shining with joy.

"If you aren't hurt, why do you cry?" he whispered, terrified that despite the ecstasy and sheer joy throbbing in his veins, that he'd somehow done more harm than good for her.

"Because I love you so much, Gar. Because I trust you so much. I'm so sorry I held back. Thank you. Thank you for being so patient with me. I love you. I love you so much."

She threw her arms around his neck and pulled herself up and into his chest, so Gar, tears pinching at his eyes and throat, lowered then both back to the furs, and curled himself around her as tightly as he was able.

And while he waited for her to calm and find her peace, he whispered to her all the ways that she was beautiful, and all the ways that he would watch over her.

And all the promises he would keepa€| forever.

My breath before yours.

My blood spilled that yours might not.

My death so that your life might be saved.

And if you should lose mea€| I will call down the Creator himself to watch over you.

And even through her tears, Rika laughed with joy and whispered them all back.