“I want that. I want to have a child with you,” Everan murmured.
I turned to face him, his grip loosening to allow it. I looked up into his beautiful face and saw past the physical to the spirit I loved. I saw a man who would make a wonderful father and a future I'd never considered for myself. A baby. With Everan. Something shivered through me—longing.
“Yes,” I whispered.
“Yes?” Everan asked as if he couldn't believe it.
“Yes.” I spun and ran, calling over my shoulder, “But if the stag wants to rut, he has to catch the doe!”
Everan made a rumbling sound of aggression and gave chase. I darted around trees and even leapt over a small stream, but he kept coming. Around us, the forest was full of shadows that were probably Bargests enjoying the entertainment, but I didn't care. Let them watch if they wanted to. Today, I was only a deer.
My stag caught me at the base of an ancient tree, tripping me into his arms, then pressing me against the trunk. He rolled his body against mine, showing me the effect I had on him. I unbuckled Everan's belt frantically and tossed it aside while he pulled up my skirts and bunched them around my waist. I'd removed my panties before we'd left—a little surprise for my husband. He growled and stroked my curls gently before delving deeper. Pleasure speared through me with his fingers. I finally got his pants undone, and they fell to his ankles.
Everan growled and lifted me by my thighs, using the wide trunk to prop me up. As his mouth met mine, I angled his cock at my entrance, rubbing him in my desire before dropping my hips to help him slide into me. He moaned into our kiss, tongues tangling as he drove his shaft deep. My back slid up the trunk, giving us a better angle, and then my husband started a solid pounding.
“Did you mean it?” Everan whispered in my ear. “Can we try for a baby?”
“A king needs an heir.” I grinned at him.
“Oh, Shalani.” Everan stroked my cheek tenderly. “I would give anything to see our child in your arms.”
“We'll have to speak with the others, but I think they'll be okay with it.”
“If they are, they'll have to take a potion to render themselves infertile until you conceive.” He punctuated the statement with a thrust.
“You've been giving this a lot of thought,” I groaned and clutched him tighter.
“Yes.” He pushed my thighs out wider as he pressed closer. “I've wanted it for a long time. Our child can live here, they'll be safe in Danu.”
“But... I won't be in Danu ever day.”
“We'll work it out, Shalani. Whatever you want.” He kissed his way down my neck.
“Whatever I want?” I purred. “You really want to be a father.”
“I want to be a parent with you,” he corrected.
“Then you'd best mate me like a real stag.” I pushed gently at his chest.
Lust flared in his amethyst eyes as he set me down. I kissed him savagely, then slipped away, darting around the tree. Everan cursed, yanked up his pants, and gave chase. But I was only luring him into a sun-drenched meadow, not on another hunt. Everan's gaze grew hot as he avidly watched me pull off my light dress and toss it aside before kneeling in the grass. He prowled to me, sunlight turning his hair molten, and yanked off his tunic to cast it away. I watched him kneel behind me before I bent forward and set my palms on the warm grass.
I spread my legs wider as Ever settled between them, the scent of soil and wildflowers rising around us. The sun warmed my skin, tempering the shivers that rose with the realization of how visible we were. It only heightened my excitement, and I felt one with the forest. One with Danu. The King of the South entered me and it felt like a ritual, his cock a sacred tool that joined us. His hands took my hips before sliding forward to grip my breasts. Everan groaned as he bent over me, kneading my flesh as he surged deep. Every powerful thrust slammed us together. Every hit scattering pleasure through my body and making me feel more like a goddess.
The magic of Danu trembled beneath my fingertips, and I released my second sight to see the very air sparkling with power. Everan's aura billowed forward, full of love but also the bright, sunshine yellow of happiness. What surprised me was that my aura held the same colors. A child. A baby with purple eyes and Danutian magic. Yes, the thought made me extraordinarily happy.
But my thoughts couldn't stay on a child for long, not with Everan trying so hard to make one with me.
“Shalani.” Everan reared up and grabbed my hips.
I looked over my shoulder to watch the King of the South claim me like a forest god. The sun coating his broad shoulders, magic filling his exotic eyes, and desire rippling through his muscles. His hair blew about him in the gentle breeze, and when he met my stare, he smiled triumphantly.
“I love you, Amara,” he said.
“I love you, Ever.”
He slid a hand between my thighs and started an urgent rubbing. “Come for me, sweetheart. I want your scream to echo through Raeventar.”
My legs tensed with rising pleasure. His hard flesh shoving more and more ecstasy into me until my fingers clenched in the soft grass, and I threw my head back to scream in completion. My body rippled around his, pulling Everan into that heaven with me, and seconds later, his roar joined my screams.
