“I'm feeling wide awake.” She grinned as she helped him slide her pants and underwear down.
Laroc pulled off her boots, then her pants and panties. Bare from the waist down, Rinna felt like a goddess before him. It was the way he set his hands on her outer thighs and stared up at her face. His beautiful eyes held love, but also amazement. Laroc had never expected her to love him back. Even so, he had loved her.
“Rinna!” Laroc surged to his feet again, and his hands went to her face.
“What?” She scowled at him.
“You're crying,” he whispered and bent his head to brush his lips over hers. “I don't think I've ever seen you cry.”
“I'm not crying!” Rinna swiped at her eyes, shocked to find them wet. “Oh, fuck! I'm crying!”
Laroc burst out laughing and pulled her into an embrace. “What a sight we must make. Me laughing and topless, and you crying and bottomless.”
“I am not just bottomless.” He held out his arms to show off his nudity. Then his expression softened. “But it sounds as if we complete each other.”
“You're damn right we do.” And then he kissed her.
As if the kiss was a battle cry, they went wild together, hands grasping and pulling at her remaining clothing. Fabric went flying, and then they were wound together on the cots, the wooden bars digging into Rinna's side. Putting two camp cots together was not the same as pushing two mattresses together. But Rinna didn't care. All that mattered was the man above her, his hair falling onto her chest and his wings spread over them like a shield. With a start, she realized he was her shield and always would be. It didn't matter that she could protect herself; every warrior needs a shield. And Larocran Ader was hers.
“Laroc.” She pulled back from his lips.
He had just shifted between her legs, his cock pressed against her sex. Laroc looked up and met her gaze. “What is it, love?”
Rinna went still. Love. He called her that with such casualness. As if he had always loved her. Maybe he had. Maybe she had always loved him. They just hadn't known it until they met.
“Laroc, what are we going to do?”
Even with his hardness nestled against her heat, ready to unite them, Laroc settled himself on his forearms and took the time to consider her question. “Do you want to stay at the fortress? I mean, if we regain control of it.”
“I . . . what other option is there?”
“We could leave. Join Thax and Liria at Middle Ground. No one will come after me for not completing my service. Not if I join Thax. We could be a part of this change. Rin, we could be an example to the Aethari, just as Thax and Liria are. We don't haveto be destiny-bound to be together. They've given us that with their marriage.”
“Then . . . you don't think I'm your . . . what do you call it?”
“Destra?” Laroc swallowed, his throat bobbing. “I don't know. I felt drawn to you from the moment we met. Maybe we are destined. Maybe we aren't. It doesn't matter to me. Whether or not Source sees it, I've made you my destiny. I won't have anyone else.”
“When the fuck did you become so damn romantic?”
Laroc smirked. “You bring it out of me.”
“Ugh! Who are you? You're creeping me out!”
He chuckled and nudged his shaft against her, slicking himself with her desire. “Am I? Should I leave?”
With a groan, Rinna lifted her hips and angled herself to receive him. “You're not going anywhere, you romantic fool.” She grabbed his ass and pulled.
Laroc lowered his head as he eased into her. “No, I'm not. You're stuck with me forever now, Rin.”
“I know. And stop calling me Rin.”
“Damn it all! I was trying to give you a cute nickname.”
“Liria calls me that. I want you to call me something special.”
He went still, his shaft throbbing inside her. Pushing deeper, until he was pressed tightly against her, he whispered, “How about . . . Rinnie?”
Rinna was lured by his deep voice, her channel clenching around his flesh. Then she heard that name. “Eww!” She jerked her head back. “No!”
