“Is that what you want?” Taryn asked. “I figured you’d want to explore Rune after all this time.”
Airess looked around at all the Fae, and a subtle smile grew on her face. He knew she was still adjusting–to a new culture, a new language, and the freedom to go anywhere she wanted after a life of captivity. He would be patient with her, content with whatever she decided.
“No, you’re right,” Airess said, looking up at him with a smirk. “Let’s go,” she ordered, speaking those last two words in the Runean tongue. The sound of his language rolling off her lips made his blood heat. He wasted no time, as he grabbed her hand and led her through the crowd.
They walked up to the wooden outdoor bar. Taryn requested two beers and handed Airess the glass mug. They drank, and Airess looked at the mass of sweaty, dancing bodies in shock.
The Fae danced sensually, grinding their bodies against one another, swaying to each beat of the music. Some males danced upon males, and females danced upon females, or a mix of the two. It was true that Rune had a completely different society than Luciena, his people showing more intimate public displays of affection and an openness toward sensuality.
“I’ve certainly never seen dancing of this kind before,” Airess said as she sipped her beer nervously.
Taryn tilted his head back and laughed at her surprise, her exposure to finally seeing a different culture than what she had been used to her whole life. Hell, even Taryn felt the change, being away from home all these years, and relished it.
Home.
He turned to her and smiled, unable to contain his joy. The vibration from the music traveled up his spine, and Taryn couldn’t remember the last time he was truly happy. Until now.
He bent down low and whispered in her ear. “I can show you, if you’d like.”
The look she gave him in response could have brought him to his knees, her eyelids growing heavy. His grip tightened on the mug as he awaited her response. She tilted her mug back and chugged the rest of its contents. When she was done, she gripped his tunic and brought him down closer to her.
“Show me,” she said in a sultry, low voice.
Whatever restraint Taryn had before was lost. He set his drink down and grabbed her hand swiftly, guiding her into the crowd as the beat thrummed through his body. They entered the crowd of bodies, the scent of beer and sweat mixing together.
“Like this,” Taryn said, placing her arms over his shoulders, the front of their bodies now flush together. He gripped the sides of her waist and swayed to the beat of the music, his blood heating at her scent of honey and magnolias.
She followed his lead and pressed her chest and hips against him. Taryn’s cheeks heated as the most beautiful female he had ever seen, ever known, danced with him. He held her like he would never let go.
She looked up at him, a subtle blush on her cheeks. Airess leaned up on her tippy toes and whispered, “Am I doing it right?”
“Yes,” he breathed. His grip on her waist tightened.
The song changed, the beat faster than before. The crowd responded instantly, moving faster. Taryn trailed his hand up her bare arms, until he grabbed her hands in his, taking a step back so he had room to spin her. Airess twirled effortlessly, her hair catching the light. Taryn grabbed her waist and dipped her low at the end of her spin, their breaths heaving as they stared at one another, their noses inches apart.
When he brought her back up, she spun around and pressed her back to his front. She took his hands and placed them on her hips. Airess mimicked the other dancers, grinding her backside into his front.
Taryngroaned. “You keep dancing like that and I won’t be able to control myself,” he whispered, voice husky, the alcohol blurring his cares and worries into oblivion.
“Maybe I want you to lose control.”
When the song was over, they separated, their bodies flushed, brows beaded with sweat. Taryn, for once, was speechless. Airess was not the innocent female he had thought her to be. He was just now seeing a boldness inside of her that she had finally set free.
Airess grabbed his hand and giggled. “Let’s get another drink.”
They left the sea of dancers and headed toward the bar. The line was long, and Taryn could tell she needed a moment to gather her bearings as she gripped the wall behind her and leaned back.
“Wait here, I’ll be right back.”
Taryn joined the line that quickly moved forward after a few minutes. He gathered the drinks and went to go find Airess, but when he turned, a snarl escaped his lips.
There they were, two Fae males standing so close to Airess they had her practically cornered against the wall. A possessiveness Taryn couldn’t understand, or control coursed through him in waves at the scent of the male’s arousal.
“Come on,” One of the males said slyly, “We’ve never seen an Elven female before. Just one dance. I’ll make it worth your while.”
“No wish to dance,” Airess replied nervously in Runean, her lack of vocabulary causing the males to snicker.
“The bitch can hardly understand us. Just take her–”
