#azrielshadowsingerweek

[rosenecklaces]

azriel was a child living in a true hell on earth house and still ‼️ my boy remained compassionate, hopeful and trusting to those who show him kindness and i---

[tswaney17]

Hel’s Kitchen 🔪

Azriel strikes me as a male that is willing to take on a new hobby, and though centuries of training has made him the feared Spymaster, the Shadowsinger, there are just some things he can’t seem to master—like baking (but that’s okay because his love takes that title in the kitchen 😉). He’s notorious for letting his shadows run amok while he focuses on his task at hand in an effort to “help cleanup,” though it usually ends up with a larger mess all over the place. However, our dear Azriel is tenacious and someone who will continue to offer to help despite his lack of skills.

For Day 5: Hobbies, I wanted to showcase Azriel trying to take on something new, and @/luxury_banshee did just that. I don’t think I could’ve pictured this any better than what she created and I am so grateful for this absolutely stunning art. Thank you, my dear for collaborating with me on this and bringing this artwork to life. You were a pleasure to work with. 🫶💖

Also, you can bet Elain is off to the side, giving him a thumbs up, but internally going, “My kitchen…” 😂

Do Not Repost

@azrielshadowsingerweek

[nikethestatue]

Azriel 🦇

[tswaney17]

Here we go. Fast phone fic with no editing:

Ash arrows rained down but he somehow managed to use the reserves in his siphons to shield him and Lucien as they ran. Whoever gave them away in the Autumn Court would die.

Slowly.

Painfully.

By the blade of the dagger strapped to his thigh.

But he’d deal with that later. Because right now, he just needed to get him and Lucien back to Velaris. “We’ve got to get out of here,” he barked out as they tore through the trees. Branches bit at their skin and clothes.

Lucien’s head snapped in his direction. “And how do you want to do that while we’re being fired upon, shadowsinger?” he panted.

Azriel bit back his retort as he edged closer to the Autumn Lord and grabbed him by the forearm. Mustering as much power as he could, he pulled them both into the shadows, the winds tearing at their bodies and faces until they landed on the terrace of Rhys and Feyre’s estate.

“Fucking hell. I’ll never get used to that,” Lucien muttered.

He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, well, we didn’t have time for you to winnow forty times across Prythian.”

The other male snarled at the insult. Their relationship was tenuous at best, especially given the fact that Azriel was in love with Lucien’s mate and the redhead had no idea.

Entering the sitting room, they were ambushed by his High Lord and Lady. Azriel launched into a quick debrief when he heard her feet—knew she made it purposeful. Elain could be silent when she wanted to be.

The door was thrown open and there she was. Beautiful as he remembered with golden-brown hair and stunning doe eyes. Eyes that swept over his form and took in every bump, scrape, and bruise on his skin. She marked everything, noting what she would need to apply a salve to later.

His possessive side warmed at the fact that she didn’t even bother glancing at the other male in the room.

A sound came out of her and then she was running right for him.

Azriel caught her; barely managed to throw his wings out, knocking a vase off a shelf in his attempt to steady them as she launched into his arms, legs around his waist, hands sliding around his shoulders to secure herself to him.

“You’re home,” she cried into his neck, her tears dampening his skin.

He gripped her under one thigh, the other around her back as he buried his face into her hair to inhale her luscious honey and jasmine scent. Azriel didn’t care that they had an audience, or that nobody knew of their relationship. He only cared about his girl. His love in his arms right now. “I’m home,” he murmured.

A scoff broke through his happiness and he turned to find Lucien staring at him. “Well, that’s one way to tell me you’re sleeping with her.”

Az snarled, tightening his grip on Elain’s thigh. She clung tightly to him as his shadows swirled around them protectively. He’d fight like hell if it came down to it. Both her mate and his brother who was glaring at him.

But Lucien just waved a hand. “Relax. I could smell the jasmine on you and was just waiting for you to tell me.” He nodded at the Shadowsinger. “I’m sure you can give them the details of the mission for now. I’d like to bathe first.” His attention fixed on Elain and Azriel couldn’t help but flex his wings—peacocking as she so politely called it. A small, known smile crept on Lucien’s face. “We’ll talk later, Elain.” Without another word, he strode from the room.

He didn’t dare look at his brother, not wanting to have that conversation tonight. But he could feel his gaze like a brand on his skin.

Feyre, sensing the shift in the mood, grabbed Rhys by the arm. “We’ll let you two get reacquainted. We can discuss tomorrow.”

After dragging an unwilling High Lord from the room, they were finally alone. “I missed you,” Elain whispered burrowing further into his embrace.

He softly smiled. “I missed you, too.” Kissing her deeply, Azriel realized that when he was with Elain, he never felt more at home.

~~~

It’s Azriel Week, Free Day somewhere, right? 💙🦇

@azrielshadowsingerweek

I need a scene where Azriel and Lucien are in the same room (before we get any broken bonds). Then Elain sees Azriel and runs straight into his arms. In front of everyone. Ugh I NEED this to happen. I need this not only for Elain, but for Azriel.

Like this:

Ya know?

[freyjas-musings]

Irrespective of who was hosting Azriel Week I would have always participated.

So @azrielshadowsingerweek Day 4 Romance

How can there be a romance day for Azriel without a special Gwynriel piece 🙂🙂🙂. Here is celebrating our favourite

CARYNTHIAN MATES.... THE SAINT AND HER SINNER ... THE SHADOWSINGER AND HIS PRIESTESS

UNDER THE MOONLIGHT - WITH MUSIC IN THEIR SOULS, BATHED IN MOONLIGHT AS THEY SHARE A ROMANTIC MOMENT ...

Artist Yasmin is exceptional and her Gwynriel is just superior 😍😍😍😍😍.... Thank you for the spectacular piece

REPOST NOT ALLOWED ACROSS ANY MEDIA OUTLETS. REBLOGGING ALLOWED.

[vikingmagic33]

Super excited to post my most recent art commission of Azriel and Gwyn.

Everything about this commission has been an absolute joy. I need to thank @headcanonheadcase for entering me into the giveaway and @llibiarts for just being amazing at every step of the way. When we couldn’t decide on the version, I was surprised with both!! This piece has so much personal significance to me. Hope you enjoy!!

@azrielshadowsingerweek Day 4 Romance Day.

Reposts of art commissions are not allowed, but feel free to reblog with full credits, until your heart’s content! 🥰

[impossiblescissorspeachpaper]

Azriel Week Day Five: hobbies

TW: canon material (which, apparently, is triggering for some).

Keeping headache powders given to him twelve months ago on his night stand, just to look at.

Holding up doorways for no apparent reason…

Taking a damn long time to clasp jewelry around the necks of females, and waxing poetic about it the entire time…

Thinking about pleasuring females he apparently has no feelings for

Pleasuring himself to the thought of pleasuring said female he definitely has no feelings for

Being granted consent before getting into a heated make out sesh

Getting philosophical about the happenings in Prythian

*Also, this is a joke. If you can’t laugh, kindly jog on ✌️

@azrielshadowsingerweek

[tswaney17]

The One Where Somebody Says I Do?

Happy Free Day @azrielshadowsingerweek!! I've had this fic idea in my head for a while and decided to share it for the last day of Azriel week. It's heavily inspired by a few Friends episodes combined into one. Let me know what you think! Constructive criticism is always welcome. Negative and rude comments are not tolerated. 💙

My fanfic account: @tswaney17fics​​​

My ao3 account: tswaney17

Trigger warnings: language

Word Count: 4,914

Elain wanted to just crawl under a rock and let the world go on without her. Because how did one move on when the man they loved was marrying somebody else? Every time she thought about the fact that her best friend, A.K.A. the love of her life, running off to the Illyrian Steppes tomorrow to marry his fiancé, she felt this pain in her chest, like a dagger was trying to puncture its way out and made it hard for her to breathe.

Her family ran around her to finalize their packing when said male stopped directly in her line of vision.  

His warm, scarred palms gripped her upper arms, thumbs brushing over the exposed skin from her t-shirt. “I can’t believe you aren’t coming to my wedding.” Azriel’s face looked almost disappointed.

Well, that made two of them. Actually, she was far past disappointed.

She was devastated.

“I know, I’m sorry.” Elain wasn’t. Not sorry in the slightest. She couldn’t go watch him marry somebody else.

“Come to Illyria with us. Please? I want you there.”

His words cut her straight to the heart and she had to choke down the ache in her throat that threatened to make tears run down her cheeks. “I can’t.”

Those hazel eyes pleaded with her. “You can. I can’t not have my best friend at my wedding, El. Please come.”

Fuck him and trying to manipulate her with that comment. Elain pulled herself from his grasp. “I can’t. I have to work,” she said stubbornly.

Challenge flared on his face. “Call in sick. You’re only missing two days.”

The room went silent as their family watched their little interaction. Elain hated this the most. How he chose to do this in front of everyone else instead of in private. It was unlike him, to pick a time when the others were present and bring this conversation up. He must’ve thought he could convince her to come if she felt pressured to go with everyone observing.

It only made her double down on her reservations.

“No. I can’t just leave Ceriddwen and Nuala on their own. You know how my boss is. Besides, Feyre needs me. Rhys hates leaving her behind but she can’t fly at seven months pregnant. She needs me here.”

Elain saw the defeat pass over his expression.

Azriel sighed, eyes looking sad. “Fine. I’ll see you when I get back.” Seemingly without thought, he brushed his thumb over the apple of her cheek and then swept from the apartment like a shadow on the breeze.

Her face tingled from where he touched her and she felt every single pair of eyes branding on the back of her figure. Not able to take the sad looks, the pity of her family, Elain went into her bedroom without a word and silently clicked the door shut behind her. Only once she was securely inside did she let the tears fall as she wept for her broken heart.

~~~

Elain and Feyre ate the Cassian special—two pizzas—in silence, having already gone through the argument of if they should talk about that conversation with Azriel before he had left.

“I’m just saying, it seemed like it hurt him to not have you there,” Feyre queried, taking another slice of pizza from the box.

She scoffed. “Well, I guess we can’t all get what we want now, can we.”

Her sister blinked at the hostility. “What’s going on with you, Ellie?”

Fuck her, she didn’t want to talk about this. “Nothing.”

“Cut the bullshit. We had all thought that when Az told you that he loved you, you two—”

“When he what?” she cut her off, gaping.

Feyre blinked. “At your birthday last year. He was planning on telling you he loved you.” Her face went from realization to utter horror. “Oh my god, he didn’t tell you because you showed up with—”

“With Lucien,” Elain breathed, her stomach turning with nausea. The red-headed man had been nothing but a mistake that lasted five months. They weren’t compatible in the slightest romantic-wise, but they did make out to be good friends. “Azriel was going to tell me he loved me?”

“Fuck, I shouldn’t have said that. Oh my, he is going to kill me.” Feyre buried her face in her hands.

She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t think. Her heart was beating so fast she thought it might go into cardiac arrest. Azriel loved her. Was going to tell her he loved her. But he didn’t, because she had been so blindingly stupid. And by the time she ended things with Lucien, he had met her.

Gwyn.

A nice girl.

Nesta’s friend.

Elain had no real particular feelings for her. Other than the fact that she was marrying the man she loved.

And she needed to stop it.

She didn’t think, she just moved, running for her room and started throwing things into her bag. Clothes, undergarments, a dress, shoes, toiletries. Whatever she could find, she packed. Grabbing her passport, she emerged from her bedroom to a wide-eyed Feyre.

“What—where are you going?” she demanded.

“I have to tell him I love him,” she said determined as she made her way towards the door.

Her sister gaped. “Elain! He’s marrying somebody else! Somebody he loves! You can’t do this to him.”

She whirled. “He deserves to know!”

A very pregnant Feyre pushed herself off the couch and advanced on her. “What do you think is going to happen? That he’s going to end things with Gwyn? That he’ll tell you that he loves you too?”

“I’ll figure it out when I get there,” she told her, voice clouding with emotion. She had to do this. She had to tell him before it was too late.

Feyre’s eyes turned hard. “You’re just going to hurt him, Elain. You’re not a cruel person, but doing this, going there to tell him now…this is cruel.”

She felt the words like her sister had struck her. Tears welled in her eyes even as her heart told her she had to do this—had to see him. “I have avoided my heart for too long, Feyre. I’m finally going to listen to it. And you’re not going to stop me.”

Without another word, she slammed the apartment door behind her.

~~~

Elain found the temple on top of Mount Ramiel easily enough. She wasn’t expecting half of it to be crumbling like it was being torn down, but she disregarded that as she searched for Azriel.

She knew Feyre likely had called Rhys and told her she was on the way and that both he and Cassian would try and stop her in her endeavors to tell Azriel how she felt. So, as she made her way through the temple, she kept to the shadows, crept down the halls, and avoided anyone who would alert them to her presence.

But when she found him, all of her plans came to a screeching halt. Because there he was, in his tux looking as handsome as ever, hugging Gwyn in the middle of where the ceremony was going to take place.

Her stomach dropped at seeing the special, intimate moment between them, but she was frozen—couldn’t seem to get her feet to move, to turn around and leave before he saw her.

“Oh!” Gwyn seemed to realize what she was doing. “You aren’t supposed to see the bride in her wedding gown before the ceremony. It’s bad luck.”

Az chuckled, and gods, it was the sound she loved so much. It cut her straight to the heart, though it wasn’t nearly the same sound that Elain was able to pull from him. “I think we can call this the ‘first look’ and avoid that issue, can’t we?”

She reached out to touch his cheek, a soft smile playing on her lips. “I think that will work.” Her fingers brushed his jaw. “I’ll see you at the altar.” Gwyn strode for the door behind her, not having seen her.

Azriel watched her go, smiling before he turned and halted, mouth hanging open as he finally saw her standing there.

“Elain,” he breathed like he couldn’t believe it. “You’re here.”

She swallowed the horrid lump in her throat. Feyre had been right. This was a mistake. An awful, huge, horrendous mistake. “I am,” she choked out.

He took three long strides and swept her into his arms, hugging her like he hadn’t seen a more wonderful sight in years.

Her chest fractured. She shouldn’t have come. And now she couldn’t do anything but lie to his face. “I couldn’t miss my best friend getting married, now could I?” The words were like acid on her tongue. She wanted to take them back, tell him how she felt. But after seeing that moment with Gwyn, Elain knew she couldn’t. It was wrong. He was happy. And how could she be the one to break that?

So, she’d break hers instead.

But Azriel knew her better than she knew herself. His hazel eyes assessed her face, mouth drew into a frown. “Are you all right? You look upset.”

Damn him. “Fine.” She begged her lips to quirk up a bit. “Just jetlagged.”

It looked like he wanted to pick at it more, but somebody else called her name.

“Elain.” Pure, unrelenting command filled that voice.

They looked up to find Rhys staring at them, his eyes regarding their closeness carefully.

She knew what he was trying to figure out. If she had told Azriel the truth. So, she pulled back. “I’m going to freshen up before the ceremony. Don’t want to smell like an airplane on your big day. I’ll see you soon.” Elain left Azriel standing there and went towards her brother-in-law, who put his arm around her shoulder to guide her from the room.

Once out of earshot, he asked her, “Did you tell him?”

“No.”

Rhys let out a breath. “I’m sorry, Elain.”

Not wanting to talk about her failed love life, she kept her mouth shut and let her tears fall down her cheeks.

He escorted her to the groomsmen’s area so she could change and clean herself up. At the door was Cassian. He shot her a sympathetic smile—one she did not return. “Please keep him out," Elain requested before sequestering herself inside the room.

A half-hour later, she was sitting in her spot, watching Gwyn float down the aisle towards her future husband. She looked beautiful in her white gown, but Elain couldn’t help but think it should’ve been her walking down. That she should’ve been the one to be marrying Azriel. It killed her on the inside to see him marrying somebody else.

But he looked happy as he watched Gwyn approach. That was the only thing Elain ever wanted for him, knowing Azriel came from such a shitty life—a horrible childhood. He deserved to have that happiness. Even if it was with somebody else.

And it was time for her to make some happiness for herself.

She had yet to tell her family that a job opportunity had presented itself to her overseas. Elain hadn’t decided before, but now she had. She couldn’t be around Azriel anymore. Not with him married and likely to start a family soon. She needed a fresh start somewhere else. Where nobody knew who she was.

Elain would tell them when she returned home. She’d have to leave immediately—before he even got back. It was better this way. Perhaps now she’d be able to get over the pain of losing him. Could you technically lose something you’d never had?

“And now for the vows,” the minister announced. He turned towards Gwyn. “Gwyneth, repeat after me. ‘I Gwyneth, take you, Azriel, to be my lawful, wedded husband. In sickness and in health, until death parts us.’”

Gwyn repeated his words, teal eyes shining bright. She and Azriel were facing each other, though they had yet to touch. She thought it odd that they weren’t at least holding hands, but perhaps it was because Az disliked contact and hand-holding.

He really only ever let her touch his hands, now that she’d come to think of it.

Elain glanced at her sister, Nesta—Gwyn’s maid of honor. She looked so happy for her friend. Their other friend, Emerie a step behind her.

The minister then turned towards Azriel and began again.

Her heartbeat thumped wildly in her chest, against her throat. She thought she might get sick.

“Repeat after me. ‘I Azriel.’”

“I Azriel,” he said, midnight voice slithering over her bones.

“Take you, Gwyneth.”

“Take you, Elain.”

The entire room turned to ice as a deafening silence settled over them.

Elain’s blood roared in her ears, her breathing becoming unsteady. Did he—

Rhys and Cassian gaped at their brother, unsure of what to do.

Her stomach somersaulted. A mistake like that was so unlike Azriel. It had to do with her presence. She had fucked up coming here. Now, all she wanted was for the ground to completely swallow her whole.

Please don’t look at me. Please don’t look at me.

Elain chanted the mantra in her head, but it seemed like that only encouraged him to do it more. Because Azriel turned his head and locked eyes with her, pinning her on the spot. She felt several other sets warily turn in her direction, regarding her, judging her. Her face heated, but she kept her focus on him. Watched him watching her.

And then he turned back to Gwyn and slowly took a step back. To others, his face would’ve remained impassive, but Elain could read it perfectly.

It was panic.

No.

She royally fucked up. Tears were already streaming down her face when Nesta caught her eye. She looked torn between going to her sister in the crowd or staying put next to the one she stood beside.

Elain swallowed and realized, she couldn’t breathe. She had to get out before she began hyperventilating. Rising from her seat, she ignored the gasp from one of the other attendees and slipped out onto the aisle. She didn’t need to look back at the altar to know those hazel eyes were once again glued on her retreating figure. She felt them on her back the entire way as she excused herself from the temple, quickly grabbing her bag from where she left it in the groomsmen’s room, and fled, taking her shattered heart with her.

~~~~~

Azriel fucked up. Oh, gods, he had fucked up so badly. Not just in saying the wrong name at the altar, but in the many, many, many decisions he had made that got him to this point. He knew he had a choice to make.

No, that wasn’t true.

He had already made his choice when he saw Elain get up and walk out of that temple. His eyes flicked back to his fiancé, finding Gwyn watching him with a look of hurt on her face.

Gods, he was such a fucking asshole. But he had to end this.

Az took another small step back. “I’m so sorry, Gwyn.” And he meant it with every fiber of his being. “I’m sorry that I cannot give you my heart because it is not mine to give anymore.” Tears lined her teal eyes, but he steeled himself to get through this. He had to get out his apologies to her. Az owed her that much. “I gave it away a long time ago to somebody else, and I don’t think I realized that I never got it back. I don’t think she even realizes that she has it, but you don’t deserve to be with someone who cannot fully love you in the way that they should. And I am so sorry that I’m doing this to you now, that I didn’t figure this out before this very moment, but marrying you would be dishonest. I will always regret putting you through this because you deserve better than that. Better than me.”

Gwyn scoffed, wiping at the tears running down her face. “I can’t believe you’re doing this.” She shook her head. “But I’m not going to stop you from following your heart.” Her fingers wrapped around the ring on her left hand. Sliding it off, she held it out to him. “Here, take it.”

She dropped the ring into his scarred palm. “I really am sorry, Gwyn.”

“Just go, Azriel.”

He didn’t need to be told twice. Bolting down the aisle, he chased after the love of his life when he heard two sets of steps sounding behind him and then…

“Az!”

Whirling, he found Rhys and Cassian had followed him. “What?”

“Groomsmen’s room. That’s where she got ready and likely where she went to get her bag,” Rhys said, panting.

He was running. Running for her, hoping, praying, she didn’t slam the door in his face. He’d give anything to make it right with her. Gods, he should’ve just told her that night on her birthday that he loved her as he had planned, new boyfriend be damned. Az threw open the door to where he and his brothers had gotten ready and found it, empty.

Utterly and completely empty.

“Elain!” he called out in a panic. She had to be here. Where else could she have gone? His brothers followed him in, Cassian making a straight beeline to the window. “Elain, are you here?” he called out again, looking in the bathroom.

“Az!” Cassian hollered, his eyes wild with regret.

His stomach plummeted when he looked back at his brother and saw him point out the window. His gaze drifted out the glass and he saw her, golden-brown hair blowing in the breeze. She looked stunning in her pink dress, even with her back to him. But that the slump of her shoulders told him that she was upset.

And then he saw the absolute worst thing possible. A car pulled up in front of her and Elain climbed into the backseat.

“No. Elain!” he pounded a hand on the window, surprised it didn’t shatter under the force of his palm. His heart slammed against his ribcage as he took off running again. Down the hallway, he took the stairs two at a time, leaping the last four steps until he burst out into the courtyard of the temple only to find her car gone. “No, no, no! Fuck!” His hands slid into his hair, gripping the strands in frustration.

“Come on!” Cassian grabbed his shoulder. “I’ve got the rental car over here.”

His eyes widened. “Where are we going?”

His brother shook him in disbelief. “The airport, you dumbfuck! Where do you think? If you’re going to go after her and admit your feelings, you’re going to do it right. Now let’s go.”

They drove as fast as they could to the Illyrian international airport. After having to purchase three tickets to get through the gates, they managed to find the boarding plane for Velaris.

“I don’t see her,” he panicked. “Where is she?”

The three of them searched the crowd until they saw her short stature; golden-brown hair bobbing into the tunnel.

“Elain!” he shouted. “Elain!” Az ran over towards where she was, but she had disappeared out of sight. His heart dropped into the pit of his stomach. He had missed her. He missed his chance.

Until Cassian cupped his mouth and bellowed, “EEEELLLLAAAIIINNNNNN!!!!!!”

He and Rhys turned to look at him incredulously.

“Dude, the fuck?” Rhys said.

But it worked, because there she was, standing at the entrance of the terminal. Her eyes were wide, shocked.

Az just moved towards her, like a moth to a flame. A magnet. A man under a spell. His feet ate up the ground between them in a few strides until she had to crane her neck back to look up at him. Those eyes—those incredibly, beautiful, doe eyes blinked at him.

“What,” she breathed, “What are you doing here?” she asked when he reached out and took her arm to gently move her out of the way of the other passengers.

He opened his mouth, a heavy breath heaving from his chest in a great whoosh. “El, I have been such a stupid male. A stupid, stupid male. Because I have been searching for the right person to share my life with and I’ve always known it should be you.” Her body started to shake, so he tightened his grip on her elbow. “You are my best friend, the one person I choose to seek out to spend time with. You bring me comfort and joy and happiness in a way I never imagined myself finding.” He brushed her hair behind her ear, let his knuckles graze her cheek, and then cupped the side of her face. “I love you, Elain. I am in love with you. Fuck, it’s always been you.”

Tears were flowing down her face. Shit, he made two women cry today. He really was an asshole. Her eyes flicked between his.

Az was able to read Elain well for most of the time that he had known her, but at that moment, that critical spot in time, he couldn’t. He couldn’t tell if it was hope or pain or happiness or anguish or anything else on her face. And the realization scared him to death because he didn’t know what to expect her to say.

“Azriel.”

Oh god, no. Not his full name. She may as well as stuck a dagger in his gut and left him to bleed out on the floor of the airport.

“What are you doing?” she asked, shaking her head.

He licked his lips, wetting them and giving himself a moment to process her question. “I came for you.”

“What about Gwyn?”

“It’s over between us, El.” She visibly flinched at the name. “Please, Elain. Please believe me when I tell you that I love you.”

A sob tore from her throat and she placed her palm on his chest. Had to feel his rapidly beating heart beneath her splayed fingers. “But would you have realized you loved me had I not shown up?”

“But you did, El, you did. I just needed that reminder—the wake-up call. I have always loved you, Elain. And I wanted to tell you—”

“On my birthday,” she frowned.

He gaped. “How did you…Feyre.” He sighed, more to himself. “Yes, I wanted to tell you on your birthday, but you showed up with Lucien and you looked happy with him. How could I ruin that when I only wanted you to be happy?” He stepped closer to her, crowding her until she avoided his gaze and looked down at their feet. “Why did you show up at my wedding, Elain?”

Her head snapped up, but she didn’t respond.

“What did you want to tell me before you caught me and Gwyn? I know you didn’t just decide to come.”

She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter now.”

Like hell was he taking that for an answer. He took both her hands between his and squeezed them. “It matters to me. Tell me, Elain.”

Another shake of her head sent her hair swaying. “It doesn’t matter because I’m leaving Velaris.”

Every thought in his head went silent. The world around him stilled. “What?”

She swallowed. “I got a job offer for an amazing pastry place overseas and I’m taking it. I leave in a few days to meet with the owner.”

Final boarding call for flight 617 to Velaris.

Elain glanced over her shoulder at the open archway of the terminal.

Was she actually considering leaving? He tightened his grip on her hands. “Elain, please don’t get on that plane right now. We can fly home tomorrow. Together.” Azriel had a feeling if she left right now, she’d be gone before he got home.

She began trying to pull away. “I’m sorry, Az. I can’t do this. I—I just can’t. I’m sorry.” Her fingers slipped away and he stood there rooted on the spot as he watched her walk away from him.

He was too late.

~~~

The car ride back to the temple and then to the hotel had been brutal. Azriel said maybe three words to his brothers who had watched the whole interaction with Elain. Both had offered him their condolences like he’d lost a loved one. Which, he supposed he had. Arriving back at the temple made it even worse, especially when Nesta came up and shoved him.

“How dare you do this to them!” she screamed.

Cassian snatched her around the waist, but in all honesty, he’d love to have her just beat the shit out of him. Maybe that would’ve made him feel better.

“Nesta, not now,” Cassian stated.

“Not now?” she screeched. “Should I do it after I take the non-bride-to-be back to the hotel? And where is my sister?”

Az looked at the eldest Archeron. “She left.”

Realization donned her face. “Well, I hope you’re happy now, Azriel.” Turning on her heel, she left the three males out in the parking lot. He deserved her fury, he reminded himself. Az had hurt her friend and her sister. Nesta had every right to hate him.

Now in his hotel room alone, he nursed a glass of whiskey, his bowtie undone and hanging around his neck. Pulling his phone from his pocket, he turned it back on and waited for his notifications to come up.

And then one popped up that had his heart racing. A voicemail from Elain.

He sat up straight, set his glass and phone down on the table, and pressed the speaker button to play the recording.

Her beautiful voice filled the room.

“Hi, Az. It’s me. I just got back on the plane and I’m thinking about everything. I hated leaving things the way we did. You came to me saying all these things and I wasn’t expecting you to show up like that, and I was just afraid of getting hurt again. So, I fled, and I know I hurt you in the process. And I’m so sorry because that was never my intention.” She sniffed and gods, it hurt him to hear her upset again. “And I didn’t even get to tell you that I love you too. Because I do, I love you.”

He made a soft, pathetic sound. His throat ached with unshed tears and he had to tip his head back against the couch.

“I love you,” she said again. “I love you. What am I doing? I love you. I love you. I need to see you. I have to get off this plane.”

“Oh my god,” he breathed, looking down at his phone sitting on the tabletop. He heard some rummaging around and then—

“I have to get off this plane.”

“Ma’am sit down.”

“Miss, please. I just need to tell somebody that I love them.”

“I can’t let you off this plane.”

Az, in his own world, shouted, “Let her off the plane!”

“Please, you don’t understand!”

“Try to understand!” he cried.

“Oh, come on, miss! Isn’t there any way you can just let me off—”

The line went dead as the voicemail cut out. “No, no, no! Did she get off the plane?” He tapped his screen like it would hold all the answers.

“I got off the plane.”

He whirled around, and there she stood, keycard in hand. Azriel didn’t utter a sound. No, he just moved to her. His long legs swallowed up the space between them in a few strides until shoved the door behind her shut, cradled her gorgeous face between his scarred palms, and kissed her senselessly.

Elain melted, whimpering against his mouth. She dropped her bag and the keycard on the ground in favor of sliding her fingers into the hair at his nape, securing him to her.

His lips worshiped hers, tongue tracing the seam and begging for entry. When she granted him access, he took every advantage, sweeping in to claim her mouth. He kissed her until every thought eddied from either of them. Until they were panting for breath. Until he knew he conveyed every emotion, every feeling of his love for her into that single encounter with her.

She pulled back, resting her forehead on his. “I’m so sorry, Az. I’m sorry I left you there.”

He shushed her. “You’re here now. I’m sorry it took me so long to have the balls to tell you that I love you.”

Elain chuckled, eyes lined with tears. “We have a lot to figure out.”

“We will,” he told her earnestly, taking one of her hands from his neck and spreading her palm across his chest. “Together. Because I’m never letting you go again, Elain. I’m all in. If you’re moving overseas for a new job, then I’m going with you.”

She gaped at him. “What about your job?”

He shrugged. “I’ll get a new one. The point is, is that whatever and wherever life takes you, just know that I want to be right by your side. Forever.”

Elain let out a choked sound. “I love you, Azriel.”

His thumb stroked her cheek, wiping the tear that fell. “I love you too, Elain.” When he kissed her again, Az saw his entire future line up in front of him and finally, it felt right.

~~~~~~

Remember, sharing is caring! Please reblog if you liked the fic. It helps spread my work and I truly appreciate it. 💕

I’m not doing a tag list anymore because they’re really more trouble than they’re worth. For notifications, you can follow and subscribe to my fanfic account where I will be reblogging updates and snippets only. You can also find me on ao3.

My fanfic account: @tswaney17fics​

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[damedechance]

i watch the skies getting light

AO3 link | NSFW | (1/1)

@azrielshadowsingerweek Day 4: Romance

I am unable to control myself, apparently, because when I saw @separatist-apologist got this ask, I immediately wanted to write a oneshot. So here it is: Gwynriel breeding kink. Thanks for letting me insert myself into your ask box.

Azriel and Gwyn spend their time in the hours between dusk and daybreak, and it is in each other's arms that they slowly begin to find peace. Years later, they live in a house that is quiet, and wish only to fill it with noise

Snippet:

He is quite impressed, when she begins walking backwards down the hall. The lights are off, but she does not stumble. As if he is being pulled back to shore by a rope around his middle, he follows her.

Her hand is on the doorknob that leads to her bedroom. This is usually where they part. Azriel walks right up to her, so close that their toes could touch, and she has to crane her head back to look at him.

“Will you think of me?” he croons to her.

“What thoughts do you hope I’ll have?” Gwyn asks. Her shoulders fall back against the door, and it is like she has forgotten that they are supposed to stop. Here. They are supposed to stop.

“With all of those books you read,” Azriel breathes, “I’m sure your imagination isn’t lacking.”

“And should I take inspiration from tonight’s reading?” Gwyn says. There it is. Her voice is deep again. It draws him forward, like the tides are pulled towards the moon. “Should I think of you, with my hand between my legs?”

He has to put his hands up on the door above her head, to keep from collapsing into her. He has had too much to drink. The wine is making him think less; it makes his legs shaky. Even his fingertips are numb, as she tilts her head to the side and regards him in that irreverent way of hers.

A scent washes over him, and he has to close his eyes when he realizes that this excites her. That the taste of sea salt and sage on the back of his tongue is her, and that she is pressing her thighs together, with her palm flat against the door, her nails digging into the wood.

“You act like it would be the first time,” Azriel says, when he can finally open his eyes again.

They’ve never gotten this far, he thinks as she finally opens the door. It’s like he is falling in, and he can’t spread out his wings fast enough. She doesn’t need to put her hands on him, to make him follow. He shuts the door behind them, and leans back against it.

Moonlight pours in through her window, and it makes the freckles on her shoulders look like the iridescent flecks in the face of an opal. It wanes over half of her face, her expression the still waters of a hidden lake, and it rocks him anyway.

“It isn’t,” she admits.

[leiaamidala]

𝘈𝘻𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘭’𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬, 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳. 𝘛𝘪𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵. 𝘌𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯’𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘵.

𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣.

𝘏𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴.

⊱❊⊰⁣⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⤞ art by rutisfree

⤞ commissioned by me

@azrielshadowsingerweek Romance Day

⊱❊⊰⁣⁣⁣⁣

This is one of my favorite acotar scenes and I’m so happy to have a piece representing it, with a twist! While in canon it takes place at night, the marvelous Rutisfree played with sunlight through the stained-glass window shining light in to play with shadows. A beautiful blend reminiscent of another wonderful scene Elain and Azriel share, in which Feyre paints in her head that vision of light and dark as she watches Azriel lend his precious dagger to her sister. Enjoy!

⊱❊⊰⁣⁣⁣⁣

do not repost, please.

[sapaul]

He’s so cute

I’d never seen his hazel eyes so bright, the hues of green amid the brown and gray like veins of emerald.

 ⊱❊⊰⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣⤞ art by @artyventurer

⤞ commissioned by me

@azrielshadowsingerweek : Wishes for the Future

⊱❊⊰⁣⁣⁣

Do not repost, please.

[offtorivendell]

Shadows and Attors and Wolves, Oh My!

A very short bit of nonsense, posted for @azrielshadowsingerweek Day 5 - Hobbies. It could also work for Day 3 - Friends and Family.

Feyre stepped softly up the stairs to her now twelve month old son's room, looking forward to some cuddles after a long day meeting with Velaris' city planners, and hoping that Rhys had kept him up just a wee bit little later than usual so she wouldn't have to wake him. Nyx, a bright and cheerful child, was always happy to hug his Mama, but his mood did suffer a little the next morning if his sleep was interrupted.

Rounding the corner of the landing, she heard the dregs of a whispered suggestion, followed by some sort of deep, muffled question, and then a quick, "Do it, he loves the scary ones best," in her mate's night-kissed voice. Giggling cut through the silence of the river house, full of joy.

Curiosity piqued, she winnowed silently, landing just outside the doorway to Nyx's room, finding Rhys and Azriel inside. Rhys was lounging in the rocking chair, with two arms full of one very excited Nyx—who was clapping his hands and wings in time with each other, nearly smacking his father in the face—while Azriel was standing off to the side of the faelight set on the bedside table, using his shadows to create extravagant creatures against the wall.

She smiled at the sight.

Azriel must have been practising, because these animals were readily identifiable and even moved independently. A far cry from his earliest efforts.

As Feyre watched, she saw the wolf and puppies romping across the wall transform into a winged faerie, then five, with wings and talons spread as they flew across the wall—all Attors, she quickly realised. Concern for her son rose, as she didn't want to put him to bed primed for nightmares, but before she could say anything a soft, dark presence stroked at the edges of her mind.

It's okay, Rhys said, Nyx here seems to appreciate the fell beasts. The more horrific, the better.

Relaxing, Feyre sent a single message back down their bond: If he wakes up crying, I blame you.

Rhys chuckled, and Azriel, who had almost certainly known she was there from the moment she had entered the house, simply raised his eyebrows at his brother. "Silent conversations are rude when one person can't participate, you know."

Rhys raised one hand in apology as Feyre stepped into the room. "Alright, shadow master. What next?"

Feyre grinned wickedly, taking Nyx into her arms and perching herself on the tufted arm of the chair, dropping a kiss on the top of his soft, dark hair.

"Try Bryaxis."

~🦇🦇🦇~

Please excuse this short, fluffy nonsense. I just think it would mean a lot to Azriel to be able to use his powers for innocent fun. To know that his shadows, which might be considered scars of a sort - of his time in his father's dungeon, if that is truly when they came to him - are thought of as beautiful by his friends and family. That they, he, can create things of beauty, and bring joy.

[lady-riel]

Gwyn: Would you say we’re friends?

Azriel: Yes. 

Gwyn: Good friends?

Azriel: Sure.

Gwyn: Hugging friends?

Azriel: Okay.

Gwyn: Kissing friends?

Azriel: *blushes and squeaks* 

Azriel:

Gwyn: Sex friends?

Azriel: *passes out*

__________

@azrielshadowsingerweek

[hlizr50]

A Very Special Drabble Day

Today my drabble is doing double duty, and what better person to honor than literally my very first Tumblr friend, @trashforazriel

She requested "competitive Gwynriel that ends with a kiss"

And I finished it just in time to celebrate Romance day with @azrielshadowsingerweek !!

Fandom: ACOTAR

Ship: Gwynriel

Word Count: 685

Read on AO3

“One day I’m going to best you, Shadowsinger. Mark my words.”

Azriel smirked as the copper-haired Valkyrie dramatically flopped onto her back, perspiration sparkling over her brow in the moonlight. Gwyn seemed to be improving by the hour and, though he’d never admit it, it was quite possible that she would manage to win a sparring match in the not-so-distant future. But he wouldn’t make it easy for her. With an arrogant snicker he loomed over her, arms crossed over his chest.

“In your dreams, Berdara.” Offering a hand, he helped her up from the dirt floor of the ring.

“In your nightmares,” she corrected, and his laugh echoed into the warm summer evening.

“Terrifying indeed,” he answered. “Ready for core?” The priestess groaned in response, but her scowl transformed before his very eyes, her bright, beautiful gaze lighting with mischief.

“How about a little competition. Dagger throwing.” She gestured to the targets on the other side of the ring. “If you win, I’ll do whatever hellish core workout that depraved mind of yours can concoct.”

The shadowsinger raised a skeptical brow. “And if you win?”

Gwyn dragged her plump, pink lower lip between her teeth. “If I win, you give me a kiss. And we get to skip core for the night.”

His heart stuttered, lungs seizing in his chest at her suggestion. The silence stretched between them as he studied her expression, shy smile and wide, innocent eyes that glimmered with a hint of uncertainty. In a blur their interactions flashed through his mind, all of the times that he’d hoped that he had seen a hint of the same interest that he held for her. Azriel had been too afraid to test those waters, unwilling to make Gwyn even the slightest bit uncomfortable. But perhaps…

“I agree to your terms, priestess,” he murmured, reveling in the way roses bloomed on her cheeks. The Illyrian made his way to the weapons rack and retrieved six daggers, offering three of them to his companion. “Ladies first.”

“How very chivalrous of you,” she quipped. Her irreverence pulled another smile out of him, as it did quite often these days.

Azriel watched as Gwyn studied the blade and turned it over in her hand, testing the grip and the weight and the balance. Then, gripping the blade, she cocked her arm back and let it fly, the metal burying itself just to the right of where the dummy’s heart would be. She shrugged, lips turned down in an accepting grimace, before nodding to him.

The spymaster’s dagger struck true in the heart of his own target. And, since he had made the better hit, he quickly threw first for the second round, his blade burying itself in the padded sphere that was the figurine’s head.

He turned to the Valkyrie, only to be met with a heated, challenging glare. Gwyn sent her second dagger whizzing to the target, striking an area that would be… rather sensitive to a male. Azriel choked on a cough, and she now raised her own eyebrow.

“Point taken, Berdara. That round is yours.” His heart fluttered at the ear-splitting grin she gave him. With a jerk of his chin he added, “Final round. It all comes down to this.”

Gwyn’s answering eye-roll made him chuckle, but she didn’t give a witty retort. She was solely focused on the target, firing her last blade. It lodged itself in what would have been the stomach, and her nose crinkled in disappointment. It wasn’t a poor shot - it would be a grave injury - but it was not a killing blow.

The priestess was gnawing on her lip when he turned to him, no doubt waiting for his victory and subsequent abdominal agony.But Azriel didn’t want to work core. Didn’t want to make her, didn’t want to watch her. His hazel eyes burned into fathomless seas, his gaze never leaving hers as he tossed his third dagger over his shoulder. It earned him a gasp and a delicious blush as he stepped up to her, cupped her cheek, and slanted his mouth over hers.

Tag List: @trashforazriel @secretlovelybeauty @meher-sumedha @imsointobooks @flora-shadowshine @positivewitch @imwritingthesewords @camreadsum @vikingmagic33 @shisingh @gwynrielsupremacist @sagureads @deedz-thrillerkilller16 @sv0430 @writing-spaces @onemorenightdreamer @feyretale @almosttenaciousmoon @mystical-blaise @the-introverted-bibliophile @live-the-fangirl-life @silverflameataraxia @chosenfamily-valkyriequeens @rarephloxes @kimstclair @mercarimari @romancebooksandshit @headcanonheadcase @booknerd87 @damedechance @ofduskanddreams @daevastanner @houseofhurricane

[impossiblescissorspeachpaper]

The Darkness That Haunts

Azriel Week Day Two: shadows & powers

550 words of angst.

It was always dark. The kind of darkness that pushed in and suffocated from every direction. Insidious in nature, clawing at every corner until it gobbled up all the light. It had been so dark for so long that he had lost track of time. Only the intermittent trays of cold soup and stale bread alerted him to the days passing.

He didn’t remember knowing anything else but the hard cold floor, the lumpy small cushion he slept on, the hard fists that berated him. The stifling blackness all around.

The memory of his mother floated on the edge of his mind, but she was beginning to fade into the abyss of endless darkness too.

Help me, he would whisper.

When shadows would gather in the corners, giving the darkness more depth. A soul. As if he were being watched, considered. Again, he’d whisper those words. Help me.

He didn’t pray for visitors anymore; his mother had been made to stay away long ago. He knew she wasn’t avoiding him on her own accord, they kept her away. She would never leave him. Sometimes when he closed his eyes and clutched at the thin, threadbare blanket that had grown grimy in the cell, he swore he could still catch her rose and snow scent.

Only his brothers visited him now. He hated them, but he didn’t show them how much.

At first, he’d scream and cry when they hurt him. He’d beg them to stop, try to fight them off as tears streamed down his cheeks and ran tracks down his grubby face. But he learnt to stop. They never listened anyway, and they only hurt him more with every sound he made and tear he shed. So, he willed his face into stillness.

He let them believe he felt nothing. But really, he felt everything. He felt every bruise and graze and laceration. He felt every fist and foot that battered him.

Instead of allowing his anger to burn hot, expanding within and demanding to explode, he let it simmer and cool. He pushed it down and let it freeze over in his veins and solidify his heart. So that even if they cut him, he wouldn’t bleed. Not anymore.

Let them think he felt nothing. Let them think he was nothing.

He started to believe it too, that he was nothing. Nothing but a ghost, locked away in his sire’s cell. He didn’t have a father. He was nothing but smoke and shadows, merely existing. Feeling nothing but icy rage. He learnt to hide his cracks. Numb the pain. He learnt to school his face into a cold mask to hide the tumultuous emotions he felt beneath the surface.

Help me.

Every night, he’d silently mouth those words into the darkness. Sometimes he thought he’d hear something whisper back, that those shadows called to him. But it was just his mind growing tired. And so, he’d sleep. He’d tumble into a state of semi-consciousness, fretfully chasing his slumber but wary of falling completely under. Sometimes the exhaustion would take over completely and his dreams would be filled with leering faces, twining shadows, murmured secrets.

Help me, he’d whisper hollowly, never hearing a response to his anguished pleas.

Until one day, when the darkness finally whispered back.

*******

@azrielshadowsingerweek​

[tswaney17]

I Do Bad Things with You - Part 34

Happy @azrielshadowsingerweek! We're going to once again celebrate Romance Day with an update to this little fic. Grab yourself a snack and a drink, and maybe a little me time. We've finally reached our major milestone. 😉 Hope the wait was worth it. 💜💚💙

My fanfic account: @tswaney17fics​​​

My ao3 account: tswaney17

Please let me know what you think about this update. I love getting your feedback. Constructive criticism is always welcome. 💕

Catch up here.

Credit to @featherymalignancy for Cassian’s nickname, Cash. 😘

Trigger warnings: violence (minor), sexual assault (minor mention), language, NSFW

Word Count: 10,241

Azriel was sitting at his desk regretting every decision to leave the penthouse that morning. Not when he left Elain’s half-nude form asleep in their bed as he dragged himself to work. And fuck, did he wish he played hooky today. Especially after last night. Because last night, it was clear she was ready to take that final step in their physical relationship and have sex.

He had no idea where the confidence came from—gods he wasn’t questioning it—but he was simply curious since it was only a few days before when she had shaved him and told him she was still not ready. But last night, fuck, they were so goddamn close.

They were cuddled up on the couch watching some show or movie, he truly didn’t even remember what it was now when some raunchy scene came on.

The guy had the woman splayed on the table as he ate her out. It was completely explicit for a movie, but Elain had shifted subtly against him and he realized that it had turned her on a bit. Az would’ve made a snarky comment about her watching porn had he not noticed how her breathing had changed, mouth parted. The hand he had placed on the inside of her thigh began lightly stroking her skin.

He let his other fingers trail casually over the skin of her arm, under the sleeve of the shirt she was wearing—one of his. It had become a staple of hers when she got home from work; long enough that she didn’t have to wear leggings underneath it. And usually paired with a set of thigh-high socks. It tormented him to no end, that evening outfit.

Elain sighed, head tipping sideways and inviting him to access her neck, one he took full advantage of.

His lips descended upon the soft skin she exposed, kissing and sucking lightly until she shivered. He brushed his mouth up so it ghosted over the shell of her ear and whispered, “Did you get turned on by that scene, baby?”

She whimpered, arching into him.

“Would you like me to splay you out on our table and feast on you?” Another whine left her as Azriel’s large hand wrapped around her torso, moving to cup her full breast. Gods, she had such perfect tits. He rolled her nipple between his index and thumb on one hand and let the other hand travel further up her thigh, still gently stroking her.

Elain was like putty in his hands, heavy breathing, becoming loose and moldable to his liking. She twisted her head to capture his mouth in a hungry, desperate kiss, moaning into it. When she pulled back, he saw it—that determination that hadn’t been there before during their previous sexual explorations.

His heart thumped wildly in his chest. He could feel this time was different. The dynamic was different. She was in control, especially when she hooked a leg over his hips and swung herself onto his lap. He gripped her waist, settling herself on him as she flipped her hair to one side in a seductive move that had his cock twitching in his grey sweatpants.

Her lips crashed back onto his, chest pressing into him.

Stunned slightly, Az settled into a more submissive role, letting Elain take the reins and guide him where she wanted him. It was out of his normal element, but he wanted her to have control over how this went.

Elain’s fingers threaded through his hair, tugging on the inky strands until he was groaning, then guided his head to her delicate collarbone. He sucked on the jutted-out bone, used his teeth to nip at the sensitive skin, and soothed the hurt with the flat of his tongue. Pulling back, she looked at him, chest heaving. Her gorgeous brown eyes were blown wide with lust.

Releasing her waist with one hand, he went to reach between her legs to cup her and add some pressure where he knew she needed it, but she gripped his wrist, halting him. Elain pinned him with a look and returned his hand to her hip. Latching onto his shoulders, she kept her eyes on him as she slowly sank onto his lap until they were firmly pressed together, his aching cock slotted into the warm lips of her pussy.

“Fuck,” he groaned, dropping his face into the juncture of her neck and shoulder. He could feel himself growing harder as she began to rock her hips, getting adjusted to the sensation.

Elain was whimpering, eyes fluttering shut as she struggled to find a rhythm through his sweats.

Azriel pulled her shirt up to hold it up at her waist so he could watch her move on him. Grabbing her hips, he helped her find a motion that him sliding right between her legs. The movie played forgotten in the background as they regained momentum. “That’s it, baby girl. Just like that.”

Wrapping an arm around his neck, she clutched at him, holding him close as she rolled on him, their mouths brushing with how near they were. Her pants teased his lips and fuck did he want to get her naked and feel her sliding over him, skin to skin, but he didn’t dare take that step until she asked him to.

He knew she was close when she bit down on her bottom lip and he couldn’t stop himself from surging forward to take it between his teeth. Azriel sucked her lip deep into his mouth, plumping up the tender flesh and pulling another heady moan from the back of her throat.

Kissing her, his tongue slipped between her lips to stroke hers. Releasing one hand from her waist, he gripped her jaw and tilted her head just slightly to angle how he could penetrate her, to really tongue-fuck her mouth.

Her body quivered from the pleasure she received between her legs—he could feel how wet she was, having soaked through her underwear and dampened his sweats. His cock pulsed at the delicious friction and heat her pussy provided him, even thru the clothes they wore. “Gods, baby. You feel divine. Are you going to come for me like a good girl?”

Elain let out a sound that was a cross between a sultry whine and a moan. “Yea—”

The ringing of her phone startled her out of her trance.

They both glanced at the device vibrating on the couch and fuck, did he want to tell her to let it go to voicemail, but he knew she was on call and couldn’t.

She took a few steadying breaths, resting her brow against his before she reached over and plucked the phone off the cushion. Her face deflated. “It’s work.”

He fell back against the couch as she settled on his lap, running a hand through her damp hair and putting the phone to her ear. “Hello, this is Doctor Archeron.”

It took every ounce of self-restraint to not groan out loud at that. Jesus Christ did he have a kink. Elain liked being called a doctor and he fucking loved calling her it.

“Yes,” she said to whoever was on the other line. Her eyes found his and softened. “Yes, I’ll be right in.”

Az sighed. So, fucking close. So, fucking close to being able to give Elain what she truly deserved. What he knew she hadn’t experienced ever. What they had in high school wouldn’t compare to what he could do now. And he knew her ex was piss-poor in that regard. Yes, he’d given her plenty of orgasms with his mouth and fingers, but it would be different with his cock.

He throbbed uncomfortably in his pants, but he ignored it as she hung up and tossed the phone aside.

“I have to go in. There was a five-car pile-up on the highway and they need all hands on deck.” Her entire body seemed to deflate.

When she started to climb off his lap, he gripped her wrist to stop her. “Finish.”

The authoritative tone seemed to unlock some needy thing in her because she wiggled on his lap. “I have to go get ready,” she panted.

“You can’t go to work like this,” he gently explained. “You’ll be miserable. Like you were the last time.” She blushed at the reminder. His eyes bore into hers. “Are you still aching?”

A nod, unable to answer him.

“Then finish. A minute isn’t going to make difference.” When she still hesitated, he decided on a different approach. “Finish, Elain,” he ordered, letting some of the dominant voice that he had withheld from her so far.

It worked. Her eyes flared at the command, not in challenge but submission. It surprised him if he was being honest. He would’ve thought Elain, given everything she had been through, would’ve preferred to hold some control sexually. But that was desire in her irises. Desire to please, to submit to his will. It would be something they discussed down the road. When she was fully submerged and comfortable with sex again.

Breathing deeply, Elain sank back down onto his cock, rocking her hips until he was situated correctly, and began dragging her soaked, covered pussy over him.

It didn’t take long until she was groaning again, finding that rhythm easily on her own this time.

Knowing they were limited on time, he worked on her neck, going straight for the sensitive spot that typically had her melting with a few nips or a swipe of his tongue. One of Elain’s hands went back to his hair, squeezing and tugging until he growled into her skin. The other planted firmly on the armrest of the couch to provide leverage.

When her breaths turned shallow, body shaking, he brought his mouth to her cheek and breathed, “Come for me, baby girl. You’ve done so well. Let go.”

Her entire face scrunched as her orgasm took over and she cried out, clinging to him as if her life depended on it.

Azriel crashed their mouths together swallowing her moans while he took over moving her body on his, helping her ride out her high. His body demanded its own release, but he ignored it, focusing on helping her.

However, what he didn’t expect was for her to continue rubbing herself on him. To continue spreading that delicious slickness over his achingly, hard dick. “Elain,” he muttered like a fucking prayer.

She pushed herself up off his chest, never stopping her movements, looked him dead in the eye with that same determination that he saw earlier, and said, “You finish too.” And then she attached her mouth to his neck, licking and sucking at the strong column, likely tasting the saltiness from his sweat caused by the exertion from their activities and the fire he had going in the mantle.

Their soaked clothes made obscene sounds as she humped him, hard enough that his sweats had started to come down slightly.

Elain balled his shirt into a fist, pulling the collar away to give her more access to his shoulder. She smiled into his skin, breathing, “Your turn, baby.” And then she bit down onto the muscle there.

Azriel’s release barreled through him like a tidal wave. Pinned beneath Elain’s still moving hips and her teeth, he could do nothing but let it wash over him as he came on his washboard abs. He groaned out a litany of praises and her name.

Only when his breathing had slowed, did she finally release him and lean back, panting herself. Her eyes darted down to the mess on his stomach. His cheeks flushed and he went for a kiss, but she had other things in mind as she slinked off his lap until she was almost kneeling between his legs.

If he hadn’t just come a moment ago, he would’ve from the sight alone. “Elain, what are you—” the words died in his throat as she braced herself on his thighs and ran her tongue up his abdomen, right through his cum, cleaning the mess up. “Jesus, fuck,” he groaned, hands collecting her hair in a grip.

She licked him clean and dropped a kiss on his Adonis belt. Glancing up at him through her lashes, she offered Az a shy, sexy, little smile that had him gripping her under her arms and hauling her back onto his lap.

He fused their mouths together, tasting himself on her tongue, and fucking hell, he really didn’t want her to leave the penthouse right now. “Are you sure you have to go?” he asked, a whine echoing from the back of his throat.

A beautiful laugh bubbled from her lips. “Unfortunately, yes.”

“Well, be prepared for me to return the favor of what you just did when you get home. Because that was sexy as fuck.”

She smiled sheepishly. “It’s going to be a while before I’m home. And frankly, I’ll probably be exhausted.”

“Well, then whenever you’re ready. Because I owe you a reward for that.” Her eyes twinkled. “Come on, let’s get cleaned up so we can get you to work before they think you’ve bailed on them.” He helped her stand, rising behind her, but before she could walk away, Az twisted her to face him and dropped to a kneel in front of her.

“What are you do—” she started but was cut off when he gripped her sodden underwear.

“Just a taste?” he asked, waiting for permission from her.

Her eyes widened, but she nodded.

Azriel tugged the fabric down her legs until she could step out of them, and spread her thighs so he could swipe his tongue between her folds. She was still soaked from her release, but fuck did she taste so damn sweet.

She moaned, body bowing to grab his shoulder. “So much for not going to work horny,” she muttered.

He chuckled, grinning up at her. “Just something to look forward to when we finally get back to it.” Az winked, standing back up with her underwear in his hand. “So wet,” he teased.

Elain’s blush was too adorable not to kiss.

A knock on his office door brought him out of the memory and back to the incredibly hard present. A glance down at his puckered pants had him sliding his chair further under his desk. “Come in.” Fuck, his voice was way too hoarse.

Nuala strolled in carrying a manilla envelope. The look on her face was like an ice bucket dousing his erection.

“What is it?”

Her heels clicked across his marble floors. “We’re getting sued.”

He blinked, blind-sighted by the information. “What?”

“One of the panels malfunctioned when a woman was entering her home,” she began, dropping the envelope on his desk, “and was unable to use the panic code. She was attacked.”

His body went cold at her words as he slid the envelope over to himself, flipped up the golden tabs, and dumped the contents onto his desk. Nuala perched herself on one of his leather chairs as he looked over the lawsuit. It wasn’t a lot. A hundred and fifty thousand for damages and replacement of a few valuables. Along with attorney fees and therapist fees. But the word attacked kept bouncing around in his head. Made his stomach roll like a raging storm on the sea. Az dropped the documents on his desk. “Was she…” he swallowed, “raped?” His gut twisted with shame and disgust. If she was because of a faulty system—if what almost happened to Elain happened to her because of him…

“Not that I’m aware of, but I don’t believe so.” Nuala’s head cocked to the side, sleek black ponytail sliding off the shoulder of her tailored, white pants suit. She wasn’t aware of the specifics of what had happened to Elain, but he assumed she knew something did. “If she had, I would imagine that lawsuit amount would’ve been much higher.”

It was a relief albeit only a small one. There was still a malfunctioning panel that led to a woman being attacked. “Do we know what caused the malfunction?”

Nuala snorted. “It’s Hewn. You know how they respond to things like this. They claim it’s a one-time off, brush it under the rug, and install the same thing.”

“And what if it’s not a one-time thing?” he demanded. “What if this happens again and somebody is killed from a home invasion? How can we brand ourselves as the safest security system on the market when we have panels that malfunction?” No, this would not go unrequited. He had been looking for a reason to completely pull out of Hewn’s grasp. Well, here it was. “I want to terminate every system we have with Hewn panels and replace them with Tarquin’s Summer System.” He leaned back in his seat and looked at Nuala.

She sat there wide-eyed. “That will cost us $1.5 million in out-of-pocket fees to Hewn and replacement costs for unnecessary updates to systems. Not to mention labor for scheduling with those customers to replace their panels. And any updates they’ll need if their system doesn’t work with the Summer System.”

“I don’t care. We’ll pay them. But we’re breaking all ties from Hewn. They won’t get one more cent from us after this. No long-term service contracts. No maintenance fees. Nothing. We end it now. I don’t want this happening again.”

One thing he liked about Nuala was her ability to push back on his bad ideas. If she thought whatever he came up with would damage his reputation, his company, or would cost too much for the revenue it could bring in, she’d go head-to-head with him and tell him. There had been many times when they went hours back and forth on potential products, mergers, and the likes until they reached a mutually beneficial decision. It was one reason he had offered both her and Cerridwen a partnership in this company when he originally established it.

He would always be grateful for her. Because he trusted and valued everything she said. Knew when to push and when to stay silent. But as she sat there and looked at him now, Azriel was aware that Nuala knew this was one decision he would not budge on.

“Very well,” she finally said, rising from her chair. “I’ll notify the executive team and schedule a meeting for you to discuss because I can guarantee you’ll be hearing from them.” She gave him a curt look before making her way out of his office.

~~~

Four hours.

He had been in a meeting for four hours. Four hours of non-stop bitching, in particular from his Vice President of Finance who was having a field day with the costs, and Azriel was about three words away from firing him.

Aelin was uncharacteristically quiet during the whole ordeal until he finally called on her for her opinion.

“Frankly, Azriel, it sounds like you’ve made up your mind. So, this meeting isn’t about decisions, it’s how we want to handle the aftermath.” Smart girl. “I don’t think completely stepping away from Hewn is all that awful. We’ve had issues with their panels in the past and most of our low reviews come not from bad service delivered by our technicians, but from issues as a result of their panels.

“Marketing can spin this in a positive light. We’re essentially upgrading those customers who have Hewn panels to something better for free. Most customers should be a relatively easy switch and there are benefits to them for upgrading. More digitized, better security options, et cetera. This could be to our benefit.”

And that was why Galathynius was his VP of Marketing and Operations, and on track to be the CMO.

He leaned back in his seat. “Finally, somebody gets it.”

Those turquoise and gold eyes sparkled at him through his monitor.

“As Aelin has so politely put it, I wasn’t using this meeting to ask for permission but to give you notice. A woman was attacked because of a malfunctioning panel. That in itself should be enough of a reason for us to break any remaining ties to Hewn.” The collection of executives quieted on his screen. “I’ve already sent notice to Elias and Tarquin. The ball is rolling. Get on board or find a new one.”

Without another word, he ended the call.

Rubbing his eyes, he groaned. Gods, it had been a long day already, and he still had a few hours to go. Clicking through his emails, Az opened one from Tarquin, letting him know he had a shipment of his panels sitting in their warehouse that could be sent out by the end of the week if he needed them that early. He also confirmed their face-to-face meeting at the tail end of next week. Az still hadn’t gone down to check out the company and warehouse and needed to do so. Nothing from Elias—though he wasn’t surprised.

What did surprise him, however, was his office door bursting open an hour later and none other than Elias himself storming in, Nuala hot on his heels.

“Elias, you can’t barge into his office!” she shouted.

But he ignored her as he snarled, “You motherfucker! You’re buying out the rest of my systems?”

Azriel raised an unimpressed brow at the display in front of him. Elias was fuming, the vein in his neck practically throbbing.

For fucks sake.

His eyes slid to his assistant behind the agitated man at his desk. “It’s fine, Nuala. I’ll take care of it.”

She gave him a look that said she had security on standby, though he truly didn’t need it, before she took her leave, shutting the door behind her.

He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepling. “Your system malfunctioned and resulted in a woman being attacked.”

“One panel,” Elias snapped. “One panel lost its connection—”

“Was it one panel, Elias?” Az interrupted. “Because from the reviews, from the technicians’ reports, from the cost analysis done on fixing or replacing your panels due to issues, I can guarantee it’s not just one panel.” He laughed humorlessly, shaking his head. “Sit the fuck down and let me tell you exactly how this is going to go.”

For once, the other CEO listened and did as he was told.

“Take the money you’re going to get out of this. Dissolve Hewn Technologies. Keep your head down and live a peaceful life with the rest of the funds I give you and your family’s name. It’ll be enough to keep you comfortable.”

“Oh, fuck you, Azriel. Don’t talk down to me. You have ruined me and my company. You and that bitch.” Az’s eyes flared at the insult, but Elias didn’t seem to notice or care. “I hope she’s fucking worth it in the sack for the damage you’ve inflicted and the war you’ve created between us and our organizations.”

Without thinking, Azriel grabbed the golden letter opener he had lying on his desk, and threw it, end-over-end, until it embedded into the leather chair by Elias’s ear. The other man’s eyes went wide in surprise, especially when he got up, buttoning his suit jacket as he made his way around his desk and perched on the edge.

Azriel cocked his head in a threatening manner, black hair sliding across his brow. “If you ever speak of her, if you so much as think of her again, I will bury this,” he reached forward and yanked the letter opener out of the chair, gripped Elias by the shoulder, and pressed the sharp blade into his stomach hard enough to cut his linen shirt, “so far into your gut, that not even Elain will be able to surgically remove it.” His voice had gone deadly soft.

Elias swallowed. He may have been arrogant. A bit presumptuous and a sexist asshole, but even he knew when to pick his battles. And this one was not one he would win.

“Get the fuck out of my office,” he said, releasing him.

But, like everything else that day, the man surprised him. Because at the door, he turned to look at one of the most powerful males in Velaris and said, “You’ll regret this,” then slipped out before Azriel could impale him with the golden dagger in his fist.

He sighed, shoulders slumping. “What a fucking day,” he groaned to himself, sliding off the desk. Gods, he’d give anything to have just stayed in bed with Elain that morning. Returning to his chair, he finished his day from hell, trying to make the best of it.

~~~~~

Elain was at the stove making rustic penne pasta for dinner when she heard the elevator doors ping open, announcing the arrival of her boyfriend into their home. Azriel had called her earlier, telling her that he was running a bit late so that she could time dinner accordingly. He seemed exhausted, frustrated, and many other emotions he typically never let show. It worried her to hear him sound so uneasy.

She jumped in surprise when his arms circled her waist and he brushed a kiss on her cheek. “Hello,” she murmured, setting the wooden spoon down and twisting in his embrace to face him.

Good lord. Even his face was drawn.

“Hi, love.” His voice sounded worse, more strung out than before.

Elain placed her palm on his cheek, letting her thumb swoop soothingly over his skin. Her heart melted when he leaned into her touch. “Bad day?”

He nodded and buried his face into her neck, inhaling her scent. “Awful,” he whispered onto her skin.

She frowned, wrapping her arms around him to hold him closer, letting her fingers slide into his hair, and rub up and down his back in comforting gestures. “I’m sorry. Do you want to talk about it? Or can I do anything to help?”

Azriel shook his head, breathing deeply into her neck. His entire body relaxed against her, palms splayed across her spine. After another minute or so, he seemed to collect himself and pulled back far enough to look down at her face. “You just did help me. Thank you for that. And I really don’t have the energy to explain right now. Can we discuss it over dinner?”

Elain brushed her thumb over his jaw. “Of course.”

“Do I have time to take a shower before we eat? I want to wash the day off.”

Rising on her tiptoes, she kissed him softly. “Sure. We’ve got about twenty minutes before it’s ready, but it can simmer for a bit.”

He pecked her lips once more before pulling out from her arms and trudging up the stairs.

Elain’s frown deepened at the sight of his hunched shoulders—the way his head seemed to hang low. Whatever happened today, it obviously hit him hard, and she hated seeing how much it affected him. She turned back to the stove giving the contents in the pan another stir, but when the shower kicked on, a thought struck her.

Flipping everything off, Elain made her way up to their bedroom, stripping her clothes off and tossing them on the ground as she tiptoed into the bathroom.

Azriel was under the spray of the shower and didn’t hear her as she approached, jumping when her naked body pressed against his, her arms going around his trim waist.

“Shit,” he breathed, looking at her from over his shoulder. “You startled me.”

She kissed his back; felt the strong muscles contract. “Sorry. You just seemed really down and I wanted to help.” The warm water cascaded down both of them and Elain didn’t let herself think about anything but him as she slowly slid her palm down his abdomen.

But his hand caught hers before she could get past his navel. “Elain, please don’t feel like you have to do that,” he said, again looking down at her. “I’ll be fine.”

“I know I don’t,” she said honestly. “But you always make me feel better and I want to do that for you.” It had always been him taking care of her—that’s all it had been. She had let her fears control her, let them manipulate her ability to give back to him what she had been wanting to do for a while now. And she was tired of it. Tired of letting her anxiety overpower her.

She was done being afraid of being with him because deep down, she trusted every single thing about him. And knew that he would never force her into anything she wasn’t comfortable with. Azriel had proven this with all of their previous sexual encounters and Elain wanted to give this to him—had been thinking about how to give herself fully to him.

Azriel still held her hand in his grip, his thumb brushing over the back of her palm.

Water poured down their bodies. Her hair was soaked and stuck to her shoulders and back. Droplets clung to her eyelashes as she peered up at his face. “I want this, Az.” Let him see the absolute truth of her words.

When he finally assessed her enough to know she wanted to do this, that it was not out of obligation, he nodded and released her hand.

Elain kissed his back; felt those solid muscles tighten as she splayed her palm below his navel in the dusting of coarse hair from his happy trail. Her thumb stroked his Adonis belt a few times before she slowly began to slide further down. At the first touch of his cock, his arm shot out and pushed into the side of the shower. A hot, needy sound escaped him as she wrapped her hand around his cock and began to move.

Elain didn’t think she would ever get over hearing those sounds coming from him—knowing that she was the reason he was making them. It empowered her to know that she held this wildly powerful, dangerous male in her palm. That she was the only one who could get him to bend to her will.

Not that she would ever do that to him, to force him to choose between her and who he was. But it was such a stark realization of how much control they had over the other.

After her kidnapping, Elain had made a vow to herself to never let anyone come between them like that again. To be able to use or wield the other person as a weapon. The strength of their love for each other, their commitment to always holding the other person up when they needed it most—it made her love him all the more strongly.

He was hot and thick in her palm, barely able to close her fingers around his shaft, though they didn’t quite touch. Jesus Christ, he was much larger than he was in high school, she thought.

Her hand increased its pace, the other laying flat against his abdomen. She conveyed her truth, the meaning of her love to him in her movements, in the slight twist of her wrist. In how she peppered kisses on his back.

They never needed words to understand each other. She could read his facial expressions, his body language almost as well as if he had voiced every thought and feeling out loud. And she knew he could do the same for her.

Azriel finished, a curse tumbling from his lips as his entire body shuddered beneath her ministrations. His cock pulsed in her hand. Twisting in her arms, he cupped her cheeks and kissed her deeply, his tongue sweeping in and claiming her mouth for himself.

The feeling of his love—the most prominent of his emotions he threw at her behind his lips, made her heart swell. Her body grew warm at the kiss; made heat grow low in her belly. From the stroke of his tongue to the way his teeth gently took her bottom lip into his mouth. She let out a keening sound from the back of her throat.

And then he was moving, pushing until her back hit the wall of the shower.

A yelp escaped her as the cool marble touched her overheated skin.

But he swallowed the sound like his life depended on it. His lips moved away from hers to her jaw, sucking in a way that had her body vibrating. He traveled down further to her neck into the junction of her shoulder.

It was one of her weak spots—one he knew very well.

His teeth nipped at her skin, hard enough to leave a mark. Azriel typically was very particular about where he marked her, careful not to do so on any skin that could be seen when she wore scrubs. But it seemed he did not care right now, and frankly, neither did she.

Elain wanted to wear his bites for the world to see that she was his, moaning as his mouth sucked on her sensitive skin. Her hands were in his hair, fingers threading through the soaked, dark strands. Gods she loved his hair.

He dropped to his knees in front of her, his mouth never leaving her skin.

“I thought I was supposed to make you feel better,” she breathed huskily. Elain never seemed to be able to get enough oxygen into her lungs when he worshipped her like this. Like she was the only being on the planet that he wanted to please.

To be fair—that was exactly what he wanted. Had made it clearly known many times over the last couple of months of being together.

Azriel’s hazel eyes peeked up at her, water droplets clung to his full, dark lashes. It was lust she saw there. Lust and desire and so much love, it could shatter her heart into millions of little pieces.

“You are,” he answered her. Slowly, with his gaze locked on hers, he pressed his lips to the center of her stomach above her navel. He sucked at the skin until it turned red and proceeded to make his way lower. His hands squeezed her hips, one sliding down her thigh. He threw her leg on his shoulder, hooking her by her fleshy thigh, and splayed his hand across her belly, securing her to him.

Elain’s hands tightened in his hair, steadying herself, but with Azriel’s strength, she felt locked in his embrace.

His breath ghosted over her drenched slit. She had felt herself grow wet from touching him, a slickness coating between her thighs even with water running down her body. “So wet already, love.” He licked the inside of one thigh. “Did you get turned on by touching my cock?” He peeked up at her through those thick lashes, and fuck her, was she a goner.

“Azriel,” she whined, tugging on the inky strands of his dark hair.

He didn’t make her beg, going straight for her clit and sucking it into his mouth. His teeth grazed over it, sending sparks shooting throughout her body, then took the flat of his tongue and lapped over her from her entrance to the top, soothing any hurt.

Elain’s head fell back against the shower wall as a groan left her throat. Azriel’s head was amazing alone, but when he added his wicked fingers like he was doing now, it was mind-blowing.

The male on his knees before her worshipped her like a goddess. Licking, sucking, biting, and everything in between until her legs shook and he supported practically all of her weight on his shoulder, his other arm wrapped around her still standing leg as he plunged two fingers in and out of her.

His hand splayed across her belly and kept her pressed firmly into the shower wall, pinning her there and holding on as her orgasm overtook her body.

Elain’s cries echoed in the marble and glass enclosure; her head dipping forward while her pleasure swept down her spine. Legs shaking, Azriel continued sucking on her clit, maintaining his steady rhythm pumping into her pulsating pussy to help ride out her high. Gods bless this male—he may one day kill her with the pleasure he gave her.

She tugged on his hair, forcing his mouth away from her swollen clit to look up at her. Elain needed to kiss him. Needed to show him how much she loved him.

No, that wasn’t it.

She needed him.

All of him.

Az lowered her leg back down with surprising gentleness, giving her thigh a quick squeeze to bring some blood flow before he stood to his full height.

Elain craned her head back to look up at him, and then she was reaching for him, bringing their mouths together for a hot, messy kiss. She clung to him, wrapping an arm around the back of his neck and pressing her naked body into his. His hard cock dug into her lower stomach, and fuck, did that just turn her on even more. “Bed, Azriel,” she breathed onto his lips. “I need you to take me to bed, now.”

He pulled back slightly to look at her, panting. Those gorgeous hazel eyes searched her face, searched for any hesitation, or resistance, to what she was saying. But he wouldn’t find it.

She was ready.

~~~~~

Azriel looked over Elain’s face for her typical signs of anxiety, reluctance, or anything else to tell him that she didn’t mean what she said.

And found…nothing. Nothing but that determination he saw the other night. He knew then that tonight was the night. No distractions. No interruptions. No stopping unless she told him to, but he had a good feeling she wouldn’t. His heart thumped wildly against his ribcage. Elain wanted the bed, then that’s where he’d take her.

Reaching out, Az shut the water off, slid his hands down her thighs, and hoisted her into his arms, her legs locking around his waist. He crashed their mouths back together, carrying her out of the shower, and grabbed one of their towels to half-dry them as he made their way into their bedroom.

Elain’s fingers were threading through his soaked hair—hips rubbing into his, searching for friction.

Azriel hissed, laying her on the mattress when she managed to roll his dick right through her wet heat. Fuck did she feel so goddamn good. “Elain,” he groaned. “Let me put on a condom before you start rubbing us together like that.”

He started to climb off her to reach for his nightstand, but she latched onto him and pulled him back on top of her. “I’m on the shot. We’re good.” She went to drag his head back down to kiss him, but he stopped her.

Cupping her cheek, Az forced her to look at him. “El, I’m okay with wearing a condom if you want added protection. I got tested after the last person I was with. I came back clean, but don’t feel like you don’t have to ask me to wear one just because it’s me.”

Her smile softened. “I know, Az. I trust you.” She twisted her neck to kiss his palm. “I’ve only been with you and Graysen, but after what he did, I doubted his faithfulness to me. I was tested back then.”

A hot, burning rage roiled in his gut, but he shoved it down in favor of sweeping his thumb over her temple.

“Thankfully, it came back clean. But I know that you’d never do anything to put me into a compromising position. I trust you and want to give myself over to you like this.”

Azriel had been with a lot of women in his life and not a single one had he ever forgone a condom. Even if they’d claim they were clean; showed him a test result, there was always the risk of getting pregnant.

But this was different. This wasn’t some random hookup. This was Elain—his Elain. And he had a future with her. Planned a future with her. One where she would be his wife and he, her husband; that may include a family at some point. But today, he just wanted to give her what she wanted; what she desired. So, he threw on a cocky smile, and asked, “Are you going to let me ride you raw, Elain?”

A bright, joyful laugh burst out of her. “How many women have you used that line on?”

His brows furrowed. “None. Just you, Elain. I’ve never gone without a condom on anyone else but you.”

Realization dawned on her then that he was serious; he could read it in her eyes. Her fingertips danced across his face, the crinkles at the corner of his mouth. “I love you, Azriel.”

“I love you, too, El.” He glanced down towards their hips. “Spread your legs for me, love.”

She did, making room for him to slot between her thighs.

Az used his knees to prop her legs up on his hips and rolled his aching cock through her heavenly, soaked slit, coating himself in her wetness. He made sure to drag himself over her clit, pulling a deep moan from her throat.

Elain’s fingers flexed on his shoulders, nails biting into his skin. “Please, Az,” she whined, leaning forward to nip at his neck.

Reaching between them, Azriel gripped his dick and lined it up with her entrance. “You’re sure, El?”

“Yes, gods, yes! Please, Azriel.”

His head dipped to kiss her, plunging his tongue into her mouth as he slowly rolled his hips into hers. She gasped into his mouth, but he was there to swallow the sound. He wanted to take his time on this initial joining, give her time to get reacclimated to sex.

Elain’s breath quickened, and he pulled back to check on her, but he found her face not scrunched in pain, but utter pleasure. So, Az kept going, slowly rolling his hips in, inch by fucking inch into her sweet pussy, pulling back and thrusting in until finally, he bottomed out.

He groaned, face dropping into the crevice of her neck. “Fuck, Elain,” he breathed into her skin. “You’re tighter than fucking sin.”

She clung to him—chests pressed together. Elain even went as far as to lock her feet around his waist, causing him to sink further into her. A garbled sound came out of her.

Attaching his mouth to her nipple, Azriel held still, letting her adjust to his size. He sucked on the bud, biting down until he pulled a whine from her, then lapped at the hurt with the flat of his tongue. Sliding his hand between their bodies, he circled her clit with the pads of his fingertips.

When she started to wiggle against him, he took that as his cue to move. Pulling nearly all the way out and gently rolling back in, Azriel set a slow, steady rhythm that would hit all her pleasure points with his cock. “Gods, you feel so good, baby.”

He reached back and grabbed her foot, unlocking them, and hooked it around the back of his ass to give him more control of her position. Az held it there as he thrust into her in slow, rolling motions. She was so damn soaked that the glide in and out was sublime. He’d been with many partners before but none compared to her. “Fucking hell, El,” he cursed leaning down to suck at her breasts, his thick hair flopping onto his forehead.

“Az,” Elain moaned out his name, and fuck, if that didn’t send pleasure down his spine. “Harder,” she breathed. “I need you to fuck me harder.”

His eyes widen in surprise, but he didn’t question it. Sitting back on his heels, he released her foot and tugged her hips up on his. He folded her one leg so it would be propped against him, the other, he kept cradled on his elbow as he leaned back over her. The angle with her legs split allowed him to slip deeper into her. He picked up his pace, snapping his hips into hers.

Elain cried out, hands scratching at his back as she approached her orgasm. She trapped her bottom lip between her teeth, one hand left his spine to grip the bedding.

Now that just wouldn’t do.

He tugged her hand from the sheets, lacing their fingers together, and brought their joined hands by her head. He slipped his extra arm between them again and flicked at her clit to help her tumble over the edge. Sucking her bottom lip into his mouth, Elain shattered.

It took every ounce of his restraint to fuck into her, feeling her deliciously fluttering pussy, and not go over that edge with her. But like hell was he only giving her one orgasm from his cock. Goddamn, though, Elain was doing everything in her power to take him with her. Especially when those nails of hers found purchase in the middle of his back and clawed at his skin, marking him with welts that would take days to heal.

Her leg slipped off his hip as she went limp, panting heavily. A faint sheen of sweat coated her chest and forehead, but a blissed-out smile crept on her face as he gently brought her leg back down and settled over her again.

He kissed her softly, letting her come down from her high.

Elain’s fingers traced over his forearms, up the swells of his biceps, his strong shoulders, and the column of his neck to his jawline. “That was, wow.”

Az smiled broadly, kissing her again.

“You didn’t finish though.”

He chuckled. “Oh, baby. If you think we’re finished after that, then you have another thing coming.” Without another word, he hooked an ankle over her, and flipped them, yanking her on top of him.

Elain yelped, catching herself on his chest. Her still-wet hair slapped along the side of her face, making him laugh.

Az reached up, brushing the damp strands out of the way, then settled his hands on her waist. He was still inside her, and fuck did she take him well. A blush dusted her cheeks; covering the swells of her breasts and her chest. “Fuck, you look so damn sexy, sitting there with my cock buried inside you.”

She whined, hips stuttering against his. “Az, I—” her face darkened in embarrassment.

His head cocked to the side as he assessed her. “Talk to me, Elain.”

“I don’t know how to ride,” she murmured, eyes downcast to the tattoos that ran across his chest. Her fingers stroked along the inked lines.

Azriel squeezed her hips, regaining her attention. “El, you’ve ridden me before.” In their explorations during high school, Elain climbed on top on a few occasions.

“That was over ten years ago. I don’t really remember much.”

“And Gr—your ex,” he couldn’t say his name. Especially not right now. “He never…”

She shook her head. “He preferred to keep me under him. Or doggy when he needed something quick. But he never let me have any say or control.”

That man had signed his death warrant long ago for what he did to her, but every little detail she provided to him just made him hate him even more than he thought he could. However, he kept those thoughts to himself. Because looking at the female sitting on his dick, that’s not what she needed to hear right now. “Elain, this is about you. With you on top, you’re in charge of your pleasure. Just take what you need from me.”

“I want to make sure I’m good for you too, though.”

Fuck, what did that guy do to her?

He swept his hands over her hips, up to her ribcage, and back down in a soothing gesture. “I can promise you that you doing whatever you want on me will be good for me. I’m barely holding myself together right now.”

She let out a slight laugh, but it felt forced, even to him.

What was interesting to him was that Elain seemed to have no issues the other night climbing on him when she had clothes on. But get her fully naked and her vulnerabilities snuck up on her. That would be something he would need to work on with her, which meant she would be riding a lot of dick to grow her confidence.

“Would you feel comfortable with a little direction from me?”

He could see the relief wash over her; in the sag of her shoulders, the release of a breath he wasn’t even aware she was holding. Interesting.

Elain nodded. “Please.”

Direction he’d give her then. Gripping her chin between his thumb and forefinger, he said, “Suck,” and pressed the pad of this thumb to her plump, pink lips.

Without hesitating, Elain took his digit into her mouth and sucked. Her tongue lapped at the pad of his damaged flesh, soaking it in her saliva.

“Rock your hips until you find a movement you like.” Satisfied that his thumb was wet enough, he pulled it from her mouth with an audible pop and splayed his hand across her lower belly, using it to add pressure to her clit.

Whining, Elain rolled her hips in circular motions. Her fingers flexed on his chest, finding purchase in the muscle of his pectorals.

He let her go until she looked comfortable on him. Sliding his palm under her thigh and ass, Az lifted her off his hips. “Up, baby. Bounce.”

She did as told, guiding herself up his shaft, and back down.

“Good girl. Harder.”

Elain snapped her hips back down on the next stroke, moaning when his cock slid over that spot deep inside her. “Oh. Oh, shit.”

His lips curled up at her words. He knew this position would hit her differently. Aside from giving her control, it was more penetrative in comparison to underneath him. It was one reason he wanted to fuck her in it. That and the fact that it put her in charge, which he knew she needed to have for the first time around. And unless he was taking her from behind, another penetrative position which he wasn’t sure she’d be comfortable with yet—or ever—he’d start here and go from there.

He watched her grow confident in her movements, thrusting down onto him. Adding more pressure to her clit, he told her, “Ride me, Elain.”

She unleashed herself on him, leaning forward and giving him an unobstructed view of her tantalizing breasts, swaying with every dip of her hips onto his cock. Their bedroom filled with the sounds of their pants, skin slapping skin; the smell of sweat and sex hung heavy in the air.

Elain surged forward, capturing his mouth in a heated kiss full of teeth. She plunged her tongue in between his lips, desperately searching for his, her hands gripping his jaw. He stroked into her mouth; tangled his tongue with hers.

But the kiss slowed her movements. So, Az grabbed her by the ass and continued dragging her up and down his dick. He gathered moisture along the pad of his index finger and began to trace up to that tight ring of muscle of her backside.

A sob of pleasure tore out of her as circled her rosebud, working it open for his thick finger. He swallowed the sounds she made, dragging her body against his to get that friction in the front, and the pleasure radiating from her behind.

“Az, please. Gods, don’t stop,” Elain cried, her brow resting on his. Her eyes had shut, but her parted mouth and quick pants told him she was riding the climb of her next orgasm, teetering on that edge.

He tilted his hips and snapped up into her, picking up the pace. “Come on, baby. Are you close?” he asked, wanting to keep communication open with her.

A garbled response was his confirmation. Az would let that go tonight. He’d typically make his partner respond, but not her, and not tonight. Licking up the column of her throat and then sucking right behind her ear, he commanded, “Come, doctor.”

Elain’s body shuddered, pitching into his as she came. She buried her face into his neck, moaning his name and a slur of words, clinging to his form while her pleasure washed over every part of her. Elain orgasming from his cock, was single-handedly the sexiest thing he’d ever experienced in his life.

Enough so that he couldn’t last through her orgasm while her pussy quaked around him. “Where?” he grunted into her temple.

Thank the mother, Elain was still present enough in her mind to give him an answer. “Inside me,” she panted into his neck. “I want you inside me.” And then she latched onto his neck, holding herself there with her teeth.

Jesus fuck, this female would be the death of him. Two more thrusts had his balls tightening. The third and he was exploding, shouting out her name and a string of curses.

He knew Elain was exhausted, but somehow, she managed to find the strength in her shaking legs to slide up and down his cock, prolonging his orgasm and intensifying his pleasure. Az tightened his grip on her ass, still finger-fucking her back hole while his other hand threaded through her hair to cradle the back of her head.

Thoroughly spent, Elain let out a whimpering sound and collapsed on top of him completely. Her lips kissed the spot on his throat where she had bitten him, and then she buried her face further into his embrace, body shuddering.

They lay there in companionable silence until he felt his neck start to dampen.

“Elain?” he croaked, voice hoarse. He realized her body was not shaking from post-orgasmic bliss, but because she was crying.

Fuck.

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

He fucked up. Panic crept in. “Elain, love. Look at me.” He tried to push her up off his chest to get a better view of her face, but she clung to him.

“No.”

The word clanged through him. Had he missed something? She hadn’t told him to stop, but had he missed a signal? Some sign that she wasn’t as ready as she had said?

She sniffed against his neck. “Just give me a minute.” Her voice rang a little more clearly than before. Slightly sturdier. It was a small relief. Meniscal.

So, Az gave her the time she needed, running one hand up and down her back, the other rubbing small circles along her skull. He peppered kisses on her temple, the side of her head, anywhere he could reach with his mouth hoping to provide her whatever comfort she needed.

Finally, she moved against him, pushing herself up onto his chest to look down at him. It wasn’t regret that he saw there, but relief.

Elain smiled, choking on a joyful laugh. “Sorry,” she murmured, dropping a kiss on his lips.

He cupped her cheek, thumb brushing under her eye. “Don’t apologize, love,” Az told her earnestly. “Tell me what’s going on in that beautiful mind of yours,” he worried.

“I just—a small part of me has always been apprehensive that I would never get to this point with anybody again. That I would never be able to have a relationship. But you have been so patient with me. So kind and considerate. You’ve taken care of me. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”

Another swipe of his thumb. “And the tears?”

“All those emotions seemed to hit me at once and it was just a little overwhelming.”

“Ah.” He understood it now. Relief washed over him like another orgasm. “How are you feeling now?”

She snuggled into his chest. “Getting there, but content to just lay here for a bit longer.”

Azriel kissed her forehead. “I think that sounds perfect, but I should really pull out of you first.” His hands swept down her body to her hips. “Take a breath for me.”

Elain did, wincing as he gently tugged himself out, their combined releases spilling out onto his lower abdomen.

“Easy, love,” he murmured into her hair, pressing his lips to the crown of her head. His fingers trailed down her spine. They laid like for a while; simply enjoying each other’s company in silence.

Elain had her face buried into his neck where she lightly placed kisses on his pulse point. “We should go eat dinner soon,” she finally whispered almost as if she were afraid to break the closeness that had settled over them.

He pecked her forehead, hand running over the back of her skull. “Bath first, then dinner. We need to get cleaned up and you still need to use the restroom.”

“So concerned over my bathroom habits,” she teased, nipping at his skin.

Az pinched at her behind. “More like, I’d prefer not to let my girlfriend get an infection the first time we had sex.”

She laughed, a beautiful, joyful sound that, gods, he wanted to bottle up and keep on his bedside table forever. “I suppose you make a fair point there.”

Sitting up, Azriel grabbed her under her thighs and hoisted her into his arms as he clambered off the bed. Elain yelped, clutching his shoulders as her legs wrapped around his waist, making him chuckle. “You can pee while I get the bath started.”

“Absolutely not.”

Ignoring her, he carried her into the bathroom and very nearly set her directly on the toilet when she locked herself around him.

“I swear to god if you put me on that damn porcelain throne, we’re breaking up.”

Az huffed, setting her on her feet, gripping her by the elbow when she swayed. “You’re literally about to fall over.”

Elain scrunched her face up. “Well, whose fault is that for fucking me until my legs turned to jelly!”

A smirk spread over his face. “Baby, if you think that was fucking you the way I have planned to, then we really need to build up your stamina.” Her eyes widened from both shock and heat. He laughed at the look, leaning forward to kiss her and letting his tongue slip between her lips.

“Go to the bathroom,” he said onto her mouth feeling her smile against him. “I’ll start the bath when you’re finished.”

Less than ten minutes later, they were cuddled in his, as Elain so kindly put it, “atrociously huge” bathtub. “Our,” he corrected her. She was slotted between his legs, back pressed into his chest. He’d already washed her down with a cloth, taking care to clean up the mess between her thighs and then massage out her extremities. Her head was tucked on his shoulder; golden-brown hair tied up into a knot.

“This is nice,” she breathed running her hands over his forearms that were wrapped around her. Her fingers traced over the scars that traveled up from his hands, not even slightly bothered by their grotesqueness.

He loved that about her—Elain saw every brutal and scarred piece of him and loved him for it. Loved him despite it. Az kissed her bare shoulder. “Mhm,” he mumbled into her soft skin. The jets hummed sending the lavender aroma he’d added to the water up into the air around them. He peppered kisses to the purple bruise on the junction of her neck and shoulder. “I’m sorry for marking you.” He had gotten her good—the contusion a mix of violet and blue was a stark contrast to her pale, creamy skin.

The tips of her fingers touched the mark and she twisted her head to kiss his jaw. “It’s fine. I was very much turned on by receiving it.”

A boyish smile tugged on his lips. “Yeah?”

She let out a breathy laugh from the look on his face. “Mhmm. While covering it with makeup isn’t ideal. I can make it work. So, no need to apologize. I like being covered in your bites, Az. I like being marked and claimed by you.”

He growled, running his large hands up the front of her body to squeeze her gorgeous tits. Water sloshed from the sudden movement, lapping over the side of the tub. “You keep saying things like that and we’re going to end up having another round, baby girl.” Az rolled her nipples between his thumb and index fingers causing her to arch her back.

Elain moaned quietly, one hand gripping the edge of the porcelain tub, the other planted firmly on his muscled thigh. “Az,” she whined when he tugged on her breasts.

“Yes, doctor?” he answered huskily, sliding one hand down the planes of her torso. Azriel would’ve continued, had her stomach not rumbled in hunger—and not the kind he was providing her. He laughed. “Food first, then?”

Her face heated. “Why does it always do that?” she grumbled, settling back against him.

“Because you need to eat,” he reminded her with a kiss on her cheek. “Food, then we’ll come back to bed if you’re feeling up to it. How’s that sound?”

Elain turned her head, reaching up to bring his mouth down to hers. She kissed him again slowly. Sensually. “That sounds perfect.”

Gods, he loved her so damn much and couldn’t wait to spend the rest of his life with her.

~~~~~~

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