Chapter Text
Very few people had been privileged to see the small home that Azriel had purchased recently just outside the city limits. It often reminded her of the cottage that she and her sisters had lived in with their father. She would never admit to Nesta or Feyre that at times she did miss that small space, with her smallest of gardens and Feyre’s paintings on almost every surface you could touch.
Elain could always sense that Azriel, though he loved his friends, was a bit of a loner at heart. His need for the quiet and the secluded places versus the warm chaos of the circle won him over on occasion.This small cottage was just that, but never too far away from a quick trip to the House of Wind or the townhouse.
If his landing was anything but silent, she could not tell. All her senses were directed only on him. It could have been 2 seconds or 2 hours, by the time they reached the front door. This one moment in her life had entered into an infinite loop. For being such a cool and dark presence, Azriel’s eyes had never looked so warm. His hands were firm against her back, one of them only leaving her body to open what she assumed was the door.
Elain inched her face closer to his, her mind struggling between wanting to fall into another kiss or drink him in with her eyes for another hour. As if he could hear her thoughts, Azriel mouth curled to the side slowly and then touched her lips with his own. The kiss was slow and so soft. It was not until her back hit the bed that their lips broke apart.
Azriel was the one who spoke first, “I hate to break the enchantment, but this conversation is necessary.”
Elain remained silent, a grin on her face, willing for him to continue. She wanted no questions unanswered between them.
“I want to be sure, before this goes anywhere further that you completely and totally want this. I sincerely hope you do not feel any pressure from me. I can just as happily lay here and stare at your face for the rest of the day and all night.”
Her hands found their way to the hair at the nape of his neck. She twirled her fingers in their softness. He had recently cut his hair. She gently scratched the hair underneath shorn to his scalp. The hair, longer on top, almost tickling her face from his proximity. Faintly, she could feel his shiver above him when she reached a spot just below his ear.
Calmly and assuredly Elain responded, “Then be completely and totally sure. I want you. In every way you will let me have you,” shadows were curling around her arms, “Are you sure, Az?”
Those shadows, so much lighter compared to when she had first seen them all those months ago, stroke shrouded them in a canopy of quiet darkness as he hurriedly whispered Absolutely across her lips before his took them.
With one arm he moved her further up the bed. While her hands grabbed at the back of his shirt, his found her thighs. They traded one piece of clothing for another.
If he had wanted to take everything slower, she made it impossible. Her legs wrapped around him and tugged. He sunk between her legs and sighed into her mouth like he had come home. Then he started moving and she forgot how to breathe. His mouth dragged from her mouth, down her chin, stopping at her neck. Her skin tingled in all the places his hands, large and callused, were roaming. Nothing she could have imagined compared to what it felt like to so completely consumed by this male.
In that moment, with his wings spread over them, and every piece of him next to every piece of her she still could not help but think she could never be close enough. She was fulfilled and yearning for more and more and more. And when she broke against him and he fell apart over her, she could feel her soul intertwining with his like the ivy vines running along the side of the cottage.
His head buried in her hair, while they both tried to catch their breath. When he lifted his head to gaze into her eyes she murmured, “again,” Because how could only once be enough when it came to Azriel?
When the sun had set, they were both still in bed, entangled. Elain was pressed against his side, her nose hidden in the juncture of his neck.
Quietly, like the moment was too private even when they were the only ones in the cottage, Azriel said, “Every night. I want you like this every night.”
Elain could only hum in response, too comfortable to speak, until her stomach growled. She heard Azriel snort a chuckle.
With as serious a face as she could muster, Elain said, “Before I commit to anything long-term, you have to feed me.”
Azriel winced, “Then, this would be a bad time to tell you that I should have gone to the market.”
“Az, if you’re suggesting we go back to the townhouse or the House of Wind, I would rather starve.”
“Not my first choice either, Sunshine. Especially, because Nesta might try to castrate me.”
“Don’t worry. If she tries, I’ll just threaten to castrate Cassian.”
He felt a huff of laughter across her neck where his head had fallen, “Or we could just get Sevenda’s and everyone’s favorite appendages can be safe.”
Her answering smile was dazzling, “I would like that very much.”
The walk to Sevenda’s was long, but it was enjoyable. They had the luxury to be leisurely in their pace, finding happiness in each other’s company. To Elain’s delights, Azriel was the one who reached for her hand while they walked through the city. Also, to her surprise it was not Azriel that was glowering at people as they walked down the street. She may have growled at a female or two who eyed the handsome Fae next to her a little too much for her liking.
When they reached Sevenda’s they carried themselves to the bar, letting the barmaid know exactly what they wanted.
Elain was draining the last dregs of Azriel’s mug of ale after they had finished eating when she almost spewed the contents in her mouth over the bar. It was impossible to miss Rhys, Feyre, Cassian, and Amren walk into Severenda’s. Azriel quickly tapped his hand on her back when he had started choking from the shock.
Having recovered, she said, “Cauldron, Az. They’re here. They’re coming towards us.” She should have known this would happen. Hiding was useless. The shadows hovering between them both were obvious and Azriel was not exactly small.
Azriel slightly bowed his head, “Of course they are.”
Rhys and Cassian had infuriated smirks on their faces, while Feyre looked like she was giddy and Amren looked like she had just found her next victim. Amren’s hand shot out smacking Cassian in the chest, her hand out. Rolling his eyes, Cassian produced coins, dropping them in her hand.
It was Cassian that spoke, throwing an arm over Elain’s shoulders, “Azriel, I must ask you. What are your intentions with our dear, sweet, little Fawn?”
With a deadpan expression Azriel looked at his brother and said, “To take her back to my place, where we will avoid you all for the foreseeable future.”
Feyre shoved Cassian aside, replacing Cassian’s arms with her own. The worst part, she did not even speak just smiled at the them and sighed. She turned to her mate and said, “I told you, I was right.”
Dismissively, he answered, “Yes, Darling. You are incredibly wise and intuitive,” then grabbed Cassian’s collar, “we will leave you two alone. For now. Have fun.”
Amren tossed the coins she had just received from Cassian onto the bar and turned to Elain, “This should cover your bill. Have fun getting to know that wingspan.” Azriel choked next to her.
Relief and mortification simultaneously washed through Elain. She sagged against Azriel as they left to sit at their own table.
Azriel spoke slowly, “That… could have been worse.” Elain did not bother responding.
Before they could return or throw any more awkward glances their way, they got up and left the restaurant.
Again, with her arm wrapped around his waist and his arm tightened around her upper body, they made their way back to down the streets.
“I know I said it as a joke in the restaurant, but would you like to stay the night? I know this is new. We’re new.”
Elain reached on her tiptoes, planting a kiss on his neck. She made sure he was looking down at her when she nodded at him, “I will always choose to stay with you if you ask. I will always choose you.”
There were times when Azriel looked at her like he was bewildered by her, like he was looking at her now, “It’s terrifying how much I love you, Elain.” And when he bent down to kiss her, Elain could not help but be excited that she would be happily terrified by Azriel for the rest of her life.