The year mark for her pregnancy was approaching. Some of the more ill-educated followers of water were shocked to see her still carrying this burden. But the child had drow blood and thus extended the pregnancy past that of a normal human’s. Had it not been for her own lycan blood, it would have taken much longer. Now Rei felt very much like a swollen mass and was growing quite tired of waddling around at a slow pace. It irritated her even further that she knocked things over and then had trouble picking them up. The children also did not cease to be children and did not give her much rest, despite how much she needed it. She got as much as she could.

The children were outside playing with her companions and some of the clergy that had grown attached to them. From her place near the window in her bedroom, she could hear them giggling and laughing. Larren’s behavioral problems were still prominent, though he seemed ever the delight when he was merely playing. The Avatar sighed, enjoying the comfort of the oversized, cushioned chair and the feeling of her feet propped up on the ottoman. Resting precariously on the arm of the chair was her ritualistic cup of tea smelling sweetly of white leaf and ginger.

Then she winced, sitting up and nearly knocking the cup over as she did so. The pains were coming. The baby was coming today. With a sense of relief mixed with panic, she hoisted herself with great difficulty out of the chair and moved over to the door. When she opened it, Rei called down the hallway. A healer and wet nurse from Althea D’Jal had been staying with her the past few days, as it was no doubt her birth would be soon. The ladies rushed in. As they were trying to get her over to the bed, she fumbled for a letter for Kiba. A messenger was soon off with it.

Rei had been changed into a simple white cotton gown and laid in the bed on clean sheets. The healer was up near Rei’s head, while the wet nurse stayed near her feet, ready for the newborn that would be arriving soon enough. Another sharp pain and she bolted up, the healer catching her as the Avatar struggled against her, grunting and groaning loudly from the pain. It would be getting worse very shortly. When the contraction subsided for the moment, she rested back against the pillows. The healer took a cool and damp cloth and dabbed gently at Rei’s forehead and around her neck. She only hoped Kiba would soon arrive. His presence would comfort her and give her something to squeeze the life out of when the pain had elevated. She also knew he would be encouraging.

Curse after curse was released into the world in protest to bandages being changed. Not in the least bit was the patient behaving and taking the changing of dressings well. In fact, the man was the worst patient that the healer had ever had before. The healer had expected more from the patient considering their position, but it was all in vain. “Watch what you are doing!” the man growled deeply. In response there was a mere eye roll that told the diowolf shade that there was little sympathy on the other side. The healer was a veteran Suzaku that had little patience for those that couldn’t handle the ministrations of the trained staff. Kiba sighed heavily and kept the rest of his thoughts to himself. Most of them ran along the lines of evil attempts at revenge, but it was not good to want to hurtle one of your followers into the sun.

Once all was finished Heavens rotated his shoulder slightly with the new bandages. They were lighter than before, but movement was still restricted. Injuries that had been obtained during the search were taking an extended period of time to heal and all Kiba could align that with was the fact that the Tree was still dead. Rei’s predictions had come true; not that he had ever doubted it. He had tried everything he could to avoid the fate she had told him about, but there was simply no avoiding it. The Suzaku bowed his head and Kiba could see the faint hint of a smile. “Go on, get out. You had your fun with me for today.” Heavens waved his left hand at the healer. There was laughter in his voice. The pair was getting to know each other well considering the Star Maker was in such need of medical care.

Leaning back in his chair out on his balcony he heard the approach of another clergyman. A Seiryuu brought forth a message that had been delivered. For a split moment Kiba hesitated. Weariness had been taking over his body lately considering he was working hard on healing as well as keeping up the exhaustive tasks. Each day he was finding it harder to keep the baby stars healthy in his throne room. Finally he grasped the note and opened it in order to read the words within. Blue and reztreal eye opened wide as he finished the portion that truly mattered.

Immediately the man was on his feet and headed towards his bedroom. Rei was going into labor and wanted him there. Ignoring his right side the diowolf shade began putting on some clothes that would hide the injuries from sight. She did not need to be concerned with what had happened; there were more important things at hand.

Fully changed Kiba concentrated hard. At that time he felt it was necessary to use what magic he had stored up. While in his own home he could gather that essence and use it to teleport like any other. A gate formed before him that would lead to the Shrine of Water and to Rei. Without any further delay he went through and was within the Shrine.

Dashing through the corridors as second nature he finally made it to the room where Rei was. Through the doors he saw her laying on the bed and in pain. He was out of his element in such a situation, but he would do his best. Going to her side he waited until the healer allowed him to grasp her hand, careful he used his left hand, he placed a kiss on her forehead. “I got here as you wished. What can I do?”

Between the painful contractions, Rei would roll her head to the side on the pillows and look at the door. She knew he was busy and wondered how long it would take him to get her message. When another came- this one with quite some fury- she shot up once again, hand squeezing with a death grip on the poor healer. The woman took it in stride and held her from leaning up too far. The healer would give her words of encouragement and tell her how well she was doing. In the middle of it all, she heard the door click and smelled his scent enter the room. The healer waited until the pain subsided and Rei was laying back down to let him near her side. She grasped his hand. “I’m so glad you’re here. I just… need you to stay with me.”

The next contraction came and she sat up, the healer holding her back but allowing her to keep contact with Kiba. She squeezed his hand without mercy, then let out a half scream and grunt. When it was over and the midwife was mopping her forehead with the cool rag, she gently squeezed the God’s hand. “How are you feeling? You can’t fool me with those clothes.” There was a smile in her eyes though she couldn’t manage one on her face. “I would have helped you, but knowing you, I’m sure you thought it’d worry me.” Then she turned her head away, staring at the canopy of her bed and breathing slowly.

The labor progressed slowly and hours droned on before it seemed like any progress had been made. Finally, the midwife near her feet happily exclaimed that she could see the baby’s head. Rei knew this time was the immediate time to push as hard and as much as she could manage. Taking a grip on Kiba’s hand once more, she pushed and pushed and finally, there was the screaming cry of a baby. The Avatar’s eyes welled up and she could see the midwife cleaning the baby.

After a few moments, the midwife exclaimed it was a girl and brought her the small infant wrapped in a warm blanket. Rei positioned herself up on the pillow and cradled the baby in her arms and looked down at her, a fingertip stroking at her soft cheek. “She’s beautiful,” she said quietly, leaning down to kiss her forehead. Then she looked up to Kiba. “Thank you for coming.” There was a big smile on her face.

Rei moved and rolled on her side so that her back was facing Kiba. If she was going to nurse her new daughter, she seriously doubted that was something he wished to see. When she and the baby were in a comfortable position, she turned her head towards him. “You don’t have to stay. I know you have a lot to do.” Though inwardly she was hoping he would.

Being beside her and hearing the words of her gratitude made him smile. Even in pain she wished for him to be there with her. Whether it was simply because he was a steady rock for her or just a convenience that didn’t matter. She had requested his presence and as long as she would have him he would be there. Rei’s pregnancy made him start to think about his ex-mate had the unborn child she had stolen away from him. He would not be there for the child’s birth. He wouldn’t be there to see it grow into an adult. Kiba felt like he would never get the chance to be the father he had always hoped he had never had himself. A bit of anger went through him at the thought of having that right taken away from him.

Kiba quickly shook his head in order to bring himself back to what Rei was dealing with. She was the one in need of support instead of him wallowing in self pity. “I am here for however long you need me.” The entire process seemed quite painful and nothing that he would ever wish to go through. Great pity was felt for Judge as he thought of the male god that was pregnant. Gently he moved to sit on the very edge of the bed beside the Avatar. A quick flinch shuttered through his body as Rei asked him about his condition. “I’m fine. The wounds are healing,” he replied simply. He did not wish to dwell on the fact that he had been injured during the search and the battle thereafter. It was humiliating and the images of his flesh burning still lingered in the back of his mind. “It’s nothing. And yes, I know you would worry so let us focus on the small child you just brought into the world. You did a fabulous job.”

Restraint was something that he had to learn when around the woman that was laying beside him. There was a peace that was in her aura. Kiba knew that eventually she would have to give the baby up, but for now she was her’s. A small smile came to his pale lips. The baby girl was quite beautiful, and it was obvious where she got that from.

Rei made herself more comfortable in the bed as she cradled the young bundle. Even with all the power in the world it was still a miracle that life could be born into the world that they lived in. His head tilted in a characteristic wolf way when she thanked him for coming. “Of course I would come. You requested my presence and so I shall be here for you. It will always be that way.” It was more of a miracle that she would want him there for such an important time.

For the most part the diowolf kept silent in order to give the new mother and daughter time to get acquainted. Truthfully he wasn’t sure if he should stay or not since they did need time to bond. Kiba felt like the outsider since he had nothing to do with the child. “I don’t have a lot to do, but maybe I should leave you two to get to know one another.” He stood up, but hesitated in leaving. There was no father present; no other male figure to be there and support Rei or the new baby in their earliest hours of birth. Kiba hated that idea, but he had no right to say anything about it.

Kiba had told Rei of his situation when his mate had left him and taken their unborn child with her. It hurt her to know that he, too, would feel the same sting of loss that she had felt not so long ago. The pain was still there but it was now bearable and manageable. She saw the longing in his eyes as he looked at the child. He had been excited to have one of his own, and he would have made an excellent father. She only wished he would have gotten the chance. The Avatar would have talked to Kiba more about his loss and the heartache he must have been suffering from, but she was frightened it would only worsen his predicament. So mostly she kept quiet about it.

When he spoke of his wounds, Rei’s gaze drifted to his arm that he thought he had so cleverly concealed underneath his clothes. She wasn’t so foolish, though, as to forget what had occurred. It still disappointed her that she did not prevent it. She wanted to examine the injury herself and take a look at what the damage had done, but Rei doubted that Kiba would be open to such a thing. Besides, it would probably do more harm by means of pain than good to unwrap and rewrap his bandages. “I have something for you.” She leaned over an opened the bedside drawer and pulled out a small jar of salve. It was an herbal remedy infused with a bit of the water from her shrine. “My mother taught me herbal remedies. This will help with the pain and the bit of pure water from here I added will speed up the healing.”

Rei smiled at him when he dismissed his coming as something he had every intention of doing. It seemed that the God did enjoy taking care of her as he had shortly after the loss of her son. “Well, even so, it doesn’t hurt to thank you nonetheless.” Though it was something she had not admitted to herself yet, she wanted him present during such important times as these. Perhaps it was the guilt of what she might have caused with his mate that made it harder for her to accept.

When she heard Kiba turn to leave, she felt her heart sink. But it wasn’t because he had much to do, he simply expressed that Rei might want time with her newborn. It was silly, though, as the little one was quickly falling asleep. “No, please stay. She is nearly asleep and… I have missed you.” Smiling rather bashfully, she stroked the baby’s back as she fell asleep.

The Avatar rose from her bed and gently set the sleeping baby in the cradle and pulled the warm comfort of the cover around her. Sighing, she sat back down on the bed, feeling a bit worn but wanting to spend time with Kiba. They hadn’t had much time together as of late with the burden of the world weighing so heavily on them. “I’m sorry… about what happened. I hope I did not at least partially cause it.” She looked down at her hands that were folded in her lap. “I know you wanted to be a father.”

Though it was not the conversation that he wanted, talking about his injured arm was a better topic than the fact that Raisa had left with the unborn child. Kiba felt bitterness. Now was the time not to dwell on it. Talking about the injury was indeed a better topic. He took the gift carefully with his good arm and examined the contents. The scent was sweet though the diowolf could tell that it was a medicine with a kick to it. A light smile came to his pale lips in gratitude. Rei was thinking of him at points when he wasn’t with her, and that lightened his heart. She was still weak from the birth and yet there she was handing over a medicine to help him. The feelings he had for her were not right; he knew this though they continued to grow.

“Thank you,” he said lifting it slightly in recognition of its importance. “I will change my bandages when I get back to Arvandor. Haven’t done them in a while. No time lately.” Kiba chuckled at his bullheadedness whenever Eric tries to fix the bandages. Between the pain and the itching it was a miracle that his wounds had ever been treated in the first place. ‘I will definitely use it.” The belt pouch that he always had at his hip was perfect for holding the medicine jar.

Still smiling lightly he stood there slightly awkward. They had nothing to really say to one another since she had just had the child of another man. On top of that his mate was now gone and he was childless. Kiba didn’t want to bring his problems to her since there were many more in her household than his.

Her request for him to say made him automatically rub the back of his neck and a sigh was given off. It was like she was trying to test his limits. “Okay, I can stay for a little. Once she wakes up I am sure there are things that you need to get done…especially your own sleep mother.” The Sky Wolf smiled when he said her title. It was the one title that was the most important in the world. “I’ve missed you too.”

Waiting for her to finish taking care of the child he watched her sit back down on the bed. Kiba joined her, but maintained a proper distance to keep safe. For a moment he had no idea what Rei was talking about, but then he could tell from her body language. The Sky Wolf laughed softly and shook his head. “You didn’t cause any of this, you can be sure of that. We had been….growing distant for some time.” A sharp inhale was paired with another frustrated rubbing of the back of his neck. “She and I were first loves from when we were kids. Things obviously changed and we couldn’t stay the way it had been before. It happens. I hate it, but it happens.”

The mention of being a father shot him in the heart. A flinch shook his body for a moment before he nodded. “Yes, I wanted to be a father. Essentially I am one, but I doubt that I will be allowed to see my kids.”

When he thanked her, Rei merely shook her head to show that it was no problem. Really the salve was something quite easy to fashion. The only thing that made it different from a normal herbal salve to relieve pain was the bit of pure and magical water that she had added to it. But when he mentioned that he would change his bandages later and that he had not changed them in a while, an amused smile came to her. Kiba was certainly one of the most stubborn people if he chose to be. Of course she couldn’t let him get away with it without teasing him. “You would never know you were a wolf. You have the stubbornness of a mule. I would like to change your bandages if you don’t mind.”

Kiba reacted strangely to her request for him to stay. In a way he seemed uncomfortable and in a way he seemed agitated. Though when he called her a mother she couldn’t help but let one smile slip through. “Kiba, I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable if you are.” But sometimes she didn’t read people very well and thus made bad decisions as to what she should say or do. It had landed her into some awkward situations in the past.

As Rei sat down on the bed, she noticed Kiba come next to her. He was maintaining what one would call a socially acceptable and proper distance. The Avatar frowned, thinking they had been past this already. To her it seemed he was being so distant. It made her worry that she had done something to offend him.

Though he had insisted she had done nothing to cause his split with Raisa, Rei couldn’t help but still feel guilty about it. The thing that carried the most guilt was that his children were gone. She knew he had loved them the instant he knew they existed. It was how he was. He was agitated and talking about his lost children seemed to pain him greatly. Whether it was a mixture of post-pregnancy hormones or simply that she knew how he must feel, the Avatar felt that she would burst into tears.

“Kiba, I will do anything I can to help you find them. I’m so sorry, I know what it feels like.” It had hurt even worse when her son’s body had been found and all hopes of reuniting had been shattered. With a sigh, she looked up, feeling the tears welling into her eyes and knowing how glassy they must look. “Kiba… I love you, I do. I’m just so,” she paused, taking a quivering breath. “terrified.” At that moment she could feel the salty tears spilling over and running down her face.

“I haven’t done anything to deserve yours. And what if this is just something fleeting you feel? What if you don’t want me to have your children? After all, I allowed one of mine to die and this one…” All her fears, whether or not anyone else saw them as rational, came spilling out at one time. “I don’t want to lose you, but I don’t want to wind up broken again, either.”

The changing of his bandages was something that needed to be done. A blush hit his pale cheeks thinking about taking his shirt off in front of her. Of course she had seen him bare chested before, but it was different now that he had exposed his feelings to her. Kiba inhaled softly before nodding his head. “I am stubborn, but that is the way of an Alpha,” he laughed jokingly. Sitting on the edge of the bed he carefully took off his shirt to expose the burn marks that laced down his right shoulder, arm, and side. At first he couldn’t directly look at Rei. She had predicted that something like his injury would happen. Kiba had been too careless and the wounds were the end result. It was only because of the quick thinking of his team that he was able to get out alive. It had been too long since he had been mortal.

There was a noticeable flinch when she mentioned him being uncomfortable. He sighed and smiled awkwardly. “It’s not you. I just don’t know how to act. It’s me. Don’t worry about it, Rei. I am sorry if it worries you…”

Silence fell between them before talk turned to the lost children. They were not what he wanted to talk about for it felt like a knife was being twisted in his heart. All he could do in response was smile at her offer. She had lost a son and now there was the losing of his children.

Kiba blinked a few times in utter surprise as the new mother began to well up with tears and then admitted her love for him. Jaw half dropped as he tried to piece together everything that she was saying to him. There he sat without his shirt and jaw slacked in disbelief. True he could chalk up her words to her only meaning friend love but there was something different in her voice.

For a while he remained quiet and just stared at her attempting to put together words. He wanted to hear her say that she loved him. He wanted to hold her in his arms and forget all of the misfortune that had befallen both of them. Instead all he could manage was to sit dumbfounded and attempt to process the information.

Out of nowhere he threw up his arms and stood up in exasperation. “You say that my feelings could be fleeting?! There is no way that that is possible!” Kiba paced back and forth as if all rational had left his mind. “Wolves do not have fleeting feelings. Not real wolves anyway.” He turned to look her straight in the eyes, not wavering for a moment. “Diowolves pick their mates carefully and there was nothing I could do but to be attracted to you. I was meant to be in love with you, but you say it could be fleeting…” Kiba scoffed and continued to pace.

He stopped mid-step and turned abruptly to the woman sitting on the bed in half tears. “And as for having my children…why wouldn’t I want you to have my children? What has happened with your past children and the one you have had now are due to the men you have had in your life. They have all been trash, Rei. Can’t you see that? You were taken advantage of.” The diowolf was on his knees now in front of her cupping her cheek gently. A soft smile was upon his lips as he gently caressed her skin. “I will take care of you the way you should be taken care of. I will protect you from the things that you have been plagued by. I will not break you, but build you up to be stronger than you have ever been before.” Rising slightly up he nuzzled the side of her neck with his face taking in her scent. “You will never lose me, Lady Water. Accept me and my feelings and there will be nothing for you to fear again.”

“Well, that is no excuse,” she said with a smile. Rei waited for him to remove his shirt and then she inspected what she could see with the bandages concealing everything. It looked worse than she had expected. She frowned and then began to slowly pick off the bandages. Every now and then, the faint shimmer of blue and silver would stream from her fingers and melt into the wounds, dulling some of the pain. When she finally had them all removed, she piled them on the bedside table. Next she pulled out fresh bandages from one of the drawers. Her arm snaked around and pulled the jar from his pouch.

The Avatar twisted the jar open and scooped some of the salve onto her fingers. This was the delicate part. Rei clenched her jaw in concentration. With nearly no pressure, she began to dab on the salve until all the burns and wounds were completely covered. She cleaned off her fingers and let a large surge of the silvery blue light come across his back and down his arm. To finish it up, she began to apply patches of bandages before she started wrapping. When it was all finished, she picked up his shirt and set it in his lap. “It was a little worse than I expected, but it’s all done.”

Kiba seemed completely shocked to hear what came out of her mouth. He didn’t say anything right away and it started to worry her. Then all of a sudden came an outburst. The God threw his hands up in a sort of exasperation. He seemed partially insulted that she would suggest his feelings might be fleeting. But considering what all she had experienced, it was possible for her to consider it. He was right, though. Wolves did not have fleeting emotions. Then again, she had met a wolf that did. “I’m sorry, just after everything I am skeptical when someone professes their feelings.”

For a moment she wondered if he was going to wear himself out pacing back and forth. What he said next changed her tears from ones of mixed emotions to ones of pure happiness. “Really? You would?” Though he would probably think it was stupid that she seemed slightly in disbelief, she couldn’t help it. She watched him drop to his knees before her, his hand coming to cradle her cheek and caress her skin. Rei smiled at him, the tears making her eyes watery as he finished what he said. “I…Kiba.”

She couldn’t come up with anything to say. Nothing seemed like it would convey her feelings well enough. Instead her arms came around his neck, pulling him in. Rei’s lips pressed against his, tasting every part of him. “I’ve wanted to do and say that for so long. But I was so afraid.” With care, she nuzzled herself into the side of his neck, careful to avoid the wounds that had been freshly bandaged. Her wolf was happily nudging at his- the urge to mate coming but it was too soon. Her body needed time to heal and get back to normal. “I’ve wanted you here for so long.”

The bandages were slowly unwrapped from around his arm and side. He closed his eyes to allow the Avatar to do her work. Kiba mentally allowed himself to admit that he enjoyed her treatment over Eric’s. The wraith was good at his work, but there was no tenderness; not like Rei was showing him. A soft sigh escaped his lips in relaxation. There was little pain as her fingers did their work. His wounds had been healing and there was itchiness that went along with it. The salve that had been spread on his skin helped ease that irritating feeling.

When finished he put his shit back on without word. Throwing up his arms was not the smartest of ideas, but he ignored the consequences. There was no telling what the woman was thinking or why she was thinking it. Hadn’t he told her how he felt before? Hadn’t she turned him down? Kiba finished his miniature blow up and stood silent staring at her. Rei was a woman that had dealt with many things and had few supports along the way. She had been the one he had loathed when he had first heard about her and Cristophe the wonder idiot. Many things had occurred since them and led the pair to the path that they were on now. Who would have ever imagined that they would end up in love with one another?

But those were the facts.

Kiba couldn’t help the way he felt about the Avatar, and nor could she. It was fate and it had come at a time when they needed it most. Kneeling before her he couldn’t help but reach out to touch her skin. What had those other men done to her?

Lightly he laughed and shook his head. “Why wouldn’t I want you to have my pups?” Using his thumb he brushed away the tears that were streaming down her porcelain face. “Now that is enough of these tears. I won’t let you cry anymore. There have been too many that have fallen from your eyes due to those in your life.” Cupping the back of her neck he rested his forehead against her’s. “It’s our turn to be happy.”

Another laugh came out from him as he realized that he had finally gotten what he had craved: her love. Then they kissed. Kiba closed his eyes to enjoy the sensation. There would be many more to come in their future if he had anything to say about it. “There is no need to be afraid anymore. I am all your’s.” The diowolf smiled as he leaned in for another kiss. It was gentle and sweet in order to keep either of them from getting worked up. She had had a baby just recently and his arm was still greatly injured.

Carefully he climbed into the bed and pulled Rei to rest on his chest on his good side. “Let’s just forget all the horrible things out there and just enjoy ourselves now.”

Every touch ignited a happiness in her that she had not felt in a long time. Rei leaned into every single touch he made, wishing the feeling would never end. He would have to leave eventually- she knew that. Kiba had a duty to the Heavens and his followers the same way Rei had one to Water and her followers. For now, though, she didn’t want to think of that. All she wished to do was pretend that he would be here with her every night.

She smiled when he ordered there to be no more tears. “They are tears of happiness, not sadness.” Rei’s eyes closed as their foreheads touched. She could smell him- smell his wolf. It was comforting, and she felt her wolf beginning to curl up in content. “I want to see you happy. You have suffered too much recently.” One of her hands went to gently touch the area she had just bandaged. He had suffered too much from physical injury and from loss. The Avatar knew the sting and twisting pain that came with losing a child. She would never wish it on anyone.

He was all hers. The thought brought a pleased smile to her face. Hopefully it would always be that way. Another kiss came to her lips. It was gentle and sweet- loving rather lusting. When he pulled away, she couldn’t help but long for another. How she loved the feeling that came every time their lips met. Then he moved and she moved with him. Rei’s head came to rest on the uninjured part of his chest. Her body was pressed as closely to him as she could possibly manage. “I wish this night would never end,” she said softly. Soon after, her breathing changed to deep and slow as she fell asleep with the comfort of having Kiba next to her.

((Sorry for the quality of this. Trying to get lots of posts done at once x.x ))

It was apparent that the pair was working hard to hold themselves within restraint. He couldn’t help but want to be with her in every single way. The wolf in him could sense that she wanted the very same thing, but it would be less than ideal to push the moment. He wanted to hold her tight to him that he had only done with his ex-mate. Neither were in the proper state. Instead they took refuge in each other’s arms. “I am happy. I will be happy.” He nuzzled his face against the top of her head in content. Taking in her scent the brute knew that this was where he was supposed to be.

The tired pair fell asleep just like that. Neither had been so content in a long while that it was one of the best sleeps the young deity had ever had.

Rei had been so anxious and excited for his visit that her senses were dulled. Before the death of the Tree, the ability to notices presences enter or exit her home had been innate. Now it required a degree of concentration. As she looked down at the shore and the bubble that protected the shrine underwater, the Avatar felt her heart racing. It had been some time since she had felt this way. It was a good feeling and it brought a smile to her face. In her mind she ran through all the things she could say to him when he arrived.

There was a knock.

The Avatar felt her breath catch in her chest as she turned her head. The God entered and immediately Rei’s face was aglow. His smile was equally as bright. When he asked her if she saw anything good from her balcony, all she could do was let out a short chuckle. “I see a lot of sand,” she said jokingly. Then she turned, her pace to him slow to begin with. It then sped up. She felt much like a child again as she jumped into his arms, her arms coming to wrap around his neck. She pressed her lips to his in a kiss she had waited nearly a month for.

“I have missed you,” she said softly, her face coming to nuzzle gently into the side of his neck. It had been too long for them to be separated. Her hand then slid down to his shoulder and side that had been injured. Just as expected, there were no bandages to feel there. He had fully healed, and she only hoped her herbal remedy had helped. “Your wounds are better. I’m glad.” Rei’s lips trailed to his neck, touching softly there before moving up to his jawline.

Rei could feel her wolf come to attention, feeling the heat rising between them. How they both wanted to be with him right now. It was now possible with both their bodies healed. She could feel her heart racing. Then she moved away, walking to the bottle of wine and glasses she had sitting out. She uncorked the bottle, pouring the rich red liquid into glasses for them. Setting the wine bottle down, she handed him one of the glasses. “This is an exotic wine. Rare I’m told.” Smiling, she took in the aroma for a moment before taking a sip.

The Avatar could pretend she was interested in the wine in the glass in her hand but that wasn’t so. She wasn’t interested in its quality. Rei was interested in the God that stood before her. She wanted to feel his hands traversing her body, caressing her lovingly. She moved to sit her glass down on the bedside table before coming back to Kiba, her hands resting on his shoulder and running down his chest. Her lips pressed against his jaw and then his ear. “Kiba,” she whispered quietly, her voice heavy with heat and desire. “Make love to me.”

The level of enthusiasm Rei had for his arrival made him smile brighter than before. Arms wrapped tightly about her waist as she jumped into him. The embrace alone sent chills down his spine; the kiss exponentially heightened it. Slowly he let her down to the ground, though the brute dared not to let her go. Forehead came to lightly rest against the Avatar’s for a mere moment. Being in her presence once again made him breathe a sigh of relief. Kiba leaned into the nuzzle with eyes closed. “I missed you as well, dear one. You have no idea how long I have waited for this.” He smirked slightly as she began to trail kisses along his neck and jaw line. No remarks were made. All the male could do was reveal in her attentions.

Everything inside him protested to their parting, but it was most likely the best idea for the moment. The diowolf shade accepted the wine and held it up in a toast. “It smells wonderful. Thank you for the consideration. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you know my tastes already.” Kiba took a test sip to examine the inner flavors. The taste was quite enjoyable so he took another drink. Carefully he maneuvered around Rei to sit on the arm rest of one of the chairs.

Eyes barely kept their focus on the wine. Instead they remained steadfast on the woman that stood before him. She had been all he could think about for the longest of times, and now she was his. The Sky Wolf could hardly believe it. Sometimes he didn’t.

“Yes?” he answered as if he had no clue what she wanted. He had planned to play it naïve, but she gave him no chance. The wine was set off to the side on the table to keep from being knocked over. A great urge came over him to scoop her up and put her on the bed. Instead he sat there with hands hanging between his knees. The husky desire in her voice was complimented by the scent of intrigue that only female wolves could give off. Kiba turned his face to nuzzle her neck, but yet to push her face away. For too long had she been dominant with the men. Yes, Kiba knew that she had the ability to make these men to come to her like bees to honey. Rei had the ability to bring men to her, but they were the wrong sorts. For a woman to have the ability to trap the attention of the womanizer Dimitre then she had a certain quality.

Kiba knew what that quality, but now it belonged to him….she belonged to him.

Like a flash his eyes were open and he was back upon his feet. Strong hands grasped her’s to pin them behind her back. Heavens stood over Water staring down at her with hard desire in his eyes. “You are quite the forward one aren’t you?” he asked. Without waiting for her reply he dipped his head down to place slow kisses upon her exposed shoulder. Deliberate and precise kisses were moved slowly up the shoulder to right below her earlobe. Hot air from his breath was gently blown into her ear. “I am your alpha tonight.”

In another flash the Sky Wolf brought Rei to the bed. Not taking a moment to hesitate he was crouched over her in the dominate position. Still he stared down in her eyes; they being more expressive than anything that he could say. No permission was asked for, Kiba merely pulled at the straps of her dress in order to expose her frame to him. It was not the first time that he had seen her without clothes, but it was different now. The well-selected dress was discarded to somewhere in the room where he didn’t care.

One would think that a physically starved man would have ravaged a beautiful naked woman immediately, but Kiba wouldn’t. His eyes broke from her gaze in order to take in the sight he was being blessed with. She was all his and no one else were allowed to lay a finger upon her. The heavens would fall upon the culprit’s head heavily on that day.

Hands came up to gently caress her chest, not quite used to having the ability to be so intimate with her. Rei had been with other men. Kiba had only been with his ex-mate a couple of times. There had been many restrictions in their relationship, but now his new mate wanted him immediately. It was almost overwhelming, but the male would manage just fine.

Not holding back any longer the male took her mouth against his in a heat of passion. Their first time together was just beginning.

Rei loved feeling his arms circle her waist and pull her body tightly to him. Kiba slowly lowered her so that her feet would touch the ground but did not let go of her. His forehead came to touch against hers and her eyes closed in enjoyment. She loved feeling him so close to her. “I think I do have an idea. I imagine you have been waiting as long as I have,” she said with a playful smile. Though she couldn’t see the smirk on his face as her lips traversed his neck and jaw, the Avatar could feel in his body language that was enjoying her intimate affections.

The Avatar smiled as he accepted the wine glass and thanked her for it. She watched with curiosity as he look a small testing sip, wondering if he would enjoy the taste of the wine as much as she thought he would. Rei was pleased to see the enjoyment on his face as he took another drink. Kina moved around her and went to one of her chairs, sitting on the arm. Though she wasn’t always looking at him, she could feel his eyes constantly on her. A light flush rose to her pale cheeks, though truthfully she enjoyed it.

After her request, for the longest time he simply sat in his spot, his hands dangling freely. He came towards her to nuzzle against her neck, but he also pushed her intimate affections away. For a moment it puzzled her before she realized what he must be doing. A faint hint of a smirk flickered across her face. Before she knew it, she felt Kiba’s strong hands around her wrists, pinning them behind her back. Rei looked up and could see the raw desire and passion in his eyes. A quiet gasp came from her lips and she didn’t respond to his comment.

Kisses showered her bare shoulder as his lips traveled up and came to rest near her ear. She felt the exhale of hot breath and it sent a shiver down her spine. Rei could only smile when he said he was her alpha for tonight. Kiba reacted far quicker than she had expected. The Avatar found herself on the bed in mere seconds with his body coming over hers. His hands made quick work of her dress and tossed it away. She watched his eyes roll over every inch of her bare body. If she had not enjoyed it so much, she would have been cherry red in the face.

Soft and quiet pleasured noises came from her as he touched her, his light caresses driving her nearly mad. Rei’s lips were swallowed by his in the most passionate of kisses. She pressed back, one of her hands coming to grip at his shoulder. When the kiss broke, she plucked at his shirt, pulling it over his head and discarding it. The rest of his clothes soon followed until his form was bare to her and drove the passion within her to a fiery level.