Azryth moved.
He pulled me back against him so suddenly I gasped, his arms wrapping around me from behind, holding me like I was the only solid thing in existence, his face pressed against the side of my neck.
I felt it through the binding, the overwhelming relief, the desperate need to confirm I was real and here and his, the terror that had been building beneath his control throughout the entire crossing finally breaking free now that we were safe.
"Azryth?" I started to turn my head. "What's…"
His hand came up to cup my jaw, turning my face toward him, and then his mouth was on mine.
Not gentle.
Not careful.
Desperate and claiming and absolutely certain, his lips moving against mine with an intensity that made my knees weak, one hand still at my jaw holding me at the angle he wanted, the other arm wrapped tight around my waist keeping me pressed against him.
