✧ ♥ ✧

Gasping for air, and with pinpricks of light at the edge of her vision, Katya slowly came down from her high. It took several minutes before her heart stopped racing and she could breathe normally again.

Aleksander remained over her, heavy but not too heavy. His musky scent filled her nostrils and made her light-headed. Feeling relaxed and satiated, she ran her fingers through his dark hair, marveling over its softness and how every strand was black despite his age – proof of his near immortality.

A thought struck her: what would happen when she grew old and he remained youthful, in his prime?

As if he had heard her worry, Aleksander mumbled against her neck: "Did you know I'm not the only amplifier there is?"

"No?"

"My grandfather created several. There are powerful creatures other than myself, whose bones and other parts work as amplifiers: the stag, the firebird and the sea whip to mention some I've read about. But I think there may be even more. I intend to find them for you, and increase your power even further – prolonging your life." He met her gaze, and his cheeks flushed with excitement. "I've not lost hope. You will summon a sun one day. I promise."

Katya nodded, believing him. With his strength, he could probably do anything.

After a while it got a bit chilly despite Katya's fire. Aleksander shivered and rolled off her. "Maybe we should get back. I want to check the library for clues about this."

"Now? It must be past midnight." She yawned.

"Tired already? I told you I would make every part of your body hurt. This was just the beginning." His black eyes glittered.

Katya felt an expectant flutter. Perhaps she wasn't as satiated as she had thought...

✧ ♥ ✧

On the way home, Kirigan let Katya sit in the saddle in front of him for a change. He held her close, wrapping his strong arms around her and placing his chin on her shoulder. The cool night air whipped her face, but Aleksander's warm form sheltered her back. With every movement of the horse, she felt him rub against her, giving her very interesting thoughts about doing this without clothes. It was the most sensual ride she had ever experienced, and when they dismounted outside the stables she was so aroused she could hardly walk straight.

Hand in hand, they sneaked silently through the deserted corridors. Katya had to fight an urge to giggle at the risk they were taking. They were Grisha warriors, not some love-sick teens, but right now she felt more like the latter than anything else.

The library was empty as well, and a dusty whiff of books and old leather hit her face as they entered it. It smelled pleasant and comforting.

Aleksander led her to a shelf filled to the brim with heavy tomes. "I've collected all the books my grandfather wrote over here," he whispered, his warm breath sensually tickling Katya's ear. "I've read them over and over, but perhaps you could read them too when you have time to spare? A fresh eye may notice new things."

Katya nodded her head; she enjoyed reading, and if she could help him find another amplifier it would benefit herself most of all.

"For my part, I'll check the other books. All of them, even boring old biographies over the lives of unimportant lords in the countryside. There may be clues in them that perhaps even the authors themselves haven't understood."

"We're in for some studying then." She grinned.

"Indeed. Not my favorite pastime, but with the right company, I'm sure it can be very pleasant." He pulled her closer and bent down to kiss her. It was a lengthy kiss, deep and demanding, and she returned it with fervor. Her senses were already heightened after the ride, and now she eagerly pressed herself against his body.

Aleksander caressed the sides of her breasts, and then moved his hands down to fondle her thighs. Then suddenly he picked her up and resolutely placed her on a massive marble desk. She could not hold back a small yelp of surprise, but he smothered it with his lips as he moved to stand between her legs. The desk was the perfect height for making out, and Aleksander certainly made the most of it, kissing her so thoroughly her lips became swollen. Not that she minded; quite the opposite.

Something rustled faintly behind them, and Katya broke their kiss to listen. A shadow flicked past the corner of her eye, but when she turned her head and peered into the darkness between the many shelves she saw nothing.

"Did you hear that?" she breathed.

"Hear what?" Aleksander was nibbling his way down her neck, leaving a trail of red marks. Thankfully her kefta had a high neck, or people would talk tomorrow.

"Nothing. Don't stop." Katya returned her attention to the alluring sensations his lips brought forth.

It had probably only been a mouse, or a trapped moth hitting the window.

"I'm not stopping. But I need to remove this." His fingers were already on her kefta buttons.

"Go ahead."

Button after button, Aleksander worked his way down Katya's blue kefta until she could shrug it off her shoulders. She did the same service for him and helped remove his black one, and then let both garments fall to the floor.

Only in their undershirts, they resumed their eager kissing. Aleksander's hands were all over Katya's body, and when he slid them under the hem of her shirt she felt his power leak through his fingers, creating a soft buzz wherever they went. Her nerves began to tingle and an expectant itch was growing deep within.

She tried to pull his shirt off, but he caught her hand. "We can't undress more," he whispered. "Someone might come."

Katya reluctantly let go of the garment. She wanted no fabric at all between them, but understood the wisdom in not undressing too much. If someone came in now, they could just pretend to be reading, but not if they were naked...

The room quickly grew darker, and she realized Aleksander was summoning again, probably to make it harder to discover them. His shadows closed in on them like a comforting blanket, a darkness Katya was now getting used to, and even liking.

A library was no place for fire, or she would have followed his example – she had their amazing shirtless summoning still fresh in her mind. But the fire within her body flared hotter than ever when Aleksander's summoning heightened her senses. She was burning with want, and she wrapped her legs around him to get him even closer. He responded with a throaty grunt.

Feeling him like this reminded Katya of the horseback ride before, and her heart beat faster at the thought of repeating it – without clothes.

Aleksander had an unnerving ability to read her thoughts, for suddenly he twirled her around, bending her over the desk. She was pressed flat against it by his weight.

"That ride before almost was the end of me," he murmured huskily in her ear, giving it a teasing nibble which made her gasp.

"Same," she panted. Her lungs were compressed by his heavy body over her back. She loved the thrill of feeling trapped, completely at his mercy.

"Shall we do something about it?"

"Yes, please," she choked.

He eased her pants down, and his own as well – but only a few inches. Still they would be able to pull them up quickly if needed.

The roar of Katya's rapid pulse drowned almost all sounds when she realized what was about to happen. They would do it on this desk, almost fully clothed, and in a public palace library... Could it be more dirty, and sexy, and exciting?

✧ ♥ ✧

Afterwards they remained motionless for a couple of heartbeats, and then Aleksander whispered with laughter in his voice: "Do you think anyone heard?"

"I'm sure they didn't." Katya smothered her giggles with her arm.

He helped her stand, and gave her a sweet kiss. "I'm still not done with you, but I prefer my bed for the rest of the night, and we had better not go there together. Wait a few minutes before you join me, okay?"

Katya nodded agreement, glad to catch her breath. A bed sounded perfect now.

She used the meantime to button up her kefta, not that it was strictly necessary; he would likely get it off her soon enough. But walking half clad through the corridors was probably a bad idea.

When she was ready to leave the library, she suddenly heard a sound from behind a nearby bookshelf. A squeaking floorboard!

This time she knew it wasn't a mouse.

A/N:
Uh-oh... Busted? O.o

What animal/person/object do you think the amplifier should be? Hit me with suggestions. :)