Aelfred POV
It was hard to control myself around her. I wanted to take my time, give her time, get to know me and know her before we were intimate. But she was pushing, the bond pushing her towards me.
For us—elves—the mate bond is magical. It is not only physical but spiritual. For her, the bond wakes her primal instincts, and it becomes a pulling force for intimacy. She will not be able to control it, but I must. I am older than her. It is my responsibility to care for her heart and protect her from making a rushed decision.
I figured that swimming would drain her energy. The cold water would allow us to keep things cool and fun. I went to another room to change into my swim trunks while giving her the privacy to wear something suitable for a swim.
I knocked on our bathroom door.
