Page 96 of Serpent King's Revenge

I moved the towel from between us, let her feel how hard I was just from her chiding words and her careful touch. Abby’s breath came out in a rush against my lips, her forehead resting to mine. “Nathan…” she sighed.

“Just…feel this,” I murmured. “Wanna be with you one last time.”

“Shut up about last times,” she said. “And fucking kiss me.”

I canted my hips to thrust inside her, and then I did as she asked.

Her body fit around me perfectly, clenching my cock, wet and hot. Abby moaned, the noise loud enough to rattle my teeth. She ground down onto me, her hips rising and falling in response to my thrusts. Her fingers tangled in my hair and she pulled me closer.

"Fuck," I groaned, feeling like I was going to come any second. Her nails raked down my back, leaving trails of fire in their wake. I could feel the tension building in her muscles, and I wanted to push her over the edge with me.

"Abby," I whispered, my voice thick with lust and need. "Come with me, please. I want to feel you when I do."

Her eyes flashed open, green like the ocean in the eye of the storm. She moaned, rolled her hips. I wanted it to last longer, but we were running short on time.

“Yes…give it to me,” she whispered. “Please.”

So I did.

I gave her everything. Yes, I came with her…but I gave her all the love I could summon, all the emotion, all the pain and grief. I held her to me and I kissed her hard one last time…

…then I reminded myself this wasn’t the last time.

She’d told me to cut that shit out.

It was about time I did.

Chapter Forty-Three: Abby

Nathan and I drove through Chinatown, lost in thought about the step we were about to take.

The teahouse was just a few blocks away. The place where we’d meet with the only allies we had left.

The sun was setting, its rays casting long shadows. The city began to stir with life as neon signs flickered to life one by one. I occupied the passenger seat while Nathan took control behind the wheel. He wore a pair of black slacks and a black button-up, his long sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His knuckles were pale against the steering wheel. His fingers gripped it so tightly that I could see veins throbbing beneath his skin.

"You know," I ventured quietly, "this is the right thing to do."

His response was silence; not entirely unexpected. It wasn't disagreement that kept him quiet; I knew how he felt. We couldn't rush in without a plan. Lily needed us to be tactical.

But understanding that didn't make the wait any fucking easier.

"Before we go to the teahouse," I said, breaking the silence, "there's something I need to do."

Nathan glanced at me. "What is it?"

"I need to call my dad," I admitted, my fingers already reaching for my phone.

He didn't respond immediately, but the tension in the car grew heavier. This wasn't something we could handle on our own. I’d wanted to keep my father out of it as much as possible…but that wasn’t an option anymore.

"Fine," he grumbled, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "But make it quick."

I nodded and dialed my father's number. My heart pounded in my chest as the phone rang. I knew this call could put him in danger, but I also knew that we couldn't save Lily without him.

But it wasn’t just that.

There was something else; something important I needed my father to do.

As the call connected through the car's Bluetooth, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. My eyes darted around, searching for any sign of trouble lurking nearby.

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