Page 52 of Echoes of Eternity

“You feel so good,” I moaned, twisting my hips to hit the right spots. My pleasure was climbing quickly and I was debating whether I wanted to tease myself a little longer or not.

“You’re most beautiful when you claim your warrior, taking what you want from me,” he whispered, runninghis hands up to my ribs and along my breasts, pinching my nipples.

My movements became erratic the closer I got to the metaphorical cliff, reminding me that not long ago I contemplated the purpose of my existence as I overlooked the sea. My fingers slipped with my arousal, circling my clit, adding to the torture I gave myself.

I threw my head back with a cry of pleasure as my pussy spasmed around his cock, making me see stars. Without any show of mercy, his hands immediately dug into my hips once more as he took over from below, forcing me to ride the aftershocks of my climax with his own brutal pace as he chased his finish.

With a roar, his climax triggered another one of mine and I fell forward, unable to hold myself up from the onslaught of such a shared explosion, stealing my breath away.

His wings wrapped around us like a blanket and I let out a stuttering sigh, savoring the moment that could have been taken away from us because of the ghosts of my past.

In the stillness that followed, we found solace in each other’s presence. Our intimacy became a celebration of our freedom and the strength of our bond. I lazily wrapped my arms around his shoulder and rubbed my face against him like a satisfied kitten.

As we embraced, the world outside seemed distant and inconsequential. The trials we had faced had tested us, but our love and resilience had seen us through. Andas we looked toward the future, we did so with a renewed sense of hope knowing that together, we could face whatever came next.

22

A coupleof days had passed, and the battleground at the abandoned warehouse was all over the news, labeled a gang war with no mention of me or Noboru. Kaito Takehide—only son of the Takehide family—was sentenced to prison after they found his father’s blood on his hands at the crime scene, his head decapitated and found five feet from its torso. Part of me wasn’t surprised it had come to this; the complexities of his family dynamics, and the revelations that came out in the open behind the scenes had shifted my perspective on all our interactions.

I couldn’t help but feel a pang of empathy for Kaito. I understood how cultural obligations and duties could cloud a person’s judgment, how they could obscure one’s true desires. In a world that often demanded loyalty above all else, it was easy to lose sight of oneself. The weight of expectations, the pressure to uphold family honor—it could twist even the most innocent intentionsinto something unrecognizable. It was a heavy burden, one that made me question where responsibility ended and true agency began.

When I returned to the studio, the warm atmosphere wrapped around me like a comforting blanket. My coworkers greeted me with smiles and relieved laughter, their joy at my safe return palpable. They had been worried during my absence, unsure of what to do, and their relief was evident in the way they enveloped me in hugs and playful jabs.

“Look who’s back! I thought we’d have to start a search party!” teased Chivonn, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She told me in the break room that she tried to call the cops about my ex, but she soon discovered that the Yakuza had a far reach as none of her calls went anywhere. By the time the authorities arrived to cover the double murder, it was deemed in their reports to be a random act of violence made by the two men against each other, a crime of passion, quickly swept under the rug.

As for the other two witnesses? The female patrons never said a peep about anything that didn’t corroborate with what the authorities filed in their reports.

The other coworkers chimed in with lighthearted banter, pulling me from my morbid thoughts. We were all nervous about what occurred, but for now, no one was mentioning anything. Each coworker suggested a different imaginary situation on how I escaped the clutches of my ex before the disaster about gang wars, their faces painted with exaggerated expressions of romance and intrigue.

“I can’t believe you were able to escape that mess, Mae,”Jake said, crossing his arms and leaning against the back counter. “Who would have thought we were harboring so many gangs around here? At least to the degree of starting a full fledged war on the streets?”

“Knowing Mae, she probably had one of her secret admirers whisk her away just in time,” Sam chimed in, with a twinkle in his eye. “Ain’t that right, Mae? Or did you schedule a getaway car after knocking your ex unconscious in his little import?”

I rolled my eyes, trying to suppress a smile. “There’s no new man in my life,” I insisted, though I felt a warmth at their enthusiasm. I appreciated their attempts to lighten the mood, even if I wasn’t ready to share the truth. The thought of introducing Noboru to this tight-knit group was impossible.

“Sure, sure, keep telling yourself that!” Jake chimed in, winking as he leaned back in his chair. “We know how these things go. One minute you’re ‘just friends,’ and the next, you’re planning a wedding! I’m glad you finally got rid of that asshole ex of yours though,” The laughter that followed felt like a balm, reminding me that even amid the chaos, there were still moments of joy and camaraderie. For now, I was content to let them tease, keeping my secrets tucked away while I reveled in their lighthearted company.

After a long day at work, Noboru made sure to relax my muscles with a massage and rearranging my insides with me in submission to his invasion. Now my muscles ached for a different reason, one that made me not walk straight. The unexpected longer hours were both a blessing and a curse. It seemed that not-so-creepy Joel had been singing my praises to anyone who would listen,as my schedule filled up with high-priced requests for intricate artwork over the next few months.

The weight of recent events still lingered, but a sense of relief washed over me after the divine intervention that had lifted Noboru's punishment. Still, that calm felt deceptive.

I almost fell out of bed when an unsuspecting knock came at my front door.

“Are you expecting someone?” Noboru asked curiously.

I shook my head with a little frown, reluctantly leaving our bed. I approached my door and looked through the peephole, noticing a couple of familiar, anxious figures standing on the other side. My heart sank when I recognized my mother’s silhouette, accompanied by my father. They looked out of place and worried.

Quickly swinging the door open, I scanned our surroundings for anything amiss. “Ma? Pa? What are you guys doing here? Wait, how did you get here?”

My mother’s eyes were wide with concern, and my father’s expression was one of bewilderment.

“We took the bus. We were worried about you, Mae-Mae. Your mom said she was having these dreams and she told me we had to get here to make sure you are alright,” my dad replied with a shaky voice.

Before I could say more, my mother rushed forward and enveloped me in a tight hug, taking me by surprise. We’re not a hugging type of family, let alone one that expresses such sincerity without any veiled criticism toaccompany it. “We heard about what happened! The news was everywhere. Mae-Mae. I know Kaito’s face anywhere. Are you alright? What have you gotten yourself into? Gang-Gang, Mae-Mae?”

I hugged her back, feeling a mix of relief and guilt as well as a bit of awkwardness. We were still standing in the doorway after all. Luckily for me, my neighbors weren’t as nosey as hers. “I’m fine, really. It’s been... a lot, but I’m okay. You shouldn’t have come all this way. The bus, Ma? How long were you on the bus? You could have gotten lost.”

My father, who had been silently observing our interaction, finally spoke. “Mae-Mae. What is going on? What are you hiding from us…” His voice trailed off as he took in the sight of Noboru standing behind me, his divine presence unmistakable.

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