I feel her body tense, her pussy clenching around my cock, and I know she's close. Her body shudders, and she letsout a guttural moan as she explodes around me. She moans my name, her voice a sweet serenade that sends me over the edge.

"Oh, Zara," I groan, my hips bucking uncontrollably as the world around me goes black. All I see is her, all I feel is her, and all I smell is her. And then, every vein, every muscle in my body tenses.

“Ughhh—” I groan out, and my cock throbs so painfully that it has no choice but to burst. Then, the sweetest sensation in the world overcomes me, the highest of all highs, and I feel her walls contract around me, milking me for every last drop. Her orgasm courses through her, and mine, through my veins.

Her walls tighten and release, tighten and release, and I stay in her, my cum dripping down her thighs, until she rides out the last of her wave. Gently, I pull out, and she falls on the bed, spent and breathless.

Though exhausted, I reach over for some tissue, helping to wipe her clean, before taking her in my arms.

As our breathing slows, I pull her closer, her head resting on my chest. "You're mine now," I whisper again, the possessiveness in my voice unmistakable.

She doesn't argue. Instead, she traces patterns on my chest, her touch soothing and calming. "Yours," she whispers back, and I know she means it.

We stay like that for a while, listening to each other's heartbeats, our breathing in sync.

"That was…" Zara trails off after a while, a smile playing on her lips.

"Incredible," I finish for her, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

She nods, then looks at me curiously. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything," I reply, my fingers tracing lazy patterns on her back.

Zara hesitates, then asks, "Have you… been with many women?"

I chuckle softly. "Honestly? Yes. But they were all just flings. Nothing serious." I pause, meeting her gaze. "Until you."

Her eyes widen slightly. "Me?"

"From the moment I saw you, Zara, I was captivated. I’ve met many women, but you took me by surprise. There I was, thinking someone with your credentials would be older, probably a grandmother. When I saw how young you were, how accomplished, it threw out everything I believed to be true about people,” I tell her with all honesty.

She blushes, ducking her head under my arm. "I've never really dated much," she confesses. "After what happened in college with that guy I liked…and I was so nervous, thinking you must have had many serious relationships.”

“Never before you,” I kiss her forehead. “As for that guy, he’d never see a good thing, even if it’s staring him right at the face.”

Zara sighs. "I was betrayed when he was seeing another woman behind my back. Badly. It made me wary of getting close to anyone. But with you…" She looks up at me, vulnerability clear in her eyes. "With you, I feel safe."

The weight of her words settles over me, a warmth spreading through my chest. I pull Zara closer, feeling the steady rhythm of her heartbeat against mine. Her confession stirssomething deep within me—a fierce protectiveness I've never experienced before.

"You are safe with me," I murmur, my lips brushing her forehead. "I'll never let anyone hurt you."

Zara snuggles into me, her breath warm against my neck. "I believe you," she whispers, her voice thick with exhaustion.

I feel my own eyelids growing heavy.

"Abram?" Zara's sleepy voice breaks through my near slumber.

"Hmm?" I mutter, lazily.

"Thank you for tonight. For everything."

I smile in the darkness, tightening my hold on her. "Sleep now, Sweetheart. We have all the time in the world."

Chapter 20 - Zara

I get into the chauffeur-driven car Abram insists I now take to work when my phone buzzes. I look down to see an unknown number flashing on the screen. I hesitate, finger hovering over the answer button. Who could it be? Chances are it’s a new client or one of Abram’s office extensions.

But I’m now vary of unknown callers. Ever since my aunt took me by surprise, my phone seems to have become a weapon that could unleash a fresh wave of trauma at any given point.