Page 57 of Sy

She kissed him in response, her lips pressing against his, her tongue tangling with his. He began to move, his hips withdrawing before thrusting forward again, each movement sending waves of pleasure crashing through her body.

The rhythm was slow at first, deliberate, like each thrust was a claim, a declaration of his need and desire for her. She met each one, her body arching to meet his as their breaths mingled in the steamy air.

Their pace quickened, bodies moving together in perfect sync. The tiles behind her were slick and cool against her back, a contrast to the heat of his body where he moved against her. Within her.

His grip on her thighs tightened, his fingers digging into her flesh as his thrusts sped up. She responded in kind, her hips finding and matching his rhythm. Her breath came in short gasps.

The pleasure built, coiling tighter and tighter in her core. She felt it in every nerve ending and every cell of her being. His bigger, more powerful body was taut with tension, his muscles flexing under her hands as he held her against the wall easily. Taking her. Claiming her.

And she loved it.

His eyes met hers, the intensity of his gaze sending her spiraling even higher. There was a connection between them, something deep and profound that went beyond the physical. It was a feeling of rightness… of belonging, of their souls connecting.

“Sy,” she gasped, her voice breathless as the pleasure built to a fever pitch.

He responded with a low growl, his body tensing as his hips moved faster, driving her higher and higher. The world around them faded away, leaving only the two of them, their bodies joined and their hearts pounding in sync.

Their pace became almost frantic, their bodies moving together in a dance as old as time. Water poured over them, the pleasure overwhelming, all-consuming…

His breath came in ragged gasps, mingling with hers in the steam-filled air. The sound of their bodies coming together, the wet slap of flesh against flesh, was erotic, primal. It drove her higher, pushed her closer to the edge of oblivion.

Every nerve ending she had lit up with pleasure and anticipation. The tension in her core wound tighter with each thrust, each roll of his hips against hers. She could feel it building, a wave threatening to consume her completely.

He sped up the pace, his body moving with a desperate urgency that matched her own need. The sight of him, so fierce and completely focused on her, sent a fresh wave of heat flooding through her body.

Her head fell back against the tiles, her eyes fluttering closed as sensation became almost too much to bear. His lips found her neck, his teeth grazing her sensitive skin, sending shivers down her spine.

She felt his body tensing, muscles coiling as he approached his own peak. The knowledge that he was as affected as she was, that he was as lost in the sensation as she was, sent a thrill of power through her. Opening her eyes, she met his gaze and saw the raw, unbridled need reflected in his red eyes.

And then, with a final, powerful thrust, he sent her over the edge. Her body convulsed around him, muscles clenching as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over her. She cried out, her nails digging into his shoulders, her body shaking with the force of her release.

He followed her into pleasure, his hips jerking as he found his own release.

His roar of completion was primal, a sound that seemed to shake the very foundations of the garrison.

She smiled. It was a sound of triumph, of possession, of a man claiming his woman in the most basic way possible.

18

The cavern entrance gaped before him, darker than space itself. Kraath’s boots crunched on loose gravel, each step raising small clouds of dust that danced in the weak illumination from the guard’s torch. Something tickled his senses here—not quite a smell, not quite a feeling. His first incarnation would have recognized it instantly, but for him it was like remembering someone else’s dream.

“Commander.” The guard held himself with the easy readiness of a veteran, weapon held in a relaxed but ready position. His gaze darted between Kraath and the ceiling where spider web cracks traced ominous patterns. “The tremors are getting worse. In the last hour alone…” His voice trailed off as another shower of pebbles cascaded down between them.

A deep vibration filled the silence, one Kraath could feel in his bones. Dust sifted down in a continuous stream now, catching what little light reached into the entrance. The entire cavern groaned like a dying beast.

“The entire system is compromised,” the guard said in warning. “Engineering reports suggest structural failure is imminent. Perhaps we should seal this section until?—”

“No.” The word came out sharper than he’d intended, but he didn’t soften it. The guard’s assessment was accurate enough. The risk was real. But he hadn’t spent lifetimes searching, hadn’t dedicated his first incarnation to understanding these fragments of alien technology, to turn back now. Not when the largest cache he’d ever encountered waited just beyond that threshold.

Another tremor rippled through the rock, stronger than the last. Dust rained down, coating his shoulders in a fine, gritty layer. The guard shifted his weight, compensating for the movement beneath their feet.

“Commander, at least allow me to summon additional warriors. If the ceiling?—”

“That won’t be necessary.” He kept his voice level, professional. But beneath that calm exterior, anticipation coiled in his gut. This was more technology than his first incarnation had ever discovered, more than all the precious fragments he’d studied combined. “I understand the risks. I’ll be careful.”

The guard’s expression suggested he wanted to argue further, but years of military discipline held his tongue. He settled for a respectful nod, stepping aside.

The threshold between tunnel and cavern marked more than just physical space. He felt it the moment he crossed over—a shift in pressure, in the quality of darkness itself. That almost-familiar sensation grew stronger here, mixing with the musty smell of ancient stone.

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