Page 45 of Bound By Valor

“Harder, Zarek,” I gasped between moans, and his slow, deliberate thrusts transformed into rapid, forceful drives. Zarek lost himself in the fervor, his movements wild with desperation.

“Please, please, please, please, please,” I begged for more.

I bit down on the pillow as instructed. My moans—loud enough for the whole squad to hear—muffled slightly.

“Fuck, I love it when you beg.” Zarek’s voice was breathy. With one final thrust, I was catapulted over the edge, spiraling into a continuous climax. Zarek didn’t stop, his rhythm growing even more frenzied. My body shook, every nerve alight with exquisitepleasure, my bones seemingly dissolving in the heat. I was writhing, shivering, twisting in pleasure.

“Zarek,” I moaned out his name as waves of endless release swept through me.

With a final deep thrust, he stilled, his groan vibrating through the air as he reached his own climax. He collapsed onto me, his breath cooling the skin of my back.

“Fuck,” he exhaled softly, pulling out and then drawing me back against his chest, enveloping me.

“I guess I should argue more,” I breathed, a spontaneous giggle bubbling up between us. Zarek’s laughter mingled with mine as he began tracing a path of kisses along my neck and up to my jaw. He propped himself on one elbow, gently turning my face towards his. With a look full of deep affection and longing, he paused for a moment before his lips urgently met mine.

TWENTY-ONE

Leora

ONE MONTH LATER

“Did you get it done?” I asked Kabir.

“Yeah, the rent’s all paid up, and they cleaned your apartment a couple of days ago,” he replied, giving me a quick smile before his expression turned serious. “You haven’t told Zarek about keeping your apartment, have you?”

I let out a sigh, feeling the weight of the secret. “No, I just… I need to keep some things separate, for now.”

Kabir leaned back in his chair, eyeing me closely. “Zarek told me to terminate your lease and move everything to storage.”

A pang of guilt hit me, and I looked down,wrestling with my attachment to my past life. This relationship with Zarek was still so new, and what if he decided it was too much? Or that he was compromised and a liability to his squad? He had said it once and I didn’t fully forget that.

“Just… keep this between us a little longer. I’ll tell him, I promise,” I said, meeting his gaze.

Kabir shrugged noncommittally, and I headed back out to the main area of the warehouse where we’d been stationed for the past month. My training had been intense, and I felt stronger than ever.

“Finally!” Logan grumbled, “I have been waiting for three minutes.”

“Are you really complaining over three minutes, Lo?”

“Punctuality is what I admire in a person. Be on time when I call you next time.”

“As you say, Master Lo,” I bowed to him dramatically and he gave me a mocking smile.

Logan had been tense since the last mission, which had been a setup—they lost a nonexistent shipment in an ambush. And to top it off, he’d lost his favorite Glock in the chaos, which didn’t help his mood.

“I don’t have much time before we have to leave for the next assignment,” he mumbled.

“I got you, Lo. What do you need?”

“I’ve set up moving targets thirty yards away. It’s a basic multi-position shooting drill. Here are your magz,” he handed me a bunch of magazines that I secured in my vest, “Get ready on the whistle.”

I nodded, took position, and he whistled.

Once my practice was executed, he ran the score on the target sheets and walked back to me with a tense expression. My heart dropped. My last scorehad been near perfect, 17 over 20. Did I do worse?

“19 over 20, Leora,” he said with a blank expression and handed me the sheets.

“You called me Leora,” I said, looking over the sheets.

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