“And I believe you had some plan?” I allow my lips to stretch into a grin. The very grin that always makes my little human so emotional, so flustered. “Or are you wanting me to teach you how this is done?”

“Ha!” Laura laughs. “I’ll show you how it’s done!”

She pushes on my chest, forcing me to lie on my back again. I look up at her warmly, pleased to see her spark rekindling.

That grin’s wiped from my face when she lifts herself over me and positions my cockas at her entrance. I swear my eyes nearly roll into the back of my head as pleasure engulfs me. Inch by slow, painstaking inch, Laura lowers onto me. Her hips rock, and I watch utterly mesmerized as her breasts bounce with each movement.

On their own accord, my hands grip her hips, helping to ease her movements. Lifting her up a bit higher and pulling her down a bit harder. I grip her tight, almost fearful that I might bruise her.

“Laura…” I gasp her name.

My response only seems to fuel her onwards. Her hips rise and rock, fluid movements that have every nerve ending on fire. Meteors could rain down from the sky, and I wouldn’t notice. My entire focus, my entire being, is drawn to that one point where we meet. The way her body clasps around mine. The heat of her shaft. The slick sound of our bodies pounding together, of my hips arching to press even more deeply inside of her.

The way she cries out with each movement. Her short breaths and moans mingling with my own.

The tension builds at the base of my tail, an almost painful burn. I’m so close… But I can’t… I need her to…

A roar spills from my lips as her inner muscles tighten on my bulge, squeezing as her own climax rips through her. My orgasm takes over me as seed spills from my tip, entering her deeply. My hips buck as I slam her against me, filling her. She sobs, hips grinding against mine, taking me ever deeper. Her muscles milk me, demanding every drop I have.

And when we’re spent, she collapses on top of me.

“Nelan…” she whispers, her hot breath gliding over my skin. My cockas gives a throb, eager to please her again. We both moan, and then she giggles. “That was amazing. Thank you.”

My arms wrap around her, drawing her close. My tail sneaks out, capturing the tangled blankets of the bed, and draws them aroundher limp form.

“Sleep, my Laura,” I tell her. “You are safe here with me.”

I’m not even sure she’s heard me, her breathing is even and deep as slumber takes over her. It’s easy to see how exhausted she is. She holds herself so tight all the time, like she’s afraid to make a single move wrong.

I place a gentle kiss on her forehead.

This is almost perfect. Almost. A heat builds in my chest at the small lie I told her. She is always safe with me… but can I keep her from my past? With the danger of the General lurking so close… can I truly keep her safe?

Chapter

Eight

LAURA

Islip out of Nelan’s room, my bare feet silent on the cool floor. The corridor is mercifully empty; the last thing I need is to be caught doing the walk of shame by one of the other girls. Or worse, by Rist. The guy’s pretty much the same age as me, and yet somehow he’s become a bit like a father figure; someone you really don’t want to let down. Or see you in last night’s clothes. Talk about an awkward family dinner.

As I sneak along the corridor, memories of last night flood my mind. Nelan’s strong arms around me, his lips on my skin, the way he made me feel safe and wanted... My body aches in all the right places, a reminder of the night’s activities. I shake my head, trying to dispel the images. What was I thinking?

“Way to go, Laura,” I mutter to myself. “Fall into bed with the first guy who shows you a bit of kindness. Real smooth move there.”

I can’t escape the nagging voice in my head.

You’re weak. You’re pathetic. You swore you’d never let a man have this much power over you again.

By the time I’ve reached the kitchen doors, I’ve built up a solid wall of self-loathing. It’s probably the only thing I’ve ever successfully built without burning, breaking, or turning into an unidentifiable goo.

“Pull yourself together,” I tell myself sternly. “You’ve got work to do. The girls will be wanting breakfast soon. And God knows they turn into hangry velociraptors without their morning not-coffee.”

I’ll lose myself in the familiar routine of food prep. It’s always helped in the past. Chop, dice, sauté – it’s like meditation, but with the constant threat of finger loss. But as I push through the door, I’m greeted by the concerned faces of Elana and Charlotte. So much for my stealthy entrance. I might as well have come in with a marching band playing “I Just Had Sex.”

“There you are!” Elana exclaims. “We’ve been worried sick. It’s not like you to be late for breakfast!”

Guilt gnaws at me. In the aftermath of overhearing Rist and the General, followed by my night with Nelan, well, I may have slept in a bit. Or a lot.