Page 13 of Second

It took him a moment to gather his self-control sufficiently to respond. “It was not.”

“It wasn’t against mine, either.” She leaned in, her breasts brushing against his chest, causing him to shudder. “This won’t be either. It’s not your fault. Or mine. It’s these bracelets and that damned doctor.”

“Which is why—”

“No.” She closed her eyes for a brief moment, then opened them again. “Listen, Zar’Ryn… I’m attracted to you. Not just because of these bracelets. Iwas attracted from the moment I saw you.”

“You thought I had come to torture you.”

“Okay, sure. But as soon as I realized that wasn’t the case, Iwas attracted.” She cupped his face. “Remember what I said before? Itrust you. Iwant this and I want you.”

“I do not wish the doctor to win.”

“And I do not wish for either of us to suffer. Isn’t it better that we surrender to our need—ourmutualneed? It brings us closer together. Ican understand your feelings better. Yourthoughts. Your desires. Ithink making love,” she stuttered briefly over the words, before continuing more strongly. “I think making love brings us closer together. Allows us to plan our escape together. Maybe it allows us to communicate through thought alone.”

She let her words settle, her hands shifting across his chest. Her hands roamed freely now, exploring the hard planes of his shoulders and torso, the ridges of muscle that flexed beneath her touch.

Her hands glided downward until she reached his cock. She released a small exclamation of surprise. “You have mounds. And… and is this a knot?”

“It is. The mounds, they vibrate so it will give you great pleasure.”

“And the knot?”

“The mounds release a coating that increases your enjoyment and allows my knot to settle within you without pain.”

She grinned. “Well, that’s a relief.”

Then her grin faded and she slowly leaned in. Her lips slid across his mouth, parting slightly. With a groan, he rolled over onto her, bracing himself on his elbows so he wouldn’t crush her. Lowering his head, his long, white hair created a curtain, surrounding them. And then he took her mouth.

Instantly, his kiss grew harder, searing, fiercer and more demanding. His tongue swept inward, tangling with hers over and over. She tasted delicious, like all his favorite flavors rolled into one. He couldn’t get enough.

With a groan, she pulled back. “I need you. All of you,” she said softly. “Don’t make me beg.”

Her words undid him. With a growl, his hands and mouth worshipped every inch of her as if she were the only thing anchoring him to this universe. And perhaps shewas.

She shuddered beneath him, tiny, urgent whimpers escaping. Her hands gripped him, tugging at him, letting him know she was more than ready. Even so, he joined with her slowly, his body aligning with hers, their breaths mingling, their hearts beating in tandem. He paused, his forehead resting against hers, their shared connection humming with an intensity that seemed to suspendtime.

“You are everything,” he murmured

She answered by wrapping her legs around his waist, her body arching to meet his. The moment stretched, the bond between them flaring, bright and all-encompassing. When he finally moved, it was with a tenderness that belied the fire burning within him, acareful reverence for the fragile beauty of what they were creating together. His movements were slow and deliberate, each thrust an unspoken promise, asilent declaration of what she meant tohim.

Her hands clutched at his shoulders, her nails digging into his skin as she gasped his name. Her voice became a melody that echoed through him, stirring something primal, something he could no longer suppress. He intensified his movements, his lips finding hers in a kiss that was both fierce and tender, their connection deepening with every shared breath, every synchronized beat of their hearts.

Time ceased to exist, the outside world fading into nothingness as they lost themselves in each other. The bond between them flared and pulsed, aliving, breathing entity thatseemed to envelop them, drawing them closer until there was no beginning, no end—onlythem.

He shifted slightly, his hands guiding her hips as he adjusted the angle, eliciting a cry from her lips that sent a surge of heat through him. He moved faster, his restraint slipping as their bodies found a rhythm, aperfect harmony that left them both trembling. Her head tilted back, her hair spilling like a dark waterfall across the narrow bed, her eyes locking onto his with a vulnerability that made his chestache.

“Zar’Ryn,” she whispered, her voice breaking on a sob of pleasure. “I can’t… I—”

“You can,” he urged, his voice hoarse with his own rising passion. “I have you. Let go, Elara. Iam here.”

Her body tensed beneath him, her nails raking down his back as her climax surged through her, the bond amplifying her pleasure until it crashed over him like a wave. He knotted deep inside her and groaned, his movements faltering as his own release followed, the force of it leaving him shaking, his arms trembling as he held himself aboveher.

For a long moment, they simply lay there, their bodies entwined, their breathing ragged as they came down from the high of their shared intimacy. He brushed a strand of hair from her damp forehead, his lips pressing a gentle kiss to her temple.

“Are you all right?” he asked gruffly, his voice laced with concern.

She nodded, her smile radiant despite the tears glistening in her eyes. “I’m more than all right,” she reassured him, her fingers tracing the lines of his face. “I’ve never felt anything like this.”

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