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He lifted her up and nudged her back down, the movement inside her making Ruby moan. But it wasn’t enough: it was too much, as always. But still notenough. It wouldn’t be enough until she felt those powerful hips snapping against her, his knot swelling inside her.

“I don’t want you to consult anyone,” she said, rocking against him. “I want all of you. The ward ritual?—”

Slate’s fingers dug into her thighs. “Don’t think about that.”

“But—”

He grabbed her chin. His grip was firm, but the claw he stroked over her cheek was so gentle.

“Just let yourself feel it,” he urged. “Doesn’t it feel good?”

Ruby wanted to protest. To point out that this was all for nothing if she couldn’t make him fit. That even if the ward magically fixed itself tomorrow, she still needed it. She needed it in a way she didn’t fully understand, a need that went deeper than anything she had ever felt. She needed his knot like she needed air or food, and she couldn’t believe she could have gone her whole life without knowing that.

But he was fucking into her faster now, and her words trailed off in a frustrated moan. Then he reached for her clit, and everything melted except his huge cock and his big, careful finger rubbing circles over her nub.

“Your task right now is not to take all of me,” he rumbled. “Your task is to come on my cock. Can you do that, little witch?”

Ruby couldn’t talk beyond a series of panting moans. She nodded instead, her eyes squeezing shut as he pounded faster.

“Good,” Slate said raggedly. His fingers tightened around her jaw. “Come.”

Ruby came with a cry, wave after wave of pleasure crashing over her as he fucked her through it.

“Glorious,” Slate said, his voice deep and guttural. “Open your eyes, little witch. Look at me while I fill you up.”

Ruby pried her eyes open. They were watery with tears, but she could see his slack mouth as he moved faster inside her. His tongue was lolling out, the tip grazing her nipple with every thrust.

Slate grunted, half feral. “Say my name.”

Ruby let out a small, overwhelmed sob. “Slate.”

Slate growled. A claw dug hard into her cheek, nearly piercing the skin as his hips stilled, pouring hot ropes of come deep inside.

Ruby’s mouth dropped open, her eyelids fluttering. It was so good she almost forgot that half his cock was still sticking out of her, throbbing with each pulse. She looked down to watch his knot swell under the bathwater, her hole throbbing with want even as he filled her.

His growl faded into a spent moan. He tucked her head into his chest, and they sat there for a long minute, breathing in tandem.

Ruby shifted. His cock was soft inside her now, and she could feel the first round of his slick dripping out. This was usually a sign that he would start up again, pushing himself deeper.

Instead, he lifted her off of him. She made a noise of protest as he slipped out of her, and he shushed her.

“We came in here to get clean,” he reminded her. “We did not do very well.”

Ruby laughed shakily. When he held up a cloth, she let him wipe her salt-streaked cheeks.

By the time he had finished wiping them both down, Ruby was sagging against him.

He picked her up in his arms, cradling her to his chest.

She made a sleepy noise against his nipple. “I can take it again.”

“Not tonight.” He curled his tail around her ankle and gave her a comforting squeeze. “Tonight, you will rest.”

She tried to complain. But the day had been so exhausting, and he was carrying her so gently that when he lowered her onto the castle bed, she was already half in a dream.

She still managed to grab his horn as he went to pull away.

“Want your nest,” she mumbled. “Want… want to wake up with you.”