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My smile is wicked.“Were you hoping I’d spank your ass?”I trace my bottom lip with a thumb.“If that’s what you’re into…”

Her lips part as she stares at me for a speechless moment.When she finally finds her voice again, it’s to stutter, “I’m not.”

And I’m done waiting.I show her just how impatient I am by gripping her hips and positioning her like I want her.

Locking her elbows, she braces herself on her arms.“Aruan, I?—”

I don’t know if she was about to beg me to go slow or to kill this need eating us alive hard and fast, but her words are cut short when I enter her with a single thrust, pushing halfway inside.She makes a choking sound, crumpling the bedding in her fists.I keep her up with one arm around her middle and grit my teeth hard to prevent myself from losing control.This is new for both of us.Hurting her is the last thing I want.

Keeping still, I give her time to adjust while caressing her slender back.I can’t resist drawing a finger over the elegant line of her spine, memorizing her shape with my sight and touch.I inhale her floral scent, burning that into my memory too.

When her muscles soften around my cock, I slide in another inch, and another, until she’s taken everything.She’s panting as hard as I am, both of us fighting our own battles—me not to get swept away by the unbearable pleasure and risk tearing her in a moment of wild lust and she struggling to take me inside her small body.

She’s even wetter than earlier, easing my way when I pull out and push back in, but her tight pussy milks my cock mercilessly.I have to grip the base and squeeze hard not to come.Slipping my free hand between her thighs, I play with her clit the way she likes.I have to bring her closer to the edge so I can take care of her pleasure before I’m unable to hold back.

It doesn’t take long before she comes, nearly setting off my own climax.Cupping the soft curve of her hip in one hand and a pert breast in the other, I take her with a few shallow pumps until she gets the rhythm.

Soon, she’s following my lead, pushing back with every thrust, urging me to take her harder and deeper until I’m pummeling her ass with my groin.Her moans only spur me on.I tweak her nipple, enjoying the hardness of the little bud between my fingers.She gasps and hollows her back, but she doesn’t try to stop me.If anything, she grows wetter around me.I move faster still, pleasure gathering at the base of my spine.

The threat on her life has set off every protective response inside me.Elsie is mine, and I must keep her safe.The terrifying thought of losing her pushes me to wrestle a confirmation from her.

“You’re mine, Elsie.”I burrow the fingers of both hands in the silky skin of her waist to keep her in place and hammer my hips faster against her groin.“Say it.”

“Yours,” she cries out as her pussy spasms around me, triggering my own release.

I come so violently that streaks of light flash like shooting stars behind my eyes.My release goes on and on, the pleasure lasting for a long time.Thick jets of cum fill up her pussy until her body can’t hold any more, and it starts leaking out.

Unwilling to sever our connection, I sit down on my heels and bring her with me.My cock has gone semi-soft, but like an unsatiable beast, I’m already growing hard inside her again.Only she can have this effect on me.

Her knees are pressed together between mine.I spread them, letting her straddle me with her back against my chest, and then I take her again, spearing into her with sharp upward punches of my hips.I play with a nipple and rub her clit with the heel of my palm while making her ride me until she comes again.My cum is still warm in her pussy, the excess dripping down her inner thighs, when I push her onto her stomach and spread her legs.Securing her to the bed with a palm on her lower back, I give her another orgasm with my hand.

I only stop when she begs me, telling me she can’t take more.

Lying down next to her, I pull her head onto my chest.We’re quiet for a while, catching our breaths.I’m both sated and unsettled, content and wary.

Elsie broaches the subject responsible for my turbulent thoughts first.Intertwining her fingers on my chest, she rests her chin on her hands and looks me straight in the eyes.“Who do you think tampered with the bridge?”

I clench my jaw.“It must’ve been somebody inside the palace.”

“Someone could’ve done it from the side of the cliff.”

“The stairs are guarded.We would’ve known if someone who doesn’t belong in the palace climbed up to the bridge.”

She ponders that for a moment before asking, “Who knew I was planning on taking the humans onto the bridge?”

I brush a hand over her hair, enjoying the silky feel of the short strands under my fingers.“I told Gaia and Vitai you’d need someone to open the waterfall.My parents were present, as well as my cousins.”

“Do you think your mother…?”she starts uncertainly.

“The truth is that anyone could’ve eavesdropped.”

A frown pleats her brow.“What are we going to do, Aruan?”

I like the sound of that—of “we.”Since the day I found Elsie on Zerra, there’ve always been two people instead of one in this new equation of my life.And lying here with her in my arms, I know exactly what I’m going to do.I’m going to take her away from the danger until I can find the person or persons responsible for the attempts on her life.I’m going to take her to Marikanea.At first, when my father brought it up, I thought it was too soon.I was going to say no.But now I think it may be the best decision.I’ll take Elsie there myself to make sure no one harms her.

“We’re going on a trip,” I say.

She eyes me curiously.“Where to?”