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“You are?”

She nodded, her fingers digging into his flesh.

“It’s all right. If you say it now, I won’t believe you. I was wrong to try and force the issue.”

She nipped his finger and he snatched it away.

“Listen, you big dope. I never thought about it from your side before. I only thought about my issues. You haven’t exactly had it easy in the parenting department either, have you?”

“No.”

“We’re both a bit gun-shy.”

“Yes.”

She kissed him softly on the mouth. “If you won’t let me say it, can I show you instead?”

“Be my guest.”

She looked down and instantly clutched hold of him even tighter. “Here?”

“I won’t let you fall. I’ll never let you fall.”

“I suppose I’ll have to trust you, then.”

“Yes, you will.”

She kissed him again, and unaccustomed warmth unfolded in his chest. She might not be a conventional female by the standards of her own world, but in his, she was a true warrior.

He respected that.

With a wave of his hand, he had her naked and straddling him, her hot, wet core pressed against his hard cock, her nipples tightening against his chest. He lifted her over him and let her slide down slowly over his willing flesh. When he was deep inside her, she started to move on him, and he planted his feet firmly against the tree trunk to hold them both steady.

He slid his hand into her blond hair and wrapped it around his fist until she tilted her head for his kiss. Such a beautiful female, and his for all eternity—if he played his cards right.

Her inner muscles squeezed his cock, and he lost his train of thought.

Her feelings flooded his mind, of her first meeting him at the SBLE offices and admiring his ass, of their being stuck in the elevator shaft and the shock of their unexpectedly erotic mating.

“Ella…”

More images. This time of her hurt and betrayal, and of her need. She’d never let him see such things before, never let him in so completely. She was giving him the gift of herself, reminding him that love comes in many different forms and showing him her most vulnerable self. He doubted anyone else even knew such an Ella existed.

“I’ll never leave you, I swear it on my blood.”

He wrapped his thoughts and love around her and held her there, in his mind, in his arms and in his heart.

“Vadim,concentrate. Can’t you tell I want to come?”

“Come, then.”

He buried his face in the curve between her neck and shoulder. She climaxed around his shaft, and he gave himself up to her until he couldn’t give anymore, then followed her into bliss.

After a long while, when it was completely dark and even he was starting to feel cold, she touched his cheek. “Can we just go home?”

“I’d like that.”

“So would I.” She glanced up at the sky. “Can you fly me there?”

“Like this?” He scooped her even closer and anchored his arm around her hips. He pushed off the branch and they were airborne.

She clutched at his shoulders. “Wait! My clothes!”

He kept flying. In a while she might remember that she could do magic and fix the problem herself. But he sure wasn’t going to mention it…

Revenge was sometimes rather unexpected and remarkably sweet.

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