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Rath just held her as she told him everything. When she finally stopped, he asked, “How can you have so much relentless cheer?”

“To spite the fuckers. If I ever see him again, I am going to use a pulse blaster on his groin, but aside from that, I don’t dwell on it.”

Rath kissed her temple. “He’s dead, remember? You and Ranna had more in common than I thought.”

“Correct, but it still plays out in my mind now and then.”

“Which explains so much.”

“I thought so.”

“I believe we should have a conversation as to what you will and won’t enjoy.”

“I would have taken you anywhere after the sting or would have climbed you beforehand if I had the nerve.”

He chuckled and caressed her belly. “You need simply to demand me when you need me.”

“I have never been able simply to demand someone. There is a learning curve involved here.”

He turned her to face him. “I have no issue with your past and only wish a claim to your future. If something does not give you pleasure, it is useless to me. If it gives you pain, it spoils my absorption.”

“Oh, so it’s all about you.”

He chuckled. “It absolutely is, and because of that, it is now about you.”

She smiled. “Thank you, Rath. It’s keeping me grounded.”

He rolled her onto her back. “Now, reach down and guide me into you.”

She went up on her elbow and wrapped her fingers around his cock. She felt the bands that ran around his circumference and blinked. “Oh. Ridged for my enjoyment.”

He laughed. “If you enjoy it, I am delighted.”

She guided him to her before she stroked the base of his erection until she felt the small, spongy surface that clung to her fingertip, squeezing and massaging. She pulled back, and the frond followed.

“What do I do with it?” she muttered, followed by, “How long is it?”

He chuckled and said, “As long as my member, in case I have a mate that needs coaxing. It can attach to any stimulation point and help my partner to satisfaction.”

“What if the species doesn’t have that kind of point?”

“Then I would not have opted for them as a partner.” He continued to ease and rock against her as his erection disappeared into her.

Riley watched it go and widened her legs a little more when he needed more space to push in flush against her. She suspected her eyes were bugging out. “It fits.”

He grinned, his fangs gleaming bright. “It does. You are a treasure, Riley.”

“Treasure?”

“Your species easily adapts to our needs and the depths that the designers created to make us compatible with many species. There is something very feral about thrusting deep and watching your partner shiver with appreciation and not pain or fear.”

Riley closed her eyes and stroked his biceps. “Less chatter, more moving.”

He chuckled and started to move.

She gasped, moaned, and arched into him. The ridges on him rubbed on the way out and again as he surged in. He stroked every inch of her as he pushed in, and she realized that the designers hadn’t wanted to miss any chance for them to please a mate.

The tension and heat filled her until she felt her limbs were made of lazy lava. She tried to hang onto him, but her hands couldn’t grasp onto anything. It was like her entire nervous system was shorting out.