Page 18

18

Az’zael

I leaned back in my office chair and shoved a hand in my pocket. Crinkled paper brushed against my scales, and I eagerly pulled it out.

It was the second note I’d found today, written in Elle’s looping handwriting. I already planned to create a special case for them, one I could easily open, to read them whenever I wanted.

This one read, I love that you’re always so understanding. Thank you for not pushing me, even on things I know you disagree with.

I smoothed the note and reread it, clinging to the evidence that I’d made the right call to ignore my mom’s advice and give Elle some space.

Diego’s voice crackled through my intercom speaker. “Councilor Williams is here for you.”

“Send her in.”

She sauntered in a moment later, dressed as sharply as ever.

“Did we have something scheduled?” Shit.

“No. I came to congratulate you. City Council was concerned that Accutrust would pull out after what happened at the gala, but it seems you turned it around. We’ll be able to move forward with the new housing project. ”

I straightened up, buoyed by having set something in motion when most ideas took so much time to implement. “Hey, what about fixing up some of the existing housing?” I pulled up Elle’s old apartment complex on my screen. The one she’d officially move out of today.

Jasmine looked it over. “Well, these properties are privately owned. I’m not sure there’s much we can do about them.”

“Oh, I think I can fix that .” Would Elle like her old apartment complex? I could buy it and have it fixed up as a one-month anniversary gift.

I frowned. The repairs would take longer than a month. I could still give her the building, though.

Jasmine raised her eyebrows. “Why the sudden interest in slums? You’ve only ever focused on the nicer parts of town.”

I shrugged. “Kilinis is my city. I wouldn’t let any part of my hoard get disorganized or neglected. Why wouldn’t that extend to the city?” Elle living in squalor was unthinkable. I’d fixed that, but she had neighbors, too.

“I suppose it would.”

Jasmine studied me carefully, as if waiting for me to say something important. I sifted through the conversations we’d had, plus those I’d had with Elle about the city and its needs. Elle had said something on our second date about her living situation—something about her rent increasing. Which seemed grossly unfair, given the condition of her building.

“I’ve heard people complain that their rent keeps going up as well. Can we do something about that?”

Jasmine blinked several times before a slow smile crossed her lips. “There’s something called rent control that would help with that, but we haven’t had the political will to do it. Yet. ”

Oh, I had lots of political will. Especially once I understood how the policy would stabilize things for Kilinis’s current residents.

As Jasmine turned to go, I stopped her. “I’m sorry about my siblings. They wanted to surprise me, but they haven’t spent much time around humans, and it didn’t go according to plan.”

Jasmine shot me a thin smile. “Do they do that a lot?”

My wingtips twisted restlessly. “My sister knows better now.” A public set-down and another private conversation this morning had made sure of that. “But my brother…” I took a deep breath and a chance. “He’d like Kilinis for his own. I don’t intend to let that happen.”

Jasmine tilted her head. “Our contract is with you and Niemrin. We can’t simply replace you.”

I pressed my lips together. “If anyone could find a way, he could. But I trust you’ll tell me if he starts sniffing around.” Jasmine didn’t care for sneaks, although sometimes I felt like she was watching me, waiting for me to fuck up.

She studied me for a long moment. “He sent City Council a few messages when you first moved in, but we didn’t entertain him. Bringing in you and Niemrin was controversial enough. I don’t think any of us want to risk adding a third dragon to the mix.”

On that note, Jasmine left. Later that afternoon, she sent over a handful of other interesting proposals that hadn’t had enough “political will” to get off the ground.

I started making plans.

I adjusted my tie. Tonight, Elle would introduce me to her family. Her mother and her mother’s potential mate. It had taken several days for Elle and her mother to agree on Sunday night.

“They’ll like the restaurant?” I asked for the third time.

“The Lighthouse is Mama’s favorite.” Elle turned her back to me, and I zipped up her sundress. As much as I disliked putting clothes on my mate, the intimacy ignited something warm in my chest.

“But it’s not even fancy,” I said. “They’ll think I don’t value their time or their presence in your life.”

“I promise, they will be more uncomfortable if we go to some fine-dining establishment.” She tugged me toward the door.

I grumbled. “We could always host them here. Or your apartment, if you prefer.”

Elle glanced around my living room. “I don’t know if that’s a great idea either. Your decorations can be a bit much.”

“I have impeccable taste.” Gold and jewels and paintings decorated every available inch.

“Um, sure. It’s just not what they’re used to.”

Elle curled into me on the drive to the restaurant, her shoulders tense, one hand fiddling with the pearl necklace she’d insisted on wearing instead of the rest of the amethyst set I’d given her yesterday.

I continued giving her jewelry, over her objections that I’d already paid for her time in information. She enjoyed this new gift idea she’d come up with, and while I loved seeing her face light up every time I told her something—no one had ever wanted knowledge from me—I still wanted to drape her in treasure.

In the car, she fidgeted, and I didn’t like seeing her so subdued. She didn’t look as vibrant as a proper dragon mate should. What if her family thought I was mistreating her? They’d no doubt tell her she could find someone better .

“Her potential mate is joining us as well?” I asked. Elle hadn’t told me much about her mother’s almost-mate, but I wanted to get on both of their good sides.

Elle grimaced. “Please don’t call him that. He’s her boyfriend.”

“But that’s a step to mating, right? You called me your boyfriend yesterday.”

“It can be, but Mama swore off marriage, so not in her case.”

Outside the restaurant, a woman with Elle’s delicate bone structure but none of her height rushed forward to hug Elle. A tall human man with salt-and-pepper hair hung back, eyeing Elle’s clothes, then mine, and finally me.

My shoulders went back, pleased to know someone in Elle’s life was looking out for her.

Both of them wore well-cared-for but mid-tier, off-the-rack clothing. I wondered if they’d be more receptive to suggestions about better places to shop than Diego had been.

After the older woman released Elle, she turned to me. “You must be Az-Az’z—” She paused, took a breath. “Az’zael.” She mangled my name despite her efforts, running the two Z’s together instead of pronouncing them separately. “I’m Betty.”

“Please, call me Az.” I pulled her into a brief hug. Elle had informed me that this was common and expected behavior, although it felt too intimate for a virtual stranger.

“Az. That’s a nice name.” She turned to the man behind her, who was still eying me. “This is Dwayne.”

I shook his hand. He squeezed mine harder than necessary. I found myself glad that human’s restrictive gender norms did not require me to hug him.

Grinning, I said, “I’m delighted to meet both of you. ”

They stiffened. I grinned less widely, newly conscious that humans found my teeth unsettling.

Elle gave both of them a reassuring smile, and they relaxed.

Inside, the restaurant was clean but decorated with cheap, generic paintings and subpar furnishings. Staff had to dig around in the back for several minutes to pull out a chair that would accommodate my wings.

I wished Elle had allowed me to choose the restaurant, but since she’d have to endure an intense dinner and overnight stay with my parents next weekend, this seemed like a minor concession.

Once we were all seated, I set two boxes on the table. “I brought you both something.”

Beside me, Elle tensed. Betty and Dwayne exchanged looks, then opened their gifts.

“Beer?” Dwayne turned the dark brown bottle over and over in his hand, lips pursed. “I’ve never heard of this brand.” He squinted at the unobtrusive logo.

“It’s from a Trappist brewery in Belgium. I’m told it’s one of the best beers in the world.” Elle had mentioned that Dwayne enjoyed beer, and this brewery only sold theirs once a month.

“Couldn’t spring for a six-pack?” Dwayne said under his breath.

A flush crept across the back of my neck. Elle had given me strict instructions not to spend more than a hundred dollars on each gift. Two beers had been a few dollars over that, yet it was obviously still inadequate. Betty’s gift had cost a little more, but she was my future mate’s mother. I couldn’t afford to offend her.

Elle shot Dwayne an annoyed look and squeezed my thigh under the table.

Betty gasped beside him as she unwrapped her gift. “Bastet? ”

“It’s a replica of a statue of Bastet.” A perfect replica of the original eighteen-inch statue, down to the detailed carvings. “There’s a certificate in the box that explains where the original was found.” I couldn’t recall all the details.

Elle had mentioned her mother liked to feed the neighborhood cats, and now Bastet could look after them.

“I always loved Egyptian mythology.” Her eyes glistened.

“Elle mentioned that, yes.” My smile was a little smug.

Dwayne narrowed his eyes at the statue.

Elle patted my thigh again, shooting me a pleased look that I returned. Dwayne was the only one who disliked my gift.

Betty settled Bastet on the table next to her. The server interrupted us to take our order. He seemed far calmer than any server I’d had when out by myself.

“So, Az, how do you like Kilinis?” Betty asked.

“Kilinis is perfect.” I glanced at Elle, then back at Betty. “What about you? Elle said you work at a…” Quick? Handy? “Convenient store?”

“I used to work at a convenience store, but it wasn’t working out.” Betty flushed.

Elle’s fingers dug into my thigh.

“I sew clothes sometimes,” Betty continued. “Used to make a lot of Elle’s things when she was little. I heard about how some folks are selling their stuff online, so I might do that while I look for something better.”

Dwayne’s nostrils flared. “She tried to apply for a job last week, and the manager recognized her and asked all kinds of questions about you.”

Elle lurched forward in her seat. “What? You didn’t tell me that. ”

“Oh, baby, don’t worry about it. Just some nosy folks. They’ll get bored and stop asking when the next news story comes along.”

“Mama. You’ve got to tell me this stuff.”

Dwayne sat back with a smirk. It looked like the mirror of Udar’s whenever he’d gotten one of my parents to turn their “constructive criticism” on me or Tika. I narrowed my eyes at him.

He didn’t notice, too busy watching Elle and Betty.

“There’s nothing to tell. Besides, I like sewing. It’s nice to stretch my creativity.” Betty waved off Elle’s concerns.

Elle opened and shut her mouth a few times, then said, “Okay.”

“What kind of sewing?” I asked.

“Just kids’ things, frilly little dresses like I used to make Elle,” Betty said.

Elle shifted in her seat. “Come on, Mama, he doesn’t want to hear about my baby clothes.”

“Oh, but I do .” I leaned toward Betty. “You made Elle’s clothes ?” I knew humans often gifted their time in place of treasure, but such an extensive gift was something to brag about.

“Elle, do you still have some of those pieces?” I asked. I’d add them to my—our—hoard.

“No. I outgrew most of them, so we either sold them or gave them away.” Red tinted her cheeks. She tried to remove her hand from my thigh, but I caught it.

“I think your cousin Savannah got most of them,” Betty said.

“Right. Of course.” Elle coughed.

“More family?” I leaned closer to Elle. Savannah must be a great favorite to receive such valuable gifts.

Elle grimaced. “Yep. There’s a lot of us in Elliston.” She named a small town a short forty-five minutes east of Kilinis .

“We should plan a trip.” I could meet the rest of her family in one convenient location and win their approval in one fell swoop.

“Let’s talk about it after I meet your folks,” she said, rubbing the back of her neck.

I deflated a bit at the reminder that I hadn’t passed tonight’s tests yet. Betty had warmed to me, but Dwayne still sat with crossed arms.

“Why would you want to go visit those rednecks?” Dwayne asked.

“Dwayne. Please.” Betty shot him a sharp look.

I glanced between the humans, then whispered to Elle, “What’s a redneck?”

“I’ll explain later.” She turned to Dwayne. “Don’t insult my family.”

My shoulders straightened, and I glared at the human man.

He snapped his mouth shut and looked down at the table.

Dwayne barely spoke for the rest of dinner. Betty and I had a lovely conversation, but she shot nervous glances at Dwayne, whose eyes stayed fixed on his plate. Every time Betty looked at Dwayne, Elle tensed, her hand clenching on my arm or her shoulders drawing to her ears.

When the server brought the check, I automatically grabbed for it. Dwayne’s hand reached out a second faster and snatched it from the table.

“Keep your money, you overgrown salamander.”

I bristled. “I won’t disrespect Elle’s family, even if you are rude.” Not compensating Elle’s family for the gift of their time was unthinkable.

Elle’s hand squeezed my wrist. “Remember what we talked about.”

“Family? That girl,” Dwayne jerked his chin at my Elle, “is the most disrespectful brat—”

“Dwayne!” Betty hissed. “I asked you for one night! ”

My wings flicked at Dwayne, who blanched. Only Elle’s fingers clutching my arm kept me from giving the human a proper response.

Dwayne sucked his teeth. “I turned down two hours of overtime for dinner where some asshole shoves his fancy shit in my face, and he wants to talk about respect ? He won’t even let a man pay his own way.”

Betty sank down in her chair, face red.

Elle stared at her mom, then at Dwayne. Scrubbing a hand down her face, she said, “I think this dinner is over.”

“Agreed. I’ll pay for everyone but you.” I directed the last at Dwayne.

As soon as we were both in the car, I said, “If Betty swore off marrying Dwayne, I can’t blame her. What an ungenerous man.”

“I asked you to let Dwayne pay for him and Mama.” Elle’s eyes were on her phone, her thumbs flying. She didn’t curve her body into mine like usual.

“I’m courting you. I’d never expect my intended mate’s parents to pay—”

“When I meet your parents, do you expect me to pay for dinner?”

“Well, no.”

“Why not?” She turned toward me, her face hard.

“Because you’re human.”

She drew herself up in her seat, and somehow that didn’t seem like the right answer, even though it was true.

“The custom is different,” I fumbled. “Besides, my parents are hosting dinner. It’d be ridiculous to ask you to pay for that.”

“What if we met up at a restaurant?” Her lush lips pursed tight .

“We’d exchange gifts and decide who pays based on that.” And I’d make sure that I won the exchange, as I usually did with my family. “It’s dragon custom.” I felt like sand was shifting under my feet as I spoke.

“If you expect to follow dragon custom when we meet your parents, why can’t you respect my request to let Dwayne pay for himself and Mama? I told you he wouldn’t take it well if you tried to pay.”

The idea of her family not even expecting me to handle such a measly bill when they were trusting me with their precious Elle… “What if they think I’m poor?”

Silence stretched between us while she watched me through cold eyes. Chills broke out across my scales.

“Would that be so bad?” she said. Something dangerous lurked beneath her icy-calm tone.

“Um. Maybe not for humans. But I’m a dragon.” I groped for the right words. “I can literally smell treasure if it’s nearby. A poor dragon, one with no treasure and no library, is a pathetic dragon who does not deserve the title.” And my library was pitifully small, so I had to make up for it with treasure.

Elle blinked once. It felt like she was weighing my soul. “And what do you think about poor humans?”

“Humans can’t smell treasure.” My breaths came quick and fast. I wanted to pull her to me, hold her close until she understood. “You have other jobs. Artist and server and city councilor. Dragons have two: treasure-sniffer and knowledge-sniffer.” Niemrin and I divided up city management duties along those lines. “If I don’t even bring wealth to the table, why should your family approve of me?”

Elle’s face softened. “Az, you are so much more than your wealth.”

“You haven’t met many dragons yet.” They would clear up that misunderstanding .

“Humans aren’t like dragons. We value lots of things, and money isn’t at the top of the list.”

I scoffed.

“I’m serious. Sometimes your wealth makes me a little nervous because it comes with all these extra rules I don’t know how to follow.”

“Oh, that’s simple. Do whatever the hell you want, and I’ll roast anyone who doesn’t like it.”

Her eyes went wide. “Um, thanks? But what I meant was, I like you for lots of reasons, and my mom does, too. She cares that you’re sweet and you treat me well. And I love that you paid enough attention to what I said to get my mom and Dwayne thoughtful gifts. The gifts themselves are kind of secondary.”

I twisted my hands in my lap, trying not to pull her to me and lay a mating bite on her the second the word “love” left her lips. “Dwayne disapproves.”

“The only reason I care about Dwayne’s opinion is because Mama has to live with him when he’s in a snit. I warned you he wouldn’t like it if he thought you were throwing your weight around with the check.”

I glanced down at myself, then at her, so small and delicate compared to me. “Throw my weight around? You might be injured.”

The corner of her mouth tugged up. “It’s an expression. It means using your power and position to get your own way.”

“I just wanted your family to like me.”

Her eyes searched my face for a long moment. “Yeah, I see that now.”

Elle tapped on her phone a few more times, then curved her body into mine, going soft and pliable against me. I breathed out a sigh of relief and squeezed her closer, running my hands over the exposed skin along her arms. So supple and delicate and mine .

Almost.

“Mama liked you, just like I knew she would.”

“Betty is a lovely woman. I can see where you got your sweetness from. Perhaps she should find a more worthy boyfriend.”

“Yeah. I’ve tried to talk her out of Dwayne, but she doesn’t see things the same way.” She shifted back. “Sorry he’s such an idiot.”

I ran a hand down her arm. “It’s not your fault.” I thought of Udar again, how he had the same ability to stir up trouble with minimal splashback onto himself, and how Elle had seen through him as well. “It’s frustrating to feel like you’re the only one who sees how someone is being manipulated, but I’m glad you know how to recognize it.”

Of course, she might still run screaming when she met my parents. They’d make tonight look like a short flight on a clear blue day.

I shut those unpleasant thoughts out and focused on Elle, who was no longer mad at me and content to snuggle into my arms on the way back to her apartment.

She spent most nights with me now, sometimes doing nothing more than showering and dropping into bed exhausted after work. It made my claws itch and my teeth ache, but she’d be furious if I interfered with her job .

Once we were at her front door, I pulled her in for a careful kiss, conscious that she might want some space to herself tonight. When I stepped back, hands still on her hips, ready to tell her good night, she grabbed my chin and pulled me in again. One of her hands fumbled behind her until the door opened and she pulled me inside.

I might not be the brightest dragon, but I knew what that meant. I slammed the door behind us and hoisted her up onto the nearest surface. My tongue delved into her mouth, my claws making quick work of her pretty sundress.

I’d buy her another .

Elle ran her hands over my arms and back. The heat of her core scalded me through my pants. It would be so easy to slide my cocks into her, one at a time, and take us both to heaven. But I didn’t want a quick fuck on her kitchen island.

I wanted to savor my Elle. I’d been extra careful with her since my blunder in the shower, though she often begged me for more. It’d be so easy to accidentally hurt her.

The hand I had on her neck shifted to her heavy tits, soft waist, slim hips. I dropped kisses and nips all over her neck and chest, careful not to leave a mark on her soft skin while she panted and moaned.

“More.” She pushed into my mouth when I found one nipple. A little pinprick of teeth was all I gave her, though her demanding fingers dug into my shoulders.

When I made my way to her cunt, she pushed her hips into my face. I spread her open and licked and kissed the sensitive skin of her inner thighs.

She tasted better than gold smelled. Better than emeralds or diamonds. It was the taste of Elle giving herself to me with no reservations, her legs already wrapping around my head and drawing me closer.

She writhed under my mouth, making needy little noises in the back of her throat. Her scent, her desire, her hands fisted in my shirt, all drove me out of my fucking mind.

I tasted her everywhere, cataloging each noise she made. The soft moan when I sucked her clit, the deep groan when I thrust my tongue inside. The needy whine when I drew her folds into my mouth and grazed them with my teeth. Her surprised mewl when I ran my tongue over her back entrance. Each one ratcheted up my own need, setting my blood on fire.

“Yes, more,” she breathed, shoving herself more fully into my grip .

“Ah, Elle, you don’t know what you do to me.” Each time we fucked, she begged me to take her there, to fuck both her holes at once, and each time it was harder to say no. I wanted to give her everything she asked for, but I didn’t want to push her too far. I hoped a taste would satisfy her tonight.

I sure as fuck knew I would enjoy it.

I retracted my claws and delved my fingers inside her pussy. With my tongue on her ass, finding every sensitive nerve, I had a perfect view of the way her pretty pink pussy sucked my fingers deep. My cocks pulsed in my pants, desperately wanting to replace them.

I slid my tongue inside her tight ring of muscle, and her pussy clenched around my fingers. A few more licks and some pressure on her clit, and she flooded my hand as she flung her head back and moaned her pleasure.

A few quick motions had my pants undone, then I grabbed her hips and lined up my bottom cock with her pussy, rubbing the head along her slit, teasing both of us and enjoying the way she was all slicked up for me. The top one would rub her clit and help her come while I was inside her. My large hands bracketed her hips. She fit my grip perfectly, and a warm glow ignited in my chest.

She writhed beneath me, arching her hips for more. “Both, I want both.” A breathy moan, her eyes glassy with pleasure.

I stilled. “I don’t want to hurt you again.”

“You won’t. I promise.” She licked her lips.

“ Arum . I don’t see how.” I wasn’t certain a human could take both. It felt like a miracle each time her pussy stretched to take me. Vital to my continued sanity, but a miracle all the same.

“It’ll fit as long as we go slow.” She grasped one cock around the base. “Please, you’re always so gentle.”

“I have to be gentle.” I thrust into her delicate grip. Fluid beaded on the head of my cocks.

“Don’t you want to feel me coming on both your cocks?” She squeezed both as she spoke, as if to simulate the experience.

Fuck. I wanted that so bad. And she wanted it, too.

My gut clenched. “I have to get you to a bed.” She deserved something soft underneath her. Being inside her pussy was brain-meltingly good. It would take every ounce of control not to pound her into oblivion if I buried myself deep in both her holes. If I lost control, at least she’d be on a mattress.

She wrapped her arms and legs around me, and I carried her to her bedroom. My chest puffed out when I caught sight of the fine decorations and bed I’d bought her a few days ago.

She wiggled against me. “Stop getting distracted.”

I dropped her on the bed and nuzzled her neck. “I could never get distracted when you’re begging for me.”

She tugged my shirt off, and I let her. Then I spread her legs and dove between them, ignoring the throb below my belt.

This time, when I licked her, I retracted my claws and pressed a finger inside her back entrance while spearing her pussy with my tongue.

She came apart with a scream. The rich taste of her pleasure drenched my tongue.

Then she tugged me up and passed a bottle of lube into my free hand.

I slicked two fingers up and worked them inside her back hole. It took a little coaxing, but Elle was relaxed, thrusting into my hand while her own hand worked her clit. My eyes wandered to her delicate fingers on her puffy, sensitive flesh as my own oversized fingers slowly stretched and filled her. My cocks pulsed again .

Instead of giving in to the urge to thrust inside, I worked my fingers carefully into her puckered hole, thrusting and scissoring and preparing her for my invasion.

“Inside me, please .”

I glanced up to find Elle’s brown eyes locked on my cocks, her eyes glassy and big, her face taut with desire.

How could I deny her when she looked so needy?

I shucked off the rest of my clothes in record time, then slicked up one head with a generous helping of lube and spread more on her. I groaned and nudged the head of my lower cock at her back entrance.

She pushed her hips forward with a gasp. My free hand gripped her hip to still her. “Slow, Arum . I don’t want to hurt you.” Her face showed me only pleasure, half-lidded eyes and sweat-slicked skin.

“I’ll tell you if it hurts.” A husky promise that gripped my cock and had me forcing in another inch. Her eyes widened, and I froze until she wriggled demandingly.

“More.” Her pussy visibly clenched on nothing, and my cocks pulsed in response. I breathed deeply, worked my way in a little farther. Watching her stretch and clench and struggle to take me while she was on the verge of coming would be my undoing.

“Please, please fuck me,” Elle moaned, her head thrashing back, her blonde hair spilling free. That dirty word coming from my fierce Elle’s lips.

Both my cocks jerked and pulsed. “ Arum , you’re going to kill me.”

“Ah, but we’ll both die happy.” She pinched her nipple as she spoke, and I barely held back from thrusting deep.

Instead, I pushed inside with small thrusts, rubbing her clit and checking her face. I was halfway in when she came, her pussy clenching on nothing and her juices dripping down to soak me, her ass gripping my cock like a vise .

When her spasms subsided, I gritted my teeth and continued the slow penetration. Each ridge on my dick produced a new sound as it disappeared inside her, hit a new sensitive spot that I filed away for later use.

Somehow, I got my lower cock all the way inside her without spilling.

Then I pulled out of her delicious heat enough to position the head of my upper cock at the entrance to her pussy. My hands squeezed her thighs, and goosebumps broke out over my body as I watched her pussy swallow the first inch of my upper cock. I couldn’t have looked away for all the gold in the world.

Her back arched, and she moaned a wordless plea.

I clenched my jaw and worked myself inside. My eyes darted between where we were locked together and her face, checking for any small sign she might be in distress, but all I saw was pleasure. All I heard were moans.

Watching her body greedily swallow everything I had to give was the hottest thing I’d ever seen. If I didn’t take this slow, I would bust before I learned what it was like to have both my cocks buried balls deep inside her.

“You take me so well.” I gripped the bed hard with one hand, the other as gentle on her hips as I could make it.

She petted her breasts and rubbed her clit, like my own private show, and I didn’t know how I would hold on long enough to satisfy her.

I pushed in the final inch, and she clenched around me, her pussy drenching me as she gasped. I crouched over her, swallowing her noises, needing to make them a part of myself. Then I gritted my teeth and shredded the sheets as I pulled out gently and thrust inside and tried not to come.