“Good,” Khabri says.
“So… it’s over?” I ask.
“Yes,” Khabri says.
“This battle is over,” Rosalind says. “I am not going to be so fast to assume the war is over too.”
“We have bought time,” Visidion says. “But there can be no doubts that there are those in the galaxy willing and able to bring war to Tajss.”
“True,” Khabri says. “It is not for us to live in fear, though. Let us make the most of the time we have bought.”
Cheers echo from the halls outside this room as the rest of the survivors hear the news that it’s over.
“Khabri, you speak for the Order,” Rosalind says. “I would invite you and your mate to sit in council with us.”
“Thank you,” Khabri says. “I will.”
I bite my lip looking at Rosalind. I can’t not speak up. I try to keep the words inside but they won’t stay.
“Rosalind, you know… who I am?”
“Yes,” Rosalind says, looking at me with her imperious stare.
“You know… what I did? You want me on your council?”
“Why would I not?” Rosalind asks.
“I followed Gershom,” I blurt it out. “I was banished with him. I was stupid, sure, but… you…”
Rosalind’s glare causes me to lose my train of thought and I stumble over my last words.
“Anna,” Rosalind says. “Gershom was a foolish man, yet I did not, nor have I ever, wished harm on him or any of his followers. If the Zmaj and human race are to survive, we need every one of us. Even the fools.”
My cheeks burns red hot, I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult but either way, she wants me here. She forgives me, something I didn’t know I wanted but knowing it, a weight lifts from my heart. I look at Khabri and the love I have for him is set free with the lifting of that burden.
I’ve made mistakes. I’ve done stupid things, but those things are my past. They don’t define me now or mean I can’t do better in the future. And I am better, because of him.
“Let’s take some time to celebrate,” Rosalind says. “We’ll meet tomorrow and begin putting together our way forward.”
Visidion puts his arm around her shoulders and the two of them walk off together. Khabri and I walk out of the control room without a word, each of us knowing the other’s intention without them.
As the door closes behind us, I turn into him and rise on my toes. Our lips meet in a gentle, soft kiss. I nibble his lip, tugging at it. His tongue swirls in my mouth as his hands work to free me of constricting clothing.
“Anna,” he breathes my name, and I shiver as his breath brushes across my fevered skin.
“Khabri,” I say.
He explores me with his lips and the lightest of touches. We work our way into a bunk room, managing not to fall in the tangle of our falling clothes. As he lowers me onto the bed he continues kissing.
The bed creaks as he places his weight. His massive body hovers over mine, his rock-hard cock brushes against my leg.
I run my fingers through his hair and grab his horns. I pull him into a deep kiss. Our tongues tasting of each other until we break to breathe.
Staring into his deep, soulful eyes, I believe. All of it. Call it fate. Call it destiny. Call it what word you will, and it doesn’t do this justice.
We belong together. It’s right in a way that nothing in my life has ever been before.
The bed protests as he climbs on the rest of the way and shifts his hips. I spread my legs, welcoming him inside of me.
Where he belongs.
Together.
His cock slides in, and it’s like two pieces of one part coming together. This isn’t sex. Sex doesn’t describe this.
Our bodies join together. Our bodies are having sex, but it’s unlike any sex I’ve ever known. I’m complete.
Full, spiritually and physically. His cock drives in to the hilt.
“Khabri!” I exclaim my pleasure as sensation rushes through me.
He’s mine. I’m his. We’re one.
He pulls out to the tip. He reaches down, grabbing his shaft, and then he moves it in a circle, using the head to explore my folds. When he finds my clit and rubs up and down, I can’t contain a shudder as I’m overwhelmed with pleasure.
He pulls away and I groan, pulling down on his horns, wanting to be filled. He rises onto his knees, grabs my hips, and flips me over.
I rise, pressing my ass back against him, and he shifts and enters. He doesn’t hold back, thrusting in deep, and we find our rhythm.
He grabs my tits, teasing the nipples with one hand, slapping my ass with the other. He brings his tail around and places it on my ass, shifting until it puts pressure on my virgin hole.
I bury my face in the pillow, not wanting to be heard, but unable to contain my voice.
Reaching between my legs I rub my clit as he pounds my pussy faster and harder. He’s close and so am I. When he drives in and holds, lifting me up so that I’m impaled on his cock, the orgasm takes over.
Muscles clench, stars explode in my vision. I’m left shuddering in the aftershocks of the most forceful orgasm I’ve ever experienced. He spills so much seed into me that it runs down my legs as he lowers me to the bed.
He pulls out and moves around until we’re lying next to each other, my head on his chest, listening to his breath.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you,” he says. “And our children. And our life. I am filled with joy such as I’ve never known.”
For the first time, I don’t feel the recoil at the thought of kids. Actually I feel… excited? Intrigued? Desirous even?
“Have we won, for real?” I ask.
He doesn’t answer at first. His fingers play with my hair, trail down my shoulders, then back.
“No,” he says at last. “We have, though, bought time. Time to prepare.”
“How long?” I ask.
“I don’t know,” he says. “We will need to make the most of it.”
“What is this place?” I ask.
“A place of nightmares,” he says. He shifts onto his side, resting his head on one arm.
“What do you mean?”
“The Devastation was set in motion in this place,” he says. “It is a place of great evil.”
“Why do we stay here then?” I ask.
“We won’t, not for long,” he says. “This must be a temporary respite while we find suitable arrangements to replace our homes.”
“Do you have any ideas?”
“Not yet,” he says. “Tajss will provide though.”
I smile at his words. “Do you really believe that?”
“I do,” he says, tracing my cheek with the tips of his fingers. “How can I not? It brought you to me.”
“I don’t know if I believe all that,” I say. “But I like the idea.”
“I will believe enough for both of us,” he smiles.
His hand trails down my side coming to rest on my hip. He shifts again, lowering himself, until he’s kissing my stomach.
“Our children will be strong,” he says. “Leaders for the future. The world they will inherit is what we create for them.”