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“I’ll never have enough,” she breathed as she parted her thighs for me.

“Never,” I agreed, taking her face in my hands once again. I wanted—no needed— to watch as I entered her. The ecstasy on her face, the blush of her skin, the way she arched up to meet me, it all drove me wild as I pushed slowly inside.

The way she felt around me, so hot, so perfect, it was almost too much. But I forced myself to move carefully, to savor this moment as she stretched to take me completely. “That’s a good little spy,” I murmured when I’d seated myself fully inside.

“Fuck,” I grunted as I slid slowly back, then in again. The sensation was everything, and I couldn’t keep this up for long. Every fiber of my being wanted to let loose.

“Stop holding back,” she groaned, lifting her wrists to show her own fire melting the cuffs free.

I felt a stupid grin stretch my face in a way it hadn’t done in ages. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Fuck you,” she breathed.

“Don’t mind if I do,” I answered, then plunged inside of her.

Throwing her head back, she gripped my shoulders with sharp little nails, and I did it again.

“That’s better,” she said, wrapping her legs around my hips like she planned to keep me planted inside of her forever.

I wouldn’t have minded. But first… “Look at me,” I said, waiting until her gaze found mine again. “I want to watch you, little spy. I want to see how I make you feel, how much you need me.”

“More than air,” she answered in a desperate whisper.

Finally, I gave myself the permission I craved, and began thrusting harder and with more abandon, reveling in the sensation of her molten core as she clenched her muscles. I was nearly blind with pleasure, yet still I watched her flushed face and hooded eyes.

“Harder,” she commanded.

She found the sensitive rounded points of my ears and gripped them.

I fucking let go, making up for every moment we’d been ripped apart. I thrust into her until she screamed my name to the heavens, her walls spasming around me.

My eyes rolled back in my head as I came harder than I ever remember, pushing as far into her as possible with my climax. I bellowed a roar of my own. Then we clung to each other, our heartbeats synced as we buried our heads in each other’s necks. I held her tight enough to prevent anyone ripping her away from me again.

It was only when I felt her tears slip over my skin that I released her, pulling back enough to search her beautiful face.

“Nyah?” I asked, fear clenching my stomach.

“I came here to tell you something.” She stroked my face as her tears increased. Then so softly I thought I may have imagined it, she said, “You have to turn back.”

“What?” I wiped at the twin streams curling down her cheeks while she searched my eyes.

“Rivven, it isn’t safe. They’ll kill you if they see you.” She grasped my shoulders hard, nails once again digging into my flesh, this time in desperation.

“Who?” I asked, still holding her face.

“The gods. I will explain everything, but you have to promise me that as soon as you wake up, you’ll turn the ship around.”

“And go where, Nyah?” It came out harsher than I meant it to. I pressed my eyes closed to try to calm myself. “We can’t go back. We’ll be captured. And my mother sent us to the isles. She had to have a reason.”

“She did. I think it was so I would learn the truth. But now that I know, I understand what we need to do. I know why Rune and your mother insisted we wait until Balram had all the crystals. We just have to find the Tromodian one⁠—”

I pulled free of her and sprung to my feet. Nyah sat up, confusion clouding her features as she scooted to the edge of the bed to gather my hands.

“Rivven? Do you hear me? You cannot come here, or you will die. And if you die, I…I can’t do this alone.” And godsdamnit, she looked up at me with those big eyes, filled with even more unshed tears.

“Then come back to the ship, and we can⁠—”

“I will find a way back to you. I promise.”