Chapter 26 · Ch26

The Table "Get on the table, Dimitri," he said, and I did, because I was done being the man who only strapped others down. Same iron. Different war. I asked him to take the armor off my neck with his mouth. He did, slow, the longest we'd ever gone without a threat in the hall.

"Look at me while I take you," I said, and pulled him in, surrender that went up as well as down. He slid inside like a vow. I met him. No . I asked. Please. I want you. Don't stop. The talk went low.

That's it. I've got you. Come for me. He shoved my shirt off. Clothes already wrecked. Full weight covering me. I trembled and still pulled him in. He slid inside because I opened the door this time. Slow, then a rhythm we chose, tight/slick, no audience.

We changed nothing about the plot and everything about the pace. I came with him, marked, asking, answering. After, we stayed touching — mouth, wrist, the leftover shake — and only then let the dark-night problem back into the room. Armor off. Dual need.