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She’d known the moment the words left her mouth that they weren’t going to go over well. He had given her that look, the one that said he had at least a dozen arguments ready about why trusting magic was exactly what had gotten them into this mess in the first place. Ria had simply shaken her head, already regretting giving him the opening.

Of course, he didn’t like that answer. But she’d also discovered easier ways to end the argument. A hug usually worked. A kiss worked even better. Whenever he started going on about risks and unknowns, she would simply lean into him, wrap her arms around his waist, or press a kiss against his cheek. It never solved the problem, exactly, but it did make him stop talking for a little while.

Eventually, though, those kisses and hugs had a way of leading somewhere else, and Asterion had quickly turned it into his personal mission to unravel her. She would see that spark in his eyes and know exactly what he was thinking. Their private moments became something of a game, with him determined to get a reaction out of her after she’d so easily silenced him with a kiss, while she stubbornly tried to keep quiet and maintain her composure. Neither of them wanted to be responsible for waking Korinnae, which only made the challenge more entertaining.

Sometimes Ria won, managing to keep quiet despite his best efforts, and she took entirely too much satisfaction in the smug look that followed. Other times, Asterion managed to break through her resolve, but it always ended with orgasms, so she wasn’t complaining. And seeing him lose his composure and hear a moan slip out of him was her most favorite victory of all. What had started as a way to distract each other from difficult conversations had become another private language between them, one filled with teasing, competition, and more than enough reasons to look forward to being alone together.

“You’re thinking again,” Asterion grumbled, his arm tightening around her waist.

She smiled to herself at the sound of his sleepy voice. “I’m asleep,” she murmured.

“No, you’re not. Your loud thinking woke me up.”

She turned around to look at him, expecting to find him watching her, but his eyes were closed, his expression completely relaxed. She bit back a laugh. Even half-asleep, he apparently had something to say about everything.

“Well, since we’re both awake…” She let the words linger for a moment before adding, “We could always find something to do. We have just enough time.”

That got one of his eyes to open. He studied her for a moment, clearly trying to decide whether she was serious. The corner of her mouth lifted, and his expression changed almost immediately.

“Do we now?”

She smiled. “Yes,” she pressed herself closer, enjoying the way his sleepy expression disappeared almost instantly. The reaction she wanted flickered across his face, followed by that spark in his eyes that told her she’d successfully gotten his attention.

“You’re trouble,” he murmured, his voice still rough with sleep.

She ran her palm over his chest, letting her fingers sink into the short fur. It was soft beneath her hand, with solid muscle underneath. “Don’t even act like you don’t want to,” she murmured, smiling against his mouth. “I know you do.”

“Ah, let’s see,” he teased, as his hand settled on her pussy, confirming what she already knew. She was wet for him, the fabric of her nightshirt damp where it pressed against her. His thumb circled her clit through the cloth, and she ground against the rough pad.

“Alright,” he rumbled. “You’ve convinced me.”

“It’s rather convenient, don’t you think?” Ria laughed softly. “Your minotaur magic?”

“What,” he scoffed. “We don’t have magic.”

“Don’t you?” she challenged. “You ‘intend to fuck me’ and all of a sudden, my body is more than willing.”

Asterion’s laughter was deep, shaking the mattress beneath them. But his thumb continued its slow circles on her clit. “Don’t flatter yourself, witch. Perhaps it’s not my magic, but simply your own good taste finally catching up with you.”

“Oh, is that what this is?” She smiled and rolled her hips. “My body finally deciding it’s had enough of your charming personality and wants to move on to your more redeeming qualities?”

“Watch out. Or you might find yourself thoroughly convinced of all my qualities. Charming and otherwise.”

“Promises, promises,” she sighed, as he pressed a line of kisses along her neck.

“Enough talking,” she said and moved, settling her knees on either side of his hips. As she sat up, she gave him enough room to pull off his pants and kick them aside. With an impatient tug, she yanked her nightshirt over her head and tossed it to the floor. She settled fully onto his lap, her thighs spreading around his hips, the coarse fur brushing against her as she shifted closer. Ria reached between them, her fingers curling around his thick cock, and sank down. The stretch made her pause, and she rolled her hips until the burn began to soften, melting into pleasure.

“You feel…” she started, but moaned as she circled her hips, grinding down on him. “You have no business feeling this good.”

She looked up and saw Asterion was watching her, his eyes moving from her face and down her body.

“Faster,” he growled.

Ria was only too happy to obey. She quickened her pace and rode him hard until pleasure finally overtook her, her body convulsing around him, and she collapsed against his chest. His fur was warm against her cheek, and beneath it she could feel the hard beat of his heart. Asterion wrapped his arms around her while she caught her breath, holding her close for a few moments before he shifted them, flipping her under him.

“Gods, Ria,” he murmured. He rocked his hips, and his weight settled over her while the fur on his chest brushed against her skin each time he moved. “Ye feel too damn good.”

She slid her hands up his back, her nails scraping lightly against his hide. She tightened her inner muscles around him, a deliberate squeeze that she’d learned made his breath catch. It worked. His hips stuttered. “Like that,” he gasped, his face buried in the crook of her neck. “Don’t stop.”