Sweat trickled down Axur’s back as he thrust deeply into Katie. The smell of sex rose from their naked bodies, saturating the room. Katie’s legs were wrapped around Axur’s waist, her heels digging into his back as he plunged into her.
She wanted his pleasure to match hers in every way, and soon, he was groaning in response to her actions. His hands let go of hers, moving his down until they tightened around her waist as she moved feverishly against his throbbing cock, intensifying the pleasure with each movement.
She arched her body against his, adding even more friction between them. Her body grew hotter by the second, and Katie found herself wanting everything Axur had to offer. She wanted him to let loose inside her … show her how badly he wanted her in one massive climax.
With one final push, Axur released inside Katie at the same time as she came apart beneath him in a sweep of ecstasy. The intense sensations overwhelmed her, leaving her gasping until finally, they both lay still, clinging onto each other tightly in exhaustion.
Axur nuzzled into Katie's neck as he slowly withdrew from inside, taking his warmth with him. He kissed up the curve of her jawline and whispered into her ear. “You are so beautiful when you come."
Katie smiled contentedly before turning to face him with a satisfied grin on her face.
The aftermath of their passionate encounter left them both feeling content and sated. There was a moment of shared, tranquil silence as they lay in each other's arms. The reality of everything that had happened came more into focus as Katie's breathing slowed to a normal rhythm.
“I know we signed the papers and everything, but I still can’t believe it.” Katie sighed as her fingers played with Axur’s. “Especially you.”
She pushed off his chest and stared into his luminous eyes. Tears threatened. She had never been shown such love before.
Axur gently wiped her eyes. “I’ll always choose you. You and Ayla. You’re my life. This is my calling.”
He pulled her into a deep, slow kiss. Katie felt all his love for her go into it.
He smiled warmly at her, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. He kissed her gently on the forehead before pulling her in for a tight embrace, holding her close to him as if he never wanted to let go.
"I love you."
He brushed his lips against hers and whispered. “I love you, too, Katie."
His voice was sincere and strong in its conviction, leaving no room for doubt about the depth of his feelings for her.
Katie melted into him with a smile, feeling the warmth spread through her heart like wildfire until she, too, was convinced that what they had was real and true love. Katie’s heart had never felt so full and sure about anything then at that moment.
TWENTY-ONE
AXUR
Axur stood on the mountain ridge at dusk, orange and rosy skies spilling over his head. He wore his ceremonial garb, a traditional, military-style cut that Luxenians wore for elegant affairs. It was a similarly smooth powder-blue shade as his skin, which sparkled like an opal under the fading light. He stood at attention, which became more of a habit rather than a strict rule, feeling his pale golden eyes crystallize at the sight of his mate.
The former general explained to Katie how similar the mating ceremony was to their Earthly understanding of a wedding, essentially a celebration of sorts where family and friends came together to rejoice in the union of the couple before them.
The main difference was how the traditions themselves varied. Human weddings appeared flexible and highly dependent upon the preferences of the joining bride and groom, whereas Luxenians simply knew nothing else but their deeply ingrained customs.
Axur had attended several of the mating ceremonies himself, always as a spectator, never as anyone directly involved with the festivities. He felt strange explaining them to Katie, who watched him with a curious and encouraging eye one night in the lounge after Ayla had gone to sleep.
They had made love nearly every day in areas of the house that Axur believed were a little tricky and even risky. That seemed to do a lot for Katie, the woman for whom he would bend the horizon.
The fireplace had crackled and snapped before them after a long session of lovemaking. She sat naked as they spoke about the ceremony, with only a blanket draped around her just in case.
She ran her fingers through his hair, which she had tangled up during her explosive climax.
“We stand together. It’s always at sunset,” he said, trying not to get lost in the reverie of her eyes. “Once the light falls, we are to brandish our specialty lights, then join them together as one combined, blazing bonfire.”
Katie cocked an eyebrow, but Axur knew just from her blooming smirk that she wasn’t being critical.
“Your planet really has a thing for temperature, doesn’t it?” she quipped, her lower lip sneaking under her teeth.
Axur grinned. He couldn't help it with Katie. He was finding himself to be far easier going than he had ever been, with a lightness to every conversation, a polishing of joy rather than suspicion and hardness.
It made every interaction fun, and he led more with curiosity.
