He didn’t want to do it again.
She hadn’t noticed him standing there, watching her. Slowly, Zirene stalked toward her, not wanting to interrupt the view.
She sighed and looked up to the night sky, causing him to still his progression.
“Oh, Stars, Fates, whoever blessed me before. Tell me what to do.”
“You should do whatever you want to do,” he replied gently, stepping out of the shadows.
Selena stood and turned toward him, finding him effortlessly in the darkness. She pursed her lips as her wary eyes trailed him.
“What are you doing here, Zirene?”
He stopped within arm’s reach, her head reaching mid-chest as he stared down at her. Instinctively, he brushed back her loose strands of hair and tucked them behind her ears as she stared up to him skeptically.
“I could ask you the same,” he purred.
She closed her eyes and leaned into his paw. His paw cupped her cheek, and he traced it with his thumb.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she breathed.
A rumble escaped from within as he snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her close. Her chest pressed against his stomach as she grabbed his side fur.
“Tell me what ails you, my Nova.”
Resting her head against him, silence fell between them as he waited for her to reply.
Having her in his arms felt right after all these years. It pained him there was still a barrier between them. She was warming up to him as things progressed between them, but still kept him out of reach.
“I don’t know what to do with you,” she murmured.
He took in a deep breath at that confession and stilled.
What had he done wrong?
He thought he was doing well, keeping his distance and not pressuring her.
Zirene slowly traced her curves with both paws until they rested on her hips. He lightly gripped them and gently pulled her away.
Selena stared up at him with her mouth slightly ajar. Her deep blue-green eyes traced his face questionably.
“What do you mean?” he asked, confused, searching her eyes.
She bit her lower lip and studied him. “I want to believe you—trust you—but…”
“But you are afraid I will abuse that trust once again,” he mumbled.
She sighed as she closed her eyes and nodded.
Zirene dropped his arms from her and backed away. Turning around, he took a few steps, shaking his head in disappointment at himself.
“Wait!” Selena shouted. “Don’t go. Please. You just only got here…”
He stopped and looked into the night sky.
“Selena. I never intended to hurt you,” he confessed. “You don’t know what it’s like, knowing you were the reason the being you are devoted to doesn’t feel the same way about you. Someone you can’t stop thinking about… It hurts. But I can’t make you feel the same way I do for you. I love you, Selena, and it kills me inside to know I am the reason why I can’t have you by my side.” He collected himself. “I hope I appreciate you for who you are and can someday make you as happy as your nestmates do.”
Silence assaulted his ears as he waited for her response. When none came, he stepped into the shadows, defeated.
Hands gripped his tail and yanked, causing him to stumble backward. A hiss escaped him as he shadowstepped away, turning toward the assailant.
Selena rushed toward him and leaped. He instinctively grabbed her while she was in midair and pulled her against his body. Her legs tried to wrap around his torso, but he was too wide. She grabbed his face and pulled it down to meet hers, smashing her lips to his.
Zirene’s paws tightened on her ass, his nails piercing her nightgown, making her growl in response as she ground herself against him.
Loud purrs rumbled from within as he felt his cock lengthen and harden from her neediness. Instinctively, he reached out his consciousness and shadowstepped.
Selena ended the kiss and gasped, yanking his facial fur. He placed her gently onto the railing, locking his gaze on hers. Her dark blue-green eyes looked at him in wonder while his erection stayed trapped between them.
“What was that? I’m not sick…” she breathed, dropping her hands from his face.
“Shadowstepping.”
“The ability all Aldawi have?” Her swollen lips pulled into a smirk. “The one Kaede tries to mimic?”
“Only when they have a goal in mind,” he rumbled.
She bit her lip as her eyes landed on his. “What goal is that?”
“To prove I am dedicated to you,” he whispered.
She looked down at his hardness as it pressed against his loincloth, causing it to jerk between them from her focus.
“I don’t remember it being so big, or you so forward,” she murmured.
He watched her move her hands toward his cock and steeled himself from moving. Selena slowly untied his belt, and his loincloth fell to the ground. She bit her lips, her face scrunched in concentration as she wrapped her hands around its girth, the softness of her hands intoxicating. It took all his strength not to bend her over and rut her, right then and there.
Her wary gaze locked onto his, a slight frown crossing her lips as she released his manhood.
“It hurt last time… how do I know this isn’t a trap, and you won’t force pregnancy on me again?” she hesitated. “I want to trust you. I want this wall between us to come down. Zirene, I miss you and what we had. I miss all the things we used to do together… I can’t continue like this—with you—feeling like I’m floating aimlessly in space.”
Her words pained him, dulling his arousal as his need to prove himself to her grew. His paws lightly squeezed her hips as he took in a deep breath, the scent of her arousal swirling around him—making him yearn for her.
“I would never purposely impregnate you ever again. Not against your will,” he licked his lips as his tail flicked behind him. “Mating will only hurt if I activate my barbs to lock
