But I’m not content to just spank her. Between each slap, my fingers find her clit, swollen and sensitive beneath the crotch rope. I tease her, my claws gentle but insistent, drawing out gasps and whimpers that only fuel my desire.

She thrashes against the ropes, her cries growing more desperate. When I can see her nearing the edge, I pause, pulling out a velvet cloth from my pocket. I press it against her heated skin, soothing the sting of the spanking. She lets out a shuddering breath, her body trembling as I alternate between punishment and tenderness.

"Still think you’re in control, little bird?" I murmur, my claws grazing her clit again. She arches against the ropes, a choked moan escaping the gag. Her eyes meet mine, and in them, I see the truth—she’s mine, and she knows it.

I land another slap, harder this time, and her body convulses, her orgasm ripping through her as she hangs there, helpless and trembling.

I lean in, my lips brushing against her ear. "This isn’t over yet."

I step around behind Raven, my claws brushing against the soft skin of her inner thighs as I untie the crotch rope. The rope slips free, and I carefully remove the vibrator from her pussy, leaving the one in her ass still humming softly. She lets out a muffled whimper, her body trembling as the head of my cock presses against her entrance. Her hips jerk, trying to squirm her way onto me, but the ropes hold her in place.

“Oh yeth,” she moans behind the gag, her words slurred but desperate. Her pussy is wet, hungry for me, and I can’t hold back any longer. I thrust into her in one smooth motion, my length stretching her open. Her body clamps down around me, tight and wet, and I have to grit my teeth to keep from coming right then and there.

My claws dig into the suspension rope as I hold myself steady, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I can feel the heat building inside me, the urge to let go almost overwhelming, but I’m determined to make her come first. I pull her head back by her hair, her neck arching as she lets out a muffled scream. Her pussy clenches around me, tighter than a vice, and that’s it—I can’t hold back anymore.

I thrust into her hard, my cock pulsing as I come, filling her with my cum. Her body convulses, her own orgasm crashing over her as she screams into the gag, her pussy milking every last drop from me. I stay buried inside her, my breath heavy, my body trembling with the force of my release.

“You’re mine, little bird,” I growl, my voice low and rough. My claws tighten in her hair as I pull her even closer, my cock still deep inside her. She lets out a muffled whimper, herbody shaking as she comes down from the high. I can feel her heartbeat through the ropes, fast and frantic, and it only makes me want her more.

I carefully untie each knot, letting the silk ropes slide away from Raven's body. My claws trace the faint marks they've left behind, and I press gentle kisses to each one. She trembles under my touch, but not from fear or pain.

"Let me take care of you," I whisper, lifting her into my arms. She nods, resting her head against my chest as I carry her to the master bath.

The hot tub fills with steaming water and lavender-scented bubbles. I settle in first, then draw her against me. She fits perfectly in my arms, her back against my chest, her head tucked under my chin. The water soothes away any lingering aches, and I feel her muscles relax.

We don't speak. We don't need to. My claws comb through her hair, massaging her scalp. She sighs contentedly, her fingers intertwining with mine beneath the water.

Something shifts inside me as I hold her. A truth I've been avoiding crashes over me like a wave - I'm in love with her. Not just attracted, not just fond. Love. The kind that makes centuries-old warriors write poetry and contemplate forever.

"Stay," I murmur against her hair. "Stay the night."

She stiffens slightly in my arms. "I can't. Madison will worry."

I help her out of the tub, wrapping her in a plush towel. She dresses quickly while I try to find the right words to express what I'm feeling.

At the door, I catch her arms gently, looking into those dark eyes that have bewitched me so completely. "Raven, I?—"

Her finger presses against my lips, silencing me. "What we did tonight, what we had—that was amazing. Special. I don'tregret it one bit. And our getting...close to each other will make the fake relationship easier to pull off."

Raven's eyes well up with tears, and her face becomes a mask of misery.

"But I'm not looking for...I can't...I just can't, Karc! Don't ask more of me than I can give you, please."

She slips from my grasp and through the door. I stand there, my heart aching, watching her disappear into the night.

I slump against the door, my claws scraping against the wood. The ache in my chest burns deeper than any battle wound I've endured in centuries of combat. My scales ripple with tension as I struggle to contain the raw emotion threatening to overwhelm me.

But I am Vakutan. We do not wallow in self-pity.

I straighten, my jaw set with determination. "Prepare yourself, little bird," I growl, my voice echoing in the empty foyer. "I will not stop until I've proven that you can trust me with your heart. I will not give in until I win your love!"

The words ring true in my soul. I've seen the spark in her eyes, felt the connection between us that goes beyond mere physical attraction. When she let her guard down in the hot tub, the way she melted against me spoke volumes. That trust, however brief, was real.

My hand presses against my chest where an unfamiliar warmth blooms. This feeling - it's more than just love. It's the sacred bond our ancestors spoke of, the connection that defies scientific explanation.

I close my eyes, offering a silent prayer to the Precursors. After all these centuries, could they have led me to my jalshagar here, on this primitive world? The timing seems impossible, yet I've never been more certain of anything in my long life.

The bond between us is undeniable. Now I just have to help her see it too.