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“Do you ever regret it?” she asked softly, her voice barely a whisper. “Choosing me? Choosing this life?”

He opened his eyes, his gaze locking with hers, the intensity of his stare drawing her in, consuming her. “Never,” he said, his voice firm, unwavering. “Not for a single moment. You are my life, Winn. You are my everything.”

He leaned in, his lips brushing against hers, the heat of his breath igniting a fire within her. “You have shown me what it means to truly live. To love. To hope.”

His kiss was tender at first, awhisper of longing that deepened, becoming a fierce, demanding possession that stole her breath, sent a jolt of desire through her. She melted against him, her body molding to his, her arms encircling his neck, her fingers tangling in his silky whitehair.

“Make love to me, Jo’Nay,” she murmured against his lips, her voice husky with need. “Show me how much you love me.”

He groaned, aprimal sound that vibrated through her, and lifted her into his arms, carrying her toward their sleeping chamber. He laid her gently on the bed, the thick, conforming surface molding beneath them, cradling them as he lowered himself besideher.

His gaze, ablazing amethyst fire, burned into hers, areflection of the desire that consumed them both. “You areso beautiful,” he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. “So fragile, yet so strong. You carry my child within you, amiracle I never dared to dream of.”

His words, spoken in Vettian, were a caress in themselves, abalm to her soul. She understood him perfectly, the language barrier that had once separated them now erased by the translator implanted in her brain, agift from him, asymbol of theirbond.

And she met him with a passion that matched his own, her fear and uncertainty melting away in the flame of their shared desire. Their bodies entwined, adesperate dance of flesh and fire, acelebration of life amidst the specter of death.

Her hands roamed his form, exploring the familiar contours, marveling at the strength that lay beneath his smooth, bronze skin. The sharp angles of his cheekbones, the powerful lines of his shoulders, the way his white hair caressed her body—these details, once alien and strange, now filled her with a sense of wonder, adeep, abiding love that transcended the boundaries of their different worlds.

She shifted beneath him, aching with a need that went beyond the physical. She craved him, every inch of him, the feel of his hard muscles against her softer curves, the taste of his skin, the scent of him that filled her lungs, intoxicating, addictive, areminder that they were real, that this was real, that their love, however impossible, had defied the odds and blossomed amidst the chaos of their lives.

He sensed her need, responding with a fierceness that both thrilled and terrified her. His hands skimmed down her sides, finding the swell of her breasts, his touch both possessive and tender as he cupped them, his thumbs teasing her nipples into hard, aching points of pleasure.

She arched into his touch, amoan escaping her lips as a wave of heat surged through her, adelicious ache that centered low in her belly, spreading outward, consumingher.

“You are mine,” he growled, his voice thick with possessiveness. He leaned down, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was both bruising and tender, aclash of opposites that somehow embodied the very essence of their relationship.

His tongue plunged deep, tasting her, claiming her, branding her with his essence. She tasted a hint of apples on his tongue, the sweet, forbidden fruit that had become a symbol of their love, their defiance, their shared destiny.

He lifted his head, his gaze holding hers captive. “Tell me you want me, Winn,” he commanded, his voice husky with desire. “Tell me you need me as much as I need you.”

It wasn’t a request, but a demand, aprimal urge that echoed the warrior within, the Vettian male programmed for dominance. But it was the vulnerability in his eyes, the flicker of uncertainty that belied his commanding tone, that touched her heart.

“I want you, Jo’Nay,” she breathed, her voice thick with desire. “I need you. More than words can express.”

And it was true. He was her everything—her lover, her protector, the father of her child, the one who had shown her the true meaning of love, the one who had given her a reason to believe in a future where anything was possible.

He groaned, aprimal sound that vibrated through her, and lowered his head, his lips finding hers again, this time with a tenderness that stole her breath. He kissed her slowly, savoring the taste of her, the feel of her soft curves beneath his harder frame.

His hands roamed her body, his touch exploring, worshiping, igniting a fire within her that threatened to consume her, to burn away every fear, every doubt, leaving only the pure, unadulterated essence of theirlove.

He moved over her, his body a welcome weight, his heat a comforting presence that chased away the chill of fear that sometimes lingered in the shadows of her mind. His lips trailed a fiery path down her neck, his tongue tracing the delicate line of her collarbone, sending shivers down her spine.

His hand skimmed across her belly, pausing over her womb, his touch reverent, almost worshipful. She felt a surge of love, afierce protectiveness for the life growing within her, alife that was both theirs and something entirely new, asymbol of their love, their defiance, their hope for a future where anything was possible.

“Our child,” he murmured against her skin, his voice thick with emotion. “A miracle. Atestament to our love.”

“Our love,” she echoed, her voice trembling with happiness. “A rebellion against the stars.”

He chuckled, alow rumble in his chest, and lifted his head, his amethyst eyes burning with a passion that sent a thrill through her. “A rebellion that is shaking the very foundations of the Vettian Empire.”

He lowered his head again, his lips finding hers, his kiss a promise, avow, adeclaration of war against the forces that sought to separatethem.

His hands moved, deftly removing the last of her garments. She arched into his hands, her body thrumming with a need both physical and emotional, adesperate yearning to be closer, to merge with him, to becomeone.

His lips trailed fire down her body, his tongue tracing the curve of her breasts, teasing her nipples into hard, aching points of pleasure. She moaned, her hands gripping his shoulders, her nails digging into his flesh as a wave of heat washed overher.

He moved lower, his lips finding the sensitive skin of her inner thighs, his tongue tracing a path of fire that sent shivers down her spine. She gasped, her body arching instinctively against his touch, her hips moving in a rhythm as ancient as it was instinctual.

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