Page 144 of Plug and Drain

It had not seemed like a terrible idea, only because there was nothing good to compare it to. He’d done as he was told, which was somehow easier than doing nothing at all.

But now, he had someone. In all that meaningless nothingness, there was Susie. And it wasn’t just her. It was everything she touched. Her thoughts, her hopes, her beliefs, they illuminated his dark world, giving all but the blackest of corners colour.

Susie had reawakened something in him. At first, there had been lust, curiosity, and affection. Then the rest of his emotions had come flooding back in at a staggering rate, like the opening of flood gates.

Dread.

Hope.

Anger.

So much anger. None of it directed at Susie, but after the assembly, Arken could barely keep it hidden as he stood talking to Henrikk. He was forced to listen to the King praise him for an ‘excellent demonstration on a live spinectomy’, all while remembering Clara, and his brothers, and all the people he’d lost at Henrikk’s hands.

As always, calmness had to prevail.

He’d debated whether to seek Susie out, or simply stay away. Finally, he’d gone to her room to speak with her. He’d never had the chance to warn her. Maybe, he should have blurted it out the moment she’d opened her door.

But instead, he’d talked about his past. He’d wasted time revealing the skeletons in his closet, instead of telling her the most important thing.

The danger was real: she’d shushed him before telling him to kiss her, and now there was nothing to do except follow her orders to the letter.

Given that she wanted him to bed her, it could have been a lot worse. At least he was allowed to stay. Maybe, she would keep him. Let him continue to do things to her, just like he was lying on top of her, pushing with deep thrusts and trying to chase the past away.

A hand on his cheek. He stilled.

“It’s all right,” Susie whispered, staring earnestly into his eyes. “It’s just us.”

Arken kissed her and kept going, listening to her soft whimpers as he moved her differently.

He tried to get out of his head.

Taking a deep breath, he allowed himself to trust that all would be well. There would be time to tell her soon. Inevitably, she would realise he’d been silent too long, and she would ask him why. All she had to do was ask something of him. Anything at all.

He was at her command, but he didn’t mind. Not really. He trusted her explicitly, although she knew not what power she wielded.

Susie made the most wonderful sounds as he moved into her, and he tried to focus on her and only her.

Relax.

The dread that had been gnawing at him faded away as he lost himself in a kiss.

They were safe.

As long as she was with him, she was safe.

He would keep her safe.

She’s safe. She’s safe. She’s safe.

He repeated it in his head like a mantra. He wanted to tell her out loud, but he said it silently over and over again as he gripped her hips harder and ploughed into her.

Susie noticed the change in intensity, and her low pants turned into loud, surprised moans as he drove her closer to the edge.

He wanted her to be happy. To feel safe. To feel loved.

He wanted to provide for her, and to take her to a place that was safe.

He turned her around, and she presented her ass, pushing it towards him.