Ninety Four

Ninety Four
Inside the penthouse, the warm glow of the city lights spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Ezra guided Lira to the couch, still holding her close, letting her lean against his chest. The tension of the day.. the councils, the battles, the siphon.

“You can finally rest,” he murmured, his lips brushing the top of her head. “I’ll keep you safe. Always.”

She tilted her head up, meeting his gaze. “You’re alive. You’re here. That’s all I need right now.” Her fingers traced the line of his jaw, memorizing the sharp angles she had longed to feel again.

Ezra’s hand slid down to her hip, drawing her closer, his thumb brushing over the curve of her waist. “I’ve missed this… missed you,” he admitted, his voice low and raw. “Every second I was gone.”

She pressed a soft kiss to his lips, tentative at first, then deeper as she allowed herself to sink into the warmth and strength he offered. Her hands roamed over his chest, feeling the steady pulse of his heart, the power that had always been both dangerous and comforting.

“I thought I’d lost you again,” she whispered against his mouth. “I can’t… I can’t lose you like that.”

“You won’t,” he promised, holding her tighter. “No one will take me from you. Not Morwen, not the council, not even time itself.”

They sat like that for a while, just holding each other, letting the quiet hum of the city below fill the space between them. Ezra’s fingers tangled in her hair as Lira leaned into him, letting herself feel safe for the first time in what felt like forever.

Then he pulled back slightly, his gaze intense. “I want to feel you… all of you,” he murmured, his lips tracing the curve of her neck. Lira shivered, pressing closer as his hands explored, the fire between them reigniting.

Her hands slid beneath his shirt, mapping the muscles along his back, feeling the strength coiled beneath his skin. Ezra groaned softly, the sound vibrating against her chest, and she pressed herself closer, letting the longing she had held back for so long finally surface.

“Touch me Ezra… have missed your touch” She whispered.

He grabbed her and lifted her placing her on the bed as he wore her panties and his mouth found her cunt, licking, devouring rough slow and deep.

“Fuck..” she cried her leg shaking as he spread them wider. He lifted his head and stared at her as his fingers pumped into her so fast, so wet, so fucking perfect. She was shaking.

“Please.. Don't stop” she moaned.

“Look at that… when did you become a sex slut..” He murmured licking every drop of her cunt with his tongue again.

“Should I go on…”

“Yes… yes please.. Fuck.. More”

“You'll get more” he promised “I'm not done with you yet.. You need to be taught a lesson.”

“Bend over.” He commanded.

She obeyed.

One hand grabbing her hips as he slammed into her.

She screamed.

He grunted behind her, one hand grabbing her yanking her to the back. Her breasts bounce with every thrust as he fucked her deeper and harder.

“Fuck… do you like this better.. Or do you prefer Valen cock.”

“Yours… always” she cried.

“And yet you let him fuck you like this.” He growled.

They moved together with a rhythm born from weeks of separation and tension, a quiet urgency that spoke of desire, relief, and the fragile reclaiming of what they had almost lost. Every touch, every kiss, every sigh was a reminder that they were alive, that they belonged together, and that for this night, nothing else existed.

As they finally collapsed together on the couch, breathing heavy and tangled, Ezra held her close, forehead resting against hers. “We’ve survived so much,” he murmured. “And we’re still here. Together.”

Lira smiled softly, pressing a lingering kiss to his lips. “Sorry about Valen. And the others”

Outside, the city pulsed with life, but inside the penthouse, it was just them… two souls who had found each other again in the quiet after the storm.

The first light of morning spilled over the penthouse, brushing the city skyline in soft gold and pink. Inside, Lira slept soundly, curled up beneath the covers, her chest rising and falling with the slow rhythm of deep, untroubled sleep. Ezra watched her for a moment, the quiet of the room wrapping around him like a protective cloak.

He finally rose, careful not to disturb her, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city below was stirring, the hum of morning traffic distant but steady. Without a word, he stepped onto the rooftop, the cool air brushing against his skin. Valen was already there, leaning on the railing, looking out over the city.

“Morning,” Valen greeted quietly, straightening when he noticed Ezra.

Ezra nodded. “Morning. I needed some air.” He leaned against the railing, hands resting on the cold metal. Silence stretched between them for a moment, filled only by the distant sounds of the waking city.

Valen finally spoke, hesitant but careful. “I… there’s a lot you need to know about Lira. Everything that happened while you were gone… how she’s been handling things, what she’s been doing to strengthen herself, the alliances she’s formed…”

Ezra listened quietly, his dark eyes tracking the horizon, absorbing every word. He said nothing, letting Valen speak, letting him explain the depth of her rise and the strength she had built while he was absent.

Then Ezra turned slightly, his voice low but carrying an edge that made Valen freeze.

“Sleeping with her… that was against your will too, wasn’t it?”

Valen’s face paled, guilt flashing across his features. “I…Ezra, I’m sorry. I never meant…”

Ezra held up a hand, stopping him. “I’m not upset.” His gaze softened slightly, but it didn’t lose its weight. “I know. I know she was lonely. That… was her way of letting go of the loneliness, of the pain she carried while I was gone.”

Valen blinked, relief mingling with lingering guilt. “I..thank you for saying that. I…”

Ezra shook his head, a faint smile touching his lips. “I’m back now. That’s what matters.” His gaze drifted over the edge of the rooftop, sharp and calculating. “Where is Morwen?”

Valen hesitated, knowing the answer but careful with words. “Still in her cell, but… her influence hasn’t gone away. She’s been… working from there. Using her magic.”

Ezra’s jaw tightened, his hands gripping the railing. “I should have known. Everything she touches leaves a mark. She’s patient… far too patient. And clever. Too clever.”

Valen nodded, uneasy. “I thought you should know. And… she’s dangerous. She’ll try something again.”

Ezra exhaled slowly, the wind tugging at his dark hair. “She underestimated Lira. That was her mistake. But now…” His voice dropped, sharper, dangerous. “Now, we clean up the rest.”

They stood in silence, watching the city awaken below them. The light reflected off the glass and steel, bright, almost blinding, yet Ezra’s mind was already far from the beauty of the skyline. Plans, strategies, warnings they all swirled in his mind, with one constant at the center: Lira.

Finally, he glanced back toward the penthouse, where Lira slept unaware of the storm gathering around her. Ezra’s fists clenched at his sides, but there was no fear in his eyes only resolve.

“Let’s make sure she stays safe,” he murmured to Valen. “No more surprises. No more games. Anyone who comes for her… won’t leave alive.”

Valen swallowed, his respect..and fear…for Ezra deepening. “Understood, Prince.”

Ezra nodded once, turning back toward the city. “Good. Because Morwen… and the council… they’re about to learn exactly why you don’t mess with Ashbloods… or the people they love.”

The wind whipped around them as the sun climbed higher, the city unaware that the quiet of morning was only the calm before the storm.